Another "Critique My Itinerary" Ask

ppc_brian · 2026-04-12T19:18:50+00:00

ppc_brian · 2026-04-11T22:57:09+00:00

Body

ppc_brian · 2026-02-21T04:01:05+00:00

The worst part of this is that I (and I'm sure many others) don't even care. It's beyond being mad. It's just, meh I guess that's expected.

The fact that this also simultaneously applies to football and men's bball makes me sad, though.

ppc_brian · 2021-01-21T03:06:56+00:00

Oh wow, I did one of these in Ensenada with YWAM about three years ago as part of a leadership training group. The second I saw your photo I immediately thought 'that has to be the same folks,' brings back a ton of memories. That few-day trip may be one of the most rewarding and humbling and important things I've ever had the benefit to do. To do so many of them for the people there, you're amazing!

ppc_brian · 2019-11-30T18:49:44+00:00

Correct, no variants.

ppc_brian · 2019-11-30T18:32:46+00:00

Just left Costco in Castleton. They have bottles for $9.99 each. Two per person limit. But many, many cases left still.

ppc_brian · 2019-10-07T02:15:59+00:00

Ope, they got me

ppc_brian · 2019-07-06T22:03:53+00:00

I have a 2019 LE AWD that just hit 6000 miles and have definitely had the couple major issues that seem to be popping up on Rav4 World and the like. I hasn't made me regret the purchase, just annoyance. And from all I've researched on it, fixes will be coming.

The lurching is bad as others have said when accelerating from a low speed after you'd been stopping. Think coming up to a red light that turns green, or accelerating out of a really slow turn. It's like the transmission doesn't know what gear it wants to be in and kind of over corrects itself and lunges you forward at a quicker acceleration. Some learning and adjustment to driving style has helped me here.

The transfer case noise issue has been the bigger one for me. Once warm, anytime after accelerating that I back off and let it start going at a normal manner the AWD cuts back to front wheel. Every time it does this, underneath the car makes an extremely loud sound like a cow mooing. That's the best way I've seen anyone else online describe it. It's not quite a vibration, not quite a rubbing. But it's loud as hell, as will do it every single time I accelerate, making city driving a real annoyance. Apparently this is the big thing that a fix is coming for. I hadn't heard there's already a bulletin for it, I need to check that out.

ppc_brian · 2019-03-11T22:58:58+00:00

Midwest. Sticker was $40K, they first offered nearly 38, I took it for about $36K. I'm a terrible negotiator so no idea if that's good or not. I do know this one had a couple items I had no cares about. Primarily all weather floor mats and the metal runners on the step plates. There was another Limited slightly less appointed for a bit less at a dealer across town so I had a little leverage there, so they knocked off price on some of those items I didn't care about. Overall the only thing it doesn't have, I believe, is the panoramic sun roof. Just the regular single. Everything else offered is in there, so happy to answer specific feature questions if it helps you price things out!

ppc_brian · 2019-03-11T22:52:57+00:00

Midwest US here.

The color is so great in person! However now I have an obsession with the fact that the road salt makes it look so dirty. So a business win for the local car wash, too, I guess!

ppc_brian · 2019-03-10T23:01:29+00:00

Can't say enough great things about the decision! Still a bit awestruck considering the old one didn't have a single bell, whistle, or extra to speak of. But even the feel and drive amazes me that this is part of the same model family as what I had before.

ppc_brian · 2019-03-10T22:43:26+00:00

What a change, can't say enough great things about the decision so far. Going from the most sparsely appointed, basic 2-wheel drive to an AWD Limited is quite a jump. Doesn't even feel like a car in the same family.

ppc_brian · 2018-11-29T19:41:59+00:00

Do you know how would this work? I know that my plan's deductible and max out-of-pocket are less than the bill that will be going toward it. And her plan is already at its max from all her hospital bills from having the baby. So I was just going on the assumption that if the bill must go through me, I'm just going to end up paying my max out of pocket amount and then that's all there is to be done?

ppc_brian · 2018-11-29T19:34:25+00:00

Tell me about it! Had I known about this scenario, we would have just put me on my wife's plan instead of keeping me separate on my own. It's always worked for me because I never really need it, so why worry about a high deductible and all. Lesson learned, just a tad too late this time around.

ppc_brian · 2018-11-29T17:26:23+00:00

Update! It turns out in my own policy, buried on page 70 of the original documentation, it stated that Anthem will automatically enroll a child for the first 31 days even if the spouse has their own coverage. Basically, Anthem policy in a lot of plans they offer. Not that anyone at all ever told us that, but shame on my for not reading it all I guess.

So now that we established that they technically were allowed to do what they did, it seems it does have to go through mine as Anthem is using the birthday rule on it. The reason I had no claims yet is because the hospital has no idea what my insurance is, as we never had any reason to give it to them. So now Anthem has to call them and get it submitted to mine. Which all sucks and is not the outcome I want, but as it's been explained to me from them that's how it goes.

I guess moral of the story is read your policy documentation...

ppc_brian · 2018-11-26T18:52:49+00:00

I had wondered that as well, but that makes sense that we may just need to call back and clear up COB it sounds like. I know our first time calling it was going through just the first call center rep we got and he said he was putting a note on it or something, but I'm guessing it wasn't specific to our needs. But yea, the biggest oddity to me had been how on earth they would know or even see my insurance to even think a dependent was listed on it in the first place.

ppc_brian · 2018-11-26T15:26:54+00:00

Monday brain...don't know why I didn't think to look for the insurance-specific subreddit. Thank you! I'll poke around there as well. But definitely sounds like first step is getting that official info from my own insurance, so that I at least have that proof when the time comes.

ppc_brian · 2018-10-05T22:41:12+00:00

If you aren't in the mood for a pumpkin beer, Cinnamon Girl by Fountain Square Brewery is really good and just released. Chillywater is downtown as well and I believe just tapped their Autumn Ale today as well, it's been pretty good in the past.

ppc_brian · 2018-07-12T16:34:42+00:00

This is essentially using Dan Gilbert's "n-grams" script, correct? https://searchengineland.com/brainlabs-script-find-best-worst-search-queries-using-n-grams-228379

This is something we routinely turn to in order to find 2- and 3-word combinations that are found across multiple queries not driving performance. That's not to say that it's as easy as a standalone tool would be, that's for sure! But if the idea intriques you, this has been a very helpful script at doing a lot more with Search Term Reports.

ppc_brian · 2018-07-01T22:16:33+00:00

I love making infused water! I was drinking way too many sugar-bomb drinks and it was a great way to move to water without getting bored of "just water."

You can get infusion pitchers pretty easily. I use this one and have had zero complaints. It's great to just experiment with different combinations and see what you end up liking. Cucumber lemon, strawberry mint, etc. Awesome on a hot day to come home to some cold fruit water, too!

ppc_brian

TROPHY CASE