I thought I would bring this to everyone’s attention. With my wrist problems, I maxed out this year on my flex / cafeteria plan spending. The cafeteria plan is where you designate an amount (up to $5000 for me) to be used towards medical bills for the year. It’s a use it or lose it proposal and so both parties are risk. You are at risk if you don’t use it all by the end of the year or you get terminated by your employer. It’s a risk for your employer because you could max it out, spend it all, and then quit your job and your employer would be out the money.

In any case, you usually receive a debit card tied to your flex spending balance that you can use at doctor’s offices, to pay medical bills, etc. that just directly debits from your available balance.

However, I choose not to use the debit card and use my American Express card instead to earn miles / meet minimum spending requirements. It does require that I have to turn all my receipts in from reimbursement instead of having it automatically debited from my flex account – but I don’t mind the extra work if it means more miles.

Million Mile Secrets posted about a way to earn miles by paying your rent with a credit card – are there any other creative ways for every day expenses that you’ve thought of?

Here in Utah we claim to have the Greatest Snow on Earth. I can’t vouch for it personally as I’ve never dared to go skiing. But for those of you more adventurous than I – Park City is offering a chance to turn your boarding pass to Salt Lake City airport into a free lift ticket. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1:preregister at visitparkcity.com . You will receive an email with a redemption voucher.
Step 2:take a morning flight to Salt Lake City airport and bring an extra copy of your printed boarding pass
Step 3:Enjoy your same day lift ticket to Canyons Resort,Park City Mountain Resort, or Deer Valley Resort. All of these resorts are only 35 minutes away from the airport.

Some of the terms and conditions (you can read them all here):
Valid from Monday, January 2 through Friday, February 17, 2012.
Blacked-out from Saturday, February 18 through Saturday, March 31, 2012.
Valid from Sunday, April 1 through respective resort closing day 2012.
(Currently, all three resorts are planning to close Sunday, April 15, conditions permitting)

Welcome to Utah!

Thank to Sice for the tip

I’m always ready to tackle the top issues weighing on everyone’s mind. Today I’d like to discuss restrooms on road trips.

Each person at one point or another has taken a road trip. There’s nothing better than turning on some music, turning on the radar detector, rolling down the windows and heading off to your destination.

One of the things that invariably comes up is the need to use the restroom at some point. So what really are your options?

The rest stop
The rest stop saw its heyday in the 70s and 80s as a cool place for families to get out and stretch their legs, use the restroom, and get a refreshing beverage or snack. There was plenty of green grass and a real calm feeling. Most of the rest stops now are a private/public partnership with scary surroundings, barred up vending machines, and the prospect of escaped child molesters waiting in the restroom. For me the rest stop has become really the last resort as far as emergencies go.

Creepy rating: High
Cleanliness rating: Low

The fast food restaurant
there are plenty of McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and the like littered throughout the highways of America. While this option is certainly better than the rest stop – it still leaves plenty to be desired. Am I the only one that feels like I need to buy a hamburger or a drink for having use the facilities? Usually the fast food joint doesn’t have the cleanest of restrooms which certainly downgrades it in my ratings.

On another note – I wish America would follow the European model of restrooms in that there are self enclosed actual rooms instead of the flimsy metal support around the restrooms. Whoever invented the weird contraptions that we have become accustomed to now?

Creepy rating: Medium
Cleanliness rating: Low

The Truck pit stop
Where else can you get a tattoo, a potato log, take a shower, and renew your wedding vows all in one place? There certainly is variety in what you can purchase in regards to food and they basically have everything. However, the truck pit stop is usually spread out pretty far and the trucker aspect of it makes me a little leery.

Creepy rating: Medium
Cleanliness rating: Medium

The Holiday Inn
Think about it – you probably haven’t even considered this. The Holiday Inn lobbies are usually extremely nice. All the people staying at the Holiday Inn just go up to their room if they need to use the restroom. This leaves only the front desk staff that would use the lobby restroom. Therein lays the benefit because to their own self-interest they’re going to keep that thing immaculately clean. The only downside is you have to pretend like you’re staying at the hotel as you walk in the lobby. I’ve had lots of people ask if they can help me and I mutter something about forgetting my room key as I walk past them.

Creepy rating: Low
Cleanliness rating: High

I hope this advice will help make your next road trip a lot more enjoyable – till next time!

You can get 1000 Free Hilton HHonors points by registering a mobile phone number and a Visa card. You’re basically agreeing to receive “special offers” via text. They promise to only send you two messages and you can opt out at any time.

You can earn an additional 4000 Hilton Honors points by spending at least $100 at a US Hilton hotel or resort with your registered Visa card.

You must register by June 30, 2012 to receive the sign up bonus and must spend $100 by then to receive the additional 4000.

Sung to Viva La Vida by Coldplay

I used to be able to type
Words would appear when I pushed a key
Then one tragic night
I broke both wrists and it was hard to see

All of a sudden collecting points
Became less important than healing my joints
The other BoardingArea bloggers stepped up right away
And volunteered to post alternating each day

My wife and three kids took care of me
Lots of rest was certainly key
And I discovered as a humbled man
You can get trapped when can’t turn a knob yes you can

The external fixator finally came out
I wanted to run to a hill and shout
Be close to the ones you love
You never know when you may be called up to the one above

I’m ready to start blogging again
Thanks for your patience as I overcame this pain
I ask you to join me on my behest
Let’s restart our MilesQuest!

Ooohh ahhh oooohhh ahhh oooohh ahhh ooohhhh ahhh oohhh ahh!

I’m ready to start blogging again
Thanks for your patience as I overcame this pain
I ask you to join me on my behest
Let’s restart our MilesQuest!

Oooohhh ahhh oooohhh ahh ooohh ahh ooohhh ahh ooohh ahh!

Special thanks goes out to the Boarding Area bloggers who guest posted on my behalf:
Mommy Points
AJ from Live from a Lounge
The Weekly Flyer
AAdvantage Geek
Rapid Travel Chai
Road Warriorette
Plane N Simple
Deals We Like
Gary from View from the Wing
The Wandering Aramean
Frequent Miler
Randy Peterson