<p>Just talked with my son prior to him going to his summer job and he informed me that we were one month away from move in and starting Outdoor Action! He is very excited to start this new phase of his life. Should be interesting since he will be living one floor above his sister in their dorm!</p>
<p>I’m just as excited!!! I’m starting my "countdown to BAMA"on the 10th since we will be leaving Chicago on Aug 10th… I can’t believe it’s just a month away.</p>
<p>Yes, we’re doing the countdown in the Timeflew household as well. I alternate between excitement and dread. Bama bound D is our first born and it is going to be difficult on her old mom.<br>
We move in the 8th. I’ll be the lady sobbing in a corner somewhere. . .</p>
<p>S is counting down also, leave 29, move-in 31.<br>
I dragged him and sisters to Toy Story 3 yesterday (Andy’s going to college) I had to use the tissues. Today we’re doing BB&B ordering. Going back and forth between excited for him and missing him. I keep telling myself - smile, laugh enjoy the move-in, cry on the plane going home.</p>
<p>D is also moving in on the 8th; she has a countdown going on her white board :)</p>
<p>Socal: why such an early move in date?</p>
<p>Rob, I think that’s days left, not the move in day. </p>
<p>Both our boys are doing Alabama Action, and I just realized today that it’s a month before we move in, August 8th.</p>
<p>Can hardly believe it’s almost here!</p>
<p>Sorry - yes that is the number of days left. </p>
<p>Any of the early check-ins up for a get together on Saturday (7th) in Bama? Even a casual appetizers/ice cream/dessert. Don’t know the area or what’s available.</p>
<p>Well, duh on me, Montegut 
As soon as I looked back, I realized that it was days left, not the date. Brain is so distracted today…</p>
<p>Yes, one month today! I’m just wondering if we can still adjust the move in time; D chose 10am & I’m thinking that 11 might be a little better for turnaround time if we don’t go to Birmingham the night before…</p>
<p>to change oyur move in time oyu have to drop the time you have and pick a new one. there is no way to know what times are available before you drop your current time.</p>
<p>RobD: A word of wisdom on move-in. The earlier, the better.</p>
<p>T-Town was nearly 100 degrees the day my youngest son and I moved in the oldest son. We were glad to unload the car and park it. Then, we could help him organize his stuff. We left before noon. This year, we also do the early move-in, as my son will be helping a lot of you with your students’ stuff.</p>
<p>i meant to gt a room a while back but i forgot … now all the places i want to stay are booked. why so booked, there are not that many moving in early are there?</p>
<p>anyone got suggestions for budget friendly places that are decent? tht have rooms available…</p>
<p>Mike: Graduation is August 7.</p>
<p>aaah.</p>
<p>i see.</p>
<p>boo!</p>
<p>momreads - are you the one from west virginia or somewhere like that with a son with a GF in houston? sorry for being a dork, but i have a hard time keeping messageboard people straight. </p>
<p>if so, did your son come down to houston this summer?</p>
<p>No offense intended, Mike. I did a double take, too. </p>
<p>We are moving in at 10 AM on Sunday, the 8th. Son is in Riverside West.</p>
<p>We are staying at the Fairfield Tuscaloosa Saturday night, but it was tough to get that. We actually had to get two rooms, each with a king size bed, to sleep the three of us. </p>
<p>We plan on spending the day organizing and maybe grocery shopping for the rest of the day.</p>
<p>Son is doing Alabama Action, and we don’t have a schedule as to when it starts on what day. I’m going to start a separate thread for that, see if I can get some info.</p>
<p>We have a room booked for Sunday night, just mom and dad, in case the shopping goes long, and I’m sure we’ll be too tired for the six hour drive back, but we may opt out early to not miss another day of work.</p>
<p>So, are any of our other posters and/or their children helping with move in day?</p>
<p>It will great to meet some of you in person.</p>
<p>As for move in hotels, we did get a hotel in Bessemer, a Fairfield, for parents weekend. It’s less than an hour drive, and is supposed to be near the highway. Fairfields are generally clean, decent, and hey, you earn Marriott points. Be sure to sign up! Around a hundred bucks a night for a room, but they do have triple A discount and a good free breakfast. If you can’t find anything in Ttown, you may want to try there. We met a family from Pelham at Bama Bound and they said they were about an hour away. There is a Fairfield in Pelham as well, in case the Bessemer one is booked or is not to your liking.</p>
<p>I notice there’s a Hilton Garden Inn in Ttown. Anyone have any experience with that one? Not looking at it for this stay, but may look at it in the future if I can’t get the Fairfield.</p>
<p>Montegut: If Alabama Action does not change from year to year, your son will need to check in around 2 p.m. That night, he will be doing dinner with the students involved in the program. … Also, regarding Family Weekend and staying in Bessemer, make sure you leave early for Saturday’s game. The interstate will be bumper to bumper for miles.</p>
<p>Mike: Yes, we are from Virginia, and my son’s girlfriend does live in Houston. He will visit there sometime next week.</p>
<p>Mike, I did priceline “name your own price” just a couple of nights ago. I put in a bid of $55 (winds up around $70 after their fees). We got the Best Western Park Plaza. Don’t know anything about the place. I’ve seen nice Best Western’s and not so nice Best Western’s. BUT, at least it’s a place in Tuscaloosa on the 7th! Hope that helps.</p>
<p>i looked around all day and found nearly nothing with the amount of spaces we needed. most places were only offering me one king bed for the four of us. that’d be COZY!!!</p>
<p>anyway, i just booked the microtel in cottondale. not the closest place, but, hey, it;s a place.</p>
<p>i am a little skeerd to book the “unknown” places. i have done it before with both good and bad results.</p>
<p>the user ratings are decent. i guess we will see!!</p>
<p>we should start a thread of places we have stayed and how they were.</p>
<p>so far we have stayed in two places in t-town. the first was ick. the second was great for the price.</p>
<p>For those of you moving in early for AA or OA; don’t forget that there will be 1400 girls there for recruitment.</p>
<p>Plan extra time for meals etc. since not all students on campus not all restaurants staffed for the influx of returning students.</p>
<p>Also if desperate for rooms in Tuscaloosa try VRBO: Vacation Rental By Owner. There are alot of whole condos that rent for 100-150 a night. They seem to cater to the football crowd (the rate for football weekends is much higher!)but I am sure they would be more than happy to rent at other times. Our family has rented beach houses through this sight and have been very happy with the rentals.</p>
<p>Will the dining halls be open?</p>