Happy First Birthday, Little One!

We will celebrate with lots of extended family this weekend. Today, I have done a lot of reflecting on this past year, and in addition to my gratitude at being Mira's mom, my prayers are with her birthmother, who surely is thinking about Mira today.

Last year at this time we were certain our baby was already living in an orphanage in Ethiopia, growing older without us while some bureaucratic issue had slowed up adoption referrals. But she was just coming into the world! I will post lots of picture of Madame Curly and her first cake after the party.

Something's gotta give... No, really.

Ever feel liked you're being pulled in 32 directions? I hate to admit that I have reached a preposterous level of stress, for reasons I won't go into now. Guh. My neck aches, I have a permanent chasm etched between my eyes from constantly furrowed brows, and remember my post about TMJ? I'm clenching, baby! Soup and applesauce hold new appeal at mealtime because I don't have to use my jaw to eat them.

I don't have any time to blog. I am, however, blogging in my head. It's REALLY BRILLIANT blogging, too - like, my best thinking EVER. Unfortunately, my swiss-cheese memory will only retain these amazing insights for about 20 more seconds, so you're out of luck. An overview of my would-be topics will have to suffice:

• Mira Walks Like a Drunken Sailor
• Where the *#!* WAS Fred?
• Teenagers R Frustrating
• IF YOU RUIN FATHER'S DAY FOR DAD BECAUSE YOU'RE CRABBY, YOU'RE GROUNDED!

That'll be it, until I get my head on straight again.

I'll end this quick post on a cheerful note at least. Here's Mrs. Curly, walking with Gracie at the Ethiopian Kids picnic. So darling!

A Lesson Learned: the Bates Motel

Or, Duped by Hotwire

This week Abby had a soccer game in Duluth. Despite a super-busy work week, I was considering booking a hotel for the two of us for the night if I could find a good deal - a little Mom/Daughter Quality Time.

The hotels in Duluth tend to run around $100/night, more if they're right on Canal Park. But hey, using Hotwire, you can bid lower on a hotel and get a great deal. Right?

Here's how it works:
You select the area you're looking for and choose a hotel rating. Hotwire.com describes what you can expect for each level. In my case:

Our 3-star hotel suppliers include Doubletree, Radisson, Holiday Inn and other respected hotel brands.

These quality establishments make comfort and personalized service their priority. These full-service properties usually feature:

• An inviting, relaxed lobby
• On-site dining
• Room service
• Family-style rooms

A business administrative or health and fitness center may also be available. You can find these hotels in downtown or resort areas.

You bid a dollar amount on an unknown hotel of the rating you choose, and if it's accepted you find out the name of the hotel you got - and you're locked in. Since Hotwire advertised "savings of up to 50%", I tried a bid of $60.

Did I mention that once you bid you're locked in?

I was envisioning something like this:

Not so. Welcome to the Allyndale.

Did I mention that once you bid, you're locked in? There is NO canceling that reservation or getting your money back.

In fairness to the Allyndale, it wasn't horrible. It was simply an extremely basic motel: no coffee in the room, no hair dryer, no extra blanket, and eight miles from downtown. (Eight miles from anything, actually. It was on the edge of the woods, completely out of site from the office, the parking lot and other people. Walking down the steps to our isolated room, it did occur to me that, should Norman Bates be lurking around, he'd have an easy time of things).

I don't want to criticize the Allyndale. You get what you pay for. It's Hotwire I'm furious with. My big savings on the Allyndale? Well, I bid $60, expecting up to 50% savings on a 3-star hotel. The regular price for a room at the Allyndale? $58.

You do the math.

The Triple Whammy

Abby saw the pediatrician and the orthodontist today.

• Three shots (with more on the horizon)
• She may need glasses
• She needs braces

The glasses/braces news was explained to me over the yelling of a fussy Mirabelle, who saw the doctor for an ear re-check (all clear, so no physical reason for her, ahem, dissatisfaction of late). Mira also got a shot and was mightily offended. At least babies are always surprised by shots. The pre-shot panic that comes when they're older is the worst.

Meanwhile, we were late to the appointment because someone had a clothes and shoe issue this morning and missed the bus. I won't mention any names but Gracie's pink Crocs are in timeout for the rest of the week.

Can I just...?