Pitiful but cute.

Poor Maggie is sick...she's been coughing all day and started running a fever this evening. We just put her to bed with a dose of ibuprofen. All she wanted to do all day was watch Maisy and cuddle. When I had to get up, she accepted Dolly, Blankie, Poodloo and a cup of milk as substitute companions.

Walmart

I went to Walmart today for the first time since I've lived in L.A. I had to return Bob's Christmas gift to Margaret (finally), and they were really nice about it and gave me CASH which was most excellent. Then I started wandering the aisles...and before long I was ready to do a testimonial! "I've always scorned Walmart and assumed I was way too good to shop here. But now I see that the prices are really freaking low and that I need to buy some cheap stuff!" I got a bunch of storage containers for way-cheap to help me in my nesting obsession.

I have already cleaned out many cabinets and a couple of closets in the house, throwing out bags and bags of crap. It's a little scary how much JUNK can accumulate in the nooks and crannies. I've had a lot of insomnia lately, so it's not uncommon for me to be up at 2am reorganizing yet another cabinet.

South Park Maili

South Park Deb

South Park Dave

I never cared for the show South Park, but I do find the drawings to be fun, in a silly sort of way.

There's a website where you can design your own South Park character. Here's one that's based on me. (You can click on it for the full-screen version.)

Dora and Aunt Maili. 

Dora and her Playdough beach balls. 

No book

I'm on the CTA with no book, so it seemed like a good time to post.

Work is crazy as always, although I have some hope that things will improve in a few weeks. Everyone but me is getting over a cold--I still am hoping to avoid it.

Dora did something very funny Monday at the mall. There were some fountains, so Dora wanted some pennies to make a wish. She made two wishes for herself, then wanted to make a wish for Mommy and Daddy.

For Daddy, she wished that I would win one hundred million dollars (I always tell her to wish this for me.) Then she wished for Mommy. “I wish Mommy will get a great big bucket!”

Maggie's New Ride

My Silver Cross stroller, purchased one year ago after extensive research and testdriving, has turned out to be a disaster. Parts have been steadily breaking and their customer service is nonexistent. Finally the buckle, which has been broken but jury-rigged to keep us afloat, is now lost and the stroller is completely un-useable.

So I just ordered a new stroller: the Maclaren Triumph. It's a lightweight umbrella stroller but it has a storage basket and the seat reclines, which might come in handy when Infinity uses it in the future. Got it for $135 on Target.com with a 10% coupon and free shipping.

Maggie's new Maclaren Triumph stroller: