My head feels like it might explode

I have such a terrific headache. Just took an Aleve. Hopefully it helps.

My eyes have been itchy. I mean, my lids have been itchy. Last Sunday I petted a cat and I am wondering if I could still be experiencing allergic symptoms? Or maybe I have an eye infection? I don’t know. All I know is I don’t want to wear my contacts or eye makeup since all I want to do is claw at my eyes.

Quebec City was a nice little getaway. It rained practically the entire time and we spent more time getting there than we spent there. Still, I experienced the wonder of poutine and spent a day and a half feeling like I was in Europe, even though it was really just Canada.

Here’s a couple shots:

I hope you like the pix. There’s no filters on them trying to make them look pretty. From Pookie’s camera to your screen, no Photoshop in between. For quite sometime I had this feeling of inadequacy. You see, I read a ton of blogs and the bloggers always post gorgeous pictures of their houses and lives… and it took me awhile to figure out that the pictures they post aren’t raw shots straight out of their camera. Their pictures are taken with an SLR and are tweaked afterward using Photoshop. Once I realized this, I don’t feel so bad about my pix anymore.

In somewhat similar news, I somehow found myself over at this very popular blogger’s site and I watched a video she posted of her office remodeling. The furniture looked really expensive and very very lovely. Made me want to take out my new Vado and show you guys my office. I am working off the same desk my parents bought me back in 1985 from Ikea. But don’t get the idea that I am not design-oriented… I recently remodeled the desk… by flipping over the top slab to hide the Garbage Pail Kid Stickers that I adhered to the corners back in the 80’s.

Nikita

I don’t know if you guys are aware of this, it’s something I’ve kept hidden… but I totally love the old late 90’s show, La Femme Nikita starring Peta Wilson. And recently I found out that the CW remade it as Nikita, starring Maggie Q. Last night was the debut. And I tuned in. Let me say this first and foremost, I WAS OPEN. Totally open. I really wanted to love it. But I didn’t.

My issue is a simple one. The producers clearly never watched a single episode of La Femme Nikita. What made La Femme Nikita stand out was Nikita’s humanity. That’s what made the show special. She was not a killer. And you could tell she didn’t enjoy what she was being forced to do. She struggled with her choices. AND SHE GOT PUMMELED. Often. The Nikita of this new series doesn’t show any humanity. She seemed to enjoy killing people with her bare hands. PLUS, Maggie Q looked like a soft wind might blow her over. Seeing her fight and knock MEN to the ground with her fists was a joke. (Kinda like Brigitte Fonda in Point of No Return). At least Peta was a big girl… her height and muscularity made the fight scenes plausible.

Why remake a show and then throw away all it’s good parts? Why not just create something totally new?

I think what happened is that the CW got confused. They thought the world needed a new Nikita but in fact, we just need a new Peta Wilson vehicle. Back in 2006, I came up with a FANTASTIC storyline for an action/adventure television series starring Peta Wilson. I have no idea why no producers have reached out to me about developing this show further.

Hello!?!?! Hollywood!?!?! CALL ME!!!!!!

The explosion prior to vacation

Pookie and I decided to use up his remaining vacation days by driving to Quebec City. We leave tomorrow morning. That is, unless I explode and am unable to put the pieces of myself back together in time.

I bought the Mygica EZgrabber2 USB 2.0 Video Capture Adapter Device to convert old home movies of our 1994 trip to Slovakia to DVD. Considering the sheer size of my eyebrows and ass in the videos, it’s amazing I haven’t just deleted the tapes. At any rate, my mom asked me to convert a tape for her as well. I just ripped it and now I am s l o w l y burning it to DVD. I am guessing the tape was recorded back in 1985 or 1986. It’s of her and her girlfriends goofing around. They made it for their friend who had moved away. Gosh those ladies were a hoot back then! As a little girl, I guess I just didn’t get it. I will tell you my favorite part of the tape is where they discuss the Jerry Penacoli incident. Those were such innocent days, my friends!

So anyone live in or around Quebec City? Any suggestions on places to stay? Anyone want to meet up?

I am hoping to try some poutine.

I am 36-years-old

Wow! 36! Little silly me! Whatever you think, whatever you know about me, if you get right down to it, I am still 6-years-old, sitting on a brown shag rug, holding my toes, glued to the TV, watching Lynda Carter spin into Wonder Woman. And dreaming of doing the same.

Last year was an amazing year. Yes, my income level dropped to precipitous levels but I am truly INDEPENDENT! Unabhängig! And I am going to make this work. In fact, it’s already working. One whole year into it and I am not just hanging in… I am climbing!

One thing I know for sure, this upcoming year will see some major, POSITIVE, changes taking place. Mark my words. And if they don’t, feel free to crucify me next year.

Weird wings and things

The weather was gorgeous for a week. Seemed like Autumn was right around the corner. Now it’s hot again.

At least my air conditioning is working again. It was nice to get a reprieve from it for a week. And thank goodness it coincided with cool weather.

Last night after Sunday dinner with my parents, Mom and Lisa presented me with birthday presents!!?! I was really surprised especially since my birthday is so far off. Turns out, I’m wrong and it’s in 3 days. Mom gave me a purple necklace and matching earrings. Lisa got me two analog journals, a tunic with cross-stitched roses around the neck and sleeves and a cute tablet. I am very happy with my loot!

At any rate, it did get me thinking about items I would LOVE to get for myself… but I hate to splurge.

    My Dream Wishlist (not a call for gifts… this is mainly the big stuff I dream about…sometimes)

  1. iPad
  2. Replace my HTC Hero with the Evo
  3. Pure Sensia Internet Radio
  4. Laser hair removal on my legs
  5. Vado HD Video Camera Mr. Pookie bought me a Vado for my birthday!
  6. Licensed Photoshop and Illustrator and lessons on how to use them
  7. The bed I slept in at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel in Dallas.
  8. PC Projector so I can truly be a public speaker– I hate always having to beg for one.
  9. Licensed copy of Camtasia. Unless someone can convince me that I am simply not using CamStudio to the fullest of it’s capabilities.
  10. I want a new briefcase/laptop case and matching portfolio… I still use my old company’s portfolio and that’s just ghetto… I am sorry I used that term since when I hear people using it, I think they are being racist, and here I am using it.
  11. I want a kick ass logo for my business. And I keep trying and I just can’t do it myself and I think I should maybe just hire a designer but I am just cheap. But when I have tapped designers for help, they give me crappy output… and it seems like no one can understand what I mean when I say Googie, Atomic Age, Mid Century Modern, retro-futuristic, The Jetsons, Thunderbirds are GO!

Is that all? Not bad! I am a cheap date!

Why do you have to be so nice?

I spent three consecutive evenings organizing all my receipts from the last number of years so I could find all the invoices from Ray’s HVAC. And I found all of them. There weren’t that many. I put together a little graph showing the amount of money I’ve been spending on repairing the unit over the last 5 years and I waited for Ray to arrive. He came round a little after 12 as he had promised. He went out back to the unit, removed a panel, diagnosed the issue as a burnt out flux capacitor and replaced it. I stood there with my invoices and graph in my hand ready to pounce as soon as the issue was resolved. Ray then said, “Sorry about this Donna, it’s under warranty! See ya!” And he took off. I was dumbstruck. Maybe it was a good thing that I told him last time that I make my money by showing company’s how to get the word out on the top Social Media sites.

Here’s the thing, I like Ray. I’ve always liked Ray. I tend to get angry at Ray when he’s not around but as soon as he stops by, I see him and think, “I like him!” And he did the right thing this time. Watch how fast this changes when the heater stops working.

I am going to have to decide within the next few weeks what to do with the leak that has occurred twice now, each time happening the first day I turn on the air. My 5 year warranty is almost up and if there’s a reason for the leak, I would prefer to get it fixed now rather than later. Of course, why does it only leak the very first day and not again?

I dunno. The main issue of this hour is fixed. I’ll deal with the other issue later.

YOU SOLD ME A LEMON!

A Telephone Conversation
“Ray’s HVAC, can you hold?”HVAC Nightmares
“Yeah….”
“Ray’s HVAC, how can I help you?”
“Is this the answering service or the office?”
“It’s the answering service, how can I help you?”
“I need to talk to Ray.”
“Is this Donna X, 666 Brimstone and Hellfire?”
“How did you know that?”
“You must have called before because you are in our computer system.”
“Does your computer system also report that I’m the biatch that screams at Ray at least 3 times every year?”
“No, Ma’am, it doesn’t say that in our system.”
“Well let him know it’s that time again, my air conditioner has stopped working.”
“I’ll have him call you… Thank you so much! Buh Bye!”

Yes. It’s true. My air conditioner… less than 5 years old is on the fritz again. It happened on Friday. I turned it off. Changed the filter. Decided to give it some time off. Left it off for a couple days. Finally today, I decided it was time to check on it. Damn thing isn’t working. The inside fan turns on and blows non-refrigerated air. The outside fan doesn’t turn on at all. It is also emitting a sharp humming sound.

He’s been around twice this year so this next visit will be #3. The unit blew a fuse AND it leaked. Last year it leaked. I am trying to get together all my invoices that I’ve paid over the last 5 years. I can’t imagine that this is acceptable behavior. Like I said to him the last time he was out, “Ray, you’re a nice guy but I was really hoping to go at least 10 – 15 years before I had to see you again.”

5 Years Hence

Last night I read some old donnaville blog entries from 2005. That was a couple months prior to getting laid off… the first time. Prior to re-branding myself a Sales professional. Reading the entries, I was surprised at how fun, happy and silly I sounded. Things sure did change that January. And I can hardly believe it was 5 years ago. 5 years!

At any rate, I have a ton of things on my plate today. And I don’t know where to start. I guess I should just stop thinking and just do it.

Come and Give Me the Power!

I am sitting at the local library, borrowing an outlet and their WiFi, and wondering what it would be like to hold a robin in my hands. It’s nice looking outside and seeing nature. Birds are such odd creatures when they aren’t flying.

My power is out. Work is being performed on the lines. PECO says it should be restored around 7.

I plan on being at La Fitness at 7 doing Cardio Kickboxing. I took the last month off exercising. Too much work to do, no time to jump around to music. I need to get back into it. I just don’t really know how people do it. It’s such a time commitment. Maybe that’s why some people wake up early and do it so it doesn’t totally eat into their day. I wish I could be so motivated.

Even though it’s hot as heck outside, I am sensing a change in seasons. It’s like my body decided it has had enough heat and is ready for some colder air. Eventually it will happen. And then I will moan about the chill.

A body in motion tends to stay in motion. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. I think I am at rest and that’s why I am so ambivalent about working out tonight.