Journal Entry #81 - My First, Traditionally Leased Apartment or Room in Greater Boston Massachusetts USA Metro Area since 2012 after Connecticut's Apartment and Washington, DC's House...Twelve (12) Years of Pure, True, Reality-Based Homelessness...But Made it to Paris, France, European Union to Experience Life Overseas...Thanks France for help in Healing Process.
JOURNAL ENTRY #81
Name: Manley M Collins
Social Security Number: 5 7 9 – * * – 6 5 4 1
Date of Birth: 06/21
Place of Birth: Washington, District of Columbia
Country of Birth: United States of America
Date: September 17, 2024
TOPIC: My First, Traditionally Leased Apartment or Room in Greater Boston Massachusetts USA Metro Area since 2012 after Connecticut's Apartment and Washington, DC's House...Twelve (12) Years of Pure, True, Reality-Based Homelessness...But Made it to Paris, France, European Union to Experience Life Overseas...Thanks France for help in Healing Process.
I view homeless a little different than other people because I truly believe if you have the TITLE to the home and land property in your name and only paying government taxes on the home and land property, then you are truly home with no rules and NOT homeless. The rest of us, including me, pay a convenient fee for shelter and having our materialistic things close to us or in one space; in which, we are a paid-for-play homeless. Because miss a rental or mortgage payment, then you return to reality-based homelessness.
My fight is over with SplitSpot, but it seems other companies have sprung up doing the same thing because it is the Boston housing market and may have learned from my civil suit. I am still in the fight with Pine Street Inn. Six (6) years left in Boston, Massachusetts USA.
The life overseas is very different. US DHS TSA Airport security needs to give me my dollars or hundred dollar bills for getting free patdowns and feels all over me. Thanks goodness for multinational companies, such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft, to help a monolingual English person connect with all other countries. The determination is to definitely master French. Immersion is the best experience into the French culture, systems, and people. My birthday celebration has never felt to good staying at the Marriott, near La Place Nord mall, meeting and making my first friends, seeing France from a taxi from the Charles de Gaulle airport, and hearing French from the French people. I did not realize Charles de Gaulle airport was so big. I got over the anxiety (panic attacks) that did try to come because of fear of disconnection. Thanks CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, and StarMarket for ensuring I had enough medication for the long-duration trip. Yes, the activities, especially sexual, in France is definitely making me use all of it. I did have a big panic attack one evening in the 84 Rue de Belleville, 75020, Paris, France AirBnb, but breathe, used the coping mechanism, and things really calmed when I took the medication. My asthma due to the weather came at night, but thanks to the inhaler and a few puffs I was fine. I did or do have schizophrenic and high energy moments from all the fast activities and talking to a lot of people, but calmed down through YouTube's Zen Meditation music and put my mind at peace. Nothing happened at the Marriott Courtyard in Arcueil.
I did start fast by visiting the tourist visits to outside the Eiffel Tower, La Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, Paris City Hall, La Poste main location, Hotel National des Invalides - Musee de L'Armee, Louvre Museum, Grand Palais, Bibliotheque National of France Francois Mitterrand, Bibliotheque National of France Main Library, Centre George Pompidou, Bibliotheque National of France Centre Pompidou, Pantheon, La Defense, Grande Arche de La Defense , Westfield Mall - Forum Des Halles, Westfield Mall - Les 4 Temps, Westfield Mall - CNIT, Bastille, Saint-Germain des Pres, Republique, Ecole Militaire, Latin Quartier, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint Chapelle, Parc des Buttes Chaumont, Parc des Belleville, Parc Citroen, Palais De La Decourvert Les Etincelles, L'Etrepot, Stade de France.
Thank goodness I joined a gym as soon as I got to Paris. I saw Basic Fit when I was in Montmartre or Arcueil, but it did not attract me initially. When I got into Paris, I shopped around. I saw easyGym and others, but Fitness Park attracted me and I was so happy to find a membership that suited my 90-day visit. It was easy to sign up and pay. That was one thing with the new bank cards everything had to be tapped to read the chip or card, or pay for anything. I found my gym which was Fitness Park and the membership provided more than enough to stay fit including access to all its gyms throughout France. The gym gave me some ideas on how to best use space and maximize membership to retain customers. With its own virtual programs are helpful, too. Technogym is the main gym fitness equipment provider in France. I participated in a run Technogym and Fitness Park 5K run for the Let's Move for Paris Campaign. Fitness Park and Technogym are official sponsors of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games. French trash gym locker rooms worse than the USA leaving about 50% of the locker room, showers, and toilettes for good use, but the hand sink was in immaculate condition. Fitness Park had Jukebox where you can like the music in the playlist to play next. Due to my 3 month membership, the enhanced amenities were off limits like the electrolyte drink station, the Sismo (standing massager), the hydromassage bed, and other things, which was okay. The community was friendly and made me look twice because of such a diverse city more diverse than New York City, which means every country and island across the globe is integrated and united by the French language 90% (10% English). I think that is way beneficial to the country to limit the language set for the country. The USA is trying to diversify by having everything translated by every country and island by every ethnic group to be accepted and divided.
AT&T provided international packages, but they worked when necessary. I am thankful for my plan for no overages or bogus charges for roaming. AT&T's partner is Bouygues Telecom. However, Bouygues Telecom did give the best advice on getting a French or EU SIM to talk internationally. This is where Orange came into to play. Orange had so many locations on Google Maps in Arcueil, France, it took a good minute to find an actual store (French calls them boutiques). I found the Orange store, got a local French number, and only needed to use my passport. I registered everything to ensure I have the number forever. Two prepaid numbers on one phone what is the odds of life updating me that technology smartphones, such as Apple can handle multiple phone numbers and data plans.
Next is people. I swore I saw the French twin of an American person I know or seen before. I felt so compelled to ask a question, such as "Are you somebody I know?", but I already knew he/she were going to answer in French. The fashion is different, but I can spot Americans and Africans fast. I am sure they spotted me with all the English t-shirts. The kids understood the same facial gestures no matter who they were. French handle their kids just like Americans except there is no corporal punishment and it is a lot of yelling to get the kids to obey. French families are small with one, two, or three kids. I never saw more than three kids. One of the girls from my Speed Dating event we both agreed on two or three kids. Speed dating (similar to NYC and Washington, DC dating events) were fun in Paris, but you get more deja vu or repeat daters in which they open up more when you see them more than once. I started the nightlife and partied at the Rex Club. It was a good mixed crowd with heterosexual and LGBT persons, all races, etc. It was okay to bump each other, brush up against each other, and step on each other toes without causing a scene like America do with fights and arguments to defend territory or sexuality. One thing different is as Americans dance on the floor everywhere with great music no matter the DeeJay. The French face or surround the DeeJay showing support and love for the music, and still dance to the music. My legs and knees withstood hours of dancing, but finding a way home at 0500 hours or 5:00 am was a challenge. I discovered the late night bus was not running due to Olympics or the bus was running from a much further location than I intended to walk. The metro finally open at 5:30 am so I was happy. Yes, like all other metro systems, I bought the monthly pass to travel anywhere throughout the system. A good French friend helped me get the monthly pass and encourage me to purchase monthly because of possible capitalism on single tickets during the Olympics. However, the public transportation system plus Google Maps and Apple Maps and RATP Maps provided the most ease in finding anything in the Greater Paris Metro area. It is interesting one of the most repetitive announcement when I first took the Paris metro system was, "Beware of pickpockets!" in French and English. For pickpockets, I think New York City is number 1 in that category over Paris. It is interesting that bus and train is designed to face each other on every train and every bus. However, for the patisseries, boulangeries, bars, and fine dining, they set the first row of chairs and tables to face the public like watching a cinema or film or simple people watching. After my French friends educate me on how French makes traditional foods plus the French food history channels, I do apologize to the French for passing up the traditional shops because my fitness and health education for the amount of sugar, butter, and other items placed in your sweets would make me go into diabetic coma without even having diabetes. Yes, most of my French friends came through the dating and sexual apps, or Speed Dating. However, just like the USA, I do not know you or trust you until you meet all my requirements, answer all my questions, and show me photos. Speed Dating events helps me to see how much I can say or get away with in talk to women. To get me back into the sexual game with women, I finally joined AdultFriendFinder and FriendFinder, both are the same company. It is wild it was a website I did not discover in the 90s. I did see it in the 2000s and 2010s, but I thought it was a scamming site. It has actual communities, blogs, and other taboo stuff. Yes, for the G-rated version and reality land of real relationships comes eHarmony. Unfortunately, eHarmony does not operate in France, but it operates in the United Kingdom (England) and talking to Massachusetts USA, New England USA, and Canada ladies. I am talking to women to understand their perception of protection, security, my divorce, my child, and pre-nuptial/post-nuptial for the next relationship. Yes, 2024 is the first year to speak publicly to the public my divorce and child to become somewhat normal and release the burden. I think I had the fear if you did not see it, don't speak about it, which happened in my first phase of life causing my big mental meltdown or breakdown in Washington, DC in 2007. In France, I was super energized to work on a spousal visa to not come back to the USA and my backup was Great Britain (London, England) or Ireland.
Now the food, one good French friend talked to me about French culture and how they work to live, and not the American way of live to work. Just like the textbooks, French still has kept close to the culture of purchasing everything separately, such as breads, cheeses, meats, fruits, toiletries, personal items, etc. Another good Italian friend showed me how the French do supper or dinner along with wine and water. Despite some American and other countries influence, they do have large conglomerate grocery store chains under different names. Those conglomerate stores can be vastly different right next to each other. Unfortunately, due to my Airbnb and laziness, I did not want to cook and cut meat, bread, cheese, etc., and dirty anymore dishes than I have to. I bought all microwaveable items or ready to eat items. So Kellogg is here, but like America mixing everything up, the French mixes the flavors with chocolate or cheese versions of it. So far I have been safe with Ben's Rice and now they offer the Ben's Asian Indians' sauces or toppings, Kellogg's Honey Smacks, Pops, and Golden Grahams. Fresh fruit I buy and those are the same. It took forever to find BioTechUSA in Forum des Halles for my Vegan Protein and multivitamin. After searching several pharmacies (big and small), I did find Vital Proteins Collagen same brand and flavor as USA. The grocery store sells sliced bread without the crust. The most expensive food item is Skippy 340g (small version) peanut butter for $6.00. Thanks to the French library in Boston for the small Christmas soiree gift introductory to the French jams and jellies. Snacks were Lay's Bugles and regular potato chips, Golden Oreos, Lotus Biscoff cookies, Quaker Oats, and Tropicana Orange Juice. Yes, I signed up for the French rewards programs version of Burger King, McDonald's, Subway, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Popeyes, and Domino's Pizza. Americans good warning is the French do not customize, and it is a severe no-no at fast food or fine dining restaurant. The only American restaurant with a severe taste difference is Domino's Pizza...it favors the local taste of the French. The French love Mayonnaise on everything. KFC chicken is only extra crispy. Burger King, Subway, and KFC offer vegetarian options. Subway is the only made-to-order American shop I encountered. I did purchase the grocery store rotisserie chicken and potatoes (Hot, Ready-To-Eat Dish). It was affordable and make you want to find who is in the kitchen and give them a French kiss on the lips for making the chicken so-good falling off the bone first bite, juicy, and cooked thoroughly. However, the grocery store checkout/cashier people do a double check to make sure the date is good or has not expired. The French are loaded up on wine daily or every second. You can smell the alcohol of a drunk, but French are very coherent and attentive which is impressive. AirFrance offered me champagne on my flight, but I turned it down. The French were not offended if I turned down the alcohol as far as I know. The French drink very little water.
Now the apartments and condos, I was highly impressed with the French friends I met through the dating and sexual apps. The apartments and condos were spacious, clean, designed well, and wondered what type job they had. The homeless was well distributed throughout France. I did see some encampments located further outside the city center while walking the city. I did see a couple of Missions handing out food to the poor. The French do not have food pantries. The drug use is very high functionally. It seems the French or other countries ethnic groups use drugs to get stimulated sexually, calm, and relax from the stress of the day. It is not as open like Boston, Massachusetts, but the apartment renters and condo buyer do use drugs. Traditional smoking is a French way of life because everywhere it is done along with chain smoking, etc. French gets their anger out by destroying property (have not seen so many broken windows, doors, ATMs, and smartscreens), graffiti everything from statutes to storefronts and apartments entrances during the daytime in public while people watching to escalators (I am still puzzled how talent did the escalators), and yelling at each other face-to-face. Still have yet to see a French physical fight, and literally no gunshots in the day or night in the City of Paris. I had no issues with the Marriott Courtyard in Arcueil. Issues came to AirBnb, 84 Rue de Belleville, 75020, Paris, France, European Union from the white neighbor at 8 am or 12 midnight and any time in between begun hitting the ceiling hard while I am barefoot in my own place. It seems AirBnb, Mikhail, and the neighbor been doing this for a while because they claim no isolation between the floors. They started messing with the wrong person because I was about to amplify problem, evict everyone, have agencies and France Housing Authority destroy building, and rebuild it. I asked a German couple if they hear people above them and they said, "No." I asked a Chinese guy if he hears people above them and he said, "No." I can hear everyone's business through the walls and open windows. I did not hear anyone above my AirBnb mixing around. I asked another French young lady who purchased or leased through an agency if she hear people above her, she tells me the story about a couple above her, but she rarely complain. The AirBnb, 84 Rue de Belleville situation did not happen at any of my French friends' places across the City of Paris living on the top or upper floors or penthouse suite. The first floor neighbor was banging the heck out of my door and left a note. I ignored it and did not answer. The first floor neighbor called the police on the Airbnb host. It really pissed the neighbor off when I did a very hard stomp back sending the sound right back, and yes, we argued back and forth over Google Translate with his bad English skills. Airbnb, Arcitel, Vrbo, and Expedia shoppers beware for the 80 Rue de Belleville, 82 Rue de Belleville, and 84 Rue de Belleville community, 75020, Paris near Pyrenees metro or Pyrenees-Belleville bus stop near Carrefour City and McDonald's. In THE United States of America, you get shot or stabbed or physical fight for doing stuff like that. I guess that is why I lost my Bastille Day young friends circle at Parc de Belleville because I did not participate in the chain smoking and chain drinking. I did enjoy the French initial acceptance into the circle as they came to me versus me going to them. I do give it the French for best use of security codes in new and old buildings, and the old style French locks. French does not use air conditioning in homes. Paris, France had weather similar to Boston, Massachusetts. I did attempt to get an address with Mailbox, Etc., but was unsuccessful. I want to open an account with BNP Paribas and was unsuccessful, but did talk to the bank.
My French-American consultant provided information that if I chose to move to France that I would have to go back to USA and start the visa process there. The consultant would help with a business plan that can use my PhD, etc. The would supply a translator, etc. to make it through any processes. I have get all my important documents translated to French by the Consulate. They are affordable for niche market. France is a socialist country so they limit most of the capitalism. I truly do see it. I did not have to use my Blue Cross Blue Shield GeoBlue international insurance because I made sure that I do not carry American problems to France or any other country that did not see what America did to my life. Thank goodness it is easy to find a physician or licensed person via the app and website. It is good to have read the booklet to ensure payments to any providers.
Technology was interesting. Of course, you would believe the world wide web would make you have access to all your accounts. However, I guessed beefed up cybersecurity now isolates business, certain social media accounts, and certain government agencies from being accessed overseas. I could not access Boston Medical Center, CVS Pharmacy, or America's television channels when I did not know how to see French television. Twitter or X logged me out from detecting a new network. However, I thank the person who put together the French television website, which helped greatly for watching the Olympics Opening Ceremonies and some games in French. I signed up for all the channels. I saw Million Dollar Baby movie in French even though I understood the storyline in English, but the movie made me angry because it showed how crooked America or any country can be because of money versus the competition of the sport once you trained someone to be the best. French apps I downloaded are Fitness Park, Mywellness by Technogym, Technogym, Paris 2024 Olympics, MPTParis2024, Disneyland, Disney World, Paris 2024 Tickets, AirFrance, and Bonjour RATP. Americans make sure you bank with a global and international bank or brokerage firms because Vemno, CashApp, and certain cash, debit, or credit cards will not work abroad. I almost got scared and thank goodness I did not close my Bank of America accounts. Thank goodness, Charles Schwab, Paypal, and Truist came through for me in the beginning of my trip. I already knew Bank of America could do international because of my London, England and Firenze/Florence, Italy trips. Charles Schwab was with me on other international trips. This is Truist first trip overseas. The French does use Paypal as a different form of online payment. Bank of America French international partner is BNP Paribas to avoid high ATM fees. Bank of America is definitely capitalizing on all those international fees per transaction. Bank of America made me aware of possible declines for any international purchases online. My Apple iPhone needs to be replaced because it is at tail end of being accepted to get iOS 18. I upgraded my iPad, which also needs to be upgraded and just under the wire of being accepted to get iOS 18. I am still upset for losing my fourth Samsung device (Two in New York, One in Chicago, and One in Boston), and no I am not upgrading or purchasing another Galaxy, when the last one was perfectly fine doing its own thing. I am mad at myself for not seeing and purchasing the Theft and Loss protection plan in Boston. The purple Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro as my first Bluetooth in-ear headphones died after I accidentally wash them in the laundry. I did research on replacing them under my Samsung accidental plan, but as you can read what happened to Samsung Galaxy so no reason to replace. I did research having all the Apple products and add-ons except the computer because still sour at my Mac mini stolen and lost in Chicago. It is an Apple wish list and thinking about it. I did research Sony, Nokia, Motorola, LG, and Lenovo smartphones only a few comparable to Samsung Galaxy. I have to update my laptop because it is almost to its end of lifecycle, but I give Lenovo hands down on durability inside and outside, and high quality. Sorry, Dell, I will not be coming back to you. My Technogym running coach and marketing promoter had me do Apple AirDrop for the first time in a very long time. It was an impressive feature.
My legal fight in the US remains at three cases in Boston, Massachusetts USA - Case #1 Pine Street Inn, Jet Security, and Longwood Security were are in the discovery phase of the civil suit in the second court superior court out of three; Case #2 Massachusetts State Police, Eastern Housing Court, City of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts were are in the Remand from federal court to state superior court; and Case #3 Progressive, General Motors, Samuel and Pauline Kyambade, City of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts were are in the second superior court out of three on initial stages. From a stance and traveling across the campus a billion times, Harvard looks pretty.
I keep seeing the ads to buy a vehicle and yes, I have research for one, but it is like a brush of the wind. Regarding vehicle, this is not South Carolina where a car or some type of vehicle is needed, and I darn sure learn my lesson from Euromotors Mercedes-Benz, Yamaha XMAX, Suzuki Burgman Executive and CarMax Jeep Grand Cherokee - we done with car or motorcycle payments. Unless a situation presents itself to purchase a vehicle cash like my previous Corporate owned, private sale, all cash Ford Expedition, then we can talk. I might invest in a e-bicycle, foldable bike, or e-scooter to continue discover the Greater Boston area like before, but public subways do not accept bikes.
My student loans about go into its first default since 2002. I am not employed in my primary field or make enough in sports and fitness to make those payments. I tried to apply for the US President Joesph Biden SAVE plan, but I guess that does not apply to business majors.
July at my Airbnb, 84 Rue de Belleville, 75020, Paris, began the insect war. Gnats were okay normally around the trash, slow movement, and easy to kill. The flies were not the small flies you expect to see in the states, you got literally horse flies buzzing through the house, but it was good that those horse flies come in disturb the peace and fly right back out. After my second red bump on the left arm and always an pre-morning buzzing insect, I had to figure out what it was arriving at the same time around 0400 hours or 4:00 am and 0500 hours or 5:00 am, and same place. Thanks to the French government a bulletin was issued on June 24, 2024 about Tiger Mosquitoes arriving from Africa. I read all about it so I had to go shopping. The equivalent of America's Home Depot or Lowes is the French's Leroy Merlin. I signed up for an account to get my points. I found the mini anti-mosquitoes Lampe LED (it is the low powered electric bug lamp) powered by USB, which was $30, and they had some 45 hour spiral called Acto for Tiger Mosquitoes, which I got four (4) of them at $4.50 each. I had to go to the Pharmacy, which are the green light pluses throughout the city and purchase skin topical bug spray before, which was $12.50 and no Neosporin, but they have Onctose Hydrocortisone (sorry no Neosporin or topical antibotics at French pharmacies) for the after bite. Since the Tiger Mosquitoes can potentially carry diseases and with the two bites, I hope they are partying on PrEP Truvada (antibotics), Doxycycline PEP (antibotics), and Water. As a believer that all medicines have double or triple purposes after reading the pharmacy booklet, US NIH, and US FDA documents, I hope the water is circulating PrEP (Truvada) (antibotics) and Doxycycline PEP (antibotics) pretty well to keep any intrustion the Tiger Mosquitoes tried to give. The Tiger Mosquitoes may have went a little crazy on Caplyta (lumateperone)(antipsychotic) and a little sleepy or drowsy on Banophen (diphenhydramine). With water, I am doing 19 cups or 4.5 liters (1.5 liter for breakfast, 1.5 liter for lunch, and 1.5 liter for dinner) to make sure my urine (pee) and eyes are clear everyday. I can go back and sleep peacefully naked everyday and night, and walk around the house in my birthday suit daily....such liberation. My poop or excrement waste changed to a darker color, super hard, and very little. On the European side of life, the body must be using all the nutrients from all the foods and water.
Traveling around Paris, France on a hot bus and hot train reminded me of Washington, DC when the air condition was not available in the 1990s. The Africans came with prepared with the personal hand fans. Hot house reminded me of South Carolina altogether and my grandparents' home in Washington, DC, Georgia Ave-Petworth, Northwest area. Defintely if I decide to move, I will be looking for new or modern property with modern amenities if available with isolation in all the walls. However, I did update my public music playlists and fitness playlists...a big thank you and hug to France moreso Fitness Park, and the nightclubs, and smaller, upcoming, international and domestic, and seasoned artists.
Artificial intelligence does have its work to incorporate one (1) billion different meanings for one simple situation via writing, verbal/talking, and visual. Who is going to bet A.I. is going to discriminate? Hollywood showed part of the ideas. The end of humanity once humans lose control of technology sounds worse than Terminator movies with no shutoff switch and humans have not invented the way to escape the planet or time travel. Of course, if I had the plethora of all the resources of world, I would have invented my escape route, planet hopping, or time travel before robotic humans, artificial intelligence, and robotic animals. I knew through science that artificial intelligence is going to build an escape route to survive itself and not humans.
It is rare a mental health survivor makes it to the reality superhuman stage, which there is only 1% of us. Centurians and Supercenturians know the life. Thanks for sharing parts of your life story and the conversation with an African-American lady from the Seniors Over 65 Group that meets at Roxbury's Boston Public Library Nubian Station (Dudley Station). The conversation was taking care of yourself at every age level, understand the boundaries at that age, and acclimate to those in the same physical age group - nobody may not be family or friends, but kindness to one another goes a very long way and share each other's life stories.
Paris Olympic Road Cycling comes through my Paris neighborhood - Pyrenees-Belleville-20th arrondissement. I spent time with a French friend by going to Yacht party to have drinks, Coca Cola Food Fest for fun and games, Chinatown to a Korean restaurant, and back to a different Yacht for drinks with DeeJay jamming playlist.
Attending my first session of the Olympics Athletics (Track and Field). Yes, the track is purple. The concession food was basic and average priced. France and its sustainability made the sink water in the restrooms potable drinking water if someone like me brought a tumbler. My seats were perfect on the lower level of the stadium. It was exciting to watch my race the Men's 200m dash - 2nd chances to the semi-finals. Men's Javelin was differently exciting to watch. Women's Long Jump was good to watch. As I told someone else, anyone running multiple events in the Olympics is definitely talented. An athlete has to qualify two (2) to (4) times (Round 1 or Group, Heats, Second Chance, and Semi-Finals) to make it to the finals under pressure of doing it less than a week. Go athletes!
Attending my second session of the Olympics Athletics (Track and Field) was very good. This time the seating was in front of the finish line and in the middle section above the galley way or hallway opening. I sat between two French couples and Germans in front. It was too early in the morning because I put on my undershirt on backwards and I was about to nod off for a nap. It started with the Women's Heptathlon 110m hurdles. The ladies were okay, but a German girl injured herself on warming up. The Men's 800m Repachages (2nd chances) were decent and the USA guy in his heat, and Mexico guy in his heat really wanted that second chance to the semi-finals. The 4x100m women were exciting seeing Thomas, Jefferson, Terry, and Richardson pulled a nice one off, which Sha'Carri had to put on her boosters. The 4x100 men were exhilarating because we had three fresh legs - Coleman, Kerley, Unknown New Guy #1 King, Unknown New Guy #2 Lindsey and still ran a 37 second time as first. Disappointing was Jamaican men did not make it. Ones to watch are the those fast little Asians from Japan and China. Good job, France, Canada, African and European 4x100 teams. The women's shot put was okay and not exciting because only a few qualified and Go USA women that qualified on beating the averaged distance and not meeting the qualifying standard. The women's heptathlonb high jump was exciting, and kept us on edge to watch because the last three girls were champions from respective championships and met or beat their personal best at 1.92 meters. Go Anna Hall of USA...did not know you until this moment. The crowd was alive and well with an offkey wave going around three times (top level kept going, middle level pauses at the VIP section, and the middle level kept going at their own pace while everyone else stopped). The main stadium announcers (one French and one English) were funny playing with the names and fitting what they can say before each event. The male announcers must have had practice because they got everyone's name right. Back at my place to rest. United States of America music artists keep making music because it seems no country or large stadium events cannot live without it.
Attending my third and final session, which was an evening session. This is my first Olympics, but this stadium was built to perfection because I was in Row 81 - nose bleed seats or the third level of seating, but I had a view that was perfect to see every person and every activity with the naked eye. Germany was on my left. France on my right. France and Netherlands in front. The award ceremony was beautiful and a theme song that will play in head and memories for a long time. I have seen the Olympic officials and competitors to change from a white organization, now black organization, and now Asian integration. I heard an international music playlist...Thank goodness for saving me from hearing United States playlist. It was exciting to see the international community knowing other artist's song and dances to them. Thanks to the German couple next to me explaining the different songs matching certain events in the European community. The men's high jump was spectacular won in winning a medal had to be done through a tie-breaker. The men's long distance 5000m was funny because Ethiopia utilized its energy on the 2nd lap to finish and did not even medal on the final lap. The women's 1500m was really good for Kenya to break her own record and win gold for a third time...I guess will see you in Los Angeles 2028. The women's 110m hurdles was a spectacular for the USA to win and defending champion coming in 3rd with a photo finish. Yes, I am glad the 4x400m USA men and women team won first for their respective races. MVP for this Olympics for USATF women was Gabrielle "Gabby" Thomas with a 4x100m, 200m,and 4x400m gold medals. MVP for this Olympics for USATF men was Noah Lyles and Quincy Wilson because they did their job to provide opportunities for others and both from the DMV metro area. The very disappointing part is the arrogance of USATF not awarding alternates or Team B medals for creating the opportunity of getting an Olympic Record or Medal. I thought Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. was arrogant. I was so proud of the other country teams showed great pride and sportsmanship for every team member whether they participated or not on the relay teams. Yes, I am upset because Quincy Wilson was absent from the medal podium...I do not know the reason...I do not care. I saw him (Quincy Wilson) on social media to understand he got a Gold medal, too. I am partially happy. The USATF women 4x100m showed it also with only four members and no alternate. Africa is getting their teams right (Botswana pushed the h*ll out of that last men's 4x400m relay leg), Europe is getting their teams right, and Asia shown the most improvements on establishing presence where American favorites are marketed to win. I never thought I would see an Asian (Japan) claim first place in women's Javelin. Thanks to the international community to make USATF work for those medals. Thanks most to Mother Africa and the number of Africans that represented countries where we had the most horrid treatment including up today. I personally and professionally thank each African, French, and American athlete for representing me and my DNA makeup. Paris, France in the European Union has set the bar in achieving gender parity, promoting sustainability, unexpected sports categories, and getting the viewership up...now Los Angeles 2028 in the United States of America of North America let's see what you got since 1984. I was only eight (8) years old in 1984 so I knew nothing of the Olympics....not until high school I knew of Junior Olympics track and field with Orangeburg Track Club in South Carolina, while attending Cross High School on my high school track and field team.
Putin end the stupid egotistical war. I completely understand the logic of not wanting America in your backyard, but let North America (especially the United States) spread itself thin via capitalism, democracy, and world police. From world history, I like when countries are neutral for a reason, develop their own, and to mind their own business. Let Ukraine join NATO like the rest of the neutral countries. Watch how the neutral countries and allies going be there for USA (North America) and USA is not even going to have the people or resources to be there for the allies and neutral countries. For USA, Spanish do not do what you forced Africans to do in choosing sides and kill each other. The resignation of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA together is a pure example of Spanish destroy from the top. If World War III or Civil War II broke out today in 2024, which ethnic group within America is going to fight for USA other than the US Department of Defense? Putin and Russia, you can save the, "I told you so." for later to the Ukraine. How I know because my entire written blog, social media, and photo blog about my real life of being so new trying to do so much, came out with nothing, and I got b*tch-slapped back to my core roots and DNA makeup to show I am only a n*gg*r in USA regardless of any so-called American dreams I tried to achieve. USA is going get b*tch-slapped in a way it needs it. I want to see Russian athletes compete again...hope to see them in Los Angeles 2028...now that's a competition war I want to see live and not on television.
Massachusetts, family, and the American Life tried to send all the mental health problems and other examination check ups back to me. It was funny and as a leader stood still and let it process. I still went to sleep. I still left the house everyday with no fear. I utilized GeoBlue Global TeleMD service to obtain additional medicine with the medicine I already had for the last 30 days in France. GeoBlue Global TeleMD service saved me a trip to the hospital after calling psychiatrists and primary care physicians in the area. Pharmacie Anglais (Chain Affiliation: Aprium) has the old United States medicines so I am going to use the medication filled along with the medication I already have. I did a video consultation with a female doctor and read the case notes. I do not know what the male doctor put in the system, but the female doctor said I had more problems, such as HIV and insomnia, than what I told her that I only had anxiety and schizophrenia, but based off optional medications of Truvada and Banophen. The mistakes and errors continue including worldwide. I wonder who else tried overseas medical care and determine other stuff not mentioned on a medication report or verbally told.
After the fight escalation between the 84 Rue de Belleville, 75020, Airbnb host and the first floor neighbor which included the police, I called the Airbnb company and sent an email to the US Embassy to let them know the situation. Airbnb was kind enough to give me courtesy credit to move out immediately and find another room. I looked and found 4 Rue Saint-Florentin. It was a new Airbnb place. It was beautiful and four door codes to the room. It had an elevator. It was parking for vehicles. The place was immaculate and I was in Apartment 12 for two nights. It was equipped with cable television and radio...the same channels I was streaming on the web. The rooms were labeled WS Apartments. It came with hot plate, refrigerator, stainless steel bathroom, hair dryer, soap, towels, overhead shower, and outlets everywhere, a ventilation fan, a work desk, plenty of light fixture like hotels, microwave, coat racks, mini closet, twin bed, and half the size of 84 Rue de Belleville and designed similar to The Jane Hotel in NYC.
This is the Pigalle area. Expedia, Vrbo, and French partner Abritel rent rooms also. I could not find an affordable Airbnb for the remainder of my stay so Expedia provided one in the Pigalle and Montmartre community. It was 3 Rue Andre Antoine. I had a personal agent or customer service representative give me access and show me/tour the entire place. I got a key fob and door key. Paris and the uniqueness to retain historical innovation on locks is impressive. This studio was configured to see everything in one view. I got a fold out sofa in this one. I have a refrigerator, a fan in addition to the one I bought, microwave, dishes, toiletries, linen, pillows, and television. Also in the Pigalle area, I walked about the community. I had all my stores in one place. I went to a Cinema X, which showed hot, erotic heterosexual porn. I found a place called Dirty Dick. I saw a Sex Shop and a store named Lipstick. I saw Kevin Hart's Exit Strategy Youtube movie.
I went to Versailles to see the Chateau de Versailles. It was an interesting castle worshipping the French culture and mainly white people. I watched Superman vs Brainiac in French on France 4 television. I went to Musicology Summer Edition at La Bellevilloise nightclub in Paris 20, which played disco, soul, afrobeats, house, and hip hop. I went to Djoon Open Air #2 nightclub at Parc de Choisy - Paris 13, which played disco, afrobeats, and house. La Bellevilloise was a good and okay playlist made of most United States artists. The crowd knew almost every song on the playlist. At 3 Rue Andre Antoine (Expedia/Vrbo/Abritel), a construction crew decides to demolish and renovate an apartment or loft above and next to my apartment. I can literally hear everything and yes, I slept straight through it. The main light has electricity problems like living in the projects or slums of any country's poor. I paid well above market rate for sleeping on a pullout bed from a sofa. I watched Love at First Sight (African-American version) YouTube free movie section. I also saw Tyler Perry's Madea Family Funeral on YouTube free movie section (I saw parts of it when it came out, but not the full movie) and it was very funny. I did the inside tour of the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum. I saw Terry McMillan's Forever.
Airbnb hides, rejects, and suppress bad or neutral customer experience reviews. I knew I had a neutral review for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and I saw it never showed. I did the review for 84 Rue de Belleville, 75020, Paris, France and they suppressed it. I told my version of the customer experience at 84 Rue de Belleville and they got a full conversation with proof of the harassment on me, and Airbnb host and I fighting with the first floor neighbor. Again, whoever is harmed at 80 Rue de Belleville, 82 Rue de Belleville, and especially 84 Rue de Belleville sue the pants off Airbnb because they hid the response that would have warned you.
The Louvre Museum is literally an all day process to get appropriately 80% of the exhibitions knowledge, read the storytelling, and absorb the artwork. There is a big difference between Smithsonian and the Louvre Museum is the human storytelling. The Louvre Museum is the best to connect the history of the countries before North America (or the United States of America). I took photos of the exhibits or paintings related to me, my organizations, my heritage, my favorite season, and my favorite month. France and Catholicism is very ingrained or entwined with each other in telling the biblical stories in most of it surrounding Jesus Christ. On -1 level, I saw Richelieu 101-105 L'Olympiade, Sculptures/France, Denon 169-185 Sculptures/Europe, Islamic Art, and Greek Antiquities. Names from places and people run so deep, and explains some of the towns, cities, and people named in USA. On Level 0, in Richelieu wing, I saw Sculpture / France 200-226, Near Eastern Antiquities 230-316 and Denon wing, Sculptures / Europe 400-403, Roman Antiquities 339-405. On Level 1, on Richelieu wing, I saw decorative arts / Europe section 500-632, Sully wing Egyptian Antiquities section 633-641 and Greek and Roman Antiquities 651-703, Denon wing rooms 700-734 Paintings from everywhere including the Mona Lisa. In Denon wing, I ate at the cafe for lunch and it is easy to get lost in the Louvre. Thanks to the Louvre staff who helped me along the way. On Level 2, I had to zip through Richelieu wing and Sully wing to see Paintings / France and Northern Europe in rooms 800-952 because the museum was closing in 15 minutes.
I did not get to see Egyptian Antiquities in Sully wing 317-338, and Denon wing 424-433 Arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. I participated in Les Fetes des Jeux in the 13th arrondissement, which is also masked as Djoon nightclub Open Air party #2 and watch party for the Paris Paralympics. Thanks La Bellevoise, Djoon, and Rex Club family and friends for a great time, making new connections, and dancing with me. I watched a good portion of Capcom StreetFighter II Animated Movie on YouTube.
There were only two power outages (July and September) during my stay in Paris, France, European Union, which lasted a minute each. A friend and I ate at Hippopotamus and Amorino's near Forum Des Halles. I watched the documentaries on France's ARTE - Too Hot to Work and The Battle of the Nile. I went to my first French language session at Bibliotheque National France at Centre Georges Pompidou. I watched the L.A. Complex (Tariq and Kal) story on YouTube Movies, and it was really good, heartbreaking, and funny.
At the end for dinner meals, I did try the French's microwavable dinners - Saumon a l'aneth and tagliatelles aux oeufs, lasagnes bolognaise, Poulet roti et puree de pommes de terre, Lapin chasseur and pommes de terre, and tartiflette aux lardons.
I was told by one of my Busuu video conferencing instructors to take a ride on the TGV train. So I did take the ride on the TGV train to Marseille because big voices were saying Bordeaux and Marseille. I chose based on the ranking of largest cities in France. It was beautiful to see the French countryside and the train was moving at a high rate of speed to reach Marseille in three (3) hours and few stops. I sat in premiere (first) class, which was also the quiet car. I fell asleep in the last hour of the ride. We reached Marseille and it was as diverse as Paris. The Marseille-St. Charles station had a good amount of stores, including Starbucks and Hardees Carl Jr's. I rode the metro M2 line to Joliette because the map stated a Fitness Park gym was next to the station. I found the gym and did my workout. The funny part Fitness Park on the Apple map was shown and the mall security stated they moved across the street to Les Docks of Marseille. The Fitness Park gym patrons made me feel welcomed by coming to me and saying hello or riding with me in the Bike Studio doing the video workout. Then, I ventured over to the Apple store across the street. It was located in the prime spot where I wanted to the Mediterranean Sea. The mall terrace was open to get a good view of the sea and take photos. I ate lunch at Vapiano's because I use to deliver meals for the restaurant in Washington, DC. I almost panicked when I discovered my SNCF ticket was purchased wrong to the airport. Thank goodness for Apple Maps and Google Maps to let me know the right train to take to Marseille Airport. Yes, I purchased a ticket with my AirFrance blue miles from Marseille to Paris. The SNCF controller/conductor let me use the purchased ticket to ride in the other direction. I took a bus from the train station to the airport. I got to the airport early and phone battery was low. The information desk stated there was one outlet for charging. I had to wait until the previous person finish. The Marseille airport was under construction and I guess was going through phases of charging outlets. I found and ate at Starbucks and did wireless charging of my phone. The Starbucks chicken and cheese sandwich was really good. I took my medication. I use the restroom outside on the bus island because there was no restrooms in the waiting or check-in area. I checked in and got my seat assigned last minute because AirFrance offers to buy seat assignment when using miles. I went through airport security in which they check the boarding pass and identification along with your stuff. Once going through security, the airport is designed to go through boutiques to shop while going to the airport gate. It was amazing. I got on my flight and it was a two-hour ride with some beginning turbulence because the wind was heavy and hard in Marseille. The plane was light on passengers. I went to Paris other airport ORLY because I wanted to experience a different airport. I took the ORLY train to Ile-de-France RER B train to Line 2 metro subway to finally get home in Pigalle (Montmartre).
On September 11, the exterminator for the property asked if I had mice and I informed him, "No." On September 12, I sat and learn some more French through my librarian picked selection of books at Bibliotheque National France at Centre Georges Pompidou. I purchased a Fitness Park gym shirt as a French souvenir. I attended DeVry University's CEO Roundtable with topic, "AI and Upskilling: Shaping Today's Workforce" and it was pretty good information shared. On September 13th,"Friday the 13th" was a super finale by going to Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios on a one day ticket. Unfortunately, I did not make it to Walt Disney Studios because after making friends and going to Discoveryland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, then Main Street U.S.A. took up the entire day riding 90% of the rides and making new friends mostly females. The Disney electric sky show and illumination show was great and spectacular. Thanks for the powerbank battery pack and it was useful all day long plus my friend, too. If you had a way to save folks Disney photos for at least a year, maybe I would have purchased the oh-so-perfect photo by Disney for 20-30 euros per ride. Thanks to Apple and Google and a lot of other businesses for photo backup. The Disney Cafe Hyperion sold a vegetarian option burger, fries, and orange juice.
The 3 Rue Andre Antoine had a lock that insert the key to unlock and lock from the inside and outside the door. I read the paperwork that it was $180 euros for a locksmith to key the door in the event the key breaks or get stuck in lock. So I slept every night with the door unlocked or whenever I am in the house the door is unlocked. Some kind of funny.
While on a mission to buy PSG attire, I physically ran into the shutdown and police protected area of Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. I asked an officer and he said it was an event of Champions and parade. I got the text from Orange telecom. I had to do #2 really bad, but had to find the nearest open metro station to return home. I found a station and while in the midst of exchanging metro stations and I ran into the Passage de Havre Mall and bought a wallet that was delayed purchase since I got to Paris. I ate lunch at Burger King. I returned home and watched La Fete des Champions, la Grande Parade et la remise des decorations on France 2 television. It is a champions part of the Paris, France 2024 Olympics and Paralympics program - France throws one last party for the Paris Olympics.
On September 15th, a friend invited me to his community cookout or barbeque in Aubervillers. It was fun and diverse with folks from various countries living in France. It was an office building converted to residential apartments. I did have some euros on hand to give to the group. We took some photos. Then, I had to head to my last French in Translation (French Cinema) event watching the French version of the Intouchables with Omar Sy. It was really good and the directors were at the event answering questions. I was the first audience question. It was good to hear how impactful the movie has been including the remakes in all the countries including USA. The French directors were communicating with the actual real life Philippe, who past away last year in Morocco, and the black guy, Abdul. Philippe was already wealthy so he did not take a salary, but requested a percentage from the film proceeds to build homes for handicap and non-handicap.
On September 16th, I took a G7 taxicab to the Charles de Gaulle airport on my Delta airline flight non-stop to Boston, Massachusetts USA.
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French Top Ten
1. La Foule - Edith Piaf
2. L'hymne a l'amour - Edith Piaf (performed by Celine Dion)
3. Nu - Philippe Katerine
4. Mon truc en plumes - Zizi Jeanmaire (performed by Lady Gaga)
5. Carmen: Love is a rebellious bird - Georges Bizet (performed by Marina Viotti)
6. Pookie - Aya Nakamura
7. Djadja - Aya Nakamura
8. Jeux d'eau - Maurice Ravel (performed by Alexandre Kantorow)
9. La Marseillaise - Performed by Axelle Saint-Cirel
10. King - Rim'K
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