Journal Entry #86 - Evolution...Psychology...Reflection

 JOURNAL ENTRY #86

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: April 1, 2026

TOPIC:  Evolution...Psychology...Reflection

It is interesting for a path not traveled or lived before now social media now wants to show me a reflection of my life from the fields of psychology.

Yes, I watched the following YouTube videos:

"Why Some People Choose Not to Post Their Lives On Social Media" AND "Psychology of People Who Don't Use Social Media" = Almost had this life until 2016

"People That Have Gone Through Too Much" = SPOT ON TRUE FOR ME

"Why Some People Cut Off Their Family" = PARTIALLY TRUE because I went back or came back to family in a different form and different way.

"People Who Love Staying At Home" = Beginning life as homebody, but I do enjoy those moments when I am chilling, freshly showered, naked all day and not doing anything at home and not even watching TV or listening to music....just peace and quiet.

"If You Have Few or No Friends...You Probably Have This Power." = Experienced this at South Carolina State University and Few Months into my first annulment like marriage.  Still have those 20-year, 30-year, and 40-year friendships going with and without social media.

"If You Were Born Between 1977-1985, This Will Finally Make Sense of You" = 2008 WAS SPOT ON and DEFINITELY a defining year.  I definitely was in life slow lane, then it sped up and out of control.  What makes me angry - Europe kept all nostalgic old and new materialistic around so loss is minimal, and USA takes it away (maximum loss) from me or depreciates it and brings the updated item back 20 years later.

I continued my perfect attendance chapter meeting streak with Alpha Phi Alpha Mu Lambda Chapter.  I attended A Voteless People, Hopeless People mayoral forum for Washington, DC candidates at Kramer Middle School.  I was very active signing everyone's petition to make it on the ballot.  I do not play favorites until the ballot.  Good conversations and questions not only from me, but others spoke up as well.  I walked in the MLK Parade in Anacostia with my chapter.  I attended a very lively Omega service and memorial service for Bro. Dr. Paul Cotton.  I went to an alternative Superbowl gathering with Beta Delta line brothers, when Mu Lambda canceled its Superbowl party.

I hope all my non-profit organizations understands I am giving with a purpose and benefit, and not my heart.  My reckless giving happened from 2005 to 2020, and got f*cked over by them (all the non-profits).  2020 started my giving with a purpose and benefit, and not my heart.  I show love through communication and listening ear.

I took my electric bike through its first service maintenance appointment at Level One (1), and it was free through a promotional offer.  I discovered there are three levels of service maintenance. This is going to be fun.

I discovered that I can earn up to $24,000 in wages and salaries for year 2026.  The courts told me $14,000 in the amount I can earn in 2025.  Well, it is an interesting experience sitting on money after all the loss.  I am such a minimalist now.  I am still reviewing homes (appreciating asset) and vehicles (depreciated asset) to at least own something before retirement.  Own something means having the title free and clear of the property and only paying HOA/non-HOA fees, utilities, taxes, and maintenance. Some of the social media shorts or photos describe how life is at certain stages.

I went through National Background Investigative Service (NBIS) by with US Department of Justice and US Department of Defense (War) DCSA.  The same agency that did my security clearance investigations.  I got my PIV card and now I can go to several different federal government buildings that can use it.  I only have access to the fitness center or gym.

Tend Dental and I spoke a lot on the dental care for the appointment on Tooth #30.  Tooth #30 was a 20-year infection.  Plenty of discussion regarding bone grafting to prepare for the possibility of getting a dental implant.  I had to inform Tend I was totally against Allografts, but all for the synthetic as the preferred bone graft and xenograft as an alternative.  At the appointment, the synthetic was purchased and used.  My insurance and I paid the bill, but was surprised by a final bill or balance after I asked was that all.  I saw the Orthodontist to discuss braces again.  I had to let them know I only wanted metal braces.  The budget for that is $8000, pay in full or payment plan.  The treatment plan is only for 12 months.  I saw the periodontist for discuss of the dental implants.  It was a long discussion of the entire treatment plan for all teeth missing.  It was also a discussion regarding synthetic ridges and grafting materials.  The guesstimation proposed treatment plan is $15,000 without dental insurance, but I pay $8000 with dental insurance of course broken up per tooth and surgical area.

I played the QuickPick Powerball and MegaMillions lottery in February and March.  I did not win anything.  I did learn something new regarding the multipliers.  YouTube and Instagram are funny trying to believe people who knows the science behind the lottery.

Life with New York Sports Club, US Census Bureau, and Health Fitness kept me busy through the winter.  I started Grubhub again on the warm days.  With the Census Bureau, I had to let them know my boundaries and limitations against "fast, crazy, and harassing" customers/clients/respondents.  With Health Fitness, I became overwhelmed with the DC Wage and Theft notices and had to check all my paychecks, and argued over something one paycheck that did not seem to belong.  After a Grubhub shift, I pinched my thumb on the kickstand peeling the surface and blood started coming out, and thank goodness I knew First Aid and after a week it is healing pretty well.

I did use StyleSeat to find a good hairstylist. I tried to get a new look, but instead ended up with a haircut that I do not like.  I went to the dermatologist for my alopecia (hair loss) scenario.  The needle injections were a lot, then I was given minoxidil in the pill form (low dosage), metformin, clobetasol Propionate, and doxycycline.

I loss my AirPods case at Golds Gym Buzzard Point and not the AirPods Pro.  I had an Apple appointment.  It was interesting watching my AirPods case travel over SouthWest and SouthEast Washington, DC.  The replacement purchase price for the new AirPods Pro case was almost at the cost of at buying a brand-new AirPods Pro.

At Capital Park Plaza and Twins, the new FMB laundry service went out on March 2026 which means the cashless pinpoint systems was not working on the washing machines or dryers.  I had to email, call and leave voicemails, and put in a service request.  Unfortunately, while the system was down, I had to travel to Spring Laundromat on Georgia Avenue and ended up losing one of my sleeping bags.  Also, I renewed my lease for another year so of course I put in service request to replace all my appliances, such as my refrigerator and stove plus oven.  We still have a pest problem after my super deep cleaning.

DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) provided a program for inclusionary zone (IZ) housing or affordable dwelling unit (ADU) for rental apartments and homes for sale at market or below market prices.  It is a program created 2009 after the housing market crash and after I loss my customized home.  Housing Counseling Services provided the training for the 2-IZ program, 8-hour homeownership, and the Pre-Purchase Orientation.  It is an interesting program because DHCD and property owner are titled the property.  There are strings attached, such as it must the primary residence of the renter or owner, no AirBnb shenanigans, or no attempt to get an astronomical amount of profit from the property.  Only new topic I learn was the warranties and insurance views on various types of properties.  I did check with Bank of America or Truist for pre-qualification and pre-approval.  Both banks did not issue anything because of having $8K of credit card debt.  The logic I do not ever understand, such as issue the mortgage loan with $120K of student loan debt, which my house got foreclosed upon.  Now, I got the $120K of student loan debt removed, but only got $8K of credit card debt with downpayment and income and no pre-approval and pre-qualification issued.  If I kept the home in Washington, DC or Atlanta, Georgia from 2007 and based on a 30-year mortgage, I would have owned my customized home in Atlanta, Georgia or Washington, DC at age of 61 and Year 2037.

With government benefits, I let Medicaid go because I really no longer need it.  DC DOT did not issue me a e-bike voucher. My 1099 came with me only, and not my daughter and me.

I attended my first Zumba Choreo Jam.  It was a packed house at Onelife Fitness in Crystal City (Arlington), Virginia.  I think my Instagram is becoming all my Zumba peers.  I saw the cruise and everything going on for the 25th anniversary year of Zumba.  I am excited for 2027 and my plans.

I attended VSDC Veg Singles Game Night.  It was fun and I enjoyed a vegetarian lasagna.  At home, I still cook my Morningstar, Gardin, and Beyond Meat products along with my rice, mashed potatoes, beans, peas, collard greens, cabbage, etc.  I am still 90% vegetarian.

I sent my usual holiday phone calls and check in texts and direct messages to my social media family, friends, etc.

I attended SCSUNAA Quarterly Meeting and Orangeburg Chapter Meetings.

I attended another Shuffle Dating event and got a new friend.

I attended another ANC 6D business meeting.

I attended a University of Phoenix webinar "How AI Can Reduce or Reinforce Cognitive Overload at Work"

I attended a Meetup social group at the Boardroom in Virginia. It was trivia night.

I signed up for HBCUConnect career fairs.  I attended the virtual career fair and asked a question or two to the panelists.  The employers were from various parts of the United States.

I went for my physical at George Washington University Primary Care and everything came back negative and within range except cholesterol.  As soon as I got notification of various screenings and tests, I did pose the questions direct to my Primary Care Physician (PCP).  Unfortunately, I have to seek another Primary Care Physician because I found out she left the practice recently.  My secondary care physician is still around.

I graded 2026 National Leadership Conference scholarship applications for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).  Unexpectedly, the organization was able to give me an Amazon gift card.  I was pleasantly surprised and appreciated the note coming from the organization.

I had my first 2026 e-bike to e-bike accident with the speeding e-bike from alley and I was on the sidewalk.  We did not see each other until the front tires collided (my tire T-boning his front tire), and we just sat there for a good solid minute in silence, and did not apologize to each other or said a word, but he said he was having a bad day.  He kept going and I kept going on my delivery for Grubhub.  I had a good laugh afterwards because we literally stared at each other and no one admitted fault.

I rejoin Toastmasters International with Alpha Toastmasters 1906 group.  My first experience that happen with Toastmasters was working at Georgia-Pacific Corporation in Atlanta/Smyrna, Georgia in the late 1990s.  My second stint was with a group called District Toastmasters in Washington, District of Columbia in the early to mid 2000s at 899 North Capitol St NE or Union Station over a meal.  It is time to realign the big mouth, public speaker that the State of South Carolina knew me for when I was six (6) years old doing Easter speeches at Greenland Baptist Church, all the up to South Carolina State University public and private events.  Public speaking is my hard skilled talent just like track and field. Little humor joke, "Did someone say 'Speech'?"

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Top Ten Music Selections Spring 2026

1. Until I Win - Inv Davion

2. Who's On the Lords Side - Rev. Timothy Wright

3. Don't Play With Me - Thompsxn Therapy

4. Titi Me Pregunto - Bad Bunny

5. Raindance - Dave, Tems

6. Norf Side - Jill Scott, Tierra Whack

7. Safety - J. Cole

8. Hoochie Mama - Uncle Luke, 2 Live Crew

9. Hoochie Daddy - Lil Blood, The Mekanix, Too $hort, Alicia Tree$

10. Get Get Down - Paul Johnson