While Most Places Businesses in France are the Best and Most Beautiful Places in the World, There are Other Places Businesses Worthy of Note
Termites At Home

Termites At Home

There are two types of people. Those who want to live in an apartment and those who like living in a house. So, which option is better? There is no correct answer to this. The decision may be very complicated and depends on different factors, or it may be merely a matter of personal preference. One should assess each option to figure out which of those two choices is the best. 

I mention this today as my greatest dilemma when I first came to the U.S. was choosing between an apartment or house.

Life In An Apartment

The main distinction of an apartment is that they are smaller than houses. However, that should not be a deal-breaker. You can find ways to save floor space through wall-mounted furniture. Or, you can make rooms appear visually larger by using the right materials and colors.

Living in an apartment means many surrounding neighbors, and they may not all be welcoming. One may have difficulty finding quiet and peace of mind in an apartment. The best thing you can do is create a positive relationship with the neighbors from the beginning. 

As far as security and maintenance, apartments appear to be the right choice. Several apartment buildings have security guards, and most of them have secure front doors that can be opened exclusively with a card or code. It is also less likely for an intruder to enter or go unnoticed when there are lots of neighbors. Houses typically have garages or parking spaces, whereas finding parking in a jammed apartment complex can often prove to be impossible.

Every apartment building must be treated according to city laws to ensure that residents do not experience any concerns with pests such as termites. 

Wooden House

Life In A House

Houses are usually for those who live with other people, such as family members. If you have a large family or are looking to start a large family, you may have no other choice. Entertaining loved ones and relatives is easier when you have enough space. 

You will have more privacy and freedom when living in a house: no neighbors to trouble; no inquisitive eyes snooping from the building across the road. 

However, a large space requires more maintenance. You can imagine how simple it is to clean a small apartment in contrast to a large house. The owner of a house has more floors to vacuum, more rooms to clean, and gardening and exteriors to worry about.

While the damage can range from trivial to significant structural damage, a termite infestation can go unseen for many years. That is why Garden Grove termite inspections are essential. Termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage in the United States every year, by munching on the wood structure of the house.

If you are considering buying a house, make sure the property is free from any termites. Each year after ownership, it is crucial to have a careful assessment to take action against termite infestation. You can give Natural Science Exterminating a call today for a termite inspection or extermination.

Natural Science Exterminating
11642 Knott Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841, United States

The Heart That Truly Matters

The Heart That Truly Matters

I don’t know what I would do without my dog, who had accompanied me during the hardest transition of my life: moving from my home country France to the United States, where I began my new life as a divorcee. I thought I would write about my appreciation for animals and how they can support us through tough transitions.

Having a pet at home may seem like hard work. The responsibility to care for an animal in addition to the several responsibilities in your life requires a serious commitment in terms of time and money. This can be stressful, but if we consider the perks of owning a pet, you will find that all that effort to pay off in the end. 

Pets provide us a type of positive energy that you cannot find anywhere else. Dogs are the best companions for a human being; they share a strong emotional bond with us.

If you are a frequent traveler, you can take your furry friend with you on adventure journeys.

Dogs support your mental health

No matter what kind of situation you come up against in life, your dog will always stay beside you. Even during a global crisis pandemic, pets have been a great source of emotional support for individuals. A study conducted on college-going women revealed that people who own pets had considerably lower loneliness scores on the UCLA Loneliness Scale; “having a pet can help to diminish feelings of loneliness, particularly for women living alone, and compensate for the absence of human companionship.” Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are believed to be helpful for the overall health and well-being of people suffering from serious mental health conditions such as major depression, panic disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders. 

Dogs enhance your physical health

It is scientifically proven that people who have dogs are likely to enjoy better physical health and more positive energy. Since dogs are high-energy creatures that frequently require a walk outdoors; the dog owners benefit from having a reason to get outside, walk on a regular basis, and stay committed to that in the long run.

Without any doubt, dogs can enhance the overall quality of life. At the same time, owners must take care of the health of their dogs. Owners are advised to visit an experienced veterinary consultant from time to time to maintain their dog’s complete health and well-being. Dogs may suffer from health problems such as skin issues, ear infections, urinary tract infections, vomiting, diarrhea, parasites, dental disease, obesity, arthritis, and toxicity.

Woman in Brown and White Plaid Scarf Sitting on Beach
Photo by La Miko from Pexels

Dogs provide great social support

Along with several mental and physical health benefits, pet dogs are also known for providing great social support to their owners. Pets show unconditional love towards their owners and other family members. If you show the same level of compassion and empathy towards your pet, you are likely to enjoy a happier life. They are also likely to be friendly towards your neighbors, friends, family, and other people in your life.

I highly recommend adopting a furry friend. You never know how much joy they will bring to your life. Becoming a dog owner was the best decision of my life.

Marriage Advice

Marriage Advice

Recently, a friend asked me when it is right time to get married in relationship. I ask him if he wanted to hear true answer, or cute answer. “Truth, please,” he said to me in infuriating American accent.

True answer was: do not get married. Love exist regardless of state involvement, and all state does is add extra pressure to squash love that might make it through challenging times. I’ve seen it many times: state incentivise divorce for some parties rather than punish couples who are too weak to follow through on commitments.

For many in America, they are too foolish to see the wisdom in such advice. They marry on whim and get divorced just as capriciously. For those of you who find yourselves on same path as fool, two things: 

1. Take deep look at self and wonder, ‘why,’ and 

2. Look into mediation rather than divorce court, it will twist soul and gonads somewhat less than regular court route. If you live in the southern California area, look into McNamee Mediations, who I have heard mentioned many times by business associates and employees.

Quick look through testimonials provides proof of quality:

As a financial planner, I see my clients go through a number of changes in their lives and sometimes it includes a separation/divorce. Mediation is the far better option when dissolving a marriage as it puts a lot less strain not only on the finances but also the emotions of everyone involved. This is where Colleen McNamee stands out. As an attorney-mediator, she is extremely knowledgeable in her field, has two decades of experience, but also truly cares about her clients. Something that cannot be taught in law school is the gift of empathy and caring for others, which translates into achieving fair and equitable results for couples. Thanks to her very strong skill set and the services she’s able to offer, she remains a neutral counsel to both parties throughout the process, and the Agreements she drafts are far superior to any other divorce mediator I have seen! My clients have come out feeling like they were treated fairly, received their equitable shares, and can now move forward with their lives onto their next chapters.

Katerina Hencova – Google Review
Read Andrea P.‘s review of McNamee Mediations on Yelp

I have known Colleen McNamee for over two years and I love how she handles people who are having marriage problems. She is always interested in what is best for everyone involved, especially for any children. Sometimes, it’s a “marriage contract” that she draws up to help people stay together amicably instead of getting a divorce. If divorce is the only option, then unlike a contentious court divorce with attorneys pitting spouses against each other in public and draining the couple’s bank accounts, Colleen can get couples working together for the best solution, at far lower cost, and it’s a private matter. I highly recommend her services, and so do people who have gotten divorces through her because they often talk about how she made it so much less stressful than a courtroom divorce.

Gregg Hill – Google Review

If marriage is too hard for your piggish American brain, look into McNamee Mediations. They’ll do their best to leave soul unsundered.

McNamee Mediations

+19492233836

4590 MacArthur Blvd Suite 500, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Refreshed

Refreshed

Bonjoir, mon amis. You may have noticed that I have not been writing as much as is usual for one such as me. The reason, I’m afraid, is that I have succumb to typical frenchman’s disease – severe depression and ennui.

What is the cause of this lack of energy? Well…this year is the reason. For one who desires to move constantly, who cannot be tied down to one location, this year has been especially hard. I have gotten into many physical altercations with gorilla goons posing as border enforcement, some of which have ended in brief incarceration.

So what do I do instead of moving around globe, visiting sites of ancient power and feeding off their energies? I mope. I mope and trounce around my southern California estate, calling associates and employees and berating them for one thing or another. Even my abuse has become listless, as my employees frequently ask, “is that it, sir? Is everything OK?” at the end of my usual tirades.

So great is their concern for me that they have come skulking up to my estate, leaving offerings of food, sweets, alcohol, anything they can think of to raise my spirits. Peasants that they are, they do not understand what a naturally aristocratic mind needs to become once again engaged with the world around him – NOVELTY.

I NEED to see, taste, and experience novelty like a lesser man needs air, shelter, and water. I must climb new mountains to see sun in different light. No paltry gift left on stoop will ever bring LIFE into me, not in the way visiting ruins in middle of jungle after days trekking.

Recently, I decide to visit one of my many enterprises here in United States to see if there was some business-related problem that could distract me from my doldrum existence wandering room to room in house. What I saw there revolted me in way I could not describe.

Many months had passed since last person entered office, turning out lights in apt metaphor for the world in this forsaken year. Thick layers of dust coated every surface, but the mess was not the issue.

The furniture, it disgusted me. Entering premises after months of disuse allowed me to see the décor of office in new and unpleasant way. The furnishings of office were as tired and energy deprived as I was, and I could not believe I had subjected even brutish American employees to such sapping accoutrements.

I began throwing desks, chairs, cubicle walls into parking lot. Soon, I had pile that took up most of lot, the rest quickly filling with distressed employees, begging me not to do anything rash. One of them called fire department, expecting me to set the whole of it alight.

Calling them the fools that they were, I simply donated the lot of it. A man with ties to ancient past knows not to pollute nature with the toxic fumes that modern furniture would no doubt spew upon burning. Plus, I know value of pre-used furniture.

To replace offending fixtures, I called old friends at Creative Office Designs up in Los Angeles. Despite the hour-long drive, I trust no one else in this country to provide me with office furniture. I will be touring their show rooms in the near future, and I have assured them that my eye is very discerning.

If you, like me, need new office furniture, be sure to give them call. They deserve the business, and your loyalty.

+17143287627

5230 Pacific Concourse Dr #105, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Return Of The Six-Legged Menace

Return Of The Six-Legged Menace

Bonjour mon amis and welcome back to my great exhortation to Dionysus, god of wine, fertility, and madness. I am not supposed to tell you this, but I have just returned from trip to Greece and Ionia, where followers of Dionysian Mysteries still reside, and spirit of old Greek gods may still be accessed if you know where to look…

But my head, it is still fogged by the revelries and wine, so I speak too much and too plainly. The mysteries may only be revealed to those who partake in the ritualistic madness that the god is associated with, so maybe it is not so good an idea to spread these talks.

Upon returning, it was revealed that, once again my commercial enterprises have been beset by a plague of the infuriating six legged BEASTS that seem to crawl under every inch of this besotted land! It is as if they await my departure before nesting in my property, as the devils know that my sharp eyes would catch them even in dead of night.

The madness of the festivities could never match the red hot FURY that overcame me at learning of this most recent affront. I smashed my desk with my bare hands as the assistants fled for safety. They know that my passion cannot be contained, and so they retreat to the designated safe room and listen to my animalistic howling and the sounds my great and powerful CHIMPING OUT.

Once calmed and coaxed out of freshly destroyed office with fine Turkish coffee and promises of eternal fealty, I began process of rebuilding. I have separate storage space for replacement furnishings for those destroyed during moments of Dionysian-inspired passion, but the termite problem would require outside help.

For this I once again turned to my great friends at Grand Oaks Termite Control, who I have called many times since my move to western coast. There was a time where they did not return my phone calls after seeing one such fit of godly rage, but my fine subordinates were able to sooth their scarred employees as well. There is reason I continue to bear my employees’ normally insufferable American natures – I only hire the best of their kind.

After a brief inspection, they assured me that the infestation was light and could be easily taken care of without need to change my normal operations. This news overjoyed me – the recent trip had devastated not just my body and soul, but my finances as well.

Within the week, my friends had cleared out the menace and the energy of the office immediately became once again uplifting, the clouds over my head evaporated, letting the sun shine on me and produce vitality and strengthen muscles. My employees visibly relaxed, and the alert status posted at front door was turned down once again to normal level of merely ‘elevated’ rather than ‘imminent’.

If you are like me and are in desperate need of termite infestation control in Pasadena and surrounding areas, give my friends at Grand Oaks a call. Do not mention my name.

Grand Oaks Termite Control

(626) 538-4156

110 S Worthy Dr Glendora, CA 91741

The Beauty Of France In My Own Front Yard

The Beauty Of France In My Own Front Yard

I left my home in France 3 years ago to move to the United States for work reasons. Ever since I left, I have not stopped longing for my old French life. The culture, food, and history—how could I not miss it all? On any given day, I could sit outside or at home with my friends or visit one of the country’s numerous outdoor attractions: France’s most symbolic monument, the Eiffel Tower (which I climbed to catch an exhilarating view of the city); the Louvre Museum, which holds some of the world’s greatest artworks like Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci and Wedding Feast at Cana by Veronese; or the royal residence designated as a UNESCO world heritage site, the Palace of Versailles. 

The beauty of France is so spectacular that it seeps into everything, even the appearances of the homes. Home gardens and lawn designs are quite beautiful. A memory of my visit to the royal gardens of Louis XV at Trianon I convinced me to start thinking of installing my own artificial grass. Historically, well-kept lawns were a symbol of affluence among the elites of French society, so having one was not simply a matter of home improvement, but of tapping into a long and rich history.

Photo of Eiffel Tower

I decided to upgrade my lawn by installing artificial turf.

I highly recommend hiring a professional service to install your artificial lawn. Grass installation requires specific equipment and expertise to achieve a level and durable lawn. The contractor will start by digging to remove the grass from your existing lawn. Then, they will use a professional turf cutter to prepare the site for the next stage. Installing a commercial grade weed membrane will prevent weeds from growing through the lawn. Some companies install compact stone, as it provides a solid base for the new lawn and adequate drainage as well. Granulated granite is leveled and compacted, allowing for a more stable foundation, and thus a longer-lasting lawn. 

The most important part is the laying of the green grass. It is cut to size, each tile laid closely and joined tightly. This creates seamless coverage. An infill may also be used when laying the grass so that the pattern of the lawn looks real. This is followed by motorized brushing of the infill so the grass can stand upright and look like real grass. Finally, the newly installed artificial grass is washed to remove any site debris, and a final quality check is conducted.

I could not be happier with my new lawn. If it can’t be France, at least I can have my own beautiful garden. NoMow Turf is a professional artificial grass installation company that has saved me so much time and energy. When I look out onto my lawn every morning, I feel like the royal highness of my own Palace of Versailles. If you are interested in transforming yours, you can give NoMow Turf a call today.

NoMow Turf, Inc. – Synthetic Lawns & Putting Greens
26674 Vista Terrace, Lake Forest, CA 92630

How I Filed A Claim: Car Accident Insurance

How I Filed A Claim: Car Accident Insurance

I moved to the United States about a year ago. Not long after, I became the victim of a car accident that opened my eyes to the American insurance system. Until then, I had a pretty vague idea of how the auto insurance system worked. I gained more knowledge pretty quickly, which helped salvage this incident. And here’s a little summary of what happened.

It all started on one Tuesday evening after dark, when the rain had just finished falling. In fact, it had been raining all week. I was returning home from the grocery store and by now, the road was pretty slippery, so I had to be pretty careful. I cautiously navigated through a section of the road, and then I heard a bang! My car jerked about 50 yards forward with speed. By the time I regained control, I was drifting into an empty grazing field.

I managed to bring the vehicle to a halt by the side of the road. I was quite shaken. The next thing I did was check myself for any injuries; I had a scratch on my arm which was nothing. I checked to see the damage done to the car’s rear; the bumper, the trunk, and the rear window were badly damaged. I was lucky it wasn’t any worse. I then got out of my car and walked over angrily. As it turned out, I had been hit by a young lady in her mid-20s. Her front bumper and lights were done. Fortunately, she was okay. 

The next thing I did was call the police to explain the situation as clearly as I could. An officer was sent over to make sure we were both fine. I felt slightly disoriented. I was taken care of and dropped off at home.

The first thing to do when filing a claim after an auto accident is to capture and supply thorough information about the accident to the insurance company to start the claims process. This includes details regarding the accident such as date and location; the extent of injuries and damage to the parties and vehicles; road signs and the sides of the road of each driver; the number of passengers, how the accident happened, the other driver’s insurance information, name of the police department, and police report number.

The officer had filed a report at the scene, which he explained would be necessary for insurance claims. Filling a compensation claim was pretty straightforward, as I had found the Best Insurance Agent in Marina Del Ray. The claim was filed after a few days. They worked with me to accurately evaluate the claim and complete it as quickly as possible.

Some states considered ”no-fault” states will let your insurance cover for up to a specific limit for injury, car damage, and related claims. This will apply to the other driver as well. I hadn’t even thought of that. Even though it’s considered illegal in all states to drive without a specific amount of insurance, some people still do it.

Close-Up Photo Of Car Rims

It is risky to drive without car insurance in a state that requires it, as you’ll pay for your medical expenses and damage and for the other driver’s injuries and damages if you are at fault. You could also be sued by the other party, issued a ticket, face jail time, and face future problems getting affordable insurance rates when you eventually shop for a policy.

If you are in need of insurance coverage, give Byron Galindo a call today:

Byron Galindo – State Farm Insurance Agent
214 Pier Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405

A Taste Of Home

A Taste Of Home

Bonjour, mon amis! It feels like much time since the last I wrote to you…forgive me, I have been on expedition to misty mountains in center of Borneo. Legends say there are creatures there that should have been dead eons ago…of men, covered from top to bottom in thick, shaggy fur…

Ah, but I get away from what I want talk about today. After my trip I spend time back in beautiful France to recover from many jungle diseases contracted in Malay! Beautiful beaches in paradise-like Pacific islands may entice many, but for me, nothing stirs spirit quite like the quiet countryside of mother France.

After many weeks spent listening to quiet chirping of crickets and daily arguments over price of goose liver, I force myself to trudge back to sick land of America. Business interests can’t run themselves here in low IQ land of the besotted sloped forehead, so Pierre’s absence can never be felt for long!

Once here, the usual oppressive atmosphere began to make my health and vitality once again slip away, as if land itself was eating away at my soul! In France, when the mania got to me once again and night became sleepless, a walk through the gardens of the chateau would never fail to calm me. I once again embark on quest to bring a piece of France to this land of barbarians, if only to know some peace in my spirit.

The first step was recreating gardens – without them, I would never be able to sleep again! To do this, I needed first-rate talent to rend the depressing grounds of my estate asunder and replace them with beauty and capricious, frenetic style to mimic my own mind. In same way dolts suffering from ADHD would down entire bottles of medical-grade speed to calm themselves, so too would a beautifully chaotic and luxuriant garden calm my chaotic and luxuriant mind.

This is not Pierre’s first rodeo in southern California, though! No monsieur, I knew the only half competent landscapers in San Diego because I had worked with them in past – Torrey Pines Landscaping Company.

TP Landscaping is perhaps the best landscaping company available in the southern California area. Capable of turning even the most decrepit and unkempt yards and into tasteful, gorgeous and practical landscapes, they’re one of the few companies I would trust to tear into my land for any reason.

With proper garden for me to wander through during times of intense energy rushing through my veins, my body can finally be rested enough for my next expedition…in Congo, there is said to be a cryptid, a monster that flies just above the jungle canopy. Its cries ring out through the night, followed by sounds of leathery wings and the screams of its captured prey…I will capture this creature, study its ways, and incorporate them into my own way of being.

If you are like me, Pierre, and need a top-tier company for maintaining and expanding your landscaping, then Torrey Pines Landscaping company is for you. Don’t settle for second best.

Torrey Pines Landscaping Company

(858) 454-1433

5560 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121

When Love Crumbles, Consider Mediation

When Love Crumbles, Consider Mediation

In Paris, France, there once was a famous bridge, known as the “Love Lock Bridge”. Couples from all over the world would visit the bridge to attach their locks, along with a note, symbolizing their marriage and love as eternal. This practice is said to have started in Rome, Italy in 2006, and to have made its way to Paris in 2008. However, as it became more popular, the weight of more and more locks being attached to the bridge was beginning to cause serious problems. CNN reported that the weight of the locks was equivalent to 20 elephants!

Similar to this once famous bridge, my marriage to my then-soulmate was once sealed and fated to be locked and everlasting—or so it seemed. Over the years, it seemed more and more like my spouse didn’t want to be married anymore. I thought I had done everything I could as a husband and spouse, but she seemed to be dissatisfied with marriage nonetheless. Not to mention that I not only treated her with kindness and respect, but I had also given her a very comfortable life. My ex-wife was a stay-at-home socialite who spent my money lavishly. I worked in investment banking for fifteen years, and it broke my heart to come home every night, after an exhaustingly stressful day at work, to a wife who didn’t seem to care for my presence. There was no excitement, no intimacy—just the seemingly unbearable weight of being married. Eventually, it apparently crumbled on her, and she decided to leave me.

Plant On A Balcony

Now, I should mention I do not write in order to merely air out my dirty laundry out on a cyber balcony. What I mean to express is that marriage is hard. And if you, despite your best efforts, have been unable to save yours, then perhaps it is time to walk away. The love locks on the Paris bridge were eventually removed in 2015, as the weight of the locks were no longer sustainable. Such is the metaphor of love and life: when a marriage has become unhealthy, it is time for the couple to consider divorce.

Think about all of the joint assets, liabilities, and properties between you and your spouse. If you have been married for many years, this can be complicated. According to family experts in Orange County Law, divorce is a roller coaster of uncontrolled emotions. If you find yourself falling out of love with someone, how should you proceed? Of course, there is always the option of litigating in divorce court: hire a lawyer, spend an average of “$15,000-$20,000 per person”, and leave your fate up to a judge.

Or, you could mediate. In Orange County, family law mediator Colleen McNamee has been hailed as “the divorce whisperer”, helping couples navigate through legal separation on amicable and mutually respectful terms. Mediation takes place through a neutral third party, rather than in court. It is thought to be a healthier option for everyone involved, especially for couples with children.

If you are looking to remove your locks of love and start a new chapter in life, you can give McNamee Mediations a call:

McNamee Mediations
4590 MacArthur Blvd Suite 500, Newport Beach, CA 92660

A New Office For My Writing Endeavour

A New Office For My Writing Endeavour

I remember how my life seemed to fall apart during my divorce with the love of my life. Everything—from getting dressed in the morning to finding happiness again—seemed impossible. I could not believe that my soulmate decided that she was to spend the rest of her life with another man. I could not believe that everything we had overcome and built together meant nothing to her—that she had thrown it all away for some young, twenty-something starving artist she had met one afternoon at a cafe. She told me that she loved that he didn’t work in a “stuffy corporate” office like I did.

After the dust had settled and our separation was finalized, I realized that she had really had left me—she wasn’t coming back. As I came to terms with the fact that my hopes and dreams with her would never come to pass, I realized it was also time for me to move on, and to not look back.

As my long-time readers will already know, I packed everything into a suitcase, bought a one way ticket to California, and have been slowly mending my heart ever since. It’s been a slow and painful process, but I am beginning to see the light. This morning, I woke up and sat down at my writing desk to journal for an hour, as I normally do, and began to ponder what it is that I really want to now do with my life.

The divorce shattered my heart, but it gave my bank account some much-needed reprieve. Again, I’m not sure why she ran off with that starving artist, or why she disapproved of my job, because during our marriage, I was the only one earning an income. My lucrative investment banking career allowed me to fund her expensive tastes in fashion, restaurants, and theatre.

I personally had no interest in that lifestyle. All I have ever needed to be happy is a good book, along with a pen and some paper. As I sat at my desk looking out the window, I realized, that working in investment banking to appease my then-wife had obscured what I have really wanted all along: to be a writer.

Used Red Coffee Cup and Saucer

I had spent so many years suppressing my creativity, but now, I finally had the freedom to follow my heart. As I looked around, I realized that my office wasn’t really an office—it was a bachelor’s man cave with a tiny nook by the window, carved out for my small writing desk.

I wondered if I could transform my space into a creative oasis, to bring out the writer in me. I went online to look for office furniture, and came across a supplier and studio, Creative Office Design. They carry inventory of all sorts: desks, chairs, cabinets, bookcases, new cubicles, and anything you can think of when it comes to your LA furniture needs.

Upon visiting their showroom, I was greeted by a kind and knowledgable design expert, who helped me select the best desk and chair for my new writing office. If you are looking to transform your existing space into an office that inspires you, you can give them a call.

Creative Office Design
5230 Pacific Concourse Dr #105, Los Angeles, CA 90045, United States