Glen Was Here

Anonymous asked: I've wondered the same about addicts and have known people in the past who were on their way to becoming one. Drugs...poverty, low morale, education, etc. The city needs to do something about this, but I'm not sure how. Keep up the writing and pics, brotha.

I agree with you that more needs to be done about this plight, and unfortunately, there is no simple solution. I wish more could be done to prevent these problems and combat the root of it all, which I believe is partly due to poverty and mental illness. 

I believe improving our education system is pivotal to the solution. We need better inner-city schools with better trained and higher paid teachers. We need more programs to invigorate our youth, to improve their math, english, and science skills. We need to find ways to get people into college, perhaps offering more scholarship opportunities, as well as find some way to reduce college tuition. (perhaps borrowing the European socialist model of free college education?) We need to provide more trade schools and trade skills that start as early as high school,  that goes beyond wood shop and auto repair, and offer such classes as computer science and other skills relevant in today’s world. 

Also, I wish more could be done about mental illness. I wish there was less of a stigma about mental illness in America and more affordable access to psychiatrists and therapy. I believe raising awareness about the nature of “addictive personalities” and depression would help. 

Of course with California’s budget problems all of these ideas are easier said than done. All politicians want to do is cut social programs.

Thanks for commenting. I appreciate the support. I will definitely continue to write and shoot more. I have several ideas floating around in my head, and I’m eager to try them out.

The other day I was standing by the side of my car having a cigarette when I noticed this white lady up the street walking towards me. She was a pretty decent looking lady; she looked to be in her mid thirties, had long blonde hair, but was dressed fairly disheveled. I couldn’t help but think to myself that not a whole lot of white ladies live in this part of town, the south side of San Francisco that is, and for her to be living in this part of town meant that she probably had issues.

As she came closer, she noticed that I was smoking and asked if I had an extra cigarette. As she spoke, I noticed that all of her front teeth were missing. I had never come face to face with a crystal meth addict before, and the sight of her missing teeth startled me. I was so stunned I couldn’t answer her immediately. A wave of shock, disgust, and then sadness came over me. The look of pity on my face had to be obvious. I told her no since I didn’t want to go through the trouble of rolling her a cigarette. As she walked away, she turned back to me and mumbled something, but I couldn’t quite make it out. She walked off while continuing to talk to herself.

Living in this part of town, I see a lot of self destructive and embittered people, but nothing as severe and reckless as a crystal meth addict. I can’t help but think what kind of upbringing and life choices does one make that would lead them to choose to use such a dangerous substance. Why had this young pretty girl decided to throw her life away?

Anonymous asked: You honestly have a beautiful mind. If one door closes, another one will open; you'll stumble upon a better opportunity. Best of luck! Please never stop writing and taking photos x

Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever received any mail on Tumblr till now. haha For me, posting on Tumblr is like sending signals into outer space, I was never sure it would ever reach anyone. So thank you very much, really appreciate the kind words. I’m flattered that you enjoy my posts. I will definitely try me best to keep shooting and writing. Cheers

Just came from the worst job interview ever. haha. God, that was a total train wreck. After fumbling my answers to a bunch of lame questions, the interviewer asked me to take a math quiz. A FUCKING MATH QUIZ. He left the room and gave me 20 minutes to answer these 10 questions on a computer. After spending five minutes on just the first question, I was seriously debating whether or not I should jump out the window and run. I was on the first floor after all.

Anyways, I rushed through the quiz and managed to finish right as he walked in. The worst part was that he made me explain how I got the answer for each problem. In my head I’m thinking, “How I got that answer? I don’t know; I just fucking guessed! That’s how I got that answer.” I tried to bullshit my way through it but he wasn’t buying it. In all, I got six out of ten correct.

By the end of the interview I think we both knew I wasn’t getting the job. He gave me the usual line saying how he still had to interview some more people, and he’d let me know by email whether or not he was interested. But that’s just a polite way of saying I’ve already decided to pass on you. I don’t blame him though. Even I was thinking if I was in his shoes, I’d pass on me too. haha. Fucking crashed and burn. I ran out of there as quick as I could, ripped off my tie, and found the nearest convenience store for a pack of smokes. I then bought myself a Double Double at In-N-Out cause I bloody deserved it damnit.