would be difficult with those living quarters. great collection of photos from where you were at. hope things are much better.

The dorms are tough because there's 12 people stuffed in, but if everyone gets along it's ok. There's squat for personal stowage, just a locker. The poor dude on the end on the left only had a half width locker. Nothing allowed to be stored on the floor or the bed. It all has to go into a locker. But theft is always a thing, so that's necessary.

I think your pictures are extraordinary. And the experience you have to share extremely meaningful. And important. Many of the things you said last night connected with me, but once I start typing I type too much. LOL. I do have a rooftop story to share though. LOL.

I know this guy who climbed up onto the roof of the tallest building uptown. Refused to come down. All the cops are there. The fire dept. Pouring down rain all day long. Finally the state cops come and he says he'll come down if they get him a cheeseburger and a coke. So okay. Cheeseburger and coke. Still won't come down. They finally shoot him with the beanbag gun and beat the living crap out of him. LOL. Take him to the hospital. He escapes and flees up the coal banks out back with his ass sticking out of the hospital gown he's wearing. Oh my God. I can laugh about it because he was laughing about it when he told me about it. Like a year after it happened, you know. LOL.

Best of luck to you. l know you are in a better place now and I hope even better days are coming.

LOL, yup. That kind of thing happened a lot. Mostly people that OD'd on Fentanyl laced meth. They'd get revived, stuffed into an ambulance, and half of them would run off. Paramedics hated us.

It was so bad with the meth epidemic, we imported emergency services from every surrounding community. One drove up at about 10pm, and stopped in the back alley. Driver rolls down his window looking embarrassed and asked us if we'd seen a man on fire running down the alley. Nope, not tonight, we replied. We had to explain that they' burn out their torches, and set themselves on fire while trying to refill them WHILE still hoofing on the ol' meth pipe.

Or you'd revive someone dead with narcan or naloxen and some cpr, and they'd get mad because you ruined their high. You just can't make this stuff up.

Wow. But you made it through. I'm thinking God had his eye on you.

It's funny, my Landlord and one previous were both born again Christians. They were all a pretty vile bunch, but I got though it somehow.

That is quite the journey. Thank you for sharing this with us, I hope things get easier and better for you, sounds quite difficult to go through. And no need to apologize.

So good to "see" you, and to see that you've come through this ok, my friend. Oh, those drug-induced freakouts.. Back in my day (60's - 70's) it was LSD. You'd see folks on the street having conversations or even arguments with fire hydrants or light poles. I never understood what the fascination is / was in dumping all that crap into your body.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your journey, and we're glad you're back!

I'm under there somewhere!

Well, as far as the drugs go, there's a lot of reasons, but mostly it seems to offer a quick feel good dopamine fix. Some studies I read strongly suggest, that if you give an addict meaning, value and life happiness, they don't want the stuff, or in case of the really nasty-addictive stuff, they are more inclined to quit. We called month end Madri-Gras, because half the residents were wigged out on meth and/or heroin. sometimes there were up to 3 ambulances a day. It was nuts. I lost track at 13 deaths. One buddy went psychotic. That stuff is pure evil.

Renders will be sporadic until my new drive shows up, and I get my content transferred/reinstalled. I already have one drive full, I need to consolidate it all.

The transition between the festive aspect to my recent photos and yours here is quite a shock and a surprise to me, as I have just looked at them and read your comments. You must have gone through undepictable hardships and situations lately and your commenting on these pictures is moving me a lot, knowing that the magical side to Christmas times doesn't unfortunately solve each and everyone's personal difficulties and decisions to be made to face them and pull through eventually, something I dearly wish you will achieve in the weeks to come . Yet, the words I also feel like saying to you today are : ~•:¨¨:•°-:¦Happy Merry Christmas to you!¦:-°•:¨¨:•~

I left out all the grim stuff. No one needs to know that stuff.

Anyway, Merry Christmas!

Glad you made it out. Still, it was much better than jail, or prison. The Salvation Army gives people a second chance. God bless us, everyone!

what an ordeal! I'm glad you are on the up and up!!

Me too!

Sobering stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for stopping by!

no words. just....wow.

I did leave a lasting impression!

I can imagine. i spent time in places I still don't care to discuss. you put it out there. that's courage.

Usually I don't discuss private stuff. I did for this for some reason.

I am sorry for the hard rimes you went through. May the New Year bring you the best of luck and better days! Best wishes!

Thanks!