Hey all;

Funny to do this on new year's. It wasn't really intentional.

Anyways, two things:

First, most of you know I'm going through a lot right now with my partner's depression. I just wanted to say that if I'm distant, or forget to reply to notes, or am just not around as much as I normally am, please forgive me. It's not you. If I forget notes, or old trades, just remind me. Things are rather mentally draining. If I didn't reply to recent words of encouragement or anything, please know they ARE appreciated. Some of you have given really solid advice lately and if nothing else it helps me power through. Knowing people are here and have my back, are willing to be real friends, helps a lot.

Second, he's on what I hope is is last four night shifts, including tonight. We have a mental health appointment on the 8th. If we can get on medical EI for a while (employment insurance), well.. great; I'll need to make up a bit of lost income with commissions to cover our insane house bills, but that'll be good. I'll be focusing 100% on any remaining commission stuff, and working towards actively tattooing for a reliable income.

If he doesn't get on medical leave, I'll have a LOT of funds to make up. I imagine I'll probably work on tattoos all I can, and in the meantime possibly take on more commission work on the side, possibly fursuits. We'll make due until May, somehow, when our bills will be less. Honestly, I'm not sure what we'll do. He will NOT go back to work, though, or keep working this job; I outright refuse to allow him to kill himself for money. He'll be staying home after this, no matter what. It'll be my responsibility to work my ass off doing whatever I can as an artist to make money. There's no way I can make enough at a regular job, and he needs me here to back him up. It'll be tough as hell and probably the most frightening thing I've ever done, to be completely financially uncertain of my future and to be working 100% on art to fuel our basic needs and huge bills, but it's also a fair challenge and I aim to punch my way through it.

So, I wanted you to know that things may change drastically. I don't know what it means yet to us, but I know I'll be busy as hell no matter what. If I leave without warning, know we may be in the middle of a move or something and I hope to be back as soon as I can. Commissions are my top priority; I work on them every night with all my free time. I may run into a situation where I just can't get on FA that much, either to rest my wrist or my mind, or just because I might lack actual time to do so.

We also are considering moving to the West Coast (Vancouver BC area), likely to live with my oldest brother and share a house -- we could all use the familiar company and support. The main reason for going out there would be to have more population to find real friends within. We're introverted and shy, and we're currently in a very cliquey town and the queer scene here is very difficult to get into. (Not that we need queer friends, it's just automatically people that we might find ourselves more at ease with. Y'know. We'd also have more opportunity to ditch the vehicle and bike more places. Lots of reasons for that, mainly financial, mental and physical health. This town is awful for biking anywhere. It's also warmer out there. If we do move, it likely won't be until around May as we'll have more free cash by then.

Thanks for reading, those that do.