Hey all.

I am very sincerely sorry for disappearing. It was incredibly unprofessional of me to not keep my commissioners updated as I disappeared for months, and I have commissions owed for over 4 months now. I'm convinced that I have really crumbled the reputation I worked so hard to build over 2015, and that's really no one's fault but my own. No one has complained to my face yet about my disappearance, but the number of artists who have acted in the way I have, and have gotten complaints, is continuously growing, and I know it'll just be a matter of time before it catches up to me. I will be sending out notes to the people who have already paid for their commissions, offering a choice of a refund, or if they'd like to continue doing business. I completely understand that this was really shitty of me to do, to make people wait so long.

For those of you who simply have a slot reserved and have NOT paid, I'll be sending notes/messages to you, too, about whether or not you'd like to continue to do business. It is in this moment that I am grateful that I don't require payment up front, and I do so for these EXACT situations. I know my real life is unstable right now with jobs and living situations, and for that, I know I cannot be dependable.

As for why I disappeared for so long, it's as simple as a combination of a new job and horrible work ethic on my part.

When I moved to Florida in July 2015, I had no jobs lined up. I simply picked up my stuff and left, hoping that something would work out. My parents are unable to financially help me in any way, so I was making some really bad decisions in terms of finance. I wouldn't have a job until October, where I found part-time work in retail, but it was only about 15 hours per week, at minimum wage. I loved it, though, as I felt a sense of community, and I was performing well enough to gain the trust and reliance of my superiors in the work place. I still needed money, so in November, I landed a "full-time" job at an independently-owned UPS Store. I worked there for just 1 week before I realized I was being underpaid, under compensated, and over worked. I was being asked to do things that were not apart of my job description whatsoever, and I was being paid $9.50/hour for professional graphic design and printing work.

I quit the week after, with one day notice. The boss I worked for was a horrible, cheap man, and while I was able to support myself well for those two weeks, I could not emotionally bear it.

I worked part-time at the retail place for another two months, and it was during that period that I thought I could make art a full-time job. My prolific upload status went up, I started pioneering the world of adoptables, and I started friendships that I felt I could handle. However, I do not have a great amount of self-discipline. I thrive on interaction and the opportunity to make people smile face-to-face, and when I am stuck in my room for 10 hours a day, I was becoming increasingly frustrated.

At that point, in mid-January, I decided to take a dive and apply to Universal Studios Resort in Orlando. Honestly, I had/have always wanted to work in a theme park, but because of how far we lived from the parks (and with me not having any sort of transportation of my own), I had ruled out the possibility. But, just for shits and giggles, I did it, and I was called the next day for an interview. Within hours of THAT day, I had a job working with attractions.

The news was amazing, and I felt like I could really work to my full potential being on the Universal team. Roller coasters and amusement parks have been a fiery passion of mine since I was 7, when my dad took me on my first non-kiddie roller coaster. However, the transportation issue came up. I went from "we'll figure it out when we get to it," to "we're here, and we haven't figured anything out." And while my roommates have been incredibly supportive and RIDICULOUSLY financially helpful, it became quickly clear that asking for a 45-minute drive, back and forth, every day, just so I could go to work, was asking a lot.

So, I started car shopping this past March, and I still do not have a car. Even worse, I cannot afford a car. I've asked my grandfather to help with a down-payment when possible, and we were almost on to something in the last week of March, but that was when I realized I could not afford monthly payments on a car, and would likely just have to buy something cheap with cash. However, because I am getting my grandfather's help, he insists that we find something more reliable so that I do not put more money into repairs than into the car itself. Which, makes sense--but I'm desperate. I need to be able to get to work.

Between all this stress of simply making enough money to cover the bills I have now, plus trying to find money for the coming bills with insurance and car payments, I have lost some friendships that I worked to build during the last few months. That stress added with the financial and mental, and I just couldn't bring myself to even open FurAffinity, or even my computer, for long. I also have non-fur clients who have been waiting for about 2 months now for websites and sushi menus. Luckily, I've at least started some of that, but my work load is heavy and much overdue, thanks to me thinking I could take everything all at once with a new job.

Also, it'll be time to move again before I know it. So that's coming up.

Again, I deeply apologize for not getting any of this out sooner. As my customers, clients, and friends, you all deserved to hear it as soon as I could. Unfortunately, I'm a dingle.

Thank you very much for your time and patience with me.

--Roo