I realize I have been extremely inactive on this site for quite some time now. Attending school full time and working part time on top of that made it nearly impossible for me to work on any projects that were not for a specific client or class. That being said, my education is complete.

I made it out with my BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration (Cum Laude). It was a great learning experience, but supremely exhausting. Beyond that, as soon as graduation was completed, we had to begin prepping to move halfway across the country. Now that we are here in Texas, and the reality of working full time at a dead-end job has started to set it, I've been having to deal with an overwhelming sense of disillusionment and loneliness.

This city it wonderful. The weather is warm, the people are cordial, and there always seems to be something going on. Even with all that, I am still 600 miles away from everything I've ever known. Most days, I am too busy working on an animated series to notice. However, when I set aside time to relax and unwind, the feeling of isolation really begins to sink in. I don't know anyone here and the more I try to make friends, the more alien I feel.

To add to the sadness, my work is unfulfilling. It's just another customer service position. I had hoped moving to a thriving city would help open the door to creative opportunities in a field that would utilize my talents. But, alas, I have yet to get a single call back on any creative position I have applied for in the past four months. I haven't managed to hit any sort of rock bottom, but the more rejection I find, the harder it seems to get up and keep trying. What I'm trying to say is this:

I need you guys.

I don't like to admit when I need help. I really don't like to admit when I'm hurting. But what I like and what I need are different beasts, and only in being honest can I begin to heal some of the pain that I have been dealing with over the last couple of months.

Not only have I felt a sense of social isolation after moving here, but I have also lost all sense of community. All my classmates live somewhere else. I haven't met a single artist outside of work. Even when I went home for a wedding, I no longer felt a sense of belonging. An article I read described my current state of being as "feeling rootless." Nowhere feels like home because I don't feel like I belong.

So I'm reaching out to one of the most welcoming communities I have ever encountered: Fur Affinity. I was never a full blown furry, but I completely understood the desire to BE an animal. Hell, I dressed up as a monkey for Halloween, and I think it may be my favorite costume out of my 25+ years of Halloween costumes.

The point I am getting to is that I want to become more active in the community again. I want to remember what it feels like to share common interests and outlooks with others. I want to contribute and enrich other's lives as much as they have mine.

With all this in mind, I am planning to finally start work on a project I tried to launch years ago: the story of Andy and Ori. The comic book story has been hashed out enough, that I feel confident that I can begin to produce a page every couple of weeks or so.

You guys have always been so kind and welcoming. I want to start giving back and creating the content I had initially intended for you all. I hope you will enjoy it and look forward to getting back into this community. Alright, time to log off and actually begin working on this beast.

Thank you all so much.