Hello my friends and watchers! I'm writing this journal to let you all know that i'm still around and that i'm doing okay and to address my silence plus lack of submissions!

Currently I have finished all of my YCH slots and have no commissions due at this time, and i'm not sure if I should take private commissions for the time being due to this recent pandemic we've all been forced to deal with. Perhaps another YCH set would do some good instead because it makes workflow more consistent and its less taxing on my energy- should I open a set of YCHs i'll be sure to post it here on FA and on Twitter!

My Essential Job
Considering my silence though, it's just because of the large amount of extra work at my job- along with the emotional stress and exhaustion that's come with it. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 i've had to take a leadership role at my work in enforcing strenuous sanitization procedures and social distancing between consumers in order to curb the spread of this deadly virus. I wear a mask and replaceable gloves everyday throughout my shift and have made it a frequent routine to clean all touched surfaces throughout the store several times a day. I live in a small community, and one that I care to keep healthy and safe to the best of my ability- because if one or two people in town gets sick, **everybody gets sick**, and that is bad because I really don't want to bring this awful virus to my home.

All these safety procedures have been ordered statewide by my governor, and I follow their directions exactly as they have directed. Unfortunately I work for one of two bosses that care more about making money than being responsible amidst this outbreak- in which they have made threats to break government regulations and undermine my hard work. Considering the store is smaller than 7,500 square feet only 5 customers are permitted to be in the store at any given time- all other customers must wait outside and remain 6 feet apart from each other at all times. My boss had pulled a limit sign that I created and made verbal hints that they would allow 7 or 8 customers in the store. NO! Not going to happen! Not on my watch! Considering my limit sign was a **mandatory government order**we immediately called our community police department and reported the incident to which they called my boss and warned them that they had better be following regulations or else. Score 1 for me and my coworkers!

Amidst all of this, and constantly clashing with my boss over their lack of safety enforcement, it has made me a really tired and emotionally compromised individual. I fall asleep uncontrollably, and go on frequent moody rants over my job with family members- and it sucks because they'd rather not hear that I want to quit my job every day I come home. I'd rather work at home as a full time artist than to be this essential worker who's been forced to work amidst those who might be sick with Covid-19. Be safe, be brave, wash your hands, don't touch your face, and clean your groceries when you get home I can't stress that enough as a grocery store worker you don't know who's coughed or touched your bottle of soda or your box of cereal! As a matter of fact ditch the box and store your bag of cereal instead.