I don't tend to post personal journals unless something major comes up, so please pardon me for this.

This year has been nothing but crisis after crisis for me IRL. I spent the first two weeks rehabbing my old family home after drug addict tenants trashed and abandoned it. Then my grandfather had a stroke and had to be flown across the country to stay with my aunt and see a cardiologist. Then we found out his heart is inoperable due to his health. So he's just counting down the days until death. Then I got so manic I could hardly think straight. Then a friend died of cancer. Then on the anniversary of another friend dying, I found out my grandma has cancer and was getting surgery. Then my other grandma's cancer has gotten worse. I've been barely keeping it together.

I have a small backlog of commissions and prizes that are tracked on my Trello, and I've been trying to sketch them in batches. Most are due next weekend (per my three week turnaround policy), and I will be trying very hard to get as much done as I can by mid-week. Thursday, I leave for a weeklong trip that has been planned since December. Anything not done at that time will be done in the first week of March. I am not taking on the spot or off stream commissions until my backlog is done.

But Alluvial, why have you been doing adopts instead of work? This is an extremely valid concern. The reason I've been doing adopts is that they're easy, comforting, and quick to do. They're paying my bills and keeping me from not working at all. I've literally just been lying in bed when not doing them, so it gives me a reason to be up and do things like remember to eat.

I am extremely not okay right now, but I'm doing my level best to keep going and find ways to stay positive. I appreciate support and patience, and the kindness people have shown me during these crises. I will try hard to live up to my standards as an artist and deliver works that my clients can be proud of.

- Aubrey