Hello, friends! I write this post in the hopes to not only inform you about what 2015 will look like for the Mark Does Stuff universe, but to explain a bit about what’s going on with me. This post will be a tad long just so I can get all of the details out of the way and so that if other people in the community are confused about things, you can direct them to one post. With that said, LET’S TALK ABOUT THINGS.Â
I know I have been cryptically annoying about things that have been going on in my life since the first leg of the Mark Does Stuff Tour ended in March. It’s been a challenge trying to balance my private life and the work I do here because I enjoy being personal with y’all. That being said, it has not been very easy to get through the last month, and I’ve been trying to do so without broadcasting everything to world, mostly because I’ve had a lot to figure out. I say this as a precursor because I’m going to ask for the time being that people please respect my privacy. I will be able to talk about stuff at length once my life settles down, but for now, this is what I am comfortable telling everyone:
At the end of the month, I will be moving back to Los Angeles. I’m spending time with my brother, his wife, and their child for a number of reasons, namely because I am moving to New York City at the end of July with them. This was a decision made because of circumstances here in the Bay. I have also always wanted to live in NYC, and my sister-in-law got into Columbia, so I want to stay close to my twin and his family.
This is going to affect the Mark Does Stuff universe in the following ways:
Two legs of the tour – post-ConQuesT and post-Sasquan – have to be postponed. I cannot afford that travel anymore, and I also need to focus on moving and writing. I have every intention of getting to all of those places, many of them later this year and in the first half of 2016. Please know that I have NEVER cancelled dates ever and I take this seriously. That is how urgent my situation is. I will get to your cities once my life settles down and once I pay off my horrible tax bill.
After I finish Leverage for Double Features on Mark Watches, my posts for The Legend of Korra will be sporadic. My primary concern is to get the basic posts on each site written so that there is absolutely no interruption in my reviews of The Next Generation, Supernatural, The Circle Opens, and Discworld. This is why I’m postponing some of tour; it’ll allow me to write in advance of the Europe trip (which is still happening! It’s almost entirely paid for, since there’s no huge cost for it), write to cover the time I’ll be at GeekyCon, and the move to New York. I will update the Master Schedule frequently to let you know when Legend of Korra posts will be going up. The videos will be released as I finish them, and my Twitter will be the best place to know when they are done.
It is entirely possible that Double Features aren’t interrupted at all and y’all get everything on schedule, but I figured it would be better to tell you now then to surprise you later.
Reviews take priority, but if I get a chance, I will do my best to complete my readings of Fifty Shades Freed. This whole thing is the major reason those took a break; I’ve been so emotionally overwhelmed and overworked that I simply could not do them. I have every intention of finishing that (terrible) book, and will do my best to get them done!
So how can you help me during this period of time, if you’re inclined to do so?
1) Understanding! I know this seems cheesy, but the sheer act of understanding how difficult things are will go a long way in making this easier. I know a lot of you will be disappointed about tour dates being delayed; I am, too. Again, I’ve never done anything like this EVER, so that’s how serious my situation is. The same goes with Double Features and bonus commissions. I love doing what I do, and I wish I could do ALL OF EVERYTHING, but my mental, financial, and emotional health have to come first right now.
2) Help out on the financial side of things. I made a Master Post detailing how to help me in general, but that will largely apply here. Any way you can contribute on that page would be fantastic and appreciated. I will be updating my Amazon Wish List in August once I’ve moved and found an apartment; I’ve sold most of what I own to facilitate an easier move, and I’ll need a lot of things once I’m settled. If you can donate money? Buy a video pass? Buy videos? Any of that stuff will help me immensely, I promise. No matter how small it may seem, it helps!
3) Any New Yorkers are welcome to give advice about moving, transit, things I should expect, things I need to sign up for/get once I get to NY, awesome neighborhoods, etc. I am aiming to live in Queens, as I cannot afford Manhattan. That’s all I’m willing to say about that for now, but if you’re from that area, advice is a lovely, lovely thing. Any advice!
I will keep everyone updated over the next four months as I learn more about my living situation, my work situation, when I get time to finish my goddamn book (I’M SO CLOSE, WHY DID MY LIFE HAVE TO COLLAPSE RIGHT NOW), and other nonsense. The Tour Dates listed here are final as of the date of this post. If anything else changes, y’all will know, but I have no need to change the Europe tour or the Southwest tour.
Thank you. It’s been weird lately, but y’all make it better. <3
Mark
