Inadvertent absence.

I really need to apologize to you guys. Not only was I lacking in content the past month or so, but I kinda stopped communicating altogether. Let me get you guys up to speed on what's going on. This is, by no means, an excuse for my lack of content. (Though, it has been a huge hit to my free time lately, I should have been doing SOMETHING.)

Late last month, my dad went into renal failure due to complications with a hernia he has had for the past few years. He had to spend a week in the hospital and, while I had the help of my siblings during that time, they all kinda jumped ship after he was discharged, leaving me as his sole caretaker. Not only have I been having to handle my regular "duties" around the house (cooking, feeding and caring for the dogs, cleaning), I now have the added joy of caring for my dad. (Taking him to follow-up appointments, helping him bathe, cleaning up any 'accidents'...)

We have an appointment scheduled for surgery to repair the hernia and, hopefully, restore his independence. That doesn't happen until the week of the 20th, though.

Most (if not all) of you likely saw that massive upload I did to IB on the 3rd. Rumors of my passing have been greatly exaggerated. While I haven't had the time I generally need to make a proper, finished pic, I have been sketching a lot. To that end, I have been working on finishing the next page of Sleepover, though I do not think it will be animated as I had wished. I don't have the time I'd like to dedicated to that and I've this page has been in limbo long enough. There are only a few pages left for the comic, so I should focus on finishing it.

Next, what I did with the money you guys so graciously pledged to me. In my effort to remain completely transparent, I had let the balance roll over for something like 6 months. The total amount was just under $1000. Rather than hold a poll and decide how to divide up the money, I withdrew the full balance to help pay my dad's past-due taxes. What with the impending medical bills, I thought it best to just put it towards that so I wouldn't be stressing taxes on top of everything else.

Thank you all so very much for sticking through. And to those of you who recently joined, but didn't get my personal thank you, I apologize and will be doing that after I post this.

Lastly, and this one kinda has me concerned. Patreon has been cracking down on a lot of artists lately who create... "Niche" content. I've attempted to distance this account with anything directly related to certain projects I'm working on that might cause problems. However, if the worst happens and I don't get the chance to say it, you guys are the best and I would love to get all of your email addresses so I can keep in touch at the very least. Or you can hit me up on Telegram as  misterpickleman or Discord at  MisterPickleman#9158.