I'm moving into my new apartment today! I'm so excited and happy! I have next to no furniture, but due to an unforeseen fluke I have been blessed with the most amazing job. Originally I got on with the local hospital, but Tuesday I got called with another job offer. A friend of mine recommended me to her and the boss lady invited me out to see where I'd be working. It's working as an in home caregiver again, but the pay is fantastic and the environment is.... let me just say, this family has it together. The daughter, my boss, is an RN and so she has everything set up perfectly with schedules and charts, etc. It's a night and day difference to my former position! I started training out there last night and I think I'm really going to like this job, I'm excited to go back and I've not felt that way about a job in forever!

So, what does this mean for Origins? Well, since I'm only working 3 days a week I should have plenty of time to get stuff done and work with our staff, etc. Pets and the new layout are still our primary focus, but since I'll be making decent money, I'll be throwing in some more cash into some other areas over the next couple months as well. Hopefully we'll get this place all spiffied up soon!

Imagine that, an update not about me....

So, we're slowly getting back to work and by that I mean the cogs in my brain are turning again... I know everyone is eager to participate and give to the site as far as user content goes... Which gave me the idea to run an art contest for a gene pack! We'll be picking a couple themes and you guys will get to color up our starting pets! I'm not sure what the prizes would be, but it would include getting your genes released on the site and probably a bit of site currency as well. If you have ideas or feedback for how to make this event more fun or inviting, then please leave them in the comments or you can PM me! n.n

In other news, I've swapped out the items in the Jade Emporium! St. Patrick's Day and Faerie items are available now, along with the Vernal Vineyard set! Oh and one last little surprise... the Mini Pets have made an appearance as well! I have no idea how long these will be available. For a couple months at least, probably longer as I'll likely forget about it. I'll try to give some warning before things shift out again!

Anyway, that's it for now, I'll let you know when the event launches!

I've got great news, I got a call back yesterday from one of the places I interviewed for and they offered me a position! Of the three I was rooting for it's the one I wanted the least, but I don't think the other two places have quite made decisions yet. Since I won't start until the 27th I'm going to keep my fingers crossed I get another offer before then. If I don't, well, I've got this job and that's wonderful. I still have the issue of housing to deal with, but that is made a thousand times easier by the fact that I have an income again. Three days without a job was very not okay!

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support. It means a lot to me!

Hey all... I wanted to pop by and drop a little update about my situation. In general I want to try being more forthcoming with everything that's going on so nobody starts to worry! We're still here and we will get to fixing up Origins just as soon as my life is a bit more stable.

Okay so... I have been working as a live-in caregiver and as you all have probably seen around the forums and my previous update, it's very stressful. That's why I've been looking for another job. I've had three interviews so far and I'm about to go in for yet another one this afternoon. I have a lot of good prospects and excellent local references so I should be getting something soon. Here comes the downside. I, being a good employee, gave the family I work for a lot of notice about this change. I told them back in the first part of January that I wanted to look for other work, that way they would have plenty of time to find a replacement for me. I also told her that when I did find another job I would give them two weeks notice and would try to be as available to them as possible afterward so they could make other arrangements and not be too shorthanded. Well... They surprised me Monday and said they found another lady to live in full time and they want me out before next week so that she can start next week. They gave me a very meager severance check, basically two weeks pay, which amounts to a grand total of $400... It is Certainly not enough to pay first month's rent, a security deposit, a deposit with the electric company, etc... especially since I don't have a job secured. Nobody wants to rent to someone who doesn't have money and has no way of bringing in more money. So that is my present dilemma.

My fingers are crossed for this latest job interview and I should be hearing back from the other places this week or next. Please keep me in your thoughts, I have some back ups, but things are going to be tight and stressful for a little while yet!

Hey all, I just wanted to first off apologize for the silence from myself and the staff. It's wholly my fault as I've been struggling with work and trying to find another job that both pays better and drains me less. I was curious and so I did the math, I'm on the clock 140+ hours a week, even when I'm sleeping I'm on call. Because of all that I just haven't been able to put any energy into Origins the last few months, not for lack of wanting, but lack of having energy to do much of anything at all.

That being said, I am looking for other work and have alerted my current boss that I am hoping to not be here for much longer. I'm sorry for the derailment and silence and that I don't have much more to say right now. I can offer an update on the FA debate. We are putting them on the back burner as far as updates go, but when we do come back to them, we will try to preserve as much customization as possible while also making it so that it's easier on the staff. We really appreciated everyone's feedback and took much of it to heart.

I will try to be more forthcoming with updates and get around to the Kickstarter surveys which have taken forever to get out. I'm so sorry for that!

Thank you all for being so patient. Here's some eye candy for you to enjoy. Adult sketches for the wendigo and majouneko! n.n