Hi everyone! Wow, what a long week of work that was! I have finished moving to my new apartment and the DSL is finally hooked back up. Things seem to slowly be turning around for us. With your help we were able to afford the move and get out of a bad situation. Also, the best news of all is that after all of the problems the office gave us and lies they tried to spin, we managed to talk to people higher up the ladder than the office managers. They finally agreed to let us out of the lease without going the lawsuit route. We didn’t get our security deposit back, but not a big thing considering they let us out of the lease! We have it in writing signed by both them and us. I will have a thank you of sorts to share with you all when chapter thirty-five is complete. Again, thank you all for your support and your continued reading of Red String.

No one from any official office could help us over the weekend and when we called the hospital for advice on the situation, the woman told me they don’t use dialysis machines and I’d have to contact the manufacturer, or call 911. So, we did. They came out and the best they could offer was that if it was them personally, they wouldn’t want to be there. So, we spent the weekend at a hotel with the kitty and doggie since we didn’t want to risk our health over this. Plus, the idea that something like that was leaking through our ceiling is disgusting and unacceptable.

Now it’s Monday and we could get some answers and help. We called the office first and were told by the manager (who is not available on weekends) that she received a message that we had called multiple times on Saturday, but not given any info on the situation. She assumed we were just calling to complain about noise (so obviously that means she should ignore it and wait until Monday to bother). Anyway, she said she’d send maintenance out and they just wanted to cut the spot out like they usually do when we have a ceiling leak. That meant we over her head. At first the Hazmat folks told us to call the Fire Marshall and then the Fire Marshall told us to call the Hazmat people. In the end they told us to call 911, so we did. Full fledged Fire Dept. folks were sent out and finally found out what was going on. The type of machine they have upstairs only puts fluids IN and the body excretes the fluids through natural means, so the leak wasn’t from that thankfully. We were told there wasn’t enough fluid from the machine to leak through, but they did have a leak the size of their sliding glass doors up there, so that is potentially what happened.

Anyway, the problems here are definitely to the point where it’s ridiculous to stay any longer. We have told the manager we are leaving and want our security deposit back. She said she’s look into it for the paperwork. Hopefully, she won’t give us trouble and just let us break the lease. If not, we will obtain a lawyer and fight them on it. It looks like we will be getting a lawyer after all. The office manager does not wish to let us out of the lease. *sigh* Anyway, we’ve actually signed on at the new apartment and are starting our moving process today. I have updates set to automatically update on time up to Thursday. Sketch Friday may or may not be a little late (hopefully not) depending on whether we can get our DLS set up at the new place quickly and get the scanner unpacked.

Thank you to everyone who showed your support both with donations AND with advice. The webcomic author/reader relationship is always so inspiring and it really is the best job in the world. (I hope to have a little thank you surprise as soon as the move is complete and chapter thirty-five is complete). It’s been a crazy few months, but thankfully at least one of these huge problems will be resolved. We’ll be out of this place and I thank you for your help!

* MERCHANDISE ORDERS RECEIVED IN THE LAST WEEK WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED SHIPPING CONFIRMATION EMAILS WILL BE SHIPPED OUT BY FRIDAY.

Various problems we’ve had in less than two years : Carbon Monoxide leaks, four ceiling leaks, gas leaks, upstairs neighbors with a love of loud music, constant thumping on their floor (aka our ceiling), and being loud all hours, and mold problems. AND THE CROWNING GLORY THAT TOOK PLACE TODAY… THE UPSTAIRS NEIGHBOR HAS A DIALYSIS MACHINE THAT HAS LEAKED THROUGH OUR CEILING.

So, I guess what I’m asking is, if you can spare it and you want to support the artist, I would be ever so grateful for donations so that I can get out of this apartment ASAP. I just want to get out of here. If you are in a position to help and wish to do so, I would appreciate any help with funds that could speed my process of getting me moved out of here.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DONATE. As I say on my donations page, donations are a way to show your support of the comic and the artist. It is a way to say “thanks for years worth of free Red String comics.” Artists need to eat (while it’s nice to say “just let them eat paint” we do prefer food), sleep with a roof over our heads, and participate in all the other normal human needs. Donations allow to me to work on the comic full time and continue releasing updates every week. This is how most webcomic artists are set up. They give the comic away for free and depend on readers to buy merchandise or donate. It’s different from other jobs out there, but it is a generally mutually beneficial situation. And again, you are not REQUIRED to do anything, but continue to read the comic and enjoy.

EDIT: I just wanted to let you all know I HAVE tried to call multiple places about this problem, but since it’s the weekend NO ONE is there to help. First thing Monday, I WILL be contacting the appropriate county offices and seeing legal council if needed after this. I am hoping I can fight them while simultaneously getting a move on getting moved.

EDIT 9/28: Thank you all for your help! Your donations are most appreciated. We’ve signed up for our new apartment and are packing and moving as I type (before I have intermittent “radio silence” while I wait for the DSL to be hooked up at the new place on 10/6). I will have a special thank you surprise after the completion of chapter thirty-five.