Happy November all… just two weeks before it’s December.

That probably sets the tone for this update; clearly, things still ain’t great. Or remotely on track. That’s despite my optimism in my little interim update a week and a half ago wherein I insisted I am still alive and everything isn’t totally still in a state of collapse. Well, I am alive and everything isn’t totally still in a state of collapse. Despite what it looks like. But things are still tough and I’m now facing the very clear reality that chaos and depression have effectively robbed me of a year of my life.

But that’s neither here nor there. We can talk about what that means and where I’m going next month. Because I literally don’t have time to talk about it this month. Once again, it’s the back half of the month and I have four articles in various states of undress that need to show up for the ball before the clock strikes midnight. If you know what the hell I’m saying.

That means my entire focus, right now, is on finishing — and in some cases starting — those Feature articles and cranking them out. I know a Live Chat is missing and a few other things that need addressing, but until I’ve got my content up to date, everything else is a low-tier priority.

The first November Feature will arrive tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning. That’s either November 20 or November 21. It’ll be True Mechanical Managery: When Death Comes Calling II. That’ll be followed up with True Mechanical Managery: New and Replacement Character Creation. Also, next week, I’ll be starting the True Scenario Designery module on Winning and Losing. The fourth Feature, which will show up just after Thanksgiving is a toss-up, but I suspect I’m just going to do the next True Scenario Designery Feature because it’s already partly outlined.

At this point in the month, I am not going to try to schedule a Live Chat or any other events, but I am planning to do a Live Chat early in December and I’ll announce the date once I know for sure. I am not even thinking about anything else until I get caught up on content. So that’s pretty much it.

I would leave this update here but for two things…

First, a few of you have asked about my health. Especially after I made a couple of comments here and there to some of you. I am doing okay. I am not great, but my health is not imminently or directly threatened. In fact, part of why I fell off this month was because I ended up seeing my doctor, doing some medical tests and follow-ups, meeting with my counselor, and meeting with my pastor. Despite things, I’m actually in very good physical health. Some issues need addressing, but I’ve got a game plan with my doctor to handle them. However, those people helping me with my care are all very concerned about my mental health. It is not in a good place. Fortunately, they are supporting me in building a plan to address that as well in different ways. So, even though I’ve hit a big setback and fallen back into darkness a bit, I am well-supported and actively working to improve things. Which is all I can do.

Second, I made a doom-and-gloom declaration a couple of months ago that if I wasn’t “on track” by the end of December, I intended to shut everything down and give up this whole dumbass endeavor. Some of you are concerned that my continuing struggles suggest that I’m probably not going to make it and, come January 1, you’re going to find my site condemned and my Discord boarded up and everything gone. Despite my saying that — and despite being terribly vague about what “on track” means — I’ve nonetheless reached the conclusion that I am in a good position to keep doing what I’m doing, reverse the downtrend, reclaim my lofty position in online gaming circles, and move beyond blogging — as was always the plan — to publish the absolute best damned roleplaying gaming content ever made by anyone. It’s going to take time and hard work to get there, but none of it is beyond me and I’ve got pretty much the most amazing community in the entire Internet cheering me on even though I keep calling them dumbasses and questioning their ability to run games.

I will have more to say on that subject next month and even more in January. But for now, I’ll just leave it there. I’m healthy, I’m not happy, but I am being helped, I am not going anywhere, and I am grateful for your ongoing and wholly undeserved support.

Now, back to telling all you dumbasses why you suck at handling death and loss in roleplaying games. Coming soon.