Various updates on my life
Added 2024-11-22 22:31:06 +0000 UTCI have the feeling it'll be a while before I get another video out and I figured I'd just let everyone know what's going on. Things have been tough for various reasons, and then I had a huge additional pile of stress literally dumped on me a few days ago.
Seattle's recent not-a-hurricane brought down a tree branch in my yard. Nobody's hurt, but one of my neighbors cars was destroyed, the other severely damaged, my shed got trashed, and the tree (which is huge and already in bad health for years) is probably an even bigger risk than it already was.
I'm trying to help the neighbor out with cash and a spare fixer-upper to replace the totaled vehicle, but there's still a big overhanging branch that could destroy both our vehicles (the first one narrowly missed mine) and if the other side of the tree collapses it'll destroy his house. And I don't know if I can actually do anything about that. We got a quote to remove the tree and it was $35k. That's untenable, so I don't know what to do other than wait and hope we get a smaller number; we suspect the arborists are gouging to profiteer off the storm.
I had to buy a chainsaw and rent a truck to haul off the branch that was in my yard; it took two trips, and if the scale at the dump is to be believed, that branch weighed 1500 pounds. This was like... maybe 10% of the total mass of the tree? So, the situation sucks. Oh, and I don't have the faintest idea what to do about the shed; I kind of need it, but the doors have been obliterated and can't be replaced, so anything I put in there will get stolen. Good times.
To stress: I'm not asking for additional donations or anything. I don't even think money would help, and... I think I have it all more or less under control? It's just demanding a lot of attention and imposing a lot of stress, which is the last thing I need right now.
Because of course I'm once again having weird health issues which (long story short) probably aren't life-threatening, but thanks to insurance tomfoolery (GO AMERICA! USA! USA!) my referral to look into them has been denied and I just do not have the energy to deal with that.
And, though this is absolutely a very minor thing in the grand scheme, everything I've been working on lately (other than the NEC video, which is thankfully performing quite well) has been a mess of dead ends and restarts and I just can't seem to make any solid progress.
Things will probably be fine, I'm just overwhelmed at the moment. When I'm not dealing with the latest catastrophe, I can't get myself to do much more than play Dark Souls and wait for bedtime, so... yeah. I don't know when I'll manage to get back on the horse.
Or, you know, I could have a video out next week; who knows, that's usually how it goes when I say I won't be around for a while. Sometimes I think I make these posts just to motivate myself to muster up the willpower to turn things around, so, we'll see if that happens. Good luck everyone.
Comments
Saturday morning I awoke and came downstairs to allow my partner to sleep-in. I watched the video server video beginning to end. Your content never ceases to scratch that nerd itch, hold my interest, and make me learn something new. It's a comfort for me and I appreciate this para-sociality. Thank you for all you do. And, sorry about the tree. I definitely it does not move.
B Clouthier
2025-01-23 01:13:39 +0000 UTCI was a professional arborist for the first part of my life and my family owns a tree company, I'd be happy to take a look at some pictures of the tree, if only to tell you if the 35k asking price is gouging or accurate to the volume of work / risk / hauling.
Old Kid
2024-12-04 10:05:34 +0000 UTCDon't take this badly but is almost comical how much Nightmare House Shit you have been going through in recent years, like you're being trial by fire'd on being a homeowner Christ. Worst issues my dad has had to deal with since we moved in was a series of A/C issues (which, when you're living in Texas and the house is now a nice uninhabitable 98°...) and our mains springing a leak twice in the same spot, both of which were not insignificant expenses, but... Goddamn. Hope things improve soon ❤️
Xaviette Katzenfrau
2024-11-26 05:11:03 +0000 UTCthat sounds a bit bigger than a little guys project. Best wishes on the tree project!
Mag Morb
2024-11-24 10:25:21 +0000 UTCWe all want you to succeed. We all want you to be healthy. We believe in you. Please fight with the insurance company to get that referral so you have one less thing to worry about. You could always some plywood and hinges for the shed, do a shitty job for the doors until you have the time, money, and patience to do a better job. Keep up the good fight
Rev. C. Ratchford
2024-11-24 06:19:50 +0000 UTCI'm just north of the border, things have been a mess here too, I feel your pain. I really hope things get better for you soon. Take all the time you need. I hope the holidays and 2025 treat you well!
ItsSomeGuy
2024-11-24 02:02:33 +0000 UTCOh MAN. That's fucking miserable! I'm so sorry!! Down here in the Northernmost part of the SF Bay Area, and we're mostly just dealing with roads flooding and stuff. I wish there was something more I could do to help other than just letting you know that I'm sending a lot of love and good health vibes (and also throwing rocks at your health insurance company). I'm a Patron because I love your content and perspective, not because I'm expecting products being pumped out of a factory. Please take all of the time you need. HUGS.
Eleanor
2024-11-23 08:29:45 +0000 UTCjust upped my membership, hope it helps when an acceptable quote from an arborist comes in.
adorfer
2024-11-23 03:07:24 +0000 UTCPlease take care of yourself. Sending ❤️ from Sydney, Australia
Jim Hooke
2024-11-23 02:20:59 +0000 UTCTake care of yourself big guy, we'll be here when things are less crazy <3
Charlotte
2024-11-23 01:56:36 +0000 UTCThanks for the update. I'm wishing for something good to find you.
ticketo
2024-11-23 01:39:56 +0000 UTCTry out the local firewood benefit orgs, they cut and distribute wood for the needy for heating. It'd make a totally wholesome video too!
Dennis Shelgren
2024-11-23 01:33:43 +0000 UTCI live in downtown Portland and used to live on the 10th floor of an apartment. My eyeline out the window was very nearly level with the tops of the trees on the sidewalk. Just the other day I saw a crew trimming one of those trees that had overgrown too much over the road. They had, like, 3 cherry pickers and 5 guys all doing stuff. I can't imagine what kind of daunting task it'd be to have to take an entire one of those bad boys down safely.
Riemann Zeta-Jones
2024-11-23 01:11:30 +0000 UTCExactly. see: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/photos-bomb-cylone-wreaks-havoc-across-puget-sound-region/
w7com
2024-11-23 01:08:00 +0000 UTCSame. At my old house, I had a tree fall in a storm that thankfully didn't hit anything, but it did block my driveway *AND* the road. And it was one of our smaller trees. I've had branches fall from our taller trees easily take up the full bed of a full size pickup - when chopped up.
Anonymous Freak
2024-11-23 01:04:16 +0000 UTCSo….. In the Pacific Northwest, we often have trees that are *SIGNIFICANTLY* taller than a two story house. I have a tree near my house that is easily "10 story building" in height. And if it's in a densely-packed area, that's precision work to limb all the branches, then cut the core down in stages, lowering each piece one at a time as cut, rather than just felling the whole tree at once.
Anonymous Freak
2024-11-23 01:02:28 +0000 UTCYou got this! Things will work out take all the time you need.
Nicole Clark
2024-11-22 23:21:03 +0000 UTC$35k!? That beyond ridiculous. I have to think that is the: "We are absolutely booked right now, this is the price to cancel our other clients to deal with you right now." price. My grandparrents had giant maple trees (Taller then a 2 story house) that had to be cut down after a hurricane. Cost a few hundred per tree.
DeScruff
2024-11-22 23:19:07 +0000 UTCYour use of the word branch doesn't seem to do it justice... People outside of the Northwest don't understand how big our trees are but even as a Cascadian myself, I've never seen a 'branch' so big it would take two U-Haul trips. Even 'limb' seems like it would fall short. It sounds like another whole tree fell out of the sky. Anyway, sounds fucked man, hope it all gets worked out soon without much more headache. I know I'm not alone when I say take care of yourself first man; 99, if not 100% of us will be here whenever things get back to normal. No rush.
Mike Jacob
2024-11-22 23:18:39 +0000 UTCAs I've always said to creators I follow who deal with real life stuff: your health and well-being comes first, we can wait on videos a bit while you sort stuff out. I just hope you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving in spite of all that's going on.
DurradonXylles
2024-11-22 23:16:50 +0000 UTCWe could probably rustle up some muscle (or at least jimmies)
Alex Cruise
2024-11-22 23:13:10 +0000 UTCHang in there man. Do what you gotta do!
Logan Hartmann
2024-11-22 23:12:06 +0000 UTCWith a few well thought out ropes tied off to the right places you might be able to make the tree fall a specific direction? Maybe look for urban loggers. Some people will take down a tree just for the value of the lumber if it's big and gnarly enough. Matt Cremona¹ is on the east cost but maybe he has a west coast counterpart? 1. https://mattcremona.com/category/urban-logging
Mukunda Modell
2024-11-22 23:09:01 +0000 UTCSending you all of the good vibes from Scotland. We're all here when you've got the time - the best thing you can do is focus on yourself <3
Harry
2024-11-22 23:08:38 +0000 UTCI’m sorry to hear all this friend I hope everything gets better quick!
Rexmanning
2024-11-22 22:59:13 +0000 UTCDefinitely take care of yourself and those closest to you. Count me in as one more follower who will be here to welcome you back when you're ready to tackle videos again.
Scott Kemp
2024-11-22 22:53:08 +0000 UTCwishing you the best of luck. 👍🏼🤞🏼🍀✨
OPAL
2024-11-22 22:51:48 +0000 UTCis there a direction the tree can fall down safely ? invasive thought: tow straps on the totaled car + brick on the accelerator
Hugo Devillers
2024-11-22 22:46:27 +0000 UTC$35k was definitely a "I don't want to do this job" price, I assume there are rich people willing to pay that just so they can it done. Maybe I should load my F250 up with arborists and drive down from Alaska lol Hope you are able to get everything worked out, sounds like a real PITA.
Outlaw99775
2024-11-22 22:45:42 +0000 UTCI'm not certain but I think it's a softwood, based on the parts that have fallen and my limited knowledge of wood. The other thing is that it's in incredibly poor condition; part of the fallen branch was hollow, other parts I was able to just break apart with my bare hands, so I suspect it's of no use to anyone. Still, that's a lead worth pursuing, thank you.
Cathode Ray Dude
2024-11-22 22:42:15 +0000 UTCOops, there’s no way to add a new line on mobile, apparently, so I’m sorry this is a second comment! It can be hard to untangle things when there’s so many stressors coming together to suck up your energy, so if playing Dark Souls is all you can do to prevent the stress from taking over, then that’s what you have to do as you slowly work away at the problems. We’ll be here when you have time and energy for making videos, but until then, don’t burn yourself out trying to do everything at once and remember to take care of yourself.
Andy Castille
2024-11-22 22:41:19 +0000 UTCTake care of yourself!
Benjamin Garrett
2024-11-22 22:40:47 +0000 UTCI think I speak for a lot of us here when I say you and the people around you come first and we in no way want to heap any more additional expectations onto an already stressful situation. Take care of yourself, we'll still be here on the other side
s4096
2024-11-22 22:40:16 +0000 UTCSending you positive thoughts from a bit south in PDX. Life can throw a lot at us, and taking the time you need to get through it is important.
Logan Collins
2024-11-22 22:39:31 +0000 UTC*hugs* take as much time as you need. probably not what you'd like to hear, but hell, sometimes life hates you, and it's better to take stuff slowly than to drag yourself over "not doing enough". hang tight! <3
sdomi
2024-11-22 22:38:44 +0000 UTCIf I lived closer, I'd come and help you chip away. Take the time you need, you've got an extensive backlog to keep me fed in the meantime ♥️
Nicky Stromboli
2024-11-22 22:38:15 +0000 UTCNo worries. I checked the SnoPUD map for my old Tulalip place and I still wouldn't have power, glad I moved to PDX. I lived through the storm, what was it, two three years ago. It's stressful as fuck. Keep yourself and yours safe and sane. We'll be here when you get back.
w7com
2024-11-22 22:37:57 +0000 UTCI think I speak for mostly everyone here when I say you should focus on yourself first and not worry about us! We’re here to support you as you produce videos you enjoy making, not just to pay for a certain amount of content each month.
Andy Castille
2024-11-22 22:37:35 +0000 UTCThat is an absurd quote for tree removal. Hopefully you'll be able to get a more sane offer soon.
Chas Becht
2024-11-22 22:37:09 +0000 UTCGood luck. Deal with one thing at a time. We all know you'll get back up to making content soon enough. No rush.
Kerne
2024-11-22 22:36:44 +0000 UTCI don't pay monthly on here because I expect a video every month. I pay money monthly because you keep finding the coolest weird shit I would never blink twice at and making me fascinated with it by the end of the video. If no new videos come out, I binge the old ones. Can't rush art. Good luck with the tree, I've got no advice there. As far as the shed goes, if it's pretty much smashed anyways, ripping out the door and screwing in plywood over the door-hole should deter most opportunists and at least let you keep the lowest-value stuff in there short-term.
Lonely Roman Noise
2024-11-22 22:36:44 +0000 UTCReguardless if you get a video out tomorrow or a year from now we still appreciate all ya do! I hope things turn around soon for you and folks. ❤️
Zen The Fox
2024-11-22 22:36:34 +0000 UTCWhat species of tree is it? If it is a hardwood, you can often get a firewood dealer to chop it up and take it away for free. That's what I've been doing with the trees that have fallen around my house.
Ian
2024-11-22 22:36:06 +0000 UTCSending you good thoughts and well wishes from the path of hurricane Helene. Take your time and take care of each other.
Whendle
2024-11-22 22:35:14 +0000 UTCGood luck out there, things are rough for everyone at this moment it seems 🙏
Xaviette Katzenfrau
2024-11-22 22:35:01 +0000 UTCTake care of yourself Gravis. We all appreciate you a whole bunch! Take as much time as you need.
AstralPhnx
2024-11-22 22:34:34 +0000 UTC
