Update-ish
Added 2017-12-08 03:26:51 +0000 UTCHeeeyyy. At this point I'm pretty sure 99% of you guys know our house burned down in the Ventura wildfires. And yesss I understand the sad irony of my "burning house" jokes. I regret nothing.
- Status -
My parents who live across town were evacuated as well, and their house is standing as of now, but the neighborhood I grew up in is absolutely destroyed: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=10S-m7mBzbjvG1rjiJ8wFAIbeG-F5VoKS&ll=34.292536737147906%2C-119.20958287672926&z=14
Currently my parents, sister, Chelsea, I are living in a motor home (parents') with two cats and a dog that won't stop farting. I don't have much of a plan right now other than moving back in with my parents, but their house won't be habitable for several weeks due to potential lead/asbestos contamination, no power/gas, and contaminated tap water.
So many people have been displaced that the local hotel/rental/housing market is going to be totally, for lack of a better word, constipated. I feel like over-saturated or overwhelmed would have worked, but constipated is what I thought of first.
We're not really sure how to express our gratitude for the monumental monetary and psychological support you guys have given us the past couple days. All I can say is I'm so freaking relieved that our problems as of now aren't financial. I still have this weird feeling that we'll be heading home after this, but I know that's not true. It doesn't feel real.
- Videos -
Video-wise there are 4 videos we filmed before the fire; one is already uploaded and ready to post, one is half edited, two I haven't even looked at footage. Continuing with the videos will provide some sense of normalcy, but I'm not sure when we should start posting again and if it's weird to post videos in the house now that everyone knows it's gone.
I don't know.. life's weird. Let me know what you guys think we should do :)
Comments
I'm glad you guys are okay. I look forward to seeing whatever you want to put out there moving forward. Hope you settle into a new place asap.
Steve Torrini
2017-12-14 23:16:40 +0000 UTCTake your time and stay safe, that matters much more than getting videos uploaded. It makes me really happy to see all the support you've received, you really deserve it.
Tanner Newman
2017-12-11 18:32:28 +0000 UTCglad to hear that you and your pets are well. For any future "oh your youtube stuff is useless, get a real job!"-insults: yeah but will a 'real job' rally thousands o people on the internet to help you out in times like now? super happy to see that the internet has taken upon helping you and taking care of whatever renters insurance doesn't.
Zorn
2017-12-09 11:12:57 +0000 UTCseeing how the internet came to help here is amazing.
Zorn
2017-12-09 11:07:35 +0000 UTCDo what feels right to you! Take some time. We all can understand if you don't upload anything for a while. The important thing is that you and your family are well. And I'm amazed how you are still able to make me smile, even though the situation your in!
Anton Falck
2017-12-08 14:36:25 +0000 UTCI just donate the last $6 in my account and I feel so good. I figured you'd totally need it more than me. A lot of love from Thailand xoxo.
bskabdz
2017-12-08 13:27:27 +0000 UTCTo kind of echo the general feeling in here, we don't think it's weird to post them if you want but only if it's not going to worsen the trauma on your end; nobody would judge for scrapping them if it makes you feel awful. I'm not going to say I know how you feel because I've never been in your situation, but I can imagine it's horrifying and that once it sinks in, it's going to hit hard. You're a very strong person for posting the "home tour" and asking for help, most wouldn't have been able to handle that. Based on that alone I know you'll come out of this okay, but that's not going to make it any easier in the interim. Keep doing whatever you need to do in order to handle the situation in your own way, and you'll always have all of our support ❤️
Zack
2017-12-08 13:15:55 +0000 UTCThank you very much for the update. I think a lot of us were worried about you and, even though some things are still terrible, we're glad to at least hear from you. I like @Sarah Storer's idea. We all know you're not in the house now. If you feel weird editing the video, that's one thing, but if it's just a continuity thing... well, this is your life and we know the continuity isn't quite 100%. I think until you can get on your feet maybe make some public garbage vlogs about what you're up to so everyone at least hears from you. I know that's supposed to be a patreon add on, but right now, I for one am not worried about you taking care of us... opposite. Your "dad" Peter Brown went through a not as bad but similar situation a couple months ago and has been having a hard time putting out videos since. We've supported him through it. It's that footprint on the beach quote thing. Except instead of God, it's you and us.
Jon Schwartz
2017-12-08 11:55:51 +0000 UTCI think it would be really encouraging to see videos from you! Maybe add a check-in at the end to update people on how things are going and to make it less weird to see videos in the house. I’m so glad you guys are safe and are together...even if it’s not in the place you want to be right now:)
Sarah Barnette
2017-12-08 09:31:52 +0000 UTCWorst case scenario, you could probably build a house out of nothing but plywood, zip-ties, and a house.
Seric
2017-12-08 09:27:49 +0000 UTCIt sounds like you're still adjusting and getting your head together. If you're going to approach any kind of YouTube work, take it slow. I'd put something short up (~2 minutes) in the next 1-3 weeks giving an update to your situation, your regular (non-patreon, non-donating) subscribers will also want to know you and yours are okay. Then either edit this video down, or add a notice (as others have said) to the beginning your other (4 already filmed) videos stating they were filmed pre-Thomas, upload/edit those videos whenever you feel like it. After that, do whatever makes you feel happy. If you want to film and edit more stuff, great, if you don't feel up to doing it or you find your current situation is too restrictive, that's okay too. Take care of yourself.
Seric
2017-12-08 09:24:53 +0000 UTCSame advice as to when Simone went on a hiatus for a bit, chill out, do what makes you feel good. If making/editing videos makes you feel good, then do that. If not, then chill out, go on a little holiday, high five some faces, beersies, eat some ice cream, all that good stuff. And/or come chill in Amsterdam for get success and victory.
Ben Naylor
2017-12-08 08:01:56 +0000 UTC
