Hi, friends. Two unfortunate things happened at once and it’s put me in a bit of a situation.

Most urgently - someone tried to steal my car this weekend! They mangled my beloved Element. The entire ignition assembly is gone and the locks on both of my doors are in major disrepair. I only have liability insurance - so the cost of this damage falls on me.

I have to check still to see if they have taken my catalytic converter, seeing as they couldn’t steal the whole whip.

Why haven’t I shimmied down to take a look? Well, I have put it off because of the other unfortunate thing: I’m recovering from some sort of back injury, probably sustained at work or in the gym.

I can’t put my finger on the exact moment of injury, but for three weeks now I’ve been in pretty constant pain. I can get around fine and get through my shifts as a dancer. (For the uninitiated: I work as an exotic dancer, my supplemental income to fund my art habit.)

I am the king of smiling through pain and taking it on the chin. The show must go on! However -

I’m actually pretty terrified that I am making it worse by showing up for these shifts when it’s obvious that my spine and body need serious TLC and dedicated rehabilitation right now, whether self directed or under the guidance of a medical professional/physical therapist.

I have been doing research on the best approach to healing/correcting the issue and begun to do self-directed PT at the gym. I believe I am fully able to heal, but I need to be able to take time and space away from the club environment in order to properly care for myself. (I am a performer. I love to entertain. Stripping is an athletic job. Therefore - me at the club will inevitably equal me doing the most for the crowd at the expense of my physical health.) My body is literally begging for a break.

Frankly, all of this coincides with the fact that I am working on my exit strategy from the adult entertainment industry. I have had ten years in the game!!! Insane!! A break to heal my body would give me needed mental space and time to get clear on my plans and put more energy into finding other ways to support myself.

So, beloved community. I’ll give you full transparency. My basic expenses are as follows:

Rent: $1000/month

Utilities: ~$90/month

Lucky Cat studio rent: $450/month

Music studio rent: $450/month

Gym membership: $60/month

Car insurance: $110/month

Gas: $250/month

Groceries/food: $650/month

Parking: $200/month

Personal care/supplements: $250/month

Total: $3510/month.

That isn’t even factoring in art supplies or anything else I might like to do or invest in to further myself and my artistic endeavors/business. I have no savings. I am working toward having financial security and a safety net.

Everything I do is self-funded, save for the moments that I have asked for help. I appreciate those of you who have given to me before in times of need, more than you know. Part of me feels ashamed to ask again for support at this time, but I do need it. I think I’m at a physical breaking point if I don’t.

(Side note, literally been crying my eyes out the whole time I’ve been writing this!! Aaaah!!! Why is it so hard to ask for help!!!)

Clearly, rent is about to be due in three places. I’m scheduled to dance four nights this week. My money is tight - I spent two weeks visiting my mother at the beginning of the month, missing work, and now I have this car situation. The faster I can fill this goal, the sooner I can rest and heal.

Coincidentally, we are about to enter my birthday month! March! If it pleases you, consider whatever you might give me here as a birthday gift. (Happy birthday, girl, please fix your back! Yayyyy! Partyyyyy wow!)

Ideally I would like to:

1. Pay for repairs on my vehicle

2. Take a month at least away from the club - Fix my back, fix my sleep, lay foundations to build more beneficial/ healthier avenues of income. (Including: concerted effort in outreach to find mural gigs, more dedicated time in the shop for my tattoo apprenticeship.)

Repair costs, I am unsure of. I will report back. Hopefully under a grand. I don’t know the extent of the damage beyond the locks on doors and the mutilated ignition assembly.

I’m gonna mark it down for the goal as $1k to more than cover my bases, and the difference can go toward medical care or treatments/consult for my back.

Then, to cover March’s expenses I would like to raise $3510, and to make sure I don’t have to immediately return to the club and potentially worsen my injury, I would like to raise another $3510 (to be set aside, covering my bases for April.)

$1000 - auto repair

$3510 - March expenses

$3510 - April expense

So, that’s $8020 to cover my bare bones expenses for two months and save me from Certain Doom.

Anything beyond that would also be insanely appreciated to help me get my art career more fully off the ground - I literally invest all of my money back into my art and self-education, and if you know me you know everything I do is in broader service to my community. (Curation, performance, events, sharing knowledge, etc)

I would love to come up with some sort of gift to give back to donors as well. I will think about it. I’m a little bit too overwhelmed at this moment to put much energy into it. TBD.

I love you all so much. Thank you for investing in / ensuring the wellbeing of your friendly neighborhood painter/muralist/illustrator/curator/tattoo apprentice/performer/songwriter/entertainer/oracle.