I am so sorry to be doing this, but I don't see that I have much of a choice.

As many people know, we have been in the vice grip of people affected by layoffs. I was a video games journalist and editor, and was laid off for the fourth time in a year this August. Because AI can do my job, apparently. And it doesn't have to be paid.

Since then, I have worked every gig I can get, watched animals, cleaned houses, and pulled weeds. Everything I can manage.

In August, we moved to Washington, where I was meant to have a job available alongside my wife that would have made things much easier. Unfortunately, that company decided not to hire full-time staff, but instead added more freelance at miserly wages.

All through November, I worked 12-hour days around being the full-time preschool for our son, as we can't afford to put him in a 2k a month option while I am working freelance. That money earned was meant to go to bills, rent, groceries, and Christmas.

As of today, that freelance gig has not paid me, and is not following up on the emails I am sending. Meaning that if they don't pay me, I'll have lost our entire holiday, a great deal of time, and any security we could have had this December.

I'm not really sure what else to do, so I am dropping an old GoFundMe here for help. It will go towards rent, groceries, and the chance at Christmas gifts for our son.

This has been the most miserable, difficult, and emotionally draining year for me, from the destruction of my career to the breakdown of my mental health. I appreciate all of you so much, and I hope things are looking better for everyone I love and care about.