First off, some shameless merchandise updates for the MegaGear store. :) The Megatokyo Flapdoozy bags are now back in stock - YakPak doesn't offer these bags anymore, but for us they make 'em special, it just takes a while to get em in. Also arriving today (please feel sorry for our UPS guy, Ken :P) were more Ninj4 hoodies - these are also now back in stock. So if you've been waiting for these to come back in stock, now's your chance to go order em. Oh, we also got more Boo caps too. :P

Also, one last bit of merchandise plugging. We now have three different sets of COPIC markers in stock and available to order. There are three sets - 12 markers, 24 markers and the big 36 marker sets. The 12 and 36 marker sets come with a marker pad, a full set of Multiliner pens and a travel wallet. the 24 marker set is a special Manga set that contains a good selection of markers for manga illustrations, and comes in a travel wallet. They are a little pricey, but these are good markers -- they are refillable and have replaceable nibs, and these are good ways to get started with the COPIC system. I'm proud to offer them in the MegaGear store, and hopefully people like these and all the other art supplies enough that we can expand that section of the store in the future. (yes, I like the idea of being able to go swipe art supplies from the shelves when Seraphim isn't looking ^^;;;)

Ok, enough of that. Both Seraphim and I do want to say thank you very much to everyone who has ordered from the MegaGear store since we launched in August. It's been a lot of fun, and I really am enjoying taking part in getting stuff out to readers. We've been busy, so I've been helping Seraphim pack and ship where I can. We're tired and we're working quite hard right now, but there's nothing else I think either of us would rather be doing :)

(pay no attention to this alternate strip for wednesday...)

As for my other projects, I've hit a few more milestones and managed to get all of the files done for the book with the exception of the Endgames extra. It took me a good two weeks longer to fix up all the files for the book, even with Young's help. What takes so long? Well, one problem with doing this in webcomic format is that I don't have to worry about bleeding past the edges of the frame for the comics posted to the web. For a long time I had a bad habit of not worrying about it at all, and having to extend every drawing that is cut off a good 1/8 or 1/4" beyond the end of the page. Basically, I had to touch up just about every page in the book.

The last part, and the one that gave me a real headache, as usual, was all the freetalk stuff and notes and comments. Ugh. Do you have any idea how hard it is to summarize the first two books worth of Megatokyo into less than 500 words? I don't think its really possible, but I did my best. It's in Tim's hands now, so I don't have to worry about it anymore. :P

That leaves the Endgames extra, which I really need to get cracking on. I haven't been able to work on it for two weeks, and I have to have it finished by the 14th. eep. For that reason, please forgive me as I put together another 4 koma strip for friday. Hopefully you will enjoy the extra in the book when it comes out. (for those of you who don't want to buy the book just for the extra, just read it in the bookstore - it's only 8 pages :P)

Having a working blog over on Fredart is working out quite well for me. I hesitate to blather too much here on the Megatokyo site, especially about all the boring little things that make up my day, but I figure that the Fredart site is obscure enough that the only people who will read that are people who don't mind being bored with my journaling antics. Honestly, if you really want to know just how befuddled a person I really am, reading my blogbits will clue you in. :P

Oh, remember the Front End Loader I was talking about that was gonna run me over this week? Well, it was big enough to get both of us and run us both over, repeatedly. Thanks to marscorp for sending me this image that so well visualizes what has been bearing down on us this month. :P

I'd also like to apologize for my complete and total lack of attention to email recently. There are some emails I really need to respond to, and if you emailed me, I just want to say I'm sorry for not responding at all. I have been getting better lately, but as soon as things really started to get hectic last month I completely dropped the ball. I think I need to make 'read and reply to email' my new years resolution this year...