As you have probably noticed by now, the new Megatokyo website is live and rolled out. I gave the go ahead to make the switch over the weekend, and by now most of you should be reaching the new site at the www.megatokyo.com address. If you are getting redirected to akiko.megatokyo.com, it just means that your DNS hasn't updated yet.

The MT webmonk33z crew did a really great job on the site. So far, the only negative things i've heard have to do with my site design (which people are just gonna have to live with for a while :P). Unlike previous versions, this site can be a work in progress that can be tweaked and improved over time. The back end on this thing is a joy to work with and is truly t3h aw3some. Thanks guys, you d0ne gud.

You may have also noted that there are still some sections that are not finished. Why? Do i still have an 'attitude problem' ("i'll finish this section when i feel like it")? No, they are in progress and will be finished at some point in the near future, but i have not been able to devote any time to them in the past few weeks, and probably will not be able to do so for at least a month... and that's what this rant is really about.

If you've been reading any of the rather sparse rants of late, the fact that Sarah and I have been expecting our first baby is not news. Things have been going along well, but it has been a lot more stressful and complicated than i've publicly talked about. The reason for this is that Sarah's is a high risk pregnancy, mostly on account of medical conditions that she first talked about back in December 2002. The good news is that over the years her condition has improved significantly and she has been doing incredibly well. So well in fact that we decided to start a family :) When we first researched having a baby, we both (well, mostly Sarah ^^;;) developed a thorough understanding of the risks and challenges she and the baby might face.

The good news is that both Sarah and the baby have done incredibly well, especially for a high risk pregnancy. The doctors have been watching the baby's progress very closely for the past six months, and for the past month we've been going in twice a week (which is part of what has been hurting my schedule so much) They have been monitoring a lot of things, and we've been very lucky in that our baby is healthy, active and has not shown any of the feared complications. Also, contrary to my original worries, Sarah has handled the prengancy amazingly well. I was terrified the pregnancy would really wear her down, but it really hasn't. :)

We've had our worries, and still do. As we get near the end of the pregnancy, it is looking like our baby might be coming earlier than originally expected. ^^;; Not premature, just early. Like, in the next couple of weeks, maybe.

Now, our orignal plan was to start our Christmas push for the MegaGear store in the first week in November and close things down at the end of the month as we closed in our due date.  We even have a brand new T-shirt design that is in and ready to go.  Now, suddenly, we are looking at our baby arriving right smack in the middle of this Christmas sales window.  Uh boy...

If we had a plan B in place, we'd be switching to it now. The past month has been far more intense than we originally thought it would be, and now it looks like November is going to be... you get the idea. Time to develop a Plan B.

Luckily, we're not completely on our own here. Sarah's sister is gonna be able to come and help me catch up on shipping towards the end of the month, and we have friends and family that have offered to help us through it.

The best way to help us out is to place your Christmas orders early!! I will be posting a new t-shirt design tomorrow, as well as some other new products, so if there's anything you want to give as a gift this holiday season, order it ASAP. Also, please note that we are low on stock on some items which we will not be able to restock until January.

Even though we will do our best to get your package out in time, We will NOT be able to guarentee shipment of your order in time for Christmas! If you order early, and with the help of friends and family, hopefully we'll be able to get everything out in time.  I can't guarentee it because i simply do not know what will happen in the next few weeks.

As far as comic schedule goes, I've been doing my best to do at least 2 comics per week. it's been rather hectic and a bit of a struggle here and there, but so far the comics have been coming out pretty good.  This week there will be 2 comics -- hopefully for tomorrow and then another one on Thursday afternoon. I'll keep you posted on the schedule as things develop.  Like i said, it looks like the baby may be arriving early and i'll have to cover the store, so bear with me as the schedule flexes, twists and... hopefully doesn't break.

I'd like to thank all of you for your support as Sarah and I enter the home stretch of this little journey we've been on. Of course, its just the first leg of a much bigger journey, but its one both Sarah and I are really looking forward to :). I apologize for not doing more to keep everyone up to date on whats been going on, but i felt it was time for an update. Thanks to the relative joy it is to work with the new website, it's going to be a lot easier to do from now on.

Both Sarah and I thank you for your support. I'll keep you posted. :)