Post-Aunt Tudi Financial Update

[tinhuvielartanis]

I'd say I'm happy about this, but I'd really rather just have Aunt Tudi back, if only for an hour...to apologise for everything I did that I shouldn't have done and everything I didn't do that I should have. I'd gladly live in complete abject poverty, go hungry, lose my home, my animal friends, EVERYTHING...just for an hour...ten minutes. A minute...

But that's not an option...

Since the end of August -

• Light bill has fallen from almost $200 a month to an average of $55


• Phone/Internet bill has risen from around $90 to just at $200, only because I've subscribed to every movie channel known to the modern world. It's how I get through some days.


• Water bill has fallen from around $25 a month to exactly $12 a month, the minimum


• Heating has cost me a total of $234 for the entire season, basically because I've shut off a room to the house, I'm going through The Change and no longer am cold-natured, and SC hasn't had a Winter.


• Groceries have fallen from around $500 a month to about $150, depending on if I need staples as well, like cleaners, toilet paper, blah blah blah

Regarding groceries: Over the past six months, I have basically become vegetarian, eating meat only when I have dinner with Uncle Michael and Aunt Janice, and usually getting sick when I eat too much of it. I have started buying more local and organic food, which accounts for my bill being higher than I would have been if I'd continued to eat like I did when Aunt Tudi was with me. I still don't eat very much at all, and am actually about to dip under 200 pounds for the first time since 1983. Potatoes have become more than my best friend, earning family status as of February. I buy recycled when and where I can. I've been to Wal-Mart twice since August. One time to buy a phone card because the website wouldn't let me add minutes and the other right before my surgery, because I needed some pants that didn't squeeze my leg at all, and couldn't find them at Target.

I try to treat myself to at least one non-essential goodie (usually a DVD) after I've met all my obligations each month. I haven't done this yet in March because I haven't paid all my bills yet. I need to pay them this week, or I'm going to be late, and I have no excuse for that except I'm still recovering from surgery and I seem to have some sort of block about getting things done, worse this month than it has been for the past couple.

I keep relapsing as far as my depression goes. When it's bad, or gets worse, I stop doing housework, stop eating, stop everything. I just sit and ache. But I've tried hard to avoid this. My Tim Roth obsession has actually helped me immensely. He gets my mind off everything else. He's triggered my writing. I wonder what he'd think if he knew this. He'd probably conclude that I'm a total nutter, which would be correct.

Comments

[morriganwind.livejournal.com]

Don't laugh... but once through a friend, Mr. Purefoy said that he was so pleased that he inspired writing and artwork, and that artistic expression tended to cycle from one artist to another and to be part of that cycle was an honor. So I'm not sure if you'd be a 'nutter', just a fan. If he knew you, I'm sure he'd be pleased that he inspired your work.

I always enjoyed Tim Roth's roles too. He's a dynamic and well-rounded actor. :)

*hugs* I'm proud of you and I know Tudi is too.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Thanks Dudette. I'm not laughing at that concept as I share it. Was the friend Khanada perchance? She seems to be the kind of gangbusters about JP as I am about Barry Andrews. I guess I have three levels of fandom: Fandom proper, Obsession, Way of Life. I'm a fan of BSG and Lost, obsessions include Joker and Tim Roth (duh), but Darth Maul, Shriekback, and ELO have all become part of my way of life. That makes no sense, but there you are.

The only problem I'm having with writing what TR has inspired is that I don't want to kill off Flint, but it's imperative he encounter Cadmus. And that usually means death death death. ha!

[morriganwind.livejournal.com]

LOL... oh yes, you know it was Nada. I know what you mean about it making no sense. I just don't worry about my 'obsessions' hehehe.

Maybe you can figure out a way to not have to kill him off as he may just be too much fun to kill. ;)

That's pretty much what happened with the character James inspired. Mandubratius flat out refused to let me kill him off. LOL I tried to ignore him, nothing doing... he is still insisting on things being his way.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

don'tcha just love demanding characters? I only have one who natters and insists (Cadmus of course), but that's enough. For a while there, Faust pulled at my Christian roots like whoa. Now Flint is threatening to be a tad vocal, so we'll see. I'm just hoping Cadmus doesn't clamour for his Blood too very loudly.

Playing around with the idea of Cadmus killing Flint's lifelong best friend for simply being in his way. The friend is anchored to Gary Oldman, and is mortal. All this is pulled from Tim and Gary's ongoing bromance, and the fact that Tom Hardy has sort of edged in on that whole thing. I think I read somewhere that GO joked about him and Tom getting married someday. I'll have to verify that. So yeah. Headspace is freaked out at the mo. ;)

[morriganwind.livejournal.com]

LOL... I think it works perfectly! I have several characters who insist on certain things... and it doesn't help that the co-author who also inspired Mandubratius pretty much lets them all run rampant over us. And still, we cave into their demands.

I can't wait to see how this all pans out in your stories! :D

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Heh, well, I've posted the beginning of the story and will post more as I accrue wordage. It may just end up being a non-canon personal project. It has gotten me curious as to what B thinks of Tim Roth. I asked him about Danny Elfman in 2006. He really likes his movie music. ::says in her best movie-trailer voice:: WHEN WORLDS COOOOLLIDDDE!

[morriganwind.livejournal.com]

LOL... I would be most curious to know myself! :)

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

heard back. response was a hilarious if not a tad disconcerting. it terrifies me that he pays attention to my fb.

[morriganwind.livejournal.com]

You're interesting and thought-provoking, therefore I'd be surprised if he didn't read it.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Hugs. It's good that you treat yourself once in a while.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

:) ::hugs back:: I'd still rather have Aunt Tudi back, but I guess that goes without saying.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Definitely goes without saying. Huggles!

[hilhilbean.livejournal.com]

1) I am pretty sure Aunt Tudi wouldn't think you have anything to apologize for. I wish you could have way more than ten more minutes with her. ((HUGS))

2) Get Netflix. Seriously. You will save so much money instead of having all those movie channels and SO much stuff to watch all at the touch of a button. I just started using it after I got my xbox and have been kicking myself for not subscribing a long time ago to watch stuff from my computer.


(((more hugs just because)))

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

I'm actually a movie collector, so I get a thrill adding to my DVDs. I'm a member of Netflix, but I only get one movie at a time, 'cos I'm one of the few sticking to having movies mailed to her. I can't watch TV shows or movies on the computer. It just seems wrong to me, much like electronic books like the Kindle. I need paper books in order to properly read. Maybe it's my age peeking through.

[hilhilbean.livejournal.com]

You're not THAT much older than me. =D

I've had phases in the last 15 years or so where I didn't even own a TV, so I got used to watching movies and stuff on the computer (even via DVD). I just have a big monitor so I can set it facing my bed and watch from there. Since I can't really have anything playing out loud at night (my room is right above my mom and stepdad's room), it's better this way since I can use headphones.

That and the the TV I own now really sucks. Playing Dance Central on the xbox is like playing dance roulette, I have no idea what the song is due to a blurry screen until I hit select. =D

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you have a very convenient arrangement there, except for the dance roulette. ;)

[hilhilbean.livejournal.com]

That got a little chuckle out of me. hehe

[gatheringrivers]

You're not the only one when it comes to books - I much prefer paper books, I only need light, it doesn't have to be electric. :)

[paisley-daze.livejournal.com]

Been reading the comments here.

First of all, Gary can't marry Tom - because Gary is going to marry ME! He just doesn't know it yet.

Secondly of all, Flint's best friend is anchored to Gary Oldman? Are you kidding me? Are you trying to make my head explode? Flint cannot die. And neither can Gary-Oldman-nchored friend. Maybe Cadmus could eat his dog or something? You're killing me here.....

Thirdly of all, Tudi would be proud of you for organizing your life and your spending and for taking care of your knees - for a million things. You are honouring her life by living yours with a purpose - even if that purpose is just to shag TR, LOL.

Timmeh would be thrilled to know he is helping someone through some very difficult times. You are not a "nutter". You're an amazingly creative individual. He's an artist who emotes for a living - you and he would grok.

Don't worry too much about the sitting and doing nothing. It's normal for grief. You are processing.

I'm glad you treat yourself. Tudi would applaud. And she is still with you my dear. You don't have to wish her back again. But, I understand what you mean.

Be kind to Tin. She's been through the ringer - physically and emotionally. Takes time to smooth out the dents.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Aw Soph, sometimes I love you so hard, like right now.

The Gary Oldman tie-in is from the bromance Tim and Gary have had for ages. They were drinking buds from when both were doing theatre as very young men. Then they got to do Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (and I think another movie or so, but I could be wrong on that), which started this funny picture meme between them. Here's the result, along with Eric Stoltz's hilarious response to it all.





So yeah, that's where the anchor comes from. Plus there's a nod to my Welsh roots and to David Bowie with the name I picked for Flint's friend, Gareth. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid Gareth is just gonna have to die. Besides, he's an elderly man when it happens.

I hope I'm invited to yours and Gary's nuptials. I'll bring TR as a date (I'm sure his wife wouldn't mind...yeah right). And Tom can tag along as Gary's bridesmaid. Yes, bridesmaid. The questionable gender-play is so prevalent in my head. ;D

[paisley-daze.livejournal.com]

Hahahahahahahah....this is too much. No wonder they had that chemistry thing going on in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. They were so natural together.

Yes, I'll invite you and Timmeh to the wedding. It will be very low key to hide from his wife, several ex-wives and a string of little boys he has brought to this earth. Tom's not welcome though. I cannot cope with that kind of competition. And I'm a jealous little wench.

I understand if Gareth has to die. I'll just change my anchor to Gary Busey who by all rights, should have died long ago.

Love you too.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

ACK! More connections! Gary Busey is father to Jake, who co-starred in Starship Troopers where, in one scene he was supposedly playing the violin. The violin was, in fact, being played by Kat Evans, who is an occasional member of Shriekback. As Roth says in his Twitter all the time, "and so it goes." ::headdesk::

[gatheringrivers]

I try to treat myself to at least one non-essential goodie (usually a DVD) after I've met all my obligations each month.

Good plan - that's my method of doing things, it's the only way to avoid falling behind.

keep relapsing as far as my depression goes. When it's bad, or gets worse, I stop doing housework, stop eating, stop everything. I just sit and ache.

{{{HUGS}}} Having lost Mom just over 2 years ago to the day, and one of my cats in December, I can relate. I've been *housecleaning* on some days to try and take my mind off things. I'd be doing porch repairs if it wasn't nearly 80 freakin' degrees all week. (I'm up north. It's March. We're supposed to have SNOWWWWW dammit!)

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

ugh...global warming.
Sorry to hear about losing your cat in December. I think I wrote you about your mom when it happened. If I didn't, I'm very sorry. :(

[gatheringrivers]

You may have, it's ok if you didn't - I was pretty much forcing myself out of a funk long enough to pay bills, get food, and that was about it for a while.

And yea. Global warming? Suuuuucks. And not in a fun way.

[qt3-14159.livejournal.com]

FYI...Just wanted to say hi...and give you lots of hugs.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you honey! ::hugs back::

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say... I've been watching all this time, since Aunt Tudi got sick. And I've never said anything about it all. I'm sorry about that, and I'm very sorry for your loss.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dude, and no apology is necessary.