Mom & Pop Culture

I had to go to L.A. to appreciate NJ

Last week I flew to Los Angeles for a writing conference/pitchfest.  When I told people I was from NJ they immediately recoiled, and got an apologetic look in their eyes. I could only imagine what they were thinking. Eww...you live in a oil refinery along the NJ Turnpike!

Or worse.

Next to Snooki!!

what's going on

Turns out I finished as a 4th Runner-Up in TVwriter.com's People Pilot's Competition. So, I'm wondering if the six people before me can't fulfill their duties, does that make me Ms People's Pilot Spring 2007? Shouldn't I get a consolation prize, like a box of Rice-a-roni?

I'm still blogging about American Idol for TV Squad, but have this week off because my son had his tonsils removed on Monday. This week I'm in full-blown "MOM MODE" catering to the boy's every need as his scarred throat repairs itself. He told me the other night, "You're the best mommy in the whole wide world."  Awesome.

I'm heading to L.A. in July to take part in Ken Levine's "Sitcom Room." Ken has written for many sitcoms (Frasier, MASH, Wings, The Simpsons) and he's a blogger too. How cool is that? I can't wait to spend two days in the same room with him, soaking up his knowledge.

doggie er

There are two words you never wanna hear -- BLOODY STOOL. 

But, it's somewhat worse to hear these two words on a Sunday morning as they pertain to your dog, and the condition of the white carpeting in your new home.

you gotta know when to hold em, and know when to fold em

With nine days until closing, our buyers came back to us demanding $6000 to offset some structural damage found in the inspection.  To me, this felt like a shakedown.  To me, if felt like they were thinking they held all the cards.  After all, we close on our new house in nine days, our house has now been off the market for six weeks, and we can't afford to lose this sale, right?

Wrong.  We told the buyers to go f**k themselves. Well, my husband did anyway via our lawyer.  If you are gonna play Texas Hold Em against my husband, you better be holding pocket Kings before you begin counting your winnings.  My husband isn't likely to let you take the pot, based on a bluff. He's likely to "call it."  In our house, we like to make you EARN your win.

resettled

Our house is officially under contract, so I can breathe a huge sigh of relief. No more showings!  No more keeping the house spotless!  No more strangers evaluating my home!

Now we just have to get throught the inspection in one piece and we should be homefree. In one month, most of this will be over and I will be "resettled."

attorney review

Turns out the psychic was RIGHT when she said she saw somebody VERY SERIOUS about our house, and she felt they would come back with an offer.  We held our ground, and figured the potential buyers from Sunday night were not gonna come up as much as we wanted (remember they originally offered us $30,000 less than we were asking).  Then our realtor called yesterday to say that they were back with another offer (an additional $7000 from a previous offer) and a guarantee of same day closing -- July 8th. 

Both parties have agreed on the terms and we now go to attorney review.  The point is we did come down $16,000 and they came up $17,000 so I feel good about meeting in the middle.

It's going to be a long weekend in more ways than one.  Now we hold our breath and hope that everything works out the next couple of days, and during the home inspection.  But I definitely feel hopeful.  Things look good.

the stress of selling your home

Yup, selling the house is still stressful.  We actually received a SECOND OFFER last night on the house -- another one that was PATHETICALLY LOW -- as in $30,000 less than what we are asking.

I DO WANT to sell the house, ya'll.  But I don't exactly want to GIVE IT THE AWAY.

I understand that buying a house is a huge investment, and that many people are afraid to "get in over their heads."  But, I've got news for ya'll -- buying a house is one BIG EXPENSE AFTER ANOTHER.  If you can't afford to put in new carpets (a whopping $2000 expense), than maybe you should reconsider buying a home.  We just had the inspection report on our new home -- a 7 YEAR-OLD HOUSE- and under each catergory the inspector marked off -- "EXPECT TO SPEND $500-1000 ON REPAIRS/UPGRADES."  That's just the way things are kids.  Homes are money pits of unexpected BREAKDOWNS AND REPAIRS.

That being said, I don't mind "negotiating", but please put a real offer on the table or SHUT-UP.

texas hold 'em open house and a day at the beach

I know most people wouldn't host a Texas Hold 'Em game the day before they planned an Open House to sell their house, but what can I say?  We aren't like MOST people.

After 1 hour and 45 minutes at Party and Play, hosting a kiddie party for my son, I was ready for a cold beer and some downtime.  It's not that I dislike socializing with other parents in a place that smells like feet and vomit, but it is rather trying.  Why is it that fathers get to sit in the corner, why mommies have to meet and greet each guest and spend 3-5 minutes making sure everyone is comfy and relaxed? 

Anyway, afterwards we were back to the house with a few close friends and family for poker, beer, pizza, and mayhem.  Looking back, it probably wasn't the best idea.  Can I help it that people like to congregate at my home? 

a totally head-spinning week

It's Friday, and my head is still spinning from all the stuff going on over here in my neck of the woods.

On Sunday night, we got a call from my husband's parents telling us that just a week after listing their house, they received and accepted an offer on their house.  They close in 45 days and they are on their way back to NJ from Arizona to move in with yours truly. 

On Monday morning, a house came on the market in a nearby development we have been stalking.  Our realtor brought potential buyers by our house Monday afternoon meaning I spent all of the morning in super-freak out mode cleaning the house and making it presentable.  Monday night, we all went to look at the nearby house and then went out to our local diner to discuss putting in a bid.  After excruciating negotiations with our own realtor we left our local diner past 10 p.m. and I still had to bake cupcakes for my son's birthday.  And I was up until 1:00 a.m. trying to catch up on my writing since the entire work day was lost.

pretty in purple

I don't know why I started a new home improvement project -- but I did.  I had been planning for a while to redo my daughter's room, especially since she picked out a "fairy princess" comforter from Target.  The problem was that she wanted a pink or purple room. Question -- why do girls all want a pink or purple room?