June 1 09

I took the kids to see UP yesterday. Original, I know. I only saw about 47 people that I know at the theater. and I, because I am classy, walked out of the theater with popcorn stuck in my hoodie and mascara running down my face. yes. yes, I did. because I wept. I wept during the movie. I wept after the movie. I was so not expecting something that looks like this

up2

to make me so emotional.

but, alas, blubbery popcorn-eating mess. BUT, take heed, GO AND SEE UP. you will not regret it. (on the scale of Cars to Nemo, it’s right up there in Nemo territory) It’s magic, and not just because Russell the chubby eight-year-old wilderness scout is so highly pocketable.

in other emotional news…

(perfect segue)

We are expecting an offer on our house today. And we are expecting the people who want to rent from us to give us the final “hells yeah, we want to rent your house for a year” which, of course, is the way it always is, yes? months of nothing. months of keeping my house lick-off-the-floor clean. months of strangers traipsing in and out. and yet. We are forced to make a choice. to rent. to sell. to rent. to sell. and, of course, the husband and I are each leaning a different way. if we sell, we are done with it. We take the money, we put it away, and when it’s time to move back, we buy a new house. it’s simple. it’s clean. it’s easy. BUT (and it’s a pretty big but) if the market were to pick up over the next year, we LOSE. it’s a gamble. If we rent, we have someone paying our mortgage for the year and then when we do sell it, we are selling and buying in the same market. It’s much less of a gamble, but it’s way more of a headache. I mean, RENTERS. lots of responsibility.

HELP!

oh, and I won’t even tell you about possibly being homeless for most of July because you might then see me doing the ugly cry, and that’s, well, it’s just UGLY.

but you, like my kids, are probably all

SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT THE HOUSE ALREADY. only my kids wouldn’t be using the f-bomb, because if they were, they’d be going the way of the Ralphie…and nobody likes the way lifebuoy soap tastes.

lifebuoy

but, yes, I realize I am very boring lately. It’s either “let’s talk about the half-marathon I – in a moment where I was probably having some sort of stroke or aneurysm – signed up to do” or “let’s talk about how my house is never going to sell.”

up next “let’s talk about how my kids only want to go swimming [talk to the hand, mom, and PUT US IN THE POOL! PUT US IN THE POOL!] because it’s JUNE, but they forget that it’s Toronto and today I am wearing a bloody sweater

hand

so, of course, we oblige.

(mostly so we don’t have to hear the chanting anymore…PUT US IN THE POOL! PUT US IN THE POOL!)

and take great pleasure in watching them freeze…

pool

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  1. Haha, is it weird that I want to see Up so badly and do not even have kids? Re: the house, it’s a big decision; my husband and I were recently faced with a similar situation and decided that taking on renters would be too much responsibility/liability for us to take on; but that was just our situation and you will come to the right decision for you. And I am in serious awe of you re: 1/2 marathon. I am strictly a treadmill runner. Ran 6K outside yesterday and I feel like I was run over by a tractor being driven by a woolly mastodon. Am lame.

    Comment by Jen on June 1, 2009
  2. We went to Up also and I loved it.
    As for the renting/selling question …
    We faced that also and went with renting it. I wish we hadn’t. Even though they took good care of the place (relatively) it was in much worse condition than when we left.
    And, then there were the months where they “came up short” and paid us in installments. Not fun.
    I would never rent again.
    But, it may work for you. I’m telling since you asked.

    Comment by Laural on June 1, 2009
  3. We recently had our house re-appraised because we’re retooling our mortgage loan. It came back substantially higher than we ever dreamed it would, so of course, I was all, “Let’s sell this bitch!” and Tool Man was all, “Enjoy being homeless!”

    Clearly, I have no answers…though I’d probably lean toward renting knowing I’d want to be coming back, but I like safety nets.

    Going to take my boys to see UP on Friday when they’re finally out of school. I’ll have to probably add it to my newest tits list, which is up and bouncy!

    fadkogs last blog post..tits list 2: bigger, badder and bouncier!

    Comment by fadkog on June 1, 2009
  4. Dude, I am DYING to see Up. But first (finally) comes Wolverine tonight.

    And those pool pics of Bella and Emily are classic!

    Comment by Camels & Chocolate on June 1, 2009
  5. We opted for Star Trek which my eight yr old loved, and I thought we (parents) would love more. But glad to hear your review of Up .. that will for the next rainy day which should be oh .. about next weekend :(.

    If it were me, I’d rent. Hire a company to handle the rental. You’re only gone a year, would it be nice to move back into your old house and have familiarity when you come back? However, I don’t think the market is going to change much over a year .. so if you don’t want to come back to that house, then sell. Hmm.. that wasn’t very decisive for you now was it?

    Comment by Sarah on June 1, 2009
  6. I’m asking this of every lemming who jumped on the UP opening weekend… how did Isabella take to it? How did she find the emotional stuff (the montage at the beginning)? Was she scared by anything?

    Comment by SciFi Dad on June 1, 2009
  7. I will go see Up just because you recommended it. If only I could find a theater that would ban kids from going in, too!

    Comment by Avitable on June 1, 2009
  8. I want to see Up! Now I have ammunition to make Taylor go. “Ali says its good.” That will totally work.

    Comment by Kaleigha on June 1, 2009
  9. i can’t wait to see up. mostly for dug. “hi there.” i love him in all the trailers i’ve seen.

    i hated the process of buying. when it’s time to move, i’m hoping my dad just buys from me and i don’t have to deal with it.

    Comment by zeghsy on June 1, 2009
  10. I hid underneath your porch because I love you.

    slynnros last blog post..Scenes From a Marriage: Volvo Commercial Ed.

    Comment by slynnro on June 1, 2009
  11. I cried at UP like it was freakin’ Steel Magnolias. CRIED LIKE A BABY with tears streaking up my 3D glasses. LOVED IT, LOVED DOUG, LOVED THE MOVIE.

    I hated being a landlord so I’d lean towards selling but garg, so complicated for the return.

    Comment by katie ~ motherbumper on June 1, 2009
  12. We kept our house in Toronto after moving to our new home in Nova Scotia and have rented it out ever since. Yes, there have been some (very few really) times when rent has been late plus a very brief time of nobody in the place at all, but I’ve gotta say it’s been so worth holding onto. Equity is equity and I very much doubt that the market will leave you in a losing position. Real estate really is the best investment. We’ve rented our house for over 5 years now and it pays for itself AND, we’re building our equity. The value has gone up large over the past few years. Cash is awesome, but like someone else said? Keeping it is a great safety net.

    karens last blog post..Did you keep your receipt?

    Comment by karen on June 1, 2009
  13. My 2 cents for what it’s worth – we have rental property and it is a HUGE pain in the ass. HUGE. And we live 5 miles from it. There is always an issue and it will cost a lot of extra money. If you have an offer now take it. You can always find a new house, you may not get another offer.
    (If you do rent it – I second the idea of getting a property manager – especially being so far away)

    Comment by anne on June 1, 2009
  14. Tough decision about the house!

    If the recession continues, will it not mean that prices in TO will drop?

    Good luck!

    As for the running, I love reading about it! I’ve just started and I’m doing between 4 and 5 km. It’s motivating to read!

    Comment by Heather on June 1, 2009
  15. Geez – didn’t know it was gonna be a tearjerker! Better keep my wife away 😉
    My crazy girls wanted to run through the sprinkler a couple weekends ago when it was nice – but not THAT nice to run through freezing water!!!
    It was a no…

    Comment by ian on June 1, 2009
  16. I totally want to see UP. Would have gone this weekend, but Josh was in Vegas and he totally wants to see it. We love a good children’s flick. I’ll be sure to bring kleenex and not wear mascara.

    You’re so not boring us with your house plans, which, btw, sound perfect.

    Comment by Haley-O on June 1, 2009
  17. Oh, how I love that photo of Bella.

    We’re taking the kids to see Up this weekend. I will bring tissues.

    Comment by Angella on June 1, 2009
  18. I’d say sell, but I don’t want you to be all “Nenette told me to sell, and then the new owners found gold in the basement! That’s the last time I’m listening to that biatch!” But I know you wouldn’t say that to my face because you’re way too nice.

    Both ways have pros and cons. If you really love the neighbourhood, I’d say rent… you’d never know if you’d still be able to buy a house in the area when you return. I love my neighbourhood, and it’s tough getting a house here. We were lucky.

    Good luck, girlfriend. 🙂

    Comment by Nenette on June 1, 2009
  19. I left you a little something on my blog. 🙂

    Comment by Joanie M on June 1, 2009
  20. I always cry during animated movies – The Incredibles, Wall-E, yep tears through both of them. I’m awesome.

    Juliennes last blog post..Fitness Friday. Volume 2.

    Comment by Julienne on June 2, 2009
  21. Good luck with the selling/renting thing – hope you get what you need, and with that clear cut “that was the way it was supposed to work out” feeling at the end.

    Comment by anne nahm on June 2, 2009
  22. oh what a cute pic of bella.and why did UP make you weep? i was going to take my 2 wee girls to see but not if i’m going to weep.and you aren’t boring.deciding what to do with your house is big decision.

    Comment by LAVENDULA on June 2, 2009
  23. I like that….. on a scale od cars and nemo…. very clever.

    oh and thanks for telling me the name of that movie….it was killing me all night.

    Comment by rayli on June 2, 2009
  24. apparently can’t spell…. of was the word i was looking for.

    Comment by rayli on June 2, 2009
  25. Is Isabella wearing a Twitter Fail Whale bathing suit? Because I so want one!

    My niece and nephew went swimming on Saturday when I was over there. I should say “swimming” because they just walked around the deck because the water was COLD!

    Comment by Kristabella on June 2, 2009
  26. I’m just here to laugh at everyone who cried at UP.
    😉

    Comment by Marinka on June 2, 2009
  27. Have not seen UP yet, dammit, but my kid’s grandmother took them and she teared up just TELLING ME ABOUT IT…holy crap I need to see this movie.

    We’re renting our FL house out so we could buy in GA *ahem* but it was because there was no way we could sell our house with the market down here as upside down.

    We’re crossing our fingers on the market rebounding in our lifetime as well.

    xoxox

    Comment by Anissa@Hope4Peyton on June 3, 2009
  28. I’m dying to take Big C to see this, but he has gotten scared at an episode of the Backyardigans. Do you think he would be able to handle this? Please let me know!

    No Mother Earths last blog post..Just another Manic Monday.

    Comment by No Mother Earth on June 3, 2009
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