ten on tuesday (the i still have the willow tree nativity up edition)

1. Today I said out loud something to the Mr. 505 that I've thought about a lot. When we change the toilet paper roll in one bathroom, either that same day or the next day, we change the toilet paper roll in the other bathroom. Is that weird or do we just balance out the bathroom usage that much?

2. Keeping my fingers crossed for a snow day here during snow scam 2011. (Named by the Mr. 505 after Portland's notorious "We're having a snow emergency and then nothing happens.) How much and when will it come??? I'll keep you posted better than the weatherman on News Channel 8.

3. Cute thing my nephew Carson said the other day. . . my sister asked him where he'd like to go for a cheeseburger and he says, I want to go to Aunt Wendy's." In her mind she's thinking, "Aunt Wendy lives 2,000 miles away." In his mind he's thinking "Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, but it comes out with an, "I miss my aunt feel." I love him.

4. We went house shopping yesterday (just at the advice of our realtor since we offered on a short sale and who knows how long it could take). We also went back to the house we offered on for a more thorough walk-through. I took tons of pictures. Still get the warm fuzzies when I walk in the front door.

5. I'm envisioning the potential in the cute little yard. All I've noticed popping up so far are some irises.

6. I am so behind on my grading it isn't even funny.

7. I still have my Nativity scene up. It's almost the end of February. I know I need to put it away, but it's still on top of the piano. Noel, noel, noel, noel. Born is the King of Israel. Because who really knows when His exact birthday is anyway?

8. A couple of weeks ago I got a letter in the mail from a dear friend in Pennsylvania. I had two of her boys in my class my first and second year of teaching. Her family was wonderful and had me over for dinner and were just very welcoming to me. She wrote me this note telling a funny story about the arrival of our Christmas card, and at the end thanked me for influencing the life of her youngest son, who's now 21, for good. It was certainly unexpected and was such a surprise. The letter was definitely something I'll keep forever. All that just to say, you never know how your written words can affect someone when they get that little message in the mail. It's certainly time well spent.

9. That reminds me of my college days when I used to write 249 letters a week. Not really 249, but I wrote a lot. Just ask my roommate, Melissa. And my mom always used to send me pretty stamps, never boring flags, because you know your letter makes a much better impression on the receiver when you use something other than flags. I still hold tightly to that belief, although I can't remember when I last wrote a real letter. Sad, isn't it?

10. Anyone ever read the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? It's been on my want-to-read-list for a long time and I've had it checked out from the library for like three weeks now. I've heard it's good. I wouldn't know. I haven't even cracked it open yet. I guess I'm hoping that I get a couple snow days to find out.