Dana Burland

Last week I was reading one of my favorite bloggers who mentioned it shockingly snowed in Virginia, thus allowing her to wear her cool boots. Said cool boots were polka dotted rain goulashes. The same storm that dumped on her dipped temps in PA to the high 20s, low 30s. The weather menz said this arctic blast was 5-10 degrees colder than the season average. Out my bedroom window townies march the streets layered up like cream puffs in big winter jackets with long scarves and thick hats covering their skin. Meanwhile my dad calls me from Michigan reporting that his dog sled is stuck behind a fat polar bear on his commute home from work. Thank goodness my brother, He-Who-Plays-Many-Facebook-Games is home because he can hike the 9 miles up hill in the blizzard to barter for firewood to keep my family’s igloo glowing tonight. Second behind what are you doing here? the most common question/comment that erupts when Pennsylvanians hear I’m from Michigan is man, must be cold there! Yes, ...

This past weekend I yomdoodled my way down south to visit my favorite fifth grade teacher, Louise. Now that some school district has made the brave, bold and brilliant decision to give her a slew of students, she’s moldin’ minds, kickin’ butts and takin’ names just a skip and a jump outside of D.C. She’s visited me twice in TheHillsAreAlive, Pennsylvania (if I ever need to be reminded of this, I only need to travel back to the mitten to see the solo photo on my parent’s fridge). Cough- she’s the favorite child -cough . It was def my turn to make the journey to her new digs. Louise wasted no time in welcoming me to the area. Her new roommate, C, is a trouble making, quick-witted, off the wall brunette; a far cry from Louise’s past roommates... We quickly wandered downtown via a joyful ride by a cab driver/karaoke king (how many middle aged men know all the words to Black Eyed Peas jams?) and long story ( purposefully ) short, ended up munching on our respected Jumbo Slices and ...