Philly Love

My long-time friend since 5th grade got married on Shaun and I's 5-year anniversary. Prior to the wedding festivities, we decided to take a vacation and stay in the heart of Philadelphia. Being from PA originally, I was a bit skeptical about how much fun we would have celebrating our anniversary there. Boy, was I wrong! It turns out, Philly has a lot to offer and we kept ourselves so busy throughout the week that we needed another vacation. Here's how the week went...

Sunday (10/21): We arrived at our home away from home around 5 p.m. I found the place through a website called airbnb. It was a very small apartment two blocks away from the area known as Rittenhouse Square. We were shocked at our bill of $30 to park for 24 hours, but decided we'd eat the cost for the night since we'd have to use the car the next day. The place had the necessary things like a bed, dining table, bathroom, kitchen and a place to lounge and watch tv if you wanted. I was looking forward to being able to relax and read my magazines and books, but I didn't even get to do such things! Shortly after we got our things semi-settled, we were out the door to Village Whiskey to meet our old pal Brian Steffy. We met Brian in Raleigh, but he now lives in San Diego so sightings are rare. He happened to be in town for a wedding and was leaving the following day.

Me, Shaun, Brian and Jerry at Cavanaughs

Village Whiskey's burgers and fries are absolutely amazing! The place is very, VERY small, but we only had to wait about 20 minutes for our table. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. After dinner, we travelled to a sports-type bar, Cavanaughs. We cheered on the SF Giants, caught up and drank some quality brews throughout. As we walked back to our place, I thought the night was over and I began to look forward to a bed. As we were about to part ways, Shaun had the bright (post-drinking) idea to head over to the South Street area for a Philly cheesesteak challenge. In the cab and off we go!

Pats vs. Geno's is a classic battle. It was honestly my first time to have Geno's. I've typically been put off by their fancy neon signs. That particular night, Geno's actually won the battle! Shaun stuck with Pat's. How we even ate those cheesesteaks after the burgers we had is still beyond me.

Monday (10/22): Sleeping in feels so good, but it still never seems like enough. I swear I'm just always sleep backlogged. Shaun took a run that morning. I was still sore from the 8K we ran that Saturday so I opted for a shower. We walked to Nook that morning in search of quality tea, coffee and treats. We found them! I paired a chai latte with a pumpkin muffin and it made my morning (errr, afternoon). The employees were friendly, the place was cozy and all of their goods are made with love in house.

Next stop was the Mutter Museum. We giggled when we got out of our cab because it was practically right around the corner from Nook. This museum seemed like the original Bodies exhibit. Skulls from past learning, human book binders, original operating room tools and Chang and Eng surrounded us among other intriguing things. The 19th century cabinet glass that you look through can mess with your eyes as it still has the "wavy" appearance of glass during that time. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

The Mutter Museum 

After the museum, we walked aimlessly (which I love) and then went back to the apartment to freshen up for our date with Heather and Fran at Victory. We had such a great time and it was so good to spend time with them before their actual wedding. I was so thankful that we could catch up since I knew we really wouldn't be able to on the big day. Besides having great beer, it turns out that the brewpub actually has amazing food! We don't visit these places for the food, but it's always a bonus if it's good. 

Tuesday (10/23): This particular day was all about Shaun. We basically used this entire trip as an anniversary gift, but I had surprises up my sleeve for Tuesday. Shaun loves haunted places, ghost stories, etc. so I planned a day at the Eastern State Penitentiary. It was in the Fairmount area, but we decided to take our time and walk there so that we could see what was also around.

Shaun had been bugging me since Sunday about going to ESP and it didn't help when his high school friend, Chris called him about meeting up to do the haunted prison tour on Thursday night. I kept blowing it off for two days, but I knew eventually it would bother him because it was on the top of his "to-see" list. As we were walking up towards the massive prison, he casually said, "Hey, isn't that the prison?" I got super excited and told him that we would doing the daytime tour, grabbing some dinner and then coming back for the Terror Behind the Walls part. This place was an incredible sight inside and out. 

We arrived just in time for the guided tour. I cannot even begin to sum up the history of this place, but the idea of why it started (solitary confinement) and how it all panned out (too many criminals and not enough space) is quite a story. It is an eerie place as most supposedly haunted spots are. If I hadn't been with a group, I probably would have been freaked out a little more...even in the daytime. 

Prison wall (yikes!)

After the tour, we attempted to get a hold of Chris for some dinner ideas since he lived in the area, but with no response we ended up choosing a place using Yelp. We ended up picking La Calaca Feliz and we were so glad we did! Shortly after we got our drinks, Chris returned our text and wrote that we were at the place he was gonna recommend to us for dinner...a great sign that we did some excellent yelping! I'm not sure how long Philadelphia restaurants stick around, but if you're in the area and this one is still standing, check it out. From the margaritas to the guacamole to the duck breast tacos...two thumbs up!  

After dinner, it turned out that Chris lived a few minutes walk from the good eatin'. It was great to see him again, catch up and meet his girlfriend, Kelly, before we travelled back to prison for the haunted house. It was hard to catch up over one brew, so we made plans to meet them after the prison. The haunted part ended up being pretty cool. I think being in the prison only a few short hours before put my brain at ease because I didn't seem to scare as bad as I usually do. Don't get me wrong, I screamed like a little girl, but it honestly wasn't that bad! The costumes and the scenery were very well done. I think we were both glad we got to experience it. We headed back to Chris and Kelly's place afterwards and went to the old place where they both used to work, Rembrant's. Good conversation and good brews on tap, but we were pretty beat from our long day so we made the trek back into the Rittenhouse area. 

Kelly, Me, Chris and Shaun at Rembrant's 

Wednesday (10/24): My husband never ceases to amaze me. I can't recall what we did during the day (perhaps Old City sight seeing), but we caught a cab that night back over to the Fairmount area and pulled up in front of the restaurant where our friend Chris is executive chef, Popolino. I knew Shaun had something planned and I also knew that Chris was in on it, but I did not expect to go to a private little table set up for us in the kitchen of the restaurant. A beautiful bouquet of flowers caught my eye that held five big sunflowers (one for each year). I asked Shaun how many sunflowers there would be if it was our 40th anniversary instead and he simply replied, "Forty!" I have no doubt that this man will continue this tradition for the rest of our lives. It's one of the many reasons why I love him.

Chris and his crew were fancied up in suits and cooked our special menu right in front of our eyes and noses. The smells were amazing and the food was even better. You savor your pasta a little bit more when you see all of the hard work that goes into making it from scratch. I will never forget this special night nor the pumpkin above our table that Chris carved with love. It was also great to chill in the basement of the restaurant after hours and share some toasts with the crew...and smash the pumpkin on kitchen floor :) 

Thursday (10/25): This was our last day to be-bop around the city before leaving for wedding festivities the next day. Our first stop was The Random Tea Room. To one day own a shop like this is my dream. It was cozy, warm, had a shop dog, mismatched furniture and one damn good chai latte. I'm talking Boulder, CO good. I didn't think it was possible to find a chai like I had out there and here it was! The girl that opened the shop was great to talk to and her story was rather simple. It was never a dream of hers to have a tea room, but she decided she wanted to have one and thought she'd figure it all out along the way. She got lucky and met a tea sensei who helped her learn about tea and also taught her how to make tea blends. The rest is history and she has been open for five years strong. Maybe one day I'll get just as lucky. Actually, I don't even care if I open a store like hers and it's just me and my old pals sharing tea and stories! As you can tell, it's a retirement dream of sorts. 

Shop dog at The Random Tea Room

I could have stayed at the tea room all day, but our hunger forced us to leave and head to the Reading Terminal Market. As if we hadn't eaten enough all week, we ate way too much here. Our first stop was the Travel Channel's pick for Best Sandwich in America, Dinic's. There aren't enough adjectives to describe this sandwich. I wish it were closer to me so that I could have one whenever I wanted. Simply outstanding. You know I took a picture (apologies, vegan friends). I do love food porn. 

Dinic's roast pork

The place is huge, so we walked some before planting ourselves at the recommended Dutch Eating Place. Chicken and waffles like mom used to make? Yes, please. We totally have room in our stomachs for that! More and more walking to see the sights and we ended with an ice cream treat from Bassetts and continued our meandering around the city to burn some of the calories. 

When we felt like we made room for more calories, we decided that our next stop was to check out Yards Brewing. As expected, it's a giant warehouse-type building. We made our way to the bar and passed a photo shoot on our way in. I've never seen a beer photo shoot before and I could not stop watching! The lighting was perfect, the foam was strategically played with, and a lot of beer was poured to get that perfect, sexy shot. I was honestly still too full to thoroughly enjoy my beer so I was happy to have the distraction. We were very impressed with the drinks crafted here. If you make it out to the place or if it's available in your area, the Tavern Spruce Ale is perfect for the fall/winter weather. 

We wrapped up the final evening by walking to meet Shaun's nephew, Brandon, for a drink. We hadn't seen Brandon since our wedding so of course there was not enough time to catch up on all things good and bad. We were still glad that we could all find the time to share some laughs and hugs as we don't get to see any of our family members very often. 

Friday (10/26): It was time to depart and head to Malvern for Davis/DePiano wedding festivities. We had a final caffeine fix at Nook and made our way out of the expensive parking lot to leave the city behind, but not without an accident. Sigh. Yep, I had my very first accident in Philly...in a parking lot...and I hit a parked car. Really?! Needless to say, I was embarrassed and beyond mad at myself for making such a silly mistake. No excuses, I just should've taken more time pulling out. It's been almost two weeks and a claim has yet to be filed. Maybe they don't care?

Because of the mini-accident, it took us an hour and a half to leave the parking lot. We finally made it to the hotel in time to freshen up for the rehearsal. The church was absolutely beautiful. Built in 1775 (I believe), it was very small inside with brick floors and had pews with doors. The sheep outside kept the grass tidy around the old pre-revolutinary tombstones. Simply stunning. The bride was stunning too, of course! Saturday was Heather's wedding and the day of Shaun and I's anniversary. We had a blast at the wedding and it was good to see some old high school friends. It was an absolutely perfect setting to fall in love all over again with my husband of five years and celebrate.

Heather and Fran on their special day

A great week, indeed. Thank you, Philadelphia. We had a great time in your city of brotherly love! 

The journey begins

It's officially been over a year that Shaun and I have been trying to make a little one. Is it me? Is it him? Is it our opposite life schedules? So many questions are burning through my mind that I sometimes wish there was something obviously wrong my body or his. I obviously don't wish myself or others to be ill, but if I could pinpoint something, then perhaps we could just go ahead and fix it (or not). Instead, I'm left with burning questions and lots of trial and error.

Last Friday I had my first appointment with an acupuncturist. I was recommended to check out two people from friends. The one I chose was a nurse for 20 years and then decided to take a more holistic approach to the care she provided. I was eager to meet her, but I received no response when I sent an email so I set up an appointment with my other option, Remedy Clinic. Who knows how the other person would have worked out, but I am so satisfied with the interactions I've had with Ginna at Remedy.

The first appointment was a lot of discussion. She asked about my daily routine, exercise, diet, sleep, Shaun's habits, my menstrual cycle and much more. The second part of the appointment was the acupuncture part. Do the needles hurt? No. Are they all over my body? No. When the needles are placed, you feel a slight pinch and then a dull pressure which eases away. The needles are placed strategically on points that are thought to increase fertility. I had some on my feet, in my wrists and across my lower abdomen. I was left alone for about ten minutes and then Ginna returned to "tweak" the needles. After my time on my back was up, I turned over and had the needles placed on my back. I fell asleep I was so relaxed! Ok, maybe exhausted ;) I left feeling positive about this new journey, but was not looking forward to the homework. Yes, homework!

Since the appointment, I've been reading all that was given to me about acupuncture and fertility and documenting like crazy. As if my job doesn't have enough documenting, now I have to do it at home! This is just the start, but I've been tracking my daily basal body temperature (BBT), symptoms and moods. All of this information will help Ginna provide the best acupuncture according to my cycle. All of my documenting is through an app on my phone so it's been super easy.

Today I had two appointments. The first one was with my gynecologist. Again, it was another discussion. Why are you here and where do you want to go from here? Eek! I don't know! That's why I'm here! We talked for a bit and she wrote down a list of things to check out. They were basically written from least invasive to most. She agreed with tracking the BBT, suggested Shaun get checked out too (sterile cup provided, hehe) and we were about to set up an appointment to draw blood next week, but since I will not be here, that appointment will now have to wait until my next cycle. If I've learned one thing so far in this journey, it's that the stars literally have to line up perfectly to get things checked so therefore, I may not have answers as quick as I want them. Patience, Megan. Patience.

The second appointment was with Ginna. We chatted about my charting and I had another relaxing needle-sticking session. Sounds crazy. I left with a bag full of goodies. Herbal goodies. I was given a mega-potent fish oil (lemon-lime flavored...yum!) and some sort of pill to support my luteal phase. What? I think I have to go read some more now...

If you've read this post this far, then you must be willing to join me on this crazy ride. Welcome! Hop in! I'm glad you're here for the support.

XOXO

Empty Nest

The parents just pulled out of the driveway on their motorcycles and they're on their way home to PA. My love is at work. Empty nest kicks in.

I hate when this happens. The week has been busy with going here and there, laughter, and way too much eating and drinking. I try hard to reflect on the good of the week, but it doesn't work for some reason and I just end up sad and tearful. Now I'm left alone with my thoughts, the emptiness of the house and the impending doom of heading back to work tonight.

I absolutely love living here in NC, but it's moments like these when it hits hard that I miss being around family. As we continue to try to have a baby, I'm sure this struggle will only get harder. I picture Sunday dinners with family or an outing somewhere to a museum or park. The only con of living here is honestly being away from family. I'm still hopeful that one day some of them will be nearer.

I'm gonna allow myself one day to soak in the sadness. So, with that said, I'm heading back upstairs to my bed with my pups. This sadness will pass as the routine of life goes on.

Mountain pose

Breathing Mountain Yoga has opened a studio on Bloodworth Street and they had their open house today and treated everyone to a free class. The space is actually an old house that currently occupies three businesses. No one seems to be able to stay long, but I'm hoping this one sticks around. It's been quite a while (I'm guessing over a year) since I've done any yoga. Wow. Today's class was not that difficult and I struggled. My hamstrings struggled too. We didn't even go into that many poses, but focused on each part of our body and tightening and releasing all kinds of tiny muscles I forget about. My legs were actually shaking at one point. Afterward, my entire body and spirit was thankful...and eager, for more. I'm signed up for class every Saturday for the next eight weeks and I'm very much looking forward to each of them. 

The old purple house bends inward as you approach it on Bloodworth. I love the look of this house and always have. There's something about it that's welcoming which is why it's perfect for a yoga studio. I felt like I was practicing in a friend's cozy home. The smell of incense burning, the old creaking wood floors and the soft exchange of neighborly conversation was perfect. Jessica (the owner) was a great instructor. Her voice is soft and her instructions are simple. She walks around at times to help make sure you are in the poses correctly too, which I love because I definitely need help! I think I'm in the right position all the time and then someone walks by and lifts my hip or extends my arm just a little bit more and "ow!" My body quickly hates me and then accepts the new (right) position. If you're looking to start yoga or welcome it back into your routine like me, I encourage you to check out Breathing Mountain. 

A big thank you to Andrea Wallenbeck for joining me this morning. Yoga is always better with a friend! 

Namaste. 

Pause.

Relax. It's something I feel that folks have forgotten to incorporate into their daily lives. We work hard and play hard, yet the easiest and one of the healthiest things we can do doesn't even reach our to-do lists. I, however, feel that I have (almost) mastered it and believe that it strongly contributes to my (hopefully) good state of health. As I write, I decided to google "benefits of relaxation". Here's what I found...

Relaxation: 

• gives the heart a rest by slowing the heart rate
• reduces blood pressure
• slows the rate of breathing, which reduces the need for oxygen
• increases blood flow to the muscles
• decreases muscle tension

As a result of relaxation, people may experience:

• more energy
• better sleep
• enhanced immunity
• increased concentration
• better problem-solving abilities
• greater efficiency
• smoother emotions — less anger, crying, anxiety, frustration
• less headaches and pain

My research is lacking as I read the first hit that came up, but this is honestly cutting into my relaxation time ;) Do I have room for improvement with my relaxation skills? Of course! I still struggle with frequent headaches and pain (thank you, job), but I recently registered for a weekly yoga class and I'm hoping this will be a positive step in decreasing those aches and pains. 

So, what do you do to relax? Do you relax often? 

Back to my relaxing state: Bare feet, cozy striped chair, hot oolong tea, The Shins playing, pups at my feet (not chasing them at the moment), deep breaths. Perfect. 

Disclaimer: Don't relax too much...that's not good for your health either! :) 

The Last Letter

Hearing about someones death, even when it's an expected one, is never an easy thing to hear. My step grandfather had been on hospice care since January. I've been mourning the loss of my Papa Lee for quite some time, but when I got the news on Sunday that he had passed, there were still so many emotions. I was sad. I was happy. I was relieved. I was mad...at myself. I always enjoyed writing him letters because he absolutely loved reading them. A few weeks ago, he had a birthday and I forgot to send him a card. No excuses, I just got caught up in my own life. Selfish, I know. I had not seen him since April, so I told myself that in lieu of a card, I would write him a letter and fill him in on the happenings of the Dunning household. He loved hearing about our lives.

In the shower Sunday afternoon, I was thinking about what else I wanted to accomplish that day. In my mind, I had moved writing Papa Lee to top priority. It was within twenty minutes of that thought, that my Dad called. "I have some bad news. Well, maybe it's good news," he had said. Even though expected, I was still in shock. My Dad was right. It was bad news, but it was also good news. Although I believe he died as comfortably as he could with the help of hospice, he was not Papa Lee. He was in his house, but it was not him in that house. There was a man in a bed. For months, people stopped in to say goodbye including myself, Shaun and the dogs in April. I told him stories like I normally would. The only difference was he was not sharing the stories about his amazing life and travels in return and I was telling him our life updates while giving him his morphine to relieve his pain. It felt strange. Awkward. I know he heard me say goodbye and "I love you" that day, but that is not enough closure for me. Closure, is writing the letter that I should have sent:

Papa Lee, 

I'm sorry I missed your birthday. I know it probably could not have been your happiest one, but I was thinking of you and sending a hug from NC to PA. Dad tells me he visits frequently and gives me updates about your care when we talk. It sounds like you have your good days and your bad days as expected. You are very loved and seem to have many visitors! 

Things continue to go well here in the hot state of NC. The humidity has been relentless and I'm ready for my favorite season, Fall. It's a Summer like this one when I actually miss PA quite a bit. 

I passed the year mark at work. Time flies! It has been a year of ups and downs trying to navigate this new career. I went from wanting to transfer units because I was always nervous being on mine to now wanting to stay another year and re-evaluate at that time. The unit is intense, but I'm learning so much. The best part of my job is getting to care for so many people during a time when they're not their best. Oh, trust me, I have patients that test my limits. But, the patients that thank you at the end of your shift make it all worthwhile. I love being a nurse. 

Shaun is doing really well at NetApp. Yet again, he is quickly climbing the ladder and received another promotion. I could not be more proud of him. I know you know this, but he works incredibly hard so it's nice to see his efforts get rewarded. He'll probably get to travel more with this new role so we should have more stories for you! 

Parker and Maisey are as crazy as ever. Parker will turn six this month and we celebrated Maisey's first birthday with a party here at the house. Sounds crazy, but friends and their dogs came to have some fun! We had food, drinks, yard games and even a doggie birthday cake! Needless to say, the little kids that came were totally confused about why they could not eat the birthday cake. I felt terrible! I should have had a real birthday cake on hand for them. Everyone had a great time and it felt good to fill the house with friends and laughter since we never really had a housewarming party. 

That's all for now. I think of you every day and hope you're at peace. A giant hug is included with this letter. 

Love, 

Megan 

Until we meet again, goodbye Papa Lee. 

Feeling invaded

Writing a first blog entry is a little intense! I feel like my thoughts are being invaded, but I guess I will have to get used to this feeling if I really want to continue with this blog. 


I battled a long time with whether or not to create a blog. As a person who likes a paper journal, I struggled with many questions. Is my life really that interesting? Would anyone read it? Do I want anyone to read it? Does anyone care? Will people think my thoughts are strange? In the end, I came to a realization that yeah, my life is important and pretty cool! I think that I live a pretty normal life, but lately I've realized that maybe someone out there wants to come along for a more intimate ride. Intimate? Ok, I don't know about that, but throw your hands in the air and come along for a roller coaster ride! Honestly, that's what life feels like at times, right? 


My hope for this blog is to just put it all out there and hopefully with pictures (if I can figure out how to add them). 


I love the saying, "I am perfectly imperfect" and through my writing, you will (hopefully) see that. I have my good days and I have my bad days...we ALL do. I'm hoping people will be able to identify with my blog. I'm also hoping that this blog will give me a different way to connect to my family in Pennsylvania. As some of you may or may not know, my husband and I have been trying to get pregnant since late last year. Once we have a little one, I believe this will be a great way to share moments with far and away family and friends. 


So, as you can see, I have no (real) purpose for this blog. Is that bad? Just me, my thoughts, and sharing the stories of my life...all, while chasing (two) vizslas.