Well, today is my 200th post! I was hoping I'd have some kind of life changing epiphany that I could blog about and create the most amazing post known to man. Alas, sometimes life does cooperate that way. I have nothing earth shattering to report upon. However, I can report about yesterday. Yesterday was a great day.
Yesterday, I finally made the trek up to Boston to go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It was fantastic! I spent the whole time wishing my friend, Isabelle (who would have gotten in for free, because of her name) was there with me. We'll have to make a special trip this summer.
Isabella Stewart Gardner was some chippy who lived in New York and Boston in the late 1800's to early 1900's. She and her husband clearly enjoyed traveling because they went everywhere on the entire planet. And since they had more money than God, they could purchase anything that caught their fancy: paintings, statues, trunks and trinkets, chandeliers, intricately carved ceilings from European castles, elaborate doors from ancient monestaries, maybe a marble archway to place around your windows or doors. They bought it all! And then she planned a museum to display it all for everyone to see.
Interestingly, ol' Isabella designed the layout of the building as well as the displays herself. And her will stipulates that the arrangement cannot be altered. At first, I figured that Isabella was a little type A. Come on! Who cares if its rearranged after you're dead? Then, I thought that Isabella was a little kooky. (The Renaissance Madonna and Child statue flanked by Chinese lanterns on either side with a Greek urn at its base had me scratching my head) But then I happened to turn around and see that display from 20 feet away. And suddenly I GOT IT! Isabella was a frickin' genius! Nobody better touch ANYTHING!
There is a courtyard inside with plants and trees and priceless masterpieces hidden amongst the leaves. The museum rises above the courtyard 3 stories. From each floor and from each side of the courtyard, there are items that you can only see from that viewpoint. It's like Where's Waldo with art! There are items you can only see while going up the stairs. There are items you can only see coming DOWN the stairs. And each room is packed full of precisely arranged paintings, tapestries, furniture, and trinkets. Moreover, the museum is like a travel journal and a glimpse into her personality. She seems like she was a really cool person to hang out with.
After the museum, I went over and hung out with Nerd for a few hours. He always makes me laugh. He had an exciting night of reading research articles ahead of him, and I needed to hit the road before the snow arrived.
Once home, I had to call Isabelle to tell her all about the museum. She also had an exciting night of work related research to do. But not before she told me to turn on the family channel to watch Practical Magic. We both love this movie! Partially, because it stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, and when we finally collaborate on the book about all of our antics and it gets turned into a movie, it will star Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. (They may not be aware of this)Also because it's just a feel good movie and its fun and it has the house that I want to live in someday.
After hanging up, I got down to MY work related research. And so on Saturday, as the snow fell and the full moon shined, the three of us engrossed ourselves in research articles and movies. Even though we were all alone in our apartments, to me it felt like we were together in spirit.
It was a good end to a good day.
Yesterday, I finally made the trek up to Boston to go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It was fantastic! I spent the whole time wishing my friend, Isabelle (who would have gotten in for free, because of her name) was there with me. We'll have to make a special trip this summer.
Isabella Stewart Gardner was some chippy who lived in New York and Boston in the late 1800's to early 1900's. She and her husband clearly enjoyed traveling because they went everywhere on the entire planet. And since they had more money than God, they could purchase anything that caught their fancy: paintings, statues, trunks and trinkets, chandeliers, intricately carved ceilings from European castles, elaborate doors from ancient monestaries, maybe a marble archway to place around your windows or doors. They bought it all! And then she planned a museum to display it all for everyone to see.
Interestingly, ol' Isabella designed the layout of the building as well as the displays herself. And her will stipulates that the arrangement cannot be altered. At first, I figured that Isabella was a little type A. Come on! Who cares if its rearranged after you're dead? Then, I thought that Isabella was a little kooky. (The Renaissance Madonna and Child statue flanked by Chinese lanterns on either side with a Greek urn at its base had me scratching my head) But then I happened to turn around and see that display from 20 feet away. And suddenly I GOT IT! Isabella was a frickin' genius! Nobody better touch ANYTHING!
There is a courtyard inside with plants and trees and priceless masterpieces hidden amongst the leaves. The museum rises above the courtyard 3 stories. From each floor and from each side of the courtyard, there are items that you can only see from that viewpoint. It's like Where's Waldo with art! There are items you can only see while going up the stairs. There are items you can only see coming DOWN the stairs. And each room is packed full of precisely arranged paintings, tapestries, furniture, and trinkets. Moreover, the museum is like a travel journal and a glimpse into her personality. She seems like she was a really cool person to hang out with.
After the museum, I went over and hung out with Nerd for a few hours. He always makes me laugh. He had an exciting night of reading research articles ahead of him, and I needed to hit the road before the snow arrived.
Once home, I had to call Isabelle to tell her all about the museum. She also had an exciting night of work related research to do. But not before she told me to turn on the family channel to watch Practical Magic. We both love this movie! Partially, because it stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, and when we finally collaborate on the book about all of our antics and it gets turned into a movie, it will star Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. (They may not be aware of this)Also because it's just a feel good movie and its fun and it has the house that I want to live in someday.
After hanging up, I got down to MY work related research. And so on Saturday, as the snow fell and the full moon shined, the three of us engrossed ourselves in research articles and movies. Even though we were all alone in our apartments, to me it felt like we were together in spirit.
It was a good end to a good day.
6 comments:
That sounds absolutely amazing. I'm adding it to my list of "must see places!"
I've added it to my list as well. I've told Ryan we'll take a trip up to Boston/Cape Cod/etc, though we're planning on the Grand Canyon this summer, so it'll likely be after that.
And congrats on your 200th post!!!!
congrats on your 200th! I hope to travel east and i'll put this on my list of what to see!
Congrats on your 200th post!
That sounds like an amazing place. Look forward to pix!
ps you stopped by my blog and gave me some advice on PT equipment and insurance. Thank you, thank you!
200?? Wow, I'm way behind. The museum sounds great. Glad you had a good time!
I love those days. I wish you had a picture of when you turned around and saw the same view 20 feet away and thought "pure genius"! Sounds very interesting. Happy 200th post! Keep up the good work.
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