Bright and Early

Good Morning EN502,

I am currently on the commuter rail. It is 5:45AM and I have been awake for over an hour. I am very conflicted about my mornings. I hate getting out of bed. It is a painful extraction process from the warmth of blankets to the cold of New England mornings. I dread February. 

I do love the taste of my Earl Gray Tea which I sip black for the duration of my commute. I find kinship with the man who waits for the bus with me everyday, our lives existing on parallel schedules. Today I noticed the same runner passes me each morning too, his headlamp bobbing with his strides. I like getting to the hospital early too (I did get the job I wrote about last time). It is always a happening place, even at 6:30 in the morning. I am impressed by the energy night nurses maintain until the day shift arrive. 

Other things I love: 

- the old early 20th century hospital architecture mashed with state of the art 21st century buildings. I like learning the history of Boston Hospitals, something the architecture has prompted me to do. (Did you know the original building of Mass General Hospital had waterfront access? Many of the patients would arrive via boat to the front door). 

- my job is about as psychology related as you can get (I am working in a pediatric psych unit) so I am grateful for the opportunity to actually figure out my interests within the field

- kids are kids no matter how sick they are and that is a great thing

I hope everyone's fall went well and that your entry into the holiday season went smoothly. I am oddly nostalgic for finals (and definitely missing a guaranteed winter vacation). I am enjoying all the warm toned Christmas lights as they pop up around the city. They make commuting to and from work (thanks daylight savings) all the more manageable. 

With teeth and love,

Michaela 

What I have been reading: The Christmas Orphans Club (Becca Freeman), A Study in Drowning (Ava Reid), Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting (Clare Pooley)

What I have been listening to: The absolutely chaotic Spotify created "daylists." The title generator they are using is often comical. Yesterday mine was "sharp heist Monday afternoon"

What I have been watching: Ted Lasso (but only random episodes because my parents are watching it and I just hop in when I am around)

Museum Visits: THE SARGENT EXHIBIT AT THE MFA!!!!! Okay folks I have many thoughts on this incredibly thoughtful exhibit, but something I adore especially is that it was timed to coincide with "Inventing Isabella" at the Gardner museum. Both exhibits present how wealthy 19th century people hired portrait artists to help curate their public image. Sargent played a key role in Isabella's own image by painting the scandalous portrait of her that lives in the Gothic Room. If you happen to be in Boston before the 15th of January, please give both exhibits a visit (especially if you are fond of eccentric 19th century figures like I am). 

Also! On the firs Thursday of every month you can do an LGBT History tour about Boston Queer culture in the 19th century at the Gibson House in Back Bay. I went last month and the tour happened after hours, so it was a magic time exploring a preserved victorian home in the dark with only six other people! The historian on the tour kindly gave me a list of additional queer Massachusetts icons for me to research.