Some more pictures

Here is a picture of the office. It has come up low on the priority list so it still looks like doodoo.



This is a picture of the kitchen, probably my favorite place in the house. It was the first thing that I saw when I moved in and made me fall in love with the place.








A picture off the back terrace. There are a lot of places around me, but for so far it has remained very quiet.

New Place

I promised I would get some pictures posted of the new place. I hope you like them. I added some details to help you conceptualize the house.



Here is a picture of the living room and you can see the kitchen in the background.



The living room is about 22' X 14'- nice and spacious

HM2 Breckley

So,

I found out today that I got promoted. E-5/ PO2 is now what will appear on my I.D. card. It is exciting because I get to play in a different ball game. I've noticed, to a certain point, that second classes get a little bit more respect. Here is what my rank insignia will look like:

A little Art History for you: Michelangelo

Many people know of Michelangelo, and his painting of the Sistine Chapel. But, do you know the story behind this profound piece of art work? Normally art history is not my cup of tea, but this story is very interesting.

Michelangelo was invited to Rome in 1505 by Pope Julius II to complete a few pieces of artwork; none of them paintings mind you. You see, Michelangelo was not a painter, he considered himself "more of a sculptor...;" hence a little statue know as "DAVID."

Pope Julius the second attempted to commission Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel quite a few times, but Michelangelo declined. He declined for a couple of reasons, first, Michelangelo considered himself "more of a sculptor than a painter," and second, during the renaissance it was considered an act of disrespect to ask an artist to paint a ceiling. It is rumored that Michelangelo also declined because he thought that Raphael and Bramante had conspired against him, convincing Julius II to commission him to work with an unfamiliar medium. However, no true evidence can be found to support this theory.

Finally, Michelangelo agreed to paint the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. In case you are not aware the Sistine Chapel ceiling was Michelangelo's first painting.

Michelangelo built his "flying scaffolding" and went to work on what has become one of the most recognized paintings of all time.

Between 1508-1512 he created one of the most elaborate and breathtaking paintings in the history of the Renaissance. When I say elaborate I mean that it consists of over 300 separate characters.

The Content of the ceiling includes:

1) The Separation of Light and Darkness
2) The Creation of the Sun, Moon and Earth
3) The Separation of Land and Water
4) The Creation of Adam
5) The Creation of Eve
6) The Temptation and Expulsion
7 )The Sacrifice of Noah
8) The Great Flood
9)The Drunkenness of Noah

I hope that you enjoyed the history behind this phenomenal art work. If you haven't seen it it is hard to conceptualize the magnitude of this piece.

Pictures Galore- Roma

Here is the oculus of the Pantheon. The Pantheon was build in 125 AD and stands almost as sturdy as the day it was build; 2,000 years ago. This dome represents the some of the most advanced architectural engineering known to man. The oculus or "eye" helps to lighten the dome and actually even distributes the weight throughout the circumference of the dome. If you have not had the opportunity to see this amazing piece of architecture, I would advise you to take a trip to Rome. It is impossible to conceptualize the size of this building if you haven't seen if for yourself.


This is the Archangel Michael atop Castel Sant' Angelo. This castle is where the pope flees in times of dangers. Michael was put at the top of the castle to "protect" the pope. Michael represents protection and enlightenment.


Nic and I decided to do a bike tour of the APIA ANTICA, little did we know that there wasn't much to see and that the bikes weren't meant for a lot of riding. Lets just say we are finding it increasingly difficult to sit down today.


Here is the Tiber River at Night, beautiful

More Rome-

Nic and I with St. Pete's behind us


A view of St. Peters Basilica/square


The Coloseum- It is enormous


The Trevi Fountain

PASTA BARILLA (Its huge)

The view overlooking Rome from the top of Castel Sant' Angelo.


Here we are overlooking the Forum.


Here is Nic and I on the side of the Trevi Fountain.




Nic has an idea; big idea!

I Had a Dream Last Night

Even though Grandpa has gone to be with the lord, his lessons and wisdom still affect my life. I had a dream last night that seemed so vivid, I thought I was with Grandpa again. It felt as if I had the chance to learn from “Granpop” again. Sitting in deep thought I have come to realize the substantial impact that Grandpa had on my life.

My dream began with Grandpa at his finest, bestowing love upon those he cared for (which was everybody). But, the dream immediately fast-forwarded to his funeral. In the dream Grandpa passed along a house, which later I have come to realize was much more than that. After thinking about it I realized that it was not a house that he was bestowing upon me, but a legacy that I have the responsibility to continue. I may not have the ability to bestow the kind of wisdom and knowledge that Grandpa did, but I can attempt to fill the immeasurable shoes placed before me.

I‘ve heard of the stern, strict man that Grandpa was for a long period of his life. Knowing Grandpa in the last ten years of his life, I came to know a much kinder, gentler man. He would hug me every time we saw each other saying, “How are ya Bud?” During that time I spent with Grandpa in Wisconsin, throughout my high school years, I never imagined my life without him in it. Even though death is an inevitable part of life, I guess I thought that Grandpa would be around until the coming of the Lord.

While he was in Wisconsin I had the chance to spend a blessed amount of time with Grandpa, it was probably one of the best time periods in my life. I had the chance to get to know a man who cared for people, in a way that may have not been evident to everyone. Grandpa had a subtle way of showing his affection, but when you realized it was happening you became thankful he was. I cherish all the things that I learned from my Grandfather; he was wise in so many ways it simply leaves me mystified.