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.

An Early appreciation of the Arts

I recently realized that my early appreciation for Jazz and music originated with a white, curious Beagle and his little yellow friend. I was inadvertently introduced to the music through the interesting animations of a cartoonist named Charles Schultz. The music being the creation of Vince Guaraldi. Vince Guaraldi composed a familiar song named Linus and Lucy, which later became synonymous with the Charlie Brown (Peanuts) theme song.  Since Charlie Brown's emergence in the late 1950's, at the age of four, he has introduced many people to the plight we call life. He became the butt of numerous jokes and the cause of many laughs. 

Back to Granada.

Well it is that time of year again. The snow has fallen and the lifts are open; so back to Granada we go.

A few photos of the mountain:










But, while we were there we had to reek a little havoc.

Websites of Interest

http://www.miniature-earth.com/me_english.htm

Appreciate what you have!


http://www.freerice.com

This is a good site to learn and help at the same time.


http://www.patchadams.org

This is a great man with great ideas, soon to come in Spanish (and I know the translator)!

Some pictures to look at!

The fam after I surprised Mom at her party.




Greg, Sarah, Trisha, and I hanging out before Trisha left.




A beautiful Spanish sunset from our balcony.




Greg and I looking at something, I think I really am adopted!

My Grandpa, my teacher, my Hero!

It has been just over two months since Grandpa died, and I have to say I am much happier knowing that he is no longer in pain. I learned so many things from this man, and above all it was to have no regrets. I truly believe that grandpa had no regrets, and he wouldn't want us to be in pain for him being gone. Like Aunt Terry said, he prepared us for death at an early age. I often remember going to the Redlands Community Cemetery, when I was young, with grandpa to play. He taught us at a very young age that death is just another part of life, and we all became comfortable with it. Our family has learned to cope in such an unusual way that we often receive funny looks when we are able to laugh near the grave side.



When Grandma died he showed us that it is OK to grieve, but that it is also important to celebrate.



Grandpa taught us all the importance of family, to be slow to speak and quick to think, to keep the main thing the man thing, and to have no regrets.

Syd said that Grandpa taught us all different things, he reached us all in different ways. This is how Grandpa reached me:


Grandpa noticed something in me that I think he used right away. He noticed my interest for working with my hands, and my abilities there in. Grandpa trusted me with power tools, far before I fear he should have. Grandpa taught me how to:

Roof a house, weld, use a steel grinder, install sprinklers, pour concrete, read a map, plant tomatoes, edge the lawn with an eleven-thousand year old edger, paint, change my own brakes, and to lay brick.

He used these skills to teach me even greater things, and instilled the principles I would need to live life.

I am truly thankful for the time that he showed all of us, but especially his grandkids. He was a wise man and a great teacher, but more importantly he was our grandfather. I will miss him with great anguish but I am glad that he is no longer in pain. I know that one day soon I will see my hero, mentor, and grandfather again.

Pictures

I figured I would put some pictures on the blog.



This is a picture from the Chair Lift in Granda and the Sierra Nevadas.




Here is a picture of the groupe I go snowboarding wiht. Oh, and apparently winnie the pooh has no eyes and human hands.



Some of the grafitti in Granada is really cool



This is me at the top of the mountain. The Sierra Nevada in Granada is beautiful.




Here's a picture from the middle of the slopes. A day of nice powder.



Sorry that is has been so long since I put up fresh pictures. I have been super busy, and honestly I struggle with an innate problem known as procrastination.

Hmm!?!

I don't think that I remember how to do this anymore. However, I will give it a shot and see how it turns out.

Ernest Hemingway once said to Francis Scott Key, "I write one good page of writing to every ninety nine pages of shit, I try to leave the shit in the trash can." A very colorful, yet true statement. I will try to do the same, but on a much smaller scale and will probably bore you with my constipated thinking. (If you catch my drift) At least Hemingway could produce some sort of S!@#... well I think you get it, I'm no Hemingway!

Dad and I had the chance to visit London a while back and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Of course it has been twelve years and I am just now blogging about it. I think procrastination is a genetic thing, somewhere on the forty-seventh chromosome accompanying the Down Syndrome gene. My procrastination has propagated into an outright apathy and for that I apologize.

It was a welcomed change of pace to be in London with "proper" English speakers. Also, it was nice to see Dad; the first familiar face I have seen in nearly 8 months. We had a chance to get out and see a lot of interesting architecture, artifacts, and adult video stores (certified of course). No, we didn't go into any adult video stores, but we did see a number of them and I would only trust the certified ones. Just a word of advice for anyone thinking about traveling to London.

We started off our self-guided tour of London at the Tower of London. Here we learned all about the history of the Tower from a boisterous, portly Yeoman Warder, also known as a Beefeater. In order to become a Yeoman Warder you have to serve in the Royal Army forever ( approximately 26 years or so).

We also had the chance to see the British version of Chicago; almost exactly the same.

But, the most exciting event was going to the National Gallery to see a number Van Gogh's paintings. (Van Gogh happens to be my favorite painter, and in January I am taking a Field Study class in Amsterdam purely dedicated to him).

I am out of time for now to write. Plus, I am having trouble uploading pictures. I will BLOG more later and upload my pictures.

Some Pictures

Here are some of the pictures that I promised. Not all are from the christmas party!



This is a picture of the guys at the christmas party.



Here is Beto ( Ramos' husband) Javier a friend from work and myself.



This is a picture of Javier, Ashlley ( I work with her) myself and Elizabeth Ramos (I work with her in orthopedics. I also worked with her in ortho when I was in Bethesda, MD).



Here is a picture of the "sweatervest Kids", at least that is what people around town were calling us. We decided to go out wearing sweater vests... we actually had one more but she got lost in the mix.

Feliz Navidad!

Merry Christmas everyone.

I hope that everyone enjoys their Christmas season this year. We are doing it big here in Spain. I have already been to three christmas parties, and we still have the Air Force Christmas party, the Surgical Services Christmas party and the Orthopaedic Christmas party. Wild isn't it!!! I guess that is what you do when there really isn't much else to do.

Just an update on the mild, uninspiring, monotonous, mind-numbing, tedious, wearisome, humdrum, lackluster life in Rota, Spain (I have been reading my thesaurus... I'm sorry)

Things are going well here with everything that has been going on. Busy, Busy, Busy!!! We have a new surgeon who loves to teach and loves to see us learning. I have no problem with this, it is all good information and I am thankful for it. He wants us in the OR so we know the cases and can be there to help out when we are needed. I can't say I blame him I am pretty much an indespensable resource:) Not really, but the cases have been amazing and our new doctor really is the epitome of what a good teacher should be.

School has been going well, Biology, BIO Lab, and Sociology are getting ready to wind down next week. I have two finals on Monday and a final on Wednesday as well. Please keep me in your prayers during these times ( even though some of you will be sleeping). I expect to do well, but then again I am a Breckley and something can always go wrong.

Life in Rota is going well, I have had the chance to get up and out a little, but have been pretty confined to the base these last couple of weeks because of working full time, reorganizing our clinic and doing my school work. Lots of fun, it really makes life interesting.

We have many opportunities for Benevolence this christmas here in Rota! We in Orthopaedics work closely with the Urology clinic as well and are getting the opportunity to sponsor a child for Christmas. I think more than anything this is what Christmas is about. Helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

If you have the opportunity ( I know Cathy has her hands full :) ) I implore you to seek out someone less fortunate and help them out. Not out of pity but for the mere fact that we are following an example of someone who gave more than a present or a hot meal. Someone who gave his life, because he saw a need. The least we can do is buy someone a new set of clothes, a pair of new shoes or a straight jacket :) ( Good luck with the little boy Cathy).

Well that is all for now. I have some pictures from the Christmas party that will be coming soon.

I love you all and wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

More pictures

I haven't blogged in a while so I thought that I would do that. There has been a lot going on around here.... we have had 8 DUI's in 2 weeks. Needless to say the base is taking extra precautions to prevent this.

School has been going well. I am enjoying my Sociology and Biology classes. Work has been very busy. We had a very cool surgery recently, so that was a lot of fun.

This is a picture of dad and I at El Farro on my birthday. We went out dinner with some people from work. Behind us you can see the ocean. The summers here are beautiful, and I have never seen better weather.



Also while dad was here we were able to go to a bunch of places. We went to Sevilla, Ronda, Marbella, Gibralter, and Terifa. It was a lot of fun.... and if you don't know that gegraphy of Spain... that is a lot to see in the matter of 2 days.





Here is a picture of Sevilla, looking out from the top of La Giralda.



These are the bells at the top of La Giralda. I just thought the bells we pretty cool.




These boats are anchored on the shore of Cadiz. I thought that they were pretty bool and colorful.





I recently went to a place called Grazalema. It is very beautiful there and reminds me what it is like to be in the mountains. A friends and I decided we wanted to go hiking and found that this place was very beautiful.




This is the notorious bridge in Ronda where people were supposedly thrown off during the Spanish Inquisition. I say supposedly because there are many opinions on the theory. I have talked to people who don't believe it happened and I have talked to people who said that it did.

MY Blog is working again

I was finally able to get my blog back up and working so I should be posting some pictures some time shortly.

I have a lot of pictures that I want to put up. It shouldn't be ay later than next weekend.

Seville- My Favorite Place in the World

Here are some pictures of Seville. If it looks like I am sweating really bad it is because it was so hot!!! Apparently July is the Hottest month for the inland part of southern Spain. Who knew!!! Oh yeah and I was wearing PANTS!!! I know genius huh:)



This a picture of me right outside one of 4 Starbucks in Seville. Apparently that is where I have to go to get some Starbucks. Mom asked me if I would go back there... well I think that answers her question.



This is a picture looking down one of the main drags in Seville. There are tracks and power lines for a trolly or something, but we didn't see one. I don't know if maybe they only run during the week, or not at all. I am sure that Sarah can expound on my inadequacies.



Here is a picture of la Cathedral ( spelled the same, pronounced way different) I guess from what I have heard is might be the largest cathedral in the world... or in Europe. I guess they are still trying to figure that out. It is big no matter what though. Sarah I have to say that Seville is my favorite place in the world so far.



This is La Giralda... amazing and very high. I don't have to say anything... it speaks for itself.





I really love how close the streets are here. It gives it a very intimate feel. The Roads are very narrow and I think that promotes more walking than driving. Obviously some you can't drive on...and I like that as well.





The last picture is of me at another starbucks (yes we stopped twice). The cathedral is behind me, you can see it if you look to my left.