A Return to Normalcy

Like I said, the next time you would here from I'd be in my hometown, Mechanicville (population 5,001), but, sad to say, no fishing to date. In the few days I've been back, I've been spending my time doing far less important stuff, such as studying for the upcoming Law School Admissions Test, going to the dentist, and getting my eyes checked (stronger glasses are definitely in my future). Hopefully I'll get some fishing in before classes start at Siena in about thirty days.

So, you're probably wondering why on earth I posted a picture of a half-naked man surrounded by other men around a bed. Don't worry, I anticipated your curiosity. Let me explain. Before I left New York City I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Now, I had been there once before during a sixth grade field trip, but the trip was so regimented that we saw a grand total of one exhibit (granted, it was the world-famous Egypt exhibit). So I decided to spend one of my days off from my internship at the museum. The place is massive. I spent seven hours (yes, seven) walking through the museum and I'm still not sure that I saw everything. My favorite exhibits were the European paintings exhibit and the Medieval art exhibit (both of which put to shame the modern art exhibit....Who likes that stuff anyway?). So, aimlessly wondering through the paintings I spot the picture you see posted, "The Death of Socrates" by Jacques Louis David. The only reason I noticed the picture was that it is used as the cover of the Phaedo, a Platonic dialogue, which I just read for a class last semester. So, here is the heroically portrayed Socrates, having been condemned to death by Athens, about to drink the poisonous hemlock that will kill him. He is confidently pointing upward, signifying to his followers his belief in the immortality of the soul.

Well, enough lessons on Greek philosophy for now (or forever if philosophy is just not your thing). I hope you all, fellow bloggers included, are enjoying these last few weeks of summer!