About a Boy

 

Family dynamics at holiday gatherings.

 

Even though the holidays are supposed to be a happy time when family can come together happily, for a lot of people, just the opposite happens. In the movie, Will goes to Christmas with Marcus and his mom. After Marcus gets nice gifts from Will and crummy gifts from his family, their holiday turns into an argument between what Will sees as best for Marcus and what his mom sees. The day is almost completely ruined when Will starts to mention a failed suicide attempt, but is interrupted by Marcus who turns the scent light hearted telling his mom about the duck he accidentally killed with a big loaf of stale bread. I feel like this is probably a common occurrence, two or more people in a big argument and someone is left to turn the situation around and make it feel like a holiday again. It's a shame that Marcus is the one who has to bring two adults out of it, but I'm sure that's not the only time a young kid has had to be more mature to keep things from falling apart. Luckily for me, my family is usually more civilized when it comes to holidays, although I have heard of an incident before I was born that I'm sure made things uncomfortable, but that was with extended family. My closer family; parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents are better behaved than the family in this movie.

If...

If I had two new baby sons, I would name one Jack and the other Adrian. I like the name Jack, because it just rolls off the tongue, and if I get mad at him, Jack sounds harsh when yelled. The name Adrian is different. It's a nice name, it really just popped into my head, and I decided I would be okay with naming a kid that. This is really the first time I've ever put much thought into what  I would name my kids, and probably the last for quite a while. Who knows if I would really give them those names when the time comes, but for now, they're fine.

Movies

 

 

My favorite movie at the moment is Hunger Games. It's not very original to like Hunger Games, but it's a movie I can watch over again and not get bored with. I don't really care for westerns, because cowboys and pioneers and things like that don't interest me. Sci fi movies are usually boring for me too, not because they're hard to believe, but because it seems the acting is so bad. The last time I went to the movies was last Friday, and the last time before that was back in June or July, so it's not often. I usually don't get anything to eat or drink during a movie, I don't want to hold a bag of popcorn for two hours and I don't want to have to go to the bathroom in the middle either.

The movie survey told me that I'm 25% extroverted, 75% agreeable, 83% conscientious, 67% emotionally stable and 75% open to new experiences. I scored hightst on nostalga and lowest on catharsis. I'm more of a pleasure seaking movie watcher. If my life story was made into a movie, I don't think it would do well in the box office. I have such an average life, it would just be me goint to school, coming home, eating, sleeping, using the computer, etc.

twelve/two

1. Sydney- Me and my friends have talked about going to Sydney for New Years Eve and how cool it would be to watch the fireworks over the harbor.
2. South Africa- A few years ago, South Africa was the number one spot I wanted to visit. I think I would take my friends Whitney and Jazmine, because a trip with them seems like it would be an interesting experience.
3. Spain- because I've take so many Spanish classes, I feel pretty comfortable going to a country with native speakers. I would take Desiree, because she's at the same Spanish level as I am in school, so she would be helpful, and Carissa, because I think she would be fun to have around on a trip.
4. Rio- I would want to go for the Olympics, but Rio also seems like the kind of place you could have a fun time in, so I would take Allison and let her take a friend (that I choose), because they would keep the trip from getting boring.
5. Rome- Because there's so much history associated with Rome, it would be a fantastic trip. I would take my nephews when they're older. There's really no special reason I would take them, I just think it would be fun.
6. London- London is like New York, one of those cities so unique and famous that you have to see it for yourself sometime. I don't really know who I would take with me, people who could put up with me taking so many pictures of landmarks, I suppose.
7. Paris- I wanted to go there a lot as a kid, and I still think it would be fun. I would bring my grandparents with me, because they'd have to be the ones to pay for it!
8. Dubai- There's so much to see and do in Dubai, so I would take Trevor and Liana, because they seem like two people who would have the energy to go and see everything there is.
9. Hawaii- I think my parents would appreciate a nice trip away from work.
10. Egypt- I would take my uncle and aunt with me, my uncle seems like the kind of person who would appreciate being somewhere so historical.
11.- Mexico- It's a common place for Americans to vacation, I probably wouldn't take the trip there until college, so I would take a couple of friends I meet later on.
12. India- My niece and nephew are both part Indian, so I think it would be an interesting place for them to visit.


Aug. 31, 1997- Princess Diana is killed in a car crash.
Nov. 19, 1997- Second known case of living septuplets born in Des Moines.
Dec. 19, 1997- Titanic becomes the highest grossing film of all time.
Jan. 22, 1998- Unabomber pleads guilty, gets life sentence in prison.
Feb. 7-22, 1998 Winter Olympics held in Japan.
Feb. 22- Massacre in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia starts Kosovo War
May 19, 1998- A satellite fails, leaving 80-90% of Earth's pages without service.
May 28, 1998- Actor Phil Hartman is murdered by wife at 49.
Jun. 25, 1998- Microsoft releases Windows 98.
Aug. 4, 1998- Second Congo War begins, killing 3.9 million in 5 years.
Aug. 7, 1998- US Embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya.
Aug. 17, 1998- Bill Clinton admits to inappropriate relations with Monica Lewinski.

Dan in Real Life

7. Can you know in three days that you love someone?

I think you can get a feeling that you want to stay with them for a long time or that you may eventually fall in love, but I don't know that it can happen in three days. But, because it's never happened to me, I couldn't say 100% one way or another.

10. Dan's family is very involved in getting him to date again. How involved do you think family should be in your relationships? Your involvement in theirs?

They want what's best for you, and want to help you when they see that you need help, but overall, it's not their place to choose what happens in you life.

15. What is something most people don't know about you?

You wouldn't think it, because I'm so quiet, but I can have really bad road rage. I get it from my mom.

22. Dan tells the kids at the abandoned Shack O' Shells that "life is full of disappointment." Do you think that's true? How do you feel with disappointment?

Yes, it's completely true. You don't get everything you want in life and you just have to deal with it. I try not to dwell on it too long, because it can really eat away at you if you let it fester there. You just get frustrated

Food memories

 

I don’t have a lot of memories of food, but sometimes, I eat something or smell something that makes me think of when I was little. When I was in Kindergarten, I remember sometimes the hallways would have the smell of something sweet, maybe like cookies or candies, I don’t know what kind, and I rarely smell it anymore. Sometimes when I would walk in class, there was a smell almost like coffee, but I don’t know if it was coffee, it as well is sometimes difficult for me to find anymore, but when I do smell it, it’s always at a school. I’m thinking there are some special foods they only sell to teachers that gives off these scents. 

One obscure memory that my parents have reminded me about before is, when I was little, I would be eating a bag of popcorn, and I would get so tired, I would fall asleep with my hand still in the bag, then I would wake up, eat a bit more, and fall asleep again. When I was younger, I would spend the weekend with my aunt, and just about every week, we would have Hamburger Helper. I don’t know why, I know I’m the one that asked for it, but I don’t know why Hamburger Helper and why every week. The next morning, she would also usually make me blueberry pancakes. I guess with a little kid, it’s easier to just make it than put up with the hassle.

 

The first thing that I ever learned to cook by myself was spaghetti. I would want it a lot, but I think my mom was getting sick of making it for me all the time, so she told me if I got a large bowl, filled it with water, put in the pasta and put it in the microwave for increments of a few minutes, before long, I would have spaghetti. You feel really grown up when you make a meal for yourself for the first time (although now it’s just annoying to have to cook). I was still pretty young, and my mom didn’t like me to cook on the stove, so the microwave was the first step.

This is...

 

 

This is my dog and me

resting inside on a cold night

normally kept outside

but now too old to stay out too long

 

This is a boy and his dog

sharing a bond over a decade long

with memories of each other

as young energetic youth

 

This is a memory

of other dogs that have come and gone

while this bond

has lasted the longest

 

This is a feeling

of having one puppy notice me while the rest play on

and then have them all rush me at once

while the first leaves and walks alone along a fence

not knowing she's the one I want

 

This is the past excitement

of a first grader getting a new dog

guilting my mom with puppy dog eyes

and backing her into a corner

 

This is the dog who ran away

an open fence and intrigue leading to an outside world

a sinking feeling of never seeing her again

only to have her come back the next morning

and paw at the door

 

This is the dog I gave milk

too much milk for such a little dog...

and the dog we fed extra food we didn't want

then to have her puke it back on the floor

 

This is the dog I share most of my life with

the one who has been there when I'm scared

the one to play with outside during summer

the one I still have, aged by years

but still a puppy at heart.

Steady Chords

They pick up a guitar,

easily tuning it to make sure

it gives off the best sound it can.

Sitting down, they begin

to strum the chords.

 

Tunes flow from 

the strings of the guitar

like water flowing off a waterfall.

 

The rhythm strums

steadily like rain

patting the roof during

a spring shower.

 

Notes flow gently

through the air,

breaking the still silence

with a melody of sounds

so pleasant to the ear.

 

Time seams to stand

still as we sway to the

music that creeps its way

into our bones and

makes us feel lighter than air.

 

This guitar brings us a

sensation of peace as we

lose ourselves with

every strum of the pick.

 

A talented mind that’s

able to play each song

like no thought goes into it at all,

like it’s able to simply

flow from the fingers

rather than the mind.

 

The deepest bellows and

the highest pitches

complement each other in

a perfect yen and yang of

sound that echoes through the room,

sending vibrations

from all directions.

 

A warmth washes over us,

as if the songs can

give off a comforting heat.

 

The sounds from the guitar

gently fade out, and

welcome in a still quiet.

 

The sound is gone,

but the feeling still lasts,

as if never stopping

and continuing forever.

 

The room gradually comes back

to a steady position,

the euphoria of music still

deep inside them.

 

They stand up, leave the guitar,

and walk out of the room.

And there we are,

right where we started.

Childhood questions

12. I was a healthy kid, but I think I was sick more than most. I always seemed to have an ear infection or cold. But I used them to my advantage to get out of school.  I had pneumonia, I broke my arms a couple of times and of course I had chicken pox. I was sick and missed my class trip to Jefferson City in fourth grade. Mostly, I’d say I was healthy.  

13. I don’t think I had one favorite toy, but my favorites were always stuffed animals. There was a tornado when I was in first grade, and the whole time during it I was holding onto my stuffed dog. It was comforting to have it there. I had another stuffed dog, and a while after I got it, I found two small dogs that looked like it, so I would pretend they were its puppies and I had to help take care of them, and they all had to sleep in my bed with me. It was just nice to have them around.

21. I feel like my personality is almost the same as when I was a child. I’m still quiet and keep to myself. I don’t have the same taste in movies and television as when I was little, but I don’t consider that a bad thing. I still get nervous at new situations, but now I don’t burst out crying when I’m nervous. I’m not as excitable as when I was little, but I think most people get like that, everything is a such a big deal when you’re little.

27. I think my first away from home experience was in fourth grade. My grandparents took me to Alaska to visit my uncle. It was the first time in a long time that I had spent away from my parents. I was excited, but my mom was crying, she didn’t want me to leave. When I think back, I feel like I should have felt the same way as her, nervous and homesick, but I really wasn’t, I was just really excited.

33. I don’t know if I ever thought about my teenage or adult life that much. I always thought about when I’m older and out of school, I could do anything I want. I hated being stuck in school all day (I still do) while the rest of the world goes on outside.  I just knew I was ready for a little more freedom.

Kindergarten

Billy isn’t usually a nervous child, but today was different.

Today, Billy would do something he has never done before.

Today is Billy’s first day of Kindergarten.

Billy’s mom drops him off at school and says goodbye.

He walks into the building slowly.

He walks down the hall to room 108, his new class.

 

Inside he sees other kids coloring and playing with blocks.

His new teacher, Miss Jones, shows him to his table.

He sits down with the other kids, and starts drawing.

 

A little while later, it’s time for music.

The class is full of all sorts of instruments; maracas, xylophones and tambourines.

But Billy picks up a kazoo hiding behind some books.

After music, the class heads to gym.

They go outside where it’s warmer, and play baseball and Frisbee.

Billy hit the ball further than anyone else in the class.

 

When gym is done, the class comes inside for lunch.

Billy’s mom packed him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple, and a carton of milk.

He sits and talks happily with the other kids in his class.

 

When the kids return, it’s time for writing.

The teacher writes all the letters of the alphabet on the board, and the kids copy them.

Billy is having trouble on the letter ‘R’, but a new friend helps him out.

 

The class then goes to the library.

The librarian tells them all about the library, and they take any book they want home.

Billy chooses a story about pirates at sea.

 

The class comes back into the room for snack time.

It’s a pretty hot day, so the teacher gets them all popsicles.

But Billy eats his too quick, and gets brain freeze!

 

The kids go outside for recess after their snack.

 

Billy's older brother told Billy about recess, and how it was the best part of the day.

 

He was right. Billy played on the swings, slide and monkey bars the whole time.

 

 

The last class of the day is art.

The teacher passes out paint, markers and crayons for the kids to color with.

Billy picks a green marker and draws a picture of the forest by his house.

 

At the end of the day, Billy walks outside to find his mom.

He spots her car and goes running towards it.

He tells her he loved his new school, and wants to go every day.

Children's Book

 

Title: Froggy's Halloween

Author: Jonathan London

Author Bio: no

Reason: He doesn't think children care enough to read about the author

Describe the cover: A duck dressed as a ballerina, a frog dressed as a prince and a pig dressed as a devil go trick or treating.

Number of pages: 28

 

Characters: Froggy, mother, Miss Witherspoon, Princess Frogilina, Max

Settings: Froggy's bedroom, his class, the neighborhood.

Summary: Froggy doesn't know what he wants to be for Halloween. He go through a lot of costumes and becomes a prince. He goes trick or treating with his friends.

This book has:

animals as characters

rhymes

monsters or creatures

kids as characters

humor

illustrations

color

repeating phrases

 

Favorite sentence: He tripped on the porch and Princess Frogilina falls on top of him.

Ages: 3-8. It's about Halloween, it has talking animals, it can hold a kids attention well.

Would you have liked this book? Maybe, it's colorful, but nothing really happens.

Broken Promises

Sitting in the afternoon rush hour traffic, the heat builds and the pressure mounts. The everyday working man has had enough. The anxiety has built too high. The mortgage payments, car payments, and savings out the window. A high stress job with low pay, and now a picture with proof of a cheating wife.  On an afternoon when a storm is brewing overhead, he cracks. In a zombie like stage for another hour, he drives home. Over and over in his head he’s reminded of the demons that await him every day after waking up. A laugh, one of hysterics bellows from him, as his focus is set on the street ahead. Manic eyes dart from side to side as he reaches his block. The rain begins to fall steadily as he pulls into the driveway and into the garage. There’s a look on his face of concern, lunacy, hatred and joy all at once. In the garage he stumbles aimlessly around the tools, finally finding a wrench.

                He makes his way inside, nothing but the sound of a television coming from a bedroom. The dog greets him happily at the door, but he is gently brushed aside for more important business. Taking large steps and moving down the hall steadily, his eyes are fixated on the door in front of him. Deep breaths and pants come from him as he tries to maintain his equilibrium. The hall starts spinning, realizing what his actual intentions are makes him weak in the knees, but does not threaten his determination. He regains a proper balance, and enters the bedroom.

                His wife lays motionless on the bed, asleep for an afternoon nap after work. He positions himself over her, watching her keenly. Thoughts race through his mind like horses in the Kentucky Derby, one after another with little time to take it all in. He envisions the pictures of her with the other man, infuriating him, making him bend over in pain. Looking at her enrages him, making his body physically ache. The very thought of her makes him nauseated. He so badly wants her to suffer, yet a part of him wonders if this is all worth it. But the worst side of him takes hold, and with the raise of his hand, he smacks her over the head with the wrench.  The first blow makes him pause, as if all the wind has been knocked out of him. But he goes back again, and again and again. Over and over until he knows she’s in the same pain he is. Blood spatters across the bed and onto the walls. The white pillow- now dark red. The wrench is covered in blood and hair, going back time after time for another hit. No sound is able to escape his mouth, just the same dazed look across his face. The seconds seem to pass like hours until he can hit her no more. The quiet bedroom is now a complete disaster area.

                The room is covered in blood, up to the ceiling and on every wall. The pillow and sheets are soaked, blood collected in folds on the sheets now overflow onto the hard wood floors. The face is now unrecognizable. Dents and gashes in her head distort the shape of her skull, and bits to sharp bone are visible. The face is swollen like a balloon, the cheekbones completely crushed, her front teeth now collected at the back of her throat. Her skin is torn like tissue paper and extremely pale. He sits there alone, thinking about what he has done. The sound of the television interrupts his thoughts and he launches the wrench one last time into the screen, sending an eruption of sparks and smoke into the room.       

                He wraps the body up in the sheets and drags it from the bed. He takes it down the hall and to the back of the house, onto the deck. The rain is pouring down now, thunder and lightning abound. He drags the body down the steps into the backyard. The old shovel from the landscaping project is leaning against the fence; he takes it and begins to dig a hole. The mud is watery and makes it difficult to dig a definite hole, but he continues with a passion. The scene of what happened replays in his head over and over. He knows it happened quickly and wants to remember every moment he can. The rains picks up even more and begins to flood the shallow grave he has dug, but he thinks it’s good enough until tomorrow. He looks at the body in the sheets one last time, and with the last burst of anger he has, smacks it with the shovel five more times.  He drags the corpse into the hole and piles the mud back on, throwing rocks and sod on top. He gets a tarp from the shed and covers it for good measure. He walks groggily up the steps onto the deck, takes a deep breath, and walks inside. His muddy shoe prints showing his path.

Halloween

The best costume I ever wore was on my second Halloween. I was about fourteen months old and I dressed up as a Dalmatian. I only went trick-or-treating until I was about three. I don’t know why I stopped, but I did, and never started again. I think it made more sense to me to stay home and just have my parents buy me candy. On my first Halloween, I dressed up like Simba from Lion King.  Another year I dressed as an M&M. Part of me wishes I had gone more often when I was younger, but then I think I might have ended up as one of those weird teenagers who still go trick-or-treating. I think I made the right choice.

-----

 

Lassie Potion:

½ Cup of zombie sweat

3 pieces of werewolf hair

8 oz. Florida’s Natural Orange Juice for kick

2 rotten eggs

Handful of rat tails

1 spider egg sac

½ of an armadillo- found on any road

Ketchup -for filler

4 oz. Rabid dog saliva

3 sprigs of poison ivy

1 Lemon for that special summer time freshness.

 

Upon drinking, the victim will shrink down to the size of a common mouse, and may then be kept as a pet.

Remember to keep your human well fed with a variety of foods- or don’t, if you’ve done this to them it’s obvious you don’t care what happens.

-----

For the perfect Halloween costume this year, all you need are a few simple items that can be found in any household. To make a realistic looking mummy, you’ll need the following;

Toilet paper

Dirt

Coffee/tea

 

First, take your child and wrap them in the toilet paper. Not too hard, you don’t want to cut off the circulation. Or maybe if you’re a bad parent, you do. None of my business.

After your child is wrapped up, you’ll want to change the look of the bandages so they appear old. Take some scalding hot coffee and throw it on your child. Tea would also work well. This will change the color from a bright white to a faded brown/yellow.

Next, because the mummy has been locked away for thousands of years, it’s probably dirty. Throw dirt on your child. A few rocks may be hidden in the dirt, but… they’ll be fine.

Last, take some makeup and cover the child’s face. You can use purple around they eyes to make them look sunken in, or cover the whole face in purple or green to look decomposed.  

Lyrics Story

 

They tell me I'm too young to understand what happens everyday in my neighborhood. The south side of Chicago is a tough place to grow up. All day there are gun shots and police sirens, guys with gold teeth drive up and down the streets. My parents both work downtown during the day, and I go to school down the street, but I get home first. We have four locks on the doors, and I'm not allowed near the windows. I stay upstairs in my room everyday until my mom gets home. At night, the old and broken security system taunts us with the illusion of safety. Even if the sky is falling down, I know the criminals of Chicago won't stop. So everyday until I'm older, I'll have to worry about safety. But I guess that's life.

Teachers and Music

What music or songs reminds you of your childhood?
80s pop and new wave- Ms. Hoover
Disney, Backstreet Boys, Shania Twain- Me

Who is your favorite singer or groups or song and why?
Barry Manilow- Mrs. Abramovitz
I like Macklemore, I don't really know why. Thrift Shop was weird to me at first, but now it's one of my favorites, just because it's so different. -Me

What music reminds you of someone you love? Your child? Spouse? Parents?
I Hope You Dance, kids- Mrs. Abramovitz
Michael Jackson makes me think of my mom, because she really liked him. She said when she was pregnant and his music would come on, I would start kicking a lot, so I guess I liked him too.- Me

Do you go to concerts? What concerts are memorable to you? Why?
Yes. The most memorable concerts are outside.- Ms. Hoover
Not really. Most of the concerts in Springfield are country, and I usually don't feel like a six hour drive to and from St. Louis or Kansas City. -Me

What radio stations do you normally listen to in you car? Do you sing along?
None, I listen to my own music.- Ms. Hoover
96.5, but I'm starting to get sick of them, I'm looking for different stations. I don't sing or dance, but I like watching people in my mirrors who are dancing. - Me

Which group or artists was "controversial" or "offensive" to some when you were growing up? Is any music offensive to you now?
KISS, because they had makeup and showed their tongues.- Ms. Thater
It seems like anything new is always considered "controversial" until something else comes along. I have a lot bigger things to deal with than being offended by music.- Me

Which music or artist to do you really dislike or refuse to listen to?
None.- Ms. Thater
People like Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus. I don't listen to their music and I really don't like them as people. There are a lot of better things to listen to than their music.- Me

Music Q&A

 

 

1. When I listen to music, I can feel happy or sad or energetic. It depends on the type of music.

2. I don't really have a favorite song. The ones I like either get played over and over to the point I don't like them anymore, and they only play them for a while and I forget about them over time.

3. When I was little, my favorite songs were from movies. The Lion King was my favorite, so I knew all the songs from it. My mom liked the Backstreet Boys and my sister listened to all sorts of boy bands and people like Shania Twain and Kylie Minogue, so I was around those a lot. Now, I can listen to them, because I have memories of them, but I don't feel the same way I did.

8. I admire the music of Michael Jackson, because whether you liked him or not, he was incredibly successful.

11. I  can't handle country, folk or Disney music. They all make my skin crawl. To me, they don't sound good at all, and are really boring or obnoxious to listen to.

15. I would never want to sing professionally, and I don't think the rest of the world would want me to sing professionally, either.

Six Line Poem

 

 

Today is over, tomorrow is new.

Window Poem

In front of me is a neighbors house.
To the left is my computer and desk.
Outside, there's a trash can, because tomorrow is trash day.
Sometimes, the neighbors are outside mowing their lawn.
Anytime of day, you can see our other neighbor's flag flying upside down.
On the next street over, there are festive decorations for Halloween all around the house.
On the yards, there are leaves that have changed and started to fall.

Mystery Man

 

 

 

A quiet man, a mysterious man, a man of little notoriety.

In the quiet town, he remains a silent witness to all goings on.

He sees everything, he knows everything, but no one knows him.

At the crack of dawn when the dew is fresh, he is there.

At noon when people go out to lunch, he is there.

At night when the town drifts into sleep, he is there.

He knows of the dangers of the outside world, shading the town from them.

He knows the thoughts of the common working man.

He is the all knowing figure that looks over the town.

The man of mystery, but also the man of protection.

 

 

 



View of Toledo

 

A distant storm brews over the city of Toledo.

The warm Spanish air breaks for a rain shower.

The pale green trees and grass turn in as the sun is hidden behind the clouds.

People head inside after finishing their errands.

The river cuts through the city and prepares to rise.

The light blue sky that was is hidden by a blanket of white and grey.

Rain begins to pour gently on the landscape, and then picks up.

The thunder crashes over the city and the rain picks up.

The city had fallen dark, the rain and clouds too thick for the sun to break through.

The storm passes, leaving the city a vibrant and lively green.

Andrews Lane

On quiet Andrews Lane outside the city, the smell of gasoline fills the air. Traffic is light, one or two cars going by every few minutes. Yet, a gas station fills a gap between the forests. Buisiness is light, but steady. A fair amount of cars pull into the station each day, needing a refill or cleaning. A diner is attached, helping to bring in customers who might not have stopped there. The quiet surrounding is calming, good for the people who have to drive to and back from the city for work, no rush to get through quickly. As the sun sets, the attendant checks the pumps as the station prepares to close. A couple cars stop in last minute, and go on their way. The quiet lane has gown even quieter as people prepare for bed. Everyone goes home after a long day, not knowing their easy going way of life world someday fade away.

[Enter very Greek name here...]

Domenikos Theotokopulos



Domenikos Theotokopulos (better known as El Greco) was born on an unknown date in 1541 in Heraklion Crete, then part of the Republic of Venice. His father Georgios was a merchant and tax collector, nothing is known about his mother. He also had a brother, Manoussos. His best known relationship is with a woman named Jeronima de las Cuevas, who lived in Spain.

El Greco lived through an interesting time of history from the mid 1500s to the early 1600s. During that time, he saw Elizabeth I crowned as the Queen of England in 1559. In 1592, the beginning of the trans-Atlantic slave trade by the English, taking slaves from Sierra Leone to the Caribbean. The Fire of Moscow in 1571. The first believed performance of Julius Caesar at Globe Theatre in London. In 1607, ships arrived at Jamestown to establish the first English settlement in the Americas.

El Greco didn't live an "easy" life. He had a child with another woman while he was still married. After moving to Spain, he lived a life of heavy criticism from critics. He was also in a number of legal disputes with authorities. He lived during the time of the Spanish Renaissance, and often did oil paintings, sculptures and worked with architecture.