NUMBER 7
Number 7
By Alex Ness
February 11, 2024
ARE WE THERE YET?
The life we choose to live, however wild, however crazy, is limited to the number of hours, minutes and seconds in a day. I write this blog hoping that it lets me express thoughts or ideas during the hiatus from my poetry blog and my popular culture blog. It really hasn't been fun to not write poems. I get phrases stuck in my head, and however much I want to, the point of the hiatus was to rest and sleep, and without posting links on social media, it is a tree falling in the woods, it doesn't make a sound to someone who doesn't know to listen carefully.
I do think that this hiatus is therapeutic, and I have received more sleep than normal. My son's naughty, absolutely adorable but farty kitten, crop dusting me if I am trying to sleep and she wants to play. It is ok. I've definitely crop dusted others, if by purpose or coincidence, I seem to now be paying the price.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
I try to respond to questions on my blogs, from readers, my email is not difficult to find. Here are four recent Questions about my work, life, purpose, failures or victories
Why bother writing poetry, no one buys it, no one reads it?
I write poetry because since I was 6 or 7 years old I've been writing it. My mother kept my first poem and image that I drew with it, from 1969. I never intended poetry to share with others, until about 2004, when something happened to make me realize, it was the only thing I felt i was good at doing. I don't write as an artist. I don't write as romantic poem genius. My poems are all about the message I hope to share, and write on a level that I hope all can read and appreciate. Some poets I know use big words to show their genius, and maybe that is rewarding to them and their audience, but as a historian I am aware that poetry was the language of the people, not the elites, however much the elites might have enjoyed the works. So I write because it moves me. Sales are great, but rare.
When did you attend UM-Duluth, I went in 1989-1993, and came away with a business degree?
I began attending in Fall 1983 but didn't attend in a four year cycle, I left a few times to do other things, I was asked to leave a couple times due to grades, but when I returned for my last year, I had a 3.7 gpa and had a degree in History and minor in Political Science, in 1991. I love Duluth, but I couldn't live there as I couldn't dream of driving on all those hills in winter for the rest of my life. I went on to Fargo ND for Grad school at NDSU. I love Fargo, I love NDSU and would live there if my wife would accompany me. She isn't interested in such a thing.
I think you should write for someone who pays you instead of a free blog. You can't make money doing what you are doing, can you?
If you or anyone wants to donate money to me, for what I write feel free to do so. But my comic reviews and interviews from throughout Western popular culture is my reward, as getting into the mind of creative people is an amazing thing, and well worth the time doing so.
If you were to have free travel, no expense, all paid for, and you had to choose five places to go, where would you go?
I guess you've read my poplitiko answers in the past when asked do I like to travel. I am large, both in height and weight, and can't sleep in most common beds, as my formerly broken neck makes it nearly impossible. And when you travel, it is difficult for many to sleep anyway. BUT I will answer your question assuming that someone has provided a means to travel and sleep that works for me. I'd like to visit the following places, no specific order of preference is considered in my choices...
The Pyramids of Egypt, and all ancient sites there. I didn't get a lot of education in college about Egypt, but have always been moved by it. I've read and studied Egypt so I could probably teach a semester of Egyptian history.
The site of Machu Picchu in Peru. I think a site that was hidden from view for so long is both intriguing and vastly more interesting that anything modern. I might not be good at climbing, but for such a view, I'd be willing.
I'd love to visit NORWAY, SWEDEN, DENMARK, all the BALTIC States, and every Viking era site of the Baltic sea. I want to see the region for its history, and to connect with the sites where my ancestry flourished. I'd stop in to see Peter Bergting, Tom Olausson and more, and I'd borrow a Viking ship and conquer half of the UK all over again. SKOAL!!!
I'd love to visit SINGAPORE, HONG KONG and FUKUOKA, Japan, for the history, the food, the people. I want to know more about each place, but have long known they would be ideal for a trip with my wife, and son maybe.
ITALY... Every ancient site of battle, every vineyard, the Vatican, every great art gallery or museum, and more. I am not the biggest fan of Italian food, but I like it. I chose Italy for the interest my wife would have as well, but it was hard choosing between Italy and Greece. I am a trained academic in the history of both Rome and Greece, and both have a rich ancient past worth seeking out.
COMICS ARE THE ANSWER!
As you know, I write about comics and other popular media, but when I am depressed, comics work to help me through difficult times. Here are some I am considering to read now, divide by publishers.
See you next week.