Walldren’s World

That is the question of this post. I think it would be a late entry for me to think I could create a niche blog about a particular subject and get a regular readership like many of the creative blogs out there like Bearskinrug, The Oatmeal, and so on. However, I think it would be a fascinating experiment to try to actual monetize the outpourings of dribble that seem to come unbidden by my teeming brain.

For example – what if I were to create a British Comedy blog and posted profiles of different Shows, Comedians, and Radio Programs that feature the biting wit of British Comedy that I hold so near and dear?  Would that be of value or interest to anyone reading it?

If so, what would you want out of such a blog?  Would it make sense to post video clips weekly or even daily?  How would I juggle this endeavor on top of my regular 9-5 job, wife, and young son and still have enough “me” time?  These are the riddles of the ’side project’.  I wonder if this project in and of itself would lend itself to “me” time.

Or rather – should I create an altogether different blog?  Like the “Writer Who Wants to Write” blog and include posts on such topics as how I am finding it incredibly difficult to put pen to paper – or finger to keyboard – and come up with anything other than “I really wish I could write more and be creative like blah, blah, blah.”   In addition to gripes, I could post links to helpful articles or write summaries of those articles as a sort of ‘how to’ for other aspiring whiny writers.

Perhaps this sort of endeavor would be easier to monetize – as other writers might turn to it as a resource. However, I find this prospect a bit overwhelming as so much has already been written on the subject that it leaves little uncharted territory in which to stretch my writerly wings.

As with any poetry collection there are hits and there are misses. With “Ballistics”, I think most of these poems hit the mark. One reviewer observed that these poems tend to be a little overly self-indulgent for Billy – but I happen to think that most poetry is self-indulgent. Many of these poems are very philosophical and deeply personal with the usual dose of dry wit one comes to expect from Billy Collins.

One of the main reasons I like Billy Collins (apart from the aforementioned dry with) is his ability to say what he means. In one poem he chastises the school teacher who asks of their students, “Now, what do you think the poet was trying to say?” by replying that if such a question is asked of an Emily Dickinson poem, then obviously the great poet has failed in her poetry.

I spent an enjoyable afternoon with this book and recommend it heartily.

Nate Walldren, AKA

For those of you who may not already have heard (or received your birth announcement yet), Nathan Allan Walldren was born on September 24, 2009 at 9lbs, 12 oz. He was 22 inches long, although I’m guessing he’s already outgrown that length and will shortly begin his career in the NBA. Mom and Baby are doing well.

Gnostic Archetype (08-17-2009)

Yesterday, Christina and I went to see the film “District 9″, a film whose central theme is man’s inhumanity to man.  While the film treats its subject with black humor, it really made me start thinking about its theme more and more.

One of the BEST books I have read that explores the seeming pointless of cruelty and human suffering was Blood Meridian.  This book was recommended to me by a long-time family friend, Larry.  Larry suggested I read it after I posted a comment about having read “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy. But I digress.

In Blood Meridian, we follow “The Kid” and a pack of scalp-hunters around the Southwest. The group engages in all sorts of violence and butchery with each incident becoming more brutal. They are on the hunt for those “godless” savages who pose such a disastrous threat to the White Man.  As they progress through their sweep of the territories, they start indiscriminately killing Native Americans, Mexicans, and Whites alike to get a larger bounty.

The main antagonist in this novel, though not the ‘leader’ of the gang, is the character of The Judge. Judge Holden (pictured above in my sketch) represents both man’s ingenuity and cruelty.  He is described as being immensely tall, albino, and hairless – resembling an adult baby.  Were this a more light-hearted (read: different) novel, he would be almost comical in appearance and action – closer to a Dr. Strangelove character.  He stirs up trouble wherever he goes and goes from learned renaissance man to psychotic killer with a simple change of venue.  He was described on Wikipedia as a “Gnostic Archetype”.

An archetype is something that serves as a model or basis for making copies. Holden can definitely be viewed as such. He is the embodiment of human knowledge, wisdom, and cruelty. There is something eternal about his character – as it seems like we’ve encountered men like him throughout history.

“It makes no difference what men think of war…War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner. That is the way it was and will be.” – The Judge

Scary, thought-provoking stuff.

It’s very exciting to know that in just a few weeks’ time Christina and I will welcome our child into the world.

The past few months have been very sobering for more than this reason. Through it all, my darling wife has been resilient. Not giving up – even in the face of recent scares – she has more than proven just what a remarkably strong, dedicated, loving, and excellent mother she will be.

I don’t write many personal entries any more for professional and personal reasons – but I do want the world to know just how inspiring Christina is and how I cherish my life with her each and every day.