Watchmen by Alan Moore

I'm sure you all have seen the trailer for the new Watchmen movie being released in March. For those of you who don't know, Watchmen is a graphic novel (or a book written in comic form) which most people consider to be "nerd" book or a "comic freak" thing. This novel really got me thinking about the kind of world we live in and what the outcome of our actions could be. It takes place in the 1980's when the world is on the break of nuclear war. After a mysterious death of an ex-superhero named Edward Blake, Rorschach (an ex-superhero himself) decides to investigate the case and believes a murderer is out to kill ex-superheroes and allow the nuclear to happen flawlessly. The majority of the book is about the mysterious death, but the end is when you really begin to start and wonder "What if?" Dr. Manhattan (the only superhero with real powers, a god like figure, defied death and resurrected himself) symbolizes earth's last chance of hope. He can predict the future, is invincible, and contemplates about saving the world, but knows the outcome anyways. So, was the earth saved? Answer was yes, but not by Dr. Manhattan. Multimillionaire and ex-superhero, Adrian Vedit, creates a monster and lets it loose in New York, millions died... but billions were saved. Instead of a nuclear holocaust, the conflicting countries decide to help the US in defeating the monster. At the end of the novel, Vedit asks Dr. Manhattan "Did I do the right thing? It all worked out in the end.", and Manhattan replies "Nothing ends, Adrian. Nothing ever ends." I feel Manhattan's closing quote caries a lot of meaning. Does everything end or is it really just the beginning? Were all those lives worth the ones saved? If you knew what was to come, would you let the future come or would you alter it? Those are some pretty powerful questions and there is no right answer. All we can hope is that we are never put into that position, save the world or let it crumble... What would you choose? ~NDW

"Nothing is hopeless, not while there's life." ~Rorschach

"Who makes the world? Perhaps the world is not made. Perhaps nothing is made. Perhaps it simply is, has been, will always be there... A clock without a craftsman." ~Dr. Manhattan

"The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking... The solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker." ~Albert Einstein

The Experiment

I once had a conversation with friend. That friend told me that they weren't blessed and had nothing to be thankful for. I thought they were joking until I saw the seriousness in their face. I thought to myself, "Thinking such a thing should be a crime!" Everyone is blessed and is thankful for something in their life, but not everyone admits to it. So, I told my friend to try an "experiment". Every night, before you fall asleep, think of one thing that you are thankful for and write it down. The only rule is that one thing your thankful for had to come from an life experience you had from that day and you can't start repeating things until it's been 3 months. Some people find it hard to think of one thing, let alone, one everyday! My advice to you is this, try the "experiment" for one week, just 7 days, just 7 things! It's really not that difficult after you get started, but you just need to give it a shot. I believe that most people see the world with their eyes closed and we all just need to help those in need and open their eyes. When you open your eyes and see the world for what it really is, you'd be surprised what you'd learn about yourself and life as well. You never know, sometimes the littlest things in life are the most you take for granted. ~NDW

My "Experiment" Week
1/27 A new start and a new beginning, because a new semester started today
1/28 Music, because it can relax and relieve the stresses of the day
1/29 Time, because time heals
1/30 Cow bell, because we need more of it ;D (inside joke)
1/31 My sister, because she has amazing talent and the ERDT is going to state
2/1 American Traditions, because the Super Bowl is enjoyable time to spend with your family
2/2 Hey Monday, because their song "Homecoming" is creating some good times
2/3 Filling in at work, because we all need some extra cash

To Lose Your Mind

"To lose your mind is a deadly curse, It feels as though your body and soul have dispersed, The soul of the man is gone as the body remains, Everything seems to be lost as he starts to lose it and go insane, It wasn't like this the other day, That day seems so far away, But what about those who love and care about him? They just stand and watch as his cup of troubled water fills to the brim, He begins to drown in his sorrows and remorse, Something is causing this but he can't find the source, Would you help this troubled man? Would you take him back to where it all began? I know for a fact to lose your mind is to lose anything and everything, It's like your last hope is hanging by a single string, And to have someone come along and cut that last thread, Just creates lost hopes and lost dreams instead" ~NDW

He Should Have Known

"He should have known that nothing is set in stone, People came in and out of his life so fast that he's now alone, Every time it's the same thing, a new start, a new friend, a new hope, That one person to help him up and get past that steep slope, But he just stumbles and falls to the bottom of that mountain ,He has no choice but to forget his beliefs and live a life of sin, He loses sight of what is important in life and pushes others away, As his heart fills with pain, it takes its toll and he begins to decay, Pretty soon he isn't the man he used to be, The pain and frustration blinds him and he can't see, If he only knew that his savior was right there waiting for him, He should have known that life wasn't intended to be full of grim" ~NDW

The Watering Hole

"Life is a journey we all must partake, But sometimes the going gets tough and you make a mistake, I decided to stop at a water hole and take a break, That was when I had fallen into that mysterious lake, As I fell in and I made a quiet splash, I felt the better half of me and a depression clash, The undertow was too strong and I struggled against its might, I didn’t panic, I just told myself everything will be alright, As I was laying in the wake of the dark abyss, I pondered and wondered if God and all his promises exist, How could he let this happen, doesn’t he see? Doesn’t anyone care what’s happened to me? The tide rises and it got harder to breathe, All I wanted was to escape this watery grave and be free, Out of the darkness shined brightly a new hope, It smiled at me and threw me a rope, The clouds broke and the sun shined through, As I reached the shore, I bid my old fears adieu, My savior put out a helping hand, He hung on until I was able to stand, When I turned to thank my friend, There were way too many friends comprehend! I was saved by my old friends, plus more! There were even people I had never seen before! I cracked a smile and looked towards the blue sky, The sun evaporated the trouble waters and I was dried, I was ready to continue along life’s rugged road, But this time I had some friends to help lighten the load" ~NDW

Daddy, Can You Read Me A Chirstmas Story?

"Daddy, Daddy can you read me a Christmas story?"
Sure, come sit on daddy's lap, Which one should we read tonight?, The Grinch, The Night Before Christmas, or The Polar Express?
"No, Daddy, tell me a new one, please!?"
Ok darling, just rest your head on daddy's chest, Ok, now which one should I tell you?, The one about Sarah, Max, or Little Joe?
"Tell them all Daddy please?"
Ok babe, I'll tell them all to you, Just know these are real people out there this Christmas, All asking Santa for more than toys
First, there's Sarah, who's just like you!, The only thing is she doesn't have a Mommy or Daddy, She lives with other boys and girls, who don't have parents as well, All she wants for Christmas is for Santa to bring her a Mommy and Daddy
"O Daddy, I hope Santa brings her a new Mommy and Daddy!"
I hope so too baby, I hope so too
"Now tell me about Max, please Daddy?"
Haha, sure darling Unlike Sarah, Max has a Mommy and a Daddy, but they fight a lot, His Mommy puts Max to bed every night and as Max goes to sleep, he hears them argue, You see, they have no money, Max's Daddy drinks, and the stress is too much, Underneath the yelling and screaming, Max cries himself to sleep All Max wants from Santa is peace and love between his Mommy and Daddy
"O Daddy, I hope Santa brings Max peace!"
I hope so too baby, I hope so too
"Can you tell me one more story, please?!"
Sure this ones about a boy names Little Joe, Joe isn't so little, but his heart is, You see, babe, Joe's heart is sick, All the doctors say this may be his last Christmas unless a miracle happens All Little Joe wants from Santa is to see another Christmas
"O Daddy, I hope Santa brings him a miracle and new heart…"
Shhhh, go to sleep little one…
I hope so too babe, I hope so too" ~NDW

My Dream

"People seem to always ask and ponder what is their dream? I know mine lives within me like that of a raging stream, To reach that dream I must fight the roaring rapids of negativity, As I struggle in the whitecaps of the stream the world shows me its insensitivity, Then there is a helping hand that lifts me onto the rock of truth, I thank my friend and I take a minute to look around and sleuth, As I stand and watch the rapid moving water of this deadly stream rush by, I gaze up at the shinning sun in the gorgeous blue sky, Why can't people see that you can't judge a person by sex, race, height, weight, Christian, or Jew? We're all created equal, I have a dream and I'm sure they do too, If we all can be that friend and help our brothers and sisters out of the river of torment, I'm sure we'd all pass the test on that Day of Judgment, I live my dream everyday in my actions and the way I treat every person I see, The door of unity is locked and every single one of us holds a piece of the master key" ~NDW