When I think about the suffering in the world, it makes me feel so selfish when I complain about the small things in my life. Complain that I have to get up early and go to a well paying job that I might not always enjoy, only to come home and be irritated that I have a headache, or that my day didn't go well. I feel sorry for those in Haiti who have lost everything, and even those who have lost their own lives. Do everything you can to help, regardless if where or how people are suffering, we have to remember that we are all connected, and breathe the same air, and hearts that beat the same. It is sad that it took a tragedy like Haiti, to remember to help our fellow man. 

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"
Martin Luther King, Jr.

We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.
Ronald Reagan  

 

http://www.redcross.org/

This is why NBC will miss Conan... and why I love him... <3

I am blogging from the historic streets of downtown Charleston, SC. This city is just flooded with history, it is surreal to walk up and down the streets, and with so much to do! It is so beautiful here and everything I want in a city, even despite the rainy and cold forecast for this weekend. I am still enjoying every minute of it. It has the hussle and bussle of a big city, but with southern charm and hospitality. I love just being able to park at the battery and walk and explore the city streets for miles with no real destination to go to.

There are a few things I have taken on lately that I would like to mention that make exploring this city that much better:
      * Gowalla-http://gowalla.com/ (A virtual passport, which allows you to check in and create places using your mobile device, it is extremely addicting and interesting to see where other people are!)

     * Geocaching-http://www.geocaching.com/ ( A world-wide GPS driven scavenger hunt providing clues to find "geocaches" small capsules left by others, and leaving marks of your own)

I love this city. <3
 

Couple random bits:

I saw Avatar on Saturday night in 3D, absolutely amazing. I still think it is mind blowing to be sitting in a digital projection theater watching a movie in 3D that took millions of dollars to make. How much CG has changed is remarkable, soon we won't even need actors, we can just make CG actors ... How crazy would that be?

I have only been back at school for a week, and guess who's sick? Isn't that funny how you always get sick right before something you've looked forward to? Yep, guess who has a trip planned to Charleston this weekend... I thought it was funny when I used some giftcards for Wal-Mart that my students gave me for Christmas on cold medicine. How ironic.

I enjoy listening to and watching the "news" bicker back and forth about Kate Gosselin's new $7,000 hair, Jay Leno vs. Conan O'Brien  being a huge debate, and the breaking news that Simon Cowell is leaving American Idol... our society has changed so much since the 25 years I have been alive, and to me it is just amazing to think of what we have been exposed to and then I think of why we are the way we are...

 On that note, TBS has now changed the times when they show Seinfeld, so I am off to enjoy! :)

Hi to all!

 My name is Amber Duran. I am 25 years old and have been living in the Myrtle Beach area for about 12 years. I am originally from El Paso, Texas where most of my family still currently resides. I am employed with Horry County Schools as a 6th grade English & Social Studies teacher at St. James Middle School. 

My two main passions are writing and technology. I love to play video games, watch movies, listen to music, travel, go to amusement parks, read, surf the web, follow podcasts, blogs, and most importantly enjoy life. I am often traveling back and forth between the beach and Charleston, SC to visit my boyfriend, Thomas, of  6 years who is currently a computer engineer at an insurance company. You can mostly find me spending time with family and friends, or enjoying my favorite TV shows curled on my couch under my Slanket. My aspiration would be to become a writer professionally and to travel to Egypt and Japan.