How to make a comment and show your support to help send me to BALI!

There are three main ways to show your support and to help me win the WORLDS BEST DIVE JOB. If I make the top-10, I will need as MUCH additional support as I can get to help put me above the rest. Again, they will be posting ONE finalist a day from March 1 - 10 and the winner will be announced on March 15. Hopefully that is ME! :) 

1) Make a comment on my contest application (step by step directions on how to are below) http://www.bestdivejob.com/blog/category_name=samperry

2) Make a comment on the YOUTUBE video application:

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=28DFCuvXZXk&feature=player_embedded

3) OR if you are friends with Blue Season Bali or Best Dive Job on Facebook, you can write on their wall in support of me. 

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE BEST DIVE JOB APPLICATION:

Keep in mind, that they will not spam you - they just need your email address so the applicants don't make a thrillion comments on themselves. If you have any questions just let me know and I woudl be happy to walk you through it! :)

Once again, THANK YOU for all your support. It means the world to me.

1. Visit: http://www.bestdivejob.com/blog/wp-login.php?action=register
2. This is the registration page for the best dive job site - They will NOT SPAM YOU. Enter a username and your email and press register
3. Check your email - inside you will get a password. Copy the password and click through to the link
4. Enter your username and cut and paste the password and press log in.
5. This will take you to a WordPress registration page. Don't enter anything there - just go to the upper left and you will see in italics "Return to Best Dive Job Blog" -- click through and it will take you back to the BDJ home page
6. Scroll down on the right and find my name (Sam Perry). Click through and you will find yourself on my profile.
7. Click the comments, scroll ALL the way down to the bottom and you will see a box that you can leave a comment.
8. Once you have left your comment, give yourself a pat on the back becuase you just helped me get one step closer to making my dream come true!

Once again, THANK YOU for taking the time to do this. It means so much to me and I really apprecaite all the love and support.

Much Love,

Sam

855 minutes left!

This morning I woke up and there was a message from The Best Dive Job in my inbox. 


Tomorrow/today is the official closing of the contest. Here is what is going to happen next:

• Beginning on March 1 until March 10, they will post ONE finalist a day on the website. They are posted in no particular order. 
• During these 10 days, it is VERY important to continue to gain support by making comments on facebook, youtube and on the application on the webiste. 
• On March 15, Blue Season Bali will announce the winner. 

Now there is no telling if I will be one of the top 10, but I am hopeful that I will wake up and see my entry up there as a finalist and if I am, I hope that I can count on everyone who has already commented to continue to support me. I want to win this trip SO badly so if I make the top 10 I hope I can continue to count on all of you! 

I am going to post this in a different post but here are the best ways to support:

1) Through my application here (step by step directions on how to are at the end of this blog and I am going to post it on a different post): http://www.bestdivejob.com/blog/?category_name=samperry

2) Through YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28DFCuvXZXk&feature=player_embedded

3) OR if you are friends with Blue Season Bali or Best Dive Job on Facebook, you can write on their wall in support of me. 

How to make a comment on the blog application:

Here  is a step by step guide on how to comment on the Best Dive Job Application.

It is very easy - even though it seems like it isn't.

Keep in mind, that they will not spam you - they just need your email address so the applicants don't make a thrillion comments on themselves. If you have any questions just let me know and I woudl be happy to walk you through it! :)

Once again, THANK YOU for all your support. It means the world to me.

1. Visit: http://www.bestdivejob.com/blog/wp-login.php?action=register
2. This is the registration page for the best dive job site - They will NOT SPAM YOU. Enter a username and your email and press register
3. Check your email - inside you will get a password. Copy the password and click through to the link
4. Enter your username and cut and paste the password and press log in.
5. This will take you to a WordPress registration page. Don't enter anything there - just go to the upper left and you will see in italics "Return to Best Dive Job Blog" -- click through and it will take you back to the BDJ home page
6. Scroll down on the right and find my name (Sam Perry). Click through and you will find yourself on my profile.
7. Click the comments, scroll ALL the way down to the bottom and you will see a box that you can leave a comment.
8. Once you have left your comment, give yourself a pat on the back becuase you just helped me get one step closer to making my dream come true!

Once again, THANK YOU for taking the time to do this. It means so much to me and I really apprecaite all the love and support.

Much Love,

Can't Scuba? Eat cake instead.

It's been such a CRAZY busy week that I almost don't know what to do with myself. I was so busy at work all week - I feel like Monday was months ago. I haven't had any down time at all and I feel like I am two steps further behind each day.

I haven't been able to sleep either - I wake up in the middle of the night and I just can't stop thinking. So after laying around and tossing and turning, I end up giving in and heading to the gym in an attempt to clear my mind.

Physically my body is tired, my brain hurts from work and emotionally I am just exhausted. The last month and a half have been really difficult for me personally and my heart and mind are exhausted from it and the one thing that I know would magically make it all better would be just a few hours underwater. Shit, I would take a crappy 15 minute dive in 0 viz and 45 degree water right now... I just want that peace. That calmness. The ability to just be comfortable in an environment that is where I belong. I swear I must have been a freaking fish in my past life. I probably could just go and swim a few laps but as pathetic and ridiculous as it may sound I don't really want to go through all the preparation to swim laps (and yes, I know that sounds silly because there is a lot more that goes into doing a dive then jumping in and swimming back and forth but swimming is boring).

But alas, there will be no diving for a while as the quarry is not open and I don't live in a world in which I can walk outside and magically have a private jet awaiting to wisk me down to the tropics for the weekend, so I am going to have to settle for something else... and it is either going to be the six Georgetown Cupcakes sitting in my kitchen right now or a really painful workout.

Hummm.. tough choice on that one...



Really?! do you think I would pick working out over cake/cupcakes based on this?







8 days left...

So as the time winds down with the Best Dive Job, my mind continues to race and I get nervous thinking that in just 8 days they are going to make this decision. It has been such a part of my life for the last couple of months and knowing that the decision is about to be made makes my mind race.


I got the email about the contest in late October - I am not sure how I got it or how I got on the Blue Season Bali email list - and I just knew I had to apply - I don't know what it was. I talked with my friend who is an instructor who has been in the industry for almost 10 years and he told me that it was just a ridiculous dream and that I would have no chance of winning. I trust his opinion- and I adore him, but I didn't listen to him (sorry), followed my instincts and did the application anyway regardless of the "slim to none" chances.


Now, 108 days later (or something close to that), I have 8 days until they make the decision and this contest has taken on its own being in my life. 

Through the whole process, I have been surprised in how many people have showed their support and love toward me. Its been amazing to see how kind people are and it makes me step back and gives me faith in people and their kindness.


I want this. I have lived my entire life by the book. I have gone to school, gone to practice, given as much as I can the entire time, overcome the clot, swam again, run marathons, gone to work, been passionate about what I love. I want this because this would be an opportunity of a lifetime to really follow my heart and dreams... 


I never really realized how much I really DID want it until I was out at happy hour on Friday and I was talking about it to someone I had just met. I realized that it would be the most AMAZING opportunity of my life and that it would be so unreal to be able to have a chance to go across the world to follow my heart to do something I love so much everyday - and to be able to train to share it with everyone else. 


I also know that there are a TON of amazing people that have applied for this contest. I know how difficult it can be to select winners. For the Get Fit Challenges, it was my job to select the contestants and I read through each and everyone of the applications. I think about what made those contestants stand out - I think about how difficult it was for me to pick them - and I know that the contest for them was a chance of a lifetime - and for them it was a a chance to change their lives - just like this is to me. I know that they want this also - it just depends on who stands out and who has what they are looking for. If it is enthusiasm and passion, and a desire to succeed, then they should pick me... 


I'm am proud to say I have NEVER once worked for money. I work for passion. I've always had jobs because of passion, not money. I've been able to find something that combines the passion of my work (teaching and marketing) with the passion of my peace (scuba) -- and I dream of being able to have this opportunity because it combines those two things and puts it into an environment that is beautiful and different. I have much more experience in teaching and marketing than I do in scuba so it would be taking a huge risk, but I know that myself. I know the way I am. If I love it, I will make you love it because of who I am.


Regardless of what happens with the Best Dive Job and Blue Season Bali, I know that I will continue to dive and I will eventually be an instructor - it will just take a little bit longer. And, If I don't go to Bali, I have no doubt that I will be with Gold's for a long time to come (as long as they will have me at least :) ) --- BUT sending me to Bali is not a decision I have to make - it is one of Jonathan and Tom and the rest of the crew across the world at Blue Season Bali. I know how difficult it will be, and if they do pick me they should know I will give it everything I have and it will be fun for everyone! :) 

PHEW!

I went to see Dr. Kessler for my follow up appointment today. I wrote a post this morning but didn't put it up because I just wasn't sure about it... I was nervous, scared and really didn't want to admit to the world that I was afraid something else could actually be wrong...

BUTTTTTT... the good news is that there is NO residual damage in my heart and lungs (once again a HUGE set of props goes to the AMAZING company known as Gold's Gym! Thank you for keeping me healthy!) ALSSSSOOO- I asked about traveling and I am CLEARED!

I even told Dr. K about my dream of the Best Dive Job and he thought it was amazing (the whole concept and opportunity) and he was excited for me. When I asked about diving, he said that there is nothing keeping me from diving -  I just need to be careful not to cut myself.

One of the ways that he suggested we take precaution was to stay on the Lovonox shot, rather than switch to Coumadin and to take the shot POST-diving, rather than before (so then if something DOES happen like I me being a klutz and dropping a knife on my toe, I can take the blood thinners AFTER I stop bleeding... side thought... I miss my pink knife :(  ).

Anyway, the long story short is that I am allowed to go back to my life and live it to the fullest. I will always have pain and swelling but having another clot is not going to stop me. It didn't before and it sure as hell won't again. (insert Rocky music here...)

SOOOO with only 10 days left until the competition for the Best Dive Job  ends and the nerves are here. My cycle classes are asking about it and they are all so supportive. I am so lucky to have so many people that care. I'm scared and don't want to dream of winning it because I know its a long shot and there are so many amazing people out there -- but I REALLY REALLY want it. I guess at this point it is just whether or not I stand out above the rest... and we will see.

Ok it is time to celebrate - It's been a stressful and painful couple of weeks and knowing that I am going to be okay means more to me than most understand.

Thank you for all of you that have said prayers for me and wished me well - You are the best and please know that I appreciate it more than you know. :)

I MADE THE SHORTLIST... and other VDay related things.

Well -- I guess the GREAT news of the day is that I MADE THE SHORT LIST for the Best Dive Job in the World!!! That doesn't mean too much except that the decision makers at Blue Season Bali like me enough to have me answer a few questions about myself and technicalities about the contest.

My favorite question was What has been your favorite experience diving - and for me I don't have a TON of travel experience when it comes to diving. I've been VERY lucky since I started - I've been to Califorina, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico and North Carolina... but it's not been about WHERE as much as it is about how I've felt when I dive.

There is a perfect feeling of serenity and peace that I get when I am diving (no it isn't nitrogen narcosis for you diving dorks out there) -- it is just the calmness, the peace of looking up and seeing your bubbles, the light coming in and maybe a fish above you and the peace that you can only find underwater. THAT is what it is about for me. I answered the question talking about the feeling that I get when I dive but another "best moment" for me was when I was tagging along with Mark on one of his OW classes and it was the divers first time in open water - and I got to see their faces as they first went down... it was awesome to see their expressions and watching them find bouyancy for the first time. Just being able to see them experience that feeling, that is so hard to explain in words, for the first time was so awesome.

BUT I can't get over the moon excited yet - this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and there are over 300 amazing applicants out there -- and only ONE person will win it. Like I've said before, it would be unreal if I were to win... but there are still 2 weeks left until they narrow it down even more and pick the winner so all I can do is keep plugging along, getting people to make comments on FACEBOOK and to check out the youtube video.  If you are friends with Best Dive Job on facebook, please write on their wall in support of me. :)

On another note, it is Valentine's Day. Ugh. I've never really been a fan of this holiday and my personal circumstances right now don't exactly lend itself to loving everything about love right now.  Plus, I don't need a day to tell those in my life that they are important to me - I know I don't do it enough, but I should tell those that are important in my life that they are special everyday. Looks like I am going to end up at Hallmark tonight regardless... ugh I am such a sucker for a good card.

I am excited for one thing tonight though - I am teaching my cycle class at South Arlington tonight and in honor of all those out  there that are single, have ever had their heart broken or just plain don't like this Hallmark Holiday, I am playing an awesome mix of Anti-Valentine music... here is the playlist (in no particular order)...

 

• Love is a Battlefield (Pat Benetar)
• So What (Pink)
• Love Stinks (J. Geils Band) 
• You Oughta Know (Alanis Morisette)
• You Give Love a Bad Name (Bon Jovi)
• Forget You (Glee Version) 
• Fighter (Christina Aguilera)
• Bust Your Windows (Glee Cast)
• Stronger (Britney Spears) 
• Everything About You (Ugly Kid Joe) 
• Never Gonna Get It (En Vogue) 
• 7 Things (Miley Cyrus) 
• I Hate Everything About You (Three Days Grace) - This is one of my personal favs
• November Rain (GNR)
• Love Bites (Def Leopard) 
• I will Survive - This is the closer... I figured it was appropriate :)

 

I am pretty excited because I don't often do theme classes and this one should be fun. Plus having the holiday fall on the actual DAY of my class is fun and I don't think that ever happens :) I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Monday night class and Tuesday morning class so I know that they will enjoy it. I have some great regulars that have been SO supportive of the Best Dive Job - I can't believe the support they've shown.  

Anyway, I am also going to play it (or something similar) at tomorrow morning's class in Ballston, so if you are local and feel like a good workout instead of sitting at home eating chocolate come on by! If you like the mix, let me know and I would be happy to make and send you a copy of the playlist.

Happy Valentine's Day!

AND PS:

A special Birthday Shoutout to Allison Luckadoo and Andi Weatherford - two of the nicest, kindsest most supportive people I have ever met. Andi just had her first baby - after spending 2 months (!!!) on Bedrest. She is a TRUE champ because she kept a smile on her face and a positive attitud the ENTIRE time, which I know I would never have been able to do. They are the two most positive people I have ever met and I am SO honored to be able to call them my friends. :)

The Short List is coming...

So first of all, the folks at Blue Season Bali and the Best Dive Job sent an email out saying that they are selecting the "short list" for the trip to Bali and they are sending it out on Monday... so if you haven't already, please check out my youtube video that is linked on their channel. Also, if you haven't made a comment, that would be greatly appreciated also. And of course, THANK YOU to everyone who has made comments... this week I got some great ones and everything is SO appreciated. I have some amazing people in my life and I am VERY lucky for that!

Beyond all the self-promoting there, I am really nervous. I hope to make the short list -- screw that, I want to win this thing. If I don't, I will keep moving on, but this is something that I really really want. I know that the chances of actually winning this contest are really slim, but it is truly something that would change my life.

I never got the chance to study abroad, or travel as an adult - I've always been working and working and working. And having the chance to truly follow my dreams and heart with an opportunity like this would be absolutely amazing. I have never felt the way I do when I dive and being able to do it everyday, and to learn to teach others and to share it with them would be amazing. BUT, I know that the chances are slim and if I don't get the chance to go to Bali, I am still going to continue with my diving, and divemaster and eventually I will be teaching...

It must be stressful for the folks at BSB -- I know how difficult it is to pick the right people. I read each and every contestant application for all the Get Fit Challengers and with each one I picked I found something special. It was such hard work to pick each of them, but it was so worth it and each of them are such special people in my life. I dunno - I hope that this is my GFC and that they see in me what I saw in all of my challengers...

On a health note, I got to see my heart and lungs yesterday when I got the echocardiogram. Although I don't know the results, the tech said that it looked good. Plus, they would have kept me if there was something wrong. Although I am technically nursing a broken heart, I am pretty sure that it not actually physically broken, just emotionally. I also got to see my liver, whom I apologized to for all the abuse that I have put it through. I was joking with the tech that he probably will find more damage in my liver than in my heart and/or lungs... I think I definitely entertained him yesterday (then again, I tend to entertain people everywhere I go).

I go back to Dr. Kessler next week - I am 99.999% sure he is going to say - ok fool, keep taking your blood thinners, don't get bit by a shark and go live your life just as you have before. And that is exactly what I plan to do. :)

Ok so thanks for reading and for all your support.

Scuba Sam and other Fun Things...

So... This weekend I had something VERY fun arrive at my door... I have to say, it's pretty awesome and reminds me of myself...

Not only does she have the same love for pink scuba gear (although I prefer light pink over hot pink, it's okay) to enjoying the same things...

I guess when OBX diving named me Scuba Barbie, it fit...

SCUBA BARBIE SAM!
She is just like me - pink mask, fins, "wetsuit"

She loves to workout at GOLDS GYM!
Gotta stay in shape to be a good diver!

She is VERY studious about her diving studies!
She know that to be a good instructor and diver you have to know how to be a safe diver!

And best of all, she knows how to have fun!

I think these are ALL ingredients that should help send me to Bali...

The latest and greatest

Well I figure it is only fair that I share the results of my appointment with Dr. Kessler from Friday. I didn't write this weekend about it because I needed to absorb the information and to think about it. I met with Dr K and his "mini me" for about 4 hours... it was a LONG appointment, but I have to say, I don't mind because they spent a lot of time with me.

To keep it simple, the short end of it was that I do have another blood clot. It is on top of my old one, so that is good news because it would SUCK to be in a different place AND it explains the pain I've been having.

The best news of all is that none of this will get in the way of diving. Well, the only thing that I need to be careful of is making sure I don't get eaten by a shark or bit by a fish because my blood is so thin I will definitely bleed to death. Other than that, there are no issues with scuba! So this should NOT effect the decision of my FAVORITE folks at Blue Season Bali and the Best Dive Job!

In all honestly, the doctors were like, we really aren't worried about your clot - it is manageable and it's not really like you haven't done this before (which is true). They are more concerned with my lungs and heart and if there was any damage... again, they were more upset that I was able to talk my way out of a chest CT in the ER than anything. They are going to do a cardio echogram this week to just make sure all is well... they both agreed that because I am in such good shape my heart and lungs are very strong but all possibilities need to be ruled out.

In the end, all that is changing is that I am back on blood thinners and I have to go back to monitoring my body and manage pain. I am looking at it this way - yes it sucks that I got another clot, but it probably was going to happen anyway. This shouldn't interrupt my life - let me rephrase that - I will NOT let it interrupt my life. I am NOT going to let it define me. I am really lucky that it wasn't bad, that the PE didn't kill me (yipee for being alive). This probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't flown back and forth to California so much and that does add a little bit of insult to injury since now I am nursing a blood clot and a broken heart, but I will get through them both. At least I have answers and understanding with the blood clot...

On another note. TIME IS RUNNING OUT! If you read the blog and you haven't already made a comment or looked at my YOUTUBE video, please do so. They are making the short list and I really want to win this trip to bali. It would be a dream come true and would change my life so amazingly. Any support that you can show would be appreaciated! :)

D-Day

Today is D-Day. No, fools, not date day... DOCTOR DAY.

I am going to be seeing Dr. Kessler today for the first time in 12 years... I am nervous. The last time I saw him, I kind of yelled at him and made a total fit in the office. He told me that I wouldn't swim again and that my marathon dreams (ha - trust me there weren't any of those at that time) were through. AND that I couldn't drink on Coumidin.

Telling me that I couldn't swim was one thing but NOT drinking? I think I might have actually said to him "You are telling me that I can't swim... and now that I can't drink? Don't you know I am a college sophomore for goodness sake... at ECU... I need to drink. You can't take that too" I know that it sounds like I was/am an alocholic (which I wasn't/am not) but I was a young fool and didn't know any better (and for the record, you can drink on Coumadin, which I learned a little later). Long story short, I made a HUGE fool of myself. He sees people dying every day and I was worried about drinking.

So today I am seeing him for the first time - I am definitely going to be apologizing for my immature foolish outburst. I hope he doesn't remember me...

Anyway - keep an eye on the blog and facebook this weekend -- I am working on a video for the Best Dive Job and personally, I think it is going to be pretty legendary (simply because I am AWESOME and should win and be sent to Bali... well that is my personal opinion anyway)

Please keep the comments coming -- there are only 23 days left so HOOK IT UP PLEASE -- here is the link if you made a comment already. :)