cmriverside

54 years old : Female : Seattle Area, WA

"Hello friends."

About Me

October 28, 2008
SCUBA Open Water Certified! Which means, now I can keep myself from drowning, barely. So now I am going to take the "Advanced Open Water" training. It's amazing. Highly recommend, even in the 50 degree Northwest water. So much wildlife I didn't even know existed!
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October 21, 2008
Two more dives left in the frigid cold waters of Puget Sound. I had to cancel the trip to Honduras since we managed to blow up the world economy. And SCUBA gear is spendy!!
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September 26, 2008
I start scuba open water training classes on Oct 6! Roatan has the second largest barrier reef in the world. There is that other one in Australia.....
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September 13, 2008
I just signed up to go to Roatan, Honduras in May for an Ecotour. Check it out at www.dolphincommunicationproject.org

More dolphins. This year I'm getting scuba certified AND learning Spanish before I go! It's the place to dive.
I don't have enough weight to lose, so I need a different challenge. (I know, poor me.)

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August 19, 2008
It's been three months since the BIMINI swim with the wild dolphins trip. I can't stop thinking about them. I'm going again next year. I've gained 4 pounds, so I started today with the "routine". I've gotten a bit lazy and hap-hazard with my exercise and eating. Back at it!

I'm not working again. So I will be looking for work...something that will let me take two weeks off in the summer of '09!
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June 18, 2008
Hellllloooo mfp-ers.

The trip to the Bahamas to swim with the wild and free Atlantic Spotted Dolphins of Bimini was awesome.

In Bimini, I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with the beeeee-yuuu-tee-full Spotted Dolphins as I would have liked - (like that is even possible) - but I had an unbelievable encounter with dolphin #84 who dove down with me and performed a couple "barrel-rolls" with me about a foot away - belly to belly with me (!) - and then swam along slowly with me for a while. I'll never never never forget him and his playful gentle wild spirit. He chose that moment. There is no incentive for a wild animal to interact with humans other than out of curiosity, or friendship. That is all we offered in return. It just now brought tears to my eyes remembering it. **(see update on dolphin #84 / FOOTNOTE #1 at bottom! -June 22)

Wind is not only a fact of life and nature, but the people of the Bahamas tie their lives and fortunes to nature. It is not possible to swim with wild dolphins in the open ocean while snorkeling in three-foot-waves, unless you want to swallow a lot of salt water. So you do other stuff. It's ok. Geez, we're still in paradise, people. For those who did nothing but complain, here is my two cents. If one wants to be assured of a "Dolphin Experience," my advice is go to a 3 foot deep pool with 150 other folks in Orlando, spend $50 and get 10 minutes with captive, trained, (trapped) animals. If you want an authentic life experience in nature with five other people for 25 hours, you relax and enjoy whatever comes.

Um. The Tiger Shark may have put a *bit* of unwelcome drama in the dolphin adventure. "Bring it !" Mister 15-foot-dolphin-bully.

I refuse to give in to the complainers. Nothing can ruin my day. No wind or shark, no "Island Time" delays / missed-flight-connections, no lack of phone service, no huge credit card statements, no $100 fee for WAY too much baggage on American Airlines. ( One bathing suit and a cover-up for girls, two pair of shorts, three tank tops, one pair of flip-flops, and some #30 sunblock. That's all you need in case you go!! I'm just sayin'.)

LOL. See below in the section titled "Why I Want To Get In Shape"
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This is my point. I planned a trip, and I lost a total of 44 pounds with the goal always in sight. I spent more money than I wanted to - and it was SO worth it. I had a few brief disappointments, and I had a magical trip that I will never forget. I loved the process. I learned that I can do anything, I enjoyed every minute, and I remembered to live in the moment.

I went alone, I didn't wait for a man (or anyone) to go with me. I probably would have never gone if I waited for a travelling partner. It was a liberating, relaxing trip with nobody to answer to. I made a lot of friends in Bimini and along the way, (including here on MFP.) Amazing, smart, fascinating people. Also - even though I was older than the others on my dive boat, I was the one who was first in the water, and last out - under "threat" of being "whistled back" to the boat by the captain when everyone else had gone back.
I even out lasted the ten-year-old-part-fish-daughter of the dive boat owner, thank you very much! The water was delicious.

I saw some old friends in Vegas, & came home to my pals at the gym with great stories.

Be at peace with your life. If you are not - change it.

It's just that simple. And YOU can do it. And ONLY you can do it.

(((heart-hugs))) to all my pals.

Cheryl
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p.s.
The dolphins kept me motivated and inspired me to be strong and graceful for the last ten months of this journey. To them I will be forever grateful.

To my mfp pals....I ((( heart )))) you. I will be forever grateful to you, as well: for sharing and teaching, for laughing and learning. For being inspirations and friends.

You ROCK. And you are my rock. I'll be around, keep in touch.
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Strictly educational:

Visit the Dolphin Communication Project online. It is a research project with several research sites including Bimini, Japan, and Mystic (Connecticut, I think)- NOT a business, I'm not soliciting. If you are interested in some really cool dolphin facts and videos with dolphin sounds in stereo - check it out. Kelly, who writes the blog in Bimini was on my dive boat with her nifty underwater video / sound recorder camera-gadget-thingy that they invented. She is a young Environmental Scientist with a Masters Degree who made a REALLY good career choice. (-;

She is an awesome woman with a lot of knowledge.

**FOOTNOTES**:
~~June 22, 2008 **I just found out from Kelly at Dolphin Communication Project that #84 is a girl!! - and there is a new blog entry at
dolphincommunicationproject.org talking about her!
~~August 26,2008
Now I'm thinking of moving to Florida. I'll keep you posted.
Dolphin #84 has been seen away from his/her mom now for a couple months, so she appears to be turning into an adult. Ah, youth: and moving away from mom. lol. #84 has been spotted many times by Kelly, the researcher, and she has been graciously keeping me updated and involved.

Why I Want To Get In Shape

Life.

Travel light in life, take only what you need.
A good friend.
Someone to love, and someone to love you.

Enough to wear, enough to eat, and a little more than enough to drink : for thirst is a dangerous thing.

My Inspirations