Juventud

Went diving for the first time in three months yesterday! The deepest I have ever gone, 130 feet!! Saw tons of blue angel fish, a sea turtle, lion fish (boo!! Peter and Chris are going to kill it), sting ray, grouper, parrot fish, my favorite squirrel fish, and more. Felt a bit goofy being that deep without diving in so long, but really enjoyed it and was safe.



















Saturday, I was taken back to Juventud. The Isle of Youth where my life began, six times in a row!!! Yes, it is true, I did the Polar Plunge here in Cayman. Brr... it was FREEZING!!! It was a really inspiring day when it came to charity events. In the morning I went to the library, got some good informative books on Kenya and Tanzania. Also picked up another personal read as well, The Zahir, by Paulo Coelho a new author I have eyes for lately.


By the time I finished at the library it was the afternoon, I stopped to get my jump rope from the Winner's Circle, then made my way to Rackem's for the infamous Polar Plunge! Pictures soon to be posted on http://www.z99.ky/ . There were a handful of people who had already jumped in braving the, larger than human size, ice bucket filled with prize tokens. It took me about eighteen minutes to warm up to the idea of jumping in. After the first jump it was all easy, I knew it was for a good cause and heck I was having fun diving to the bottom for tokens. I was told that doing it that many times was part of my conditioning for the temperatures of the climb, being hot-cold-hot-cold! At the end I made away with five prizes, one being a liter bottle of Bacardi Rum, also managed to swim to the raft a few times and practice some back flips... definitely need more practice!

Later on that evening, I attended the Cayman Heart Association event at Camana Bay that hosted a very realistic Elvis impersonator! He was super real, although he had blue eyes, his voice was mesmerizing just the same. I was very inspired to create my own events. A few ideas will come to light this week after I get an email off to Emma tomorrow.





I have realized that taking a break from the blog is necessary. Merely writing on it every day will only lead to a burnt out end. Some good things are in the works. I have officially as of today completed my list from Saturday, all accept the kayaking. There will be plenty come Easter weekend!

Day off

Important enough it is to not get burnt out on this whole writing in my blog thing, so for today... No news, good news, taking a day to focus on tomorrow:

* Library

* Pineapple

* Eggs

* Bread

* Milk

* Jump rope

* Shampoo & Conditioner

* Kayak

* Read

* Camana Bay event

Challenger

Daily challenges enter one's life, it's how to deal with those challenges that makes us who we are. The next informational bits I choose to enter into this blog are the facts on the big challenge I will be facing. This mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro has words sounding in it's name, "KILLAMAN" saying it has and will happen to you if you attempt to climb it!! RIGHT! AHH... Gosh, I mean think it's HUGE!!! The picture is from Iraq taken by a friend that was there and back over a few years, challenging it was. Desert, fence and all still beautiful. Astonishing facts go as follows:

#1
the tallest freestanding mountain rise in the world, 15,000 Feet!!

#2
has almost every ecosystem known to mankind including glacier, snowfields, deserts, alpine moorland, savannah, and tropical jungle.

#3
only between 10,000-25,000 people have attempted to climb Mt. Kil per year! Noted as a personal challenge or spiritual journey. (check)

#4
geology consists three volcanos, not sure which one we will be ascending yet.

#5
37th highest mountain in the world... according to internet explorer right now. All of these facts will be reevaluated at the library this weekend.

Got some more information today about the prospective organizations I am looking up. Also, was reminded this evening that I need to remain dedicated to my deadline for my book. A new list will be in order by tomorrow for the weekend. Yawn... more updates to follow.

^Birch Tree at my farm^

Stretching

Stretch the sky to stretch time! The sky being the limit, fitting in as your imagination. Woah, how lack of sleep and excitability can throw your mind around like j-e-l-l-o. Today has been decided already, even though it's still AM, that I will not be making any contacts from my list. However, here is an updated version of it! Even more simple, followed with a conclusion of my stretching endeavours...

* Go to Cancer Society, and Women's Resource Center (attempted- got lost)

* Contact via-email the American Cancer Society

* Find out more about how National Cancer Societies work, and how I can contribute to people.

* Reconnect with Christina Griffin from the World WildLife Fund (202)293-4800

* Contact someone here in Cayman from the Blue Iguana Foundation http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/

* Link them up with WWF

* Rethink www.justgiving.com/BrittanyGolightly, still possibly delete.

* Research Panda Pages upon Christina's recommendation, make a "restricted funds" page

* Make an entry on this blog tomorrow!

* Sigh...

^Kaitlyn, now 6 1/2^

Everything in yellow is what I have completed. Going into further detail, I did contact the American Cancer society via-phone. They were helpful. I was unable to reach the cancer society here in Cayman so, I did send them off an email with a link to my blog. I have not heard anything from them, but do plan on trying to locate them this weekend if not early next week. I plan on doing some further research online about the iguanas today, but not to cross it off the list as I have not contacted them. I must admit that blogging every day so far has been a chore. Nevertheless, it is keeping me on track and focused with much determination.

^Natalie, now 3 1/2*

Sigh... also staying physically in shape for this adventure is important. So far my routine is as follows:

• Monday: Walk, bike & horseback riding
  


• Tuesday: Walk, horseback ride & run



• Wednesday: Walk, with Frisbee or run
  


• Thursday: Walk, salsa dancing, bike, run, or all three



• Friday: Swim, Frisbee, football, and dancing :)



• Saturday: Kayak, horseback riding, run, dancing, swimming, or all five! (fewf)



• Sunday: Kayak, football, swimming, running, or sleep.

^Declan, now 18 months^

Concluding that now you can see where the stretching is necessary, with a full time job having three extremely active children on my hands! Sleep must make the list as it is a crucial ingredient to physical shape, an entire day of sleep sometimes in necessary at least once a month. Of course this entire routine schedule is subject to change, things always do. Still this is how I have been getting along so far, and continue to make every effort to do so in this process!

Blast from the past, blast towards the future, eyes open space CAPTURE!

Transport

Rode the horse, Charm, today sky was gray the whole time. All day in fact, nothing but clouds with drizzle.

In the car people have many conversations. However, on a motorcycle your thoughts remain to yourself. Today has turned out to be not so successful in changing my late blogging habit thus far, I apologize for any typos now...

Just finished watching "Hurt Locker." Wow, what an earthmoving film. Today was an epic day, I purchase my first motorcycle. It is a green, Kawasaki Ninja. Only a 250cc, but eh... it's big enough for my first bike, I will work my way up to something faster.

Now having a motor way of transportation again, I vision life being easier. It was funny today in the car the six year old mentioned, "aren't you forgetting the cancer?"

I reply, "umm.. We'll save that for tomorrow."

For some reason I see it very important for the people I spend majority of my time with (that happen to be children) to know and be involved actively in my life and what I am doing. I explained to them that I will be climbing a mountain, although I am not very clear on the why and they ask. This is a positive thing all of this questioning from such a wonder some direction as it is proved to be inspiring.

Yesterday when the kids and I got lost looking for the cancer society, there was a moment where I found something. In one particular question, "what is cancer?" The answer I gave to them... Mostly, about family and keeping loved ones here on earth. If it's not about family it's something like family I suppose, and well just trying to keep them here to spend more time with us.

In lame term that sounds terrible, in my sleepy eye terms right now that will do.

Yawn, Rub the eyes, Shut them, Snore...

The Title

It occurs to me that not everyone understands why I have changed my last name. Think of it as a pen name. A sensible alter ego for my "work." Solo being used for a habitual writing purpose only, and with the very high potential in being my future published/social name. There is one other option which will remain undisclosed at this time.

The name Golightly originates from the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany's. I most recently did a photo shoot with a dear friend of mine humbly attempting to reenact Audrey Hepburn's, character Holly Golightly, infatuation with diamonds. Not that I have an infatuation with diamonds. I do not. However, having one on with such great value was completely tantalizing. Teasing, poking my inner princess. Striking a chord to run out the door with the necklace still on! (ha ha) Also, and lastly the most important reason to the Golightly referendum is my middle name. Rae, given by my mother with the meaning as I being her "sunshine rae of light." You know! Like the song, "you are my sunshine- my only sunshine- you make me happy- when skies are gray..." That's what, so Golightly well... it just fits the whole "Sunshine Rae of light," just more profound and serious! The non-disclosed name mentioned above, which is the back up depending on publishers preference, is even more mischievous on the serious scale : O EEK!!

^

My dear friend Larry Peterson a FANTASTIC photographer!!

As for the name "Redemption Climb," I could not think of any other word to describe the climb better as to what it will do for me. I kept leaning towards the direction of naming it "Climb for a Cause," but just felt weak.


I was thinking strong at the moment, and in all honesty heard a choir singing Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." Going along with all the times I felt strong dancing in the front row at a Unity the Band show (http://www.unitytheband.com/), or any other live music performance for that matter, seeing how it affects a crowd genuinely freeing my spirit! So far, this whole thing has been doing just that. Broadening freedom. Feeling closer to the infinite world containing all possibility. I will be going into more detail on this involving family, and the actual focus of the benefit I am choosing.





Reminder to self:

Get out of this late night blogging habit. It is day three, and I am whooped!

On Track

A good friend, who loves the sea, once told me that during this whole process I need to "make lists and cross things off, it's just simple." Here is my attempt at simple! One cloud's reflection to the ocean.

This week on my list so far...

* Go to the Cancer Society, and Women's Resource Center here in Cayman
* Contact via-email the American Cancer Society
*Find out more about how National Cancer Societys work, and how I can contribute to people.
*Reconnect with Christina Griffin from the World WildLife Fund (202)293-4800
* Contact someone here in Cayman from the Blue Iguana Foundation http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/
* Link them up with WWF
*Rethink www.justgiving.com/BrittanyGolightly possibly delete depending on how big this is going to go. Worldwide?
*Research Panda Pages upon Christina's recommendation, and make a "restricted funds" page.
*Make an entry on this blog tomorrow!
*Sigh...

The list is over for now, although I have a great feeling that it will be getting longer as time goes on! Woo Hoo for having my first follower join!! Hopefully by the end of this, many people will be a part of this big thing that is about to happen. Whether it be by donating, reading, cheering, or even supporting morally.
In my eyes, it seems not enough times that big things are done for big things to happen. Many times little things just get done, and the big things are left up to those who are willing to conquer what would seem to appear the impossible to themselves at the time. That is my mission, I will conquor the impossible in my own eyes to make the possible happen for someone else!!


Good night, Sleep Well, Tomorrow's coming...

Six Month Countdown

Today is the six month mark countdown kicking off the day I will meet Mt. Kilimanjaro. I am nervous. (my writing shows this) Through out this blog you will get to know me, my life, and what my life has yet to entail that I am planning. By the title of the blog spot "Redemption Climb," it is a bit obvious that I will be climbing for something important. Throughout this blog the real reasons will spill out. Patience with reading. Anticipation with creation.

Lately I've just been talking about the climb a lot. (writing has not been easy, more creative than usual) I've made a few phone calls to charities, completed research, and have been mentally preparing myself for the journey to do something physically that will be difficult.

I ran a 5k Irish Jog on Wednesday for St. Patti's day with a time of 28:36. My glut esmaxi mas is tender. I've figured out my right cheek slightly flexes more than my left. (odd) May the picture with the firework symbolize the bang that has happened today in my mind. BOOM, let the countdown begin.

Being a writer, I'm trying to accomplish writing my first children's book in the Climb's preparing process, and talking to my mom she mentioned I begin a blog about this adventure to journal the process as I slowly make my way through the idea. Emotion upon completion, preperation, and exuberance.

The idea began between three friends. Inspired mainly by one friend, Ann Javen who originates from Kenya, Africa, and has always wanted to climb the mountain herself. Reinforced by Faye Wilson from Scotland, UK, and yours truly Brittany Golightly from Wisconsin, USA. We three girls got together by chance on a small island we all decided to live on at the same time. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands is still home for both Ann and I, however Faye made a dive journey first to Honduras, and now is living back in Scotland still in dive school. Ann is also a diver, and I am currently a professional role model. (formally known as the #1 nanny in the world!)

^Ann ^Faye

For my first entry I have written a brief outline of who's involved, what's being done, where's included, when it's taking place, and the why will be in due "blog process time." I will be including pictures with every entry as I see them relevant to my motivation, interests, and meaning behind all of this.
Thank you for reading.

Looking up

Looking forward

Looking towards the climb.