Just let it roll off your back...:)

Hello Hello!

It's been too long! :( Let's see what news I have for ya'll...

The title refers to a saying my friend Sarah and I have been focusing on lately. :)

Well, I have yet to travel as of yet..outside of Galway County that is. I did go to Connemara, which is sort like the countryside of Galway. It was beautiful! I saw a pony, a castle, a tomb, and a gothic church! I also saw several smaller sights along the way. :)
  
 
Yes, Connemara and Kylemore Abbey were gorgeous sights! Oh, and John Wayne (the actor) starred in The Quiet Man that was filmed on location at one of our stops! And I got a picture at the Galway and Mayo county lines. So I guess I have sorta been out of Galway. haha
 

This picture does not do him justice.
He is very handsome.

 Hmm. Oh yes..school officially started this week..yay..not! I am taking all psychology courses. I have to say though that I love my professors and my "modules," which are the same thing as a course in the states. There is one professor in particular who I just adore! His name is Jonathan Egan! He spends half of our lecture time giving us examples of particular psychiatric disorders or cases from his own life. My personal favorite..or most memorable moment occurred during our discussion of suppressing unwanted thoughts. He mentioned how he his wife has a very attractive friend..who he has to suppress feelings for. Hilarious, right? I mean everyone in a relationship has to do that in some form.
Oh yeah! I went to a greyhound race last weekend! I didn't place any bets..mainly because I'm running  low on money and couldn't afford to lose any. Haha But it was a nice experience. I learned that the dogs are treated fairly well. I mean they could be a lot worse off. They place robes/jackets on them at the end of the race..come on now. That's awesome. That was a good night. Then my friend Sarah and I went to The Quays [the keys] for a chill night..which ended with us singing songs from musicals the entire 25 minute walk home. Haha What a great time!

I mentioned in one of my previous posts how I am learning to cook! Well, I must say and I am getting pretty good. I made one of the best meals the other night. I made spaghetti with meat, corn, bread chicken, and broccoli and carrots with cheese. :) It was so good! I have also become a big fan of greek yogurt with granola and apples. I had that for desert! Another popular meal for me is grilled ham and cheese with tomato basil soup. Yum!! Today for brunch I made a scrambled eggs with spinach sandwich on cinnamon bagels with hot green tea and honey. Can you say yum again?!


I am currently in the process of getting 38 post cards written and sent! haha I have completed 30. I have addresses and stamps for each of those, but I really want to send the whole bundle out at the the same time. You know?

Another tid bit of information is that I love shopping. My friend Sarah has a chocoholic while I am a shopoholic, but we try to help each other. Because funds are getting lower and lower every time I buy food..I don't shop but I really want to! Oh the agony of not being able to spend money. Haha Don't get me wrong, I've bought a couple "staple" items but not the things I have truly wanted. I know God will provide. I have been meaning to look into getting an au pair job..where I would babysit. I could get my kid fix and money fix all in one! Woohoo! I will keep you guys posted on the job status..because technically I can't work while I'm here. (So keep this on the DL..down low. :])

Last bit of news! I went to a concert at the Roisin Dubh (Black Rose in Irish). It's a hipster pub, and my new favorite pub. We heard The Lost Brothers perform! Apparently a couple days ago, the recorded in Nashville! Ah! I had to woohoo when they said that..he asked if I was from Nashville, and then dedicated the next song to me! :) The Lost Brothers Music Go here! They are so "Nashville"! We got a picture with them after, which I will add once Cassie posts it! Guess which song is my favorite? If you don't know, you don't know me too well. Haha

Finn.
This picture also does not do him justice.
Can you see the rain drops? :)

Last but not least. I also would like to sadly inform you all that the guy I mentioned in one of my earlier posts contacted me. Well, I got a friend from his rugby team to tell him to contact me but still he contacted me. My motto for Ireland is no regrets. lol Normally, I would NOT be a fan of girls chasing after guys but this was a special case. He was a special guy. :( And I'm not just being silly and "falling for the Irish charm." I mean he was quite charming but not in a typical way. Did I ever tell you guys the story of how I met him? Well, I will now. I also want to have a record of this for myself. I may leave out a couple things. Just saying..So one of my first nights out in Ireland we went to The Quays..as I am going down to the "dance floor" which is really just space in front of the bar where girls and guys sometimes dance or stand around and talk. I run into Brittany who says, "Roxie, I found you a redhead!" I'm thinking, Do I look like I need help..but where is he? Haha She points out Finn. He is tall, toned/ slender, and with deep red hair. Right away..I'm a huge fan of this guy. Brittany mentions that his name is Finn and that she had met him through his friend/roommate Mike a couple a minutes ago. She wants to introduce me. I decline the introduction but I say it wouldn't hurt to be closer to where he's standing. So we work our way to the middle of the overcrowded "dance floor" where he is in our sights. I'm not sure how but this strategic maneuver actually worked. Finn comes up to Brittany and sorta reintroduces himself and then introduces himself to me. Brittany, who is just a great wing man, sneaks away after he asks to buy me a drink. I accept. I am SO nervous, which usually does not happen to me. But my nerves go away once we start talking. Once our drinks are ready he asks if I wanna dance. Now, I mentioned earlier that the dancing is not the strong point for Irish men. So I jokingly say to Finn, "Now I know Irish guys can't dance..can you?" He mumbles something about how great his moves are about to be then takes another sip of liquid courage. Then he admits.."But please do not let my dance moves scare you away." I cannot remember exactly what happened next but he was pretty much was a silly dancer but he made it look so good. He kept pulling me closer and closer to dance but it wasn't in a sexual way. Luckily, Irish guys don't grind. I did try to show him a couple moves..haha We were in the moment and having such a great time. One song came on and he got really excited, and ran over to dance with his friend. (Which involved him jumping on his friend, who name I later learned to be Myles.) At the time, I decided to make my way to the "Toilets," which I prefer to continue to call bathrooms because toilet is far too direct for my taste. Turns out you can just call it "the jacks." I think I might add that to my list of Irish sayings I want to adopt. Anyways, I come back and try to be cute and walk past Finn to get his attention but he doesn't see me. Haha..Fail. I pretended that I was going up the stairs so I had to come right back down. I tried a more direct approach this time. I tap him on the shoulder.."Where the H**L were you?!" he exclaims as he swoops me into his arms to start dancing again. (Don't be alarmed those of you from the states. He was not being rude. Cursing is more than common here. Ha!) I tell him that I went to the bathroom, but he continues to ask the same question over and over. I grab his shoulders and say I went to the bathroom! He finally understands. I asked..did you make any new friends while I was gone? (It's bad how good I am a flirting..Don't judge me.) He buys me a another drink, and we dance some more. Then out of no where he grabs my hand and goes to sit on the stools at the bar. He starts to say things like.."Why have you taken a liking to me? I don't understand." and "We are like the same person! (Until we disagreed on something.)" He also said  "You're like the perfect girl." "Thank you so much. You've made my night." He also periodically would say "Bloody h**l!"....:))) He also mentioned that he was a solicitor and 24 years old. He thought maybe I'd think it was too old but that's a perfect age distance for me. No more younger guys!!! There was something else he said that might be embarrassing so I won't add it but it kinda sealed the deal for me. To most of his comments, I smiled and said, "What a line dropper you are!" I also informed that I had no intentions of leaving with him or anything of that nature to which he responded that he had not expected me to. He also told me his last name..which I LOVED. He seems to be surprised that I liked it. We talked until they started to close down the bottom portion of the bar. Then he took me by the hand and escorted me to the top section near the door. As we were climbing the stairs, his friends tease him and say, "Who's your new girlfriend, Finn?" He gave them a look as though he wanted to strangle them all, and said, "Wait, what? I don't have a girlfriend." Maybe because he thought I might take it the wrong way..(Which now I kind of wonder how true that was..) Then I turned around with a smile and said, "My name is Roxie." They all just smiled back and laughed and shoved each other. Oh boys. Finn and I continue to the top floor where we find two seats at the bar. He we continue to talk and I ask him is he remembers my name..haha He doesn't...but he says it doesn't matter because I have made his night and he is so happy and grateful. (He had me at "You're perfect!" haha) I tell him to stop thanking me as I'd done him a service. He didn't seem to care for that language. He continued to try and sober himself. Periodically, he'd say I'm sober no worries and rub his face. I think he also said he wish he was sober-er. Wait..I left out the part about me giving him my number earlier..I tried to put my number in his phone but for some reason neither of us could do it. I didn't even think it really mattered at the time. So I pulled out the card I'd written my number on to pass around to all my american friends. At the time, I did not know my number by heart yet. I do now..0858022056. And I didn't cheat. :) He sees..the card and asks, "Huh? What's that?" Suddenly and shamefully, I realize he thinks it's a card to give my number out to guys at bars probably. If I could turn red, I would have beet red! I would have matched his hair. Haha (If you are still with me, hang in there..the story is almost over! I really want to remember every detail.) I explain the cards true purpose, but he still looks sort of apprehensive. He takes the card and puts it in his pocket. I don't know if he was just taking it because he thought that's what I wanted him to do or if doesn't want me to be able to give my number out to any other guys..I'd like to think it was the latter. haha But I'm not that silly. All this happened at the bottom pub...Now back to being at the top of the pub. While we've be talking for over an hour, Finn's friends have been trying to convince him to leave but he says he wants to say. Over and Over. Even when they tried to stand really close and whistle inconspicuously at him. He just ignored him. At this point, I am probably swooning. Haha I was trying to play it cool and tell him to leave. I also mention that my friends have been waiting for me for quite awhile now..he asks me, "Do you want to leave?" I say, "No.." His faces says well then that settles it. He continued to talk.  After another couple minutes, he gives in and decides he'll leave. I was completely delighted and in rapture by this time. I was ready to walk home with the gang in complete delight with the night. We hug and part ways..haha..and I round up  my friends and apologize for taking so long. I also thanked Sarah for waiting! We are walking off and I see his friends. Myles yells, "Hey girl in the red coat?!" I walked over and I see Finn behind them all. Myles says something about me not being able to leave....Finn and I move away from the "pack" and go to lean up against a shop window...Did I mention that is is drizzling outside? Not sure what we talked about but I was there for about another 20 minutes where my friends and his try to convince us to leave. Ivan, one of Finn's friends, who says he loves Finn and who would die for him (He also says how great of a guy Finn is. I'm like..this I know. :]), tells Finn it's time to go.., but Finn says something I can't hear. Ivan replied in a shocked tone, "Are you serious man?!" I think Finn says yes. I can't really remember. Finn thanks me again for a great night and asks me jokingly if I'd dance with him in the middle of the road and rain. I answer yes! He looks surprised and we hop out into the middle of the street. :) Ah, really?! Let's just say I crossed severally things off my bucket list that night including a kiss in the rain. :) (WHICH I JUST REALIZED!) Also, I ask my friend Sarah to that our picture! LOVE her. Owe her forever..apparently she and Cassie had already been taking pictures of me. Haha Again, so grateful! We eventually have to go because Finn's friends are leaving, and I don't want him to be stumbling around by himself downtown. (Even though he says he can take care of himself.) We part again. :) Bittersweet. Anyway, Mary and Stef want Chinese food so at some point that ask for directions to a Chinese restaurant. Apparently, Finn gave them directions. When we get to the chinese place, I go straight for the bathroom after I come out of my trance and begin to take notice of my body's needs again. haha When I come out I see Sarah and Cassie talking to a redhead. It's Finn! He says, "I'm not stalking you!" Sarah and Cassie had been accusing him of being a stalker. Of course they were only teasing him! I told him it's okay. I just glad to see him again. He offers to get me food but I decline. I am once again numb to my body's needs. haha He let's go of my hand as if he is scared he's doing it. I tease and ask, "Are you embarrassed to hold my hand?" He takes my hand again and mocks.."I'm embarrassed to hold your hand." He continues to hold it while he is ordering: half chips (fries), half rice, and chicken curry on top. He is very polite to the little lady making his food. He again asks what I want. And seems surprised that I am declining. The restaurant is crowded so I step outside to wait for him. He comes outside and offers me a piece of chicken from him fork. Again, really?! Being fed? I'm no longer on Earth. My head is somewhere up in the clouds. :) My friends get their food and want to leave. So Finn tries to kiss me mid chewing his food..at first I decline and tell him it's because you're eating and laugh. He looks disappointed so I do it anyway..when in Ireland. Haha (I'm sorry if anyone thinks I've over sharing but I really wanna remember everything. Also, please don't think I'm a fluzy. Only in Ireland and with Finn...he was the first and probably last guy I'll kiss while I'm here.) I walk off and he goes back to leaning against the building and eating. What a great night! 

Picture taken by Sarah and Cassie, who were
watching us. haha

Fast forward like 2 and a half weeks...at first, after that night, I am unable to find Finn Co******e on Facebook. It is so sad. One day in those 2 and a half weeks, I am on twitter and I am thinking that I want my friend Sarah to post the picture of me and Finn. I wonder..hmm, maybe he has twitter. And he does! He only has a couple of followers and no tweets. I go to one of his friends pages, Brian M****n. There isn't a lot of information there so I go to one of the 23 people he follows..Caio S***a..and he has a link for him Facebook page! I go to it..I look for Finn as a friend and there he is! Great. I think I'll hear from him in no time... False! Another week or so goes by with no action on Finn's page. (I had been being cool and patient but I was starting to worry he'd add me too late and I'd be back in the states. :[ ) So I message Caio and Brian and eventually other Facebook friends to tell Finn to check his Facebook. Okay, you are probably thinking, Roxie, that is a bit much don't you think?!" I agree! But the benefits sooo out wayed the cost in this situation. Plus, if I did embarrass myself...who cares?! I will probably never see those people again. Haha..Still nothing. No one had freaking been on their facebooks! So I Google Finn. I knew he was a solicitor (lawyer) but that was not helpful. There was a lot about Sligo and Rugby and I looked into that. I also creepily found a Bebo account of his. You know how you can look at picture of someone and just know they are a genuine person? Well, that's how I felt. Their were also pictures of him on Brian's Facebook, which only made me like him more. Especially the ones where he had sweaty pitts. And his comments on them! Haha If you know me, you also understand this. (Okay I know I'm a stalker and I need help. Blahblahblahhh) Turns out he's a hot, rugby playing lawyer..Life's not fair sometimes! haha I end up texting his Rugby Captain to tell Mr. Finn C**********e to contact me. And the next day he does..Turns out that he does remember me! :) He acted nice and social but just not as excited as I hoped, and he kinda beats around the bush about that night when I mention it but I thought I'd give him another day. The next day he tells me that he and his ex girlfriend have started talking about in the last week, and he still had feelings for her. Since his "situation" has changed he hopes I understand that he can't really text me because it would be wrong. Heart wrenching stuff, right?! I was so bummed but I did understand, and whether it was naivety or not, I believed him. I believed most of what he'd said since I met him. And I still do. Is it bad that I sorta hoped if didn't work out though...? Yes, it is. Well, maybe one day we will meet again but til then I'm still enjoying Galway! And hopefully soon..other countries! What if I ran into him in Dublin (That's where he lives.)? Haha I'd probably pass out or run away. Haha At least I got closure. :)

PS. During the entire 2 and a half week period, I continued to go about my daily life in Galway. It was only when I was home with nothing to do it I think about him. (Not to belittle how I felt but) I didn't want to spend any time not fully enjoying Ireland. I only have til May 31st to squeeze every drop of fun from this place! :)

P.P.S. This is not super grammatically correct but it'll do. It'll do just fine!

Hope you enjoyed my updates and the story! More to come! (Miss you all!)

Cheers!