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I'll mention the family stuff first, as it's very important to me. I'm the
youngest of four children, two sons and two daughters. Our Father and Mother are both Irish and both from the same county
we live in, however my Mother's family experienced a Spanish influence a couple of decades back. It's very obvious from her
appearance, but not mine! My oldest brother and sister are both married to beautiful individuals, both of whom are just as
close to me as siblings. They have two children each, meaning I have three nephews and a niece. Each is as close as a sibling
to me and I'm enjoying watching them grow up so much. My darling sister is expecting a new baby in two weeks, so there'll
be another little babóg to add to the list. The younger of my two brothers is getting married next year. He couldn't have
picked a sweeter girl. They've been dating for ten years and I know they'll make each other ecstatic. I'm very excited about
the whole addo, especially since I've been asked to be bridesmaid.
If the immediate family wasn't big enough, my Mother is also the eldest of eleven children. She has seven sisters and
three brothers, each a true character in their own right. Big families were very common in Ireland at the time.
As a result, I have a huge and wonderful family. I'm blessed with a collection of aunts and uncles who have produced dozens
of children between them. Family get togethers are loud, not to mention cramped and expensive!
I was born red-headed in June of 1987. To this day, I've maintained the amber locks. I stand at five feet, ten inches in height
and I have my Mother's very blue eyes. I began my education in the local prmary school. After a few years, I grew intensely
unhappy there and my parents made the best decision of my life so far, they sent me to a private school in the city. There,
I not only broadened my cultural and personal horizons, my love for my native language intensified and developed into a fully
fledged passion. From that wonderful school, I made the move to another. I attended the county's only Irish speaking secondary
school. For six years I lived and breathed the language and the culture. I sat all my exams through Irish and earned a fluency
that can never be taught, only lived. The school's unsurpassed standard of excellence both in educational and personal development
allowed me to make the best friends I could imagine and teach me many of life's important lessons. Graduation was the saddest
day I can remember. Leaving that place felt wrong. It devastated me and at the same time it made me see exactly what I wanted
to do in life. I persued a university course in English and Irish (naturally). I'm about to begin my second year of that degree
and hopefully, when I finish it, i'll be able to earn my HDIP and return to my secondary school as a language teacher.
University is strange. I don't dislike it, but it would be fair to say that I haven't fully embraced it as yet. My university
is on the same road as my secondary and primary schools. That particular road has become my home away from home and I even
hope to live there when I'm a bit older. It's a teaching university and has been since it opened it's doors over one hundred
years ago. Although it's no longer denominational, there's still quite a parochial vibe about it. It is, however, also a very
warm and friendly place to be. I'm looking forward to returning in two weeks time. I'm also moving out of my parents home
during that week, for the first time. One of my best friends and I are moving into an apartment close to the university. I'm
both excited and apprehensive about it. While I'm sure i'll have a rip-roaring time, i'll miss home greatly. We've had the
same pet at home for fifteen years. He's a darling dog named Grover. He's less of a dog and more of a sibling to us. After
all, he's older than all the grandchildren. When I move out, I'm going to miss him so much. He sleeps on my bed at night and
is my solace on down days. I don't know how i'll be without him.
I always have been and always will be a bookworm. Reading not only gives me a sense of self improvement, it also gives me
a warm and tickly feeling inside. The most isolated person in the world would never feel lonely if they had an endless supply
of books. A portion of the most interesting people I know are those I've developed in my imagination from novellos and bound
beasts. While I enjoy computers and televisions to a certain extent, they'll never beat books. Books are doorways to one's
greatest desires and worst nightmares equally. I love to write too. Occasionally, i'll become so overwhelmed by a burning
idea or a simple and frank desire to write that I won't feel comfortable until there's a vast expanse of paper before me and a
pen clutched iun my white-knuckled little hand. I've written a hefty amount of rubbish as well as some stuff I might actually
consider being proud of. That hasn't happened yet, unfortunately (for you, especially). I'm certain that when it does, i'll
come running from my house, barefoot and raw with excitement, script akimbo and eyes as wide as my parents satisfied grins.
Until that day, i'll continue to pour my self absorbed and mediocre efforts onto scaps of tissue, copy books and corners of
envelopes.
Music is a big deal to me, really. I'm not fussy when it comes to genres, as I believe each has its merits and it's disasters.
I do, however, know what I dislike. I believe a song should make it's listener feel something very strong. The songs that
I consider my favourites are those which effect me on a deep emotional level; ones that cheer me up when I feel like the world
is ending, the ones thatmake me cry and the ones that teach me something about myself. I'm moved by so many artists and
songs that it would be difficult to name them all, but i'll mention a few important ones. Fleetwood Mac, The Aracde Fire,
Joni Mitchell, The White Stripes, Bright Eyes, Snow Patrol, Broken Social Scene, Oasis, Patrick Wolf, U2, Queen, Pink
Floyd, The Smashing Pumpkins, Sufjan Stevens etc. Each artist and often each song evoke something very different inside of
me. I often take longer to like a song or an artist more than my contemporaries because I have a very specific system of aquainting
myself with them. I listen to said song or album in a room alone on a reasonably high volume. That way I'm not influenced
by other people's theories and I can hear the whole piece clearly. Contrary to what people may believe, I have no problem
with mainstream music. It got to where it is because it has something. It's catchy or it's evocative, usually. There's absolutely
nothing wrong with it and it bothers me when people cease their affection for a band when they get very popular. Elton John
is, in my opinion, a musical genius. He's also as mainstream as it gets. He makes me laugh, makes me cry and helps me fall
in love. I fail to see what's harmful about that and why it drives people to employ such spite.
My friends are the most wonderful people I've ever seen/ heard of/ spoken to.
Each of them is a varied and hilarious character. No one makes me laugh like them and no one makes me realise my mistakes
like they do. I really love them. It's always been obvious that I prefer the company of men and these men have never made
me feel strange about that. They've embraced it. They have also admitted to considering me 'one of the lads', which may mean
that my make-up, frocks and bras are all a waste of time. At first, when I'd attend a party with them, I'd worry about my
appearance the next day. One such morning they informed me that they 'never know whether I'm wearing make up or not. Besides,
I always look the same' It's the most wodnerful feeling to fall into a deep and intimate sleep next to a man that I care about,
without being plagued about worries like how much commitment is too commitment and what are my actions sub-consciously telling
him.
Speaking of love, I think about it too much. I've been both very lucky and very misfortunate in love. I've devoted myself
to people entirely and been completely disreguarded and heart broken at the fact that they couldn't do the same for me. On
the other hand, I've been cradled by such pure and complete love that I've been frightened of it. Although I've always had
close friends, I consider myself a loner underneath it all. I enjoy getting to know myself and testing my boundaries. I've
always seen my future as one in which I live alone. It hasn't ever bothered me too much. This my be the reason why relationships
seem to go wrong. I'm so grateful that I've been sent a few wonderful men who love me like no other, but the truth is I'm
not ready for it just yet. It's a struggle because I enjoy the affection of another, it's the constant affiliation and occasional
mundane atmosphere that strangles me. Usually, I fall for very unsuitable people. I fall in love too easily and read into
things too much. I think I'm learning my lesson though, however gradually.
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