What's love got to do with it?

Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

I feel so lucky to have always been surrounded by love. Growing up, there was never a single moment I questioned the love of my parents. I know there are a lot of people in the world who can't say the same. I am also grateful for the love I felt from our various pets. No matter what others say, I know animals have the capacity to give and receive love much like humans. Maybe it is a different kind of bond, but our horses, dogs, ducks, and even rats touched my heart much like a best friend. Even now, with my cat curled up beside me, I can't help but smile and feel that warmth that comes with feeling love.

I truly believe that love makes life worth living. Giving and receiving love is the best feeling, and even though life is difficult at times, love seems to make everything ok. Being married for almost two years has allowed me to feel different level of love.
*Warning* I'm about to get sappy... JC is truly my best friend. Of course, we have our disagreements, just like any friends would. I just absolutely love spending time with him, whether it's trying out a new restaurant, adventuring on a road trip, or flopped on the couch watching a sit-com (or sports). I love being in love with him. Even when I am in an insanely grumpy mood (yes, it has been known to happen) or crying for absolutely no reason (yes, it happens, too), having his love makes it all ok. Living far away from our families, we've had to rely on each other a lot over the last three (almost four!) years, and I think it's made our bond even stronger. In a sense, we've grown up together, maybe not during our childhood years, but into adulthood. That is the kind of love I always wanted, and now I have it.

Love truly does lead to happiness, no matter what kind of love it is. When I think of all the love I have in my life, I can't imagine ever being inconsolably unhappy. It seems like I always have something to smile about.

Zzzzzzz

The feeling of sleepiness when you are not in bed, and can't get there, is the meanest feeling in the world.
~Edgar Watson Howe

If someone were to ask my husband the one thing he finds most annoying about me, I know exactly what he would say: "She sleeps on the couch all the time!" Yes, it's true. I am a perpetual couch napper. I can't help myself! There's something about the couch that seems to lull me to sleep no matter what time of day. The sad part is, it doesn't seem to matter if it's our couch or someone else's. In my defense, there are instances when I make the conscious decision to partake in a quick cat nap; but I must admit, most of the time, my body seems to be acting on it's own agenda and quickly reduces me to a drooling fool. Yes, as if napping on the couch wasn't bad enough, I'm also quite a drooler.

I would say the majority of my naps have not been my intention. The most frustrating part is when I try to fight it. I think everyone has experienced the "fight of sleep" at least once in their lives, so you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. It can almost be a painful experience. You become aware that your eyelids are closing on their own accord, your head is becoming heavy, your breathing starts to become slower and deeper. You manage to shake yourself awake, to pull away from the looming slumber that is peacefully drawing you in. You try readjusting your body position, sitting up straighter, crossing your legs, maybe even engaging in conversation with someone in the room. Inevitably, that sleeping feeling creeps up again, slowly wrapping you in its pleasant, floaty grip. It comes to the point where you have to decide -- is it really worth the fight? What harm would it really do if I were to fall asleep right here, right now? By the time you answer those questions, your body has already decided for you, and you're out like a light.

Because most of my naps happen when our tv is on, I usually fade in and out, incorporating whatever is on tv into my dreams. This is the perfect set up for some wacked-out dreams. Most recently, JC was playing a baseball videogame while I was drooling away beside him. I proceeded to have a dream that I was playing his game and doing quite well. I remember people watching and commenting on my expertise. I eventually went on to win the game, at which point I woke up to see JC had just finished (and won) his game. It's amazing how our body continues to do so many "normal" things while we sleep such as hearing, breathing, and sometimes, talking. Apparently, I've done my far share of making comments about tv shows during my naps.

Maybe someday I will buy a wooden bench to place in our living room, just to see if that makes a difference. Perhaps there is no one to blame except for the soft, cushy, snuggly couch.