Traveling Through Life Together: Why We Work

We work because he is a loner and I love being around people and having get togethers!

Loner Picture Avoidance Tendencies

My 80's Theme Party: 2010

We work because he puts up with all my crazy family issues and his amazing/ sweet family balances everything out! <3

We work because I love taking pictures of every little memory. He is fine with scenery, our animals, and me...but usually hates any of himself ;) I have to ask strangers on vacations to take one and then he'll go along, to not be rude/ awkward. <3

Tijuana Border: March 2012

Vegas December 2012

We work because he is a total nerd when it comes to random facts. He is so smart. He reads articles (never books) and can pretty much tell you something about anything. I, on the other hand, love to read literature and learning anything about history, science, etc...

We work because he takes care of me (pretty much no questions asked). He's nursed me through chicken-pox, wisdom teeth extractions, pure exhaustion flu, and anything gross you can think of someone might acquire over a 5 year relationship. He won't let people "take care of him" usually. The one time I can remember he was sick, it was pitiful. He laid his head on my lap all night from the floor kneeling. He only ever occasionally asks for back rubs ;)

He takes in sickness & in health to another ball-park, though we're not married!

We work because I talk and he listens (or ignores & bluntly tells me I've gone to far & to be quiet ;) lol.) 

We work because we worked together for three years and didn't murder each other :) 

We work because we're both really really stubborn! We can't be the only ones...Sometimes we argue for no reason & to no resolution ;) Also, some not so "negative" examples...he MAKES me keep persevering, even when I feel weak (school/ work: crazy schedules) and makes me stick with a budget, even when I'm depressed only working and paying bills/student loans constantly!

They're not always this passionate and romantic, but I still feel that same "Notebook" sentiment! 

We work because we make sacrifices for each other. He hates the public eye. I didn't post pictures of him forever and had to basically "coax" him into being openly emotional/ loving. Also, he will sacrifice anything and everything to help me accomplish my goals. He quit his VERY long term/ stable job for me to move to a neighboring state for my education.

Helping Zach & Caty Move Out of our AL Apt!

Moving to TN!

We work because while I'm working two jobs and going to school, he took up "house-wife" duties. He cooks (pretty close to gourmet meals); he does laundry/ dishes, grocery shops, cleans, and he takes care of our animal children. All that ^^griping above about managing money...that is why he can afford to not work. Life discipline/ saving.

My V-day night dinner 2014 & Red velvet pancakes & bacon b-fast today! 

We work because he appreciates animals JUST as much as me. He had fish and we even had two leopard geckos (RIP Scooter), three hamsters (who have all passed away now), and a bright blue Crawdad (RIP Pierre). His family had never had pets(cats/ dogs) inside; but, one day I found two kittens on the side of the road (Chaos & Boots). I begged him to let me "smuggle" them into our apartment and that was the beginning of complete animal awareness, rescues, joy, and even heartache, together. From then, Maxx used to come up to our door and when we moved to TN he made the trip. Others had evidently quit feeding him or moved away. He had turned into a skeleton. Then, we encountered several here when we moved in. One wound up being diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. Chris' mom and dad wound up taking him (Little Friend). He has now been retested and is negative. He had a bite which might have given the positive alert from his blood stream.

Our little faithful friend (always outside) though was, Creeper Cat. He was what most would classify as a "feral" cat, but we'd grown to love him. We had taken care of him since we moved to TN (summer 2012). He was a daily "staple" in our lives. Lately, he'd even allowed us to pet him (stroke his back/ head lightly without him jerking away or swiping). He was definitely an elusive survivalist. He fought a lot (which is probably where he'd acquired his disease). He came and got tuna, ham, scraps, and his own dry food daily. Also, during this freezing winter, Chris had designed him a house with hay inside and he had a red and black flannel blanket on the stoop. It was literally 3-9 below during recent months and Chris got him this "pink water Frisbee." You heat it up in the microwave for a few minutes. Creeper could have some warmth from that. However, Chris would wake up on those nights every 3-4 hours and reheat it. He couldn't come in, but we tried to make his outside life tolerable. Further, since he was scared of his "house," Chris fashioned a little lid for an awning. Creeper would get under that for shelter from snow and blowing rain/ sleet. After his often vicious fights, Creeper would be wounded and limping. Sometimes he would disappear for a week at a time (we assumed healing up or someone was capturing him and helping him as we tried to do).

This last time, he was missing for almost an entire week. He came back Monday, February 10th with a dragging leg, scratched up face, ripped ear, and a rough scab with hanging fur on his poor little face. Chris thought it was finally time to get him fixed at the vet and perform a TNR http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=730 until we could find other accommodations for him, when we move. He dropped him off at a wonderful not for profit facility: Beesley Animal Clinic, a little after 8. They called him several times to ask what to do if he tested positive for something. Finally, one hour before they close, they called with the horrible news: Creeper was FIV+ http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=531  He was too "wild" (with them) to give the test normally. He had to be sedated. He would wake up in five minutes. He HAD to be euthanized. I get off at 4:00 usually. I had a dentist appointment that day though and used my GPS on my phone. Therefore, it was dead. I couldn't respond when he called. It kept going dead when I would even try to text. Almost home, he tells me "Has been by now." I was devastated. I felt it was my fault. I desperately looked up FIV+ rescues and cried. I felt numb. Chris was just as upset but he doesn't openly show emotions. We discussed it in depth afterwards...I contacted my boss (she has a large farm in the country). We buried Creeper there the next morning. It is in the middle of nowhere and hopefully he will finally get some peace. I just hate that vets (and many humans in the medical field-in general) are so desensitized. I realize it would have taken work; we would have had to find a a rescue or beg someone with no pets or no other cats to try to socialize him. It just felt like he didn't have a chance and we were forced into this split second decision. With all that being said, Chris is the most compassionate animal lover ever. He donates to any type of animal awareness/ rescue. He worries about their welfare and if that was his only good quality, I couldn't ask for much more of a perfect man. <<Sorry for being cheesy.

We work because... Finally, to make this have absolutely ANYTHING to do with my blog's normal "theme" and the title, we travel through this life together daily: amazing memories, relaxing watching documentaries about history, travel, or silly movies, arguing like crazy, etc.... I KNOW I can count on him (when others have left me in the cold--including family members).

Plus, LITERALLY, I would never have experienced any of these amazing trips I've gone on, without him. He took me on my first "road trip." I took my first flight with him. He looks at all the nerdy roadside plaques and lets me dwindle on all the nerdy things I enjoy (when he'd probably be doing something much more interesting).

I can honestly say, I wouldn't know where I'd be without him.

THIS IS WHY WE WORK! I <3 you, C.C.L.

New Eyes About Life, History, Travel, & Relationships!

Link up to Bonnie's page  http://www.thelifeofbon.com/2014/02/why-we-work.html with your "Why We Work" if you feel so inclined! She and another blogger, started it in honor of Valentine's Day. We were not really feeling very "holiday-esque" yesterday though...plus, I love him everyday of the year....so this feels more appropriate on 2/15/14'