sleep cycle

It seems like that no matter what I do to try to catch up on sleep, it doesn't work.  I get to bed super early at night to get an extra hour here, an extra hour there to make up for the four or five hours of sleep I got the previous night.  Doesn't happen.  I was in bed by nine thirty(ish) last night, and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.  If I had slept straight through to my alarm going off this morning, it would have been seven hour.  SEVEN!  That is huge.  But, I woke up a little after three.  So five and a half hours of sleep.  Not bad, but seven hours would have been exquisite.  

All of my family, I am sure, is (are?) surprised at this whole up and at work before the sun is up situation.  I am not a morning person.  At all.  Never have been.  They know it.  People at work are now aware of it as well.  I could get nine or ten hours of sleep the previous night, I will still be quite and somewhat cranky.  

I did get a nice nap in yesterday after work.  Close to two hours, that helped out a lot.  This is how I really make up for the hour or two that I wake up early before my alarm.  It is a good system.  I nap on the couch, which could have it's disadvantages, but it helps to keep the nap time at a minimum.  If I were to nap in the bedroom with the nice fluffy pillows and warm blankets and darkness, I may sleep for four or five hours.  I would then be in a world of hurt.  Sure I would gain the sleep back, but I would not be able to fall back asleep at the normal time at night.    

I have found a solution to being tired.  It is a tried and true solution that people have used for centuries.  Coffee.  Joe.  Java.  Mud.  Morning tar.  (et al.).  The addictive morning drink that keeps me going through the day.  I love me some coffee.  I never understood my parents need to have it made every Christmas morning before we opened presents.  I understand now.  Can I get through the day without it?  Yes.  Should I?  No.  No one wants to see that.  I don't get the shakes or have bugs crawling under my skin, it isn't that bad.  

It is one vicious cycle.  Finding the balance of night sleep, and afternoon nap sleep is critical.  I find that happy medium every once in a while, but it is quite elusive.