Starbucks and disgruntled dogs . . . Crazy momma say wha??

I interrupt this writerly rut for a creative moment: (dot, dot, dot, dot-de-dot, dot, dot.)

I normally go to the gym for an hour, after I drop the kids off at school. Today, however, was a perfect fall day. Sun: warm, but not hot, the leaves drifting aslant in the wind, at my favorite park. A prefect calm lake surrounded by calico leaves, dancing in the sky as well as dotting the path.

I passed up my usual water bottle for a Starbucks Vanilla Latte. Walking around a calm lake on a perfect autumn day . . . sipping my favorite latte . . . bliss! A surreal moment. A time to remember that life can be beautiful, despite the destruction all around us.

On to my point . . .

I was walking behind a woman who was walking a pure white yorkie. A beautiful dog. So cute. But he was looking at me, standing on his hind legs like a mini grizzly bear, and making a . . . I don't know what kind of sound. Half growl/ have whine. I'm not sure. I looked behind me, thinking another dog-walking person was behind me, attracting the attention of this yorkie. There was no one. Just me. The yorkie, hind-legging and unknown-noise-making at me. But why? I was just walking. Other dogs walked by the Yorkie. He just sniffed . . . and walked by. Regular dog stuff.

So, then the dog walker stepped by the wayside so that I could pass. As I did, she said (in th most fabulous British accent.), "It's the coffee cup."

All I could respond was, "Oh, is that what it was?" And laughed.

I wish I could have asked more. Why the coffee cup? But that would have been cruel to keep the dog in his over-active/alert state. So I moved on. Leaving me to ponder why a dog would care about a coffee cup. Was he angered? Amused? I had no idea. I spent the rest of my 2 mile hike wondering about the psyche of this dog. What caused him to react to my coffee cup?

If you know a reasonable answer.. . . I'd love to know. I'm perplexed.

However .. . I"m a writer at heart and I'd love to hear some creative answers. Why would a dog react to a coffee cup in such an animated way?

Had he once tasted the spilled spoils at a local Starbucks hangout . . . only to become addicted?

Was he raised in a poor litter . . . where they only chewed empty coffee cups instead of bones?

Does a coffee cup resemble an alien space phone and he's dying to call back to his canine race?

Are there zones in this park where animals go wonky when they enter it, leaving them crazed and delirious?

You tell me. Real life, or pure imagination. . . . what could cause a dog to act this way?

hmmmm . . . . . .

Critter is going to Korea!!! Plus, a Shout out for PJ!

I've got to give a bug "hurrah" to Beth Revis. When I started this Critter in Blogland thing, I had small hopes that Critter would go international. If he did, I thought the furthest would be Canada. But Beth is willing to flip the bill for Critter's trip to to Korea. Gam-sa Ham-nee-da, Beth. That will be Critter's new way of saying "Thank-you" when he gets home from his oversea's travels. This is so cool! His host is Korea is Christina Farley. I can't wait to see where he'll get to go!

I also want to give a great big shout out to PJ Hoover. Her latest book, The Navel of The World, is now out! Go out and buy a copy! I'm sure you'll be glad you did. I can't wait to get mine!

It's time for Critter to find a new vacation spot

Head on over to Beth's blog. See some great pictures of Critter at the Biltmore Castle and tell Beth where you would take Critter if he came to see you.