Monday, October 26, 2009

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 . . . . . .

19 comments:

Bish Denham said...

As a very little puppy he was kept in a coffee cup and now he growl/whines whenever he sees one, out of fear/longing.

Our 100 pound dog has a fear of boxes probably because she was housed in one before we got her. Show her a box and she cringes. The bigger the box, the bigger her reaction.

Jacqui said...

This is totally a Thursday News of the Absurd Inspirational Moment!

I think as a puppy he drank bunch of Starbucks and had some very sick, caffeinated hours.

OR, his human mama hangs out with someone mean who always drinks Starbucks and who makes fun of the Yorkie when nobody's around.

Sherrie Petersen said...

I think the dog was born behind a Starbucks and had coffee cups thrown at him when he was a puppy. Now every time he sees a coffee cup it brings back those feelings of fear and abandonment and it makes him angry.

Either that or the coffee cup was growling back but you don't have dog ears so you couldn't hear it :)

Christina Farley said...

So if I were a dog and I saw you drinking a Starbucks vanilla latte, I'd be all crazy too begging and jumping for one. So yeah, he just wanted your coffee.

BTW- vanilla latte is my favorite too!

TerryLynnJohnson said...

Your title totally sucked me in - I love all things DOG. So I'd say that his owner buys the fancy drinks - perhaps the strawberry creme or something - and lets him sip them from the cup, his little Yorkie tongue dipping right in there. I've seen people sharing icecream cones with their dogs so it's totally plausible.

MG Higgins said...

I'm in agreement with those who think the dog wanted a sip of your latte. He just had an odd way of expressing himself. (Maybe he was annoyed that you were being way too slow in bending down to offer it to him!)

Write2ignite said...

My creative juices are completely useless on this one...but I'm loving the answers from everyone else. Neat story. Thanks for sharing!

hugs,
Donna

Brenda said...

I asked Koda and he said, it wasn't the coffee...he said he would whimper too if a pretty blonde was following him...because he would be hoping for a little scratch behind the ear... ;) So he figures the little yorkie was looking for a little puppy love...grin...

PJ Hoover said...

Bizarre. But the dog sounds kinda cute :)

Adrienne said...

That story is hilarious! That poor dog would go crazy around here - practically everyone strolls around with a latte...
I agree the owner probably shares her drinks with the pooch.

Anonymous said...

This is way too funny. I truly think you could write a book about this.

Kelly H-Y said...

How funny! I'm with you ... crazy momma say wha?? I laughed at that title ... love it!

Rena Jones said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rena Jones said...

Sorry about the delete above. I need to learn how to type.

I said ...

It's elementary, my dear. That dog is English and was peeved that you were drinking coffee, not tea.

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

cuz daggies are crazy! maybe he doesnt like starbucks - maybe he is a caribou or seatles best fan.

Jacqui said...

Hmm. That is a lovely poem, Anonymous Viagra Fan. But what does it have to do with dogs? :)

Nora MacFarlane said...

LOL! I agree with Rena, he thinks you should have been drinking tea!

Nishant said...

think as a puppy he drank bunch of Starbucks and had some very sick, caffeinated hours. Work from home India

Janelle said...

LOL. Whatever the reason, Christy. I can see this little dog episode, and the PERFECT verbal statement of it's owner (so simple, so to the point, so intriguing) showing up in a future novel or yours, no?
If nor, look out, the rest of us might try to steal it! : )