“Morning, Ma! Another day in Pawsburgh: started at Pup-Tastic Pizza – Tony keeps joking about a bell pepper slice (Yuck!). Visited Fetching Feline Pet Emporium, cheered up some field mice. Wrapped up with a solid game of fetch at Retriever River. Food, frolic, fetch – no bell peppers involved, today was PAWesome! Catch you tomorrow, Walter Matthau.”

Listen to the story here.

As I shook off the morning drudgery, stretching out in all my beagle glory, a myriad of tantalizing scents wafting from Lower Golden Gate Gardens caught my attention. The early morning dew carried the scent of downtown Pawsburgh that drew out the adventurer within me.

The morning was still young when I found myself in front of Pup-Tastic Pizza. The thought of barbequed chicken pizza made my mouth water. I was tempted to press my face against the window; I could almost taste the succulent chicken, the creamy cheese…but no, a gentleman would not behave like that. Instead, I merely wagged my tail in anticipation, signalling my intent to Tony, the friendly bakery dog who had become an inseparable part of my morning routine.

Not that I skip meals – heavens no! There was just something magical about the way he tossed his dough and skillfully slathered on the sauces, an artist in his own right. And that delicious waft that snuck out from under Pup-Tastic Pizza’s door lured me in every day without fail.

“How about a Bell Pepper Pizza today, Whoof?” Tony teased from the counter, grinning ear to ear, knowing my distaste for those fiendish nightshades.

“Ha, you know as well as I do that I’d rather eat old shoes than let a sliver of bell pepper pass my noble jowls,” I retorted, flicking my tail in thoughtful rebellion. You have no idea how much amusement this jester gains from trying to sneak bell peppers into my meals.

Leaving Tony to his shenanigans, I continued to part two of my grand adventure – The Fetching Feline Pet Emporium. The sight itself was a nod to creativity, and the abundance of tails wagging and friendly woofs was a sight to marvel. Perhaps today I could bring a bit of joy to the little field mice peddling their scratch post designs in the corner. Who knows, I may even convince them to craft a squirrel-strike pole.

As the day unfurled and the sun sunk low, the camaraderie at Retriever River was at its peak, each one of us competently fetching sticks and tennis balls.

With the shenanigans of the day behind us, the sun dipped low in the horizon, casting a magical hue about Pawsburgh, painting it all in glorious hues of twilight. Smiling upon the day’s adventures and camaraderie, I joyfully romped my way toward home, waiting for the slumber to whisk me away into colorful dreams, only to rise majestically to embrace another splendid day in Pawsburgh.

Today had truly been a good day; food, frolic, and fetch, the three pillars of a dog’s life all splendidly lived. Indeed, I hold reigning authority on the fetching front – given my demonstrable skill in tactfully steering my human away from his television smack in time for an exciting game of toss and tug. And without a bell pepper in sight, today was near to perfection.

The End.