Today’s five words are about communicating.
16. Kids – Kids can be great communicators. When Mom visited a couple of schools this month, kids talked to her a lot. Sometimes they asked questions like, “How long does it take to write a story?” and “How many stories have you written?” and “On Sunday, my Uncle Peter’s toilet overflowed!”
2. Kids – Lots of the kids made Mom thank you notes to say “Thank you for coming to our school.” and “We loved your book.”
and “My baby brother has a car seat with bunnies on it.”
73. My Face – Mom says my face communicates NOTHING.
It’s blank.
All the time.
She says, “Are you hungry?” and “Do you need to go out?” and “What? What?!! WHAT???”
What?
6. Body Language – I sometimes communicate through body language. When I’m scared, I shiver and tuck my tail between my legs. When Mom tries to put my boots on, I play dead and flop down on my pillow.
Also, my feet turn as mushy as pudding. Mom calls me the name “PuddingPaws.”
5. Show Don’t Tell – Everybody who’s anybody says writers must SHOW what’s happening in a story. Don’t just TELL it. That helps the reader stay engaged and gets them to do a little work while they’re reading. They will also feel closer to the characters in the story and more invested in the plot. Sometimes I need to SHOW Mom that she has put my food bowl too high for me to reach.
What’s my dinner doing up here?
Then she TELLS me I have to wait.
Seriously??
Cupcake Speaks 
Comments on: "Five Word Friday" (52)
that’s a lot of impawtant things that kids told you… maybe that brings some fabulous brandnew ideas for a story… we hope uncle Peter could fix the problem with the toilet…. it would be bad if a human has to use the backyard ;O)))
GAH! That is crazy talk, P. Humans out in the yard or at the park. That would be sumthin’.
Love and licks,
C
You do a great job of showing displeasure when your mom puts your boots 👢 on. You also do a great job of showing her how much you love your food. I believe thats sufficient showmanship
Thanks, C. I think my communication skills are crystal clear. Mom is kind of thick headed and unable to read my mind, apparently.
Love and licks,
C
I think you, at least, deserve a treat for showing her your bowl is too high!
Thank you, C. I agree. Mom just said the word, “Don’t you dare.”
Love and licks,
C
“WAIT” ???? That’s a word that NONE of us quite understand and even if we DO understand it, we TOTALLY ignore it right Cupcake????
Hugs, Angel Sam and Ted
Of course, Little T and Angel S. The word wait works much better on humans than it does on us. To me wait means go get it.
Love and licks,
C
Communication, what an awesome word, easy to do but sometimes our My people don’t understand what we are saying. Keep trying Cupcake, we could tell what you were saying. “I’m hungry” and “I don’t want to wear my boots”. ~ nose nudges Belle Pup
Thanks, B. You understand me so much better than Mom. I’m not sure she’s really trying….
Love and licks,
C
Awww, the kids did thank you notes for your Mom… love that! I think you are one little bundle of expression, Cupcake… What! Good Morning!
Thanks, Pix. I tried to tell Mom how cute the notes were, and how sweet some of the drawings were. She said, “WHAT??” Ugh. She’s dense.
Love and licks,
C
You mentioned the word “wait.” Mommy uses that phrase “I’ll be right there”! As I wait and wait and wait and wait for her to come kiss and appreciate me while I am in place in the bathroom to supervise her morning routine of face and hair. (mine is always perfect). There I am, mono railing on the tub edge and SHE is in there making the bed. As if we weren’t going to be in it some hours later! Meanwhile I wait. And wait and wait and wait.
You’ve got a point there, KI. What is it about humans making up the bed every single day? Wasted energy. They should just build the blankets and sheets into a nest and leave it for us to enjoy. This tucking of comforters and shutting of doors is NOT OK. I wish I had the balance to monorail the tub. Lucky kitty. Outside, I practice the balance beam on the curb. Mom calls me the name MaryLou. #weird
Love and licks,
C
Well Mary Lou, I think the idea of just building the nest for us is perfect. We can use it all day; they can get in at night and we can still use the nest at night too as we loll on their unconscious bodies. Win-win is how *I* see it.
I have an expressive face. Ghostwriter says it’s because I have an overbite, and a crooked lower jaw. But mostly it’s because whenever I see a camera, I feel I have to make a speech. It also helps to be getting crunchy treats during the photo sessions. Yum yum! But hey, you’ve got the head-tilt going, along with the eye roll in a couple of your photos. That’s expressive!
Thanks, C. I also have an overbite. I find it makes is tougher to steal food. It sometimes takes me two tries before I can grab something naughty and run with it. I like that you make a speech during each photo shoot. Great strategy.
Love and licks,
C
I like those pudding paws. I still think you should rethink the boot thing. Boots are so in now and with all those cool outfits you have, it just might be the right choice. Moving is so much work. We moved recently and now we can’t find lots of our stuffs. Lady Caroline
Thanks for the fashion tip, Lady C. Maybe I will need to rethink the boots, and try not to freak out when I see them. Mom is lucky to have me helping her with the move. She is hyper organized, and I am keeping her on track so she doesn’t tucker out.
Love and licks,
C
“Wait” does not live in the dog’s lexicon. 🙂
So true, M. I mean there’s absolutely no reason for that word to even exist. It might as well be sjrbddfifbd.
Love and licks,
C
Wait? You have to wait Cupcake? Sometimes life is oh so unfair. Hope it’s dinner time soon!
Right, P?? It’s unnecessary torture. #gimmethegrub
Love and licks,
C
Oh my the photo of you paying dead when you have your boots on …PRICELESS 😀
Thanks, Mrs. P. BTW – I wasn’t playing dead – the boots KILLED me.
Love and licks,
C
What ?? such bad boots LOL
OMD Cupcake… that Over Flowing toilet reminds our mom of the time one of her students stood up fur Show and TELL… and said… “Guess WHAT? My Grandma keeps her Teeth in a JAR.”
GAH! Teeth in a jar! Yikes. Plus I wish I had a jar of teeth. Mom could brush them every night and leave my pearly whites alone.
Love and licks,
C
The “seriously” photo is hilarious!
Hilarious is always one of my goals.
Love and licks,
C
Kids are awesome at communication – they know all about plot twists. You never know what they’re going to say next!
That’s for sure, S and C. Every hand up was a new adventure!
Love and licks,
C
I started reading this post four times and got interrupted every time. Or was it 64 times? I can’t count either. And every time I started to read I communicated nothing too! Where am I going with this? Maybe that we have something or 23 things in common? And when I’m told to wait for MY dinner? Seriously?!?!?
Seriously, G, Waiting for dinner is crazy behavior! Counting numbers is also crazy behavior. To me, there is no difference between 4 and 64. Ditto 1 and 23. Numbers and chronological order are useless. We doggies like to live in the moment. No counting there!
Love and licks,
C
What Sarah Ferguson band Choppy said!
Agreed, S. Kids are pretty unpredictable. Plus they taste delicious.
Love and licks,
C
I think your face communicates EVERYTHING. Look: https://cupcakepetrillo.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/swing.jpg.
Either your mom needs a further pair of glasses or it might be the case that she just is a human with a (in comparison to doggies) pitiful human brain and senses.
Just for reference: https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17498622_1328612857175510_4385338488634055788_n.jpg?oh=7d34de71c9b6c4081bf1fdb68ee3a802&oe=596B38B9. What does your mom think about this doggie?
You nailed it, K. Humans are definitely struggling in the mind reading and facial expression reading departments. I think they talk too much! They forget all the other ways they can communicate. Mom and I both think that dachshund has GREAT BALANCE! Wow!
Love and licks,
C
WHAT? Don’t SHOW me the food and then TELL me I have to WAIT!
Right, A??? I think Mom is deranged. Did she forget that food is my best friend? …besides her…?
Love and licks,
C
Having worked in all grades of school, I can attest to the fact that kids ask a gazillion questions and tell stories that would make their parents blush. LOL!
Mom says she’ll believe half of what the kids say about home if their parents believe half of what the kids say about school.
Love and licks,
C
That word ‘Wait’ seems like a important word around animals. The cats here are very demanding and they all want things at different times, so I am always tell them to wait just a minute. Great post with great pictures We understand why you don’t like those booties. Have a great day.
Thanks, M. I agree with the kitties. “Wait” is the silliest word I ever heard. That being said, if I could speak English, I’d tell Mom to wait. A lot!
Love and licks,
C
hello cupcake its dennis the vizsla dog hay with that fayse i think yoo shud challendj yore mama to a game of poker!!! yoo kannot looze!!! ok bye
Ha! Thanks, D. I guess this deadpan face is good for something, then…
Love and licks,
C
You are looking very pretty in all your latest photos Cupcake. We have read through all your posts and things seem to be moving on for you both. Maybe you could help your mom by repacking some of her boxes while she’s out doing the school visits. I’m very good at going through bags and boxes, so if you need any help just ask.
Monty 🐾
Great idea, M. I usually do get my head into bags and boxes, and sometimes I get stuck. Every now and then, Mom has to help me because I am walking around with the handle of a shopping bag around my neck.
Love and licks,
C
You don’t have to communicate, Cupcake, your face says it all 😀 Now let me help you with your bowls… Double Pawkiss for a Happy Caturday 🙂 ❤
You would pop up there no problem, Little B. Bowls will never be too high for you! Lucky kitty.
Love and licks,
C
[…] So I bowl, […]