Are Canine Kisses a #Moodlifter? by Christine DePetrillo

Is there anything in the world better than sloppy doggie kisses? Is there? I doubt it. I can have the absolute worst day, but ten seconds after opening my garage door and stepping into my basement, my entire outlook is changed. Science agrees with me. According to this Time article, "People who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate and heart-disease risk than those who don’t." Pets are moodlifters and good for your body! 

Keeping an eye on some deer in our field

For those of you that don't know, I have a large dog. A very large dog. Like outweighs-me-large dog. When I come home, he's usually right on the other side of the door, tail a-waggin' and snuffling noises of pure excitement sounding as I push into the house.

And then we cuddle. Seriously cuddle. Due to his size, I can literally spoon my dog. So that's what we do. For at least a 60-second count. In that minute of spooning, my soul is at total peace. Nothing in the world matters. Nothing that happened at work matters. Nothing on my to-do list matters. There is only thick German Shepherd fur to bury my face in. There are only oversized ears to rub. There is only the deep, growling rumble of canine bliss as we enjoy our reunion.

But such snuggling only lasts so long and then the beast wants to walk and play. He's a good sport though. He'll throw a few more kisses my way and when I've been sufficiently loved, we walk for a good forty minutes through the 'hood. Most days, I'm not really sure who walks who.

A few neighbors say hello, but most have learned that my dog takes protecting me very, very seriously. If your hello is a little too boisterous, he'll let you know. If your greeting looks as if you might approach us, he'll tell you to stay back. If you're walking with a little dog... good GOD, don't bother with us at all! Neither of us can handle it.

When we've had enough of the streets, we return home to play in the yard or in the basement. Or, most likely, both places. After this hour of walk and play--and sometimes dancing (The Werewolf loves to conga)--both the dog and I are different. He's released some of his zoomies and I've tapped into a new well of my energy. We're both renewed. I'm able to slip into writer mode after this transition time with my pooch. My mind is settled and ready to create some magic on the page.

I always thought I was a cat person, and don't get me wrong, I love my two cats, but it's not the same. They don't alter my mood. They don't seem to know exactly what I need.

They poop on the carpet.

I'd much rather have canine kisses. How about you?

Toodles,
Chris
christinedepetrillo.weebly.com 

Looking for more kisses and canines? Try Wolf Kiss, Book One in my Warrior Wolves series. Only $0.99 in ebook!

Cuddling with Strangers by Christine DePetrillo

I read an online article about someone who hired a professional cuddler. Yeah, I said a professional cuddler. As a person who isn’t all that fond of hugs from people I know, I was morbidly intrigued by the idea that someone would hire a total stranger and… umm… cuddle with them.

The article described how this person browsed through cuddlers’ profiles much the way you would do on an online dating site. There are rules, of course, about the kind of contact allowed and the preferences of the cuddler and… cuddlee? Some of the cuddlers even went so far as to outline what the person receiving the cuddling should wear. Maybe this is why I don’t successfully cuddle. I’ve been dressing all wrong for it.

I don’t know.

The dude who wrote the article tried out two different female cuddlers, both resulting in a description that sounded rather awkward to me.

But still… I was interested enough to think about this some more. My writer’s brain engaged. What circumstances would lead someone to hire a stranger for cuddling? What situations would unfold before, during, and after the cuddling? What kind of snacks does one serve at a “cuddling?”

Could a long-term relationship with a happily ever after bloom from such an encounter?

Suddenly I had two characters almost fully developed in my mind. Humorous scenes flashed before my eyes and lines of clever dialogue filled my ears. I even saw the cute dog the male character owns—an enormous bullmastiff who of course wants to cuddle too.

And he thinks he’s a small dog.

So I’m jotting things down in my writer’s notebook like an author possessed, getting more and more pumped for this new, shiny Idea when it hits me.

I still have three more books in the paranormal-contemporary series I’m currently working on to finish. I can’t put all that on the backseat to play with these cuddling characters who just decided to show up. Uninvited.

I can’t stop thinking about them though. Every day they whisper something to me. They refuse to be quiet. Or patient. They want their love story told.

They want to cuddle.

Does this ever happen to you? An idea—writing or something else creative—that won’t quit? How do you keep it under control while you finish other projects?

Toodles,

Chris

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com

SAFE, Book One, The Shielded Series, available now!