marla! noooooo!

Because Cap'n John is such a nurturing pet owner, he takes the pups for scenic car rides and impromptu trail hiking at intervals throughout the day.  We have Gus the Dog with us for a few weeks and he has been loving all the sights and smells.  One such stop John took the pups on was a driving tour through Marquette's recreational crown jewel: Presque Isle Park. It's a beautiful outcropping of rock, populated by a very dense deciduous forest known throughout the United States for it's natural beauty.  There are many postings along the route stating "KEEP DOGS IN CAR" and "NO DOGS ALLOWED." Another attraction on Presque Isle Park is the white-tailed deer. This free-roaming band at times contains albino deer whose snowy-white coat dramatically contrasts with the typical brown coloring of the species.  Well.......what started out as an idyllic drive, soon turned into disaster.  Yes friends, Marla Truex Jr. has done it again.  Cap'n John purposely keeps the windows up high enough so the dogs can just poke their head out to smell the new smells, unlike normally, when he keeps it chest high so they can gain some good extension into the wind.  He was driving along Peter White trail and heard the ominous sounds of "THUMP," "THUMP." and then "BA-CHING!"  His eyes dart into the rearview and sees only Gus the Dog, who is clearly and without question horrified at what he is witnessing and frozen stock still in time. John then looks out the drivers window and whooosh! There she goes! Off chasing Mr. Squirrel right  smack through the nature conservatory! She was like a bullet with feet of flames and darting from tree to tree! Clouds of dirt flying up past her whirring paws as she made way to fresh kill! John had to put the car in park, with now five other cars left idling behind, and attempted to get her to come back! "Marla!" "GET BACK IN THE CAR!" as she mocked him and laughed, zig zagging her way around the rocky outcroppings and tall pines.  He finally got her captured, much to the delight of the snaking line of idling cars behind him,  drivers fists shaking in frustration, and got her back in the car.  Gus was traumatized at her display of acrobatic yet murderous critter rage.  Just another day for Cap'n John in Marquette.   Thank God the new knee and the Achilles were not collateral damage from all the zigging and zagging he had to do to get her!