Rogue 'Characters' window display

[Schweats]

I was curious if anyone has ever experienced this behavior.
Opening or closing any window in any app (including the finder - e.g. opening a folder on the desktop) as I initiate the opening or closing , I momentarily get a window that is blank, except at the top this is a 'characters' title bar. In the center of the window there is the
countdown wagon wheel spoke circular progress bar and this stays in view for a couple of secs. then closes and the window that I want to
open or close completes the command.
The key command to open the characters window is option+command+T according to keyboard/mouse prefs in System Prefs
and it doesn't call up the characters utility when I initiate that.
Anyone have a clue ?

TIA - Schweats