Blame it on the Super Moon, or perhaps I’m still adjusting to the time change, but boy was I a grouchy Golden this weekend.  Shocking, right?!  Me, who NEVER complains about anything was grouchy!  It all started at 3:00 AM Saturday morning, when I realized Dad never came home from visiting my Grandparents.  He’s spending the weekend at Babci and Pepere’s lake house without me!  The outrage!  I started barking to alert Mom to the problem.  Being well trained she immediately came running to check on me.  But would you believe rather than load up the car and take us in search of Dad, she took us out to go the bathroom instead, told me everything was “ok,” and then went back to bed!  Not acceptable!

Resigned to her ignorance, I settled back in my crate to sleep.  I was enjoying a nice dream about swimming in the lake with Dad when Asa had the audacity to wake me up to wrestle.  Once again I summoned Mom to address the situation.  But would you believe she thought it was time to get up?  No!  It’s 6:00 AM on a Saturday morning!  Who cares that Asa wants to go for a walk!  He ALWAYS wants to walk!  As she tried to leash me up I ducked and weaved around the garage, all the while showing her I’d rather play fetch instead.  Who is she to decide my day?  So what if we always walk first then play fetch.  I want to play fetch NOW!  Luckily Mom knows she is no match for me, and gave in to my demands.

After our new routine of fetch then walk, I came inside for breakfast.  Ah, breakfast, the most important meal of the day, equal only to dinner.  But again my bad mood got the better of me.  Why was Mom pausing to make coffee?  I WANT my breakfast!  While stomping my paws in disapproval, I accidentally knocked over the water bowl, which only served to further delay breakfast.  Why wasn’t Asa getting mad too?  The fool has no appreciation that without me he’d probably starve to death.  His ignorance only made me more angry.

Following breakfast I retreated into the living room to chew my Nylabone and brood.  How dare Dad spend the weekend at the lake without me?  How dare Mom and Asa flaunt their good moods in front of me!  You should have seen them sitting in the kitchen!  Mom eating her toast with Asa at her side, resting his head on her lap to pet.  Norman Rockwell couldn’t have painted a more serene scene of domestic bliss!  Disgusting!  I began growling to show my disapproval.  Asa ignored me, and Mom cooed, “It’s ok, Dad will be home soon.”  Ok?  It’s NOT OK!  I began to pace in the living room.  Finally I couldn’t take it any longer, and went bounding into the kitchen and pounced on Asa wrestling him to the floor.  Alright, I admit this attack was unprovoked.  Asa flopped on his back with a confused look on his face, and didn’t put up even the slightest fight.  Satisfied I proved who was Alpha, I settled in for a nap.

As the day dragged on, my mood only got worse.  I overheard Mom talking with my Grandmother.  What do you mean Dad and Pepere are out hiking without me?  And did I overhear that correctly?  He and my kitty cousin, Vegas, slept in the same bed!  I’m never allowed to sleep in bed with Dad!  I needed to vent my anger.  So back outside we went to play fetch.  But once again I changed the rules.  Who needs fetch when you can play “har, har, I have the ball and you don’t!”  There I was with the coveted ball running circles around Mom while taunting Asa with the squeaking!  I didn’t care that they were getting angry that they couldn’t play too.  I was finally having fun!  Faster and faster I ran zigging around the grill, zagging under the stairs, leaping over Asa!  It was exhilarating!  I was Alpha!  I was INVINCIBLE!  That is until Mom stopped everything by showing me a treat and asking me to “trade.”  Who could resist a trade like that?  I caved and dropped the ball so Asa could play fetch too.

I spent the remainder of that day napping with bouts of self-righteous indignation.  Would you believe even Mom abandoned me in my hour of need and went out with her friends?  Who does that?  Finally that evening Dad returned.  Despite the fact he reeked of cats, I settled in at his side.  All was right in my world once more.  The grouchy Golden has left the building!