So my most excellent goalie, Gerald and his lovely wife Heather innocently brought a helium balloon to the big tryout and dinner on Sunday. I brought the balloon home, as you would, and carried it into the house. Zeus and Gus ignored it, being men of the world they have seen many a balloon and know that they are not things to be feared. However, Rainie, being still relatively new to the world, had not seen a balloon and was utterly frightened of it. We left it out on the dining room table (which for once, is actually IN the dining room. But that is another, far less interesting story...) Rainie avoided the balloon at all costs, running through the room at full speed, all the while eyeing the Evil Balloon.

After a bit, she settled down and we sort of forgot about it and went to bed. After a little while, we realized that Rainie was out there growling and barking at the balloon so Andrea got up and moved it to a Safe Location so the puppy could get some sleep. That was the first night.

Last night, Rainie was in the Safe Location (aka the office) with us and wouldn't leave. So Andrea snagged the balloon and held it aloft, moving in the Roo's direction. She quickly exited the room.

Later that same night, I clipped the balloon onto Zeus' collar. He didn't care but Roo kept a careful distance. I then clipped it to the Roo's collar. Here's where I'm a bad mommy. Instantly, her tail went down between her legs and she just sulked around. I took it off right away but the damage was done. She wouldn't talk to me for the rest of the evening, feigning interest in treats and ice cubes. This morning, she still wasn't talking to me, choosing instead to remain curled up in her bed in front of the heating vent. That's it, she ignored me because she was trying to stay warm. Sure, that's it.

I'm a bad mommy.