Shadow tours the neighborhood

It's not unusual for me to be abruptly woken up by the sounds of Shadow barking uncontrollably at a miscellaneous utility vehicle. Typically it's a minor annoyance solved by dragging myself to the sliding doors and inviting him back inside the house, which he usually happily returns to under the assumption that he is being called in for no other reason than because he is convinced this is all one big, exciting game meant just for him and I. Once in a while this "game" consists of him running up to the door, deciding he'd rather be chased around the yard, and then taking off in an insanity run otherwise known as the "Zoomies". If Shadow reaches the Zoomies state of mind, it's too late for all of us and nothing can be done until he wears himself out and chooses to come inside on his own terms.

Upon rising from my slumber this morning (at approximately 1100, after a greatly needed 12-hour night sleep mind you), the very first thing I notice is the unmistakeable barking of the black lab coming from what sounds like the front yard. "That's odd", I think to myself, as our backyard is fenced and Shadow doesn't typically enter the front yard unless he's gotten out, terrorizes the neighborhood for 20-30 minutes, then comes trotting back to our house with a big, goofy grin planted on his face, ready for a big ol' bowl of water and maybe a few ice cubes to snack on.

First, I try the sliding doors. Alas, I do hear his barking, but I do not see him. "Shadow?!" I call. Nothing. Shrugging my shoulders, I return inside to prepare myself a late breakfast. Still, though, I hear that barking. Grumbling, I open the front door, half afraid, half expecting to see that tail a-waggin'. And there he is, our shining star of a boonie dog, standing in the center of the cul-de-sac barking at the pouring rain, soaked to the bone, having the time of his life (annoying the hell out of anyone who passes by). I sigh, call for him, and like a perfect gentleman he returns back to the house, absolutely thrilled with himself.