I actually do think he was grumpy (and taking it out on Pippin!
Bad Gandalf, no donut!), but I also know that there is a good reason for this...
He really did have a lot of responisbility on his shoulders (you know, the saving of mankind and all that) and that caused a lot of stress (I don't care that he's a Maia; they stress out too). And, as people probably know, stressed people are generally...tetchy. So it's understandable how minor annoyances could make Gandalf "fly off the handle", so to speak. At the Doors of Moria is a prime example.
This understanding only slightly appeases my subtle dislike for Gandalf though. He is a brilliant character, and certainly admirable, but I still am a bit less than fond of him. *points at the parenthesed (yeah, that's not a word) statement in the first paragraph* Is it just me, or is Pippin more often than not the target of the stress-induced crankiness?
Abedithon le,
~ Saphy ~