The Gate

From Bandit: For years, we've been allowed to run around the house in limited areas. Places we can't go are blocked by what the staff call a "baby gate." While we're insulted by the name, we know they really mean "Maggie Gate." Those wood and plastic blocks were the bane of our in-house existence.

A few months ago, Maggie managed to chew through the plastic lattice on it and then started running through it with no regard for where she was really supposed to be. It would've been OK but then she got into the cat food a couple times and Ernie complained. So the staff went and bought new gates.

Then the gates started appearing on the porch, across the bedroom door and in front of the kitchen. Not fair. So this weekend, Maggie figured out how to knock them down. She just wedges her nose under the corner and lifts it up. It's been a while since I've complimented Maggie on anything, but this new skill she's acquired is terrific. She's like the 'raptors in "Jurassic Park." It's no wonder that's her favorite movie. She just tests the gates until she finds a weak point, sticks her nose up under it and lifts.

As you might imagine, the staffers are not thrilled about this at all, especially since we manage to sneak out and run around the house pretty often. And Ernie is really hot that his food bowl seems to be empty all the time. Too bad.