The dog house

There are many perks to working for a video game company...

(thanks to Kim and Ashley for this awesome montage)

I still remember waiting at reception for my first interview here, self-consciously early and over-dressed.  A little white bundle of Bichon came tumbling down the stairs with his owner in tow and I was in love.  Yes, the games are Epic.  Yes, the people are phenomenal.  Yes, I had left consulting to return to school after confronting the reality that the highest form of life I could keep alive on my 4 days out of town 3 days back routine was a guinea pig... and even that didn't turn out so smoothly after picking up corporate digs in West Village.  The day I got the offer, I asked my would-be supervisor if he could check on whether my would-be coworkers were cool with a would-be mascot.  Then I got Kai (pictured).

But over time, it became clear that the warg streak ran strong with Kai and her eventual sidekick Rho.  They were a pack.  They knew who had a seat in our open office cubes and would chase intruders (particularly those wearing hats or pushing bikes).  We discussed redoubling dog obedience efforts, perhaps enrolling them in extra classes, but the hours on call at work undermined our resolve.

To contain the pint sized predators, MacGyver outdid himself, making these super-stylish "Graymane Saloon" swinging doors.  Such an elegant solution to Klee Kai containment without forcing fellow cubemates to step over unwieldy baby gates or get tangled in tie outs.  But alas, the doors had many admirers (and concerned facilities caretakers).  After a poorly considered nip, the dogs are under Halladay House arrest.  The saloon doors are waiting for their next epic installation, next to plans for at home agility course obstacles.  GG.