Hamilton the Hamster: Living the Dream

Stupid hamster, is what we've affectionately called Hamilton since we got him. I even wrote a post about him a while back when he escaped the first time.

Now, I'm convinced he's a genius. The first time he escaped, we had no idea where he'd gotten to. He just showed up back in his cage through the door we left open.

A week ago, I heard a rustling in the pantry while the girls were at school. Assuming it was a venomous snake, or a vicious tarantula, I called The Man at work to make sure someone could hear my last dying breath. While I was waiting for him to answer, it occurred to me that it could be a hamster, and upon checking cages, found Hamilton's door wide open. Sure enough, he'd made his way into the pantry and had set up shop inside a 12-pack box of Diet Coke. Discerning taste.

He had also managed to clean up a fair amount of Cheerios, almonds, Goldfish and Rice Crispies that have been residing on the floor of my pantry for the past two years couple weeks since I've mopped the floors. He looked pretty fat and sassy to me, and no worse for wear after his latest adventure.

Fast forward to this evening, when I began searching again for Hamilton the escaped hamster, who'd been missing since last night. We left his cage out all day, to no avail. I put the kids to bed tonight, Boodle in tears that she'd lost her hamster yet again. I got out a flashlight and started searching in earnest. I decided to check the pantry again, and who should I find there? Indeed, Hamilton had once again taken up residence, looking proud and well satisfied.

He's a genius, I tell you. At least I know next time, and oh Lordy I'm sure there will be a next time, the unending source of contraband food is the first place I'll look.