I'm using jQuery 1.3, the masked input plugin and the Validate plugin.  I have a required field that has a mask provided to it.

When the form fails to submit (because the required field wasn't entered), it enters active validation, where each field is validated immediately.  This is awesome.

When the (empty) required field is focused, the mask is displayed.  When the (still otherwise empty) required field loses focus, the mask "counts" for the required and the validation passes. 

I know I can create a new validation method that acts as required but checks for the mask, but as these two plugins are from the same author, I thought perhaps a more elegant solution existed?