Quirky-Kitsch Girl's Guide to Life Tip:The Lockout

I was looking forward to a trip to the gym this evening. I've been on the road since Sunday with only one opportunity to workout. At 6:30 p.m.ish in non-fashionable workout wear, I grabbed my water bottle, ear buds, towel and drivers license, walked out of my apartment and shut door.

SH*T!!!

I realized my keys were not with me but INSIDE my LOCKED apartment.

"Don't panic. Don't panic."

Visions of sleeping on my balcony flashed in my mind. Sheltering me from the cold with my hand towel. Then walking to work the next morning in my work-out wear, looking like one of the homeless people around here. At least I had a bottle of water to survive on.

I'm a type C personality (if you haven't figured it out). I like consistency (when I was labelled a "C" I responded, "C's suck!") and get off kilter when things don't go according to plan. This was a test. I think the powers that be wanted me to slow my mind down (I've been stressed and overwhelmed lately) and haven't been taking the time to appreciate and experience life.

I decided to attempt a break in. I had noticed a bobby pin in front of my door for months. (Good thing I don't sweep my walkway). Thinking I could "MacGyver" the lock, I shoved the bobby pin in the key hole, slowly turning and trying to feel a release. Nothing!

"Don't panic. Don't panic."

I walked around to the back of my apartment to the sliding glass doors. I tried to jimmy the lock by pressing and trying to lift the glass doors. Back and forth, back and forth. Nothing.

"Don't panic. Don't panic."

Walking back to the front of the apartment, I see a man coming home from work. "Excuse me. Hi. I locked myself out of my apartment. Do you know what we're suppose to do?"

"No, sorry."

"Don't panic. Don't panic."

My downstairs neighbor is a saviour! I rarely talk to anyone around here. I chitchat with a neighbor two doors down when he's walking his pug and I chitchat with her while doing laundry.

"I did something really dumb. I locked myself out."

Fast forward - she let me use her phone and phone book to call a locksmith. After 30 minutes, my knight with shiny tools arrived. He showed me how to pop the cover off the knob and pop the lock. Good to know!

So single gals, what's your plan if you lock yourself out of your apartment? Do you have a key stashed somewhere? Is there a neighbor you can rely on? Can you break into your apartment? My advice, always carry lipstick. You don't know who the locksmith is...

Needless to say, never made it to the gym.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I guess you need a spare key? There is always Microtel.
jhuber7672 said…
Yup, need a spare key that I can access. I didn't have any car keys or money so Microtel was out. I'm thinking it was the karma for having you two locked out :)
Anonymous said…
Lucky locksmith.
Anonymous said…
This actually happened to me last month. As you said, I think the Universe was trying to tell me to slow down. Glad you got back in! I ended up giving a key to a neighbor.
Val said…
Embarrassing as it is, since being on my own for the last 3 years, I've been locked out 4 times. Thankfully, my apartment complex has generous office hours and twice it happened while they were open - so I "jogged" across the courtyard to borrow a spare key. But twice it happened after hours & had to call the emergency maintenance pager number. I since have had a spare one made up for my purse.

My advice? Are you kidding me? I've been locked out 4 times! Seriously, I'd suggest getting into the habit of locking your door from the outside.
Matthew said…
Always find someone you can trust with a spare key. My girlfriend has mine now. My last apartment, the school had spares so they could invade when they wanted. But getting locked out of the first apartment was great, that's how I met my girlfriend on the third day in China.
jhuber7672 said…
I had a friend tell me I should keep a key around my neck, like old people. And grandma told me I should keep a spare key in my car then use my AAA membership to have the car unlocked.

Barefoot: Yup, his lucky night. An easy way to make fifty bucks...wait, that doesn't sound right!

Surly: It sucks being locked out, doesn't it? At least your landlandy seemed somewhat pleasant.

Val: I actually like your suggestion and after a week, I've been lock-out free :)

Matthew: That's my problem, I don't trust anyone nearby, I'm in the quasi-ghetto. I'm afraid I'd come home to an empty apartment with Dance Party USA going on.

But, getting locked out was meant to be for you. What a great story!
Slc Nanny said…
나누미 검증 추천 | 바둑이사이트 현금바둑이 딱 2곳만 추천 가장 안전하고 정직하며 신속한 바둑이사이트를 메이저 중에서도 메이저로 만나실 수 있습니다 한국을 대표하는 바둑이게임 더 이상의 바둑이사이튼 절대 없습니다 먹튀검증사이트 나누미 추천은 정확합니다 자세한 내용은 웹 사이트를 방문하십시오 현금바둑이.