Did I tell you I got locked out of my bathroom the other day?
It was Tuesday afternoon, right after I had made a run to Target and Trader Joe’s for food and rugs. By the time I got back to the apartment building, I had to go to the bathroom. Badly. But in the meantime, I had to unload the car and make three trips to the building with my packages, then move the packages near the elevators, then try to hold the elevator door open so I could move all those bags inside the elevator.
Still had to go to the bathroom.
At one point, I enlisted the help of one of the maintenance men to hold the elevator door for me, so that I could grab the last couple of bags. I didn’t want to inadvertently send the elevator up and on its way to an unknown floor without me.
Fast forward to my arrival on my floor. Again: hold the elevator door with my foot, unload all the bags. Then move the bags to right outside my apartment door. Unlock the door, move all the bags inside the door. Say hi to Scout. Head to bathroom, because by this time, I really had to go.
The door, which I had shut earlier in the day in order to keep Scout from slipping on the floor while I was out, was locked.
Oh no.
I tried a few more times. Locked. By this time, I was doing a frantic little dance and wondering what the heck I was going to do. I ran out the door, thinking that maybe the guy from maintenance was still downstairs. As I headed to the elevators, amazingly, there he was, on my floor. I begged him for help.
When we got inside the apartment, he looked at the doorknob and said we needed some sort of wire, about 3 inches long, which he would push into that little hole on the knob to eventually release the locking mechanism. Well, I’m in theater housing, with just the basic necessities. I opened drawers. I looked in closets, I even tried to straighten out the wire on one of my pierced earrings. Nothing worked.
By this time, I was in danger. You know that feeling.
Finally, he suggested a wire hanger and I found one in the closet. It looked rocky for a while there, as he tried to straighten the wire enough to get it through the hole, but he finally managed to release the lock.
A voice was screaming in my head, “Thank you, now get out so I can go!”
But I thanked him profusely and walked him to the door.
Then I ran into the bathroom.
Scout just watched all this with the sort of bemused air of a dog who has seen her parents do all sorts of weird things.
I can’t take a walk in the park with Scout without bringing back something. A leaf, a pinecone, an acorn. I did the same thing last year.
I hunt and gather and everything is placed in the middle of the dining room table. An unintentional vignette (because you know I like to arrange things but I’m not really a vignette sort of person.) I do love the colors of those oak leaves.
I’m missing autumn at home. I should be raking leaves right about now. I was going to go back home on Monday for an appointment, but I just can’t bear the thought of it. I haven’t really had a day off in about two weeks. And that would increase to three weeks without a day off if I headed home. So I’m staying here with my little girl. We’re going to take some nice walks. Maybe I’ll run a few errands. But we aren’t going to drive for four hours, that’s for sure.
Remember my recent post about blogging and the New York Times article centering on Young House Love (the Petersiks)? They’ve decided to stop blogging. Read the post here. I’ll miss them and their wonderfully honest presence on the Web, but I admire them for the bravery of their decision.
New post up at Just Let Me Finish This Page. It’s a review of Personal by Lee Child. Stop by!
Happy Friday.
The Petersik’s announcement made me sad too. I so enjoyed their blog. They were ambitious bloggers (meaning they wrote often and extensively), and we came to expect too much from them, I think. Long term, that is very hard to live up to.
I agree. They gave so much of themselves that it would have been impossible to continue for any length of time, I think – at least, to continue and have the quality of life they needed and wanted. I admire them for the bravery of their decision. But I’m very sad.
Oh Claudia, You’ve got me sitting in my office Laughing out loud! I have soooo been there, I think we all have! You are so honest. You just take that day off and bond with your gal and don’t worry, you are home! (away from home)and you need a little down time. I Really enjoyed this post! -Judy A-
Well, I am to make everyone laugh, so that makes me happy!
I was doing the dance along with you. I have so been there. Usually I’m trying to get across a store to the restroom ‘in time’!! I’m glad you are taking the day off and spending it with Scout.
hugs,
Linda
Oh me too. Barnes and Noble, Lowes, the supermarket…I know where all the bathrooms are!
I think we’ve all done that dance at some point…..hilarious from this perspective! Good for you….take the day completely off! You deserve it! ;)
I think so. I forgot to mention that I’ve been sick for two weeks, as well! Time for a day off. I’m feeling much better. Still congested and coughing, but not nearly as much.
I could feel you doing the “pee dance” through the computer! Good thing you found the maintenance guy right away, otherwise you’d be knocking on neighbor’s doors! I read about Young House Love this morning. I wasn’t a regular reader of their blog – only looked at it once in awhile – but sad that they’re not going to be doing their blog anymore. I thought they had a really good thing going. But totally understandable how they’ve decided to go in another direction. You know whose blog I really miss? Dear Daisy Cottage. Were you familiar with that one?
It is understandable. I’ve sometimes, for quick second, though of stopping but I love it too much. But my blog and their hugely popular blog are two different animals. I’ve already read some of the comments – most of which were incredibly supportive, but some? Written as if the bloggers owed them something. Makes me want to smack some people upside the head.
Yes, I liked Dear Daisy Cottage. You know she has a photography blog, right? And she does show some of her home there. Let me know if you don’t and I’ll send you the link.
Well I can definitely relate to your PP dance story..lol..if the maintenance man only knew what was going on in your head..Thanks for a good laugh today!
Thank goodness I just casually mentioned that I had to have access to the bathroom! No gory details.
Glad you are going to take the day on Monday for you and for Scout. You will both feel better for it, I’m sure. Sometimes we really need to catch our breath.
I was so sad to see YHL’s announcement yesterday. I had so hoped they would just decide to post less, but as you said, that really wouldn’t be them. Today they added a post-script to their post of yesterday, still trying to make all of US feel better. Crazy. I know they will be missed. As I read through some of the many many comments, one person called them selfish. Unreal.
Glad you found the wire hanger just in time!! I could picture all of it happening as you loaded and unloaded that elevator with the bags.
Hope you have a great day!!
I think the commenters who dared to call YSL selfish are suffering from more than a little projection. They are the ones who are selfish. Unbelievable.
Oh and how about this one: “We bought you that house with all of our page views and book purchases and then, that’s it- its over?!”
UNBELIEVABLE. Just how self-absorbed and deluded can one be? No mention of how every bit of information the Petersiks shared with us was generously given and free to boot.
It must be the week of misadventures.
I’m the first to admit I’m injury accident prone, but this week was off the meter. It is our Thanksgiving weekend here, so I think I’ll just enjoy the extra day off and stay well out of the kitchen. Your staying in town to rest is probably for the best – enjoy the fall colours with Scout. :D
Happy Thanksgiving Barbara. Stay out of the kitchen and have a restful day!
Your story made me smile. How come when we really “have” to go – it seems like we have to depend on other people to get us to the place we need to be ? Reminded me of two of my own stories. When I get the chills and goosebumps – I know I’m in trouble! :)
It was a close call, Deb!
Claudia – I recently had your blog recommended to me & I have really enjoyed reading through many of your recent posts. Scout is an absolute angel too. Your doin’ the dance made me laugh out loud. You must be doing those Kegel exercises doctors are always going on about because I know I never would have lasted as long as you did with a full bladder all while having to converse with the door man.
Another issue I can empathize with you about is all that loading & unloading of bags just to get them inside your home. When I moved into my condo, I realized I was going to need some way to transport all my groceries & things from the car in a long underground parking garage, up the elevator to the 5th floor & to the end of a long hallway. One day while in Target, I noticed that the sold what I call little old lady pull carts. It was the perfect answer to my transport problem. So I put my vanity aside & ran that baby up to the check out and put it in my car trunk with all my purchases. When I got home, I loaded it up to the max. 50 pound capacity (2 boxes of cat litter) and wheeled it one handed into the elevator and down the hall in record time, The best $26 I ever spent. It folds & stores in my car trunk and has held up to abuse for 12 yrs. now. It can bump up a stair or two if needed & lugs everything in one trip. I just wanted to let you know what a huge help these inexpensive carts are. Having one may not have solved your lock issue, but aside from that it sure would have gotten you from the car to your bathroom a lot quicker. Something to consider.
Thanks for a great post.