I got locked out of my apartment! (But wait, you might be thinking that's my own fault - it's not...)

When you tell people you are locked out of your apartment, they assume you have locked your keys inside. But wait, my little darlings, do not judge me - for I have entered the world of swipe-card apartment access! This is much more convenient for the people running the apartment, but it means that when I am locked out, it is not my fault. It means the damn technologically advanced keycard is not working.

Okay, so these are the locking-out adventures I had between Monday and Tuesday. Monday afternoon when I came home from class, my key to the building wouldn't work. Unfortunately, my last class on Mondays gets out at 6:05pm, so there was no one in the office to help me get a new key, just a nice student worker who used a master key to give me access to my apartment. Now, knowing the hassles of getting back in, I wouldn't have gone out at all that night except that I had opera chorus rehearsal (whee.) so I was required to leave at shortly before 7 and return at shortly after 9. I did that and was let in again, but I felt real put out about it, don't worry.

The next morning, I went down to the little office to see if I could get my key reprogrammed. Turns out that in the beginning of the year, my roommate Kenya and I had unknowingly switched keys (they all look the same unless you write on them), and she had recently lost hers (originally mine) so when they gave her a new one, mine (hers) discontinued working. I was informed of this by the key-matron. My key was reprogrammed, I went to the gym, and I came back.

Thinking all was now well, I went up to my apartment. The key lets me into my building, but alas, will not let me into my apartment (a la, to my SHOWER). Keep in mind the time is now 10:30. I have class at 11:40 and I should really be at school warming up already. Nonetheless, I refuse to show up at Vocal Lit. sweaty and in my gym clothes, so I persevere. I returned to the office, was greeted by inquisitive looks, explained my problem, my key was reprogrammed again, and I returned to my room. Same result. I returned to the office. I asked them if I did in fact live in 1410, or if I had entered Bizarro University Plaza. They assured me that I live in that room, they handed me a NEW key, first-time programmed just for me, I returned to my room. SAME FREAKIN RESULT. I returned to the office. I suggested that the door was perhaps broken? I was then told to sit while Holly went to check the door with her master key card, which worked fine. At this point, I'm wondering if they can just let me into my room so I can get to class on time and deal with all this later, but stubbornly, I persevere.

The key-man is sent for. He fixes things that have to do with keys. While I sit waiting for him, I'm engaged in conversation by the key-matron and Holly about what kind of flowers I like (someone at the office had been sent flowers), possible lunch menus from nearby restaurants in general, and the gastrointestinal dangers of eating at Salsarita's in particular. The key man arrives. I go with him while he reprograms the door lock ("The door locks! Ellie, boot up the door locks!!!") and my key continues not working. I get my shower, I'm almost late for class, and in the rush out I forget my music and look like a goof having to make copies whilst other people are performing. UGH.

After class, I return to the office to settle this once and for all, because although I've been polite so far, if I don't deal with this in an hour or less I'm gonna shove this key somewhere it doesn't belong. On someone else. Like, INTO A HEART. Ahem, so I go into the office. Holly tries to remember what the key man told her about what was wrong, mumbled something about programming the key for the right room, and went into the other room. This was the conversation that then occurred:

Holly: It wasn't working because we were programming it for 3314!
Me: *stunned silence*...Oh, well, thank you.

There are several reasons why they should not think I live in 3314:

1. I repeatedly told them I live in 1410
2. The key-matron knew Kenya is my roommate
3. They're an apartment building business and they should know where their tenants live.
4. I WAS IN 3314 FOR ONE HOUR AND ONE HOUR ONLY ON MOVE-IN DAY BUT IT WAS THE WRONG ROOM SO I LIVED IN 1410 INSTEAD.

Really? Really, I spent over 12 hours dealing with this problem? And you wonder why I hate people.