Let me just say that I have never locked my keys in the car or ran out of gas (even though I have been known to run it on fumes), but for some reason I have quite the history of locking myself out of our apartment. It has happened at least four times in the year and four months we have lived there and those aren't even counting the times I was able to save myself by using our hide-a-key. Terrible, I know!
Need a laugh? Just keep reading...
Exhibit A: Cam and I had the opportunity to go to a Christmas concert at the conference center with our great friends. It was a snowy and very cold Sunday morning and since we rode with them, we had no reason to grab the keys, right? Both thought the other had and when we got home and our friends had already driven off, we discovered our dilemma. Not only that, but our landlord was still in church and would be for a while. We also tried all windows, but to avail. So we got to spend some quality time with our neighbors and avoided freezing to death until we could be saved. Thanks again to the Furlongs for being so hospitable!
Exhibit B: My friend Whitney and I, being the dedicated runners we once were, set out on our scheduled run on a hot summer day. Meanwhile our husband were headed out to West Valley for a softball game and we were to meet them there when we finished. Not thinking twice, I left my keys at home (why would I need them while running, right?) and again discovered my misfortune upon our return. Unable to find our landlord at home, we took matters into our own hands and discovered that we could make a great team at breaking into homes through the windows. Using her skills and muscles Whitney was able to somehow lift me up and push me through our kitchen window. It took a little time, thinking, strength and a whole bunch of laughs but we made it. Where was the hide-a-key then, you ask? Right on the kitchen table under the window by which we entered...left there from a couple days before when I had used it in a time of need. Perfect.
Exhibit C: I spent a Saturday morning enjoying some great crafting at our ward's Super Saturday. My friend Britanna was kind enough to give me a ride. So again, why take my keys? Cam had gone to play football and upon returning home with my new creations, I found myself once again locked out. And better yet...without my cell phone. No one else in our complex was home and with just my luck, neither was my landlord. Not knowing when Cam would be home, and guessing it would quite a while, I left my crafts on the porch with a nice little note asking my football playing husband to please come pick me up at the fabric store when he got home. (A pad of paper and pen, that I remembered, but not my keys, oh my) So I set out on my mile long walk and enjoyed some sun and exercise. I took my time at the fabric store and hoping Cam would show up soon. After an hour and a half with no sign of him, I shamelessly asked to use a phone and tried to call him twice with no answer. I left a short message, paid for my supplies and headed back again. On my way back I spoke to an old bishop, gave some kids some directions, and saw a cute friend's new apartment. Pretty eventful huh? I returned home to find my crafts and note, right where I had left them. Nice. So after trying my landlord again, not finding him home, having the Elder's Quorum President offer to let me borrow their car and declining graciously, I finally found the landlord in the backyard of the other complex. I have a feeling he knew what I needed when I approached and was kind enough to quickly let me in. I immediately called my dear husband wondering how long he could play football for, trying not to get upset. He told me he had been at his brother's house and had been since they finished with football an hour and a half ago. He kindly told me he had tried to call several times and left messages. So much for the note.
And last but not least: Tuesday after work I came home only to grab a couple things so I could run errands. Walking out with all of my needed items, I approached the car searching for my keys and you guessed it, they were right where I left them. Inside. With my phone. Are you kidding me? This time, there was no way I was going to even try to find my landlord. I have my pride, ya know, and I wasn't about to swallow it. Cam wouldn't be home for a while and I needed to go, so using the same technique Whitney and I used before, I began to attempt yet another break-in. Come to find out, it is MUCH easier with two people. However, I was determined. Luckily the window was not locked and the screen was easy to remove, I just needed something to stand on. The bush below the window was not only getting in the way, but it wouldn't hold me up. Dang that holiday weight! Luckily I had just bought a new and very huge box of Tide detergent and after carrying that massive thing upstairs from the laundry room, I was much closer to my goal. On a side note, let me just remind you that I live on Orchard Drive and it was the busiest time of the day, therefore, I had quite the audience. So much for my pride right? So there I stood on the box I could feel it starting to buckle under the pressure. Again, dang that holiday weight. Trying to hurry, I found a fairly good break of passing cars and I used my non-existant arm muscles to somehow launched myself in. Now when I say launched I really mean, slammed my ribs into the brick windowseal and flailed my legs around until I could wiggle myself the rest of the way in. What a sight! The good thing is, is that I didn't have to swallow my pride by asking my landlord for help. I guess I should of thought of the countless cars that would pass as I made my most ungraceful entrance. Oh well.
To top it off, I returned after completing my errands to find that I had not only left the door unlocked, but wide, wide open. Seriously? I just had to laugh.
I have decided to name this time of year Birthday Season for our family. It seems as though we couldn't fit any more birthdays in from the end of February through the middle of March. Here is the line up: 
