Thursday, August 13, 2009

Controlled Access 8/3/09

Living in a big building is certainly a new and interesting adventure. As we were moving in, my cousin Dave said the long empty hallways lined with doors reminded him of a Stanley Kubrik picture. My adventures getting lost (and worse) have made me feel like I'm in a bizarre movie myself.

The leasing office has a rotating library of DVDs which residents can check out. Not sure if the office had closed yet, I went over that way to look into it. I had to get in an elevator to get up to the office, but I soon found myself virtually trapped inside it. The office being closed, the elevator wouldn't take me up there. With access to residential areas being controlled, I couldn't get off the elevator either. I could only go down to the parking level, which was also controlled and kept me from getting to our car, or the elevator that would take me to our floor.

The parking area I ended up in has a keypad by the elevator that allows you to call a resident you're visiting to unlock elevator. The number it calls is actually my cell phone number . . . which was locked in the car.

I soon found myself outside the building, locked out, with no recourse but to ask a stranger for the use of their cell phone. I found a security guard on patrol. I explained my predicament, and borrowed his phone. It took several panicked tries, but I finally reached Amy, who has the only entry fob. She came out and rescued me.

On the bright side, we now know just how tough it is to get into this place if you don't belong here, or even if you do. Compared to our place in Midvale, it's sure a nice change, as long as I can avoid getting locked out again.

-Tom

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