What Would You Do for Four Hours?

Having recently returned from a great backpacking trip, I found myself locked out of my house with no way in and nowhere to go.  I arrived home a day early with only my backpacking gear, a single dollar, my phone, my driver's license and my credit card.  I carpooled and was planning to have Allison let me in so I had no keys.  I remembered that she was going to the beach, on the coast, two hours away.  That would have been good to remember earlier.  I was able to get into the garage via keypad entry but that is as far as I got.  Trying all other doors, knowing they would be locked, I considered other possibilities.  Of course my first thought was to call Allison but her phone was out of range.  My mom has a key but she is out of town.  I asked my law enforcement neighbor if he his lock-picking kit but he no longer had one.  I was a mess too, having not showered for several days.  I couldn't drive anywhere since I had no keys.  Exhausted from the long hike that day, I wasn't up for trekking anywhere on foot.  What was I going to do?

An experiment of sorts was under way.  I unpacked all my gear and put away what I could and piled the rest by the door.  Then I decided to do some garage organization, getting to some garage related chores I'd had for months and even years.  I discovered a few things I forgot that we even had.  Allison called me once she received my voice mail, having gotten into range.  She gave me the idea to order a pizza and have it delivered, which I did.  While I waited for the pizza I did some light pruning.  I spotted my old boom box and got some CD's out of my car.  Now armed with music, my time was getting better.  The pizza arrived and then I was wishing the pizza guy could also bring me a cold beer.  I was thirsty and relying on hose water.  The obvious trick is to remove the hose and let the bib run a little bit before drinking any of the water, otherwise it's warm.  Armed with tunes and a pizza, I pulled up a chair and sat in the backyard.  I was beginning to enjoy myself.  When do I ever get to sit in my yard, uninterrupted, and just think and relax.  Turns out, it only happens when I lock myself out of the house. 

In a lapse of judgment I opened the side door from inside the garage and set off my house alarm.  It screamed while I stand outside, unable to do anything about it.  The alarm company called Allison and she let them know to not call the police, which is good because I had made my way to the spa.  Sitting in the spa, in my underwear, may have seemed suspicious had the police arrived.  My family returned after I had already been home for four hours.  My little time alone was kinda nice after all.  It could have been worse had my phone been completely out of battery (it was very close).  Having no pizza would have been rough because I was starving.  My neighbor invited me over for pasta but I was dirty and smelly and there was no way I was stepping foot in their house.

So how good or bad would your experience be if you were put in my situation?

Comments

[matt]

You are so much more evolved than i am i get depressed reading about your genius, ha-ha. I would have broken into my house somehow and then felt stupid for breaking whatever i did to get in (window/door/other)! i'm so stupid i locked myslef in my kids room while trying to remove an old doorknob. there i am at 6pm, in my boxers, stuck in my front room while my wife is with the kids in oakley and the entire house is locked so even if i climbed out the window i couldn't get back into the house. i ended up using a screwdriver as a hammer and broke off the entire housing to the doorknob and the door opened, but i did cut my hand, duh. you are my hero brewer.