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I did something stupid this week that I haven’t done in years and I hope it’s not a precursor of how 2010 is heading. I locked myself out of the house.
The last time I pulled this trick was about five summers ago. I ended up destroying a window screen and crawling through a window that time. This event was a whole other thing. See, it’s winter and we’re having our coldest and snowiest one on record. The weathermen have urged caution on the roads, and suggested that if you park your car outside, that you start it once a day in this weather and let it warm up.
Ok, this makes sense, and since I have to head out early to work tomorrow for the day job, it made double sense to clear the snow off the car today. Since I would have to interrupt my writing time for this, I’d make a side trip to the post office to mail something that should go out tomorrow morning.
I decide I don’t need to take my purse. Just my wallet and cell phone will do. So I go out, start the suv and begin sweeping off the snow. It’s cold, and though I’ve been out less than five minutes my toes are numb. And yes, I am wearing heavy socks and insulated snow boots. I’m a winter wuss.
I hurry back to the house, grab my wallet and phone, lock the door and hurry to my now warm car. Except it’s locked. I didn’t intentionally lock it, but that is moot. I can’t get in the locked suv and I can’t get into the house because the house keys are on the same keyring with the car ones and they are danging from the ignition. I can see them, but I can’t get to them.
I allowed myself a minute of panic. At least I had my phone and I could call somebody to unlock my car, but that would take time. I was already freezing. Did I mention I live in a rural area?
Years ago I’d vowed this wouldn’t happen again because I would hide a key outside so I could get in without breaking a window. But had I done it? I honestly couldn’t remember if I had, or exactly where I’d decided would be the best place to hide a key. But I knew if I had, it would be in the back yard.
Fenced back yard with locks on the gates that also are strung with rabbit wire. Yeah, I had to climb a fence that didn’t offer any toeholds, wearing boots and a coat. My fingers are officially frozen and I’m hoping I don’t lose my wallet or phone.
I’m past freezing. I’m miserable and I have to dig in nearly two feet of snow to find the key. After several unsuccessful tries I find it. 
Of course it wasn’t the key for the utility door, so I had to climb the fence again.
I got into the house to get the spare keys, and I did make it to the post office and back home and inside. I may hide a key again, just in case. But I’m not going to lock the house again without spare keys in my pocket.
So what about you? Have you ever locked yourself out of the house or car? Do you have contingency plans, just in case?
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Jan 8th
2010
6:40 am
kristan higgins Said:
Poor Janette! Yes, I’ve done it too…with both kids in tow, when they were tiny. Had my son in the backpack, my daughter by the hand, snow and ice everywhere, the little guy crying his head off. Had to boost my daughter through the window (also broke our screen). Got my son settled, and my daughter and I had cake for lunch. Oy!
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Jan 8th
2010
7:13 am
Janette Kenny Said:
Kristan I don’t blame you for tearing out a screen. You had the kids to consider first. Good call with the cake though!
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Jan 8th
2010
8:01 am
Karen Said:
A few days after we moved into our new house, before we had a chance to hide a key and on my husband’s first day at the new job.
I took my boys out to run off some excess energy and – since it was hot and didn’t want to air-condition the outside – I shut the door behind us.
Oops.
Those lock things in the middle of the doorknob, you know, the kind you turn to make the door lock or not? Well, they worked the opposite way from our last house.
After a half hour in the heat and sun, I just wanted back in. Nope. And I was outside without a cell phone in a new neighborhood. Fortunately, a man with a lawn mowing service across the street was kind enough to lend me his cell phone. I called my husband who also had no key – he hadn’t yet strung it on the car keys…. (there weren’t many copies and we’d been planning to change the locks.) He called a locksmith and 2 hours later, the locksmith drilled out one of our locks.
That weekend we put on all new locks, hid a key, and handed a copy over to a friendly neighbor.
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Jan 8th
2010
8:43 am
Tonya Kappes Said:
That really stinks! Especially in the snow.
Last year when we had a wind storm in the Mid-East, we were out at one of my kids games. We came home to find shingles off neighbors roofs, trees down, trampolines in the middle of the road…just all sorts of stuff. To our chagrin, our house was untouched! We were estatic to say the least until I continued to punch the garage door opener. Nothing.
DH “where’s your front door keys?”
Me “I don’t need them when I just pull into the garage”
DH “What about when the electric is out, LIKE TODAY?”
Me “Oh…”
We broke into a window and the electric was out for three days!
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Jan 8th
2010
9:12 am
Shana Said:
I did it in like 90-degree weather. I went outside to do yardwork and when I tried to get back in, I’d locked myself out. I was thirsty, sweaty, and had to go to the bathroom. I used a neighbor’s phone to call three people with spare keys, but none of them could come and unlock the door. So I sat outside for 3 hours waiting until my husband got home. By then I was starving (but not thirsty as the neighbor had offered water). Oh, and it was my husband’s birthday. I didn’t have the cake done or the presents wrapped.
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Jan 8th
2010
9:38 am
Emily McKay Said:
As a teenager, I locked myself out of our house all the time. Thank goodness, that hasn’t happened in a while. But a couple years ago, I did lock the keys in the back of the station wagon after changing a diaper in the back. Thank goodness we were at my favorite coffee shop, so I had a nice place to relax while I waited for the lock smith to come.
Sorry about your experience, Jan. Sounds miserable! I’m such a wimp I got cold just reading about it.
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Jan 8th
2010
10:20 am
Margo Maguire Said:
Brrrr! Your wintry tale gives me the chills, Jan! Luckily, there was a happy ending!
Our doors don’t lock unless you use a key to do it, so no, *I* haven’t locked myself out. But my kids have done it twice recently. They’ll go out in the evening with a friend – forgetting their keys – and arrive home in the middle of the night, unable to get in. And then have the audacity to PHONE US!! Sheesh.
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Jan 8th
2010
10:39 am
Deb H. Said:
I locked myself out of my apartment one summer day when I was laying out in the backyard. I had a neighbor kid crawl in through the screen to unlock the door.
My worst experience was 3 summers ago on a very hot day (90+ with a heat index of 100). I had just finished loading the car with my bought groceries, started the car to run the a/c, took the cart back to the rack, and—locked myself out of a running car, full of groceries. 35 minutes and $75 later, I was finally on my way home.
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Jan 8th
2010
11:28 am
Quilt Lady Said:
I have done both at some time or the other! I also hide a key for this reason. I also carry a car door key in my wallet but that doesn’t do much good if your purse is in the car thats locked. Don’t feel bad we all do it.
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Jan 8th
2010
12:53 pm
Soleil Said:
The second day I had my license, I locked the keys in the car. I had to call my mom, and she had to call her job to tell them that she would be in late (she’s a nurse, and that’s not the best job to be late to). Needless to say, she wasn’t too pleased with me when she got there, and luckily I’ve never done it since. I haven’t locked myself out of my house yet, but having a spare key somewhere or with friendly neighbors sounds like a good contingency plan!
Like some others who have commented, I got cold just reading your story! Sorry that happened, Janette!
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Jan 8th
2010
1:05 pm
catslady Said:
My daughter locked me out once – she was very young – not even two I think. I went out back for something and she clicked the sliding door lock. But she didn’t know what she did and didn’t understand how to unlock it. Luckily our back yard is level with our bedroom windows and it wasn’t winter (poor you!) and I was able to take out one of our screens/window which scared me to death as to how easy it was so we fixed that (of course I’d never get in that way again). Then there was the time I locked myself out the front door so I had to rip one of my screens to get in (lucky again that it was summer!
My daughter did lock herself in the garage during winter and literally knocked down the celler door with her foot – door and lock were both ruined!! I can tell you more times but you get the idea lol.
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Jan 8th
2010
1:49 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
Karen, and Tonya I can picture you both when you realized that your husbands didn’t have keys either!
Oh Shana that would be aweful to wait in the heat that long.
Mine used to be like that Margo. Which probably explains why I hadn’t locked myself out in years.
Deb that would be aweful to lock your groceries in the car on a scorching day.
I used to have a wallet with a key slot catslady. But like you sad that wouldn’t have done me any good.
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Jan 8th
2010
7:35 pm
Ceci Said:
Oh yes!
At an ATM in Colorado during a blizzard. It took 40 minutes for the tow truck to get there, but at least I could wait in the freezing ATM “booth” and stay out of the snow.
When I was in high school (Catholic, all girls), we girls were always locking our keys in the car in the school parking lot. No need to call a tow truck though! Sister Beth was a WHIZ with a slim jim…
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Jan 8th
2010
8:10 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
It IS a good idea to have a Plan B, Soleil. I sure am from now on. Maybe a Plan C as well.
Catslady it is scary how easy it is to break into a house. I’ve heard the cops say before that the crooks know how to get in and can do it quickly. But you know, maybe it’s good to at least “imagine” we’ve locked ourselves out — in good weather! — and see how long it takes to get into the house.
Ceci, too funny about Sister Beth! OMG I would have panicked to be locked out in a blizzard away from home. At least you had shelter.
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Jan 9th
2010
12:21 pm
KathrynSmith Said:
I got trapped on our balcony once. Luckily a neighbor went by walking his dog and he broke in through the kitchen window. Thank God it was summer!
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Jan 10th
2010
1:08 am
ladydawgfan Said:
My van has automatic locks, so, yes, I have been locked out, as have the mechanics who repair my van. In fact, that is where I got the spare key that I keep in my pocket book (it actually IS in my pocket!). I was having the windshield wipers replaced at the Toyota dealership (special size, special order), and they started the engine to make sure that everything was working fine. I told them about the automatic locks, but since I have an older van, I don’t think they believed me. They shut the drivers door with the engine running and when they tried to open it again, the door was locked tight.
I just stood there laughing at them while they copied the VIN # and went and cut another key so they could get back in. The lady behind the counter was laughing too. She said that I couldn’t have picked a better place to be locked out of my vehicle!!
Now, I automatically roll down the window when I have to leave the keys in the ignition (oil changes, car repairs, etc). I also warn the mechanics about the auto locks and make sure that it is written on the invoice to avoid difficulties.
BTW, I have had to use my emergency key ONCE, so I am glad to have it.
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