Bruised and battered

As if Saturday wasn't enough fun for the weekend, I managed to get into even more trouble Sunday morning when I locked myself out of my apartment. Not a huge issue except that I didn't have my cell phone on me and Irie was locked inside. So I had to beg my unfriendly neighbor to let me borrow his phone and give me the number to the building manager. He was oh, so helpful.

The building manager didn't inspire any confidence in me that I would be getting back into my apartment anytime in the next... well, 24 hours, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Into the basement I went to determine if there was anything in there that could help me break into my apartment. Fortunately there was a rickety small step stool, so I used that to get me up high enough to get my front window open and push my air conditioner through. As I was doing this though I lost my footing and fell, scraping the majority of my body in the process.

But by now I was determined. So back to the basement I went to find something to set the stool on to give me a little more height to have a better shot at actually getting in through the window. I found a little shelf and got myself set up. Attempting not to create the same falling scenario again, I tested my weight and realized that if I stepped on the edge of the step-stool I would tip the whole contraption over. Thankfully, two ladies happened to be walking by about then, so I very politely asked for their assistance in holding the stool. They obliged and I managed to shimmy my way in through the window. Thank goodness for passer-bys.

I am now covered from head to toe in nice scrapes and bruises. My arms took the brunt of the damage, but my legs are looking pretty hot too. At least 10 people have asked me since then who jumped me this weekend. Awesome.

But, I did learn some important things throughout this....

1. No one is ever around when you need them to be.
2. When you suspect someone is unfriendly, you're often right.
3. There are many people in the city of Chicago who will walk right by someone who seems to need assistance.
4. Thankfully there are a few that won't.
5. Carrying your cell phone with you at all times is smart.
6. You'll never get anywhere without asking for help when you need it.
7. Irie doesn't understand that all the doors and windows lead to the same location - outside. She was utterly bewildered to see me come in through the window when she KNEW I left from the backdoor. She kept running back to the door and then to me looking very confused and refused to be satisfied until I opened the back door and closed it again.