Wednesday, January 05, 2011

from now on, Jon is in charge of letting people in

Since sometime over the weekend, the outside security door (the one allowing anyone from the foyer-area to enter the building) in our 1960's apartment building has been stuck on buzz-to-let-someone-in mode. I mean constantly. As if someone was standing at his front door just holding it down or some blasted kids (and they're around, sticking their gum to the lobby wall en masse this summer) taped it down. Jon and I walked in shaking our heads. I am paranoid in general, making sure the apartment door is always double locked even when just going to get the laundry and that the chain is on when everyone is home. I was pretty irritated by this breach in security because that meant the lock, deadbolt and chain were all that separated us from all the serial killers prowling around suburbia.

Today there was a sign posted from the management company saying several people have complained about the door and there is nothing wrong with the system, except that the buzzer in somebody's unit is stuck in the down position. It asked that we all check our units to make sure it's not ours.

I went upstairs, took off my coat, put my purse on the ottoman and hung up my keys. Then I looked at our personal intercom, with its set of TALK, LISTEN and DOOR buttons that have been so well-used that the raised, once-gilded letters are worn in the center and barely legible. I gasped. DOOR was jammed under the edge of the intercom frame opening. Free-for-all entrance to our building since Sunday and it was all my fault! In my haste to let my parents enter, I didn't notice that the button hadn't popped back out after I held it down. And I hadn't thought to look earlier, because, duh, I could never be that stupid. Just to be sure, I walked all the way downstairs. The buzzer was a-buzz no longer.

There is certainly some bad karma coming my way. Because for nearly three days, I was cursing the doofus who doesn't understand how an intercom system works and put all of us at risk for intruders.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh man, that sounds like something I would do. Especially the part about thinking some idiot doesn't know how to use an intercom system. I think that's why for Christmas I got a helpful little pad with the warning: "Check yourself before you wreck yourself." ;) Maybe someone else in the building was due for some bad Karma and you were just part of the universe's plan to dole it out.

Anonymous said...

Not sure why you would need such a system in the first place...

SupaCoo said...

HA!! It figures, huh? Just never 'fess up and it'll all be good ;)

Anonymous said...

i agree w/ supacoo- just keep singing under your breath... it wasn't me...tanana nana na...it wasn't me...

hey, have you ever considered what you would look like blonde?
Ale

Jon said...

ok, so I just read this. Holy crap. I did no such cursing, but I did think that someone's button might be stuck. Didn't think it was ours. I was never that worried though. I won't spill the beans here on the internet, but you and I both know that security door leaves a lot to be desired in the way of securing us innards from those unwanted outards.

Verification word: methra - the god of meth.

sorry, that's the best I can do. Still sick.

Lia said...

Now, now, it could happen to anyone.

I worry sometimes when I notice that the building door lock has been jammed open. I assume it's to make things easier on the guy delivering newspapers, but it worries me nonetheless. If the newspapers can get in, what else can get in?

Anonymous said...

Wow, that sounds super annoying. I don't think you need to feel bad about it, the buzz should have been punishment enough.

Although Jon the bouncer does have a nice ring to it.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

That's the kinda confidence a gal should have...she wouldn't do nuttin' like dat, noooo way, har har.

Madelyn said...

Wow, that sucks.

Eclectic Bride-Wife-Mom said...

that's pretty hysterical. doofus! :) don't be so hard on yourself, I think you've put plenty of good out there a mistake once in a while is allowed.

Let's find time to knit soon. I have ideas....