Last night was scrapbook night. Alexis and I were sitting in the conference room, happily cutting and pasting and sticking, when Richard wheeled in.

"Isn't the front door supposed to be locked?"

I didn't even look up. "Well, yeah, but we've been keeping it unlocked because of the visitors. Suzanne will lock up when she leaves."

"Suzanne left ten minutes ago."

Richard has this... peculiar sense of humor. He likes to play practical jokes, and he's got a fine appreciation for schadenfruede.

I looked up, but he wasn't smirking. "You're kidding. Where's Mike?"

"Home."

"Frank?"

"Gone."

"I don't have any of the master keys. Can you call Becky, maybe?" Becky has the password to the server; maybe they gave her a master key to go with it. No dice.

I called Suzanne, who didn't answer her phone. I tried calling Jim, but he didn't answer, either. I called Heather, who's technically on vaction, but home. She didn't have a key, but thought any regular key should be able to re-lock the door. But it didn't work.

Alexis called Sylvia. Sylvia is in Denver this week, but she told Alexis that we needed an allen wrench. Alexis found one on Suzanne's desk, but it didn't fit the socket. While we were trying that, Heather and Sylvia both called Pete -- the head honcho who's up in DC. He called me.

"Have you tried calling Suzanne? Her cell? Did you call Jim? How about Becky? Here's some more numbers to try. Did you look in the warehouse for another wrench? There's no other way to lock the door for the night? I don't know, you might have to call a locksmith."

I called Matt to let him know I had no idea when I'd be home.

Then Alexis went to talk to Jason, who happened to have a toolkit with him that sported a wide array of allen wrenches. He found one that fit the door and got the crashbar to release. After that, the regular building key managed to engage the lock.

So then I got to spend another ten minutes calling everyone and letting them know that the adventure was over.

But I still managed to finish the scrapbook pages I'd wanted to get done last night. Go, me.

I'm feeling really good about today.

Maybe it's because it's Friday. Maybe it's because it's been rainy for the last couple of days, so the temperature has dropped back into a sane range. Maybe it's because I have a depilation appointment this afternoon, so my legs will finally stop itching. Maybe it's because I'm going to get to make a cake tonight.

(Alexis suggests that maybe it's because I'm going on vacation. That's probably some of it, but what with all the new security checkpoint and timing worries, I probably won't really be relaxed and happy about my vacation until I'm landing in Cancun.)

Whatever the cause, it's a nice feeling to have. A good way to start the day. Have a great weekend!

--Liz