Lola In The City

So, there I stood in my friends John and Vivian's dining room, 100 pounds of dog running around while I was trying to turn off the alarm. Lola and I were there to take care of their dog (and Lola's BFF) Blanche, something we usually do a few times a month. In fact we had just been there the night before without incident. Which is what makes what happened that much more ridiculous.

I entered the alarm code - ____#...and nothing happened. 

I entered it again - ____#...and nothing happened. 

I double checked the number and tried one more time - ____#...and nothing happened. 

Uhoh.  

WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT 

Well, now I'm screwed. 

I tried calling Vivian who was driving back from Peoria. No answer. 

I tried John who was teaching class. No answer. 

I tried entering the alarm code AGAIN - ____#. Nothing.

I tried Vivian again. No answer. 

Then their house phone rang. Usually I wouldn't answer someone else's phone but I had a pretty good idea who was calling. 

ADT Lady #1: "This is ADT. We show that the burglar alarm has been activated."

Me: "I'm in my friend's house and I set off the alarm. I'm here to take their dog out." (Some how that seemed an important detail to share.) 

ADT Lady #1: "Do you have the password?" 

Me: "It is ____."

ADT Lady #1: "Not the alarm code. The password. It is a five letter word." (I had a few four letter words to share.)

Me: "I don't know that! They never told me! I've done this before. I don't know why it didn't work. I think they changed the code and didn't tell me." (Oh, yeah. I totally went there and tried to blame them for my stupidity.)

ADT Lady #1: "Are you at ____ N. Campbell Ave?"

Me: "Yes."

ADT Lady #1: "Do you have an alternate phone number for anyone on the account?"

Me: "John's cell phone number is ___-___-____."

(Pause.)

ADT Lady #1: "There is no answer. Do you have another number?" (Of course there was no answer. John was in class.)

Me: "Vivian's number is ___-___-____."

ADT Lady #1: "That number is not on the list. I'll keep trying the first one." 

Me: "How do I get the alarm off?" (Yes, through this conversation the alarm has continued to WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT. But at least the dogs settled down. They were looking at me like, "What the hell did you do, woman?" but they settled down.)

ADT Lady #1: "I will put you through to technical support. There are a few calls ahead of you. Is that OK?"  

Me: "Do I have a choice?" (Smart ass comments are always helpful in these situations.)

{Insert canned music which was only slightly less annoying that the continued WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT.}

ADT Lady #2: "Technical support. How can I help you?"

Me: "I'm at my friend's house and I've set off their alarm. I don't know what I could have possibly done wrong. I'm here all the time."

ADT Lady #2: "Do you have the password?"

Me: "No and I can't get in touch with them. Oh, wait! Vivian is calling on my cell phone! Hello?"

Vivian: "Hey, I saw you called. I'm on my..."

Me: "Vivian!!! I set off your alarm! I don't know what I did!" 

ADT Lady #2: "Ask her for the password." (At this point I have a phone at each ear while the alarm continues to WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT.) 

Me: "Did you change the number? And why was Blanche in the living room? Usually she is in the kitchen. I think the dogs got me flustered!"

Vivian: "Oh, John does that. I hate it when he leaves her out. I'm afraid she is at the living room window barking at people walking by." (Blanche has some behavioral issues.)

Me: "Actually, she was pretty quiet when we came to the door."

ADT Lady #2: "Ask her for the password." 

{WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT}

Me: "Oh, Viv! What's the password? I've got ADT on the phone." 

Vivian: "It's *****."

Me: "****? That's not five letters." 

Vivian: "No. *****."

Me: "Oh!" (to ADT Lady #2) "It's *****."

ADT Lady #2: "OK, that's correct." 

Me: "So, how do I get the alarm to stop?"

ADT Lady #2: "Enter the alarm code followed by the number 1." 

Me: "Shit. I can't believe I was that stupid." 

ADT Lady #2: "We have contacted the police so they will no be coming." 

Me: "Thanks. Hey, Viv. We're cool. They have contacted the police so they don't show up."

Vivian: "No! Tell them not to do that. What if the cop is cute???"

Me: (to ADT Lady #2) "My friend says don't call them in case the cop is cute." 

ADT Lady #2: "I'm sorry ma'am but we have no way of guaranteeing that. Good luck, though." 

Have a mentioned that Vivian has made it her mission to find me a man? And now I have the well wishes of ADT. And John and Vivian's neighbors hate me.