1:54 p.m. So animal sitting...not supposed to be hard, right?

Wrong. In fact, it's rather difficult not having the right key to get into the house to feed the animals.

I think my coworker gave me the wrong key. Side door key that I have doesn't work. Trust me, I tried for 45 minutes last night to get in.

I drove up and down Highland Rd, to and fro, to make sure I wasn't crazy and, indeed, didn't have the right key.

My mom even tried, still in her pjs and with white cream not properly smudged into her skin.

I tried calling my coworker's cell. No answer (why do people HAVE CELL PHONES?). I left a msg on the house answering machine in hopes she might call home to check her msg.

There's an old dog inside, prolly hungry and thirsty as hell. There's a cat outside, likely scared shitless.

After work today I went back to the house and left some cat food and water outside. I peeked through the window to make sure the dog's still alright. She was yapping her head off. Thankfully. A noisy dog is better than a mute dog.

I tried picking the locks with paper clips. I thought I watched enough spy movies to get the technique. Apparently not enough Bond movies.

I tried the key on every door. No luck. My coworker has her house locked up as if it's in the ghetto. I snooped through the garage to find a hidden key and thought to myself: if I were a hidden key where would I be!?

No luck.

I feel absolutely awful. My coworker isn't coming home till tomorrow night. That means the dog won't have had food and water for 2 days. She's old. She'll still be alive when my coworker gets home, right? I suppose I don't give animals enough credit...but still, I feel awful.

n@s