Today is a "paid vacation day" at work/school. I'm a PhD student in a research lab so I can't always take off holidays because it screws up experiments. I commute an hour each way, so I try to avoid coming in on weekends and holidays to save gas. I came in today to set up some experiments because having Monday time points works best for me. I prepared everything in my lab, including unthawing samples that can not be re-frozen and will be difficult to replace, then went across the street to the facility where the equipment I need is housed. I've used the facility before on the weekends with no problems. All the doors are key access only on the weekends. I get into the building fine, and get in the freight elevator (because I have bio hazardous samples with me I can't use the passenger elevator). My card key didn't work on the freight elevator, the doors wouldn't open, and then the elevator started to move. I started to freak out, but the doors finally opened on a floor I'm not supposed to have access to. I don't want to get back into the freight elevator, so I find the stairs go back to the ground floor. I decide to ignore the rules, because my bio hazardous samples are triple sealed, and take the passenger elevator. I get to the facility door and my access card isn't working. I can't get into the facility and the after hours emergency contact person in not answering their phone. Building security can't let me in without authorization from the person who won't answer their phone.
I am supposed to have 24/7 access this facility. I have wasted my entire morning, 7L of gas (at $1.51/L) and precious samples because somebody put the facility in lockdown and the emergency contact won't answer their phone, ARGH!