Things went horribly wrong. It was a real mess. We tried to {compensate|mitigate the situation, but it was like trying to stop a flood with a teaspoon. We're still picking up the debris and feeling the impact of this epic fail.
scenario Beyond Repair
This problem has spiraled out of control. It's a total catastrophe. We've tried everything to fix it, but nothing seems to work. At this point, it feels like we're toast. Seriously. My {boss|teacher|was absolutely furious. I attempted to explain, but it was no use.
The rest of the day was an absolute nightmare. Everything. I get anything done.
By the time I got here home, I was physically and emotionally wiped out. This day, this horrific day will be forever remembered as an epic fail.
Things Went From Bad to Absolutely Terrible
It all started out badly with a simple mishap/incident/screw-up. But then it went from bad to absolutely terrible. A series/chain/cascade of unfortunate/awful/disastrous events unfolded/occurred/piled on top each other, leaving me feeling like I was in a nightmare/horror movie/comedy of errors. It's the kind of situation where you just want to scream into a pillow.