This has been a very strange week. It doesn't really feel like Christmas is as close as is it. I should be buying presents, buying train tickets, singing Christmas songs and eating Christmas cookies. The weeks before Christmas are a big part in feeling festive. Instead, my mood is off.
There is one good thing this week: I graduated from college. No, I didn't actually walk, which makes using the word "Graduated" seem weird. Graduation would have been today, however since my Aunt Flow just came to visit, and considering all of the drama (which will be discussed further), it was probably very good that I decided not to walk. I did have about 25 minutes where I very cheerfully celebrated the end of my college career, for now. I am still going to audit a french class to stay in that mind set, and I am going to take one easy online class at a community college to keep my health insurance. But I do not consider either of those when I think about being done. :)
Today I found out that Maryann Matuska died. She and I were really close friends in Elementary School, and even though I didn't talk to her anymore, I still thought very highly of her. She died during the summer, which makes me feel really guilty that I had no idea. This, in addition to the drama, has put a damper on my mood.
The drama is not about me, but about a friend (Karisa). It is a really long story, and it is something that I am going to try and write out more formally. At the moment, I will just give you a summary. Karisa lived with Cristina, my old boss. They had no formal agreement whatsoever, but got along well enough that it never mattered. However, over the last few months Karisa has been feeling less welcome in the house, and the conditions have changed. Finally, on the 30th of November, Cristina talked to her about it and Karisa said she had been considering moving out (though nothing official). Cristina was mad that Karisa hadn't told her (which made no sense because she was just starting to think about it.). The next day, Cristina said, "So you'll be out by the 31st?". Karisa agreed, and started to frantically find an apartment. She found one, and realized she wouldn't need to stay past the 19th. She told Cristina that should would move out on the 19th, and Cristina agreed. On the 7th, Cristina demanded the rent check, acting like it was late - even though Karisa pays on the 10th or 11th of every month (pay day). Karisa left her the check on the table, for a prorated amount - those 19 days. The next morning, while in the shower, Cristina knocked on the door and told Karisa, through the door, that because she did not pay the full months rent, that she would need to be out by Friday at 6pm, when she was changing the locks. Completely taken aback, Karisa canceled the check - because she paid for 19 days but was being kicked out on the 10th. She wrote Cristina an email asking if she would be reimbursed for those 9 days - Cristina never replied. Finally, on Thursday morning, Karisa emailed her again saying that since Cristina never responded to her previous email, she canceled the check and will leave her a check for the 10 days on Friday when she leaves. She packed up all of her stuff Thursday during the day, and her parents made plans to come up Friday and get it. She has been staying with me so she never has to see Cristina. On Friday, 5 minutes before Karisa's last final, Cristina texted her saying "Unless you pay me $500, you will not have access to your stuff". ($500 is the full months rent, an already insanely high amount). Karisa went to the house and found that the locks had been changed early. Since Cristina had, at this point, broken multiple laws (primarily an unlawful eviction, and changing the locks), Karisa called the cops hoping that they would help oversee Karisa getting her belongings. This is what all of our online research and a phone call with a lawyer said would happen. However, the cop was not cooperative and claimed this wasn't illegal (he was obviously not very aware of the laws on this matter!), and that it was a matter for court. Therefore, Karisa had no choice but to pay the money if she wanted to get her laptop, phone charger, clothes or toiletries.
Without a doubt this whole ordeal has been mentally and emotionally taxing. Cristina has showed us that she is a vindictive and mentally unstable person (the full version of the story will include a more detailed description of her words and actions). This story isn't over yet.
And this is why I'm working hard to get into the Christmas spirit. I am listening to Christmas music at the moment, and I have figured out the majority of my Christmas presents, and Karisa and I have decided to try and be festive this week. I am thinking I may want to try and forget about this situation completely over break.
The one weird thing is that I don't necessarily feel depressed (though I am really said about the passing of Maryann), but I am just angry, frustrated, in disbelief and numb. It is hard to describe, but it is as if my heart just can't lighten up enough for the holiday season. Karisa says she knows exactly what I mean though, because she feels the exact same way. But since I want it to, I am going to work hard to make me un-numb. We can't let Cristina destroy the celebration of the end of finals and the beginning of the Christmas season for everyone.
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