anyway, i’m excited. however, still pissed that i haven’t heard back from my *&^%$#@! landlord yet. i called him yesterday and he said he’d call me back cuz he was in a meeting. aaaaaand nothing. so i think i’m going to call again today. just to annoy the shit out of him. cuz he’s retarded and deserves it! i will apply for this place…i have NO idea how my credit and stuff looks right now. eff word. hopefully i will get approved. blah. STRESS.

This weekend marks the four years of my sister’s college career. She’s shed blood, sweat, and tears for these one hundred and twenty thousand dollars worth of education that she will, as of today, have to start paying back (well some of at least). However, this is not the topic of my post.

Due to this Commencement—and opportunity to sit through four agonizing hours of a ceremony where a bunch of white Christians, with socially misplaced guilt, listened to a black speaker preach on racism in today’s world, where I found the speech to be underwhelming and a step back for man kind (the day we no longer recognize race is the day we conquer racism, which is to be expanded upon another day)—my parents were in town. With them they brought our lovely and wonderful family dog, Moose. In knowing of this event, I emailed my landlord this past week:
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Hi ___________ ,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note and let you know I will have a dog this weekend. My parents are coming up for my sister’s graduation and will be bringing their dog. We’ve got a steak, leash and kennel but you may hear more barking than usual :-)

Also, he is a friendly dog but I want to be sure that your daughter knows not to approach him unless I am here to avoid any unwanted circumstances.

I hope you’re enjoying the sunshine!

Thank you much,

Signed Beast Girl.
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This morning, while at breakfast with my family, I received a phone call from my landlord. He told me he went out to work in the yard and the dog “he bark and jump at me and I can’t do yard work.” He continued to rattle on about how he needs to do yard work and assumed the dog would be indoors. I explained how the dog is an outdoor dog and that there was never any intention to have him inside. He then asked me to call him when I arrived back at home because he wanted to speak with me.

Concerned, annoyed and frustrated I decided I would come home, bring my dad with me, and address this issue. When we spoke with him he elaborated on the morning’s events. Apparently he and his 5 year old daughter came outside to do yard work. They walked around the yard and Moose jumped up and began barking at them, secured on a leash and doing what dogs do. Startling his daughter, she turned, ran, tripped and skinned her knees on the side walk. “There was so much blood and I cry because my daughter crying, you know? It break my heart to see her the crying.” My dad and I apologized for his daughter getting hurt, assured him our dog is kind and meant no harm, etc. etc. He then went on, repeating the story about three more times, while adding that Indians are afraid of dogs. They do not keep them as pets. He was fine with me having a dog but assumed the dog would be indoors. Oh, well but of course. My 550 sq ft (which he listed at 800 sq ft) ONE ROOM studio would be a great place for an indoor beast. I would not mind a dog being inside with me but without, no way. Outside you go. You are a beast (true type). You can be in the out of doors. So, long story long, he said, my dad as witness, “I mean, I will not compromise my daughter…” No no! I would never expect you to! But as stated in our lease you did not specify a dog needing to stay inside…yadda yadda… “Well I will be happy to refund your total pet deposit of $500 [in the least it says $100 of it is nonrefundable] and you can move if you like or whatever but I will not compromise my daughter…”

So, now, in addition to this post, I just wrote my letter that I will be submitting to him for a mutual termination of our lease. Five minutes after that conversation he handed me a $500 check. This was no written notice of eviction or lease termination but does solidify his modification of the contract and therefore allows me to, legally, leave before the lease’s end (November 1st). I decided I would take this opportunity and find a better space. I have been attempting to stay positive about it, even though, since I moved in, I have not been crazy about it. In their minds, they are doing me a favor by renting a room to me. In my mind, I am leasing their property and maintain my own space (yard included), of which, they should not enter with out 24 hours’ notice. I did not think through the close proximity, nor the vast and many cultural differences. Namely, my personal bubble dwarfs theirs. I have not yet purchased curtains for my french doors and, let’s be honest, I walk to and from the bathroom naked all the time.