Take Your Paperwork & Shove It!

So back in October, after my visite medicale for my carte de sejour, I promptly took my certificate from the dr saying I was weird American plague-free to the prefecture. The final step towards my carte de sejour. This was almost 2 months ago, and the prefecture told me the CDS would be ready "avant Noel." Well today is the last day they are open "avant Noel" (since I'm gonna go out on a limb & assume they aren't open on Xmas Eve). So I dragged myself out into the cold and walked the one block down there. Luckily there isn't much of a wait since they had just re-opened after lunch. And of course, I get to the counter, inquire about my card, and the lady says it isn't ready yet, probably be ready in FEBRUARY, but make sure I come back on the 3rd or 4th of January to renew my recepisse. Grrrr...
To add to that frustrated joy, I got a letter from CAF saying my application has been refused because (big surprise) I don't have my carte de sejour yet! Just like I told the lady the last time I went in, I had ALL the paperwork except my carte de sejour. So, no CDS means no CAF means no money (yet). Oh well, worst case scenario (which sadly seems kinda common among assistants) is I will get my CDS right before my contract is up, which means I will get a big fat check from CAF right before I head home. Blech...