So, this couldn’t have happened any better if I had scripted it, so I needed to share with you.

I’ve been working my tail off since we got back from vacation to get a certain group of managers to adhere to a new process that I created.  It’s involved pulling teeth, hand-holding, and MUCH coersion.  Needless to say, it’s also involved a few 10 hour days, and lots of frustration.

But I think they’ve got the hang of it.

One of the managers was on the speakerphone with one of his Point-of-Contacts (who we will now call POC), when I walked by.  He asked if POC had turned in his charts for the day, and I said (loudly enough to be heard by POC on the phone), “Yeah, he’s doing great at that!  I’m proud of him!”

The manager said, “Hear that, POC?  She’s bragging on you.  Good job.”

And POC said, “Not sure I want that compliment.. what does she look like?  I’ll take it if she’s tall and blonde.”

I was visibly shaken, I suppose, and I started to walk away, when the manager called me back in.  “Sarah, why don’t you come in here and describe yourself?” he asked, obviously as taken aback as I was.  I shook my head and I’m sure my eyes widened.  He was insistent.  “No, if he’s gonna be such a pig, you owe him what you look like.”

I stepped in his office and stammered.  “Well, I’m not tall.”

Manager nodded and mouthed Let him have it.

“And I’m also not blonde.”  I found my footing.  “But since you won’t take my compliment because of that, I feel comfortable telling you that your charts were incorrect today.  Not only did you overinflate your data to make yourself look on-target when you’re behind plan, but you also had a misspelled word in there.  Assess has FOUR s’s, POC.. you know, like ASS.  You know an ass when you see one, right, POC?”

And the manager high fived me.  As I walked out, he tore POC a new one.  “I expected more of you,” I heard him berating.

I can hold my own, but it’s nice when I don’t have to.

So, while they day started out promising all sorts of unmitigated chaos, I have found myself twiddling my thumbs for most of the day.

(Which, of course, means that it will all hit the fan around 3:30, and I won’t be able to leave until 5.  AGAIN.)

In some of my browsings today, I found this piece of literature.  And I cried while I read it.  Because I needed to know that it was okay to feel like I do, and people before me have done it, and it CAN be done, and I will be fine.  I want to hand this out to every step-parent ever, so they know that it’s okay.  Hard, yes.. but it will be okay.

In lighter news, I also read this.

I am currently adoring the Laughing Cow Lite Creamy Swiss cheese.  About the size of a wheel of brie, it’s divided into eight easy-to-pack wedges, each only 35 calories.  A lot of flavor with very little weight.