Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Boss Lady aka Saint Paula

I have decided that the lobby of the school would be a super place for a reality based sitcom.
The next few blogs are going to feature the cast of characters for the show. They are real people.
They are the core group who work in management and education.
They have to be smart, because they are HI-larious.
As it has been said - I couldn't make this up.
Just for the record, I asked permission to talk about the cast and use their names. It was their idea!
Enter the Boss Lady.
I think she should be skating in the Roller Derby, but that's just me. She is the head honcho of Cottage One. Soon to be Ruler of the Universe.
Susie (a soon to be featured cast member) says Paula likes me because I laugh at everything she says. I do. I can't help it.
She has been on vacation for 2 weeks and it is just not the same without her. For starters, she is clearly on a mission to un-do all the training we try to accomplish with our dogs. If anyone reading this knows a dog that is not getting enough attention, treats, food, water or being utterly, totally spoiled-call her. She's your girl. I say "All dog's have to sit to be petted". She lets them jump on her and gives them a treat for doing it. When I glare at her with my most menacing look or shriek her name, she looks up at me, confused and innocent, "What?" "He was hungry". Right. They are all starving. At other facilities, we have to constantly monitor the staff so that the dogs don't get crated for too many hours in a day. Here I have to beg, stamp my feet and throw a hissy fit to make them get crated a LITTLE during the day. She can't take it. Paula thinks I'm mean. In fact, this may be partly why she has named herself Saint Paula. Since I have known her "Saint" has NOT been the word that comes to mind right off the bat.
Saint Paula actively tries to torture me - Not kidding - She tries. Beside her job as manager of the building in which Loosen the Leash provides services, she is a practical joker. Boss Lady is good at this. She got me to believe her when she called to break the news that the dogs all had to go. Program was being dissolved. Come get the dogs and pack your bags. My heart sank, panic was started to set in and just before I threw up, she said she was kidding. What? She is laughing-ha ha ha on the line. Sooooo funny Paula. It takes me 30 minutes to recover. She is delighted. Actually she called to invite me to a meeting. She threw the other part in just for fun. Please note: there will be a payback for that.
When she least expects it.
Yeah buddy.
Just a bit more about the Saint:
I've seen here in action quite a bit. I was there they day she had all the kids interacting with physical games that required trusting one another to get to the goal. They were all totally engaged and it was really truly fun. I've seen her deal with several crisis' with the kids. This same woman who tries to take me down (not gonna happen) is so very cool headed and compassionate with these boys, you almost have to sit in awe of her skill. Saint might not come to mind, but the phrase "she gets it" certainly does. They listen to her. She can diffuse a crisis and talk about the heart of the matter with such ease. On top of that, she has has been the most outstanding supporter of me, the dogs and this program that we have experienced since the beginning of LTL. Cottage One and the staff are organized and the communication is amazing to me. She knows what the kids and staff are doing and keeps it all together. Everybody is on the same page at Cottage One. I have never seen her mad and I don't want to. So far it seems like she rules not with an iron fist, but a velvet glove. Staff is respectful of her and the kids like her. She makes them tow the line, but she seems to always see them as kids and not the bottom line on a report. And she's funny. Funny Saint Paula the Boss Lady.
AND, she can almost turn herself into a letter O when she takes off her glasses and tries to read the fine print. Boss Lady is awesome.
But she better watch her back. I am gonna get her.

2 comments:

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  2. The boys are lucky to have you both working with them and teaching them new life skills.

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