On Sunday, Stan and I ventured down to the Landmark Theatre in Midtown and caught the matinee of "The Devil Wears Prada", the latest pop lit movie to hit the scene. While I felt it was a bit belabored in parts (I read the book — sue me), I think that overall the movie was pretty inspiring, especially since I was in the middle of yet another round of workplace hell with the in-the-closet lesbian psycho diablo manager all BGB.com readers love to hate, Micro-Manager.

So I'm walking back from the movie theatre (Stan got whisked off to see the movie for a third time) and at a block from the MARTA station, a familiar VW Jetta pulls up and honks the horn. The driver? None other than my first manager from my old box office job Mama Bear (check the archives from June 2003 - January 2004 for more on that position). I hadn't seen her in ages since Fatty Fat Fat Fat took over, and she looked happy to see me.

"You need a ride?"

"Sure." I could have said no, only being a block away, but I felt like living dangerously. Seeing TDWP put me in the mindset to start making some changes, so I was pumped.

Mama Bear offered to drop me off at Five Points so we could have a chance to catch up. She moved from Midtown to East Atlanta and got a new job. I should probably mention here that Mama Bear is an out-and-proud lesbian and completely unabashed and outspoken about her beliefs and who she is.

Naturally, she went into a flurry of questions about what happened since I got laid off (on my day off, no less). I told her about the brief stint at the job where I got karshed and about where I am now and what I do.

"Oh, that's what you always wanted to do, right? That's awesome!"

"Yeah, it's pretty good."

She asked what department my position was in and as soon as I told her she says "your manager wouldn't happen to be Micro-Manager would it?"

"Umm…yeah, it is. You know her?"

"We went out for a few drinks before — all strictly work-related, of course. Is she out yet?"

gasp

"Umm…I don't think so…"

Mama Bear just shakes her head and starts laughing. "That's a shame. I'm sorry you have to work under…that." Emphasis on "that" as though I was turning tricks on Cyprus for bus fare or something. Rather than stick up for Micro-Manager I just let Mama Bear keep talking.

"Oh yeah, I know another lady there — Peppermint Patty — she is a doll. We dated for a while — didn't really work out — but she's a great girl. Too bad about you and Micro-Manager though. I know you're a good worker there; you were the best worker I had in the box office. It's a shame Fatty Fat Fat Fat let you go; he was trying to make space for some trick he met off Match.com who ended up getting fired for stealing from the till."

Damn, I can't believe I'm hearing this!

"How long have you been there Karsh?"

"Almost a year and a half."

"And you hate it, don't you?"

"I like what I do Mama Bear; I just can't stand Micro-Manager and how she treats me and other people. She and I have been all the way to the Department of Labor to rectify her issue with me and nothing has changed."

"Well she is kind of a bigot. No offense."

"None taken. I'm just biding my time right now until I find another job."

"That's a good idea. That kind of crazy will never change. Peppermint Patty has told me all about her, and if you're trying to change her behavior so you can have a more peaceful work environment, that's going to be a losing battle. You're going to have to be the change you want to see, and I doubt that change is going to involve you staying there."

She pulled up to Five Points on Alabama Street.

"Well, I've gotta go Karsh — here's my card. If you ever need a recommendation, don't hesitate to call. Now I gotta go pick up Scooby from the kennel. See ya!" And she sped off in her little Jetta to pick up her middle Earth-sized mongrel. She was definitely the last person I expected to see that day, especially wielding that kind of advice. It pretty much supported the decision I had already made as I was walking from the theatre.

In two months, it'll be a year and a half for me at that company. That will be when I leave, job or not. I'm confident that something else will be out there for me and hopefully it won't be the same crap I've had to go through where I am now.

September 1. I'd better get busy.