You can call me querylily, you can call me robert. I also answer to Ruby, as in Ruby Lipski. Don't ask. querylily is my "ether" net persona, combining two particular interests, digital libraries (like y'know, as in "query") and queerness, including drag. I relate to Marlene Dietrich playing Shanghai Lil: "It took more than one man to change my name to Shanghai Lil." So true. So true.
When not being coy, I work for a not-for-profit organization that serves homeless individuals and families. We provide shelter, housing, support, and hopefully hope, for America's disposable people. Most times we do good work. Sometimes we even do great work. Like everyone else, we're not perfect. Our job is to do our best when things are going badly.
I've worked for the same place for over 29 years. It must be in my genes. My dad worked for the same company for over 40 years. I grew up in Georgia, coming of age in a time that wasn't so long ago, but that too many think as ancient history. I migrated to California in the early seventies, an emigre from Atlanta. Yes, the South really is a different country. So is California. I came here in year that Patty Hearst was kidnapped and Jerry Brown was elected governor of California, lived in Santa Cruz, experiencing my first earthquake on Thanksgiving, 1974. Later on, I moved further north to Berkeley, where I felt the wrath of Loma Prieta one Monday afternoon on my way back to work. I recently reconnected with the love of my 7th and 8th grade life. She asked what brought me to California. The answer is simple. It's all because of Bob Dylan. But that's another story.
When not at work, or talking too much, I dig rock and roll music, country music, jazz, flamenco, ragas and ragtime. When down, Ella cheers me up. The Allman Brothers rock my soul. The sounds of Bach makes me soar. EmmyLou's voice reminds me of my mama and home. Dylan gives me a brief tour of desolation row. Dusty sings to me sweetly in the morning. Leonard grounds me in poetry and women. The music of Ligeti provides choral accompaniment. Did I mention that I love musicals as well?
So enough about me. How about you? If you would like to contact querylily you can email her (?) at queergalATquerylilyDOTcom. Ruby Lipski, however, comes and goes, and is rather hard to pin down, though some have tried. Try ruby.lipski@yahoo.com if you're desparate. I promise not to read Ruby's mail. How could you think that?.
And now, drumroll please, the disclaimer. Please know that nothing that I write about on querylily should be taken as an official, semi-official, non-official or implied viewpoint, policy, or opinion of the fine organization for which I work. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
[Last Updated 28 October 2006]