Ornoth

If you're an Orny journal reader, you've probably figured out by now that I don't talk much about daily events. That mundane crap just isn't worth the time or effort to save, much less inflict on my friends. Usually, I talk (mostly to myself) about what I think is Big Stuff. Worth keeping. But this entry's gonna start out in the former, and hopefully find its way to the latter, although I think the former will be more interesting to people.

So Thursday I'm sitting at home, reading the Boston Phoenix, the best local paper for club listings. When I get to page five of the listings section, there's a familiar face staring up at me. There in the middle of a half-page feature is a photo of a woman, B., who used to be what lothie would call, my "grand-boss": my boss' boss.

The interesting bit is that she's wearing squarish wire-rimmed glasses, a tux, and a moustache. The lead-in reads "Mr. Murray Hill, the hardest-working middle aged man in show business". You can see the story I was reading by following this link.

My former grand-boss is a drag king. And not just any drag king, but the mother (if you will) of all drag kings. Elected drag king of the year at the 2000 Glammies, Murray's the big cheese. Learn all about the man at his Web site: http://www.mrmurrayhill.com.

Now maybe that's no big deal if you are fortunate enough to live and work in a den of liberalism, the way many LJ users are. But I worked with B. at Sapient, the same company that was once known for its military regimentation, fratboy culture, and starched white shirts and ties. The same company where my first-day orientation included polemics like "There is no such thing as a brown dress shoe." A very straight-laced, old school consulting firm.

Yet somehow I have to integrate the two extremes. I certainly never would have thought that Sapient would be the place where I'd experience a wookplace TV, and in the position of Director, no less! Those two data points just should never have gone together.

I'm not saying it's bad. I am as comfortable with G. Gordon Liddy as I am with Susie Bright. They just shouldn't be shacking up with one another behind my back! I just totally didn't expect to encounter such overt "alternativeness" at Sapient, of all places. It'd be equivalent to entering an office in the Pentagon and finding oneself in the middle of a scene from the Rocky Horror Picture Show!

"Your transvestite's running my consulting firm!"
"Your consulting firm's run by my transvestite!"
...

But I can tell you one thing for sure. Murray Hill... that guy's got cojones.

UPDATE: Some additional links describe Murray's 1997 campaign for Mayor of New York and a case study from Murray's financial advisor!