Suited and Booted

I mentioned in a previous post that my boss and I had a “big deal” briefing to give in downtown Washington, DC, recently. We were presenting to very high-ranking public officials. I am deliberately not saying who we saw or what we were presenting about because internet search engines might pick up on that and drive visitors to this blog, which is not about those issues.

Anyway, it was a unique “Washington-only” opportunity. It required dressing up. Suit, tie, and shiny boots. However, that morning, I rode my Harley to the office. I have frequently blogged about not wearing smooth-soled dress cowboy boots while operating a motorcycle. So how was I dressed and what boots did I wear?
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Happy Birthday to My Spouse

Today is my spouse’s birthday. Since I have to work today, we celebrated yesterday instead, since it was a U.S. Federal Holiday and I had the day off.

It was nice to give him a “birthday for husband” card this year 🙂

My spouse did not want presents, but I was able to arrange quite a surprise, available only in DC….
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Moving Moments

Most of my legion of senior pals are women who have outlived their husbands and rely on me to do some home repairs and take them grocery shopping.

Some of the spouses of my senior pals are alive, and they also appreciate that I take their wives shopping because they hate it. To me, it’s just fun — I must be a glutton for … cookies and smiles. 🙂

Anyway, one of my senior pals is married to a man who served in World War II. When I visit this man and his wife, I ask about what he did and what he thought about when he served in the U.S. Army. I learned a lot of history that way.

Yesterday, I planned a special excursion for my friend.
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DC Outing to See Someone Famous

Ronstadt1My spouse and I have always enjoyed the singing from this talented musical artist (the one on the right with the microphone) whose career has spanned more than 40 years. Her music is among the most vibrant and diverse from all singers — both from today and yesteryear.

This singer just completed writing her own memoir, and came to Washington DC’s national book festival to talk about her life and music, as well as to sign her book. There she…
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Where I Am and Transitions

DCMall2013This photo was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. It features the core of downtown Washington, DC, with the Potomac River on the lower left, and the U.S. Capitol in the middle, facing “the mall” and north up Pennsylvania Avenue where festivities of today will be celebrated.

Am I there for today’s ceremonial Presidential inaugural festivities?
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The Ballgame

Well, I finally went to see a professional baseball game at the new stadium that was built a few years ago in Washington, DC. The owner of the company I work for invited the staff (and one guest each) and hosted us at a suite at the ballpark, complete with food, drink, very comfy seats, and an excellent view.

My partner and I took the Metro to get there. I had forgotten how awful that subway system of ours had become (slow, herky-jerky, expensive, infrequent trains, and very crowded). Nonetheless, we made it.

I was impressed with the stadium. You could see the game very well. There were LCD TVs all over the place showing the scoring, who was up at bat, what they did, and repeats of certain plays that were interesting to see up close.

Of course, I didn’t know much about what was going on, so I appreciated that my partner was able to explain it all to me so I didn’t come across to my colleagues as a complete idiot.

It was a nice outing, but I have to say, “been there, done that.” I really don’t want to go back. I’m just not interested in baseball and dealing with the hassles of getting into and out of the city.

Life is short: enjoy a ballgame (about once a decade)

Tree Viewing – Not

This is the time of year when the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, are in full bloom.

In years past, whilst working in the city, I would take some time out to go view them. Now that my current job is in the suburbs, going into the city just to see the trees is not something that I want to do any more. I mean, they look the same each year, and as lovely as they are, this year we’ve decided to take a pass.

My partner works in the city, close to where the trees are in bloom. I asked him the other day if he took a walk to see them. He replied, “are you kidding?” When I probed further, he explained that the crowds of tourists were too much to bear. I understand, I’ve seen it.

I guess we can say, “been there, done that” and thus, we don’t plan to make a trek to see the trees this year. They are lovely, adding to the grace and beauty of what makes Washington, DC, so special. I am glad the crowds are plentiful, as their tourist dollars help the local economy.

If you go to see them, enjoy. If you don’t, I understand why.

Meanwhile, if you wish, you can see pictures that I have posted of past visits to see the cherry trees in bloom on my website, here.

Civility

When I broke my leg, I had to stay at home for eight weeks. During that time, I have had time to read Facebook and other social network sites, in addition to reading the newspaper and watching TV.

I am amazed just how rude and uncivil people are to each other. Lately with the debate about the health care bill, the level of sheer uncivility has been palpable. Elected officials have been spat upon and attacked. The Party of “No” has become the central collection of the babbling buffoons of negativity. Civility, however defined, is completely lost.

I see it on Facebook, with radical name-calling, rude behavior, and ugliness toward others. I have had to “de-friend” several people who have gone over the deep end in being brainwashed by the radical right-wing zealots and spewing lies via a social network site. I do not need those kinds of people in my life.

I have sensed this was happening for quite some time, since the economy took a nose-dive. People are scared. Their orientation toward a brighter future is completely gone. They are worried about themselves, which is understandable. They want to protect their loved-ones and their lifestyle. I get it. But tearing someone else down on a personal level is not the way to make you or your ideas become more accepted! Get a life!

Life is short: at least be civil, even if you disagree.

Where I Am Not Today

Today is the day for the National Equality March in Washington, DC, USA. It is supposed to attract hundreds of thousands of supporters for the LGBT movement, and particularly those interested in marriage equality — a civil marriage is a civil right.

I have somewhat of a nostalgic point of view regarding events like this. It was during the March On Washington held on April 25, 1993, where I met the man who fundamentally changed and improved my life: my wonderful partner. If it were not for that event, I am uncertain if I would have met him, nor how the rest of my life would have turned out.

I hope attendees find the event interesting and have opportunities to voice their opinions and share in an experience that can only occur in Washington, DC, during a mass gathering such as this one is supposed to be. Personally, I hope some people meet each other, figure out that they are interesting to each other, and begin a relationship that may produce a partnership for them that has been as wonderful as the one I share with the love-of-my-life.

Alas, attending such events for my partner and me is a thing of the past. I have personal reservations about the effectiveness of such efforts. There is a lot of controversy about today’s event, with various differences of opinion about how it was organized and managed.

But, to us, the controversial claims and counterclaims are not an issue. My partner and I will not be attending this event. Not because we don’t support the various issues that will be addressed (particularly marriage equality), but because we are at my mother-in-law’s home taking care of things for her. I will be doing some home maintenance and yard work, while my partner will be taking her shopping and do what a son should be doing for his elderly, lonely mother: just paying attention to her.

Why did we choose this weekend to go to Pittsburgh? Because we both have a three-day weekend (Monday is a federal holiday in the U.S. for Columbus Day), so we have more time for a trip like this. We have been going to Pittsburgh on Columbus Day weekend for many years.

Why not just reschedule our trip to Pittsburgh and go to the Equality March? Well, “been there, done that, got the t-shirt and the sunburn.” We would rather not deal with the hassle of the crowds. Standing for long lengths of time is very difficult for my partner due to his disability. Also, he just hates crowds (and I’m not fond of crowds, either).

Anyway, we wish the attendees well, hope for the best, and again, I personally hope some guys will meet their lifemate guy, and some women will meet their lifemate woman. That chance occurrence of meeting my partner at such an event fundamentally changed my life so much for the better. I cherish those memories, and sincerely hope identical memories are formed in the younger generation.

Life is short: march on!

Fetish Gear Mixer

UPDATED AUGUST 2010: Unfortunately, this “CODEDC” thing has degraded into an event focused on sex. My partner and I are monogamous and don’t play with others. We will not attend any more “CODEDC” events.


This is my partner and me after we returned from our Saturday night out.

The “CODE DC” party bills itself as “not your Daddy’s leather scene” though it goes on to say that if you’re into leather, by all means wear it, but they’re also open and very welcoming to any type of gear fetish, from athletic gear to uniforms to rubber & latex to skin, and all else. Specifically, they say, “we want to make CODE a place where our younger people who may not even identify as Leather will still want to come.”

Congratulations; the organizers of this event did well. My partner and I were impressed with the huge mix of guys turned out in all sorts of gear. The “guy mix” included many bear-types, as well. All of it was there — lots of younger guys who were mostly in athletic jock gear were joined by others who were in uniforms (such as me), lots of rubber and latex, and some others in full leather. Guys with bodies to show were shirtless, and provided a nice view.

What impressed us most was how outgoing and friendly attendees were. They mixed and mingled and really talked with one another. We didn’t notice as much heavy “cruising” going on as much as there was true conversation and guys meeting one another. The music at first was at a low volume, which aided in having conversations because you could actually hear what the other guy said. It got a little louder as the night went on, but it wasn’t so booming that you couldn’t hear someone else. While personally my partner and I don’t like techno “boonga-boonga-boonga” throbbing noise, we understand that such music is what they play at these events. So be it.

While they said that there would be a visit by a drag queen, I guess we left before she arrived.

The venue is great. It is long but narrow. The bar is against a wall, so there is not the “racetrack” feeling when a bar is in the middle of a room. We even could find a place to park not that far away.

Seating was available, from couches set up in areas to facilitate conversation, to a long bench across one side of the bar. That is where my partner and I planted ourselves. We enjoyed watching everyone arriving, mingling, and having a good time. I saw a few people I knew and enjoyed a conversation with them. We left rather early, but that’s characteristic of us — we just can’t handle “late” (defined as remaining awake after midnight.)

Congratulations to the organizers. If you are in the DC area on the first Saturday of the month, you should check out CODE DC. It is fun, mixed, interesting, and welcoming to people of all ages (especially the younger guys) and fetish interests.

We will not be attending these events regularly, just because we are not the type of guys to go out much any more. But we will go back sometime, when we can.