I had to do the weekly grocery shopping by myself yesterday as my fiance was not feeling in any shape to go with me. The meds he is taking to treat the relapse of his illness cause great fatigue.
Anyway, as I entered the store, I saw one of my senior pals. She looked rather upset. I stopped to ask what was going on, when a cop walked up and said…
Continue reading
Funny, someone entered an internet search that seemed to reveal this Texas-based smartphone-user was surprised to find out that I am gay:
Yep, I am. Booted Harleydude is gay. There, I said it. Any difference now that you know? I hope not. After all, I am the same guy that I have been all along.
I continue to have a debate with myself, and sometimes in reaction to what I read on some discussion forums or in exchange with some friends, about “how gay I am” or if the Gay Police will confiscate my gay card because I am not “gay enough.”
I continue to affirm that I am who I am, with some identities or feelings from the gay guy world, and some from the straight guy world. Rather than feel divided and left out of both, let me explain how I feel included as part of both worlds — a much better place to be!
Continue reading
I have mentioned before that my fiance and I are not fans of weddings in general — nothing to do with the nuptials being for opposite-sex or same-sex partners. Once again, though, a friend sent me a formal invitation to his same-sex wedding to his partner of three years. I like the guy a lot, and think his partner is very nice (though I don’t really know him), but was again faced with the dilemma on how to decline the invitation since we didn’t want to go.
I debated about how honest I should be when I replied, and came up with this response, which my fiance thought was gracious and gentle, but also honest:
Continue reading
The following question was recently entered into a search engine and directed a visitor from my home state to this blog:
“Does low self esteem and insecurity have anything to do with homosexuality?” Well, sorta… Continue reading
Fresh from the internet search engines, we have an age-old question: “Why do gay men like engineer boots?”
I have two ideas for answers to this question:
Continue reading
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine who expressed concern for wanting to support his son in sports programs, but my friend is much like me — we are not “sports enabled.” Or shall I say that we have talents, but our talents do not include the use of balls, clubs, bats, mitts, cleats, pads, or the like. How often I have felt like Charlie Brown when Lucy teases him (as shown.)
It is very hard for a “sports-challenged” guy like me to be around “jock Dads” when supporting a family member’s sports interests. For example, I like to show my nephews and nieces that I love them by showing up on occasion at one of their games, but there are times when fathers of other players have made me feel inadequate, uncomfortable, and unhappy. Some have behaved in ways as if they have not graduated from school. In many ways, feelings I had in grade school return — and those grade-school scars are hard to heal.
How does a non-sports guy help raise a son, or show support to a nephew, when he feels so inadequate in comparison with other fathers and uncles?
Continue reading
Latest odd query entered into a search engine that directed a visitor from Michigan to this blog: “Does being around gay people rub off?”
Oh crap, I thought I had seen it all. Oh well, here goes with the answer from a gay man who should know.
Continue reading
Yesterday, I was doing my typical routine, having escorted five senior pals (in two trips) grocery shopping. After bringing them back home and checking in with my fiance, I went out again … to the post office, bank, drug store, and grocery store again for something that I forgot to get earlier. Dressed comfortably in leather jeans, boots, and a leather jacket.
Continue reading
When same-sex couples marry, there are various ways that they recognize their union in the names they use.
My fiance and I have talked about this matter and what names we will use after we marry. This came to our attention when I received Christmas cards addressed to “Myname and Hisname Smith” — implying that my fiance will change his last name to mine OR another card addressed to “Hisname and Myname Jones” — implying that I will take his last name.
What options are there and what have we decided?
Continue reading
I guess I know more gay men and women who live in my home state than I thought that I did. I have received three invitations to attend their weddings and post-ceremony party. My response?
Continue reading