Yearly Archives: 2008

Our 15th Anniversary

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On Saturday, April 25, 1993, early in the morning, I went to the home of the President of a leather/levi club that I had recently joined. The club was joining the “leather contingent” to march in the March on Washington that day. This was a gay rights march that was supposed to beat all records for attendance.

I was nervous. I was new to the club, and such a club was still a bit intimidating to lil’ ol’ quiet suburban-living me. I didn’t really know what to expect, who I would meet, and what would happen.

I was greeted warmly by the club President and a few other club members who where there. Then out of a back room emerges this man who I had heard about, but had never met. He extended his hand and said, “hi, I’m [BikerBeef].” I returned the handshake.

Well, the rest is history. Neither he nor I were looking for a mate or a partner. We weren’t even looking for a date. But something magic happened that day. I met the man who has become my soulmate, lover, partner, confidant, and best friend.

We’ve learned a lot and grown with each other over these 15 years. We’ve had our differences, disagreements, and challenges. We both worked hard at overcoming obstacles, because deep down, we love each other more than anything else in the world. We have traveled together on three continents, cross-country two-up on my Harley, built a house and made it our home, and more importantly, built our lives as two hearts melded into one.

He’s my man, I’m his, and together we’ll travel down this road of life we have made for ourselves. What’s best on this 15th anniversary of ours is that I’m still head over bootheels in love with my partner, as he is with me. What a blessing.

Office Friendly Biker Boots

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When I blogged yesterday about using my Harley to get to the Metro and then go to work, I mentioned that I put on “office friendly biker boots.” Someone sent me an email through this blog to ask me just what I meant. Well, at least I’m glad someone is reading this thing!

To me, “office friendly biker boots” are boots that have these features:

* rubber sole for grip on pavement while riding
* no leather soles — they slip
* no big lug Vibram soles — they just don’t work well in an office setting
* dark foot/shaft color that goes well with pants I wear to work

That’s really it. Now, what kind of boots fit that description? There are “dual purpose cowboy/biker boots” in my collection, such as harness boots or cowboy boots with rubber soles.

I also often choose to wear motorcycle cop uniform boots because with pants over them, all others can really see are shiny black “shoe-looking” feet. (But man, how I enjoy the feeling of tall boots on my legs, even if no one else knows or cares.) I have many tall black cop boots in my collection, and often I have a pair of them on my feet at the office.

Remember, most people don’t care and don’t say anything, as long as you don’t put a boot in their face. Wear what you want, but also wear what provides safety while operating a motorcycle and goes okay with the office attire.

Life is short! Wear your boots!

Summer biker commute returns!

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Now that Spring is really finally here and the deluge of rain has temporarily stopped, I’m back to taking advantage of a bill that I fought for and won in my county.

A few years ago, I engaged my elected officials (along with fellow biker-friendly activists) to have our county pass a bill that provides free parking for motorcycles at any local Metro (subway) station in the county. This wasn’t easy — doing anything that reduces revenue for any public entity is never easy — but it did pass, and I should reap the benefits of what I fought for.

Now each morning, I put on my business casual clothes, “office friendly” biker boots, chaps, biker jacket, gloves, and my helmet, and after doing the daily T-CLOCS inspection of the Harley, off I go to my local Metro station. I park the bike and lock it up six ways from Sunday, cover it, and then lock my gear in the trunk of my partner’s car so I don’t have to carry heavy leathers to and from the office. My partner gets to the Metro about a half-hour before I do. I then hop on the subway and I’m at my office a half-hour later. Doing this saves me $22.50/week.

Why don’t I ride the Harley to work? Several reasons: 1) cell-phone yapping cage drivers don’t see motorcycles; 2) riding in traffic is a pain in the ass and exhausting; I would have to pay $17/day for safe parking, as well as pay for more gas; 3) my insurance premium would go up, since my premium is rated by how and where I use my Harley; and 4) my employer provides a subsidy for using Metro, which it wouldn’t provide if I drove to work. Plus, Metro is quick, usually reliable, and less stressful — especially at oh-dark-30 when I depart my home to go to work, and early afternoon when I return. (I beat the crowds.)

I’m happy to be back in my summer commuting routine, back on the bike daily, using my gear for why and how it’s made, and be able to benefit from some of my civic activism.

What it is to be a Bootman?

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I have had some boots, like these Tony Lama black cowboy boots for 35 years. And they still hold up quite well. A little polish and brushing, and they’re ready to hit the street. (Well, actually, go to work.) And because they’re so old, they are well broken in and are comfortable. Old Tony Lamas were made better than the current versions, on better lasts (forms), and hold their comfort over time.

People have asked me over the years about why I wear boots all the time and if I really wear all the boots I have. Why wear boots? I just like ’em. How they feel, how they look, and how they protect my feet. And yes, I wear most all of the pairs of boots that I own. There are some pairs of boots that are uncomfortable, some have been abused, and a couple pairs need new soles. Some boots in the “less used” category are used for for certain specific activities in which I occasionally engage, such as skydiving or tromping through muddy terrain, or are a lot of trouble to deal with, such as tall lace-up boots (I just don’t have the patience to lace boots).

Some guys have posted on “Boots On Line” about being nervous about what other people may say about being seen in boots. Heck, nobody cares! I may have had some people say something from time to time like “are those cowboy boots?” — and despite wanting to give some kind of wisecrack retort, I just smile and say, “Sure are! Aren’t they cool?” or something like that.

I really do wear my boots. That’s what they are: footwear. I change boots often, rotate the boots in my basement boot closet with those in my bedroom closet, and with my “bootedman.com” website, I know what I have, what I like, and what perhaps haven’t been worn in a while. I enjoy this avocation — not fetish — because, to my core, I am a “Bootman”.

Life is short. Wear your boots.

Station work booted

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I’ve had this pair of Station Boots for a while now. They’re very comfortable boots. They have a boot zipper that is laced in. Once the zipper is firmly attached, then putting them on and taking them off is as easy as closing or opening a zipper.

My partner and I got up at dawn and spent the day working on our lawn. We rented sod cutter and took out a bunch of dead grass and saved the little bit that remained alive. We already had bought some sod, so after the sod cutter work was done and we returned it to the rental center, we came back home and lay the sod. We still have more ground to cover with sod, but we got a huge amount of work done today. Frankly, I would rather have been out riding my Harley on such a pleasantly warm day, but when you own a home, sometimes work like this supercedes having any fun. I kept these boots on all day and my feet feel fine, even though the rest of my body is sore as heck.

Bike cop boots on the mind

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With the Pope being in Washington, there is even more security in the city than usual. There are many times in the last couple days when I’ve seen booted bike cops standing around, directing traffic, and even occasionally operating their bikes. (Funny, I see more standing than I do riding.)

With bike cop boots on my mind, I’m wearing a pair today, just for the heck of it. H-D Police Enforcer Boots. Nice looking, very comfy.

On Tuesday I took an hour out, leathered up, put on these boots, and mounted my camera to my Harley in a different place and shot a video, which I have embedded here. It was fun to do.


My guy won!

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It was a close race, but my guy won the primary election yesterday. Pictured, there I am at the victory party looking at election returns on the web.

A lot of volunteers put in many hours of hard work, which paid off. My guy won out over special interest funding that attempted, but didn’t succeed, in buying the position.

I’m very happy, though very tired today. I was out until 10:00 last night! That’s very late for me. I turn into a pumpkin usually by 8:30 or 9.

Tonight will again be a late one — I have the pleasure of attending a national awards dinner where my dear friend who was in a county elected position and who died on Feb. 1 will receive a big award being bestowed up her posthumously. I am driving her family to the event tonight and celebrating with them. Her husband is the one who won the primary election yesterday to carry out the term and fulfill the vision of what us community activists wanted our elected leader to accomplish.

Hmmm… perhaps I can go to bed early tomorrow night. I sure hope so. I’m draggin’.

Boots on the Ground

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These boots have hit the ground runnin’ already this morning. Today is the day of a primary special election, to select the Democratic and Resnubrikan candidate for a local county commissioner seat. Very sadly, a dear friend who was in that position died on February 1, and now they have to have an election in our district to fill the position. She can never be replaced, but hopefully, her husband on whose campaign I have been working so hard will win the primary. He will see through the work she promised us would be done this term. (The R-people have no chance to win the election; they’re outnumbered about ten to one, so the D who wins the primary will will then general election which will be held in four weeks.)

I really debated what boots to wear. I’ll be on my feet most of the day while electioneering and escorting seniors to the polls. So, these are they! Chippewa Engineer Boots, all cleaned up. (They had encountered some mud a few weeks ago, oops.) I have on two pairs of socks for add to the comfort these boots already provide. Jeans over, though. While I am a proud Bootman, I don’t stick ’em in people’s faces. Wish us luck!

Weekend snugglin’

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Friday night, my partner turned off his TV, I turned off my computer, and we just cuddled quietly in our basement. It’s nice sometimes to sit in peace and enjoy each other.

I’ve been so busy lately with the final sprint to election day on Tuesday (I’m working a lot on a friend’s campaign) that I’ve hardly been home or had time to reconnect with my partner. That’s why Friday night was so much needed — for both of us.

Saturday morning, we awoke at sunrise, and snuggled some more before we began our day. We had a really busy day, and our work made us really tired. But once again, we just snuggled some more for a while before going to bed. This is important time for us, and is a way we demonstrate how much we care for one another.

Sunday morning, we awoke once more at dawn. We marveled at the trees outside our bedroom window, whose leaves are emerging. The window was slightly open, so we heard the birds singing sweetly as well. It was special just to hold one another while listening to the morning’s symphony before getting up.

Life is short, wear your boots! Hold those you love close.

Small town feeling in rambling ‘burbs

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I live in a rather densely populated suburban area. I live in a county and there really aren’t that many incorporated cities, towns, or ‘burgs where I live. Thus, I’m just part of the rambling sprawl that typically happens outside the core of any major city anywhere in the world.

I’ve blogged before about having friends who I have met on-line, but I haven’t mentioned the friends I grew up with. You see, even though I live in a sprawling suburban area where anonymity is more the rule than the exception, I still keep in touch with many dozen friends I have known since I was a kid. Many of them settled right here, and now have families of their own. I’ve also maintained close friendships with some people with whom I went to college and served together on campus activities. In adulthood, I expanded my network of friends through all of the community activism that I do, boards on which I serve, people I help out from time to time in a neighboring retirement community, and other activities.

Being one person in a county with almost 1,000,000 residents can seem daunting, distant, and make one feel isolated. However in my case, that really isn’t the story. I know hundreds of people. I see them on the street, in local stores, and while I’m riding my Harley. A friendly wave, a phone call, an email, … they’re there, I’m there, and we’re in this together. I feel that my large sprawling community is much like a small town in many ways with the degree in which we’re connected.

I am truly blessed by having many friends — some for as long as 47 years, and many for as long as 40 years, avg (and I’m “only” 50). Much like friendships that develop in small towns. People you know and remain close to for a long, long time. What a treasure.

Life is short: wear your boots. Love your friends.