Yearly Archives: 2008

The Mind Is The Second Thing To Go

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And I won’t say what the first thing is that goes as one ages. I forgot.

No, seriously, I just had a very amusing moment. I’m sitting at my computer typing away, answering email after email. I feel the boots on my feet, the shafts on my legs. Well, being a Bootman, that’s not unexpected.

However, as the view of my feet is blocked by my keyboard, I couldn’t remember what boots I had on my feet. I remembered going into my boot closet this morning and getting out a pair of boots that I haven’t worn in a while. I remember walking to the office from the subway and thinking to myself, “nice boots, they’re comfortable.”

But I’ll be ding-danged if I can remember what boots I’m wearing. Hmmm, blue shirt, black pants. So I must have on black (or grey) boots. That narrows down the 127 pairs to about 70. And I remembered that I picked out today’s footwear from the cowboy boot closet, so I’m narrowed down to about 40 pairs.

But that’s it; that’s as far as my memory takes me. I just don’t know what friggin’ boots I have on my feet.

Oh heck, it’s no fun getting old. If [ahem] is the first thing to go, and the mind is the second, I’m really worried what the third might be!

Oh well, Life is short, wear your boots! (even if you can’t remember which pair they are!)

Boot Beauty

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While stock Dehner cop boots are not very good (the quality of the plastic material from which they are made is crap), I still admire how gorgeous they look. I see a pair of talk black beauties like these on a leatheman or a bike cop and just can’t quit staring. I booted up in these tall black stock Dehner boots that have taps on the foot and heels recently, and just admired the view. A few raindrops beading up on the waxed calf, ummmmmm. What a nice sight to behold.

Joy II

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I write today again about joy, and the joy that sincere friendship brings to me. How I am enlightened, learn, and laugh with a great friend who I met through “Boots On Line” (a website where guys who are into boots like me exchange messages and share non-risque photos.)

This friend is a very warm-hearted soul, and smart as the dickens. He is a CPA by profession, and a well-rounded, well-read man by practice. I have learned a lot from him and look forward to many more regular exchanges (mostly by email) in the years to come.

What I treasure about this friend is that he is nonjudgmental, very willing to share his knowledge and expertise about things that I love to learn about, and that he’s dependable, reliable, and exceptionally trustworthy. I know, it sounds like I’m describing the proverbial Boy Scout. My friend wouldn’t be accepted by the Scouts because he’s gay; but that’s another story.

I value most that my friend has had a partner for some 20 years, and he, like me, is faithful and monogamous with the man in his life. It is quite possible to have friends and admire them deeply, yet not compromise your commitment to your partner. My friend does that, and respects that I do that too.

What joy, what blessings, what great treasure I have. Now, I’m humming in my head, the tune by Andrew Gold, Thank you for Being a Friend. (This friend in particular is musically-oriented, so it’s quite appropriate now that I close with this tune in my mind).

Life is short, wear your boots, but most of all, love your friends!

Joy

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I realize that I am truly blessed. I have a wonderful, steady, reliable, and best friend in my partner. I have a great family, the huge raucous bazillion of ’em. What blesses me more is having a few but truly great friends.

Pictured with me here is my buddy, close friend, and gorgeous man, AZLeatherExplorer. He has some pics posted on my website, at his request and my delight.

This man is such a wonderful human being. He has a terrific sense of humor, warm empathy, and is so honest that the vast majority of others can learn from his integrity. What I love most about this man is his heart. He cares so deeply about his family, and goes to great lengths and expense to show it. He demonstrates his love in many ways to many others. I am truly blessed to have him as one of my closest, dearest, friends. What a treasure it is to know someone so special. God has brought us someone who lives in His light, and who shares the joys and pleasures of His love with us through all that my buddy does for me, for his family, and for everyone he encounters.

Harness Boots Rule!

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I just spent a few days in Pittsburgh for a meeting at which a number of bikers attended. It was interesting, with about 600 men and about 100 women in attendance. They came from the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S.

Half the men wore sneakers. Yuck. About 10% wore shoes. Yuck. The remaining men wore boots — and almost without exception, they were wearing black harness boots. Most of the boots were of the Harley brand, but there were others in the mix as well.

Of course, there were leather vests with pins and patches galore, myself included. No other leather anywhere to be seen.

We stayed at my partner’s mother’s home. My partner is hanging on for a few more days while I got a ride back in a car with some friends. I didn’t ride my Harley up there — the weather was unsuitable and the ride a bit too long for me. Plus, my partner can’t ride as my passenger at the moment, so it was just as well that I got a ride up there with him in his car. I’m glad to be back home.

No Bull!

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I have found that Nocona cowboy boots are equally as comfortable as Dan Post boots, so while figuring out how to use an expiring coupon at BootBarn, I picked up these Nocona Bullhide Cowboy Boots. Bullhide is a really rough leather, and can take abuse if encountered. These are just plain ol’ cowboy boots that I’ll wear for just knock-about wear. The leather upper is soft calfskin, and while you can’t see it, the shaft has a deep dip scallop, which feels nice on my legs.

Old cowboy boots revisited

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People ask me from time to time if the boots on my website are for sale, or if I really wear them. No, I reply, the boots are not for sale. I am not a reseller nor retailer. I just like boots!

Featured today are an old pair of Cowtown Back-Cut Python cowboy boots in a medium brown. I was scanning my boot closet and saw them, and said, “let’s revisit these old boots.” So they’re on my feet this afternoon. They’re not really that comfortable — Cowtown Boots are not made well and become uncomfortable after a while. But they look nice.

Back-cut python means that the boots are made from the back of a python snake, so you can see and feel the scales. Belly-cut snake boots are just that — cut from the belly of the snake, so they are smooth. I have both kinds.

I rotate boots in my boot closet regularly, and revisit and wear boots I have in my collection all the time (especially since I don’t own any shoes.) So no, my boots are not for sale, they’re for horsin’ around!

Beautiful dawn stroll

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While I’m not a city boy, and generally after working all day in the city I look forward to high-tailing it out to our suburban hide-away, I still recognize that I live in a very special place in the world. There’s nothing quite like Washington DC anywhere else in the world. I’ve been to 56 countries, and have seen many beautiful locations. I still feel quite a bit of pride in how pretty Washington is, especially in the Spring. When the ornamental cherry trees bloom around the city, it’s spectacular.

Today, my partner and I got up well before dawn and drove into the city, found a place to park near my partner’s office, which is just a block from the Tidal Basin. Even though it was very early and very cold (35F), there still were a lot of people out — though I wouldn’t say that it was crowded.

I leathered up from head to boot and we took a nice stroll. I posted a gallery of photos on my website. We enjoyed our short visit, though I was back home and back to work on my long list of things to do on the weekend by 8:30.

Let’s be safe out there!

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There was an article in the March 27 edition of USA Today that clearly describes that the number of deaths from motorcycle- related crashes has increased significantly since states began to repeal or not enact mandatory motorcycle helmet safety laws. The article supports my own research and that of other responsible parties.

I always wear full protective gear, beginning with a full-face DOT/Snell helmet, jacket, gloves, long pants, and tall boots when I ride. Of course when it’s 1000 degrees in the summer, I might not be able to tolerate the jacket or gloves, but I always, always wear my full-face helmet. It’s just a matter of common sense. It’s unfortunate that states have to pass laws about common sense matters, but there are a lot of people who are in denial that “it won’t happen to me,” “I am a safe rider,” and whatnot. It’s not you, it’s the other guy! Be safe out there, wear your helmet!

Big wins for this civic activist

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I just learned that four bills that I had been working on, supporting, testifying about, and otherwise cajoling, twisting arms, and persuading elected officials to support (or not support, as the case may be), have been passed by one or both houses of our state legislature. It looks very promising that full passage and signature by our governor of these important measures will be enacted this year! Pretty big “wins” for this lil’ ol’ civic activist! Four out of six, anyway.

So this year in Maryland, look for remedial tax relief for people whose homes are seized by eminent domain and who get billed for transfer and recordation taxes when they move to a new home.

Look for higher civil penalties against those who commit manslaughter by motor vehicle, such as when a car driver kills a motorcyclist.

Look for better recognition of joint owners of a real property when one adds his partner to the title to his home, and not have to pay many hundreds of dollars in transfer tax that married couples are exempt from having to pay.

Look for our state not to repeal its motorcycle helmet law.

I’m pretty happy with these “wins” that help many others live their lives in peace and with safety.

Don’t look for our state to ban driving while yapping on hand-held cell phones, and banning texting while driving. Very bad practices by thoughtless people. I’m very ashamed of the members of our state’s Environmental Matters Committee who voted against passing it, which killed it this year, despite the full State Senate approval. I’ve been workin’ this for six years, and need to continue. Bozos who yak while driving should … [expletive deleted].

I’m disappointed, but not surprised, that a bill to provide recognition for same-sex couples and equal treatment under the law did not make it past committee, much less be introduced to either house in the legislature. Much more work needs to be done here to educate the electorate and our elected officials that civil marriage is a civil right.