Yearly Archives: 2009

My Best Friend Is Alarmed

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Greetings from my my best buddy’s house in Phoenix, Arizona. There I am, on a ladder, wearing safety glasses and steel-toed Chippewa Firefighter boots. I am installing wireless interconnected smoke alarms for my best friend’s safety and my peace of mind.

It is important to have adequate smoke alarms in homes. About 90% of people who die from exposure to toxic smoke produced by fire die in the place they feel safest: in their own home. Many of these fatal fires happen at night while sleeping. One smoke alarm in a hallway is insufficient, especially if you sleep with the bedroom door closed.

The best thing to have is an interconnected smoke alarm system. Such a system is designed such that if an alarm on one end of the home away from bedrooms detects smoke and its alarm sounds, all other alarms will go off too — including those inside bedrooms where people sleep. That way, they can be awakened and have a chance to get out and away from toxic smoke that can kill them (then call the fire department once out of harm’s way.)

The problem though with older homes is that wiring is not already present behind walls and ceilings to connect smoke alarms to the home’s power supply and to each other. However, a leading smoke alarm manufacturer has solved that problem by inventing and selling battery-powered smoke alarms that interconnect wirelessly. Now all you have to do is put batteries in the alarm and attach it to the ceiling in the correct locations, and you’re done. When one goes off, all the others go off, too. It took me five minutes a piece to do the installation (but shhh… don’t tell AZ that; let him think that it was really hard and took me all day long LOL!)

I now feel better that new wireless smoke alarms are installed and working to protect my best buddy. These were my housewarming gift to him (labor included). Now, on to install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) outlets in the bathrooms and kitchen….

Life is short: show those you love that you love them.

Occupied

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Sorry, no time to blog much at the moment. My friend “AZ” picked me up at my hotel after my conference ended on Friday. We enjoyed dinner together, then went to his house. We prepared a list of things that we needed to get from the local building supplies retailer so I can do some home improvement projects at his house while I am spending the weekend with him in Phoenix.

Check back…

How Appropriate

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This photos shows the sculpture outside the meeting room where I led my sessions yesterday. Man, they must have known that I was coming. How appropriate!

I wore my cowboy boots, as usual, throughout the day and several others wore their boots, as well. We felt right at home.

Welcome once again to Arizona!

Boots in Flight

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This post is about some amusing things I heard at my home airport in Maryland, aboard my flight, and after arrival yesterday in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, where I am leading a major event for my work.

I traveled comfortably, in a pair of Wranglers and Nocona Rattlesnake cowboy boots.

Here goes:

Arriving at the airport whilst checking in

  • [Airline agent inquired]: Do you have luggage to check? Why?
    — because I can’t travel without at least one change of boots each day for the five days I will be there. [I think she actually believed me, but I couldn’t tell]
  • [a guy taking off his wing-tipped dress shoes in front of me asked]: Do you have to take your boots off to go through security like I do?
    —No; I enjoy being wanded, frisked, and delayed
  • [kid with Mom] Mommy, what are those things on his feet?
    Honey, those are boots
    Mommy, where’s he going?
    I don’t know
    Do you think he is going to ride a horse?
    I don’t know
    Mister, [looking at my boots then at me] Are you going to ride a horse in Texas?
    Kid, thanks for noticing the boots. No, I’m going to ride a horse in Arizona.
    Oh! Wow!

Aboard the plane

  • [Flight attendant said:] Nice cowboy boots!
    Why thank ya’, ma’am!
  • [Woman on aisle seat in my row exclaimed:] Those are some boots!
    No, there are only two
  • [Sneaker-wearing guy waiting for the toilet asked:] Don’t those things (pointing to my boots) get hot?
    No, but they look hot!

Upon arrival in Phoenix

  • [Good looking young guy who sees me at baggage claim says:] Man, those a really cool boots! I’ve always wanted a pair of boots like that. Where did you get them? I got them from a cousin who owned a boot store in Oklahoma. I have seen them on-line for a decent price at bootbarn.com. [He smiles and says that he will get himself a pair.]

Welcome to Arizona!

Identify the Boots: Answers

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This post is a follow-up to my “Identify the Boots” challenge posted on this blog yesterday. I asked you to guess the three models of two brands of boots worn by motor officers at a bike cop competition that I recently attended.

The first pair of boots, shown here, were most numerous because there were more cops from that police force than any other at this event. If you guessed dress instep Dehner patrol boots, you were right. Classic in design, form, and function, these boots look really good on a cop in uniform. These boots in this photo were worn by cops who come from a wealthy jurisdiction, and their boots show it. The boots aren’t cheap (even though the boot shafts are made of “Dehcord”) but have a commanding appearance that is hard to beat.

The next pair of boots are worn by many motor officers nowadays. These are a classic engineer boot (note the strap across the instep closing with a buckle). The boots have a thin plastic topcoat that gives them their name: “Hi-Shines.” Yep, if you guessed Chippewa Hi-Shines, you’re right. These boots are comfortable, well-made, and much (much!) less expensive than Dehner boots. These boots are leather lined and made of all leather (unlike stock Dehner boots.) I know from personal experience that these boots are very comfortable and can easily be worn all day long.

The third pair of boots have a bal-laced instep. If you look closely, you will see that the shafts crease a lot around the ankle, and have some more folds along the shaft. That shows that the material from which they are made is thin. While the material is indeed leather, the leather of these boots is thinner than competitor’s boots. Guess what they are yet? Okay, here goes: Chippewa Motor Patrol boots. These boots are about the same price as their “hi-shine” brothers. Unfortunately, the finish discolors (turns dull and grey) when exposed for any length of time to a hot motorcycle engine. Also, the soles are soft and often leave melt-marks on hot motorcycle pipes. These boots are chosen by some motor outfits because they have the same appearance as bal-laced Dehner boots, but cost half the price.

Well, I hope you enjoyed playing this bike cop boot guessing game. Join me for another booted cop adventure next Spring.

Identify the Boots

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Often when I’m around a bunch of bike cops, especially when they gather for an event or competition and come from different jurisdictions, I play a guessing-game that I call, “what brand and model of boots are those?”

And you know what, I guess I have been looking at and wearing boots for way too long, ’cause I haven’t guessed wrong in quite a number of years.

In the booted gathering in the photo above, can you guess which brands and models of boots you are seeing? I’ll give you a hint, there are only two brands and three models.

Take your guesses and return tomorrow for the answers.

Picking Up a Heavyweight Motorcycle

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No matter how careful a rider is, no matter how skilled, no matter if he is a professional or someone like me who rides for freedom and fun — there may come a time when the rider drops his bike.

In the case shown above, the officer was attempting to ride very slowly through a course, lost control, and dropped his motorcycle. That happens even to the best of them.

What the officer is showing is what we are taught in advanced motorcycle safety training courses. Here is how to lift a heavy motorcycle if it is dropped:

1. Stop the engine and if you can make sure the bike is in gear (so it won’t roll once it is righted). If the bike is on it’s right side, put the sidestand down before trying to lift it. If the bike has a gas petcock, turn the valve to the “off” position.

2. Back up into the bike with your body. That’s right! Don’t face the bike to try to lift it — use the power of your legs to lift it. It is safer for your back and your body to do it this way.

3. Place your butt in the mid-section of the seat (back toward the motorcycle), not too close to the edge. Keep your back straight and your head up.

4. Grab the handlebar grip with the hand closest to it. Pull the handlebars as close to the gas tank as you are able. Find a place to grab with the other hand.

5. Put your feet fairly close together, about 12″ (30cm) apart. Press the bike using your legs and rear to lift it up. Your hands will guide it. Take small steps backwards. Once you have the bike sufficiently lifted, reach the hand that is not on the handlebars over and grab the other grip. Straighten the handlebars.

6. Be careful to go slowly enough that you don’t push the bike over onto the opposite side.

Before remounting and restarting the motorcycle, check it carefully for damage that may interfere with safe operation. Cosmetic damages like a broken turn signal lens or scratched paint do not interfere with your ability to ride the bike. However, damage to steering alignment, brake pedal, gear shifter, or other parts may require that the bike be towed to a repair shop to be fixed before being ridden again.

That’s it! Don’t be embarrassed, because it happens to almost all bikers eventually. Using this method, you can lift the bike yourself — even a bike that weights many times your own weight. The trick is using leverage to your advantage, not mere physical strength.

Life is short: ride safely!

Last Ride of Summer

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I led the longest ride I have ever led yet, over 330 miles (530km) yesterday. Of course, that included getting lost and arriving at our destination via a “very scenic” route. Nonetheless, it was an absolutely stunning day, with bright sunshine and clear blue skies, with very pleasant temperatures — just perfect for a long motorcycle ride. My Harley rides so comfortably, I did not get sore nor was I wrung out when I got home with over 100 digital photos and video that I took. Hmmm… what could that be about? After I process all of them, I will announce it on my website, but please be patient.

I was looking at a lot of these:


While admiring the expert motorcycle riding skills of a lot of these:


and took this video while I was at it:


Consistent with my “don’t be specific about where and when” policy, I will not say the name of this event here on this blog, else it might attract people looking for that event using Google or other search engines. There are some people who have not understood this gay man’s blog, so I choose to be circumspect. Meanwhile, enjoy the views — I sure did! Woofity-woof!

By the way, I only refer to the ride yesterday as my “last ride of summer” because autumn begins on September 22, and I will not be leading or going on a ride until after autumn starts. But no worries, autumn is a great time to ride, and I intend to do that when I can!

Commenting Policy

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UPDATE: The content below was updated in February and September, 2010. Here are the changes, in brief:

1. I will accept anonymous comments if the content of the message contributes to the quality of a post.

2. I will delete any comment that has an embedded link to a commercial company. I do not allow other people to endorse products or services on MY blog.

The rest of my commenting policy remains as previously written:

——————————————–

I do not allow anonymous comments on this blog. Anyone who wants to post a comment may sign in using his or her google or blogger account, or use the “anonymous” option to submit a comment, but he or she must give a name or screen handle, and be consistent about it.

What’s the problem with anonymous comments?

1. Civility. Anonymous comments encourage nasty snark-fests of the worst kind. People write comments behind a computer screen which they would never make if they had to sign their name. It’s one of the worst aspects of the internet and helps destroy the potential of this medium for communication. It can also have a chilling effect on people who want to engage but would like to disagree agreeably. While some blogs enjoy controversy generated by flame wars as it attracts readers, I do not have an interest in doing that.

2. Responsibility. If you’re going to write something, you should own it.

3. Negativity. This goes along with civility. Some people write nasty things behind the screen of anonymity that reveals much about their lack of quality of character and integrity. I will not abide negativity related to sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, or that expresses intolerance.

If you wish to comment on any post on this blog, feel free. Sign in with your google identity OR use the anonymous option but include your name or screen name.

I will review all comments and decide if they will be published or not. For example, you may refer to me by “Booted Harleydude” or its short-form, “BHD”, but not by another name. References to me by another name get deleted because I separate my blogger identity from my personal identity. That is not the same thing as anonymity, because my blogger and website identities are the same and have been for over a decade.

Also, I will delete any comment that includes and embedded link to a commercial enterprise. I do not allow other people to try to endorse products or services through MY blog. If you want to do that, write your own blog.

Ultimately, my blog is an expression of my personal opinions. If you do not like my opinions, say so and own your remarks, or surf elsewhere.

Acknowledgment: some of the language used above is from the anonymous commenting policy of a blog written by a friend. Used with permission.

Where I’d Rather Be

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I admit it, there are some days when I wake up and say to myself, “oh gee, same routine … go to work, work-work-work, come home, fix dinner for my partner and me, go to a meeting, get back by 9, go to bed, … rinse, lather, repeat.”

There are some days when I would rather not continue with the same routine. Don’t get me wrong; I love my life and enjoy what I do for a living. But after a while, the routine gets awfully boring, repetitious, and well — so “routine!”

Pictured above from a photo captured from the ‘net somewhere, is where I imagine that I’d rather be, in boots and leather, riding off into the wind down a deserted road — perhaps in the desert such as shown in this photo, on my way to see my best friend and my brother who live in Arizona. (Hmmm, come to think about it, business brings me to Phoenix next week. Can’t wait! Unfortunately, I won’t be renting a Harley this visit.)

Anyway, thanks for sharing this diversion of a daydream with me. Don’t you have days like this? You’d rather be anywhere than where you are?

Life is short: enjoy what you have, yet continue to dream.