Touristdar

I blogged before about gaydar, so today I am blogging about “touristdar.”

What is “touristdar” you ask? Well, you can not find a definition in Wikipedia, or in a dictionary. But you know what it means: simply identifying people you see on the streets and public transit of Washington, DC, as tourists.

It is easy to identify the people who compose one of the strongest economic engines of our nation’s capital. Begin first by those who stand staring dumbfounded at the map of our Metro transit system. I, too, have stared at maps of transit systems when I have traveled somewhere. However, there seems to be an unwritten rule that one has to stare at a DC Metro map with one’s mouth agape. Honestly, I haven’t seen anyone stare at the map with their mouth closed! LOL!

Then, of course, due to the heat and humidity in August, the requisite clothing is comfort for the climate: shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops or sneakers. The vast majority of tourists are so attired. I understand why. It’s hot out there! (However, they might find hiking boots more comfortable, because, after all, they are hiking throughout the city!)

Another way to tell that you’re looking at tourists is that they travel in herds, mobs, gaggles, or clumps. Seldom do you ever see a tourist by him or herself. They are usually in groups of four: two adults, and two absolutely wrung-out, bedraggled, tired, and cranky children. The parents have that tired, wrung-out, bedraggled look about them, too. It is not easy trying to fit in visits to a million things in a few days. Pity the tourist who brings children requiring strollers on these visits. Kids that young won’t get anything out of a museum.

There truly is so much to see, much of it free, in Washington. But it’s sad that people try to fit so much in during such a short time. I hear them on the Metro complaining that they spent three hours at one of the 19 Smithsonian attractions in the city, and only saw a fraction of the one they visited. They had to waste a lot of time in lines and dodging other visitors that they had very little time to see the exhibits on display.

Finally, our tourists seem to wander without much of a plan. Then they encounter a long line somewhere, and just get in it and wait — not realizing that another equally attractive sight is open with no queue.

I will summarize with some hints from a local:

  • Plan your visit to highly visited museums and attractions late in the day. Usually groups with children are gone by then. The few attractions that charge an admission fee often give late-in-the-day discounts.
  • Use on-line tourist assistance, such as visitor’s information for the Smithsonian Institution, the Capitol Visitor’s Center, the National Park Service (most of the national Mall and its memorials are actually national park sites), the experience DC site
  • Plan visits to open-space attractions early in the morning before it gets really hot. This includes the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial.
  • Get an on-line ticket for a tour of the U.S. Capitol via the Capitol Visitor’s Center for mid-day. Go on the tour and have lunch there in air-conditioned comfort. Lunch is cheaper there than at the Smithsonians. That is, unless you like hot dogs from street vendors.
  • Don’t bother trying to visit the White House. Tickets are scarce, and only available through a Member of Congress by writing to her or him months in advance of your visit. Then you don’t get to see much on the tour. It’s a waste of time and you can see a lot more of what the city has to offer in less time and with less trouble elsewhere. (Sorry, but you can’t just walk up to the front door of the White House, knock, and ask, “May I see Barack and Michelle?” LOL!)
  • There are 43 law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in the city. Best boot watching is over by the Capitol Building or around the mall, especially of the Park Police Equestrian Unit. Secret Service and Park Police motorcops wear nice tall boots; most other cops — even on motorcycles — wear short tactical boots.
  • The best time to visit Washington, DC, is in October. The weather is pleasant and usually dry, and the crowds are much diminished. If you can wait, you will have a much more enjoyable visit then rather than during the oppressive summer heat of August.
  • Please, when looking at a Metro map, close you mouth.

We warmly welcome tourists which are the second-most driver of our local economy (the first being our federal government.) And have no worries, we know who you are, and look forward to showing you our nation’s treasures.

Working for the Weekend

As I was thinking about ending another full work week with a weekend looming ahead full of honey-do projects at home, a tune began rattling around in my head. Have you had those times when a song you knew before comes back to you, and you can’t get it out of your head?

The tune by Loverboy titled, “Working for the Weekend,” is what I am talking about in this case. I was thinking that the bosses of the world have it all backwards: that weekends should be five days and work weeks should be two (LOL, a long-held fantasy!) with no loss of pay (HA!)….

I keep thinking that I work and work and work and work and work (five days) and then have two days off … only to have more work. In this case, paint the ceiling of our master bedroom, mow the lawn, take care of my aunt, take my old lady “crew” grocery shopping, do some home repairs for some elder buds that I had promised, attend a community event (unveiling of a painting of my mentor), and countless other things that my partner has rattling around in his mind, but surprises me with on weekends….

It’s an age-old problem that working folks face. Work all week and work all weekend. Oh well, such is life and our routine. I will be granted a reprieve next weekend when my twin brother comes home to share our birthday. Can’t wait!

Speaking of weekends and getting older…

A friend offered us two choice seats to see the Beach Boys on Sunday, August 23. They are playing at Wolf Trap, which is a wonderful venue, but far away from us (relatively speaking; it’s in Virginia, which is quite a drive and traffic is awful.) It’s on a Sunday evening, which won’t work for us. We would get home too late, and I just don’t handle “late” (anything after 9pm).

Plus, I got to thinking. Do I really want to see a bunch of old guys trying to sing like they once did in the 60s? Sitting there with people my age, trying to act and feel younger? These types of bands bring back fond memories, and it’s always nice to hear their songs. But I’m not so sure I want to hear them try to hit those notes — especially the falsettos — after reaching “a certain age.” I know I can’t hit those notes any more.

I thanked my friend but declined the offer. My partner sealed the deal by saying that he just didn’t want to go to the performance, and I wasn’t all that excited about it, either.

Here’s a comparison. Posted below are two videos that I found on YouTube. It is of the group LoverBoy singing the song I am writing about, Working for the Weekend. BTW, I read the lyrics and realized that they are empty and vapid. Only the title applies. Nonetheless, the tune is full of energy and keeps your boots tapping on the floor when you hear it.

However, in comparing the version of the tune sung when it was first released in 1981 (first video below) with a later rendition sung 25 years or so later (second video below), I can’t help but think that these guys should just relax and enjoy retirement. At least in the more recent performance, the lead singer didn’t try to wear white boots and orange leather pants!

What do you think? Should “old bands” that us Baby Boomers enjoyed in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, keep performing in 2009? I admire them for their continued energy and perseverance. I am not sure, though, that they can sing very well any more. You be the judge.

[deleted]
Ooops, this one was removed for content violations by whoever put it up on YouTube.

My Review of Lucchese 1883 full quill ostrich western boots – snip toe

LuctanostrichNice looking, but…

Booted Harleydude

Silver Spring, MD

8/6/2009

Rating: 3

Sizing: Feels true to size

Width: Feels true to width

Pros: Stylish, Comfortable, Breathes Well

Cons: Wear Out Quickly

I wear boots every day. These boots look great, but are made from very soft leather. They flop around on my legs, rather than stand stiff and straight. The leather is easy to scuff. I think the leather is thinner than other cowboy boots I own, and am disappointed with what seems to be a lack of quality materials from which they are made.

Note from BHD: this blog post was created when I wrote a review of these boots that was invited by Sheplers via email.

Comparison of Motorcycle Patrol Boots

I have blogged a lot about how much I like the pair of All American Blue Knight Patrol Boots that I bought last year. And there continues to be a passionate following of Dehner Motorcycle Patrol Boots of which I own seven pairs and have worn for many years.

I made a video comparing both pairs of boots, noting the features and qualities of each. In an overall summary, I think both manufacturers make great boots. The style, quality, and most of all — appearance — is excellent.

The All American Boots are made of all leather, and have a thin plastic top coat, which some people call “patent leather.” Thus, they keep a great shine with little maintenance by a light spray and wipe of furniture polish (not waxy shoe polish). The coating is thin enough that the boots breathe, so they don’t get inordinately hot. The big lug soles provide great traction when I ride my Harley. Having ridden with them a lot, I have noticed that the sides of both boot shafts that face the engine have worn and discolored, and polish won’t return the shine. That’s a distinct problem with boots (including Chippewa Hi-Shines) that have a thin plastic top coating. The cost of these boots, which are all made custom, is about US$320.

Dehner Boots can be made custom of all leather, but the cost to the average Bootman is well over US$700. Stock Dehner boots are comparable with the All American Boots. The boots have a plastic shaft (called “Dehcord”) which can discolor and even crack when worn a lot, particularly when exposed to a hot motorcycle engine. The stock boots are available from many retailers and from the manufacturer.

If you can deal with the plastic shaft issue, the rest of the features of Dehner Boots are superb. They are comfortable, even after a long day (on the bike or when I wear them, pants over, to work.) The soles are non-lug rubber, so they do not provide as much traction as lug soles do. However, the company would change the soles if enough cops complained, and apparently they do not. And nothing can compare with the appearance.

Here is the video comparing the two manufacturer’s bal-laced patrol boots. Enjoy!


Amusing Google Searches

Every now and then, I look at the stats linked to this blog to see what draws new visitors to it. Most new visitors (not the “regulars” who are followers, friends, relatives, or google “friend connect” users) come from searches using Google.

Here are some of the searches that landed up here, categorized by topic. I copied exactly what people entered into a search, including typos, misspellings, and grammar (or lack thereof).

1. Gay issues

  • why gay men have those squeaky voice?
  • can a gay man be masculine
  • can you be gay and masculine
  • boots outside jeans gay?
  • gay boots and jeans

Response: some gay men speak with a distinctive sound. I described it recently here. But honestly, most do not. Most gay men sound like anyone else. It’s a stereotype that all gay men speak with a squeaky voice.

Gay men and masculinity? Yep, I have blogged a lot about that. It is quite possible, speaking from personal experience, that there are masculine gay men. Again, not all gay men are prissy queens. Gay men range in masculinity as straight men do. However, many unenlightened straight men fail to recognize or actively deny this range.

Does a man who wears his jeans inside his boots mean he is gay? Um… no. Again, another stereotype. Just go ask a rodeo cowboy in Buckaroo boots that question.

The funny: “gay boots and jeans.” I have yet to find such a combination….

2. Cowboy Boots

  • how can men wear cowboy boots
  • how to wear cowboy boots with jeans
  • what boots to wear with blue jeans
  • what jeans do you wear with cowboy boots
  • can you wear cowboy boots with a suit?
  • boots outside jeans cool?
  • how should a man wear cowboy boots
  • how to wear cowboy boots to work
  • how do cowboys iron their jeans?
  • what kind of boots do cowboys wear?

Response: It amazes and amuses me how many, many people inquire about how to wear cowboy boots, what jeans to wear with them, what stacked jeans are, if one can wear cowboy boots with a suit, and so on. I do not know the reasons why so many inquiries of this nature are searched, but ever since I posted the tutorial Cowboy Boots and Jeans on my website, it is continually the second-most visited tutorial on my website. (See below for links to the first).

Funny #1: “how to wear cowboy boots to work?” Answer: on your feet.
Funny #2: “how do cowboys iron their jeans?” Answer: it depends if you’re straight or gay. Straight cowboys don’t iron their jeans. Gay cowboys send them to the dry cleaner.
Funny #3: “what kind of boots do cowboys wear?” … um, how about, “cowboy boots!” LOL!

3. Motorcycle Boots

  • do I need motorcycle boots
  • difference between biker boots and cowboy
  • the best motorcycle boots
  • how to break in leather motercycle boots
  • how to put on 17 motorcycle boots

Response: yes, if you are going to ride a motorcycle, you need to wear boots designed for that purpose. Wearing sneakers or worse — flip-flops — is just stupid. I have blogged a whole lot about motorcycle boots and wrote the tutorials on motorcycle patrol boots and motorcycle boots. These tutorials are tied for the most-visited on my website. It is no wonder many searches about motorcycle boots end up on my website and this blog.

How to break in motorcycle boots? Train the ankles, then put on good, thick socks and wear them while riding.

Funny: “how to put on 17 motorcycle boots.” Answer: grow 15 more legs and feet!

4. Leather

  • leathermen who wear thier leathers 247
  • is it illegal to wear a uniform if you are not a cop
  • does leather hurt?

Response: I for one can’t wear leather 24/7. While I enjoy wearing leather often, I wear it when the weather is suitably cool enough. I don’t like to sweat. I guess there are some guys out there who wear leather all day and all night. I’m not one of them, and do not know any.

As for uniform wearing: yes, it is legal to wear a uniform if you are not a cop. Just don’t wear one within the jurisdiction of the agency being represented, and don’t try to act like a cop by making certain comments to other people, or carrying a weapon such as a gun or baton (night stick). It is all explained here on my website for those who are curious (and I have blogged a little about it, too.)

Funny: “does leather hurt?” Answer: yes, the cow who donated it for human use probably would say it hurts.

5. Funniest of all

  • shoes for cocktail attire

I just about died laughing when I saw this search ended up on this blog. It goes back to my April Fool’s Day joke where I spoofed about shoes to wear with cocktail attire to attend the latest guppy gathering in my area. I laughed because I am about the last one to be consulted on shoes and cocktail attire. I care for neither.

Summary: I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of what people enter into search engines and how or why they ended up on this blog. And before you worry that I have gone all “big brother,” no worries, I do not know who you are. I just see what you are looking for and where (the town) you are coming from.

Life is short: search on!

Reunion

These past two weeks have been unusual for our household in that my partner and I have been more separated than together. I had to take a lengthy business trip. When I returned, my mother-in-law was there. My partner brings her to our house for a visit each summer. He arranged her visit to occur mostly while I was away. Her visit continued for two days after I returned.

I care for my mother-in-law, but she is not easy to be around. As a product of her upbringing, she has developed bigoted attitudes which are difficult to hear. She is recognizing that her vocal statements bother me a lot and stops herself when she sees me grimace when she makes unreasonable comments about her neighbors back home. And her eating habits are, well, challenging to observe. I won’t go into more detail, but it’s not pretty.

My partner drove his mother back home last Friday. He stayed the weekend and returned on Sunday afternoon. While I enjoyed some “me time,” and having a weekend reprieve from the long list of “honey do” projects, I was missing my man.

Prior to his arrival back home, I changed the linens on our bed, dusted and cleaned a lot of the house, and even vacuumed. That is not something I ordinarily do in our division of household labor, but I know he likes a clean house and he cleaned it up before his mother’s visit, so I returned the favor by doing it this time.

I also drained the water from our hot tub, thoroughly cleaned it, replaced the filters, and refilled it. I knew that my partner would be miserably sore from his long drive back home, and a relaxing soak in the hot tub would help.

I also got busy in the kitchen. My partner loves to eat whatever I cook, so Guido (my chef’s assistant, pictured) and I got busy and made a loaf of Italian bread, a pasta salad with fresh ingredients from our “deck garden” (cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers), and then prepared a zucchini casserole. We have tons of zucchini ripening, so a casserole would use a lot of it. Too bad I can’t eat it, but my partner loves it. It was all for him.

When I heard his car pull into the garage, I went out to greet him. I winced as he was obviously in a lot of pain from driving — as I expected. I unloaded his luggage and got his clothes into the wash. He hadn’t eaten lunch, so I fixed him a sandwich with our fresh bread, then sat with him at our kitchen table and caught up.

Then we relaxed in our hot tub, and soaked for a whole hour. It helped him immensely with his pain. It did wonders for my spirit. We had a long conversation about our relationship, and how much we think of one another, and how much we remain deeply in love.

We dried off, and went inside where my partner became amorous. He asked me to bring him a pair of boots and asked me to “get booted,” then… (big evil grin)

Dinner was an easy fix, as a portion of the casserole was quickly heated with a zap in the microwave, and the pasta salad and bread side was all ready. I had a sandwich, as the veggies do not agree with me.

After dinner, we kept the TV and computer off, and cuddled in each other’s arms. We didn’t say much — we didn’t need to. Just being there, holding each other… lovingly, closely, fondly. I had blogged before about the importance of touch, and it’s so true. Soon enough it was bedtime, ending with a long snuggly back scratch. Ahhhh… perfect end for our reunion day.

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

500th Blog Post

I am still amazed at my interest and ability to keep going with blogging, at least once a day and sometimes twice. What you are reading usually has been written a week or two in advance, and scheduled for publication each day at 4:00am local time. That way I can maintain my busy schedule and not have to worry about writing a blog post each day. I write when things come to mind.

I hope you enjoy the blog — my various interests, life, times, concerns, and activities.

As I often say: life is short! Show those you love that you love them, wear your boots, leather, and keep blogging!

Here are my most popular blog posts both historically and recently:

Now with an average (still) of about 500 visitors each day, including some from my home town, county, and state, I have developed somewhat of a following. I am not quite sure what the straight guys who live near me are looking for me to say, but I hope they enjoy what they’re reading.

Thanks to some of my loyal followers: Paul, Roland, Tef, Filipe, Jerome, my brother J, AZ, Kevin, Brian, SueG, as well as very regular followers from Huntington Beach, West Hills, San Jose and San Francisco, CA; Jonesboro, AR; Mukilteo, WA; Brookline, MA; Singapore, Singapore; Taiwan, ROC; Hong Kong, China; Berlin and Munich, Germany; Roma, Fierenze, Venezia, Turino, Milano, Padova, e il Veneto, Italia; Barcelona, Spain; lots of locations throughout the U.K.; Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, Australia; and Moscow, Russia.

…and several others who shall remain unnamed…. I “see” you and welcome you to my blog. Note, these are “regulars,” but I also get many visits from all over the United States, Canada, and the rest of the world. It’s interesting that one can enter certain words into Google and end up on this blog. Google drives about 75% of my visitors, with “regular visitors” being the rest.

Enjoy life and this blog! Cheers, mates!

All American Biker

Yep, that’s me, in a photo that I set up and used a tripod and self-timer on my camera to take yesterday:

I have traveled the world, but love living in the good ol’ USA, with all her faults and strengths. I prefer to wear American-made boots and leathers, and ride an American motorcycle. I’m not saying that bikes and boots made elsewhere are bad; these are my preferences.

Life is short: enjoy it where you live!

The Floodgates of China

I remain in awe that about 30% of the daily visitors to my “bootedman.com” website are from mainland China.

I have heard stories that the Chinese government was requiring computers to have a filter of some sort on their browsers, but delayed implementing that rule. Meanwhile, literally dozens of visitors to my website from China are viewing hundreds and hundreds of pages. They seem to visit everything, from motorcycle boots to cowboy boots to cop galleries.

Simply amazing… the floodgates of China visit my lil’ ol’ website so often and look at so much. I figure that they are interested in American culture, are fascinated with what the web can bring to them, and perhaps more than a few have an “interest” (wink) in leather and boots. Perhaps some are trying to figure out what styles of boots that they make over there will sell better over here in the U.S.

Too bad the Chinese have blocked visiting this blog — or for that matter, any U.S. blog. I read about how blogs are blocked in China, and feel badly about that. Perhaps that’s why I get so many visitors to my website instead. An interesting side note, blog visitors from Hong Kong are not blocked, even though Hong Kong has been a part of China for over a decade. Perhaps the PRC’s net nannies do not extend their influence to the former British Colony.

I have stopped trying to over-analyze why about a third of my websites daily visitors are from China. I just observe that when they visit, they don’t just pop in, read a page or two, and move on. No, they view hundreds of pages (I have about 350 pages on my website now), and continue to return over and over again.

Well, fellas, enjoy!

Gaydar

Updated — the original posting was uncharacteristically critical, and I changed it.

————–
Gay men sometimes intuitively guess if someone else is gay by engaging in a guessing game using “gaydar.”

What’s “gaydar?” Well, according to an article in Wikipedia:

Gaydar … refers to the intuitive ability to assess someone’s sexual orientation as gay, bisexual, or straight. The function of gaydar relies on usually non-verbal sensory information and intuitions. These include the sensitivity to social behaviors and mannerisms….

My gaydar went off as I observed this young man texting away on his cell phone while he was seated at National Airport across from me.

I did not talk to the guy, but heard him speaking when his cell phone rang. His voice had a distinctive “gay sound.” According to another website, the sound is called a lisp, though not actually a lisp. It is described thusly:

The markers of this speech pattern include higher than normal pitch that changes frequently and rapidly, a breathy tone, long fricatives, and a very careful pronunciation style.

He waved his other hand a lot while speaking, and generally gave off many signals that made my gaydar go off.

Is there anything wrong with that? No… and I never said the guy was or was not gay. It was behaviors I was observing that are similar to behaviors I have observed in some gay men I know. It doesn’t matter if he is or is not gay. What I’m describing is that there are some behaviors that some men do that give signals that other gay men can read.