Monthly Archives: August 2010

Oh Doo-Doo!

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I was served a subpoena to appear in court yesterday as a witness in a civil matter between two neighbors who are in dispute about, of all things, doggy doo-doo. Oh cripes! Thus the challenge of being a community leader. I feel great regret that I wasn’t able to encourage these neighbors to resolve their issues civilly between themselves without having to have a judge do it for them.

On came my dressy Nocona blue full-quill ostrich boots with a pair of dress pants, dress shirt, and a “spot” of leather — my maroon leather tie. Damn it was hot! Choking in that noose made me sweat a lot — but because I had to do a quick 10-block trip to a drug store to get medicine for “Dog A” which was present in court as “evidence” (seriously, I kid you not!) “Dog A’s” owner is disabled, and the doggy was suffering an asthma attack because the air quality was poor. I couldn’t let “Dog A” suffer so badly, and if getting a children’s antihistamine would help relieve it’s symptoms, off I marched in the heat to get the drug. It actually worked!

One of my friends is a local police officer. I griped a bit about this court date with him a few days ago. He told me stories about appearing in court on both civil and criminal matters that made my head spin. I don’t know how cops have the patience to deal with all the dumb stuff that some people do. My short court visit is nothing compared with what he has to do on a regular basis for his job. So I’ll quit my bitchin’.

Civility in today’s society is lost. People are quick to yell, scream, and behave like total and complete idiots — then file a civil complaint for a judge to decide. Such a waste of time for the judicial branch of government. I am so sad. We have to be better than this.

However, that is one reason why I refrain from posting much about politics on this blog or on my Facebook page or other non-political forums. Some people have opinions that oppose my own views. They’re entitled, but the vehemence with which they voice their opinions is awful. I choose not to incite those riots on on-line social forums.

I do have political opinions, and I do post comments about them where it’s appropriate. There is a statewide political blog on which I have written comments and guest blog pieces. But always in a civil, respectful, manner. I choose to post in what I call “appropriate” places — and not discuss politics on social media. To me, “social media” is for fun and friendship, not for challenging others to a war of words.

Life is short: be calm, civil, and choose where to say what in cyberspace.

Persistent Website Downtime

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I truly regret that my website experienced a significant period of downtime yet again last night.

After incurring five prolonged periods of downtime within the last six weeks, I said to myself, “okay, that’s it!” I called my web host, Hurricane Electric (which was recommended to me by Larry of hotboots.com), and they confirmed the server on which my website is hosted was having problems again. So I sent them an email and requested that my site be migrated off their dysfunctional server to another one. Hopefully, the new-to-me server on which my website is hosted won’t have such problems.

Unfortunately, my website and my email was also down during the transition period to the new server. If you sent me a message any time from Monday afternoon until night, I haven’t seen it yet, but no worries, I’ll get it eventually and reply to you.

I have been very pleased with Hurricane Electric’s service for many years. I have a number of websites hosted by them now. Bootedman.com is the largest, but regardless of a website’s size and functionality, their reliability and affordability is what “sold” me. I think this one server downtime problem is an anomaly.

To anyone who tried to visit my website and received an error message or a message that the site wasn’t there any more, I apologize. Hopefully with this migration to another server, the problem will be resolved.

Life is short: don’t have unplanned downtime!

Guest Blog From The Bro’

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Hey, big brother… in just a few days, a big jet will be headed your way with The Wife and me on it. Headed back to see you for our birthday. I’ve made arrangements to rent a Harley. Lets Go Play! One week ’til our birthday! (But who’s counting?)

M and The Wife will do the girly stuff (shopping, yakking) while you and I will go explore. Revisit our youth, see our family, strengthen our souls — as only you can do for me.

It has been a year since we’ve done this, yet it feels like longer. I rejoice in knowing that you and I will be spending significant time together, hangin’ out, havin’ fun.

Love you, bro’ … always have, always will. Can’t wait!

See you soon,

J

Formal Summer Leather

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These words do not always go together: “summer” and “leather”. “Formal” and “leather” go better together… sometimes. Here’s my take on both matters….

While I am definitely a cuirophile (a-ha, new word! But leathermen can figure that one out fast)… I recognize that leather is durable, looks good, and by design, it is warm. I mean, after all, it was the thick skin of a cow. (I know, leather is made from other animal hides, too, but let’s not split hidehairs.)

When the weather outside is frightful… but not the snowy sort (pardon the lift from an old holiday tune)… temperatures in the 90s (over 32C), wearing any form of leatherwear on my legs and body can make me very uncomfortable. While the aroma of sweaty leather has some intoxicating prospects, passing out from heat stroke is not good. Not at all… so wearing full leather in the summer outdoors is not something I choose to do.

… except … in the early morning before it becomes warm, when I may choose some of my nicest, “formal” leather, and completely leather up for some photos for my website. I think the background of fully-leafed trees is far better than the stark, leafless, cold background of a winter’s day.

What makes “formal” leather? Usually, at least from my own observation, one can say that he is wearing “formal” leather when he has on leather pants that are clean and the leather is in its full lustre. A leather shirt, usually with long sleeves but perhaps with short sleeves, on the torso. A Muir Cap on the head, a Dress Leather Tie with a pair of well-shined black boots completes the outfit.

Must all “formal” leather be black? I dunno… this fashion-conscious “black-tie” stuff always throws me, since I am not the type of guy to wear a tuxedo. (Never have, never will.) I think good quality lustrous leather combined together, as shown here, can easily fit the bill of “dress leather.”

Only downfall, this prince’s date doesn’t like going to the ball (don’t go there… this is a G-rated blog!)… ahem… back to topic … my partner detests going out. Thus, I can (and often do) dress in formal leather, but “going out” means to the back yard for some photos, then enjoying wearing leather indoors in cool comfort. … until I have to go out. In which case, off come the leathers for a return to hanging them nicely in the gear closet… and on come the blue jeans and t-shirts with comfy boots, which are my customary summertime choices.

Life is short: enjoy leather!

What Do Cowboys Wear Under Their Jeans?

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Yes, another question entered into Google and that landed on my website.

Question: “what do cowboys wear under their jeans?”

Answer: underwear.

What kind — boxers or briefs?

Answer: yes.

Question: do cowboys ever wear jeans without underwear?

Answer: I don’t know. I haven’t checked. But when I have ridden horses, I have required all the padding I could get between the saddle and my butt. I figure the same is true with cowboys. Underwear is a good choice. But you’ll have to check for yourself, guys.

Also, remember, most cowboys wear jeans over boots, so you can say, in a way, that they wear boots “under” their jeans, too.

Life is short: ubi sub sub ubi (always wear underwear — a Latin proverb LOL!)

Can Civilians Wear Cop Boots?

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There goes that Google again, driving someone with the question, “can civilians wear cop boots?” onto this blog and my website.

Answer: yes.

Is a person who is not a sworn peace officer wearing tall motorcycle patrol boots, like the 20 pairs of patrol boots that I have impersonating an officer?

Well, if he puts on a uniform with insignia and goes out in public wearing it, then he’s close to that label. However, what he does while wearing a uniform is the decision-maker. If he attempts to pull someone over, speak to someone like a cop, threaten giving a citation, or something stupid like direct traffic or point a gun at someone, then yes: that’s impersonation and penalties for doing that are severe.

But if you just pull on a pair of tall patrol boots with breeches but have no insignia, and if you don’t speak like a cop or pretend to do things that cops do, then no, you’re not impersonating an officer.

So bottom-line: yes, “civilians” can wear tall patrol boots. I do it all the time. So do thousands of other men who like the appearance, feel, design, and style of the boots.

If you’re afraid someone might say something, then crawl back under a rock and put on your sneakers. Otherwise, boot-up and enjoy!

Life is short: wear boots you like to wear!

Are Frye Boots Good for Motorcycling?

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This question was posed, where else, but in a Google search and it ended up on my website.

The answer to the question, “are Frye Boots good for motorcycling” is “mostly no” with a few exceptions.

The reason why the answer is “mostly no” is that most vintage Frye boots were made with a smooth leather sole, as shown here on a pair of vintage Frye Boots of the ’70s. Boots with a smooth sole are a poor choice to wear while operating a motorcycle simply because the soles do not provide traction which is required to hold the bike at a stoplight or whilst maneuvering into a parking spot. In fact, smooth-soled boots like most Fryes and cowboy boots are very likely to slip on pavement. Why? Pavement, particularly asphalt parking lots, is a repository for oil. Most people think, “my car doesn’t leak oil, so why worry about it?” Cars drop a drop of oil here and there, particularly while hot, and just parked.

Slipping while parking a bike is, according to NHTSA, the third-most leading cause of injuries to a motorcyclist, after a crash or driver error (dropping the bike or running off the road.) You see, if your boots slip under you, you put enormous pressure on your ankle while trying to prevent the bike from falling over. There are a number of ankle sprains, strains, and breaks reported. Believe me, I know how fragile the fibula is (the smaller of the two leg bones that go into the ankle.) It can snap and break when such sideways pressure is applied to it.

Back in the day when Frye Boots were made at the original plant in Massachusetts, the company did make a line of boots with lug soles suitable for use while operating a motorcycle. (Image from a 1975 Frye Boot Catalog.) Today, there are some Frye boots made in China that have a rubber sole. (The Frye Boots made in the USA plant in Arkansas nowadays are the campus style, which have smooth leather soles.)

Unless your choice of boots has at least a rubber sole — preferably a lug sole — then do not use them while operating a motorcycle. Sure, you’ll be fine while the bike is in motion. You may have serious trouble when you have to stop.

In summary, it’s not the boot, it’s the sole. And in post-summary, repeat after me: “boots are for motorcycling, sneakers are for the gym.”

Life is short: have sole.

Thinning the Wesco Boot Collection

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Wesco Redwood Boss BootsNote (added later): these boots have been sold and are not available

I have had this pair of Wesco Boss Boots since 1989. The color is different — The West Coast Shoe Company (Wesco) calls it “Redwood.” They are 20″ tall (after sagging about an inch once they were broken in), and have a 16-1/2″ calf circumference. I wore them while riding my Harley (and previous motorcycles), so shifter-scuffing on the right boot is noticeable.

I bought these boots directly from Wesco. At the time, Stompers wasn’t open yet, and I did not know that you can get new Wesco Boots from a third-party retailer for significantly less money than from the dealer direct.

The boots are standard, or stock, in measurement. The foot size is 10D. They are not lined with leather, but the leather is very stiff and they stand up well. They have one buckle at the top, closed with a brass closure, and of course one buckle across the instep, which is traditional for an engineer-style boot.

I can pull them on with a struggle, and my regular 10D foot fits fine. The leg is where I have a problem. The calf circumference is too tight for me as my calf muscles have gotten a bit bigger as I have aged.

I have decided to sell sold these boots to someone who might just like a pair of biker-worn, attractive Redwood Wesco Boss Boots. Before I put them up on eBay, I’m announcing it here so in case anyone wants to make me a decent offer.

Life is short: continue the life of a long-lived pair of boots!

Living Vicariously

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There are people who:

  • are curious to know what it’s like to wear leather
  • would like to leather up and go out to some leather-dress-code-enforced gathering
  • would like to ride a motorcycle
  • would like to wear boots

…but who don’t.

So they search the internet to explore their interests. Some of those searches end up on my website or this blog. Looking at photos and reading about what other guys do is a safe way of living vicariously through others (provided you’re not on the computer 24/7).

For example, through a commentary exchange on this blog that I have been having with Straightjacketed, a bondophile in the UK who is a very nice guy, I am living vicariously with his interest and ability to get his partner to get into gear and go with him to The Hoist, which is a leather bar in London and has gatherings at which they enforce a strict dress code. For various reasons explained in all those comments (so not to be repeated here), my partner and I no longer gear-up and go out. But I enjoy reading about the experiences of a younger guy.

SJ also truly enjoys bondage, which he explains and demonstrates on his blog. I read it and learn what someone who does that enjoys. While bondage is not something I would want to do or would find stimulating, there are a lot of guys (both gay and straight) who do. Fa così sia, to each his own.

As another example, I see visitors come to my website from very rural areas of the United States (and other countries) where they can only dream about wearing leather, going out, riding a Harley, having a boot collection, or whatever. They are stuck. I know what it’s like to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. The norms of the society in which they live are conservative and restrictive. If they put on a pair of leather pants, boots, and a leather shirt and went to a local pub or restaurant, they would feel very uncomfortable because of the reaction from family, friends, and neighbors who don’t accept. They would be called names and perhaps worse: lose employment, housing, and maybe even be “run out of town.” These things really do happen. So they keep their interests private by surfing the ‘net and living vicariously through others (including this old vanilla leatherman, me.)

I admit: I live vicariously through others, too. There are things I might like to do, but either do not have the financial resources for exotic travel, the stamina to stay awake past 9:00pm, or a partner who has any interest in socializing with other people. So, SJ, keep posting, and please continue to comment, as I enjoy learning more, as well as your witty remarks and information that you share.

Other guys: keep visiting the website and this blog. I’m always open to receiving questions which I may address in future blog posts or directly via email. I respect privacy, and know that living vicariously through others is human nature.

Life is short: explore!