Yearly Archives: 2011

How Rich Are You?

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This was an actual question that someone sent to me recently.  I have not communicated with him before. His first email to me said, “nice boots… how rich are you?”  He was from somewhere in the United States.

How rich am I?

I will answer it this way:  I am richer than I could ever imagine….

I have a wonderful partner who cares for me deeply, and tenderly looks after me.  He is my rock.  He keeps me focused, strong, and positive.  He makes sure that I am safe, well, and protected.  He loves me unconditionally.  He is a testament to strength, fortitude, endurance, and faith.  He is the foundation of my soul.  What other words may I use?  How does one measure his richness by his blessings of his best half?

I am rich with the love and support from family.  They nurture me, care for me, love me, and keep me sane and well-grounded.  All of my siblings, nieces, nephews, “greats,” cousins, aunts, uncles … the whole fam-damily — as many as we are — we are who we are because of our bond of blood.  My siblings, in particular, are a testament to what love is all about.  We all are different in many ways.  However, overall, our bond is deep, enduring, and its richness is undescribable.

I am rich with strong bonds of enduring friendship with people who know what a real friend is all about.  They do so many things to show their love.  Some of my friends have done that for me for over 50 years, and some more recently.  It has been said that you can measure how rich you are by the strength of your bonds of friendship.  I do not take these bonds lightly.  I do what I can to extend myself to caring for my friends as they care for me.  Each and every day I am made richer by these wonderful, thoughtful, caring souls.

I am rich with learning patience every day. I care for my 96-year-old aunt who has Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as general old-age infirmities. Under the clouded thoughts and occasional blank stares lies a woman who has done a lot in her own life, and who loves me deeply. This experience of enabling her to continue to live on her own terms, in her own home, with activities and actions that keep her life meaningful enrichen me in ways that I cannot describe, and make me a better person. I have learned how to listen better, to observe better, and how to be a much more patient man.

I am rich with the ability to extend caring to a large network of senior pals. Helping them out, taking them to get groceries, fixing things and doing home repairs, preparing tax returns… these people are the net that sustain my life of voluntarism and my heart, which makes me richer than anything else: the ability to extend yourself to make someone else’s life better makes one rich in his soul.

I am rich with community.  I live in an exciting place.  Right outside the door (almost) of the Capital of the United States.  I live in a state (Maryland) that is thoughtful in its approach and acceptance of my partner and my relationship (and isn’t hateful, hurtful, and backward as some other states).

I live with rich diversity. My local government is provided by a county, not a city. The county is strong and vibrant.  Its government is inclusive.  It listens.  It responds.  It may take some whacks on the proverbial head to get some local elected officials and county leaders to listen … but they do.  We’re all in this together, and the richness of my community composed of almost a million residents who hail from all corners of the world demonstrates how diversity makes us all stronger and better as a people.

I am rich with strong faith.  I have deep faith and belief in powers beyond my own.  I have faith in humanity, civility, and what’s right — rather than what’s wrong.  I believe….

I am rich with a job that I love.  I enjoy working.  I enjoy the heck out of doing what I do.  Words cannot describe how rich one feels when one wakes each morning and says, “oh, goodie!  I get to go to work today!  Yippie!”  (Seriously, I am insanely happy with my employment….)

Materially, I have enough resources to live comfortably, in a nice house that we built, and to have things that make life fun, like my Harley.  I owe no debt.  I do not carry a balance on any credit cards.  I live life responsibly.  I practice financial responsibility.  Because I have managed my resources well, I have had sufficient discretionary funds to buy some boots and leather items from time to time.  But I do not spend money that I don’t have.

I am also rich by means of measurement with many other intangibles.  Seriously, to me, that is what makes life “rich.”  It’s not money or things.  It’s people.  As they told George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, “no man is a failure who has friends” and he was “the richest man in town.”

Yep, I consider myself to be among the richest men in town … all because of the relationships with the people who make my life that way.

Life is short:  cherish your family and your friends.  They are, after all, what makes life rich and rewarding.

Grrrr: Web Hosting Changes Back!

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Here we go again! bootedman.com and my personal website that I use for my family and to represent myself professionally have both been switched back to the former servers that each of them were on.  If you had trouble accessing the website(s) yesterday, that’s probably why.

It turns out that the new-to-me web hosting service was trapping email that I absolutely needed for my professional job.  In a number of dialogues with them by phone, email, and on-line chat, they refused to acknowledge that it was their problem.  They insisted that they were not trapping email when I know for darn sure that it was sent, yet I did not receive it.  What was probably happening is that they have much more stringent filters on their servers and those filters trap a lot of stuff that they should not.

Further, there were other technical problems and concerns that I encountered.  I will not bore you with the details.  Let’s just say that I am happy that I did not cancel my old web hosting service, so I could just point the DNS back to them for my websites, make sure the files on each site were the most recent (restored from backups), and be back in business.

Grrrrr… I wish this stuff weren’t so complicated.  But it’s working.  That’s what matters.

By the way, if you sent an email to me at my BHD email address between 8 January and 15 January, then I regret that it is gone. I think that I have replied to all of my email during that period, but if I did not, then please accept my apologies and write to me again. I have not lost my email address book — just the actual emails that I received during that week. (And I have not lost any of my professional email as that is processed by a secondary anti-spam filter, which retains copies of all of my email before sending it to me through my web host.)

Life is short:  don’t point fingers at others when your company is to blame.

P.S.:  I am having fun with you — if you clicked on the link to “my personal website” above, I directed you to a spoof site.  That’s not my personal site.  Those who need to know what it is know where to find it.  I do not reveal that side of me on this blog.

Instead of MAL…

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“MAL” means “Mid-Atlantic Leather,” the second-largest annual gathering of the leather clan in the U.S.  It is going on in downtown Washington, DC, and ends tonight.  I blogged the other day about why my partner and I decided not to attend.  Been there, done that….

Instead of going to MAL, I wore full leather anyway:  long-sleeved hunter green leather shirt, leather riding pants, and Wesco Boss boots.  My partner and I went to the motorcycle show that was also in town, at the Convention Center.  It was easy to get to because we could use our Metro subway system, which has a stop right there… convenient.

We strolled around, looked at the new bikes, show bikes, display bikes, and the various vendors’ booths.  While several vendors were selling leather gear (vests, jackets, and chaps), only one vendor was selling U.S.-made gear.

Most of the leather gear was cheap junk made of imported leather from Pakistan.  The lack of quality showed.  What also showed was what these vendors know about the demographic of guys who attend these shows.  I swear, some vendors only had vests and jackets that started at US Size 50 — and up!  My gosh!  But their knowledge and decision-making about what to display for sale was, sadly, spot-on.

Funny, two guys came up to me and said, “that’s a cool shirt?  Who’s selling it?” — wanting to know which vendor at the motorcycle show had it for sale.  I told both of them the truth:  they could get this leather shirt if they wanted it, but the vendor displaying it was at the Hyatt Regency, not at the convention center.  One guy said, “that’s strange” and another said, “why there?”  To both, I explained that there was a “leather convention” at the hotel, and the vendor of this shirt, Mr. S. Leather, had a display there.  Neither quite understood what I was saying, but both said, “nahhh… too far away.”  (giggle.) Also, what they didn’t need to know was that a change this year at MAL is that you have to pay $10 just to stroll around the exhibit hall if you did not buy a full admission package.

Back to the motorcycle show: I saw and spoke with some people I know, while my partner shied away and tried to fade into the background.  We strolled around, and had lunch — and I wasn’t surprised, but disappointed, that the cost of lunch was equal to the cost of two entry tickets.  Yikes!

It was a nice way to do something different and spend the afternoon with my partner.  Photos with this post show me on a 2011 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic.  No, I am not considering getting it, or any new bike.  My 2008 Road King suits me just fine.

On the way home, I did see a couple guys decked out in full leather on their way into town.  I can imagine where they were going.  Hope they, and all attending MAL, had fun.

Life is short:  enjoy your leather while attending a non-gay-leather-dude event!

Why Do People Wear Cowboy Boots?

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From another Google search, someone from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, entered:

While this person can’t spel (and since I was educamated in Oklahoma, I know we were taught the difference between “wear” and “were,”) nonetheless, this person’s query will be answered.

Why do people wear cowboy boots?  From my perspective, as an every-day boot wearer, I would say:

1) Cowboy boots look good — as good (or in my opinion, better) than dress shoes, worn with slacks or pants over them.  I wear them to the office in a professional setting all the time.  So do many other men who don’t have hang-ups about what’s on their feet or fears about what others may say. (And no, one does not “have” to wear a cowboy hat when wearing cowboy boots.)

2)  Cowboy boots feel good — boots feel solid on the foot.  Well-made cowboy boots are sturdy, but flexible.  They are easy to walk in and yet are rigid enough to protect the ankle.

3)  Cowboy boots come in a variety of colors, shapes of toes, and can be plain or fancy — to fit the wearer’s interest and style.

4)  Cowboy boots can have a higher heel (compared with dress shoes).  Some guys like a little more height than what God has given them.  And I’m not talking about spikey heels.  I’m talking about a “cowboy walking heel” which is 1-5/8″ to 1-3/4″ high — about an inch higher than a typical shoe heel, and yet not so high as to make it difficult to walk in them.  Some cowboy boots have heels from two to three inches, or more.  I have trouble walking in heels higher than two inches, so most of my cowboy boots have walking heels — for my comfort.

5)  Cowboy boots (or any real boot for that matter) provides better protection to the ankle which can be injured easily by a trip or fall.

6)  Some men wear cowboy boots because of the culture of where they live.  Heck, this question was asked in Oklahoma City?  Goodness gracious, lots and lots of men wear cowboy boots there all the time.

Now, on another matter, this search via Yahoo asked, “can you cowboy boots in ice?” It was from North Carolina. Just goes to demonstrate that what people enter into search engines does not have to makes sense, but ends up on this blog, anyway.

Cowboy boots with smooth leather soles on ice? Come on! Ya’ gotta be kiddin’! Well, you can wear cowboy boots when there is ice and snow on the ground, but if you do not want to end up on your ass with a broken ankle or leg, you might want to re-think that … wear sturdy, tall boots with soles that have good traction, and remember that no boot sole, no matter how big the lugs, can prevent a fall on ice. ‘nuf said.

Life is short:  stop obsessing.  WEAR boots, but in the right place at the right time!

Two-Wheel Winter Blues

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Only another biker knows how I feel when I look at the back of my garage and see my beloved Harley tucked in safely from the cold, with a Battery Tender connected.  Only another biker would know the irony of having the Harley’s Battery Tender propped up on a snowblower stored next to it…  🙂

Some words for how this biker feels this time of year, when it is cold, icy, snowy, and non-conducive to riding:

  • Forlorn
  • Sad
  • Heartache
  • Sigh
  • Cabin Fever
  • F’kin Winter’s never gonna end!

Oh well… that’s how us bikers feel this time of year.

But I vowed that I will remain positive, so I will continue to repeat this phrase, “Spring will come,” “Spring will come,”  “Spring will come,”  (… and the partner won’t cram my limited weekend time with so many chores that I can’t ride!!!!)

Life is short:  keep dreaming.  And to my fellow bikers:  I know how you feel!

Bootedman.com Update

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Dear blog readers,

Two days ago I posted a message on this blog asking for feedback about how my website was operating.

I was blown away with the response!  I heard from people with whom I regularly communicate, but I also heard from many others with whom I have not had the pleasure (yet) of exchanging messages. (Though I wish the two guys from my home town who visit this blog every day would eventually get up the nerve to contact me.)

Overall, I received more than 90 responses to my “request for help” from all over the world.  Amazing.  Incredible.  Overwhelming!  If I did not reply to you (if you provided an email address), please understand that I couldn’t reply to everyone.  I have to work, and working gets in the way of responding to email.

What I learned is that everyone said that my website is working fine, and if anything, seems to be loading faster than before.  Perhaps the drop in viewers on Monday was a residual problem of the transition from one web host to another.  Anyway, it seems to be responding well now, and actually for the past two days has had about 500 more unique visitors, on average, than comparative days one week ago.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, my loyal blog readers.  You have helped me a lot, and I am grateful.

Life is short:  be thankful for help you receive!

MAL: Leather Weekend

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It’s that time of year again when the second-largest gathering of the Leather Clan occurs in the United States, at an event called “Mid-Atlantic Leather,” held this year January 14 – 17 in Washington, DC.  I see on various forums and posts that I read that a lot of guys are planning to attend. (I wish my friend Paul, whose image is to the left, will be there; alas, he won’t. But doesn’t he present the epitome of a hot Leatherdude?  Woof!)

The headquarters hotel has changed to the Hyatt Regency instead of the old, ratty, Washington Plaza.  The Hyatt is a much nicer property, but also expensive and not very convenient to Metro (our subway system).  Though the walk from Union Station (trains and Metro) isn’t bad … I once worked at a building right behind the Hyatt, and the walk was about six blocks … not “that” far.

Anyway, while I would like to see some of my friends from out-of-town who are attending, I do not have an interest in attending the various MAL events.  Being an old, monogamous, Maryland suburban-boy, spending time in the city is not my cup-o-tea.  Weighing the “hassle-factor” of getting there is a major part of my thought process.  There is no free parking anywhere (even on weekends), and driving into the city and out again is challenging.  Further, most of the events occur late at night, and I am definitely not the night-owl.

But wait, you say!  There’s a Hotboots party on Saturday afternoon!  (2 to 4pm at the Green Lantern bar).  You have those Custom Brown Dehner Field Boots that you want to show off. (Or, let’s say, show something different from the typical Chippewa Hi-Shines, Dehner Patrol Boots, and Wescos). Been there, done that… bartenders are surly, you can’t take pictures in the bar, and with construction completed for new buildings near the bar, it’s hard to find a place to park, and Metro is even further away.  Plus, as usual, my partner doesn’t want to go as he detests social things.

There is also a motorcycle show at the DC Convention Center the same weekend.  I may be able to convince The Partner to go to that, as I scored a couple free tickets and there is a Metro station right there for convenience.  We’ll leather up and look at the new bikes and gear and such … maybe.  It’s all weather- and mood-dependent (the mood of The Partner being the decisive factor.)  I’ve learned to take each day as it comes, and if he’s up for it, then we’ll go … if not, we won’t.  No big shakes.

So, if you are going to MAL — have a great time!  The weather should be rather typical in Washington for this time of year:  cold, but not frigid; and the little bit of snow that fell yesterday should be gone by the weekend.

Be safe, have fun, and by all means:  wear your leather and tall boots!

(Image to right was found on the ‘net, and is the classic image of a leatherdude who may attend MAL — though personally, I never could understand why he is wearing sunglasses at night. Part of the “image,” I presume….)

ADDENDUM: Three people wrote to me to ask, “why didn’t you just reserve a hotel room and stay, rather than drive in and out of town each night?”

Answer: I am sorry that I didn’t address that issue in the original post. To be honest, I conk out at 21:00 (9pm) each night. I can’t handle activities that go on after that. Further, I can think of a lot of other things on which to spend US$700, which is what I estimate the cost of a hotel room for the weekend to be, with taxes, etc. It’s not worth it to us to take a hotel room when we wouldn’t be participating in most of the MAL events which take place after my bedtime (and also recognizing that we are truly monogamous, and we do not play around with other men.) Further, I learned from attending IML in Chicago that guys clomp up and down hotel hallways late into the night, and it’s likely we wouldn’t be able to sleep well. I know, I know… who sleeps at these things? We do….

Life is short:  realize your priorities change with relationships and age.

Request for Help

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Dear Blog Visitors,

I mentioned the other day that I migrated my website to a different web host.  That migration took place over the last weekend.

I am seeing far, far fewer than the average number of visitors to my website.  I am wondering if the website may be responding slowly, and people are not staying on it when it does not respond, or if there is some other reason that my average number of visitors is way down — like by half.

Will you do me a favor?  Visit my bootedman.com website (click here) and poke around to visit several pages in different sections. Watch how quickly pictures load (or if any do not load.)

Then return to this blog post, click on this link (or leave a comment on this blog post, or email me directly if you have my email address) to let me know your experience with it. You do not have to leave a name or email address on your message if you do not want to — it just means that if you do not leave contact information, that I cannot reply to acknowledge your input.

Did it work?  Was it fast or did you have to wait a long time for pages to load?  Did you encounter any bugs, or “time out” errors?

I can switch it back to my previous host, which (when it was working) was very fast.  I really appreciate any time you can put into this informal evaluation.  Please know that if you wish, you do not have to give me your name or email address — you can just provide feedback to me.

Thank you for your help!

Life is short:  too short for slow websites.

Comparison of Chippewa and Wesco Boots

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I have been asked from time to time how Chippewa and Wesco engineer boots compare.  Nothing shows the differences and similarities better than a video.  Here it is! (see text summary below)

Summary of main points in the video:

Similarities of Chippewa and Wesco Engineer Boots
Note: these similarities are for stock Wesco Boss engineer boots. Wesco Boss boots can be made custom to different heights, number of buckles, color of leather, different soles, etc. But standard, stock Boss boots have these shared characteristics with Chippewa Engineer boots:

  • Made in USA
  • Construction and durability: both Chippewa and Wesco boots are very well-constructed and will last a long time, even if exposed to heat, water, mud, chemicals, oil, etc.
  • Leather: oil-tanned (dull finish) high-quality leather
  • Straps and buckles: One strap with buckle across the instep, one strap with buckle closure at the top of the shaft. (Custom Wescos can have no straps or up to four straps.)
  • Shaft lining: Unlined (though Custom Wesco boots can be leather-lined.)
  • Thread color: the thread color on the soles and boot stays is white on both Chippewa and Wesco boots (though custom Wescos can have different thread colors specified.)
  • Toes: Steel toe (Note: the stock standard Chippewa engineer boot has a steel toe.)

Differences

  • Height: Chippewa — 17″; Wesco Boss — 18″ (or shorter or taller, up to crotch-high.)
  • Weight of leather: Chippewa boots are made from leather that is thinner than the leather that Wesco boots are made with.
  • Weight of boots: Chippewa — 3 lbs (1.36kg); Wesco 18″ Boss — 6 lbs (2.7kg)
  • Sole: Chippewa — Vibram Nitrile (moderate traction); Wesco — Vibram 100 (big lug — lots of traction)
  • Customization: Chippewa boots cannot be made custom. You get what you get. Wesco boots can be made custom, with different heights, leather, number of straps, soles, heel height, and other options available — at a price!
  • Price: Chippewa — approx. US$200/pair; Wesco Boss — approx. US$500 (or more)

Life is short: know your boots!

Bootedman.com

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I have just moved Bootedman.com to a different hosting service.  What that means in non-geek speak is that my boots and leather website is being provided from a different server that is owned by a different company than the one I had been using since 2005.  I changed it because the company at which I had the website hosted has had an ongoing problem with downtime, and the problem was getting worse, not better.  They also were more expensive and more restrictive than the new company.

You do not have to worry about the technical details, many of which are beyond my own comprehension.  As you may not realize, my abilities with web-stuff are not as extensive as you may think.  I am learning all the time, and the learning is fun — which is why having that website is much like a hobby.  It continues to challenge me and is intellectually stimulating.

I am posting this message for two reasons:

1) just in case you visit my website and get some strange error message, check back later.  It takes a while for the change to be fully implemented on the World Wide Web.

2) my email address is being migrated, too.  I may lose all of my email when this change takes place.  If you have sent me a message and I have not responded, please try again.  Messages sent to me on 8 or 9 January may not actually reach me.  Or they may; I do not know.

Let’s hope the transition is transparent for my visitors, and goes smoothly.

Life is short:  make changes as necessary.