Monthly Archives: February 2011

Scents of a Leatherman

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Here is another internet search that landed on my website, on my Complete Guide to Leather Gear:

“Do all leather men not use deodorant?”

To clarify, this is what I said on my Guide to Leather Gear:

Real men don’t wear scents. Leathermen prefer the smell of leather and other men — not smelly stuff from a bottle. Do not wear after-shave or cologne with leather. Before you go out, take a shower with unscented soap, and if you use deodorant, use an unscented variety. Men like how clean men smell — not dirt or grunge, either.

I did NOT say that leathermen should not use deodorant — I just said that men in leather prefer other men in leather not to smell like after shave or cologne, and they don’t like the smell of grunge, either.  If your sweat stinks, by all means, use deodorant.  Just use the unscented variety.

Life is short:  when you wear leather, let that be your scent.

Why Do Bikers Wear Boots?

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Sometimes the most fundamental questions entered into a search engine land here on this blog.

Someone from Olathe, Kansas (USA), searched:

Why do bikers wear boots?

I will share my opinions.  I am a biker, having ridden motorcycles for over 30 years, with hundreds of thousands of miles on highways, byways, and back roads.  As a biker, I truly feel that operators of motorcycles need to wear boots.  Here is why I wear boots when I ride, and why my smart fellow riders do, as well:

1.  Strength and stability for fragile feet and ankles.  The foot and ankle are easily injured by the stresses and strains of motorcycle operation. Maneuvering a bike while stopping, moving into a parking space, or just in and out of a driveway puts enormous forces on the ankle.  The bones in the ankle are fragile — believe me, I know!  Boots provide more strength to the foot and ankle, reducing the possibility of injury by bending or flexing those bones in directions that they were not made to go.

2.  Protection.  Motorcycles produce heat.  Stuff flies up from the road.  Skin on feet, ankles, and legs is thin.  That skin is easily injured by heat from hot pipes and the engine, as well as road hazards.  It is not uncommon for rocks, glass, or sticks to get kicked up by the front tire and hit your lower leg with strong force.  Boots will protect the leg from those things, as well as provide insulation from pipes that can cause a second-degree burn on contact.

3.  Appearance.  You know, Marlon Brando and James Dean weren’t outfitted in boots when they were riding motorcycles just for fun.  They looked cool.  Bikers in boots look cool.  Bikers in tennis shoes (sneakers, trainers) look (in my opinion), dorky — like the wife expects you home at any time to do chores, or take the kids to the park.  You get it — it’s fine to wear sneakers when you’re not riding a motorcycle, but it’s dorky-looking, not to mention stupid, if you do wear sneakers while riding a motorcycle.  Sneakers provide no protection to a biker’s feet, ankles, and legs while riding.  And don’t even get me started on even the thought of wearing flip-flops, crocs, or other open-toed footwear on a motorcycle.  There must be a word in English that I coin from the Italian, “dorkissimo!” 

4.  Function.  Each type of footwear has its function.  Dress shoes function with a suit (for guys who wear them).  Sneakers provide function when playing sports, running, or walking.  Motorcycle boots provide function, as well.  A good tread on a motorcycle boot will afford better control of the bike.  Period.

If one has to ask, “why do bikers wear boots?” … then I wonder if it is a research question at an institution of higher education, or a general question out of curiosity, or to enjoy the various results that come up from such search engine entries.  Now this blog post is part of that mix.

Life is short:  wear boots when riding a motorcycle.

Is It Hard for Gay Men to Socialize with Straight Men?

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This is an interesting question that was entered into a search engine:

“I am a gay man and find it hard to socialize with straight men.”

While I am continuing my series on what interesting searches end up on this blog, I’ll depart from my previous line of being bemused to address an issue that, to me, is a a serious concern.

I am a gay man, and yeah — sometimes I find it difficult to socialize with straight men. What makes it difficult for me are these things:

1. The “rules of engagement” are different. Bro-hugs and handshakes aside, most straight men keep a firm physical distance from any other unrelated guy, and extend that distance into the lines of discussion. They will talk about mutual interests, such as sports, motorcycles, cars, politics, and so forth, but they will not talk about feelings or emotions (usually, though, tongue-loosening occurs in direct proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed.)

2. What we have to talk about is more limited. Sure, I have a number of straight male friends, but our discussions are limited to what we do together or have in common: motorcycling, community activities, construction trades, and such. I am uncomfortable around straight guys who are watching or playing sports because I do not watch, follow, or enjoy sports like football, baseball, basketball, etc. If that’s all they talk about (because it is least threatening), then I’m bored silly and return to feeling like I did in grade school, that is, being chosen last to play the position of “left out.”

3. I don’t like what some of them say when their tongues get loosened by alcohol. At the risk of sounding like a prude, I have found that when straight guys drink alcohol, they are more likely to say things that are offensive to gay men — often without realizing it. I am beyond being “politically correct.” What I am referring to is two things: a) talking about women suggestively and sexually — I’m not interested and find that kind of talk degrading to women; and b) they use terms of expression that become pejorative about gay people.

Yes, to me, it is hard for gay men to socialize with straight men sometimes — BUT — it is harder for me as a monogamously partnered gay man to socialize with only gay men. I hate to say it, but in my experience, when you put a bunch of gay guys together, the conversation sometimes becomes catty, full of gossip, or goes into topics about things in which I have no interest, either (theater, arts, design, fashion, etc.)

Please understand, I am NOT saying that all gay men talk about the same things or that all straight men talk about the same things, either. Everyone is different. There are a number of gay guys who like sports, cars, motorcycling, etc. and can carry a conversation about those topics quite well, as there are straight guys who enjoy theater and so forth, too, and can handle a conversation well.

In my opinion, in the general mix of things, I find socializing with straight guys to be difficult sometimes, but not impossible. I am selective about what times and locations I may choose to do that. I try to avoid social occasions where alcohol is involved, to minimize the chances of the “tongue-loosening” problem to which I referred above. I do not hang out at sports bars or attend “super bowl” parties (such as with my family) because I get tired of feigning interest in something I am not interested in. My family becomes tired of trying to explain it all to me. It is best for me to stay away from such situations because it makes both me and my hosts uneasy.

I am uncertain where I am going with this, other than to commiserate with the person who searched this question.

For more information, Read this post “Conversation Topics for Gay and Straight Guys” on this blog.

Life is short: know your limitations.

Football Avoidance

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Today, February 6, is the date when a football game called the Super Bowl takes place.  This year, it will be held in Arlington, Texas, which is near Dallas and Fort Worth.  I am explaining this in such detail because over half of my daily blog visitors come from other countries (though I venture to say that many of them know about this game.)

What will I do today?  … well, I will be among the few in the U.S. who will not watch the game.  I honestly don’t care.  I do not understand it, and do not wish to try to figure it out.  Some watch the game to view new commercials, which are supposed to be funny.  Certainly, if a company will spend US$1,000,000 or more on one 30-second (or shorter) commercial, then it should be about the best there is.

Anyway, I have many other things to do to occupy my time.  Honestly, what will I do?  I have to go to my aunt’s apartment and meet some of her caregivers who are taking some of her furnishings.  I will also stop by some senior pals’ homes to collect info I need so I can prepare their income tax returns.  Later, I will try to catch up on some of my work, which is interesting to me and I have a lot to do before going on additional trips related to it.

If you are among those who enjoy the game, I hope you have fun.  If you drive to watch it at a friend’s or family member’s home, enjoy the camaraderie and the fun.  Watch, however, the amount of alcohol you drink.  Many law enforcement officers will be out looking for people driving under the influence.  National stats show that “Super Bowl Sunday” results in a huge number of arrests for drunk driving.  That is to prevent a worse outcome:  having a collision in which you and other people may be injured or killed.

‘Nuf of the gory stuff.  Just have fun, and be safe!

Life is short:  there is more to it than football.

Should I Get Wesco Leather Lining?

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This Google search from Canada asks:

“Should I get Wesco leather lining?”

Owning about a dozen pairs of Wesco boots, both lined and unlined, and wearing them when I ride my Harley, I have some opinions.

While it is more expensive, leather lining will make the boots stand up on their own after they break in, last longer, as well as provide a bit more protection from the heat of a motorcycle engine. If you intend to wear the boots while riding a motorcycle, then I definitely recommend coughing up the extra bucks to get the boots made with leather lining.

If you may wear the boots while engaging in linesman work, wildland firefighting, logging, or other outdoor work or activities, then I also definitely recommend leather lining. The lining adds to the overall comfort as well as provides better protection for the ankles and legs.

If, however, you intend to wear the boots to knock around the neighborhood for casual wear, and never use them while operating a motorcycle or engaging in outdoor work where protection is necessary, then the choice is yours.

Leather-lined boots can be a bit warmer than unlined boots, but only if the boots fit snugly on the legs. If the boots are made custom so there will be a bit of space between the legs and the boot shaft so the boots can “breathe,” then you probably will not notice the boots feeling hot to wear after a long period.

On very hot days, I do not wear Wesco boots while riding my motorcycle. The leather of Wesco boots is very thick, durable, and solid. Those boots get hot when worn in hot weather. Instead, when riding on hot days, I choose to wear Chippewa Firefighter Boots or (unlined) Engineer Boots instead of Wesco Boots.

To summarize: “should I get Wesco Leather Lining?” Generally, my opinion is, “yes, you should” but answer the question about how and where you will be wearing them — while operating a motorcycle or doing outdoor labor — or casually without requiring the added protection that leather lining provides.

Life is short: wear boots.

Can You Wear Jeans Over Motorcycle Boots?

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Here is another Google search that landed on my website, but not on a page that addresses this question:

Well, Inquirer from Seattle, the answer is “yes you can” as in yes, it is both possible and it is also customary, or typical, for bikers to do so.

I ride a motorcycle and wear boots when I do.  Always.  You won’t find me wearing sneakers or worse, flip-flops.  I am not stupid enough to wear something that will not provide protection for my feet, ankles, and legs when I ride… but I digress….

Most guys who ride a motorcycle wear jeans over boots.  While I personally like to show some of my tall boots by wearing jeans or breeches tucked into my boots, I realize that most bikers do not.  I ride with lots of guys, who show up in jeans and boots, with jeans over.

So yes, you “can” wear jeans over boots when riding a motorcycle.  The real the answer to this question is, “you should wear boots when riding a motorcycle.”  Always.  No question.  “Jeans over” is most common, regardless of how tall the boots are.  See this post about how to wear biker boots and this guest blog post about looking good on a motorcycle.

Life is short:  wear boots when riding a motorcycle.

Is It Gay to Wear Boots?

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This is the last in this series of “is it gay?” blog postings for a while.  I swear, these internet searches all were done on the same day and end up here on this blog to one post or another that I have written over the past three years.

So here goes: is it gay to tuck pants into cowboy boots?

And this one: is it gay for a guy to wear boots?

And this one: is tucking you [sic] jeans into boots gay?

All of them are from various parts of the United States.  I guess that these searches were done by young guys who are concerned about what other people think about whether wearing boots — at all or with jeans tucked into them — is lame, dumb, or in their words, “gay.”

All I can say, as I have been saying, is: “oh brother.” (BHD rolls eyes.)  I could say something a bit more profane, but I will resist.  It just goes to show that there is a LOT of insecurity out there among a lot of young guys.  They will become more secure as they grow older and more mature.

Meanwhile, those of us guys who have grown up and are secure in our masculinity and self-perception — derived from our own sense of self-worth and acceptance of ourselves in our own skin and clothing (and boots) — do not worry about what other people think.  We will look at our boots in our closet when we dress, and pull on the boots we would like to wear that day — with our jeans, our leather, or our business attire.  Whatever we choose, it is our choice, because we don’t give a flyin’ frig about other people’s opinions.

Life is short:  be your own man and wear boots!

Frye Boots Gay?

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It is regretful that this series continues about certain styles or brands of boots and questions entered into search engines asking if those boots are “gay,” but here is the third internet search — found on the same day as the one about harness boots and engineer boots being “gay”:

Again, I remind readers that kids today have adopted the term “that’s gay” to refer to something that is, in their opinion, lame or dumb.

Once more, being concerned about what other people say about what you wear on your feet is a sign of youthful immaturity. Eventually, these guys will grow up and learn that what other people think about what they wear is immaterial. When they become a man in their own right, they can choose to wear Frye boots if they wish.

I do have to say, though, that the Campus Boot style of Fryes is universal in design, and is worn by women — that style of an unadorned foot (no straps or buckles) with a higher heel (2″ to 2-1/2″) is considered by some people to be more of a women’s boot than a man’s.

But read my recent (straight) guest blogs, “Frye-ography” and “Observations From a Frye Boot Fan” to consider that to guys in the 60s and 70s, Fryes were the style of boot to have and to wear — different from cowboy boots, which were not as acceptable and prevalent on the U.S. East Coast, or combat boots, which reflected something that draft-eligible men were concerned about.

To some of us “more mature” men, Frye boots bring many fond memories of our turbulent youth in the 60s and 70s and we’re man enough to wear them today.

Life is short: wear Frye boots!

Travels Again

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Portland, Oregon, finds me pursuing my work with great interest and vigor.  I arrived on Monday to participate in several days chock full of meetings.  It is a very beautiful area, with exceptionally hospitable and friendly people.  The light rail system is great and very convenient, as well as half the cost of DC’s Metro.

Considering what I have been through this past week with the death of my aunt, having a business trip come up now is actually very good timing.  I needed a break and since I enjoy my job so much, this is a great way to change my thinking totally and to focus on learning new things, meeting new people, presenting information about what I am doing, and networking with professionals from the entire United States, including our Atlantic and Pacific island territories and Commonwealths.

I will be confirming site visits along the California coast in late March, and Hawaii after that. (No, this is not a junket … seriously … but any trip from CONUS to Hawaii is always considered a luau. I have many interests on several Hawaiian Islands that I need to see in person.)

Further, while I am here, I will confirm arrangements for a site visit to Saipan, and perhaps Tinian, which are part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, later this year.  Meanwhile, I am brushing up on my Puerto Rican Spanish, as I am having dinner with colleagues from P.R. tonight.

Life is short:  get busy!

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