Yearly Archives: 2015

Foggy DC Marvel

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I continue to remind myself that I live in one of the most picturesque areas of the world when it comes to memorials, architecture, and traditional beauty.

Yes, it’s that time of year again when the cherry trees are in bloom around the Tidal Basin of Washington DC, and environs.

Yesterday, my boss and a work colleague took some time to take a stroll around the Tidal Basin. While the weather was damp, foggy, and cool, the stunning beauty of the cherry trees still shone through. Following are a few examples…
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Straight Support (or Guilt?)

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My spouse and I celebrated our second year-as-married anniversary on April 4. That date coincided with a situation earlier that week in the State of Indiana where the Governor signed a law (at a closed signing ceremony attended by noted homophobes) that essentially permitted anyone to deny providing services to anyone else if they felt that serving that other person violated their religious beliefs. It was widely believed the new Indiana law was a hateful demonstration of anti-gay feelings among conservative legislators.

Regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, many thought that the Indiana law was an extreme example of negative backlash against federal court judicial action that is requiring states to permit same-sex marriage even though their conservative leadership and majority of constituents do not want to allow it.

It was rather interesting to me, using my academic observation perspective, to see that a post that I made on social media, here:
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Boots and Aging Feet

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I have received some emails over the years from guys who describe puzzlement and concerns about not being able to wear boots that they enjoyed wearing for years. “Does boot leather harden with age?” or “do boots become uncomfortable when worn?” or (my favorite), “can I stretch 30-year-old boots because they’re tight on my legs?”

Hate to tell ya, folks, but it is more likely the human aging process that is causing these problems, not the boots. Here’s what is going on:
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Bee Oil for Motorcycle Boots

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Wescomorrison23The leather used for good-quality motorcycle boots is rugged and durable, but like all leather, it can become stained and subject to mold, mildew, and rot if it becomes wet. While I have had boots get wet before (mostly when caught by a sudden rainstorm, though there are times I’ve gone tromping through streams)… when I have good boots, I take steps to protect them from the weather and help extend their lives.

A couple weeks ago, I received a new pair of Wesco Morrison (style) boots. Morrison style boots are…
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Woo-Hoo: 2 + 22

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Christmas2014bToday, April 4, marks the second year that I have been married to the very best guy on the entire planet — my gracious, romantic, hunky, and adorable spouse! Thanks once again to our home state of Maryland for being the first state to permit same-sex marriage by popular vote!

I also say “+22” in the title of this post because come April 25, we will have been together for 22 years. I cannot say that we would have married on the day we met; however, I knew even back then that “he was the guy.”

So how will we celebrate our second year “cotton” anniversary?
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Buying New Boots When There Is Not a Boot Store Near You

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Chipshinelug208I get this question from time to time:

I went online to look for a store that sells boots and mostly found that companies sell online, like through Amazon, or their website. The only place I found where I can go in and try boots on is the Harley Davidson store.

I prefer not to buy boots online and want to know if you have any advice on how I can find a retail store in my area.

I understand the concern — and the frustration — in not being able to find a store that sells boots you are interested in trying on. This situation is especially true for motorcycle boots. Few brick-and-mortar stores carry a full line of boots made by different manufacturers, and those that do usually carry junk made in China, such as Harley-Davidson branded boots. (See this past blog post: Don’t Be Fooled by American Icon Brand Boots Made in China.)

So what do you do in a situation where there is not a retail store that carries men’s boots near you?
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New Business Venture

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It happens… after many years of working in the same profession, I have accomplished pretty much all I can. After all, having been selected as “employee of the year” for 2014 from among 7,000 people, what else is left? You know when you have reached the point of no return… same old same old gets rather boring. It is time for a bold move.

Since my spouse has retired, we are not bound to remain in the same location any more.

So last week while I was in Hawaii, I explored alternate business prospects that I can do to close out the remainder of my work life before I retire. Wouldn’t be so bad to do that… move to Hawaii, enjoy the consistently warmer weather, no snow, and sunshine. My spouse looks so good in a Speedo…

But I digress. Effective today, I am now the proud owner of a new footwear franchise in a major mall…
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Caregiver as the Caregivee

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So here it is, 0300 in the morning again… and I am wide awake. The cold that I have had has manifested into laryngitis. I literally can’t speak more than a whisper.

My spouse got very worried when the aroma of chicken soup awoke him yesterday morning, and he came into the kitchen at 0430, quite incredulous that I was casually reading the newspaper while a pot of soup was simmering on the stove.

The soup was just about done, so I whispered as loudly as my voice would permit, “want to join me?”

My spouse’s reaction was classic:
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