Note: a technical error in this post prevented it from appearing completely. I found the error and fixed it on the evening of September 1. If you visited this post before that and it looked weird or ended abruptly, please read on… the error is gone.)
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This is a catch-up post, describing what boots I wore while on my business trip out west during the week of August 18 – 22, then my daily boots through Saturday, August 30. Here goes…

Monday 18 August – Friday 22 August

I flew to the west coast of the United States to facilitate and deliver a major meeting for some 50 people who are my closest colleagues in my current job. It was a great meeting, and I enjoyed it very much. My work days began at 0600 and ended usually around 2000 and were very active. I was on my feet most of the day while presenting, facilitating, introducing guests and other speakers, and schlepping stuff. No task too mundane for ol’ BHD.

So what boots did I choose to wear and bring with me on this business trip?

My Tony Lama Signature Series Caiman cowboy boots and my Lucchese Classic Black Goatskin dress cowboy boots were primarily the UOD. I wore one pair one day and the other pair the other day, rotating their daily use as recommended. I also brought along my Chippewa hikers. There is a hiking/biking path right next to the hotel where I was staying. The facility where we were meeting was four miles down the path. Yep, two of our three meeting days, I walked! I carried a pair of dress boots and change of clothes on the days that I walked so I could take a quick shower in the employee gym and change to business wear from my “walking-with-vigor-wear” (jeans, t-shirt, hikers.)

I admit, however, I got a ride back to the hotel at the end of the day. As I am getting older, by the end of a very long day on my feet, I did not have the gumption to walk back to the hotel.

My Tony Lamas were great boots to wear while going through airport security. While I have “TSA pre-check” status, nonetheless, the steel shanks in those boots make the magnetometer sound, so the boots have to come off. Those boots are really easy to pull off and put back on again. In fact, while crammed into the airplane, I pulled the boots off so I could stretch my feet, wiggle my ankles, and otherwise keep the blood flowing in my lower legs. Even while cramped, I could pull the boots back on after landing but before departing the airplane.

I arrived home on Friday 22 August at 1700. I promptly took off my boots, pulled on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and just padded around in socks. I prepared dinner and caught up with my spouse. We held hands and snuggled the rest of the evening. While I was not tired, I made myself go to bed by 2100 to try to readjust to my time zone.

Saturday 23 August

Up and out of the house by 0500. Cops are waiting! Again, I served as a judge for a major police motorcycle riding competition being held in Outer Slobbovia (a term us Marylanders use to refer to that commonwealth that borders our state.)

The weather forecast was for 60% chance of significant rain, and since I would not be competing, I really did not need to have my motorcycle there. I opted to take my truck. But I still wore my riding gear — utility pants and very comfortable Chippewa Firefighter boots. I was provided a t-shirt at the event that I swapped with one that I was wearing.

Little known fact: when I will be on my feet for a significant part of the day, such as facilitating a meeting or judging a motorcycle riding competition, I make sure that I wear boots that can accommodate a gel insole. Sometimes I even wear a pair of “shorty” (gym/athletic) socks and a pair of durable triple-fiber (cotton, wool, nylon) socks over that. These extra layers really help prevent sore and tired feet. As a man ages, his feet are not nearly as flexible and accommodating for standing all day.

I enjoyed the competition, though many fewer cops competed in it compared with previous years. The event that I was judging was completed by 1100. I had lunch (provided), and then it began to rain. Really rain. I got rather wet. While more competitions were scheduled in the afternoon, I was not needed to serve as a judge for those events, so I opted to leave early and go home. I was still adjusting from jet lag. (Being the morning person that I am, it is very hard for me to travel from west to east.)

I arrived home by 1300 after stopping at a grocery store to buy some essential groceries that we had run out of. I stripped off my wet clothes and took a shower. I smelled like a wet dog.

My spouse greeted me when I got out of the shower. It was still raining, so we lay down on the bed and snuggled… and let’s say that we “got reacquainted,” then fell asleep in each other’s arms.

About 1530, we both awoke with a start… then my energy had returned. I got up and dressed in a pair of jeans, t-shirt, and black Chippewa Harness boots. My spouse and I went to a grocery store and a electrical supply store where a new LED under-cabinet light that we had ordered weeks ago had come in. I installed the new light in the hutch that I built for our kitchen.

We enjoyed a simple dinner — salad, spaghetti and meatballs — then I changed again to shorts, t-shirt, and just socks. My spouse and I hung out in our basement and watched some TV. Soon enough, I had fallen asleep nestled in my spouse’s arms. He woke me up about 2200 to go to bed.

Sunday 24 August

Catch-up day on so many levels! I began the day before dawn by meeting my senior walking partner. As usual, I wore my Chippewa hikers, jeans, and a t-shirt. We walked 8 miles in 1:50! When I returned home, I showered. My spouse was still in bed, so I hopped in with him and … well… “got reacquainted” again!

I dressed in jeans, Double-H work boots, and a t-shirt. Lots of work forthcoming today!

I prepared a special four-flour waffle for my spouse as well as a serving of the rabbit food to which he has become accustomed. I had an egg, toast, and orange juice. (Note to organic/ shmorganic yuppies who-stole-quinoa — that stuff is tastlessly inedible, but my spouse has to eat it as part of his medical dietary requirement. Thanks for driving the price up so much!)

After breakfast, I picked up three LOLITS and took them to the grocery store. I was back home by 1000.

Then my spouse and I turned right around and ran errands — building supplies store, drug store, post office, another grocery store (for real food), and an organic/ shmorganic health food store (to get more rabbit food that we can only find there.)

Home by 1230. Had a quick lunch, then out to mow the lawn. Finally — my spouse was well enough and had the energy to run all these errands with me and then be able to use his lawnmower while I used mine and “co-mow” the lawn with me! We knocked it out in only 20 minutes!

I do not remember where the rest of the afternoon went. I did a lot of backed-up chores around the house. I insisted that my spouse rest, even though he offered to help me. He is still recovering from his illnesses and I did not want to make him get fatigued. I enjoy “puttering” anyway. Trimming, fixing, small repairs, etc. I even helped a neighbor with a small home repair, too.

I was done with my chores by 1600, and then I stripped my spouse… and myself…

We showered in our two-man shower, then soaked in the hot tub. It was so nice to enjoy that; we had not been able to relax that way during the time my spouse was so sick because he could not tolerate, nor had the energy, to get into our out of the hot tub.

After a relaxing soak, I changed to a pair of leather jeans and Chippewa firefighter boots, along with my local FD t-shirt.

I prepared dinner for my spouse and me — grilled steaks and corn on the cob. After dinner, I dropped by my local fire house to visit with the guys and catch up on some things being prepared for our October Senior Safety Saturday event — the planning for which is well under way.

Home by 2030, then time for bed.

Monday 25 August

A glorious, coolish, day to ride the Harley to work! I wore Chippewa Harness boots, blue slacks, blue shirt, no tie. Lots of catch-up at the office.

I left by noon because my spouse had a doctor’s appointment. I rode home and changed to a t-shirt, jeans and Chippewa Firefighter boots (again). Drove the spouse to his appointment.

Home by 1600, disappointed but not surprised that this doctor couldn’t offer much of anything that we did not already know. We had actually tried to get an appointment with this specialist two months ago, but August 25 was the soonest he had an opening. By the time we saw him, my spouse’s condition had changed significantly (for the better!)

I prepared dinner, then retreated to the basement with the spouse. He watched whatever drivel he recorded on his Tivo while I caught up on community work via my laptop. To bed by the usual 2030.

Tuesday 26 August

Another great day to commute to work via the Harley! Navy blue khakis, light blue shirt, and simple black Double H work boots were my UOD. Worked all day, home by 1545.

When I got home, I saw the spouse was sitting in the backyard gazebo by the pond. I quickly changed to t-shirt, perforated leather jeans and black Chippewa ostrich engineer boots. Sat with him by the pond, enjoying the peace and quiet. Sometimes having someone to enjoy doing nothing at all is pure joy.

Prepared a simple dinner, then spent the rest of the evening with the spouse watching whatever drivel he recorded on his Tivo. (Thankfully, he did not subject me to watching a recording of that TV awards show that was on the night before.)

To bed by the usual 2030.

Wednesday 27 August

One more grand and glorious morning to ride the Harley to work! Burgundy dress shirt, tan khakis, and Tidewater cowboy boots. No tie. Yay!

Worked all day, home by the usual 1545. I promised the spouse to apply a coating to the tile on our kitchen floor. He had already mopped it to remove the surface dirt. Before doing that, I changed to a t-shirt, shorts, and … tah-dah… socks. Socks will not mark up the 350 square feet of tile that I was coating.

After that, I prepared dinner — a light chicken Caesar salad — then went to the basement and worked on volunteer organizing for senior safety Saturday in October while the spouse watched TV. To bed by the usual 2030.

Thursday 28 August

Fourth day in a row to ride the Harley to work! I selected a black/white striped shirt, black slacks, and a pair of tall Chippewa engineer boots without steel toes. As I was riding to work, a motorcyclist caught up to me. Turned out to be my cousin!

Worked all day, serving as “acting” while the boss is away again on leave. Busy day.

I had to get home a little earlier because my spouse needed a ride to see his doctor for his monthly follow-up. Before we took off for the appointment, I quickly changed clothes to jeans, non-animal polo shirt, and cognac Lucchese Classic cowboy boots.

The doctor’s appointment went very well. Dare I say that the doc used the “R-word?” (that is, “remission?”) My spouse cannot be declared as being in full remission until he is symptom-free for 60 days. But at Day 30, we are hopeful.

Home by 1800. I prepared a light dinner, then we retreated to our basement and relaxed by reading aloud to one another until the usual 2030 bedtime.

Friday 29 August

Fifth day of commuting to work by Harley! Woo-hoo! I chose to wear Chippewa Arroyos work boots, denim jeans, and a short-sleeved shirt. Hardly anyone was in the office — just one of my subordinate colleagues. We had a very productive day and enjoyed an early release for the holiday weekend.

Home by 1400. My spouse wanted to run some errands, so we hopped in my truck and accomplished a lot of things.

We returned home by 1630, unpacked and put away groceries, and then I grilled two steaks for dinner.

The evening was so pleasant, we retreated to the back yard gazebo for several more hours… almost until dark.

When we went back inside at 2030, my spouse helped me pack an overnight bag. Yep… another road trip tomorrow!

Saturday 30 August

Arose at 0430, met my senior walking partner at 0500, and enjoyed a 5-miler (I wore the usual Chippewa hikers, jeans, and a t-shirt.) Home by 0545, showered, and then hopped into bed with my spouse for morning calisthenics!

I got dressed in jeans, t-shirt, and an older pair of Chippewa Arroyos work boots. Yep, very comfortable boots that I enjoy wearing often.

I fed my spouse a great breakfast, and had an egg, toast, and OJ, then got into his sedan and drove to Pittsburgh — to his mother’s house. I did some work in her yard, slept there overnight, and returned with her to visit with us on Sunday.

Oh goodness… MIL is here. Sorry, gotta go!

Life is short: be booted for all occasions!