Frantic Friday

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In the U.S., today is referred to as “Black Friday” meaning that many stores and on-line retailers offer discounts and deals.  It’s supposed to be among the best days for businesses to make money due to the high volume of customers.

All well and good.  I completed my Christmas shopping in July and have no need nor desire to do any shopping today.  Bah, humbug.  (That’s the only slightly negative thing you’ll hear me say, by the way.  I am just one of those guys who doesn’t get into shopping whatsoever.)

I am actually working today (this post having been written last night and schedule to appear this morning.)  I have my first business trip coming up to Seattle next week, so I have to put everything together for the trip.  Actually, it is five activities in one trip: presentation on Thursday afternoon, meeting with some feds on Friday, another meeting with a colleague on Friday afternoon, open weekend, then a presentation on Monday morning followed by a meeting that afternoon, then I get to fly back home.

I prefer to make my own travel arrangements, rather than have someone else do it for me and not select flights, hotels, etc., that I prefer.  Even with restrictions on what airline I must use, there are ways around that, so I don’t have to take, for example, Continental or AirTran or United (which for various reasons I don’t like), and can use a carrier of my choice that offers a competitive fare and on which I accumulate frequent flyer miles.

Funny (odd), but this is the first Friday after Thanksgiving that I have had to work since 1992.  Usually, I spend this day cleaning up after our Thanksgiving Pot Luck.  Fortunately, my family and partner did 99% of the cleaning last night, so all I have to do today on my lunch hour is make a quick run to the dump (ooops, here in Snoburbia, we call it the “transfer station.”)  We have trash and a lot of recyclables to dispose of, and it is better to take care of this massive chore rather than expect our regular trash service to pick up all that stuff (plus, I want to get the use of my garage back as quickly as I can.)

We had a great day yesterday, with 100 of our closest senior pals enjoying the day with us.  It really was a lot of fun, and not much work.  We smiled, laughed, sang, and some of the folks watched football with my partner in his basement “man cave.”  I stayed upstairs most of the time just visiting and listening.  I really don’t care for football.

Today as you may be going about shopping or eating leftover turkey or whatever, think of me, actually working at my new job.  And, truly, enjoying it because I can sit here in my leather and work from home.  Best of all worlds!

Life is short:  keep workin’!

Posted in Job

Thankful

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Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, and I have much to be thankful for.

First, I am thankful for my beloved partner who always finds ways to love, to share, to be my best half, my lover, my friend and confidant, my trusted adviser and the window to my soul.  Honestly, I have no idea how I could live without him, as he is me and I am him, entwined together through life.

Second, I am thankful for the nudge to get out the door from my old job through a layoff in June to give me the time to get my aunt through and past a serious medical crisis, back into her home with 24-hour care.  I needed to leave, as the fit for that job wasn’t so good, supervising child-like millennials was a huge hassle, and the salary was … (not so good).

Third, I am thankful for being selected for my new job and receiving an exceptionally generous offer.  I began working this week.  It’s challenging, interesting, and commanding of my skills and talents, testing me in new ways, and helping me to live, to grow, and to explore new things.  I’m always interested in learning.  I thrive on these challenges, which will keep me busy but not overwhelmed.  And woo-hoo to three really great benefits: I get to work from home most of the time; I don’t have to supervise anyone; and I don’t have to have a smart phone (Blackberry or otherwise.  Yippie!)

Fourth, I am thankful for my loving and caring family.  For being there for me always, through bad times (such as when I broke my leg in January) to good times (such as at various family parties and our weekly dinners), and everywhere in between.  I am so richly blessed by the whole fam-damily, all 232 of ’em!  (including cousins…)  [And that includes my siblings who read and contribute to this blog LOL!]

Fifth, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to care for my lovely 95-year-old aunt during the winter of her life, and being able to make her life as comfortable, safe, and happy as possible.  I truly feel that her care is “my calling” and I was called….  She is a joy and I am thankful to have her to care for and to love.

Sixth, I am thankful for my “senior legion” who care for and about me, and let me care for them.  During my down-time with the broken leg earlier this year, they were there for me — from preparing meals and delivering them, to just staying with me to ensure that I didn’t hurt myself trying to get around, as well as keep me company.  I thrive in a different way by extending my spirit to reach out and care for them from daily phone chats to regular visits, to doing home repairs, taking them grocery shopping or to the doctor’s office … whatever.  It truly “takes a village” and they are my village.

Seventh, I am thankful for my close friends with whom I share a wonderful bond of camaraderie, joy, and life.  I truly enjoy the times we communicate and visit.  Their spirit warms my heart and makes my life so much richer.

Eighth, I am thankful that again this year, we’re having our crazy-huge Thanksgiving Pot-Luck at our house.  So today as you go about whatever you’re doing, imagine my partner and me, as well as 14 members of my family, hosting over 100 seniors (on visits spread out throughout the day).  Singing at the piano in the living room, chatting with friends in the family room and den, or watching “the game” (whatever game it is) on the TV in my partner’s basement “man cave.”  Food’s on the buffet in the dining room, and drinks are on the island in the kitchen… come ‘n get it!  (But be sure to take a plate full of food & goodies home with you when you leave, as I don’t want to have to deal with all those leftovers!)

I regret to disappoint some follower of my “Thanksgiving antics” each year, but this year I did not have the time to create a Thanksgiving Piano Tune in full leather.  I had to work at my new job all week this week, and after work, I had to get the house ready for our event today, arrange to borrow folding chairs, tables, etc., from some neighbors, and do a million other things.  I usually created that video on Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  This year, I just didn’t have time or energy to make one.  As I said, some will miss it, and others will not.  So be it… not gonna happen this year.

I wish you and everyone celebrating Thanksgiving a wonderful, joyful day, filled with happiness.  Please take time to thank the important people in your life, your Deity if you believe, but most of all, thank yourself for reading through this long missive! 

Life is short:  be thankful!

Discipline

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Uh-oh, here I go again, raising the specter of perhaps this blog post being about something that some guys into leather get into.  Sorry… not the case.

This post is just to say that yes, I have begun my new job, and so far so good.  It takes a long time to get on board, with all sorts of paperwork and forms and such.  Photo IDs for this-and-that, fingerprints, retina scans, passport validation, etc., etc.  But it’s all good… I finally got my network ID and access to email, but not, as yet, a VPN so I can’t quite yet access all the systems at the office remotely.

I did get one of those cool new devices that hooks up to my laptop for accessing it.  This thing, called a CAC card, gives me access to the building as well as access to certain parts of the network, and when connected, actually makes my work phone number ring on my home phone.  It probably does other stuff too that if I found out about it and told you, I’d have to shoot you.

The “discipline” to which I am referring in the title of this post is working from home.  Most of the time, I will be working from my own home, and not in an office.  Even though the office is just a few miles from my home, there’s no reason to go there, as the majority of people I work with are scattered all over the U.S. and we all work together in greater cyberspace.

I must remain diligent in working on work time.  No foolin’ around on the computer, answering personal email, writing blog posts, or commenting on Facebook.  I really do have a serious work ethic that when I’m at work, I’m working, regardless of location.  That type of self-discipline is what earns me the right to be able to work remotely, because they trust that I’ll focus on getting the job done, and I don’t need to be in an office to have someone watch me do my job, which is mostly using the phone and a computer.  I can do that anywhere.

Pretty cool new way of doing work.  No commuting.  No hassles.  Start work as early as I want, and knock off at a reasonable time so I can have dinner prepared for my partner and handle other stuff, too, as needed.  I can also take my “lunch hour” to visit my aunt who lives 5 minutes away.  Heck, I’m pretty fat, dumb, and happy with this new gig… let’s hope it lasts.

By the way, “fat, dumb and happy” is a figure of American speech.  By working at home and taking lunchtime to visit my aunt, I can skip lunch and thus continue my weight-loss program by reduction of caloric intake on non-essential meals.  Also, since I don’t have to start work until 6:30am, I can continue to take my weight-loss walks between 4:30 and 6, which is also good for me. As I said, “it’s all good!”

Life is short:  let’s hope this easy-peasy method of working is able to last!

Posted in Job

Turning the Page

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Today marks the end of one significant block of time in my life as I transition to another.  Today, I begin work at a new full-time job.  I was actively recruited for the position and survived some rather challenging interviews to get it.  I was offered the position in September, and was led to believe the appointment was imminent.  However, I had to go through an extensive background and security check, and wait for that to clear.  That happened in October.  Then funding had to come together, and that finally happened in November.  So now I can start work.  Yippie!

I was no slouch since I was laid off in June — contrary to ribbing I have received from friends, I have not slept until noon and then played on the computer all day.  I spent a lot of time every day during my time off caring for my aunt.  However, that wasn’t all that I did:  I bought and fixed up another house which just was rented by a first-year cop as affordable housing.  I did a lot of repairs and maintenance on my own home — so much so that I developed a hernia which was surgically repaired last week.

I (tried to) take some time to go for motorcycle rides, but I didn’t have as much time to ride as I would have liked.  But when I went, I had fun.  I also spent a fairly significant time taking pictures for and updating my website, including developing a major “refresh” for the Home Page.

I don’t really know where the time flew from June to November, but now it’s time to return to a more predictable, income-producing routine.  This is indeed the most major position I have taken on — lots of responsibility, a lot of work, and a salary commensurate with the challenges involved.  I think I’m ready.

The new job will involve some travel, and some of the trips will be significant to U.S. territories in the Pacific, including remote islands that are hard to reach by commercial air.  Oh well, I’ll figure that out when the time comes, as I’ve been to those islands in my past life.  In fact, I have my first trip already booked for a major international conference in February, located on an independent island nation in the South Pacific.

Some friends have been asking me, “how did you ever have time to work with all the other stuff you’re doing?”  Good question.  My response has been, “I’ve learned both how to multitask well and how to manage my time.”  But in all honesty, I know some things will have to change.

For example, I suspect that I will not have much time to write posts for this blog so they appear each and every day.  I may have to blog less often, especially because my work ethics prevent me from considering taking any time while on the job to dabble in blogging (or even answering personal email).  Further, I know I will not have time to make videos nor take pictures to update my website.  Again, that will have to “wait and see” when or if I have time for these things.  I want to give my fullest concentration to my new job and not be distracted by my hobbies.

Wish me well as I pursue the next chapter in my life, and I continue to learn that…

Life is short:  pursue it with commitment and gusto!

Posted in Job

Boot Hooks and Hanging Boots

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I was sent an email recently asking for my opinion about what type of hooks to buy to use to hang boots from a rod.  That is how I store a number of my boots.  Hanging them by their bootstraps (or boot pulls) keeps the boots in shape, and gets them up off the floor and out of the way.

My opinion is that you do not need to purchase expensive hooks from a specialty store or even a retail home supplies store.  Do what I have done:  cut apart wire coat hangars.  Those hangars are easy to find, and often are provided by a cleaner when having shirts laundered or dry cleaned.

All you need to do is cut the wire with a strong pair of wire cutters (or the cutter blade found on some good-quality pliers) and bend them to form hooks.  You can make them as long or short as you want, customized to the length that may be required for a pair of boots that may have deeper boot pulls than others (such as sewn inside a boot shaft vs. leather pulls sewn over the top of the shaft).

No need to waste money on expensive products when making your own will do just fine, and is easy, simple, quick, and cheap.

Life is short:  be practical and save money!

Classic Bamaboy

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I have the distinct honor and privilege of having developed a very close friendship with a guy who has quite a reputation for producing high-quality photos of some of his boots.  Striking, masculine, classy, and with style … and with a charm unique to this guy whose self-deprecation belies his intelligence.  Smart as a whip, he is, but I shan’t say more, else it will go to his head.

The guy I am talking about goes by “Bamaboy”.  Yeah, he lives in Alabama, but is a man of the world.  Quick-witted and skilled, he continues to blow me away with his creativity and artistry.  Ooops, there I go again….

It was kinda funny how our friendship developed, but I’m glad it did.  I am also pleased to have met him in person — and he told me that I’m the only one from the “boots gang” at hotboots/BOL who he has met in person.  He is a very private guy.  He is honorable, good to his family and loved-ones, and honest as the day is long.  Our values are parallel, and our respect for one another runs deep.

This photo was posted by Bamaboy on the hotboots/BOL board yesterday, sorta at my urging.  The board has had a “harness boots week.”  He has posted this image on that board before, but so long ago that many haven’t seen it.  The boots in this photo are now in my collection as Bama told me he was going to sell them, and gave me “first dibs” to buy them from him.  I wear these boots when I ride my Harley, and think fondly of my friend each time I do.  And I no longer wonder why these boots wander off into mudholes… (giggle).

Life is short:  cherish close friends, and hold them with respect and honor in your heart.

An Image That Means "Motorcop"

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The image below was used on the title page on the inside of a motorcycle magazine published by a popular motorcycle owner’s group.  There was an article in the recent edition of the magazine about motorcycle cops, and was a description of their work.

I found it interesting that the image selected by a mainstream motorcycle magazine to depict a motorcop is his boot — in this case, a Chippewa Hi-Shine — and the badge on the tank.

It sure is a handsome boot… as photos below attest — one of my own boot, and the one below that of a cop who attended Law Ride in 2009.

Note: ALL of these images of Chippewa Hi-Shine Boots show these boots with lug soles. Chippewa (owned by Justin Brands) does not make these boots with lug soles — yet. Each of us arranged for a cobbler to add Vibram 100 lug soles to our respective boots. Chippewa: I hope you’re watching, and take notice of the demand for lug soles on these boots!

Life is short:  enjoy lug-soled Chippewa Hi-Shine boots!

How To Wear Biker Boots

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Google directs a number of visitors here with questions about how to wear “Biker Boots.” I am unsure why someone would enter that question in a search engine, but they did… so here goes.

Q.  How do you wear biker boots?

A.  On your feet.

Q.  No, seriously, how should a guy wear biker boots?  With jeans tucked in or not?

A.  Okay, seriously:  either way.  Seriously.

Q.  Does wearing jeans inside boots look gay?

A.  This statement, or shall I say, “label,” is heard sometimes, mostly from insecure men who are afraid of being labeled with anything related to being gay.  Read this post for more info about boots “looking gay.”

Q.  What boots are best for bikers?

A.  I have answered this several times, here, here, and here.  But the short story if you don’t want to revisit past blog posts are boots that are tall enough to cover and protect your ankles, and that have sturdy, well-constructed soles (such as Vibram 100 lug) that provide good traction, and are reasonably priced.

Q.  What boots look best on bikers?

A.  That is a matter of personal opinion.  A regular “biker-biker,” that is, a guy who rides a cruiser or touring bike, looks good in a pair of regular black harness boots or engineer boots.  Modern-day boots made for motorcycling look like a cross between hikers and sneakers — and in my humble opinion, don’t look as good on a biker as traditional harness or engineer boots.  But each guy is entitled to his own opinion.  (Kids who ride crotch-rockets seldom wear boots at all.)

Q.  What about cop boots?

A.  Sure, tall black patrol boots look great, especially on a cop, but also on any guy riding a motorcycle while wearing breeches or leather.  Patrol boots make a commanding appearance and have a unique style.  These boots are made for motorcycling.  However, I’ve noticed in my some 30+ years of riding, that only two types of men wear tall black patrol boots:  1) motor officers, and 2) gay guys who like to wear leather to attend various “runs” or events, but seldom, if ever, actually ride a motorcycle.

I will probably get grief from some friends who are retired cops or another group of biker buds who like to wear patrol boots as I do, but I recognize that most bikers do not choose to wear patrol boots if they’re not a cop.

Q.  So how should a guy wear them?

A.  Regularly and often, usually with regular ol’ blue jeans.  Stand tall, walk confidently.  Biker boots look good with blue jeans (but see this post for full details on what to wear with biker boots).  And there is no “rule” that biker boots must be black.  Brown biker boots look good, too, and many bikers wear them.

Q.  How long does it take to break in a new pair of biker boots?

A.  It depends on the boot and its construction.  Low-grade biker boots, like the Harley brand (made in China) break in quickly, because the leather and soles are soft and generally thinner than the materials used for higher-quality boots.  Mid-grade biker boots, such as made by Chippewa, Red Wing, Boulet, and others are made from decent leather and often have a Vibram sole.  They break in rather easily by wearing them for about 8 – 16 hours.  Hi-grade biker boots, such as made by the West Coast Shoe Company (“Wesco Boots”) are made of very thick leather and have very rugged soles.  Those boots can take weeks of wear to break in so they conform to the wearer’s foot and are comfortable.

Patrol boots should be broken in manually before actually wearing them, as described here.

Q.  What else should I know about how to wear biker boots?

A.  Remember:  image.  A biker presents a sense of confidence and ruggedness.  His boots should present the same.  Stand tall, walk proudly.  Even if you don’t actually ride a motorcycle, it’s okay to wear biker boots.  They are comfortable, durable, and are a good-looking alternative to other types and styles of boots, such as cowboy boots.  Mix it up!

Life is short:  wear biker boots!

Autumn Splendor

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My partner and I like autumn more than Spring.  While autumn represents the turn of life toward winter, it is also a time when we have pleasant, warmish days, and the time to enjoy it.  In Spring, we’re always so busy with work on and around the house, it’s summer before we know it.  In autumn, though, the days are slow and lazy, relaxed and comfortable.

Ordinarily, I have enjoyed some of my nicest motorcycle rides in autumn, as well.  This year, my riding season has ended prematurely because of recent surgery preventing me from riding for a while.  But that’s okay, I’ll survive.

Meanwhile, my partner and I are enjoying the autumn leaf change in our very own back yard. We took some time to take a stroll and admire the estate (as much as one could call it that… LOL!)

Life is short:  enjoy its vibrancy!

Back in My Boots

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I am delighted at how quickly I am recovering from my hernia surgery.  Per doctor’s written follow-up notes, I took off the bandage and took a shower yesterday.  The incisions were small, and are almost unnoticeable.  I do not have any swelling or bruises, nor signs of post-operative infection.  I can walk well, and have no pain.  I’m sore, but only when I move from a sitting to a standing position.  I stopped using narcotic pain killers on Saturday, and by today, I didn’t even need Excedrin.  I’m really feeling good!

I got out of my sweats into regular clothes again on Monday, including wearing boots again.  But I am not doing anything at all — just relaxing, and minding orders of my best half not to exert myself.  When he returns to work today, senior pals will spend time with me (babysit?) to ensure that I remain quiet, and not try to do anything stupid that could set me back.  But it sure is good to be back in my boots again — pictured, my Chippewa harness boots with Wranglers.

I promise to be “good”.  I have much to look forward to next week when I start my new life in my new job on Monday.  I want to be all ready for that.  So I will rest this week, enjoying support and good cheer from senior pals who are only too happy to keep me company, bring me home-baked goodies, and to make sure that I recover well.

Life is short:  love those who love you.