Hoooooommmmme

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I have returned home to Maryland from my business trip in Texas. I had a few interesting cowboy boot sightings at the airport and on occasion throughout the time I was there.

For my visitors to this blog from other countries, let me share an insight: guys in Texas don’t wear boots very much. At least not in the major cities. Most guys dress like other guys, in dress shoes for work and sneakers in off-times. It is a myth that all guys in Texas are cowboys and wear cowboy boots. I did see a couple of real cowboys, including a nice guy at my hotel, who spoke with a very polite and respectful Texas drawl. His boots were square-toed Justins. He wore tight Wrangler jeans over the boots. Again, that’s common — few guys wear jeans inside boots.

I enjoyed my trip and seeing all the people with whom I have developed professional relationships over the years. It was nice to be publicly recognized for my contributions to my profession and my professional association. I learned a lot, and built some relationships with some new folks with whom I will work more closely on my new job.

I got out and walked a lot early in the week when it was warm and pleasant, though it got cool and rainy the day before I left.  There was a tourist area nearby with lots of restaurants, so I was able to find choices of foods I could eat at reasonable prices.  (And avoid Tex-Mex and BBQ, both of which aren’t compatible with a chronic health condition that I have).  I didn’t have a rental car (or Harley), and didn’t need one.  I just shared a taxi from the airport to the hotel and back.  No need for a car which I wouldn’t really use, nor wish to pay for.

The flights there and back were uneventful and on-time all ways.  First time that’s happened to me in ages!  American Airlines rocks!  

I am very happy to be back home, in the arms of my man, and in our own bed, all snuggly and warm. It’s nice to go to conferences, but even nicer to come back hoooooommmmme.

Life is short: cherish loved-ones, hearth, and home.

Leather Does Not Have To Be Black

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Black leather is quite common, as it is easiest for leather crafters to dye and work with. But it is possible, and much easier now to find, leather that is dyed in other colors. Natural leather is light brown, so whatever finished products made from leather — jacket, pants, shirt, etc. — are dyed anyway.

It used to be that finding quality leather in an alternate color than black was hard to do, especially finding leather that is drum-dyed. That is, the dye saturates the entire hide, so over time as blemishes or scars occur during wear, the color remains the same.

The image of the black-clad leathered biker or the Gay Leatherman is a relic of the past, but remains omnipresent today. Yeah, I have a LOT of black leather. But I also have blue, grey, brown, and dark blue leather garments, too.  I even have one pair of cheap leather breeches dyed in “Silvertan” with blue and gold braiding (stripes) — like a CHP uniform.

I once tried on a red leather shirt, but it looked awful on me. Some young, lithe, trim guys can pull that off. Not me.

Anyway, leather does not “have” to be black.  It can be any color of the rainbow.  A good leathercrafter such as 665 Leather, Mr. S Leather, Northbound Leather have hides (or can get them) in various colors. You can specify a garment you want, such as breeches, shirts, jackets, pants, or even ties, to custom-fit you and be in the color you want. Mixing up the colors of a shirt, jacket, and pants makes things interesting, and gets more useful life from leatherwear.

Life is short: avoid being so monochromatic!

Birthday for "My Baby"

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Today, November 3, marks the 20th birthday for “my baby.”  No, I don’t have children of my own, nor am I speaking about an inanimate object like my motorcycle.

I’m talking about being in the right place at the right time… or shall I say, a frightening event that led to a wonderful outcome.

Allow me to explain:  November 3, 1990, was a Saturday.  I had ridden my motorcycle to Baltimore to visit a niece for her birthday.  On my way home, cruisin’ down the interstate, late, in the dark… a car in front of me began weaving across lanes and was being driven very erratically.

I thought to myself, “keep away — drunk driver.”  I slowed down instead of trying to pass it, as I thought due to the wildly erratic driving I was witnessing, I might get hit.

The car slowed, sped up, weaved, then slammed on the brakes and stopped close to the shoulder.  Then the driver’s door opened and a guy got out and ran to the passenger side, then fell over.

I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but this seemed to be serious.  Back in the day before cell phones, there wasn’t a way I could call for help.  So I stopped, and carefully walked up to the passenger side of the car.

Before me I saw a man who had fainted straight away.  A woman was in the passenger seat screaming, “my baby!”

I was aghast to discover that she was pregnant, and in the stages of final delivery.  OMG!  What to do?

My EMT training kicked in.  I kneeled down and asked the woman if I could help.  No sooner did I get close than she let out a howl and before I knew it, she delivered a baby!  Right before my eyes!

So there I was… the father of this child had recovered, but was babbling incoherently.  I grabbed a blanket from the back seat and wrapped it over the child and her mother.  I spoke to her calmly, and tried to sooth her.  She began to settle down when she let out another yelp — she delivered the placenta, which follows the birth of a child.

Gosh, what a mess.  A lot of blood and other “stuff” that comes out of a mother’s womb when she delivers a baby.  Thank goodness I had on a pair of gloves (convenient, eh? My first aid kit on my bike is always well stocked.)

I sat with her, wondering what to do, when thankfully, a state police cruiser pulled up along side.  I explained what was going on, and the trooper called for an ambulance, and took over.

It was then that I became light-headed and dizzy.  I collected myself, then congratulated this young couple on the birth of a daughter.

When I said, “daughter,” Dad fainted again.  I mean, he just collapsed right there in front of me.  I helped him get into the shock position — laying down, with his legs elevated, and sat with him until the ambulance came.  They quickly loaded up Mom and child into the ambulance.  The Dad wasn’t in any shape to drive, so he asked me to drive their car with him to the hospital.

All worked out fine.  The baby was born at full-term in a normal delivery.  Mom was fine.  Dad recovered enough to begin thanking me profusely and a few hours later, he even drove me back to pick up my bike which I had left on the side of the highway.

Mom and Dad named her after me — well, her middle name, anyway.  Poor kid… this name isn’t found on those “top of the baby name” charts.  But we all call her Cindy — her first name.  I’ve been there for birthday parties, her high school graduation, and she even stayed with me for a week (when she was 12) when her parents were both away on business travel.

What a nice young woman she has become.  Dear Cindy (middle name deleted), I am delighted to have been there to watch you arrive in this world, and to have remained in touch with you and your family since the night of your birth.

Life is short:  share the delights of childbirth (preferably in a hospital!)

Homesick

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I know it’s kinda crazy. I’ve only been gone a couple days on this business trip. I have been seeing a lot of “old friends,” colleagues, and making new acquaintances. My speech yesterday rocked, and I got a standing ovation. All well and good. But man, oh man, do I miss my man.

In a past life, I traveled a lot. I mean A LOT — 35 weeks on average each year with some 60 – 70 locations packed among these trips. I saw a lot of the United States, from big cities to small towns, to the mountains, to the prairies, from the Gulf shores to the rocky cliffs of Maine and Alaska. From our island commonwealths and territories in the Atlantic and the Pacific, including way out to the Marianas… lots to see, lots to do. Canada was often included in my annual travels, as well.

I don’t travel nearly as much now. In fact, my last business trip was back in May for just a few days in Seattle. So here I am in Texas, and walking a lot before morning activities start and in the evening, too. Saw a lot of bikers since it’s warm here — stooopid guys riding without a helmet, no boots — so silly, dumb, and sad. (Even stooopider were those guys who had a helmet strapped to the back of their bike — like it’s going to do anything to protect them if someone in a cage hits them. Oh well, Darwinian principles are at play.)

But most of all, as I walk briskly for my regular exercise, I think of my man. “What’s he doing this minute?” I smile thinking of how he reads the newspaper so seriously. How he will have to prepare his lunch to take to work since I wasn’t there to do it for him. How he will open a can of tuna for dinner, rather than have something good, hearty, and hot since I wasn’t there to cook. I think of him working in our yard, planting some bulbs, clearing leaves, and tending to the myriad of things that he does. I hear that “bloop bloop bloop” of him programming the Tivo in my mind, and watching some silly blather on TV that lets him relax by zoning out on brain-dead stuff. And then I think of him going to bed… alone.

My bed is empty too, as is a part of my heart. My love is with me in spirit, but it’s not the same. Daily phone chats can only do so much. Gosh, I miss my man.

Life is short: cherish those you love.

Gay Leather Breeches

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I saw an entry into Google that got directed to my website. It was, “Gay Leather Breeches.”

Sheesh… here we go again…. Breeches as worn by motor officers, for example, aren’t gay. Men who wear them may be gay or not. There are large number of cops who wear breeches every day, and the majority of them are not gay.

But I know that there are a lot of gay dudes who like to wear leather, and look for breeches to complete the full “BLUF” uniform (BLUF means “breeches and leather uniform fanclub”). So yeah, there are gay men who wear leather breeches, as shown here. But the breeches themselves aren’t gay.

What’s the difference between a pair of breeches and a pair of pants? Breeches are usually form-fitting to the person wearing them. They may have “balloons” which were built into riding breeches to give the rider (of a horse) ample maneuverability as he rode his horse. These days, most breeches do not have balloons. However, they will be form-fitted at the ankle, designed to taper close to the leg and close with snaps or (better yet) a zipper. That way, tall boots will fit over them well and the leather won’t bind or bunch up around the knee.

If you’re looking for a pair of leather breeches to wear as BLUF gear, consider a quality leather crafter as I mentioned yesterday, such as 665 Leather, Mr. S Leather, or Northbound Leather.

Leather breeches are comfortable and when fitted well (as in custom), they allow movement while operating a motorcycle, and look great when fitted with a tall pair of patrol boots.

Life is short: wear leather!

No Halloween This Year

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No, the holiday of frivolity and fun has not been canceled.

However, this year, I am on business travel and thus will not be at home — so no Halloween for me.

My partner is at home, in the dark, not answering the door and not giving out treats.  He hates that kinda stuff anyway and in years past, I’ve always been the one to dress up in some “costume” (usually full leather or a fetish uniform) and greet kids at the door.  Just not this year….

Have a Happy Halloween without me!

How To Tell If You Have Vintage Frye Boots

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Note: the information below is about Men’s Frye Boots. No postings on eBay or Craigslist that link to this post are authorized by the author.

I have worn Frye (brand) boots since I was 13 years old… ahem, a “few” years ago … like 40 years.  Back then, Frye boots were the coolest boots to wear. They had taller than usual heels, and made a boot clunk sound like none other.

These boots are highly valued by collectors, and many pairs of these boots appear on eBay and Craigslist with claims of being “vintage.” True “vintage” Frye boots were made in the USA and the claim “vintage” is for a pair of boots made in the 1950s, 60s, or 70s, featuring heel height and label described below. Vintage Fryes were made of entirely US-obtained materials, including the leather. They were mostly machine-produced, but the process at their facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts, required a lot of hand-labor throughout the bootmaking process.

Today, the boots are all machine-made and assembled, with little hand-labor involved. The quality of the materials from which the boots are made are of lesser standard. And the company even states on a stamp on the inside of the campus boot style shaft, “made in USA of U.S. and imported parts.” That’s a crafty way of saying that it is likely that the leather is from a country such as Pakistan which has a reputation for selling inferior leather. Frye boots available today in styles other than the campus boot are likely made in China.

Update: Information on how to distinguish vintage Frye boots from modern-day Frye-labeled boots is here on the Boots Wiki.

If you come upon a sale or auction of “Vintage Frye Boots,” how do you determine if the claim of the boots being “vintage” is valid? There are three major things to look for:

1)  The height of the heel.  Pictured here is a heel from a Frye boot made and worn since the early 1970s.  The actual heel height is 2-3/8″ including the rubber sole plate.  True “vintage” Frye boots have this higher, stacked heel.

Frye boots made since the 1980s have a 2″ heel, including the sole plate.  The difference is noticeable in pictures on eBay listings, for example, but if the listing doesn’t say the actual heel height, you should send the seller a question to ask.

2) look for the Frye label on the inside of the boot shaft — or look for pictures or statements about the label.  True vintage Frye boots have one black label on the inside of the right boot (only) sewn in gold, with the words “handcrafted” in red and “SINCE 1863” in gold.

Frye boots made since the 1980s have a label in both the right and the left boot.  The label is white with the word “Frye®”, under that a steer brand company logo, and the words “Since 1863” under that.

While looking at the label, look at the printing under it.  Does it say, “Made in the USA” only?  Or “Made in USA of U.S. and imported parts?”  The latter is a clear give-away that the boots are not vintage.

3) look for the brand logo on the heel.  If there is no brand logo stamped into it or if there is the word “Frye” in letters stamped onto the heel, then the boots were made in the 70s or before.

If you see a logo of a steer head stamped into the heel, then the boots were made in the 1980s or after, and do not qualify as being labeled “vintage.”

More information on the history of Frye Boots is on the Boots Wiki, here.

If you’re looking for true vintage Frye boots, I hope this information is helpful to you, so you don’t mistakenly bid up the price of a pair of Frye boots that are not of vintage standards and quality.

Life is short:  know your Fryes!

Internet Searches That Land Here

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Every now and then, I look at what people are entering into search engines that drive visitors to this blog.  Most of the searches are real, honest-to-goodness questions.  But some of them are, um, “interesting.”  The latest examples are below, with my attempts at answers.

  • can you spray leather protectant on boots and walk in the rain (California)

>> well, you “can” but the question is, will it work and will it cause damage to your boots?  If your boots are all leather and are dark in color, then it won’t change the color.  But what this stuff does is clog the pores in the leather, making it eventually become hard and brittle.  Don’t use it.  Instead, use a good quality leather conditioner and a good polish.  If the boots get wet, then allow them to dry naturally (out of the sun) in a place with good ventilation.  That will prevent mold.  Then shine ’em up again.  And don’t wear boots made of exotic skins like snake, alligator, crocodile, etc. if it is raining.  Those skins are made of scales which will curl when they get wet and won’t “uncurl.” 

  • how to wear male cowboy boots  (North Dakota)

>> Well, I didn’t know that boots had a gender.  Hmmm, gotta think about that one.  Otherwise, if you’re asking how a man wears boots — quick answer — on his feet.

  • do men still where [sic] cowboy boots (New Jersey)

>> Yes, men “still” wear cowboy boots.  Where?  Again… on their feet.  Just look down.  Or read this recent blog post.  Perhaps not as many men in New Jersey wear boots as in other states, but real men “still” wear boots.  Try wearing a pair.  You’ll look good and it’s likely you will get plenty of compliments on the boots, but perhaps not your spelling.

  • how do you wear boots for men  (Jacksonville, Florida)

>>hmmm, how to wear boots “for” men?  Well, men like to see other people who are wearing boots standing tall, smiling, and looking confident.  Regardless if they are gay or straight, a woman or a man wearing boots and who walks proudly and stands tall gets appreciation, interest, approving looks, and respect.

  • best motorcycle boots that don’t look gay  (San Francisco, California)

>> gee, this is an interesting question, particularly considering where it came from.  I already answered this as recently as this post dated September 8, 2010.  Check it out — then get over your hang-ups about “boots looking gay.”  I really would like to know sometime about what motorcycle boots “look gay.”  They look like boots to me.  And I’ve never seen boots making out with each other, but perhaps boots act differently on the Left Coast.

  • meaning of tucking pants in your boots   (Oklahoma)

>> Okay, here’s the secret — only a guy with a huge boot collection like me knows the real answer.  Glad you asked.  Here goes.  Ready?

It means that the guy likes his boots and wants to wear them so people can see them.  That’s all.  Period.  End-of-story.  Don’t read anything else into wearing jeans tucked into boots than is there.  Nothing is there.  Okay, done.  End-of-rant.  Again.  Or see this recent blog post.

  • the correct way to walk in cowboy boats [sic]  (Texas)

>> Yep, they have a lot of cowboy stuff in Texas, and while I have visited that state on many occasions over the years, I have yet to see a cowboy boat.  I guess the answer is: walk carefully and hold the handrail until you get your sealegs.

  • why to gays were cowboy boots [sic]  (Leesburg, Virginia)

>>this just illustrates so much… but I’ll refrain from making statements that would lower me to this guy’s level. Suffice it to say, there are some people who could be better educated.

Life is short: watch what you search for — your search could end up getting quoted here!

Cop Uniform Halloween Legal?

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Phrases like, “is it legal to wear a cop uniform on Halloween?” are pouring in lately from search engine to this blog. I understand why. When I posted “You Want To Wear A Cop Uniform on Halloween?” on this blog last year, that post continues to draw a lot of visitors with questions like that.

Visit that post or check out the complete instructions on how to assemble a uniform on my website if you want to know how to assemble a cop costume for Halloween. I also address the issue about whether it is legal to do so, but I’ll repeat that info here for convenience.

Yes… it is legal to assemble and wear a cop uniform (if you’re not a cop) with some provisos:

1. Don’t wear the uniform representing an agency that has jurisdiction where you are. For example, if you want to wear a California Highway Patrol (CHP) motor officer uniform, don’t wear it in the State of California. That’s illegal as noted in California state law. I live in a county in Maryland. I would not wear a uniform that looks like the same uniform my county officers wear. Even if I do not wear the insignia of my local police department — it’s “too close for comfort” and technically, while it’s not illegal to wear a uniform of the same color and appearance as a local PD as long as it doesn’t have that PD’s insignia on it, the “second rule” of making a choice to wear a uniform comes into play.

2. That “second rule” is a question: “could a real cop think I am trying to impersonate an officer?”  Impersonation of an officer is a civil crime, punishable by fines and/or a jail sentence.

You can wear a replica police officer uniform as a costume. Just don’t go around acting like a cop. Impersonation is measured both by what you are wearing, but also by what you do — how you act and behave. Do not try to pull someone over, write a citation (a ticket), handcuff someone in public, or do other things that you see actors-as-cops on TV do.

If you keep the uniform appearance to look like a uniform that is not worn by real cops in your area (town, city, county, or state), and if you keep the cop-acting behavior behind closed doors, then you will be okay — and probably have a lot of fun, too!

Straight guys as well as gay guys like to wear a uniform — and Halloween is a fun “excuse” to wear one. Just be cool, and think before you act. It is dumb actions that get you in trouble. Don’t be stupid — like wear a uniform that has the same insignia of your local or state cops, or carry a gun, billy club, baton, or other weapon, and don’t say foolish things (like you might hear on some TV shows) and you’ll be fine.

Life is short: have fun, but be safe, sane, and sensible.

DISCLAIMER: All the information and photos contained in this post are provided solely for the benefit of those who wish to assemble and wear a replica cop costume. In no way is it intended for use in any attempt to impersonate any law enforcement officer.

Runnin’ Around In Leather

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I make no excuses: this time of year, I like to wear leather.  The weather is cool, the leather is comfortable… it’s time to gear up!

I have blogged a lot over time about wearing leather in public.  Some guys are reluctant to do that because they are afraid about what other people may say or think.  I’m long over those feelings.  I wear what I like to wear.  As long as my gear is not “suggestive” and I don’t wear my chaps & boots with nothing else… it’s fine.

Lately, it has been ideal “leather weather.”  I am wearing a pair of leather jeans, instead of blue jeans, on most days.  I pick out various leather shirts from my gear closest — goodness knows, I have several from which to choose.  Then I go about my regular business.

“Milk Monday” at a local grocery store finds me there, as they reduce the price of milk by half of what it costs on other days. This store also has very good produce, so it’s worth the trip.  Full leather?  No sweat!

Tuesday, I took a senior pal to her doctor’s office and waited for her to finish, then brought her back home.  I was dressed in a pair of leather jeans with a lightweight cotton shirt, as it was unexpectedly warm.  Boots, of course. 

I also went about completing other errands, from visiting my aunt to delivering some plans to a fellow civic leader to review, and even attended a meeting on Tuesday evening … and by then it had cooled off, so I put on a leather shirt to go with my leather jeans.

I mean, it really is no big deal.  Nobody — NOBODY — gives a darn or says anything (at least not to me).  If you have leather, wear it!

Life is short:  ‘nuf said… wear your leather.