Life has a funny way of taking unexpected turns, be they with health, finances, or relationships. Preparing for “life happens” (or sometimes euphemistically phrased “shit happens”) changes is not something most people do on a day-to-day basis. However, having back-ups and some flexibility can help roll with the changes that life brings along. My life is a good example.
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Tale of Blog Friendships II
Since 2011, I have built another blog-inspired friendship with a guy who once referred to himself as “OBMIT” for “The Only Booted Man In Town”. Subsequently in 2014, OBMIT began going by “WC”. Blog readers have probably viewed many of his comments on various posts. In fact, he was among my first guest authors when he wrote “A Booted Man in an Unbooted State” in April, 2011.
Subsequently, WC and I have exchanged almost daily email. I say “almost daily” …
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Tale of Blog Friendships
Almost 10 years ago soon after I began writing this blog, someone wrote to me and asked some questions. I answered him, and we continued to exchange messages. Over the years, my blog-inspired friend “S” and I had found where we were kindred spirits in many ways. He rides a Harley-Davidson Road King, like I do. But more often and more regularly … alas, I still deal with many competing challenges to my time.
When my (then partner, now) Spouse was extremely ill, S was always empathetic and supportive. I began having virtual motorcycle riding adventures through him, since I was so devoted to caregiving for The Spouse that I couldn’t ride much. Those “virtual rides” did wonders for my inner biker soul.
S was among the first to whom I wrote after I had my first (and hopefully only) crash last May. His outpouring of concern, strength, gentle advice, and support as I recovered from that incident will always be remembered.
And so it goes…
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Finding Time To Relax
My twin brother has always referred to me as “Taz,” short for the Tasmanian Devil made famous in old Looney Tunes cartoons. I tend to be rushing around from here to there in my daily life’s activities with working full-time, volunteering in the community, serving on boards and committees and work groups. This week alone, I had four meetings after work. But on a very pleasant, dry, bug-free and meeting-free Wednesday evening, I took the Spouse into our back yard and …
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Back in Booted Business By Removing a Space
[Updated/correctly chastised/tail behind legs]
As noted in my previous post, my website was temporarily down when the registrar for the website’s domain decided that they had to have a sudden confirmation of ownership. The registrar sent an automated email to an account that I seldom check, and that email account captures auto-generated email as likely spam, so the email went to a spam folder. They sent an email to a back-up account — on the domain that they suspended, so I did not get that, either. What a way to run a railroad.
Anyway, after 48 hours and the website still not working, with some sleuthing, I fixed it myself by…
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Website Timeout
I noticed that I was not receiving or able to access email on Sunday night. I thought perhaps the server that supports my website was having a temporary glitch.
But when the website still was not working yesterday morning and I was getting a “server not found” error, I grew concerned. I contacted…
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What The Spouse Does All Day
As most readers of this blog know, my spouse retired after a 40-year career in January, 2013. Together, we got him through a very rough patch of severe infection in his immediate post-retirement.
But every day, he says, “please go to work.” He wants me to continue working, not only because I enjoy my job, but because he wants the house to himself all day.
So what does he do all day while I am gone? Wild parties? Visits by his many friends?
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Maxed Out on Boots
As an avid fan of boots, my collection of motorcycle boots, cowboy boots, work boots and even some dress boots has grown to about 250 pairs. Yeah, that’s a lot of boots.
Over the last several months as I see ad after ad promoting so-called “new” boots, there has not been a boot that has captured my fancy and where I say to myself, “want to get them?”
Lately… nada. Nothin’. Why?
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Storing Leather Gear During Summer
Now that warmer weather is upon us here in North America, the leather jackets, chaps, jeans, and breeches are not part of my regular wearing apparel, either on my Harley or around the ‘hood as I go about daily business. Sure, we may get a damp and cool day now-and-then, but for the most part in late Spring, Summer, and early Autumn where temperatures routinely hit the 90s (32C) and humidity almost matches, it’s time for the leather to be given a break.
How do I store leather for a long-term of non-use?
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Advocacy for Wearing Motorcycle Gear
Last month, a friend of mine posted this message about her son having a motorcycle crash:
This message bothered me tremendously. I know this family. My heart was hurting because I knew from the description of this crash and the biker’s injuries, that recovery would be a long and painful process.
Yesterday, I learned that…
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