Top Ten Blog Posts of 2011

Each year of this blog's history, I have posted an analysis based on painstaking collection of data on what the "Top 10 blog posts" have been during the year.

This year, the Top 10 posts are...

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Best of Motorcycle Boots By Style

I ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and I always wear motorcycle boots while riding (never sneakers). I own a lot of different styles of motorcycle boots, and have worn all of them (one pair at a time LOL!) while riding.

Following is my opinion of the best motorcycle boots of each of these styles: engineer boots, harness boots, "shortie" or tactical boots, and patrol boots.

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New Year Planning

As 2011 is quickly drawing to a close, I am making plans for 2012. I am not one to make "new year's resolutions" as so often these are made then go unfulfilled.

My personal plans for 2012 include, in no specific order...

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Maintaining Shiny Boot Shine

One would think that with the extensive boot collection that I have, I may spend a lot of time shining them. Actually, I don't. Most of my boots are worn "as is" and perhaps the boots show a little dirt. To me, that is "character."

However, some boots are made to shine and be kept shiny -- Chippewa "High-Shines" and All American Patrol Boots are some examples. How do I maintain the shine on these boots -- especially if I don't have much time (or like to spend time) shining them?

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Wesco Boots -- Discount!

This post has been removed. The content on it is outdated and the discount referenced is no longer available.

Is Christmas Hard for Gay People?

I found this search that landed a visitor to this blog on Christmas day: "Christmas hard for gay people."

This search provoked a random stream of thoughts, which I will share.

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Breaking In New Boots?

Was Santa good to you and brought you a new pair of boots?  Perhaps you're not accustomed to wearing boots that often, and want to know how to break them in?  Take some simple tips from a guy who has been wearing boots for well over 40 years as his exclusive form of footwear....

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Family Christmas

Okay, I know I said the other day that I wouldn't be back until after Christmas, but I had to post this photo that was taken yesterday. Great Uncle BHD with his twin great nephews....

I rode my Harley on Friday to visit them. 100 mile round-trip in 48F (9C) temperatures. The sun was supposed to come out, but it didn't. Kinda chilly, but manageable in full leathers and tall boots which kept me warm.

The ride home wasn't nearly as cold as the ride on the way there due to the warmth in my heart from time spent with my family. I am so lucky to have the family that I have. Warm, generous, loving, thoughtful, and caring people who warm my heart every minute of every day.

Fortunately, my partner is stable, but still not well... but he was able to rest at home and I felt secure enough that I could leave for a half-day to visit family and that he would be okay (and that his mother would keep an eye on him.)

Merry Christmas to all... see you after the holiday!

Life is short: show those you love that you love them.

Tidbits, Updates, and Pause

Best wishes to visitors of my blog, returning or new. Things have been kinda topsy-turvy at the ol' BHD household, so this post will hold until after Christmas.

Whassup?

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Positive Focus

So yeah, my last post on this blog was a bit of a downer and uncharacteristic of my usual nature in writing more positively and/or instructively. Sorry about that; nobody likes a gripey sourpuss, myself included. However, it is my blog, and it serves as a bit of a catharsis to write about how I am feeling.

I received some direct email messages as a result of that blog post, and I appreciate what my friends had to say in expressions of concern.

Where do we go from here?

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A Different Christmas

This year, everything is different. Priorities have changed, the feeling of being on pins and needles, tiptoeing on egg shells... all that. And more. Yep, this year, it is a different Christmas.

What is different?

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Santa's Boots

Santa is getting ready to make his rounds. Have you been naughty or nice?

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Boots Make the Man

This is an expression in the boot community, "Boots Make the Man." There are various explanations of where it came from and who said it first. Regardless, I agree with it. When a man stands tall and proudly in a pair of tough, masculine boots, his confidence is evident.

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Do All Bikers Have Tattoos?

Interesting question that landed a visitor to this blog... for reasons unknown to me (that is, why direct a visitor to this blog)... anyway, someone googled the question, "do all bikers have tattoos?"

Answer...

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Cyber-Bashing

It is rather sad, but not uncommon these days, that various forums on the 'net allow anyone to register and use a pseudonym to say things that they would never say in public or if they had to reveal their true identity.

Sometimes these thoughtless dolts link to my website, and say...

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Comfort of Snakeskin Boots

Someone entered a question into a search engine which landed on my website. The question was, "how comfortable are snakeskin boots?"

And the answer is...

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39 Years of Caroling Craziness

This past Saturday afternoon, my partner told me that he knew that my usual "old neighborhood" Christmas caroling event and party was being held that night, and he wanted me to go. He heard me tell a friend on the phone that I was not going to attend it this year because I did not want to leave my partner's side when he was not feeling well.

My partner would have none of it. "Go! You need to do this!" After some more conversation and assurance that my partner would be okay, I agreed. I was especially relieved when a sister offered to come over and stay with my partner while I was gone. (I sure have a wonderfully supportive family!) Off I went...

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Cop Boots -- Discount Coupon at Stompers

This post has been removed. The content on it is outdated and the discount referenced is no longer available.

Stompers Boots Discount Code

This post has been removed. The content is out of date and the discount has been discontinued.

Peaceful

My partner had an uneventful day yesterday, and felt good enough to help me finish decorating the house for Christmas. We put up our Christmas tree and put up the lights visible from the street.

I had four senior pals stop by to help decorate the tree -- two are Jewish, one is Muslim, and one is Hindu. I enjoy sharing our traditions and they share their traditions with me. It's great living in such a multicultural area.

This is a photo that I took last night of our house, at an angle so you can see both the Christmas lights as well as the full moon rising. It was a fantastic, yet peaceful, sight.

Life is short: share joy.

Priority Number One

This time of year is always a challenge with events leading up to Christmas. Requests to attend parties, visits with family and friends who come to town to visit their family, and my ongoing focus on my senior pals, all have demands on a limited supply of time. And that's not to mention decorating our house, which is something my partner truly enjoys as he likes to have our house looking cheery, particularly to brighten the spirits of his mother who spends Christmas with us.

However, I have had a wake-up call to the demands of my time and priorities for something far more critical...

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Cuffed Comfort

Once again, guys... not what you think (LOL!)

A couple years ago, Shane from Eastern Oregon Leather contacted me and I learned about the products that he makes -- superbly-designed and hand-made wrist cuffs. I received a cuff from him back then, and have continued to wear it regularly. And now, I have a new one...

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The Lovely Office Christmas Parties

Yep, it's that time of year again... Branch holiday gathering at a bowling alley, Division holiday breakfast, agency holiday festival, not to mention several invitations from family and friends for various gatherings... yuggghhhh. (I don't know what "yuggghhhh" really means, but it sounds descriptive of how I feel about these things.)

Will I be going to the work-related events?

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Do Insecure Guys Turn Gay?

I thought I had seen everything, but perhaps not. Another question entered into a search engine, "do insecure guys turn gay?" landed on this blog for my post titled, Why Are Gay Men Insecure? (which was a deliberately misleading title.)

Oh cripes... short answer: NO! Insecure guys cannot "turn gay!" Longer answer...

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Not All Harness Boots Are the Same

A new pair of Double H Harness boots came into my life recently. These boots are pictured here on the right, next to a pair of favorite Chippewa Harness boots.

While both manufacturers make the boots in the USA, that is about the end of what they have in common (besides general design).

What are the differences that would affect a purchase choice?

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Stretching Before Riding

Man, it's hell getting old.

Saturday was bright and sunny, though rather cold. It was in the low 40s (F -- 5.5C) on Saturday afternoon when I decided to leather up and ride my Harley to run some errands. I want to ride when I can, before the crap is spread on the roads when they may get icy.

Anyway, I checked the bike over for safety issues as I always do, mounted and took off.

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Who May Legally Ride a Police Motorcycle

I read an interesting internet search that landed a visitor to this blog (but on a page unrelated to this question...). The question was, "is it legal to ride a police motorcycle if your not a cop?"

Good question! And the answer is....

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Cowboy Boots In Style for Men?

This kind of stuff makes me nuts sometimes, but when someone uses a search engine to look for an answer to, "are cowboy boots in style 2011 for men?" and lands visitors to this blog... I just have to comment.

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Not Going to the Wedding Reception

One of my nieces is getting married to a sweet guy. I am delighted for them. They have been dating since high school and throughout their college years. After college, they went their separate ways, but reunited a couple years ago when their respective jobs placed them back in the same town, and realized that their love for each other was meant to be. Now they plan to take the next step and get married.

The wedding invitation arrived the other day. I looked at it, sighed, and told my partner....

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Comfort Rating of Boots

Those who have studied my cowboy boot collection or my motorcycle boot collection have noticed that I rate each pair of boots for their comfort (C), look/appearance (L), and for cowboy boots, how they sound (S).

Recently, I received an email about my "C" -- comfort -- rating. The question was:

I wanted to know about the C rating you have. When a boot has a low C rating, what makes them hard to wear for long periods? What gets uncomfortable about the boot? Is it they are too stiff? Too hard on the bottom of your feet? The insides are too rough (unfinished leather)? Just curious about your rating system as I am looking for comfortable boots that can be worn for a while without the torture!

My response:

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