Greetings from a Milwaukee Utilichick

[redbaronx71]

i've been on the Utilikilt Yahoo group for several years, and i recently posted this story over on that board. Riverkilt convinced me to join here and post my story... i think it's a good way to introduce myself...

some of you know me and some of you don't, but for those of you who
don't know me i am izzy, one of about a half-dozen Utili-chicks on
this list.

anyway, i was wearing my Postal Blue neo-trad and a t-shirt at work
yesterday (retail-- used bookstore chain) and i can hear this woman
coming down the aisle calling to me (she's about twenty feet away...
and she's only seen me from behind):

"Sir, excuse me... SIR!" now, i KNOW that she is talking to me, but i
decide to milk it...(and NO i'm not offended by her calling me "sir"
in this situation, only when people call me "Sir" when looking me in
the face...)

"SIR! EXCUSE ME!" she approaches and i turn around. i AIN'T no guy

okay, sure from behind all she can see is boots, kilt, BIG black
tattoos, and a mohawk pulled back into a ponytail... but she thought i
was a guy because i was wearing a KILT. and this is in Wisconsin
Suburban Hell (Brookfield, about a half hour west of Milwaukee).

so, for those of you worried about getting called a chick or a
crossdresser for wearing a kilt, stop worrying so MUCH... sure it will
still happen but not because those people are honestly confused.
People will call you those things because those people are mean and
insecure.

no, it doesn't take guts for a chick to wear a kilt, but it does take
some guts for a chick to do a lot of the other things i do.

izzy

[Dreadbelly]

Welcome!

While in general I am a somewhat relaxed person in my methods of dress... Like I don't wear ties or dress clothing at all pretty much. Well, there are kilts, but I wear them with plain shirts and such. I like simplicity.

Anyhoo, I seem to have distracted my self. While I have never cared for having a perfect look about me, and I allow all kinds of wrinkles and such, when I wear boots, they have to be PERFECT. My Doc Marten's used to be blindingly shiny. Mirror finished. Laces fresh, flat, not twisted in the eyelets, everything about the boots had to be just so. I always thought it was odd behaviour... But a boot simply MUST look a certain way. It was the only thing I wore that I would fret over. And now I have a name for this behaviour. Thank you.

I really need to get another pair of Docs. But I fear the mirror finish may reveal what I wear under my kilt.

[GMan]

I give an official welcome to the second bootblack that I know. Enjoying your posts!

[redbaronx71]

I give an official welcome to the second bootblack that I know. Enjoying your posts!

well, you are in Colorado and you know another bootblack... could this be a bootblack of the name Paksen? Or possibly Michael Ann? those are the bootblacks in Colorado that i know...

[CJCarter]

Welcome!

I really need to get another pair of Docs. But I fear the mirror finish may reveal what I wear under my kilt.

My roomate/best friend shares your love of boots,so allow me to let you know,from what I've heard from him,Docs just aren't what they used to be. Apparently they've lost there prowess as superiorly crafted footwear. So you might want to start looking around for something new now. Just some friendly advice.

[Dreadbelly]

My roomate/best friend shares your love of boots,so allow me to let you know,from what I've heard from him,Docs just aren't what they used to be. Apparently they've lost there prowess as superiorly crafted footwear. So you might want to start looking around for something new now. Just some friendly advice.

<BilltheCatACK> ACK! </BilltheCatACK>

I keep hearing that... No. Don't say that. You are destroying my will to live.

Lots of people saying that. Can't be good. Haven't worn a pair in a long time. When I worked food service, Docs or White's boots where the only thing tough enough to survive the extreme conditions and not wear out in a month. Lots of wear and tear. I personally think going from the hot steamy kitchen into a sub zero freezer makes the boots go bad fast.

Had a pair of Red Wing boots come completely apart in less than 90s days. Wore Docs ever since.

[redbaronx71]

<BilltheCatACK> ACK! </BilltheCatACK>

I keep hearing that... No. Don't say that. You are destroying my will to live.

Lots of people saying that. Can't be good. Haven't worn a pair in a long time. When I worked food service, Docs or White's boots where the only thing tough enough to survive the extreme conditions and not wear out in a month. Lots of wear and tear. I personally think going from the hot steamy kitchen into a sub zero freezer makes the boots go bad fast.

Had a pair of Red Wing boots come completely apart in less than 90s days. Wore Docs ever since.

i've owned a LOT of pairs of boots, and a few pairs of Docs, and of all my boots it was always the Docs that wore out the fastest...

for many years my boots were my car, walking upwards of 10-15 miles per day every day for months on end, and I've always gotten the most mileage out of Carolinas.

the thing with Docs is that Dr. Martens only makes the soles... multiple other companies make the uppers. Hence quality has ALWAYS varied widely from boot to boot. i don't know enough about Docs to help you find the "right" pairs. :-(

[jfellrath]

Izzy - glad to see you made it over to X Marks. This is a great forum and you'll be a fine addition to it.

[GMan]

well, you are in Colorado and you know another bootblack... could this be a bootblack of the name Paksen? Or possibly Michael Ann? those are the bootblacks in Colorado that i know...

Afraid not, I really do not know bootblacks in Colorado, Annie I met in Texas.

[Rob Wright]

Welcome to the board, look forward to hearing more fro myou.

Rob