When I checked my bank account this morning, I found that I was “economically stimulated” with a direct deposit from the IRS. [And since I get a lot of visitors to this blog from outside the U.S., let me explain. Since the U.S. economy is so horrible due to the terrible mismanagement by the current U.S. President, he and our Congress decided to give every taxpayer in the country a “rebate” ranging from $300 to $600 per person. The idea is that we will spend the money and thus help to “stimulate” the economy by spending it. That money is being distributed this month.]

Sure, I’ll take the money. I was planning on saving all of it, but I decided to take two actions with it instead.

I’ve had my eye on a pair of Dan Post Vegas Cut boots in black cherry. I picked up a pair of these boots in brown in February while on a business trip to Nashville, and I have really liked them. They are very comfortable and make a great cowboy boot clunk sound while walking in them. In fact, yesterday when I was walking around my office building doing some fire escape planning with two building engineers, both heard the clunks, looked at my feet, and said simultaneously, “cool boots!”

Well, I decided to apply some of the “economic stimulus” that I just received into getting the boots I’ve had my eye on, and then I am donating the rest to a worthy charity.

I’m back to blogging about boots. Today I have on a pair of Sendra Texan Cowboy Boots, as shown. They have a very classic cowboy boot appearance, though the finish is dull. (Hmmm, I may have to break out the polish and see what I can do.) Their very narrow X-toe is interesting. What I don’t like about them is that the heel is low (about 1″) and the height is short (about 12″). They also have a rather narrow calf width. If they were taller, I probably couldn’t wear them.

I had heard about Sendra boots, but didn’t know much about them until I began participating in “Boots On Line” and learned from others. And it’s very interesting to me that my website statistics consistently show that lots of other people are visiting my page about these boots. These boots continue to rank high in the number of website viewers.

I was disappointed to find that some nitwit on Facebook stole one of the pictures of me in these boots from my website and posted it on someone else’s Facebook page. I don’t know why people feel that the need to do silly, stupid things like that. Yeah, technically it’s a copyright violation, but pursuing a legal challenge with something like this isn’t worth it. I sent the photo thief a message requesting that she remove her message and not steal photos from me again. People can be so dumb sometimes.

Oh well, I look forward to enjoying wearing these boots at work today. Life is short: wear your boots!

And I won’t say what the first thing is that goes as one ages. I forgot.

No, seriously, I just had a very amusing moment. I’m sitting at my computer typing away, answering email after email. I feel the boots on my feet, the shafts on my legs. Well, being a Bootman, that’s not unexpected.

However, as the view of my feet is blocked by my keyboard, I couldn’t remember what boots I had on my feet. I remembered going into my boot closet this morning and getting out a pair of boots that I haven’t worn in a while. I remember walking to the office from the subway and thinking to myself, “nice boots, they’re comfortable.”

But I’ll be ding-danged if I can remember what boots I’m wearing. Hmmm, blue shirt, black pants. So I must have on black (or grey) boots. That narrows down the 127 pairs to about 70. And I remembered that I picked out today’s footwear from the cowboy boot closet, so I’m narrowed down to about 40 pairs.

But that’s it; that’s as far as my memory takes me. I just don’t know what friggin’ boots I have on my feet.

Oh heck, it’s no fun getting old. If [ahem] is the first thing to go, and the mind is the second, I’m really worried what the third might be!

Oh well, Life is short, wear your boots! (even if you can’t remember which pair they are!)

I have found that Nocona cowboy boots are equally as comfortable as Dan Post boots, so while figuring out how to use an expiring coupon at BootBarn, I picked up these Nocona Bullhide Cowboy Boots. Bullhide is a really rough leather, and can take abuse if encountered. These are just plain ol’ cowboy boots that I’ll wear for just knock-about wear. The leather upper is soft calfskin, and while you can’t see it, the shaft has a deep dip scallop, which feels nice on my legs.

People ask me from time to time if the boots on my website are for sale, or if I really wear them. No, I reply, the boots are not for sale. I am not a reseller nor retailer. I just like boots!

Featured today are an old pair of Cowtown Back-Cut Python cowboy boots in a medium brown. I was scanning my boot closet and saw them, and said, “let’s revisit these old boots.” So they’re on my feet this afternoon. They’re not really that comfortable — Cowtown Boots are not made well and become uncomfortable after a while. But they look nice.

Back-cut python means that the boots are made from the back of a python snake, so you can see and feel the scales. Belly-cut snake boots are just that — cut from the belly of the snake, so they are smooth. I have both kinds.

I rotate boots in my boot closet regularly, and revisit and wear boots I have in my collection all the time (especially since I don’t own any shoes.) So no, my boots are not for sale, they’re for horsin’ around!

I know I’ve blogged before about wearing boots with good tread when walking in slippery conditions. I didn’t follow my own advice. Yesterday, as I was leaving Minneapolis, still in my suit and while wearing good looking, but leather-soled cowboy boots, I slipped and fell. Ka-boom, right on my side.

While the air temperatures were above freezing, there still was some black ice on the parking lot in the shadow of the hotel. The black ice caught me. Uggh. My hand and side of my leg is bruised, but fortunately nothing worse happened.

I just have to remember that despite perceptions of things being “just wet,” that black ice can surprise anyone. I think even if I had decent soles with treads on my boots, I would have fallen. Ice doesn’t give footing for any type of boot sole. I guess the moral of the story is always to watch where one walks. Note to self: watch your step. Note to all: “life is short; wear your boots!”

I enjoy Spring (before lawn mowing season). Our first signs of Spring are showing, with our first crocus and a couple of daffodils blooming. Many more flowers are well on their way. Today when I got home, I put on jeans and my ol’ comfy Dan Post roughout cowboy boots.

My partner has quite the green thumb, and also a terrific vision for garden design. Spring around our home is always beautiful. I come home from a long day at work and just stroll the grounds with my partner, holding his hand, admiring his handiwork. I am so blessed.

I’m just conferencin’ today… dressed as shown (even the same tie). brown leather blazer and Dan Post Brown Ostrich Leg Cowboy Boots. Comfy boots that accommodate thick socks so my feet don’t get sore as I cruise around the conference facility from meeting to meeting. Just another day in my life … conferencin’ and cruisin’ … meeting and greeting, speaking at sessions, and so forth. I’ll be glad to return to my regular routine tomorrow as the conference ends tonight.