I began to catalog my entire boot collection. I began with my cowboy boots, then added my motorcycle boots, then added my work boots, and finished off the boots with displaying my dress boots.

Later, I added my biker gear and fetish leather gear.

Later still and as interests and fetishes changed, I added my dress shoe collection and men’s business suits.

Well, unfortunately…

… as I remained very, very, “old-school,” I did very little to learn modern coding techniques and refused to use a content management system (such as WordPress) since I thought (wrongly), “I know what I’m doing; this appears fine on my computer.”

I did make a few broad changes to try to make the site smartphone-friendly and change it to “https://” protocol, else google would refuse to index it.

I kept updating the website over the years, adding new boots, new shoes, removing items I sold or discarded, and otherwise tried to keep up my “inventory” to reflect my boot, shoe, and gear collections accurately.

But when a page wouldn’t render correctly, and I heard that AI is good at coding, I thought to ask AI to review my site.

Oh my… not that I am really surprised, but I was unhappy to get these results:

1) It’s using legacy HTML techniques. The Bootedman website is essentially a long-running personal site that dates back to the early web era and has been incrementally updated rather than rebuilt.

2) Likely “quirks mode” is rendering. If the page is missing a proper modern DOCTYPE, browsers switch into quirks mode, which: changes how widths/heights are calculated; breaks alignment and spacing; can distort tables and images; that alone can make a page look “off” or inconsistent across browsers.

3) Mixed or blocked content. Pages on older sites often embed images or scripts using HTTP instead of HTTPS reference external resources that no longer exist.

4) Deprecated or unsupported scripting (if any) if the page uses old JavaScript patterns (which mine does).

5) Encoding / character issues.

So what to do?

I am way beyond having enough patience or, frankly, interest, in learning modern coding. Further, there are literally thousands of pages on my site. Recoding all of them is beyond imagination. Further, I am “frugal,” (aka “cheap”) and don’t want to pay someone to recode all the pages for me.

If there is some software out there that can do this for me, I might consider that, but not hire a person or company to do that.

I’ll let the site be what it is, work or not-work as it may, and just rest easy without fretting over it.

I am open to ideas though from others with more knowledge than my own.

I appreciate that some men have told me that they have found the years of content on this blog helpful, interesting, and guiding to their own lives. That means a lot to me!

Also since the chaos that has befallen the once-united states, I have “cut the cord” and no longer engage much on the web or watch television. (Also, I still refuse to have a smartphone, so I am even more disconnected than the average guy.)

So what’s new?

It’s been over five years since my beloved husband died. I can’t believe it’s been that long.

I have settled into my new life, living forward. Not “moving on” as that implies leaving my husband behind. Instead, I live forward with his memory by my side. I still wear the ring he gave me when we married, which makes me feel his presence every moment.

I am okay. I am not interested in dating, sex, or even socializing with other gay men. While I do not like the term “single,” that is what I am and will be for the rest of my life.

My new life involves living part-time in the once-united states comfortably in my home environs where I am well-connected. My home is peaceful and comfortable — and paid for!

I am actively engaged as a volunteer in my community and at an important place where I studied. I will not say more; just know that all these engagements keep me happy, cowboy booted, and even tailored business suited in dress shoes.

I travel a great deal, mostly in my second country — Canada. In 2025, I traveled in eight provinces and one territory over 12,000km for photographic adventures. I have done some things I never dreamed I would, and lived to tell the story!

I still update my website — now known as “Rick’s Website aka Booted Harleydude.” The “aka” is my former self — but different since I sold my motorcycle in 2024 and will not ride again for health reasons. (Hell getting old!)

One new leather item I am thrilled with is a custom-made full leather suit. I had it made-to-measure by Northbound Leather of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (my Canadian home is near there.)

This suit is composed of a leather suit jacket / blazer with red satin lining.

Dress leather pants fit comfortably and stylishly.

The dress leather shirt was made longer so it always stays tucked in without puckering which drove me nuts in previous leather suit ensembles I tried to put together over the years.

And, of course, a leather necktie — usually but not always black.

Footwear with the leather suit varies from black cowboy boots to quality black cap toe or wingtip dress shoes.

As a confident man, I wear this leather suit rather often — just because I like it, it’s comfortable, warm, and is very good-looking.

Come May, I ditch the cold-weather gear and head north to my second home in Canada. There, jeans, t-shirts, and hiking boots (or even sneakers some times) are the norm. I reserve the leather and business suits for my life in the once-united states.

Life is short: welcome me back! Nice to be alive, leathered, booted, suited, and shoed.

But there was something special about …

… the look, the feel, and the confidence I felt whenever I wore leathers. Jackets, shirts, pants, boots, and accessories such as leather ties, arm bands, and the occasional harness.

Not only did I wear leather when I rode my bike, I also wore it more often around home and in the community where I live. I particularly liked the “Full BLUF” image: leatherman’s Muir Cap, necktie, aviator sunglasses, Marlboro, and serious look.

I learned rather quickly that most people don’t give a shit about what you wear. I got over “hang-ups” with concerns about what other people thought.

Photos below show an evolution from my first digital pic in 2005 until present day (June 2025). Posted just for fun.

A lot more photos are on my website.

Life is short: wear gear and have fun with it.

Enjoy watching my “Leatherman Evolution.”

]]> 17441 https://www.bootedmanblog.com/?p=17412 https://www.bootedmanblog.com/?p=17412#comments Sat, 01 Feb 2025 20:42:08 +0000 https://www.bootedmanblog.com/?p=17412 Continue reading →]]> Hey there… long time since I’ve written a blog here. I appreciate encouragement from a loyal long-time reader to write an update.

Since I last posted, I began enjoying being a citizen of Canada.

Immediately on hearing the tragic results of the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, I went back to my Canadian home in Southern Ontario to figure out next steps in my life.

Since I am retired, I can travel freely and stay as long as I want outside the oUS (once-united states.) I say “once” because I clearly remember in my younger days, the U.S. was united, or more united, than it became during the first term of the self-centered egomaniac asshat who got re-elected when the oUS lost its ever-lovin’ mind on November 5, 2024.

Now, division, extreme hatefulness, and negativity rule the day.

I escaped to a country that is…

… more civil, kind, and appreciates the mosiac approach to inclusiveness. Instead of the assimilation or melting-pot theory, Canada recognises and values that each person represents his or her ethnicity and contributions to society.

I did a lot of soul searching. Why am I doing this? Was it my dream or my husband’s dream?

Should I abandon my home and community just because an asshole will become President?

After speaking with friends and family, I came to the conclusion that I had to return to the oUS to support my neighbors who are in peril.

I returned to the oUS in early December and enjoyed activities in the community that I love and who love me back.

Not the gay or LGBTQ+ community per se, but my home… home where my heart is. Where I know thousands of people. Where my life is.

Then I took a break to restore my soul.

As I have done since my husband died, I went to Puerto Rico from mid-December to mid-January. I have a dear friend who gives me her home to stay in while she and her husband travel elsewhere for the holidays. Her home is on the west side of the island — what I call the “more authentic Puerto Rico.”

I had a restful and relaxing time with many friends who live there. I stayed for a whole month this time.

I swam in the Caribbean Sea bay where I scattered my husband’s ashes and reconnected with his spirit.

I did some photography. I had many meals with friends and enjoyed great food. I chillaxed. I slept peacefully with the coquis singing softly.

On return stateside in mid-January, the destruction was beginning. I put myself into a news blackout.

A few days before the Coronation of the King (of damage & destruction), I flew back to Canada and went on a bucket-list photo adventure of a lifetime in Northern Alberta.

Man — walking on a frozen lake and see wonders of clear ice with frozen ice bubbles was outstanding!

I then flew back to my home in Ontario for a couple weeks.

Then, regretfully, I returned to the oUS to begin fulfilling my calling to protect my neighbours. I can’t or won’t say exactly what I am doing, but let’s say that I am known, trusted, am fluent in Spanish, and am well-positioned to help.

While volunteering to support my community consumes some amount of time, I’ve been enjoying time at home with my hobby of still maintaining my website.

For just fun and pleasure, my clothing options vary from full fetish leather to suits & ties. Footwear varies from dress shoes to cowboy boots (particularly Rujo Boots).

I seldom wear tall boots any more, as they just don’t fit me. I’m liking shorter footwear for comfort in my older age.

I am quite disillusioned with what the oUS has become. Hate-filled, hurtful, and bound to destroy diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Not me — I cherish those values even more. The Asshole can go to hell where he’s driven what was left of the country I once proudly served in the military and as a civilian for my entire working career.

Any questions where I stand and in what I am standing in?

Life is short: hold your values, protect your neighbours, and #Resist!

As an update for readers, however many remain, this is an update on a big happening that transforms my life:

I will begin (briefly) five years ago when my husband and I were in Toronto for a long-delayed honeymoon.

Whilst we were there, we explored the possibility of finding a condo that we would live in during summers.

That didn’t happen, but it began a quest that I carried out alone after my husband died — I officially became a Canadian resident through a special process for some individuals in a class to which I belong.

During the years from obtaining residency to July 2024, I got credit for the minimum number of days-in-country required to apply for citizenship.

I applied, was interviewed, obtained the appropriate Canadian supporters, and on 4 October, I took the Oath of Allegiance and became a Citizen of Canada!

I am retaining my birthright U.S. citizenship, so now I am dual.

Brings me to Wednesday November 6… a horrible day to wake up to in the once-united States of America. The country for which I fought, served, and honored, has been set up for destruction by the worst-case scenario.

I can’t even say its name.

Now it is time to execute my “back-pocket” plan… and live at least four years (with returns to the U.S. for obligations I have) in Southern Ontario.

I have a very good friend with whom I spent a lot of time familiarizing myself with his hometown and region. My friend actually met me through this blog, so I am grateful for the reality of getting to know such a kind, special, witty, smart, and hunky Canadian! (Okay, as I’ve said to him, I may flirt a lot ’cause I ain’t dead yet! But no worries, I am harmless.)

What will be my new hometown is a beautiful place. It is tranquil, calm, and comfortable for a guy like me. Unpretentious, friendly, affordable, and much like the community where I live in Maryland USA.

Come 19 January 2025, it is very likely I will make the move out of the former-united States of America to my new country that welcomes kindly, lives its diversity, and is calm yet gets things done.

Life is short: make plans and execute them.

I wanted to reach out to let you know how much I appreciate your blog and the way you embrace and celebrate leather culture. Your passion for wearing leather with pride and purpose has been truly inspiring to me.

I am grateful for the way your writing has helped us bond and discuss various topics related to kink, fetish and leather in a more open and understanding way.

Thank you for the work you do and for being such a positive role model. It means a lot to both of us.

Wow… I honestly had no idea of the impact this lil’ ol’ blog could have. While I do not think of myself as a typical example of a gay Leatherman, I guess I have shared enough about my fetish interests that it has had some impact.

I titled this post “my authentic leather self” to describe how I have evolved to…

… understanding myself at this age and stage of my life.

Brief background (so you don’t have to plow through thousands of posts)…

* I did not know I was gay until I was in college. Even then, I was so busy, I did not have time for a social life. I knew, however, that men attracted my eye, especially if they wore boots (cowboys) and leather (bikers before I knew what a “leatherman” was.)

* I worked in positions of public service to both the United States and Canada for my entire working career. I kept my private life separate from my public life on purpose.

* I bought my first motorcycle when I was 22 years old, which ostensibly served as a reason to wear leather, head-to-toe (boots!)

* I was also very involved in the community where I grew up, lived, and built my life. I served on (and led) many Boards and even held public office for four years. I always maintained myself as “the guy who knows about (you name the topic)… and who also shows up at meetings on a motorcycle in full leather … and who just happens to be gay.”

==> it is these things that made me my authentic self — a man who knows his stuff and happens to enjoy wearing leather and is gay. (NOT: “that gay guy in leather.”)

* I met the man who completed me as a person, champion, lover, and best friend in 1993. We lived “as married” (monogamously) and finally were legally married in our home state as soon as we legally could do so in 2013.

* My man and I built our “forever home” together in 1998. In fact, I actually built it (with the help of labor crews I hired)!

* My husband and I led solid lives of service to our nation, caring for our home, and (of course), caring for each other.

* Yeah, we had fun, traveled the world, and went to some leather-related events (IML, MAL, Folsom).

But mostly, we did not lead a life of debauchery or go too far with some of what some called, “that leather stuff.” While some enjoy kink, BDSM, and other types of ‘more active’ encounters, my husband and I chose “more vanilla” as our leather life. We were always monogamous. That’s okay — it is what both of us wanted. What you want may be different.

==> my beloved husband died in January 2021 after only six months past diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.

What is my authentic life these days?

* I retired in December 2019. I spent 2020 caring for my husband during his darkest times of his illness. I grieved most of 2021.

* It took me a while to find my feet after the loss of the man who completed me. I am grateful to family, close friends, and a community that loves and supports me. 2022 to now, however…

* I split my time these ways —

– when in Maryland (home):

> volunteer 2 or 3 days/week in a medical setting as a supervisor. I get to use my Spanish, in which I am fluent.
> spend time where I put my funds — I support many activities at my alma mater.
> do creative photography (hobby but gaining skill).
> work on my website for fun and to keep it up. I have many fetishes that I enjoy and use the website to share them. And heck yeah — when it is cool, off with the shoes & suits and on with the boots & leather!

– when in Canada (2nd home; I am a dual national)

> travel coast-to-coast, mostly for photography and to see old friends.
> more “tbd” as it will become a decision pending the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election as to whether I will spend most of my time in the U.S. or in Canada. Check back after November 5th!

– when in Puerto Rico (professional surfer* )

> I am blessed to have friends who give me their home to live in for 4 to 6 weeks during winter holidays. I speak the language fluently, so I enjoy traveling for photography and to visit mis amigos who live on the island.

> * professional surfer — no, I can not surf on a surfboard. Rather, I float from friend’s couch to friend’s couch. Now THAT is being a professional surfer — couch-surfer that is!

Hopefully this catches you up on who I am — an authentic-to-self, confident, community volunteer who just happens to…

* enjoy fetish leather gear, boots, business suits, and dress shoes.

Life is short: be your authentic self!

I had a gift certificate from Schott Bros leather that was going to expire. During the hottest week of July, I ordered a new Schott Leather Trucker Jacket.

This jacket is thick, durable, and exceptionally well-made. Their marketing statement says it is lightweight enough to wear all year. No… not by a long-shot. This jacket is heavy… almost as heavy as my Schott Perfecto motorcycle jacket.

But man, it fits …

… great. It is comfortable, and with its medium-weight thickness, it is somewhat soft. It will only get better with wear.

This well-made garment has a 26-inch back length and is made of thick naked cowhide. It has a metal shank button front closure, two button upper flap pockets, two lower pockets, adjustable side tabs, metal shank sleeve cuffs, and poly satin lining. It is made in the U.S.A.

Being an old-school Leatherman, I style this jacket with full leather. Long-sleeve leather shirt, leather jeans, boots, Muir Cap, and gloves. The works.

When the weather is cooperatively cool, I enjoy returning to my first passion, wearing full gear as I go about my daily business.

Sure, a few people may react with a second glance or even a frown. Who cares? I have long been over having any concerns about “what other people think.” I am my own man and wear what I like.

These days, my choices of leather that I choose to wear are self-limited to what fits me well and is comfortable. Since I do not ride a motorcycle any more, my “excuse” for wearing full leather is: I am a Leatherman and enjoy wearing BLUF gear. Simple as that.

Life is short: leather up and enjoy life.

So where have I been?

Contrary to perceptions you may have that I have fallen off the planet, I have just been busy doing other things.

In May I traveled to Hawaii for 10 days (for an advisory committee meeting!) I just returned home after almost a month in Canada (for play!)

I do appreciate receiving messages from people who have read deep within this blog where I …

… tell a lot about my life story. Growing up in both Oklahoma and in Maryland ignorant of my sexual orientation, but also knowing deep down that I was not interested in women, then being scared into the closet by the AIDs crises of the ’80s… it sure took me a long time to arrive at an understanding of who I am.

I met the man who completed me in 1993. We built our last-and-forever home in my home town. We lived “as married” and then fully married when we legally could marry in the state of my birth and county of my lifetime home in 2013.

When I changed jobs in 2006, I relaxed and came “fully out” as a gay man. Before that, I was closeted because my work situation was difficult as my supervisors were retired military who espoused hatred for same-sex relationships. I just kept my personal life quiet, but always felt that I was a liar.

When I began my second career job in 2006, I was more confident and secure as first: the professional I was, and second: a gay man who lived with his life partner. By then, few batted an eye. Most were supportive, and those who weren’t kept quiet.

It also helped that in recognition of my skills, abilities, and knowledge, I was rapidly promoted to Deputy Director of my agency’s unit of my specialty. No one dare mess with me, and they didn’t.

Those were the most secure-at-work years of my life.

While my life partner/husband always declined invitations from my co-workers to social events, the annual office summer picnic, and Christmas party, his reluctance to socialize wasn’t held against me.

As I look back, I realized that out of hundreds of people I worked with, only a handful had met him.

Besides being fully out as a gay man, as I have gotten older and more secure with myself and my fetishes, those interests are also more transparent on my website.

First fetish was (and remains) boots! I’ve been into cowboy boots since I was a kid, and later as a motorcycle rider. I still wear my boots (that fit me) often — Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Second fetish was (and remains) leather. Ostensibly I claimed leather was for motorcycling, and my husband was into leather too. We’d wear our fetish leather gear, go out, or just hang around home fully clad in full leather. Even today, I wear leather jeans, shirts, vests, jackets, and (of course!) boots when it is cool.

Other fetishes (or just general interests) evolved with time.

For example, I wore business suits in my Deputy job. I never really liked them back then, but I was too cheap to get good suits and have them tailored to fit me. When I retired in 2019, those cheap suits got donated for use by others who might wear them.

In 2021, I was sorta missing wearing suits, particularly in warmer months where leather would cause me to roast. Having some money and becoming more educated (as well as being appointed to a national advisory committee and two Boards of Directors where wearing a suit is required), I invested in some good well-fitting business suits that I had properly altered. Now I wear them often and like how they feel and how I look.

Notwithstanding my continuing interest in boots (and wearing suits with boots), I am now “fully out” as a shoe guy too!

This interest developed late — in 2017. Since then, I’ve grown a large dress shoe collection. I like wearing dress shoes too, mostly with my suits. I started with Allen Edmonds dress shoes, and have a ton of ’em. My favorites are classic lace-up oxfords, such as these made by Paul Evans. I also really like Barker English shoes. (I also get a hard-on for wingtips and shiny black dress shoes, too.) I own and wear dress shoes from some 17 brands of quality shoemakers from all over the world.

Hmmm… fetishes… what else? Boots, leather, suits, shoes… that’s mostly it. However, if one considers smoking a fetish, then since I’ve been a smoker for a long time, then yep… Marlboro 100s man too. I combine my suit and smoking fetish and leather smoking fetish often. (Smoking was off my website when my husband was alive because he didn’t like it. I am no liar, I smoke.)

I have not developed interests in other fetishes of which there are many — so for me, no rubber, latex, BDSM, etc. Just not me.

I have recently updated the Frequently Asked Questions page on my website if you’re interested in further details.

These days I am a proud community leader, retired professional in my field, dedicated volunteer, and (I think) gentle soul who is fully out with all I am, including all of my fetishes.

Life is short: it is relaxing not to have to worry about hiding anything you enjoy (as long as what you do is legal!)

I was considering flying somewhere to see full totality, but on advice from pros I trust, I decided not to pay for an airline ticket, hotel rooms, and so forth in case cloud cover made it a bust.

However, a close friend is such an eclipse enthusiast, we decided to wait until the Friday before to review weather information. We spoke that morning and decided it looked potentially good enough to take a road trip toward Ohio or Indiana.

My buddy picked me up on Sunday morning, and we…

… drove west. We stayed overnight in a hotel in Eastern Ohio.

Come Monday Eclipse Day morning, my buddy determined where we should go, and he drove us there.

We arrived in a small town in western Ohio almost on the border of Indiana, right on the center line of the eclipse path. Only high transparent cirrus clouds were present, which wouldn’t affect photography or our experience.

I brought my superb camera and super-sharp telephoto lens. I attached a solar filter on the camera and used eclipse glasses so I could have a look.

Following are some photos I took during this awesome experience: It was quite complex to take these photos, then review the thousands of images I took, post-process the best ones, and produce some awesome images.

Life is short: go on adventures of a lifetime, especially with a close friend as crazy as me.

I do not go out socially (much), and do not go to bars, restaurants, or other locations where singles mingle.

I still have trouble considering myself “single.” Even after three years since my husband’s death, I still feel married. As closely as we were bonded, it really wasn’t “until death did we part.” I really do not like to check boxes on forms that says “widowed.”

However, I was pleasantly and humorously surprised when not one but two people recently approached me, at first to compliment my suit (never thought a suit would do that!), then strike up a conversation that led…

… to being asked out.

First situation was last week when I wore my power suit (with a navy tie so as not to be political) when testifying before local elected officials.

The way it works is that those of us who are on the list to give testimony are called to a long table with seating for six in the front of the room when it’s our turn. There are six chairs and six microphones.

So when it was my turn, I was seated in position #2 with a “cellphone-possessed” attorney to my left (I swear, he never looked up from his stupidphone until it was his time to speak.)

A woman a little younger than me was to my right.

While I gave my three minutes of testimony, she listened to me with rapt attention. When she gave her testimony, she referred to mine — as if we had rehearsed together. But this is the first time I ever saw her.

After our group finished giving our testimony, we were dismissed and the next group moved to the front table.

Knowing this was going to be a long, long, dull night, and nothing more from me was expected, as well as it was getting late, I decided to leave.

When I walked out of the building, the woman who was seated next to me saw me and introduced herself. She complimented my testimony… then looked me up & down and said, “that’s a really nice suit you have on.” Okay… thanks.

We chatted for a while, then she asked if I wanted to have coffee. I thanked her, but declined. “Time to head home and hit the sack.”

I thought that was it, but she smiled and said, “well, would you like to meet for dinner? I’d like to get to know you.”

While I am old, I am not dead. I could read the signals. She was really, I mean really, studying my suit from my face to my boots.

Boots? Oh yeah, I wore my Rujo Boots black caiman dress boots with the suit. Why not?

Long story short, I was gentle but explained, “sorry, I am not interested. I am gay. I don’t date women.”

She smiled meekly back at me and said, “all the good ones are either married or gay.”

I giggled, smiled, and thanked her for the compliment and for her flattery.

But wait! There’s more!

Yesterday, I was wearing my Brooks Brothers blue sharkskin suit “just because.” I went to the dry cleaners to pick up some dress slacks I had dropped off to have cleaned.

The place was rather busy. While waiting in line, a nice young man was standing behind me.

He smiled at me and said, “that’s a cool suit. If you don’t mind, will you tell me where you got it?”

As I answered him, I could tell he was interested in more than the suit as he continued the conversation. I could see that he was studying my Brooks Brothers Gay Pride Necktie and pocket square.

Again, I am oblivious sometimes. I totally forgot that I was wearing accessories that signaled I am gay.

While I may be slow, it dawned on me that he was hitting on me. I could see it in his mannerisms, smile, and the way he talked to me.

I thanked him for all the compliments, and thought that would end it.

But he continued and asked, “after this, would you like to get coffee?”

This guy was nice-looking and obviously interested in me, but he was probably in his mid-20s. I don’t date such youth. I am *not* a Daddy.

I thanked him for the offer yet politely declined. No, not gonna happen.

But man, what a pick-me-up!

Life is short: there seem to be more reasons for wearing a suit.