Out and About – Week of January 26th

Two weeks ago, I attended a meeting in Lansing for Leader Dogs. I’m currently co-chair for Leader Dogs in our Lions district. Organized in 1939, Leader Dogs has been providing guide dogs for those individuals who are sight challenged. As you get Out and About, you might have the opportunity to see a guide dog with its master, also Out and About. I could go on and on about this worthwhile project, but I am limited, due to the space allowed with this column, so I’ll briefly mention what was discussed at this meeting. If you’d like more information, you may drop me a line at the address listed at the bottom of this column.

The information meeting in Lansing primarily dealt with an update on the renovation of the Leader Dogs facility in Rochester Hills, Michigan. They are currently undergoing a fourteen and one-half million dollar renovation of the current facilities. They haven’t seen much improvement since the 1960s, so you can imagine that there is much work that needs to be done. Technology alone needs much attention. The renovation is moving along in a timely fashion. There have been a few delays, however, due to the lack of available steel. The forecast is that everything should be finished by the summer of 2016.

Those of us with normal sight cannot appreciate being without it. I know several sight-challenged individuals, and I’m amazed on how they are able to get around, and they do it with a very positive attitude. I feel ashamed of myself when I complain about my physical aches and pains.

I’d be happy to meet with any group or organization and explain more about Leader Dogs and what they have done and continue to do for those who are sight-challenged. Contact me and allow me to enlighten you on this great organization.

Next Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday. NBC will be making a lot of money that day. As a matter of fact, a lot of people will be making money that day. I haven’t heard what the current cost is for a thirty second commercial during the game. I’ll probably watch the game, although not for the action on the field, but rather for those classic commercials. Oh yes, we must not forget the singing of our National Anthem. Hopefully, the person singing it will do so with the respect that it deserves and not with their own special rendition. I’ll have a box of tissues standing by, because whenever they do a fly-over, my eyes leak a bit.

This year, the Super Bowl will be played in Glendale, Arizona. I just hope the weather conditions hold out. If I were King, the game would be played in Green Bay with the weather conditions similar to those in 1967. Remember the “Ice Bowl”? No face shields and no gloves. Now that was a game!

If they were smart, the other television networks would air some classic “Chick Flicks” like Nine to Five or Gone With The Wind. The action on the football field wouldn’t come close to the action in the family TV room. My wife is very understanding about this. She’ll put up with me watching the Super Bowl, as long as I sit through episodes of Madam Secretary and The Good Wife. Compromise is a wonderful thing.

A few things you should know:

Chocolate affects a dog’s heart and nervous system; a few ounces will kill a small-sized dog.
Most lipstick contains fish scales.
Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine are brother and sister.
There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.
See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

Check Also

Out and About – Week of March 25th

As much as we all might enjoy getting Out and About, there are some places …