Out and About Blog by Norm Stutesman

The last time I checked, the price of 89-octane gasoline in Chicago was $3.69 a gallon. The same gallon of gasoline in Honolulu sells for $3.39 per gallon. It goes without saying that you’re better off driving a Toyota Prius than a Corvette in both places. You see a lot of motor scooters in Honolulu, and quite a few tourists …

I was hired by United Airlines in June of 1969 and worked for them until 1985. Back then, the one-way coach fare from Chicago to the west coast was $129.00. You could check two bags, plus carry on a couple of bags, as long as they could fit in the overhead bin and underneath the seat in front of you. …

If you are considering opening a business here in Three Rivers, you really might want to give this some serious thought. This is strictly my opinion based on what I’ve seen and heard from local business owners. Growing up here in Three Rivers, I am fully aware that things are different now than they were fifty years ago. We can …

A couple of weeks ago, I accompanied my wife to a brief reunion of her classmates from grade school and high school. The purpose of the get together was to take a tour of her grade school in Kalamazoo, which is scheduled for demolition. The school was built in the 1920s, so many children have passed through the doors of …

Lately, I’ve been giving some serious thought to manhole covers. They are round so that they won’t fall into the hole they cover, but that’s just about all I know about them. What’s under those cast iron objects that appear at least once on every city block? If I were to open one up and crawl inside, would I discover …

Peanut butter and bologna? What a combination! I really like peanut butter sandwiches, but not made with just peanut butter. I have never tried a peanut butter and banana combination, although I’ve been told that it’s really pretty tasty, so I’ll add that to my bucket list of sandwiches. I have had peanut butter with slices of dill pickle, and …

I can safely say that we are all a little guilty of pre-judging people. I know that I have done it many times. First impressions can be beneficial, but they can also be detrimental. How many times have we been swayed by some well-dressed individual, who turns out to be a snake oil salesperson? How many times have we ignored …

As I get Out and About, I can’t help but notice how many friends and acquaintances are doing the same, but with much more difficulty. The other day at the post office, I met a friend walking with a cane. He thought that he was experiencing problems with his leg. His doctor informed him that it wasn’t his leg that …

Summer doesn’t actually begin until around June 22, but the “Summer Season” arrived Monday, Memorial Day. This means that gentlemen may now wear white shoes, white shorts, and black socks. Warning: If you do this, you’ll be showing your age. The ladies may continue dressing in any way they wish. They do not need any coaching. Oh, I almost forgot. …

The internet is full of remedies: everything from curing toenail fungus to preventing baldness. Some of these remedies actually work, and some are just plain crazy and could be harmful to your health. I have several skin tags on my upper body that I’d really like to get rid of. As a matter of fact, one physician in town refers …