The dating scene has always been filled with anxiety. In our teen years we fear the embarrassments of meeting our parents. And there was always the curfew.

Many of my friends have re-entered the dating scene. The anxiety is still there with that first date. We can establish our own curfew since it’s hard to stay awake past midnight.

The Sureway Grocery store in Grand Isle is the absolute best place to meet a man. In fact in Grand Isle the men out-number the women. We brought Nez out one night and she said she thought she was in Alaska there were so many men.

One weekend in particular Nez was with us. Pam and Jimmy rode in to buy some shrimp. We rode to get the shrimp then stopped at Artie’s Sports Bar for drinks and to play video poker. Nez lost her money pretty fast. Pam looked over her shoulder and said, “What’s going on over there?” Nez was talking to this young man. He was towering over her however they were deep in conversation. Next thing he is literally picking her up and putting her on a bar stool.

Pam and I finished playing and walked over to see what was going on. These two guys were from Alabama and were in Grand Isle on a fishing trip. Nez had already found out that the one she was talking to liked older women. He had married a woman twenty years older when he was twenty six years old. Nez told him he should have hung in there for her social security.

As we were heading back Pam asked Nez what was going on. Nez responded that she didn’t know what was wrong with the man. That he must have been bi-polar. And he did have pretty blue eyes.

Pam and Jimmy departed for St. Amant and we see a Suburban with Alabama plates passing through the campground. It was Nez’s new boyfriend. We all went take a walk on the beach. He and Nez were holding hands walking on the beach. He wanted her to take her shoes off however she didn’t want him to see her ugly toenails. He gave Nez his wallet to hold while he went for a swim in the gulf. My mother had become a cougar.

A friend of mine saw an attractive man sitting on a bench near the entrance to a drug store. She made eye contact as she entered the store. As she was leaving she heard him say something. A little wave of excitement strikes her then she hears “You got a dollar?”

A man asked me to dance at the Flora Bama on our last vacation. He proceeds to tell me that he will probably make a fool of himself. I thanked him for warning me and politely said no thank you. I’ve danced with enough fools in my lifetime.

My friend Charlotte seems to always attract the drunkest men in the place. She’s been referred to as a tow truck because she’s always pulling a drunk in. We were laying out on the beach and a Labrador retriever walks up to her, lifts his leg and relieves himself on her lounge chair. Someone said he must have been drunk.

We were shopping for groceries in Orange Beach when a man comes from behind the deli counter and begins making conversation. He follows us down the aisle. My friend says he seems interested in one of us. I told her to take notice of two important things: first, he had a hairnet on and secondly, he liked your purse.

I will end this with the last of the big spenders date. Someone asked me to a concert which I looked forward to going. He calls back and says he only has one ticket.

As an investor, you’re always aware of the potential effects of market volatility on your portfolio. But you also need to pay attention to another factor that could impact your investments’ return — inflation.

If you look back over the last few decades, you might not think inflation is much of a threat. Since the double-digit rates of the early 1980s, inflation has fallen significantly and, for the most part, has stayed low. Still, over time even a mild annual inflation rate can eventually erode your purchasing power.

Obviously, if you’re a retiree, or close to retiring, you need to plan for the impact of inflation on your income stream, which may, to a large degree, depend on the types of investments you own. But even if you’re at an earlier stage in life, you need to think about inflation because it can reduce the “real” rate of return you receive on your investments.

In any case, you can find investments that may be able to help you cope with inflation. When you own stocks, for example, you’ve got an ownership stake in companies that have the ability to raise prices — which make them effective inflation-fighting investments. Keep in mind an investment in stocks fluctuates and you can lose your money.

But one of the biggest inflation-fighting benefits of stocks is the dividends that they may pay. Well-run companies may reward investors by paying them back with dividends — and some companies have increased their dividends annually for decades. A word of caution, though: Companies can reduce or eliminate them at any time, without notice. In fact, during the long market slump we experienced, some companies did cut back on their dividend payments.

Not all stocks pay dividends, of course. In any case, if you’re going to maintain a balanced portfolio, you’ll also want to own other types of investments, such as bonds. But many bonds — along with other fixed-income vehicles, such as Certificates of Deposit — are not good “inflation fighters” because the fixed rate of return they offer simply may not keep up with inflation. However, if you built a “bond ladder” — that is, a group of bonds with varying maturities — you’d have more flexibility in combating inflation, because your longer-term bonds typically offer higher interest rates.

What about the so-called “inflation hedges,” such as commodities and real estate? Actually, these “hedges” are extremely volatile and should be approached with great caution. You need look no further back than the bursting of the housing “bubble” to see that real estate, for instance, can go down just as fast as it goes up — and once down, it can take years to recover.
In your efforts to invest wisely for the future, inflation is only one of the variables you need to consider. But it can be an important one — so make sure you choose the investments that both address inflation and can help you make progress toward all your financial goals.

The good, the bad and the ugly is a phrase people use when referring to certain situations. I can use that phrase when it comes to the LSU Tigers. The Tigers, as of press time, are 5-1, ranked #10 in the country and just finished losing to #1 Florida 13-3. The biggest question surrounding the game was whether Heismen Trophy Winning QB Tim Tebow would play or night after sustaining a concussion 2 weeks prior versus Kentucky. Tebow did play but the difference in the game was the play of the Florida defense holding LSU to 162 yds and 1 field goal. Now first of all, the Good, LSU winning 5 games so far, ranking high as #4 and the play of the defense. John Chavis came from Tennessee to revamp the “D” and LSU ranks in the top 10 in the country in rush defense. Chavis has brought toughness back to the Bayou Bengals. The BAD, the play of the offense so far, inconsistent and very predictable, to sum it up. Sophomore QB Jordan Jefferson continues to gain experience but he showed that he and the rest of the offense is not ready to compete against a top 5 defense like Florida. LSU needs to figure out if they want to be a power running team and pound Charles Scott or spread it out with 4 wides. So far, they have tried to do a little of both and frankly the results have been mixed. I’m no genius (stop laughing people), but I think LSU can run the football with Scott, Keiland Williams and Freshmen Russell Shepard with success. Wideouts Brandon Lafell, Terrance Tolliver and Rueben Randle are a dangerous group that need to have their ball in their hands as much as possible. LSU needs to stick to one style of play, play action passes, utilize tight end Richard Dickson and move Jefferson in the pocket. The offense line has been disappointing thus far and they have not been able to protect Jefferson in 5-7 step drops. The Tigers come to the line of scrimmage, with no huddle, and wait for the call to come from the sideline after the coaches look at the defense. This has resulted in several delay of game penalties, confusion on Jeffersons’ part and false starts by the offensive line. I understand that teams like Florida pull of the same system with success but they have tons of experience at every position, including Tebow. The UGLY, when LSU heads to Alabama and faces former head coach Nick Saban. The Alabama Crimson Tide is playing the best football of anyone right now and have just elevated to the #2 spot in college football. LSU will have to get a lot better before November 7th rules around or this game will be over very early. I am not saying that LSU can’t play well at BAMA, but I don’t think even the biggest LSU fan can say that the Tigers can play with Saban’s bunch at this time…stay tuned.

Our high school teams are through 6 games so far and the results have been favorable, especially for the DHS Tigers. The Tigers are 6-0, ranked #5 in class 2A and continue to improve under 1st year coach Terrance Williams. Running back Bryant Dunn has been electric along with QB Devon Breaux, just a sophomore. The Tiger “D” has been stingy but I have been truly impressed with the linebackers. Justin Breaux, Aikee Turner, Tre Sullivan and Jeremy Dunn are all seniors with experience. This group is as good as I have seen covering high school football the last 8 seasons and coaching for another 9 seasons. The Tigers entertain Capitol in week 7 and that will determine you district champion, stay tuned.

The ACHS Bulldogs, under Coach Rick Bolotte, have evened their record at 3-3 with impressive victories over CCMC and East Iberville. The play of the offensive line led by Frankie Sotile, Nate Allen, Ben Schexnayder, Logan Luquette, Blane Falsetta, Luke Lejeune, Myles Haydel and Kolby Martinex has been outstanding. Junior running back Myron Dominique has rushed for nearly 1000 yds thru 6 games and QB Charles Caballero has found a favorite target in Senior Matt Pearce for big plays. On the defensive side, Sophomore Taylor Landry has been solid along with linebacker Conner Sullivan and safties Taylor Marcello and Jesse Pizzalato. Freshmen corners Wade Bailey and Jacody Sullivan continue to improve. Seniors Pearce, Sotile, Allen, James LeBoeuf and Greg Carter anchor the defensive line. ACHS has 4 tough games left with playoff implications being talked about, stay tuned.

The New Orleans Saints are 4-0 and being mentioned as a Super Bowl contender by the experts. Still too early to talk about that but the improvement of the defense under Greg Williams has been impressive. QB Drew Brees does not have to throw for 400 yds every game for the Saints to win. A huge match up with the Giants looms large for home field advantage should the Saints continue to win, which I expect them to do that.

Stories and/or comments can be sent to troyleboeuf@hotmail.com. Tune in to KKAY 1590 AM and www.globalradiokkay.com to follow our local teams.

When people hear your name, they conjure up a set of impressions that influence how they think and buy. Those thoughts define your brand. Your brand resides in your customer’s mind as a result of all the impressions made by encounters with your name, your logo, your marketing messages, and everything else that people see and hear about your business.

When your marketing communications create a single impression for your business, they build a strong brand. Stay consistent in your marketing by projecting a consistent look, tone and level of quality.

Six steps to brand management

Define why you’re in business. What does your business do? How do you do it better than anyone else? Put into writing the reason that your business exists and the positive change you aim to achieve.

Consider what you want people to think when they hear your name. What do you want current and prospective employees to think about your business? You can’t be different things to each of these different groups and still have a well-managed brand.

Think about the words you want people to use when defining your business. If everyone is saying the same thing — and if those words are the words you want associated with your name — you have a well-managed brand.

Pinpoint the advantages you want people to associate with your business. Figuring out these benefits helps you land on the advantages you want to communicate in your marketing communications.

Define your brand by looking at your business through a customer’s or prospect’s eyes as you define your brand. What do people say — and think — about your business? Boil your findings down to one concept that you honestly believe you can own in the minds of those who deal with your business.

Build your brand through every impression that you make. Clarity and consistency are key to getting it right -- each and every time!

A well-managed brand creates a strong emotional connection, and a strong emotional connection fosters loyal customer behavior. Protect and project your brand through every representation of your business in the marketplace.

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