MAD MEN

Mad Men!  I’ve heard the term Mad Dog (not that I am one mind you), but not too often that you hear about a TV show called that.  The other night my owner and the Mrs. were watching this show.  It’s all about men in an ad agency in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.  I don’t get it, what’s so great about watching these old fashioned people in funny clothes, driving antique cars and constantly smoking cigarettes.  They smoke so much, I think they smoke in their sleep.  Terrible!  I know it must be fake because no one could have been that stupid!

When they aren’t smoking, they are drinking.  Drinking in the office, drinking at home, drinking everywhere.  Wow, they act like a bunch of alcoholics.  Is that what it was really like in the “good ole days”?

Here’s the best part; I heard my owner say that all of the young people absolutely love the show.  It’s so popular that Banana Republic (I guess that is a clothing store for young people) has a new line of clothes patterned after the show – can’t hardly keep them in stock. 

I don’t get it!  Dog’s never change.  We looked the same then as we do now.  So why do humans have to change everything over the years and then go full circle back to the old days?  Can you imagine how easy their life would be if they just kept everything the same. 

Oh my gosh, forget I made that last statement!  If people didn’t change their lifestyle, life could get pretty boring (I wouldn’t have anything to laugh at).  That’s probably why I was born a dog – not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I sure have an easy life.

Can you believe it; they just put on another episode of the show.  Think I’ll go find a good bone to chew on.

Thanks again for reading my latest article.

Your buddy,

Burton

LIVING THE LIFESTYLE YOU IMAGINED

I’m sure you have heard the term; “I’d like to be a mouse in the corner listening”.  Well, I’m the dog in the corner listening to my owner talk to the Mrs.  Wow!  Really gets interesting at times.

One recent discussion was on living the lifestyle you’ve always imagined.  They were talking about their parents and it was very interesting to hear that, with a little better planning, there would not be so much stress in their lives.  Seems neither side completely thought about the future when they were younger and now things are a little messed up.  My owner tried to get his mom to move south for the last 20 years.  The answer was always; “I’ll think about it”.  Now she is in her 90”s and has some health issues.  As you get older, you don’t want to deal with snow and ice.  Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to get outside 12 months of the year and not worry about slipping on the ice?  I’m a pretty young pup, so sliding on the ice and playing in the snow sounds like fun.  Sure don’t want to do that when I get old.  Yep, glad I live on Hilton Head.

On the Mrs. side, her dad has developed health problems and her mom brings in help everyday just so she can get out of the house and get some fresh air.  Since she doesn’t drive, it is hard to get to the store when it is bitter cold and snowing.  Hmmm; don’t have that problem living in the low country.

They also talked about single story homes vs. those with stairs.  Really don’t want to climb too many stairs when we get old.  Even if you, or your parents, live on Hilton Head now in a house that is too big or has too many stairs to climb, you need to think about selling the home and downsizing.  I love this excuse;” we need to keep the big house so we have room when the kids come home to visit”.  And how many times can the kids get away to come and visit??  If they all come at once, go rent a home on the beach – probably won’t be more than once a year!  Forget about climbing stairs or cleaning that big house (or paying the money for someone to clean) – downsize now while you can still enjoy your next home.

Yep, this young pup is getting smart by being the “dog in the corner listening”.  Take it from me; if you live where it is cold and snowy, change your lifestyle and buy a home on here.  If you already live here in a house that is too big or has too many stairs to climb, sell the house and downsize.  My owner can help – call him today at 843-384-3162.

Thanks for reading my article and hope you come back for more.  Dog treats always accepted.

Your buddy,

Burton

Skip Hoagland VS The Chamber

 

I MAY NOT BE THE BRIGHTEST PUP RUNNING ON THE BEACH, BUT THEN AGAIN I REALLY DON’T HAVE TO BE TO REALIZE THAT HILTON HEAD HAS BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, GREAT GOLF COURSES, WONDERFUL DINING AND SHOPPING.  EVEN I CAN GET VISITORS TO OUR ISLAND BY JUST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE “ARTICLES” THAT SKIP HOGAN HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE CHAMBER LATELY, YOU SLEPT THROUGH YOUR PACKET READING.

EVERYONE SEEMS TO MISS THE POINT.   IT’S ALL ABOUT JOBS – THE PERMANENT KIND.   TOURISM IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR ISLAND ECONOMY – NO ONE CAN DENY THAT.  HOWEVER, IT DOESN’T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST (OR THE BRIGHTEST PUP) TO ATTRACT TOURISTS TO A BEAUTIFULL PLACE LIKE HILTON HEAD ISLAND.   MARKETING AND ADVERTISING THE HHI BRAND THROUGH THE RIGHT MEDIA WILL GET THE JOB DONE. 

WHAT ABOUT PERMANENT JOBS OTHER THAN THE ONES SUPPORTING TOURISM?  WHO IS DOING ANYTHING TO GET NEW BUSINESSESS HERE?  YOU MIGHT SAY THAT BUSINESSESS (OTHER THAN RETAIL OR SERVICE) AREN’T ATTRACTED TO RESORT AREAS.  WRONG!  IN TODAY’S WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES THAT CAN OPERATE FROM HERE JUST AS EASY AS THEY CAN FROM A BIG CITY.  IF I WAS LIVING THE DOG’S LIFE IN ERIE, PA (WHERE MY OWNER USED TO LIVE) AND YOU OFFERED ME A TECH JOB HERE, I’D BE IN A CAGE IN THE BELLY OF THE FIRST AIRPLANE HEADING SOUTH.

WE NEED TO BE THINKING THE ENTIRE LOW COUNTRY AREA; NOT JUST THE ISLAND.  IF A BUSINESS LOCATES ANYWHERE IN BEAUFORT OR JASPER COUNTIES, THE PEOPLE WHO RUN AND WORK IN THOSE BUSINESSESS WILL COME TO HILTON HEAD.  THEY MIGHT BUY A HOME OR JUST MAKE FREQUENT VIST’S, BUT THEY WILL PUMP MONEY INTO OUR ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS.   PET CARE FACILITIES WILL THRIVE AND LOTS OF NEW DOG FOOD AND TREATS WILL FILL THE SHELVES OF THE GROCERY STORES (SORRY, GOT CARRIED AWAY).

 RECENTLY, MY OWNERS COMPANY PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN BRINGING A CALIFORNIA BUSINESS TO OUR AREA.  BE GREEN COMPANY MANUFACTURES COMPOSTIBLE PACKAGING (INCLUDING THE GILETTE FUSION RAZOR PACKAGE) IN CHINA.   THEY ARE NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN A 90,000 SQ. FT. BUILDING IN RIDGELAND AND EXPECT TO EMPLOY 175 PEOPLE – THEY TOOK BUSINESS AWAY FROM CHINA!  THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY LOVE, SUPPORT AND SPEND MONEY ON HILTON HEAD.  LOCATING THEIR BUSINESS IN RIDGELAND HELPS HHI AND THE ENTIRE LOW COUNTRY.

THEY GOT PHENOMENAL SUPPORT FROM TOM UPSHAW (HE GETS IT!) AND HIS TEAM AT PALMETTO ELECTRIC, THE LOW COUNTRY ECONOMIC NETWORK (LOCATED IN BEAUFORT AT THE TIME), JASPER COUNTY, STATE OF SOUTHCAROLINA, USCB, AND CLEMSON.   GOVERNOR NIKKI HALEY PERSONALLY CAME HERE TO OPEN BE GREEN.

MISSING IN ACTION; PEOPLE FROM OUR CHAMBER AND ISLAND BUSINESS PEOPLE INCLUDING MR HOAGLAND.  WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE HOAGLAND AND THE CHAMBER TO FOCUS ON MORE THAN JUST TOURISM TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.   SC SENATOR TOM DAVIS GETS IT!  HE COMMENTED TO MY BOSS RECENTLY; “THE ENTIRE AREA NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER TO BRING JOBS TO THE LOW COUNTRY”.

I KNOW; I’M JUST A DOG, BUT I GET IT!  WE NEED TO QUIT BARKING ABOUT IT AND GET TO THE TASK OF BRINGING NEW BUSINESSES (JOBS, JOBS, JOBS) TO HILTON HEAD AND THE ENTIRE AREA.  PUT SOME ENTREPRENEUERS IN CHARGE OF GETTING IT DONE (WITHOUT GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES DOING STUDIES) AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.  NOW THAT’S GOOD DOG SENSE!

YOUR GOOD BUDDY,

BURTON

PS; THINKING ABOUT SELLING OR BUYING REAL ESTATE?  NO ONE BETTER THAN MY OWNERS AT Southern Lifetyle Properties.

"THE REST OF THE STORY" AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING RICH????

I MAY NOT BE THE SMARTEST DOG IN THE WORLD, BUT IT DOESN’T TAKE A REALLY SMART DOG TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

 I DON’T CARE IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT; IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU ARE TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HAS. 

SO WHAT’S WRONG WITH MAKING MONEY, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S THE “OLD FASHIONED WAY” – EARN IT BY RUNNING A BUSINESS (SOUNDS AMERICAN TO ME).  IF THEY HAVE MADE A LOT OF MONEY IN BUSINESS, THEY DO WHAT RICH PEOPLE DO – THEY INVEST THEIR MONEY ALL OVER THE PLACE TO MAKE MORE MONEY.  WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?  LAST I KNEW THAT IS CALLED CAPITALISM.    PERSONALLY, I RESPECT THE FACT THAT HE OR SHE KNOWS HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS AND HAS MADE A TON OF MONEY DOING IT (AFTER ALL, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS THE BIGGEST BUSINESS IN THE WORLD).

THIS IS NOT A PLUG FOR ANY PARTICULAR CANDIDATE – I JUST DON’T LIKE BASHING  SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MONEY. 

 LET’S ENCOURAGE ALL OF THE CANDIDATES TO QUIT TALKING TRASH AND GET TO THE BUSINESS OF RUNNING OUR BUSINESS.  LET’S HEAR HOW THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO GET BACK ON TRACK, PROVIDE JOBS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO WORK AND FIX THE FORECLOSURE MESS.  IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE A “REAL PLAN” AND NOT JUST RHETORIC.

PS; If making money is attractive to you, the great folks at Southern Lifestyle Properties can help you buy and sell real estate.  Even Warren Buffet is making money in real estate now.