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MAY 2019
I COME TO FIGHT. I DON’T BARK. I BITE! WWW.THETEXASLAWDOG.COM 817.775.5364
ATribute toMom
My parents have been married for 54 years. With Mother’s Day coming up soon, there’s no better time to reflect on my appreciation for my mother.
My dad was gone a lot when I was growing up. He was a truck driver and spent many of his days on the road all over the country. My two siblings are nine and 14 years older than me. I consider myself a blessing to my parents, but I was really an accident. Anyhow, due to my siblings being significantly older, they were out of the house for much of the time while I was growing up. So, I was like an only child for many years. My mom had a hair salon, and I think I got my entrepreneurial spirit from her. When I was young, I would spend some of my free time in the hair salon with her. Because of that, I got to hear all the latest gossip, and I even learned all about women’s hair care too! My wife, Alison, often finds it interesting when I tell her that another woman may need some hair TLC, like trimming off those dead ends. And while my dad did provide well for our family financially, I was at home with Mom a lot. She gets so much credit — she was always there for me and attended every event I had. She never missed a soccer game, awards ceremony, or other function I was involved in. It didn’t matter where the event was, either. She would frequently travel all over North Texas for whatever I had going on. More than that, my mom was a mom to all my friends. She was always there to welcome them into our home, and she treated them as her own. And when it came to “kid culture,” my mom paid attention. She kept me in name brand clothes like Tommy Hilfiger, Polo, and Nautica — brands I thought I had to have when I was in high school. I thought those clothes made me cool back in the ‘90s. Looking back, I now know she had to work extra hard to put me in nice threads I didn’t really need or deserve. Through it all, my mom taught me hard work, patience, manners, humility, kindness, simplicity, perseverance, tolerance, forgiveness, and understanding. She always told me I could be anything I wanted to be, and she reminded me to chase my dreams. Her shoulder has always been available when I needed to cry, and she’s still my biggest cheerleader. I’m so thankful that God gave me the best mom I could have ever asked for.
Thank you, Mom, and I love you!
-Matt Aulsbrook 1
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Learning to Be Grateful
INSURANCE COMPANY TACTICS
Insurance companies exist to make money. They are businesses. While their commercials may claim they are all about you, the reality is very different. The goal of every insurance company is to pay out as little money as possible on claims. Insurance adjusters will try everything they legally can in order to save the company money. 3 Ploys Adjusters Use to Pay You as Little as Possible The Delay Adjusters will string things out for as long as they can. You may end up on the phone for hours on end while stuck in an argument about money. Then the process can drag out for weeks or months as the adjuster makes various requests. Adjusters will also lowball a claimant by dangling a check in front of them, hoping they settle for the small amount. After an injury or crash, when a claimant is in need of money, accepting this offer can be very tempting. Of course, if the claimant takes the initial settlement, they won’t get anything else. Constant Requests As mentioned above, adjusters often make requests for just about every piece of information or documentation possible, even if they’re not all necessary for the case at hand. Additionally, there are instances when the information you send never shows up or seems to take an unusually long time to reach the adjuster. You may also be asked for the same document several times. These tactics are designed to wear you down so you are more likely to take their initial offer. Treatment Questions This ploy can be the most stressful. Adjusters will question whether you really need certain — more expensive — types of treatment or if you need medical treatment at all. As we know, adjusters are not medical professionals. Anytime they question your medical need, you can be sure they are simply employing a tactic to pay you less than you truly need. That said, there are specific tactics in the adjuster’s toolbox you can watch out for. Here are three examples of such strategies.
Some Ways to Help Children Appreciate Their Teachers Teacher Appreciation Week runs from May 6–10 this year, and there are plenty of ways students of all ages can thank their educators for everything they do. Being a teacher isn’t an easy job, and the people who make it their profession are passionate about helping kids learn. Depending on how old your child is, they may need a parent’s help in showing their appreciation. Here are a few ways parents and children can appreciate teachers together. THANK-YOU NOTES This gesture is simple and sweet and can be very thoughtful. Telling a teacher what makes them outstanding can often be just as valuable as a gift. Help your child write an appreciative note and then write one yourself. Teachers often have to maintain the happiness of students, administrators, and parents. Your card could relieve some of the stress of that balancing act and let them know that you acknowledge their efforts. A HOMEMADE MEAL Making a homemade meal (or dessert) shows teachers that you went the extra mile to appreciate their hard work. Maybe you could make a favorite dish of yours or try to find a new recipe online. Either way, encourage your child to help you with the process so that the meal is truly a gift from both of you. DONATING SCHOOL SUPPLIES Many teachers use their own money to buy school supplies for their classroom. This is just one of the ways teachers go above and beyond on a daily basis, and buying some extra school supplies can help ease that cost. Take your child shopping with you and help them pick out supplies that you know their teacher will appreciate. Your children spend several hours a day with their teachers, so fostering relationships with them is vital. Use this day to help your children understand the importance of teachers, to teach them the power of gratitude, and to encourage them to show respect for everyone who helps them in life.
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5 CAR SAF E T Y S T E P S B E FOR E YOUR NE X T ROAD T R I P The Great American Road Trip
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Each summer, around 89 percent of Americans venture out on a summer road trip. A lot of these trips will take place during Memorial Day weekend, though the beautiful weather means people will be vacationing all summer long. But with more driving comes more danger. Here are five valuable safety tips to remember before you hit the road. 1. Schedule a Tune Up You can’t prevent every accident, but you can reduce your odds of getting stranded in the middle of nowhere. Before your trip, schedule a tuneup with a licensed mechanic.
Check that your tires and tire pressure are in good condition and that your batteries, belts, fluids, and climate control are in a good state. 2. Prepare an Emergency Kit Not having an emergency kit is the biggest safety mistake most Americans make. Having everything you need in the car before an emergency can spare you a huge headache. Be sure your emergency kit includes: • Bottled water • Energy bars • Car fire extinguisher • Flashlights • Extra batteries • Road flares • Jumper cables • First-aid kit • Small tool kit • Duct tape • Cell phone charger 3. Check the Back Seat If you have young kids riding in the back, make sure child safety locks are activated on the doors and windows. You also want to check that the seat belts are secure and that any car or booster seats are correctly installed.
4. Pack Smart Have a strategy when packing your car. Store heavy items low in the seat wells and strap down all strollers, suitcases, and anything stowed in an open cargo area. Sudden stops can turn loose luggage into projectiles that can hurt you or your kids. 5. Get a Good Night’s Sleep The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over 100,000 car accidents are the result of drowsy driving each year. Get plenty of sleep before you hit the road and switch off with another driver every few hours if possible. Keep these tips in mind so you can enjoy a fun and safe road trip. As for how you can avoid hearing “Are we there yet?” every five minutes ... unfortunately, that’s a different article. MONTSERRAT O S WA L D
Just for Laughs
SHRIMP SAUSAGE SKEWERS
INSPIRED BY PALEOLEAP.COM
INGREDIENTS
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1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
• • •
2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
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CREOLE SEASONING INGREDIENTS
• • •
2 tablespoons paprika
• • •
1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1/4 tablespoon dried oregano 1/4 tablespoon dried thyme
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat your grill to medium-high. 2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning. 3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover them with the olive oil. 4. Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered. 5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. 6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well-cooked (6–8 minutes).
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MONTSERRAT OSWALD
INSIDE A Tribute to Mom 1 Teacher Appreciation Week is Here! 3 Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Win 2 Is Your Car Road Trip Ready? Shrimp Sausage Skewers 3 Streaming Services Perfect for Your Family 4
Cases We Handle: • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death
• Criminal Law/DWI • Business Law
POPULAR STREAMING SERVICES Which Services Are Right for You?
Finding that perfect streaming service for your family can cause parents some stress. There are so many options, and it can be difficult to determine which services provide child-appropriate content AND won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Luckily there are plenty of affordable platforms that have family-friendly content. Netflix and Hulu Known as two of the most popular streaming services that offer family- friendly content, Netflix and Hulu feature plenty of shows and movies that are perfect for kids. For families who own smart TVs or a digital media device, like Roku or Apple TV, both services are available after a quick app download. Both of these platforms have parental controls, allowing parents to set up accounts and restrictions for what their children can watch. You’ll never miss an episode of “Ninjago” or “Sesame Street” again! Their prices
are reasonable as well, with Netflix plans ranging from $8.99–$15.99 a month and Hulu being slightly cheaper at $5.99–$11.99 a month.
Amazon Prime Video For parents who are already Amazon Prime members, Amazon Prime Video is included with their membership. Those who aren’t can enjoy this streaming service by itself for $8.99 a month. Offering an extensive collection of titles of multiple genres, Amazon Prime Video is a great streaming service. Movies range from “The Daniel Tiger Movie: Won’t You Be Our Neighbor” for your toddler to the more serious “The Dark Crystal” for kids who are a little older. As with Netflix and Hulu, this service also has a parental control feature, ensuring kids don’t watch anything that may be inappropriate. Disney+ Disney+ will be the newest streaming service, which is set to be released later this year. Families will have access to classic Disney movies as well as other content that Disney has influenced. They’ll even have exclusive access to the newest Disney creations. It's been speculated that anticipated titles “Captain Marvel,” “Toy Story 4,” and “Frozen 2,” will only be available to stream on Disney+. Parents can rest easy knowing that R-rated films won’t be available through this new service, as Disney wants to keep its family-friendly approach.
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