MARCH 2019
916.962.2896 | TRAVISBLACKLAW.COM
HAVING THREE KIDS AND WATCHING THEM GROW THE LUCKIEST MOMENTS IN MY LIFE
The luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me is having three children. Naida, Kent, and Ryan are three of the most remarkable people in my life. When I look back over the years, I realize how lucky I am to have children who have grown into adulthood and who are truly good people. All three of my kids are out living their own lives, but we’re constantly in touch. My eldest and only daughter, Naida, lives in Washington with her family of five kids. Naida is a genuinely awesome mother, and I count myself very lucky to be involved and able to watch her raise her children. My eldest son, Kent, lives in Denver with his wife, and Ryan lives out of state as well. I’m truly blessed by how close I am with my two sons — they’re my best friends. When anything important happens in my life, they’re the first people I share it with, and they share with me too. Before I had Naida, I never thought about being a father or what it meant to have kids. I got married really young and was 21 when she was born. There was always a part of me that wanted children, but it wasn’t very high on my list at that age. I had no understanding of what it would take to be a parent or how much you could love this little baby in your arms. It’s something you don’t understand until it happens. I was too young to be a parent at that age — I was still a kid! I had just graduated from college and started at the police department the day after my wife gave birth to Naida. I was a brand-new police officer and scared
out of my wits. But watching my oldest grow up and take care of her own kids has been a beautiful experience. The coolest thing is that she’s now saying, “Dad, you were right.” When she was a kid, Naida did her own thing and didn’t like listening to Dad because Dad was old and didn’t know what he was talking about, and now it’s like “Oh my gosh, Dad, you were right.” I love it! When I found out I was going to have another child, it was a little funny. I honestly didn’t know how in the world I could love this child as much as I loved my daughter. I almost felt sorry for him because I didn’t think I could share that. Suddenly, I was holding my son, who would carry on my family name, and thinking about all the things I’d get to do with him — it was an unbelievable moment.
would mean they wouldn’t be close, but that is not the case. It makes me really proud just knowing how much they mean to each other. What I think is especially cool, though, is how close my sons and I have always been. When they were younger, I was very involved with church, boy scouts, camping, building projects, and making sure that they could come to me for anything. Our house was the kind of home that everyone was welcome at, and I always wanted that for my kids. For instance, Ryan was a spectacular football player, and I’d come home from work to a couple of his friends sitting in my house waiting for him to get home from practice. I’d always sit with them, and we’d chat for hours about almost everything. Often times, my sons’ friends would come over and talk to me about girls and things like that because they couldn’t talk to their parents about it, and my boys did the same. We always had a really fun time, and we still do! I’m an avid motorcyclist. I enjoy getting out on the road and going on road trips on my bike and exploring the country when I can. Both my boys have taken that up now, and it’s amazing. The joy of them going with me out of state and visiting national parks — it’s a beautiful thing. You know, on the day I die, I think I will be able to truly say that the most beautiful part of my life was having these three children and watch them grow. -Travis Black
“The luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me is having three children.”
My third child and second son, Ryan, was born eight years after Kent. I was older then, and it wasn’t quite as frightening. It was very easy to be a dad because I already had that experience with two kids. However, in the back of my mind, I was always a little afraid that the age difference between my sons
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ARE YOU A MOVIE FANATIC?
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS
2. THEMED FOOD If you’re throwing an Oscars party, serving some tasty dishes is a must. But why not kick it up a notch and keep your entrees and hors d’oeuvres in line with the blockbuster theme? There are multiple recipes for Oscars-party popcorn online, and you can also use star- shaped cookie cutters for your desserts. For your libations, you can serve cocktails from famous films and make a martini even James Bond would approve of. 3. TICKETS GALORE! The ticket price for the first motion picture ever shown at the oldest American movie theater cost 15–25 U.S. cents, depending on the location of your seat. Nowadays, the price of watching a film is astronomical. Fortunately, there are ways for you to create the feeling of watching a film premiere or Oscars ceremony from your own home. Find printable tickets online to distribute to your guests before the showing, and encourage them to dress like they are heading to the red carpet.
At Travis G. Black & Associates, our focus is to help people facing difficult times in their lives. When our client came to us after an incident with a semitruck, we knew we would give our all to get him the compensation he deserved. Thanks to our expert team, our client won the victory he needed. Here’s how this particular case played out. CASE FACTS: The defendant was driving a semitruck and ran a stop sign, pulling out in front of our client and forcing him to dump his bike prior to the impact. Our client’s momentum carried both himself and his bike along the ground, coming to rest next to and under the semitruck’s trailer. Luckily, neither our client nor his bike was run over. Our client sustained several injuries from this incident, including a concussion, a fracture of the right ulna and humerus, and miscellaneous cuts and abrasions. Due to his injuries, our client was out of work for two weeks, which forced him to use 80 hours of available PTO and caused a loss of $1.664.80 based on his hourly rate of $20.81. He made a full recovery in less than six months, and his total medical cost was $20,418.71. CASE STUDY MOTORCYCLE VS. SEMITRUCK: CASE CLOSED 2018 If you’re a big film buff, then there’s a good chance you set aside one important night each spring to watch the Academy Awards. A great number of memorable moments have happened during the Oscars, such as the 2017 “La La Land” best picture mix-up, the 1974 streaking incident when a naked man ran across the stage, or the 2013 falling accident when Jennifer Lawrence tripped as she walked on stage to receive her award for best actress. The Academy Awards is an event you don’t want to miss out on. Here are three ways you can get the most out of Oscars night. 1. PLAY TRIVIA Everyone loves a good trivia challenge. If you and your family watch the ceremony live, you can use the commercial breaks to test your knowledge. Pose questions about the best picture winners over the last 90 years or the actors selected for different categories. You can also find printable Oscars prediction charts and offer prizes to whoever has the highest number of correct answers.
treatment he received, and they only offered $110,000. However, within 13 months after the incident had occurred, the case was settled in prelitigation for $325,000. Our client was fully compensated for his time missed at work, medical bills, and other expenses. After he had taken care of his bills, our client was able to fix up and chrome out his motorcycle so that it was in even better condition than it was before the accident.
THE OUTCOME: The insurance company pushed back against us. Their dispute was due to the minimal amount of post-loss care and
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GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR DIGITAL HOME ASSISTANT
More and more people are welcoming in the Amazon Echo or the Google Home into their spaces. Everyone knows they make great Bluetooth speakers and can tell you the weather forecast, but they’re also capable of so much more. Digital assistants can do a variety of tasks depending on how much you want them to do for you. For example, if you want your digital assistant to be heavily involved in your daily life, you can use the Echo or the Home as the core of your “connected home.” You can connect numerous compatible devices to these assistants, including other Bluetooth or networked speakers, lights, thermostats, coffee makers, refrigerators, and even microwaves. Of course, therein lies the challenge — you must have compatible devices to make a connected home efficient. And let’s be honest: Many of us aren’t going to buy a connected fridge or Wi-Fi enabled lightbulbs just to get the most out of our digital assistants. What you can do, however, is make use of what you already have. Here are some ways to put your digital assistants to work without committing to a connected home.
Both the Echo and the Home make excellent communication hubs. In the home, they can be used as a local intercom system. Do you have a few Echo Dots or Google Home Minis? If you do, you’re set. You can communicate in any room where another device is present. Your digital assistant can also make outgoing calls. As long as the device has access to your contacts (or the person you’re trying to contact has an Echo or Home), you can easily make the connection. Want to send a text message? No problem! You can dictate a text to anyone in your smartphone’s contact list and send it without ever touching your phone. Aside from communications, the assistants can handle calendars, appointments, emails, and more. You can ask for information relevant to you, like “When is my flight again?” Google Home can recognize your voice, or the voice of anyone in the house, and respond accordingly. There’s no worry that anyone’s calendar or appointments will be mixed up with yours. If you want to learn more, search for tutorials online. We’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to what these digital assistants can do for you.
BEET, MINT, AND RICOTTA HUMMUS
INSPIRED BY NATURE
INGREDIENTS • 1 6-ounce beet (about the size of an adult fist), scrubbed • 1 15 1/2-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained • 1/3 cup tahini, well-mixed • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice • 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 garlic clove, grated • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander • Mint leaves, poppy seeds, and olive oil, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Wrap beet tightly in foil. On a foil-lined baking sheet, roast wrapped beet until fork tender, about 60–70 minutes. 3. While beet is roasting, blend chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, ricotta, garlic, salt, pepper, and coriander until smooth. 4. Once beet is cool enough to handle, use a paper towel to remove beet skin. Trim root end and cut into small pieces. Add to blender or food processor, and blend until entire mixture is smooth. Add additional salt if desired. 5. Transfer to a shallow bowl, top with garnishes, and serve. Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine CALL NOW! 916.962.2896 • 3
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1839 Iron Point Rd. #160 Folsom, CA 95630 Phone: 916.962.2896 travisblacklaw.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE A Father of Three PAGE 1 Make the Most of the Academy Awards PAGE 2 Case Study PAGE 2 Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Digital Home Assistant? PAGE 3 Beet, Mint, and Ricotta Hummus PAGE 3 Local Events PAGE 4
LOCAL EVENTS JUST FOR YOU! Getting out of the house with the people you love can be difficult, especially with conflicting schedules. Here are a few events that offer that perfect chance to get out and about when it’s convenient for you! PAINT AND SIP CLASS WHERE: The Art Bistro WHEN: Weekly on Saturday and Sunday, 12–2 p.m. ADMISSION: $10–$40 WEBSITE: Theartbistro.com KIDS FUN ZONE WHERE: Madison Marketplace WHEN: Every last Saturday, 2–5 p.m. ADMISSION: Free! WEBSITE: Facebook.com/ events/184265445504169 TAKING THE TIME TO ENJOY YOURSELF
MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS AND RE-BOOSTERS WHERE: YLI Clubhouse WHEN: First Monday of every month, 6–7:30 p.m. ADMISSION: $10 WEBSITE: Chillsacramento.org In this meditation class, you’ll experience firsthand how and why meditation works. Taking the time to explore yourself brings peace of mind, and you’ll find like- minded individuals who are willing to talk about their own experiences. These classes are open for people who are brand new, returning, or have been practicing meditation for years. Join the YLI Clubhouse for an evening of relaxation and finding inner peace.
All are invited to The Art Bistro for a pleasant afternoon of painting. Follow along with artists from the bistro while enjoying their best foods and wines. Whether you’re with your family, on a date, or just having a relaxing morning, this event is perfect! If you register a day in advance, you’ll receive a $10 discount while seats are available. Guests will have the full menu to browse through while letting their creativity flow!
Kids can become restless this time of year, with spring break just around the corner, but it doesn’t mean they can’t still have fun! Learning comes in all shapes and sizes, and the Kids Fun Zone offers plenty of opportunities to expand their minds. Every month, kids can enjoy a day filled with crafts and projects that revolve around science, technology, engineering, and math. With all the materials provided by the marketplace, you just need to arrive ready and eager to explore!
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MY PERSONAL PROMISE TO YOU
As a valued client, I want you to be 100% SATISFIED with your decision to hire me as your lawyer. You should know within 90 days whether or not I am the right lawyer for you. So I offer you a RISK-FREE PROMISE, NO-QUESTIONS-ASKED GUARANTEE!
If you are NOT 100% SATISFIED with my services, you can fire me and NOT OWE ME ONE PENNY!
CALL NOW! 916.962.2896 -Travis Black
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