www.law4jax.com (904) 360-6100
FAMILY SUMMER FUN IN THE SUN Road Trip to the Florida Keys
Summer is not only one of the hottest, busiest times of the year, but also one of the most fun.What I enjoy most about summer is the chance to spend extra quality time with my family.The children being home from school gives us the opportunity to travel.When planning travel, considerations of when, where, and for how long are sure to stimulate interesting dinnertime discussion with my family. Will we drive or fly?What time will we leave? Can we take any toys with us?Where will we stay?What will we do? From choice of destination to each little adventure and activity in between (and trust me, there will be many), everyone in my family has their own perspective on our family vacation. Nevertheless, the rule is simple: If our destination can be reached in eight hours or less, we drive.And when we drive, not only do we have the flexibility to come and go as we please, but we also have the freedom to take toys with us. I mean, you just
can’t reasonably expect to stow an ATV or skiff on a plane! And when I talk of a boatload of fun, I mean we physically load the boat with fun stuff — fishing poles, rafts, snorkel gear, a cooler full of our favorite beverages, and of course, plenty of water and one of my family’s favorites, Martinelli apple juice.
One of our favorite family summer travel spots is less than a seven-hour drive south and is an absolute tropical gem. Every shade of green, deep crystal-blue water, white “You don’t always recognize the beautiful moments in life when you’re living them, but when I look back and remember, they strike a chord inmy heart.” sand bottom, and lush tropical flowering vegetation lend to the sight and sound of one of Mother Nature’s most magical places — the Florida Keys. Lush purple foliage, clear water, palm trees, and gorgeous sunsets provide a backdrop for some of our most recent memories on our last family trip. As it turns out, I learned just before we headed south that my cousin Nader and his family were vacationing in the Keys as well, so I hoped to at least meet up with them.We departed for the Keys just after 3 a.m. Sunday morning and arrived before 11 a.m.As soon as we hit the blue median wall at the beginning of the overseas
highway, the excitement of our arrival begins and never really goes away until vacation is over and we drive past the blue median wall on the way back home. Having planned to stay at the former Pittsburgh Steeler player’s resort, I asked Nader and his family to meet us at Oceanview Inn and Sports Pub for lunch. Our families enjoyed lunch together in the Keys, and we enjoyed the food at OV’s.As it turned out,Addison did not approve of the swimming pool at OV’s, so Alison suggested we stay at Pelican Cove Resort.As it turned out, we were all glad we did. With great restaurants, fun attractions, and a variety of activities, Islamorada has some of the best places in the Keys for our family to spend time together.We took Jonathan and Addison to the Theater of the Seas, which is a marine mammal wildlife sanctuary.We learned about various sea mammals, and Addison got to hold a parrot on her arm for the first time.Addison caught her first mangrove snapper, and on the same trip, she caught a small shark that quickly broke her line.We enjoyed having the new, conveniently located Publix in
Continued on page 2 ...
1
www.law4jax.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
... continued from page 1
Jonathan hooked a large shark and fought it until he got bored, then he passed the rod to me and I fought with it for another 45 minutes before we cut the line.We had set out to catch tarpon but caught several large sharks instead.We set out for an ocean fishing trip, but as it turned out, the only storm we saw that week popped up out of nowhere just after we caught our first couple of mahi caused us to return early to our port. Despite the severe thunderstorm this time, there’s always something really cool about being in the ocean.The beautiful color, clarity, and depth of the Gulf Stream makes it one of my most favorite places.The Gulf Stream is amazing and adventurous above and below the surface! Jonathan and I saw a large hammerhead shark cruise by within a few feet of our boat. Alison and I enjoy the smiles on our children’s faces each day with every different adventure. From kayaking to paddle boarding, to Addison paddling her own boat by herself with no one else onboard, we did every water sport we could.Addison, at age three-and-a-half, is so proud of her accomplishment in catching her own fish and hooking a shark. Jonathan enjoyed all of the extra
time he got on the water and is even comfortable launching and navigating the boat on his own. He takes his time and navigates responsibly, has a keen recollection based on his internal compass, knows how to tie his knots, and has proven to be an exceptional mate and an awesome big brother. The best part of the trip was spending quality time together. Jonathan captured some really nice video footage of the Islamorada coastline and our resort using his drone.You don’t always recognize the beautiful moments in life when you’re living them, but when I look back and remember, they strike a chord in my heart.Alison and I recognize the beauty of these moments, and we look forward to many more fun adventures together in the near future.
Islamorada for quick fixes, but at dinnertime, we enjoyed fresh seafood at our favorite spots, like the Shrimp Shack and The Green Turtle. Once we launched the boat, we left it in the water and used it every day for a week.We went fishing and enjoyed other activities on the water every day.We took the children exploring in the ocean and in Florida Bay.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER Experience, Professionalism, and Grit
If you are confronted with a legal issue for the first time, the first task to tackle is finding a lawyer to help with your case. With over 10,000 lawyers in the northeast Florida area, choosing which firms to consult with can be daunting, and it can be exceptionally challenging to choose one of them with whom to place all your trust and confidence. Choosing the right lawyer can be overwhelming and time consuming, but here are some tips to make the task a bit simpler. The best factors to consider before hiring any lawyer are the lawyer’s track record as well as his or her experience, qualifications, and personal attributes. The Florida Bar maintains this information for each member on its website. HIRE AN ATTORNEY WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE No successful lawyer will walk into a court room unprepared. To win, they need to understand the case better than their opponent, and this takes experience. Experience means they have taken all the necessary depositions, made detailed notes of the argument, marshaled the exhibits, and prepared outlines of questions for all witnesses. Winning lawyers are the ones fully prepared to do this and more to fight for their client’s rights. Experienced lawyers know all the potential evidence that could be offered, and they have planned their responses beforehand to ensure their adroitness in the courtroom. QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONALISM Most of the time, a successful lawyer’s professionalism goes hand in hand with their experience and qualifications. Experienced attorneys arrive at the courthouse
more prepared than their opponents and are ready to take control of the courtroom. Experienced attorneys who exercise ethics and professionalism are zealous advocates for their clients. Attorneys who genuinely care about the well-being of their clients work passionately above and beyond their call of duty. A successful lawyer doesn’t measure success by the number of billable hours they put on the board each month; instead, they measure success by the results they obtain for their clients. GRIT Cases can often be complex, frustrating, and sometimes downright painful for parties to navigate, but successful lawyers need to be able to persevere under the harshest of conditions. The more challenging the case is, the more grit it takes to win! According to William Randolph Hearst, a successful lawyer keeps their mind on the objective, not on the obstacle. In short, to be a successful lawyer, one must exercise passion for challenges and not shy away from hard work. A common characteristic of successful lawyers is their willingness to go the extra mile for their clients and let nothing stand in the way.
2 (904) 360-6100
“JACKSONVILLE’S ATTORNEY AT LAW.”
STARS — THEY’RE JUST LIKE US!
If you stop and look at the magazines lining the shelves at the checkout stand of the local grocery store, you’re bound to see several headlines about the most recent celebrity divorces. One that stands out in my mind is Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s divorce.Their divorce proceedings have maintained national attention for months because of the emotionally charged custody battle over their six children and the events that triggered the compromise of Pitt’s visitation rights under California law. Because the Pitt-Jolie dispute has been in the public eye for the last two years, curious readers have been able to follow their relationship post-divorce with exceptional detail.We don’t claim to know all the facts of the Pitt-Jolie divorce and ensuing custody battle, but we want to impart some essential lessons that separated or divorcing parents could learn from these stars. Lesson 1: Do Not AllowAny Situation to Become Emotionally Charged While their divorce has been reported as quite controversial from the start, reports show that psychologists and counselors were even involved in the initial custody plan. Initially Jolie demanded primary custody of the children.Then, due to a highly publicized incident on a plane, Pitt’s contact with the children was limited to merely “therapeutic visitation.” Pitt has begun to exercise more regular visitation, and recently, we understand Jolie is at risk of losing “full custody” of their children unless she allows them to grow their relationship with Pitt.This note produced even more resonating bitterness between the celebrity couple in their already high-octane divorce proceeding. Lesson 2: Co-Parenting Requires Mutual Respect and Meaningful Communication Due to the contentiousness of their separation, Jolie and Pitt kept their communication to a bare minimum.Although it might be difficult, mutual civility is best for children involved in these types of situations.Volatile interactions between parents
often elicit negative psychological reactions in children depending on their age, maturity, and developmental stage.This is the same in every case where there are children and two parents who choose to live separate and apart. Although Pitt was not given joint custody early on, the judge awarded him unrestricted phone access to his children and shared custody schedule this past summer.The parties, whose estimated worth is approximately $400 million, finally appeared to gain a sense of cohesion regarding the co-parenting of their children.Their divorce was originally estimated to take a year and cost in the neighborhood of $6 million.After nearly two years, their agreement for Pitt to exercise regularly scheduled visitation and have more meaningful face-to-face contact with his children is a step in the right direction.
WORD SEARCH
SUMMER GRILLED HALIBUT
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
If you’re tired of grilling hamburgers at this point in the summer, try using your grill for something a little different. This easy halibut recipe is a great change of pace.
Ingredients
•
4 boneless, skinless halibut fillets, about 5 ounces each
•
2 pounds mixed tomatoes, sliced
•
1/2 cup hearts of palm, drained
•
1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
•
Basil leaves, for garnish
•
1 lemon
•
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
Par Birdie Driver Green Stroke HoleInOne
PGA Caddie Swing Putter GolfCart DrivingRange
1.
Lightly oil grill grates and heat grill to medium.
2. Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest onto halibut fillets. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 3. Grill halibut, turning just once, for about 5 minutes on each side. 4. In a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, hearts of palm, juice from lemon, and oil. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Garnish salad with basil. Spoon salad over grilled halibut. Serve.
3
www.law4jax.com
“JACKSONVILLE’S ATTORNEY AT LAW.”
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.law4jax.com | (904) 360-6100 871 CASSAT AVE | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32205
THE JUBRAN FAMILY VACATION INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. 2. 3. OUR TAKEAWAY FROM CELEBRITY CUSTODY BATTLES
THE JUBRAN FAMILY VACATION (CONTINUED) HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER
SUMMER GRILLED HALIBUT
4.
KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL
Transportation Safety Tips
PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN DURINGTHEIR COMMUTE
With the school year fast approaching, families are in preparation mode. Parents are busy buying new clothes and school supplies and thinking about the best way to get their kids safely to school. Keeping your child safe on their commute starts with knowing the transportation method that works best for you and the rules that accompany that method. Taking the School Bus According to the United States Department of Transportation, the school bus is the safest means of transportation to and from school. Buses are built to withstand a hit and distribute the damage throughout the vehicle, keeping its passengers safe and sound. Knowing basic bus safety will help kids be mindful when taking the bus. Before the school year starts, take your children to the bus stop and show them
where they should stand when the bus approaches — a minimum of three large steps or 6 feet from the street. Tell your kids about the importance of sitting still and not standing in the bus while it’s in motion. Kids on the Road Whether your child is biking, walking, or even skateboarding, it’s vital that they know and follow the rules of the road. All children should practice road safety behavior, such as riding on the right side of the road, wearing helmets, stopping at stop signs, and watching out for cars. Internalizing these habits will help them stay aware of their surroundings when traveling to and from school. Sharing the Road When school starts, the roads become even more cluttered than usual. On top of people heading to
work, there are large buses making frequent stops, parents rushing to drop their kids off, and young kids biking or walking to school. With the added tension on the road, it’s important to be alert and move cautiously. Slowing down in school zones or around young pedestrians will keep you vigilant and could potentially save lives.
Teach your kids to be prepared and safe on the road to ensure that they have a healthy and safe school year.
4 (904) 360-6100
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog