Thirty-seven years ago, a chain-smoking, skinny young man with a deep voice that didn't seem to match the body from which it spoke, was stalking the halls of the McLennan County Courthouse in Waco, Texas, waiting for the jury to return a verdict in the first capital murder trial held in Texas after the Legislature passed what was then the new capital murder statute in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the old statute was unconstitutional. As news reporters often did at such times and under such circumstances, he joined in exchanging crude jokes with his colleagues, laughing out loud and creating echos in the cavernous rotunda on the third floor of the old Courthouse.
I was one of those news reporters loitering in the hallway outside the 54th District Court that day, and it was the first time I remember meeting Wayne Claiborne. At the time, Wayne was reporting for radio station WACO, and together with the always present Mr. Ball from Channel 10 (the passing years have caused me to forget his first name), the three of us yakked it up for some time as we waited for the jury to return with its verdict. Ultimately, the jury would return a verdict that would set in motion the execution of the Defendant, who previously had been convicted of the senseless and brutal shooting death of a convenience store clerk during a robbery which netted the Defendant less than $50.00.
A Facebook report informed me that Wayne passed away this week, reportedly penniless and almost forgotten. But not completely forgotten.
It is odd that only about two weeks ago, I was thinking about Wayne, Ball, and local radio reporter and later Justice of the Peace David Pareya, and all of the good times we had at the dawn of the disco era in Central Texas when we reported on the political
goings on in McLennan County and around the state.
Ultimately, the four of us went our separate ways. Wayne moved on to Channel 10, where he was a familiar face to thousands of Central Texans for several years. Ball finally retired, but I never found out what happened to him afterward. Pareya entered politics and was elected Justice of the Peace in West, a small Czech community just north of Waco. And I went to law school, and after graduation moved to Arlington.
We were young (except Ball, whom the rest of us thought was an old man in his 40s at the time), and we were idealistic and ambitious. We got to meet a lot of pretty famous people, and in reporting on the events of our time, we became somewhat minor celebrities, ourselves.
I always have thought that my years as a newspaper reporter were some of the best of my life. The job always was new and exciting. The times often were turbulent and filled with historically significant events (although we usually were unaware of the historical significance of the events at the time).
It is easy to forget those who briefly share the remote snapshots of our lives, and sometimes it takes the passing of one of those people to bring these almost forgotten pictures back into focus. I am grateful for my brief friendship with Wayne and for the times that we had together.
Wayne Claiborne may have died without a lot of worldly possessions, but he did not die forgotten.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
July Blazes By
They say that time passes much more swiftly when one is busy (and as one gets older).
July was a whirlwind for me, both at home and at the office, and when I blinked twice, it was gone. The dog days of August in North Texas are upon us, and although we had quite a bit of unexpected rain during July, Mother Nature is back to her old self and is hurling triple-digit high temperatures.
Beginning on the first of July, I re-organized my office by permitting the attorneys who formerly were employees to move into what we call in the legal profession "of counsel" positions. By doing so, the attorneys have the opportunity to determine their own professional and financial destinies, and so far, I am pleased with the results. The value of this type of association is that all of the attorneys (myself included) continue to have the benefit of being a part of a larger group while maintaining his or her autonomy. We still have some wrinkles to iron out, but I am optimistic that our thriving practices will continue to flourish.
As I indicated earlier, July was an extremely busy month. Like many attorneys who are engaged in a commercial practice, I normally have two or three major client matters pending at any given time; however, I now find myself with no less than half a dozen pieces of major commercial litigation involving in excess of $100 million. Added to that are the dozens of families who are relying upon me to assist them in obtaining debt relief in bankruptcy and in attempting to restore their financial health.
And I wonder why it is sometimes hard to sleep at night.
One of my strengths as an attorney, which at the same time is a fault for a healthy human being, is that the problems and concerns of my clients never leave my mind. I find myself thinking about my clients and ways to help them solve their legal problems during the vast majority of my waking hours. Even when I take the rare vacation or when I make short trips out of town to attend a seminar or to participate in a poker game, these client issues never leave my mind.
On the one hand, I wish I had the ability to "leave it at the office", but I know that if I did so, I would not be the lawyer that I have become. And it is that lawyer whom my clients have retained to help them. I don't want to let them down.
Although the hectic pace of the past month has been tiring, I am looking forward to the challenges that will present themselves in August. These are challenging times for a lot people, and I want to be prepared to help as many of them as possible.
Until next time...
R. David Weaver
THE WEAVER LAW FIRM, P.C.
1521 N. Cooper St., Suite 710
Arlington, TX 76011
(817) 460-5900
rdweaver@weaverlawfirm.net
July was a whirlwind for me, both at home and at the office, and when I blinked twice, it was gone. The dog days of August in North Texas are upon us, and although we had quite a bit of unexpected rain during July, Mother Nature is back to her old self and is hurling triple-digit high temperatures.
Beginning on the first of July, I re-organized my office by permitting the attorneys who formerly were employees to move into what we call in the legal profession "of counsel" positions. By doing so, the attorneys have the opportunity to determine their own professional and financial destinies, and so far, I am pleased with the results. The value of this type of association is that all of the attorneys (myself included) continue to have the benefit of being a part of a larger group while maintaining his or her autonomy. We still have some wrinkles to iron out, but I am optimistic that our thriving practices will continue to flourish.
As I indicated earlier, July was an extremely busy month. Like many attorneys who are engaged in a commercial practice, I normally have two or three major client matters pending at any given time; however, I now find myself with no less than half a dozen pieces of major commercial litigation involving in excess of $100 million. Added to that are the dozens of families who are relying upon me to assist them in obtaining debt relief in bankruptcy and in attempting to restore their financial health.
And I wonder why it is sometimes hard to sleep at night.
One of my strengths as an attorney, which at the same time is a fault for a healthy human being, is that the problems and concerns of my clients never leave my mind. I find myself thinking about my clients and ways to help them solve their legal problems during the vast majority of my waking hours. Even when I take the rare vacation or when I make short trips out of town to attend a seminar or to participate in a poker game, these client issues never leave my mind.
On the one hand, I wish I had the ability to "leave it at the office", but I know that if I did so, I would not be the lawyer that I have become. And it is that lawyer whom my clients have retained to help them. I don't want to let them down.
Although the hectic pace of the past month has been tiring, I am looking forward to the challenges that will present themselves in August. These are challenging times for a lot people, and I want to be prepared to help as many of them as possible.
Until next time...
R. David Weaver
THE WEAVER LAW FIRM, P.C.
1521 N. Cooper St., Suite 710
Arlington, TX 76011
(817) 460-5900
rdweaver@weaverlawfirm.net
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Rain is Nice, But . . .
It's been more than a month since my last post, and I am not quite sure whether it's because I haven't had much to say, or whether I have been so busy that I haven't taken the time to write anything.
Most might suggest that the former is the true reason.
Whether or not I have had anything worthwhile to say, I certainly cannot claim that nothing much has been going on. To the contrary, so much has been going on lately that I hardly know where to start. So I'll begin with the obvious: It rained buckets this afternoon in North Arlington. I know this not only because I could see it through my seventh-floor office window, but because (typically) I left the windows on my Chevy Tahoe open.
It rained so much that water had thoroughly soaked my fabric-covered seats, and when I got home from the office, the seat of my pants were so wet that it looked like I had taken lessons from Annabelle and Lily (my six-month and four-month old granddaughters) on how to score a new set of clothes. Not only did I have to change trousers, my underwear was soaked, and I was forced to don a clean pair (and it's not even Saturday!).
But the worst of it is my garage door opener, which I leave in a compartment on the driver's side front door (just below the open window). A puddle of water had gathered in the compartment and almost submerged my garage door opener. I am hoping that a change of battery and a good drying out will render it workable again.
Youngest daughter Mandy and her husband, Gayer, are back in Korea. Mandy had come home to deliver her baby, and on June 4, she and the baby boarded a plane for the long trip to the other side of the world. Nancy accompanied them and stayed for two weeks, so it was just me, the dogs, the cat and the fish left behind to guard the homestead.
It was a long and lonely two weeks, especially after having Mandy here for almost five months. Gayer was here for the month of April, and Lily was here from the time she was born.
Business at the law firm is brisk, especially on the financial rehabilitation front. The troubled economy is placing a large number of really good people in harm's way from a financial standpoint. More and more of them are responding to our offer to provide meaningful assistance in these difficult times.
It's odd. I often hear the President and his aides telling us that the economy is getting better and stronger, but I just don't see much evidence of it. Of course, politicians are adept at telling us what they think we want to hear.
I wonder if anyone other than me would like to hear the truth, as opposed to more sugar-coated political rhetoric.
On a less serious note, my beloved Baylor Bears will remain in the Big 12 (now 10) Athletic Conference, at least for now. Something about a "political tsunami", according to the Pac 10 Commissioner, who was trying to recruit the big state schools for his grandiose vision of a super 16-team conference.
My alma mater may not be able to field a national champion football team, but we do produce some pretty loyal and well-connected graduates. Besides, Baylor is very competitive in all of the other collegiate sports. So those conference commissioners with dreams of snagging UT, A&M and Tech for their conferences would do well to consider mild and meek Baylor, as well. After all, the Good Book says that the meek will inherit the Earth, and the events over the past couple of months may provide evidence of that fact.
Signing off for now. Meanwhile, keep it between the lines and be careful out there.
R. David Weaver
Most might suggest that the former is the true reason.
Whether or not I have had anything worthwhile to say, I certainly cannot claim that nothing much has been going on. To the contrary, so much has been going on lately that I hardly know where to start. So I'll begin with the obvious: It rained buckets this afternoon in North Arlington. I know this not only because I could see it through my seventh-floor office window, but because (typically) I left the windows on my Chevy Tahoe open.
It rained so much that water had thoroughly soaked my fabric-covered seats, and when I got home from the office, the seat of my pants were so wet that it looked like I had taken lessons from Annabelle and Lily (my six-month and four-month old granddaughters) on how to score a new set of clothes. Not only did I have to change trousers, my underwear was soaked, and I was forced to don a clean pair (and it's not even Saturday!).
But the worst of it is my garage door opener, which I leave in a compartment on the driver's side front door (just below the open window). A puddle of water had gathered in the compartment and almost submerged my garage door opener. I am hoping that a change of battery and a good drying out will render it workable again.
Youngest daughter Mandy and her husband, Gayer, are back in Korea. Mandy had come home to deliver her baby, and on June 4, she and the baby boarded a plane for the long trip to the other side of the world. Nancy accompanied them and stayed for two weeks, so it was just me, the dogs, the cat and the fish left behind to guard the homestead.
It was a long and lonely two weeks, especially after having Mandy here for almost five months. Gayer was here for the month of April, and Lily was here from the time she was born.
Business at the law firm is brisk, especially on the financial rehabilitation front. The troubled economy is placing a large number of really good people in harm's way from a financial standpoint. More and more of them are responding to our offer to provide meaningful assistance in these difficult times.
It's odd. I often hear the President and his aides telling us that the economy is getting better and stronger, but I just don't see much evidence of it. Of course, politicians are adept at telling us what they think we want to hear.
I wonder if anyone other than me would like to hear the truth, as opposed to more sugar-coated political rhetoric.
On a less serious note, my beloved Baylor Bears will remain in the Big 12 (now 10) Athletic Conference, at least for now. Something about a "political tsunami", according to the Pac 10 Commissioner, who was trying to recruit the big state schools for his grandiose vision of a super 16-team conference.
My alma mater may not be able to field a national champion football team, but we do produce some pretty loyal and well-connected graduates. Besides, Baylor is very competitive in all of the other collegiate sports. So those conference commissioners with dreams of snagging UT, A&M and Tech for their conferences would do well to consider mild and meek Baylor, as well. After all, the Good Book says that the meek will inherit the Earth, and the events over the past couple of months may provide evidence of that fact.
Signing off for now. Meanwhile, keep it between the lines and be careful out there.
R. David Weaver
Monday, May 31, 2010
A Day of Remembrance
I never had a chance to meet him, because his father married my mother years after he died, but they called him a "baby killer". He was reviled, ridiculed and slandered by many of his countrymen. But he never heard the calumnies and the insults, because by the time the letters containing them were delivered to his parents' home, he already had been buried following a military funeral.
In the pre-dawn hours of July 7, 1968, at a remote outpost near the Cambodian border, the 24-year-old officer was in charge of an artillery battery whose job it was to cut off an escape route into Cambodia that was being used by North Vietnamese forces. An NVA unit of vastly superior numbers launched a surprise attack on the position being occupied by elements of the 12th Marines. Rousing from sleep, the young officer rallied his men and engaged in close combat with the enemy. After dispatching up to 24 enemy soldiers while reversing the direction of his artillery unit, the officer was cut down by fire from a Russian-made AK-47. However, his quick and decisive action in re-positioning his artillery resulted in successfully repelling the enemy attack, with only 15 American casualties (including himself) and saving the lives of many of his comrades.
He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry.
His father, who served with the Marines in the Pacific during World War II, grieved the only way he knew how. His father was a writer, so he wrote a moving and thought-provoking article about his son for Reader's Digest. After the piece was published, a flood of hate mail flowed into his father's mailbox. Three years later, still grieving the death of his only child, the father used the hate mail as the backdrop for a new novel, Next of Kin. Although no longer in print, the book can be found in many bookstores and online, and it tells the poignant story of the nation's confusion and division concerning Vietnam that was prevalent at the time.
Today is Memorial Day. I urge all who view this to join me in remembering those who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country, especially the more than 58,000 who did so during a very unpopular war and who, rather than being honored, were reviled by their countrymen.
As has been said by many who have experienced combat, the only true heroes are those who didn't make it back.
Today I remember with honor and deep appreciation my step-brother, 2d Lt. Michael Lee Dewlen. And although I never got to meet him, I am proud to call him my brother.
R. David Weaver
P.S. -- If you are interested in reading his father's book, you likely can find it by Googling "Al Dewlen" and going to one of the sites that offer his work.
RDW
In the pre-dawn hours of July 7, 1968, at a remote outpost near the Cambodian border, the 24-year-old officer was in charge of an artillery battery whose job it was to cut off an escape route into Cambodia that was being used by North Vietnamese forces. An NVA unit of vastly superior numbers launched a surprise attack on the position being occupied by elements of the 12th Marines. Rousing from sleep, the young officer rallied his men and engaged in close combat with the enemy. After dispatching up to 24 enemy soldiers while reversing the direction of his artillery unit, the officer was cut down by fire from a Russian-made AK-47. However, his quick and decisive action in re-positioning his artillery resulted in successfully repelling the enemy attack, with only 15 American casualties (including himself) and saving the lives of many of his comrades.
He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry.
His father, who served with the Marines in the Pacific during World War II, grieved the only way he knew how. His father was a writer, so he wrote a moving and thought-provoking article about his son for Reader's Digest. After the piece was published, a flood of hate mail flowed into his father's mailbox. Three years later, still grieving the death of his only child, the father used the hate mail as the backdrop for a new novel, Next of Kin. Although no longer in print, the book can be found in many bookstores and online, and it tells the poignant story of the nation's confusion and division concerning Vietnam that was prevalent at the time.
Today is Memorial Day. I urge all who view this to join me in remembering those who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country, especially the more than 58,000 who did so during a very unpopular war and who, rather than being honored, were reviled by their countrymen.
As has been said by many who have experienced combat, the only true heroes are those who didn't make it back.
Today I remember with honor and deep appreciation my step-brother, 2d Lt. Michael Lee Dewlen. And although I never got to meet him, I am proud to call him my brother.
R. David Weaver
P.S. -- If you are interested in reading his father's book, you likely can find it by Googling "Al Dewlen" and going to one of the sites that offer his work.
RDW
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Day I Became a Father
It was a harrowing 36-hour period. Shortly after midnight May 24, 1972, a young girl was abducted during a hold-up at a Waco 7-Eleven store, and as a reporter for the local newspaper, I was called in to cover the story. After the girl was released on the afternoon of May 25, my photographer and I conducted our interview, and copy and photos were turned in near deadline.
After an exhausting day and a half, I got home at about 11:00 p.m. on the 25th. It was a Thursday night, and I had planned to take off on Friday and spend a long Memorial Day weekend catching up on much-needed sleep and relaxation. But before I had settled in for the night, my wife informed me that she believed she was in labor with our first child. Instead of going to bed, we packed up and headed for the hospital.
I had seen enough movies and had watched enough "I Love Lucy" episodes to know that babies are born within two hours after the expectant mother gets to the hospital. So I naturally believed that I only was delaying my bedtime by a few hours, at most.
Movies and television programs do not necessarily reflect life as it often is.
After 19 hours of labor, at exactly 8:00 p.m. on May 26, 1972, Dena Gayle Weaver came into the world, and I became a father.
In those days, fathers were not permitted in the delivery room, so I paced in a traditional waiting room for expectant fathers smoking cigarettes (it was the fashionable thing to do at the time, and hospitals had no problem permitting smoking inside their facilities) and watching people come, have their babies, and leave, wondering all along why it could not have worked that way for me.
When the nurse finally rolled the incubator containing my baby into the waiting room, I was amazed at this creature with its eyes wide open, staring calmly up at a disheveled young man with a silly grin on his weary face.
From that moment, my life was forever changed.
I knew very early that Dena was special. When she was only 5 years old, she already was reading music, playing the piano and composing simple melodies. At that time, I surmised that she would become a famous composer and musician. But I was naive, and I believed that Dena's musical accomplishments at such an early age were due to talent, alone. What I later learned was that Dena has the ability to commit all of her effort and focus to whatever task she undertakes.
She graduated with honors from high school. She then attended Baylor University, graduating in four years with a degree in psychology. Although she wasn't sure what profession she wanted to enter at the time, circumstances brought her into contact with the business world when she accepted a position with a bank. During her time at the bank, she earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration and became a trust officer, handling millions of dollars entrusted to the care of the bank.
When the bank closed its Texas trust operations, she enrolled at Baylor Law School, and after three years, she graduated second in a Baylor law school class comprised of the brightest and best law students in the state.
She is now a third-year securities litigator with a large, multi-national law firm, and she currently is spending her birthday in Houston working on a major case involving billions of dollars and impacting thousands of people worldwide.
To say that I am proud of her is an understatement.
So happy birthday to Dena Weaver, one of the great successes of my life.
R. David Weaver
After an exhausting day and a half, I got home at about 11:00 p.m. on the 25th. It was a Thursday night, and I had planned to take off on Friday and spend a long Memorial Day weekend catching up on much-needed sleep and relaxation. But before I had settled in for the night, my wife informed me that she believed she was in labor with our first child. Instead of going to bed, we packed up and headed for the hospital.
I had seen enough movies and had watched enough "I Love Lucy" episodes to know that babies are born within two hours after the expectant mother gets to the hospital. So I naturally believed that I only was delaying my bedtime by a few hours, at most.
Movies and television programs do not necessarily reflect life as it often is.
After 19 hours of labor, at exactly 8:00 p.m. on May 26, 1972, Dena Gayle Weaver came into the world, and I became a father.
In those days, fathers were not permitted in the delivery room, so I paced in a traditional waiting room for expectant fathers smoking cigarettes (it was the fashionable thing to do at the time, and hospitals had no problem permitting smoking inside their facilities) and watching people come, have their babies, and leave, wondering all along why it could not have worked that way for me.
When the nurse finally rolled the incubator containing my baby into the waiting room, I was amazed at this creature with its eyes wide open, staring calmly up at a disheveled young man with a silly grin on his weary face.
From that moment, my life was forever changed.
I knew very early that Dena was special. When she was only 5 years old, she already was reading music, playing the piano and composing simple melodies. At that time, I surmised that she would become a famous composer and musician. But I was naive, and I believed that Dena's musical accomplishments at such an early age were due to talent, alone. What I later learned was that Dena has the ability to commit all of her effort and focus to whatever task she undertakes.
She graduated with honors from high school. She then attended Baylor University, graduating in four years with a degree in psychology. Although she wasn't sure what profession she wanted to enter at the time, circumstances brought her into contact with the business world when she accepted a position with a bank. During her time at the bank, she earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration and became a trust officer, handling millions of dollars entrusted to the care of the bank.
When the bank closed its Texas trust operations, she enrolled at Baylor Law School, and after three years, she graduated second in a Baylor law school class comprised of the brightest and best law students in the state.
She is now a third-year securities litigator with a large, multi-national law firm, and she currently is spending her birthday in Houston working on a major case involving billions of dollars and impacting thousands of people worldwide.
To say that I am proud of her is an understatement.
So happy birthday to Dena Weaver, one of the great successes of my life.
R. David Weaver
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
New Babies, Baptism, Confirmation, Poker & Golf
It's been about three weeks since I posted, and quite a bit has happened during that time. My two brand new granddaughters are growing like weeds. I am always amazed when a newborn begins to grow, develop a personality and actually becomes a little human being.
I had the singular honor of receiving Lillian's very first smile, and it was a special moment that I never will forget (although Dad, Mom and Nanna were a little jealous). Unfortunately, she and her mother are leaving very soon to return to Korea. Nancy is traveling with them, and for that I am grateful, as the long journey likely would be too much for Mandy to handle alone. I am going to miss them.
Annabelle keeps growing, and she is one of the most even-tempered, happy babies that I ever have seen. She seldom raises a fuss, and she is very quick to give a smile or a giggle to whomever is paying attention to her. She was baptized this past Sunday at her Church, and I was thrilled to be able to witness it. As the minister was holding her in preparation for the baptism, she gazed up at him and gave him a great, big smile.
Grandson Matthew has been attending classes at his Church since January, and this Sunday he is scheduled for confirmation. Matthew is 12 now, and he has grown into quite the young man. I am very proud of him.
While my family continues to grow and prosper, my poker game is on a roller coaster. I love the challenge of playing, and I have enjoyed some success. But just when I think I have figured out the best strategy to employ, I have a session where it seems that nothing works. So far, I still am ahead for the year, and I hope to continue to learn more and become a better player. Maybe some day I will be at the final table at one of those big tournaments playing for a big payday.
My golf game is stuck at a level with which I am entirely dissatisfied. I changed my golf club membership a little over a year ago, and I now am playing at a course that is much more challenging than the course I had spent the past 25 years playing. My handicap mushroomed from 12 to 17, and I am having trouble getting it reduced to where it was.
Meanwhile, I am getting ready for the Bishop Iker Golf Challenge at Squaw Valley Golf Course in Glen Rose. It is a beautiful golf course, and I always have enjoyed playing it. The annual charity tournament benefits Camp Crucis, which is a facility owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, and I am proud to have been one of the sponsors of this tournament during the past four years or so.
My firm's new financial rehabilitation program is beginning to gain momentum as more and more people come to realize that simply discharging debt in bankruptcy is not enough to begin to build a foundation for permanent financial security. I am optimistic that as the message of hope that my firm is seeking to convey spreads, we will be able to assist more and more families in financial distress.
Until next time,
R. David Weaver
I had the singular honor of receiving Lillian's very first smile, and it was a special moment that I never will forget (although Dad, Mom and Nanna were a little jealous). Unfortunately, she and her mother are leaving very soon to return to Korea. Nancy is traveling with them, and for that I am grateful, as the long journey likely would be too much for Mandy to handle alone. I am going to miss them.
Annabelle keeps growing, and she is one of the most even-tempered, happy babies that I ever have seen. She seldom raises a fuss, and she is very quick to give a smile or a giggle to whomever is paying attention to her. She was baptized this past Sunday at her Church, and I was thrilled to be able to witness it. As the minister was holding her in preparation for the baptism, she gazed up at him and gave him a great, big smile.
Grandson Matthew has been attending classes at his Church since January, and this Sunday he is scheduled for confirmation. Matthew is 12 now, and he has grown into quite the young man. I am very proud of him.
While my family continues to grow and prosper, my poker game is on a roller coaster. I love the challenge of playing, and I have enjoyed some success. But just when I think I have figured out the best strategy to employ, I have a session where it seems that nothing works. So far, I still am ahead for the year, and I hope to continue to learn more and become a better player. Maybe some day I will be at the final table at one of those big tournaments playing for a big payday.
My golf game is stuck at a level with which I am entirely dissatisfied. I changed my golf club membership a little over a year ago, and I now am playing at a course that is much more challenging than the course I had spent the past 25 years playing. My handicap mushroomed from 12 to 17, and I am having trouble getting it reduced to where it was.
Meanwhile, I am getting ready for the Bishop Iker Golf Challenge at Squaw Valley Golf Course in Glen Rose. It is a beautiful golf course, and I always have enjoyed playing it. The annual charity tournament benefits Camp Crucis, which is a facility owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, and I am proud to have been one of the sponsors of this tournament during the past four years or so.
My firm's new financial rehabilitation program is beginning to gain momentum as more and more people come to realize that simply discharging debt in bankruptcy is not enough to begin to build a foundation for permanent financial security. I am optimistic that as the message of hope that my firm is seeking to convey spreads, we will be able to assist more and more families in financial distress.
Until next time,
R. David Weaver
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Happy Birthday, Lucy!
Lucy Clowers and I have a lot in common. Not only am I her proud grandfather, she and I are the only two members of our extended family to be named for movie actors. The "R" in my name is for Ronald, and my mother tells me that she named me after Ronald Reagan (long before he sought any political office), because she thought he was "dreamy". Lucy's mom, my daughter Erica, has been a loyal and avid fan of Lucille Ball since she was a little girl, so when she had her first daughter, she named her Lucy (but I call her "Miss McGillicudy").
Today is Lucy's 10th birthday, and she had planned to celebrate it with a sleep-over with friends last night, followed by a day at Six Flags today. Unfortunately, those plans are having to be postponed, because Lucy has developed an ear infection. Hopefully, she will get to celebrate with her friends in a couple of weeks.
Quiet and unassuming, Lucy carries a presence that is difficult not to notice and admire, although she tries hard to avoid being the center of attention. She is tall, has long shiny brown hair and has wide, expressive eyes. Frankly, she is beautiful, and she likely will break some hearts as she grows older.
Not only is Lucy physically attractive, she is brilliant. She is a consistent straight-A student in school, and she is a dedicated and talented dancer who, along with her cousin Hayley, has excelled in dance competitions in which her dance school has been involved.
So this is for you, Miss McGillicudy. Happy birthday, and get well soon!
Grandpa
Today is Lucy's 10th birthday, and she had planned to celebrate it with a sleep-over with friends last night, followed by a day at Six Flags today. Unfortunately, those plans are having to be postponed, because Lucy has developed an ear infection. Hopefully, she will get to celebrate with her friends in a couple of weeks.
Quiet and unassuming, Lucy carries a presence that is difficult not to notice and admire, although she tries hard to avoid being the center of attention. She is tall, has long shiny brown hair and has wide, expressive eyes. Frankly, she is beautiful, and she likely will break some hearts as she grows older.
Not only is Lucy physically attractive, she is brilliant. She is a consistent straight-A student in school, and she is a dedicated and talented dancer who, along with her cousin Hayley, has excelled in dance competitions in which her dance school has been involved.
So this is for you, Miss McGillicudy. Happy birthday, and get well soon!
Grandpa
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Dishonoring Texas History
Whatever one may think about Texas Aggies (I am a die-hard Baylor man, myself), there is one characteristic about this rather strange group that is admirable -- they are serious about observing and honoring our state's cherished traditions.
Yesterday was San Jacinto Day in Texas. On April 21 of each year, we are called to commemorate Sam Houston's victory over Santa Anna and the Mexican army at San Jacinto, a victory that ended the Texas Revolution and confirmed Texas as an independent nation. Each year, Texas Aggies "muster" in honor of this day, and from what I can tell, they are about the only group that takes a moment to recall the heroes of Texas independence.
For that gesture I am grateful.
March 2 also passed unobserved in most corners of the state. Banks, courthouses and offices were open for business as usual. But March 2 also is a special day in Texas history. It is the date upon which Texas patriots declared their independence from Mexico and gave voice to the revolution that already had begun.
Four days later, on March 6, the Alamo fell. That day was not observed, either.
As a direct descendant of an Alamo defender, I am more than a bit disturbed at the lack of respect shown for our state's history. Texas law requires all public schools to instruct students in Texas history (the only state I know of that makes such a requirement), but it seems as though the lessons are taught but then quickly forgotten.
We observe Cinco de Mayo (Mexico's Independence Day), Martin Luther King Day and Cesar Chavez Day, but we do not observe those special days in Texas history that have played a major role in making us what we are. March 2, 1836; April 21, 1836; and January 1, 1846 (when Texas officially joined the United States, although the Articles of Annexation were adopted some months earlier) are all special days in our history.
I am a native Texan, and my roots are deep in the Heart of Texas. I am proud of my Texas heritage, and I consider myself, along with all of my fellow Texans, to be unique. We are not part of the run-of-the-mill from Iowa, New Jersey, or California. We are Texans! And that makes us special.
Whatever our differing political philosophies may be, it's high time we began to understand and accept the responsibility of our heritage and call upon our elected officials to declare these special days as days of observance.
If you agree, make your voice heard. You can do that by posting or otherwise distributing this blog item or by contacting your State Representative and Congressman.
As succinctly stated in the Baylor University motto, "Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana!"
R. David Weaver
Yesterday was San Jacinto Day in Texas. On April 21 of each year, we are called to commemorate Sam Houston's victory over Santa Anna and the Mexican army at San Jacinto, a victory that ended the Texas Revolution and confirmed Texas as an independent nation. Each year, Texas Aggies "muster" in honor of this day, and from what I can tell, they are about the only group that takes a moment to recall the heroes of Texas independence.
For that gesture I am grateful.
March 2 also passed unobserved in most corners of the state. Banks, courthouses and offices were open for business as usual. But March 2 also is a special day in Texas history. It is the date upon which Texas patriots declared their independence from Mexico and gave voice to the revolution that already had begun.
Four days later, on March 6, the Alamo fell. That day was not observed, either.
As a direct descendant of an Alamo defender, I am more than a bit disturbed at the lack of respect shown for our state's history. Texas law requires all public schools to instruct students in Texas history (the only state I know of that makes such a requirement), but it seems as though the lessons are taught but then quickly forgotten.
We observe Cinco de Mayo (Mexico's Independence Day), Martin Luther King Day and Cesar Chavez Day, but we do not observe those special days in Texas history that have played a major role in making us what we are. March 2, 1836; April 21, 1836; and January 1, 1846 (when Texas officially joined the United States, although the Articles of Annexation were adopted some months earlier) are all special days in our history.
I am a native Texan, and my roots are deep in the Heart of Texas. I am proud of my Texas heritage, and I consider myself, along with all of my fellow Texans, to be unique. We are not part of the run-of-the-mill from Iowa, New Jersey, or California. We are Texans! And that makes us special.
Whatever our differing political philosophies may be, it's high time we began to understand and accept the responsibility of our heritage and call upon our elected officials to declare these special days as days of observance.
If you agree, make your voice heard. You can do that by posting or otherwise distributing this blog item or by contacting your State Representative and Congressman.
As succinctly stated in the Baylor University motto, "Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana!"
R. David Weaver
Friday, April 16, 2010
No Longer the Baby - Happy Birthday, Samantha!
For almost four years, Samantha Clowers enjoyed the distinction, attention and pampering that comes with being the youngest grandchild. Within the past three months, there have been two additions to the family (which exacerbates Grandpa's memory problems, but that's another topic for another day), and "Meetha" has gone from being the youngest to the third youngest -- in other words, the middle of the pack, along with Lizzie, Haley and Lucy.
Today is Samantha's birthday. It occurred on Easter Sunday four years ago, and it could not have been a better time for me. On that particular day, I did not really want to attend Mass (which happens sometimes with me), but I had no good reason not to go -- that is, until I got the call that my daughter, Erica, was headed to the hospital to have her baby. So I got a big break.
Although Samantha no longer is the baby of the family, she shouldn't be underestimated with respect to her attention-getting skills. After all, she had nearly four years within which to perfect the art. She is an expert at melting my heart with her shy smile, and her timing is impeccable when dispensing affection to her Grandpa.
Someday, Meetha may become the CEO of some large enterprise, because she is not the least bit reluctant to let it be known how she thinks things should be done. The acid test is going to be how she reacts to no longer being the baby. So far, by all accounts she has performed well, and I am very proud of her.
This is Samantha's last year in pre-school, and she will be entering the larger and more dangerous world of public school kindergarten next year. If she makes the adjustment there as well as she has adjusted to no longer being the baby, she will do fine.
So happy birthday, Samantha. You are a big girl, now.
Grandpa
Today is Samantha's birthday. It occurred on Easter Sunday four years ago, and it could not have been a better time for me. On that particular day, I did not really want to attend Mass (which happens sometimes with me), but I had no good reason not to go -- that is, until I got the call that my daughter, Erica, was headed to the hospital to have her baby. So I got a big break.
Although Samantha no longer is the baby of the family, she shouldn't be underestimated with respect to her attention-getting skills. After all, she had nearly four years within which to perfect the art. She is an expert at melting my heart with her shy smile, and her timing is impeccable when dispensing affection to her Grandpa.
Someday, Meetha may become the CEO of some large enterprise, because she is not the least bit reluctant to let it be known how she thinks things should be done. The acid test is going to be how she reacts to no longer being the baby. So far, by all accounts she has performed well, and I am very proud of her.
This is Samantha's last year in pre-school, and she will be entering the larger and more dangerous world of public school kindergarten next year. If she makes the adjustment there as well as she has adjusted to no longer being the baby, she will do fine.
So happy birthday, Samantha. You are a big girl, now.
Grandpa
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Baseball, Bluebonnets & Mortgage Payments
After an uncommon winter that brought us North Texans a White Christmas and a mid-winter blizzard, spring finally has arrived. Early spring weeds are sprouting on our lawns, and bluebonnets are popping up everywhere. Pollen levels are up, and I have been sneezing my head off.
But the spring season has a darker side. Those of us who pay our property taxes and homeowner's insurance through the mortgage on our homes are receiving the annual escrow analysis notices from our mortgage companies, and for most people, monthly mortgage payments are being increased due to higher insurance costs and property taxes.
Sometimes, mortgage payments increase by several hundred dollars per month.
There is an old saying that nothing is certain but death and taxes (and insurance); however, relief is available if your mortgage payment has increased to the point that you are unable to comfortably service your mortgage and provide for your other cash-flow obligations. Federally sponsored mortgage loan modification programs are available to qualified homeowners that can substantially reduce monthly mortgage payments. For those unable to successfully negotiate a loan modification, other forms of relief also are available.
The good news is that no one must lose his or her home just because the rising cost of taxes and insurance results in a burdensome mortgage payment. So if you or anyone you know is facing a financial crisis due to a sudden increase in mortgage payments, contact me at rdweaver@weaverlawfirm.net.
Solutions are available, so don't allow economic pressures to rob you or your loved ones of your right to enjoy your life.
R. David Weaver
But the spring season has a darker side. Those of us who pay our property taxes and homeowner's insurance through the mortgage on our homes are receiving the annual escrow analysis notices from our mortgage companies, and for most people, monthly mortgage payments are being increased due to higher insurance costs and property taxes.
Sometimes, mortgage payments increase by several hundred dollars per month.
There is an old saying that nothing is certain but death and taxes (and insurance); however, relief is available if your mortgage payment has increased to the point that you are unable to comfortably service your mortgage and provide for your other cash-flow obligations. Federally sponsored mortgage loan modification programs are available to qualified homeowners that can substantially reduce monthly mortgage payments. For those unable to successfully negotiate a loan modification, other forms of relief also are available.
The good news is that no one must lose his or her home just because the rising cost of taxes and insurance results in a burdensome mortgage payment. So if you or anyone you know is facing a financial crisis due to a sudden increase in mortgage payments, contact me at rdweaver@weaverlawfirm.net.
Solutions are available, so don't allow economic pressures to rob you or your loved ones of your right to enjoy your life.
R. David Weaver
Friday, April 2, 2010
Reflecting on Good Friday
St. Paul said it for all Christians when he noted that if the resurrection of Jesus is not a literal truth, then we all are fools. Which is why I do not understand those who claim to be Christians and yet proclaim that the "resurrection story" is allegorical.
As an attorney who has litigated hundreds of lawsuits over a career spanning nearly 30 years, I am conditioned to examine the evidence. So, what is the evidence that this resurrection event occurred?
According to the only written record extant, more than 500 eyewitnesses reported seeing and interacting with a man who had been executed and entombed days earlier but who was clearly alive and well. There is no known record or testimony from even a single witness that the executed man's corpse was seen in the tomb after those eyewitnesses reported seeing him alive. And since reports of the resurrection must have caused a stir among the Roman civil authorities and the Jewish religious authorities, one must assume that if there was some evidence that the resurrection did not occur (as reported by these 500 eyewitnesses), there would be some record of it.
Still, it is beyond my human understanding to simply buy in to the resurrection of Christ, because everyone knows that, even with ultra-modern medical technology, human beings do not become alive after they have been dead for three days.
So it boils down to faith. It becomes a choice. Do I choose to believe? Or do I choose to rely upon my limited human understanding and buy the allegory argument?
At the close of the Maundy Thursday service last night, as the Altar was being stripped and the 22nd Psalm was being chanted, Christ's crucifixion and resurrection once again was made real to me. And when I reflect upon what He did on this day nearly 2,000 years ago, I understand that "God so loved the world..."
I pray that you have a meaningful Good Friday and a joyous and triumphant Easter.
R. David Weaver
As an attorney who has litigated hundreds of lawsuits over a career spanning nearly 30 years, I am conditioned to examine the evidence. So, what is the evidence that this resurrection event occurred?
According to the only written record extant, more than 500 eyewitnesses reported seeing and interacting with a man who had been executed and entombed days earlier but who was clearly alive and well. There is no known record or testimony from even a single witness that the executed man's corpse was seen in the tomb after those eyewitnesses reported seeing him alive. And since reports of the resurrection must have caused a stir among the Roman civil authorities and the Jewish religious authorities, one must assume that if there was some evidence that the resurrection did not occur (as reported by these 500 eyewitnesses), there would be some record of it.
Still, it is beyond my human understanding to simply buy in to the resurrection of Christ, because everyone knows that, even with ultra-modern medical technology, human beings do not become alive after they have been dead for three days.
So it boils down to faith. It becomes a choice. Do I choose to believe? Or do I choose to rely upon my limited human understanding and buy the allegory argument?
At the close of the Maundy Thursday service last night, as the Altar was being stripped and the 22nd Psalm was being chanted, Christ's crucifixion and resurrection once again was made real to me. And when I reflect upon what He did on this day nearly 2,000 years ago, I understand that "God so loved the world..."
I pray that you have a meaningful Good Friday and a joyous and triumphant Easter.
R. David Weaver
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Bad News on a Beautiful Palm Sunday
It's a bright, crisp Palm Sunday in North Texas, and as I was getting ready to attend Mass to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week, I received news that my second cousin died unexpectedly yesterday after undergoing a simple day-surgery procedure to repair a hernia. He was only 39 years old.
My sadness is heightened by the fact that his dad -- my first cousin with whom I previously enjoyed a very close relationship when we lived in the same city -- has suffered so much during the past several years. Initially, he lost his brother, who was only 47 at the time, about 15 years ago. Then he lost his wife and his parents within a period of five years or so. And now his son is gone.
I am sharing his unimaginable grief.
When the unexpected death of someone close to you occurs, it is a reminder of how fragile life is and how none of us is guaranteed any tomorrows. The lesson that I should learn from this tragedy is that I should avoid majoring in minor things, such as the day-to-day trials and tribulations that I often create for myself. Life is a gift. And I honor the One who has bestowed that gift upon me by living each day the "abundant life" He intended for me and for everyone.
Today I pray for the soul of Robert Millsaps and of all of the faithful departed.
R. David Weaver
My sadness is heightened by the fact that his dad -- my first cousin with whom I previously enjoyed a very close relationship when we lived in the same city -- has suffered so much during the past several years. Initially, he lost his brother, who was only 47 at the time, about 15 years ago. Then he lost his wife and his parents within a period of five years or so. And now his son is gone.
I am sharing his unimaginable grief.
When the unexpected death of someone close to you occurs, it is a reminder of how fragile life is and how none of us is guaranteed any tomorrows. The lesson that I should learn from this tragedy is that I should avoid majoring in minor things, such as the day-to-day trials and tribulations that I often create for myself. Life is a gift. And I honor the One who has bestowed that gift upon me by living each day the "abundant life" He intended for me and for everyone.
Today I pray for the soul of Robert Millsaps and of all of the faithful departed.
R. David Weaver
Friday, March 26, 2010
Focusing on Solutions
Owning a law firm upon which hundreds of clients depend and from which eight dedicated people derive their livelihoods produces daily challenges that sometimes seem daunting. And being the patriarch of a 15-member extended family (soon to expand to 16) produces its own set of challenges. On top of all of that, I am continually occupied with my efforts to pursue my personal goals, which include improving the quality of my relationship with my Creator and further developing my interpersonal skills.
If I spend too much time contemplating the many demands that I place upon myself, I can become overwhelmed and paralyzed. And when that happens, I begin to take on the problems of the entire world, ranging from the ill-conceived National Health Care legislation to real threats to our national security from extremists in various parts of the world.
Whew!
But then I remember that all I need to do in order to successfully navigate my life is to perform, to the best of my ability, each task that is put before me to perform, one at a time. Further, I have an assurance that there is a Power greater than myself who will guide, direct and assist me, if I am willing to rely upon Him.
So when I am frustrated, discouraged, overwhelmed or fearful, I step back, take a break and focus on my solution. As I approach Holy Week, I am reminded that my solution -- indeed, the solution for the entire world -- is unremitting reliance upon the Risen Christ.
I hope everyone has a meaningful Holy Week as we prepare for the celebration of Easter.
R. David Weaver
If I spend too much time contemplating the many demands that I place upon myself, I can become overwhelmed and paralyzed. And when that happens, I begin to take on the problems of the entire world, ranging from the ill-conceived National Health Care legislation to real threats to our national security from extremists in various parts of the world.
Whew!
But then I remember that all I need to do in order to successfully navigate my life is to perform, to the best of my ability, each task that is put before me to perform, one at a time. Further, I have an assurance that there is a Power greater than myself who will guide, direct and assist me, if I am willing to rely upon Him.
So when I am frustrated, discouraged, overwhelmed or fearful, I step back, take a break and focus on my solution. As I approach Holy Week, I am reminded that my solution -- indeed, the solution for the entire world -- is unremitting reliance upon the Risen Christ.
I hope everyone has a meaningful Holy Week as we prepare for the celebration of Easter.
R. David Weaver
Monday, March 22, 2010
Meeting Old Friends
I have been attempting to navigate Facebook for a month or so, and I am absolutely amazed by the power of this technology. I have connected with friends that I have not seen since high school more than 40 years ago.
This experience has been a powerful reminder to me that we all are on this journey together. We may choose different paths, but we travel together through this thing called "Life". Often, we choose a path much lonelier than it needs to be. I know that I have. Finally, after stumbling around for the better part of six decades trying to "get ahead", I discovered that the relationships that we create with others are what really matter.
There has been a lot of controversy recently surrounding Facebook and other social websites, and while it is true that there are those who would use this technology for evil purposes, I remain grateful for the opportunity it has afforded me to connect with others who have been out of my life for way too long.
So to those with whom I recently have re-connected, I say, "Thank you for once more becoming a part of my life."
R. David Weaver
This experience has been a powerful reminder to me that we all are on this journey together. We may choose different paths, but we travel together through this thing called "Life". Often, we choose a path much lonelier than it needs to be. I know that I have. Finally, after stumbling around for the better part of six decades trying to "get ahead", I discovered that the relationships that we create with others are what really matter.
There has been a lot of controversy recently surrounding Facebook and other social websites, and while it is true that there are those who would use this technology for evil purposes, I remain grateful for the opportunity it has afforded me to connect with others who have been out of my life for way too long.
So to those with whom I recently have re-connected, I say, "Thank you for once more becoming a part of my life."
R. David Weaver
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Happy Birthday, Matthew!
I cannot believe that 12 years have passed since my first grandchild was born. Unfortunately, I was not able to be present at his birth, because his dad was in the military and stationed in the Seattle area at the time.
I suppose it's natural for a person to automatically assume that his descendants are going to be just like himself. I was no exception. I simply assumed that my own children and grandchildren would be, at age 12, big and dumb and interested only in sports (just like I was). I could not have been more wrong.
Matthew (my only male descendant so far) is a quiet, sensitive and very talented young man. He sees past most of those things that keep the rest of us from fully interacting with our fellow travelers on this Earth. A good example is how Matthew befriends those at his school who often are ridiculed or abused by their classmates because they are different, either as a result of a physical handicap or some other anomaly. How many of us -- even in our adult years -- shy away from those who are different from ourselves? My grandson has taught me the value of being sensitive to the need of all people for friendship, companionship and understanding.
I could go on forever about my grandson's outstanding qualities, such as his artistic and creative talent expressed in the original comic strips that he creates or his musical talent expressed in the manner in which he performs for his school orchestra.
Sometimes there is a lot of pressure being the only male in a jungle of female siblings and cousins, but Matthew navigates the course with style.
Happy birthday, grandson!
Grandpa
I suppose it's natural for a person to automatically assume that his descendants are going to be just like himself. I was no exception. I simply assumed that my own children and grandchildren would be, at age 12, big and dumb and interested only in sports (just like I was). I could not have been more wrong.
Matthew (my only male descendant so far) is a quiet, sensitive and very talented young man. He sees past most of those things that keep the rest of us from fully interacting with our fellow travelers on this Earth. A good example is how Matthew befriends those at his school who often are ridiculed or abused by their classmates because they are different, either as a result of a physical handicap or some other anomaly. How many of us -- even in our adult years -- shy away from those who are different from ourselves? My grandson has taught me the value of being sensitive to the need of all people for friendship, companionship and understanding.
I could go on forever about my grandson's outstanding qualities, such as his artistic and creative talent expressed in the original comic strips that he creates or his musical talent expressed in the manner in which he performs for his school orchestra.
Sometimes there is a lot of pressure being the only male in a jungle of female siblings and cousins, but Matthew navigates the course with style.
Happy birthday, grandson!
Grandpa
Monday, March 15, 2010
March Madness -- It's Not Just College Basketball
It's March. It's windy. And it's wild!
We have been dealing with our insurance company on not one, but two different claims for damage at our house. We had an indoor water problem that ruined the wood floor in our master bedroom, and we discovered that our roof was damaged by last year's hail storm. That's two claims, and two deductibles. Ouch!
But it hasn't all been bad news. We celebrated the birthday of our oldest granddaughter, and we will be celebrating the birthday of our grandson on March 18. Our latest addition to the family celebrated her one-month birthday, and our youngest daughter is home from Korea to have her new baby next month. And we celebrated the first birthday of my brother's first grandchild last week. The tribe is growing.
My beloved Baylor Bears made the quarter finals in the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament, and they are heading for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in more than a decade. In addition, my Texas Rangers look like they really may become serious contenders this year.
Meanwhile, I have been busy developing and marketing the law firm's new financial rehabilitation program. Just as "March Madness" is more than just basketball, our financial rehabilitation program is much more than just bankruptcy relief. Although I realize that the marketing of a professional service is more of a marathon than it is a sprint, I cannot help but be a little impatient for results. There are so many good people who could benefit greatly by what we are offering, and I am anxiously awaiting their call.
It's spring, and new growth is everywhere, as is our new hope for a better today and tomorrow.
R. David Weaver
We have been dealing with our insurance company on not one, but two different claims for damage at our house. We had an indoor water problem that ruined the wood floor in our master bedroom, and we discovered that our roof was damaged by last year's hail storm. That's two claims, and two deductibles. Ouch!
But it hasn't all been bad news. We celebrated the birthday of our oldest granddaughter, and we will be celebrating the birthday of our grandson on March 18. Our latest addition to the family celebrated her one-month birthday, and our youngest daughter is home from Korea to have her new baby next month. And we celebrated the first birthday of my brother's first grandchild last week. The tribe is growing.
My beloved Baylor Bears made the quarter finals in the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament, and they are heading for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in more than a decade. In addition, my Texas Rangers look like they really may become serious contenders this year.
Meanwhile, I have been busy developing and marketing the law firm's new financial rehabilitation program. Just as "March Madness" is more than just basketball, our financial rehabilitation program is much more than just bankruptcy relief. Although I realize that the marketing of a professional service is more of a marathon than it is a sprint, I cannot help but be a little impatient for results. There are so many good people who could benefit greatly by what we are offering, and I am anxiously awaiting their call.
It's spring, and new growth is everywhere, as is our new hope for a better today and tomorrow.
R. David Weaver
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Happy Birthday, Hayley (And Sic 'Em Bears!)
Today is my granddaughter's 10th birthday! She is a beautiful red-head with an active imagination and a gentle and sensitive disposition. With six grandchildren (and another on the way), I cannot single out any one of them as more special than another; each has his or her own very special and unique qualities.
For Hayley, it is her very active mind. She is blessed with a natural curiosity that, properly tempered by discipline, will serve her well as she grows and learns. She has a very gentle disposition. She loves and feels deeply, and she is not afraid to express her feelings in a way that makes everyone around her feel special.
I have very high hopes for her.
My much-aligned Baylor Bears finally, after a long and frustrating drought, have moved back into the national spotlight. The men's basketball team begins play in the tough Big 12 Tournament this week as the number 3 seed. The team is almost certain to win an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, and although Big 12 coaches predicted that the Bears would not finish the Big 12 season in the top half of the standings, experts now are saying that the Bears may well go deep into the NCAA Tournament.
If only our football team would take a few notes from the basketball program and wake up from its long hibernation, 2010 could become a banner year for Baylor athletics. Perhaps those who have criticized Baylor's selection as a member of the Big 12 will now be silenced.
For Hayley, it is her very active mind. She is blessed with a natural curiosity that, properly tempered by discipline, will serve her well as she grows and learns. She has a very gentle disposition. She loves and feels deeply, and she is not afraid to express her feelings in a way that makes everyone around her feel special.
I have very high hopes for her.
My much-aligned Baylor Bears finally, after a long and frustrating drought, have moved back into the national spotlight. The men's basketball team begins play in the tough Big 12 Tournament this week as the number 3 seed. The team is almost certain to win an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, and although Big 12 coaches predicted that the Bears would not finish the Big 12 season in the top half of the standings, experts now are saying that the Bears may well go deep into the NCAA Tournament.
If only our football team would take a few notes from the basketball program and wake up from its long hibernation, 2010 could become a banner year for Baylor athletics. Perhaps those who have criticized Baylor's selection as a member of the Big 12 will now be silenced.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
5-Star Client Reviews
I found out today that I have been reviewed by three former bankruptcy clients on the Lawyers.com website, and the reviews were quite favorable (5 stars, preeminent). I am told by the Martindale-Hubbell folks that the reviews will be published within 24 to 48 hours.
I always am gratified by the generous and supportive comments that I receive from my clients. After all, they are the people with the kind of first-hand knowledge and experience with an attorney who can provide trustworthy information about the quality of service that the attorney delivers. And that does not mean that the attorney always is able to get the result that a particular client wants. What it means is that the attorney is competent, genuinely interested in the client, attentive and tries hard to accomplish the client's goals. As long as I continue to demonstrate these traits, I can expect to continue to receive the kind of comments and reviews that I have been receiving from my clients.
If you want to take a look at what some of my clients have said about the work I have performed for them, go to the Weaver Law Firm Facebook "Reviews" page or to www.lawyers.com/Bankruptcy/Texas/Arlington/law-firms.html and click on my firm's listing there. And while you're at it, don't forget to visit my new bankruptcy website, www.arlingtontxbankruptcy.com.
R. David Weaver
I always am gratified by the generous and supportive comments that I receive from my clients. After all, they are the people with the kind of first-hand knowledge and experience with an attorney who can provide trustworthy information about the quality of service that the attorney delivers. And that does not mean that the attorney always is able to get the result that a particular client wants. What it means is that the attorney is competent, genuinely interested in the client, attentive and tries hard to accomplish the client's goals. As long as I continue to demonstrate these traits, I can expect to continue to receive the kind of comments and reviews that I have been receiving from my clients.
If you want to take a look at what some of my clients have said about the work I have performed for them, go to the Weaver Law Firm Facebook "Reviews" page or to www.lawyers.com/Bankruptcy/Texas/Arlington/law-firms.html and click on my firm's listing there. And while you're at it, don't forget to visit my new bankruptcy website, www.arlingtontxbankruptcy.com.
R. David Weaver
Monday, March 1, 2010
Rainy Days and Mondays
The Carpenters (in my original post, I incorrectly said the Mommas & The Pappas, but no one has read it, or if anyone did, they didn't notice it) sure got it right! It's rainy and it's a Monday here in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. And although I may be a little down due to the dreary weather, I am a long way from being out.
We have developed a system here at the office for tracking new client calls, and I hope to find out that all of the time, money and effort that we have expended during the past couple of weeks to expand our presence on the internet soon will yield fruit. Since I have a lot of eggs in this basket, the idea that this effort was useless simply is unacceptable! So I have very high expectations, not only of the effectiveness of my new marketing campaign, but of myself and my staff in delivering what we are promising, and more.
I am excited that you have chosen to follow our progress and are along for the journey. The road is a little unnerving at times, but I am convinced that I am doing the right thing. The impact that my staff and I have an opportunity to make in the lives of those struggling to keep their heads above water is both humbling and exciting.
If you would like to help us help others, then spread the word. Tell your friends, family and acquaintances about the unique financial rehabilitation services we are offering. It will make you feel good for having helped someone in need, and all it will have cost you was a friendly word and a recommendation to a firm that has worked hard to earn your trust and confidence.
Thank you for being here for us.
R. David Weaver
We have developed a system here at the office for tracking new client calls, and I hope to find out that all of the time, money and effort that we have expended during the past couple of weeks to expand our presence on the internet soon will yield fruit. Since I have a lot of eggs in this basket, the idea that this effort was useless simply is unacceptable! So I have very high expectations, not only of the effectiveness of my new marketing campaign, but of myself and my staff in delivering what we are promising, and more.
I am excited that you have chosen to follow our progress and are along for the journey. The road is a little unnerving at times, but I am convinced that I am doing the right thing. The impact that my staff and I have an opportunity to make in the lives of those struggling to keep their heads above water is both humbling and exciting.
If you would like to help us help others, then spread the word. Tell your friends, family and acquaintances about the unique financial rehabilitation services we are offering. It will make you feel good for having helped someone in need, and all it will have cost you was a friendly word and a recommendation to a firm that has worked hard to earn your trust and confidence.
Thank you for being here for us.
R. David Weaver
Saturday, February 27, 2010
A Beautiful Saturday
I was a glorious Saturday! The sun was shining and the winds and the temperatures were moderate. It would have been a good day to do something constructive, like cleaning out the garage. But I elected to enjoy the temperate weather on the golf course.
Meanwhile, it was a very busy week at my home and at The Weaver Law Firm.
At home, we discovered a plumbing leak in our utility room. Water had penetrated the walls and had migrated to our master bedroom, ruining a beautiful polished hard-wood floor that we had installed only two or three years ago. Fortunately, my good client and friends at Service Master Elite were johnny-on-the-spot and commenced the cleanup and drying promptly. But we had to navigate the big fans and even bigger de-humidifier for four and a half days before Service Master Elite came in to remove them this morning.
If anyone needs service of this type, I highly recommend this company. Contact me, and I will put you in touch with them.
At The Weaver Law Firm, efforts are underway to promote our new website, www.arlingtontxbankruptcy.com, and in making some modifications to our old website, www.weaverlawfirm.net. If you haven't done so already, check out our new site.
I still haven't mastered cyberspace lingo, but I continue to improve. This week, I added two new links to my Facebook page, and our firm and websites have been registered with major internet search engines and with other directory sites. I am excited about the opportunity to provide real and meaningful help to those in financial trouble.
With this past week being as eventful as it was, I can't wait to see what happens in the coming week. Stay tuned, and I will keep you posted.
R. David Weaver
Meanwhile, it was a very busy week at my home and at The Weaver Law Firm.
At home, we discovered a plumbing leak in our utility room. Water had penetrated the walls and had migrated to our master bedroom, ruining a beautiful polished hard-wood floor that we had installed only two or three years ago. Fortunately, my good client and friends at Service Master Elite were johnny-on-the-spot and commenced the cleanup and drying promptly. But we had to navigate the big fans and even bigger de-humidifier for four and a half days before Service Master Elite came in to remove them this morning.
If anyone needs service of this type, I highly recommend this company. Contact me, and I will put you in touch with them.
At The Weaver Law Firm, efforts are underway to promote our new website, www.arlingtontxbankruptcy.com, and in making some modifications to our old website, www.weaverlawfirm.net. If you haven't done so already, check out our new site.
I still haven't mastered cyberspace lingo, but I continue to improve. This week, I added two new links to my Facebook page, and our firm and websites have been registered with major internet search engines and with other directory sites. I am excited about the opportunity to provide real and meaningful help to those in financial trouble.
With this past week being as eventful as it was, I can't wait to see what happens in the coming week. Stay tuned, and I will keep you posted.
R. David Weaver
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Navigating the Turbulent Waters of the Internet
Building a new website. Updating the old website. Creating a Facebook page and trying to accumulate "friends". Establishing a Blog (which I am wondering whether anyone actually reads). Making a YouTube video (which is kind of embarrassing). These are the activities with which I have been absorbed during the past couple of weeks, and if I am not careful, I could turn into a real live, card-carrying geek!
Before attempting to do these things, I don't think I ever fully appreciated the technical skills that are required to effectively communicate through this medium. I always thought that if I could master my email, I would have it made. Now I find out that email almost is obsolete.
Nevertheless, I am determined to muddle my way through this technical jungle and actively participate in this worldwide forum. It really is awesome, if you think about it. Some web surfer could stumble upon this Blog and get a good laugh as he or she reads about a clumsy, middle-aged Texan trying to step gingerly into the 21st Century. As a matter of fact, I kinda chuckle when I think of it, myself.
And even if no one reads this, I will be documenting my cyber-journey so that I don't get too frustrated and give up on it. It's been a pretty interesting ride so far.
I have a meeting scheduled on Friday morning with an internet expert, and my next post may be filled with all kinds of technical jargon as I move closer toward my goal of acquiring a genuine geek badge, complete with passwords and secret handshakes.
See you then.
R. David Weaver
Geek-in-Training
Before attempting to do these things, I don't think I ever fully appreciated the technical skills that are required to effectively communicate through this medium. I always thought that if I could master my email, I would have it made. Now I find out that email almost is obsolete.
Nevertheless, I am determined to muddle my way through this technical jungle and actively participate in this worldwide forum. It really is awesome, if you think about it. Some web surfer could stumble upon this Blog and get a good laugh as he or she reads about a clumsy, middle-aged Texan trying to step gingerly into the 21st Century. As a matter of fact, I kinda chuckle when I think of it, myself.
And even if no one reads this, I will be documenting my cyber-journey so that I don't get too frustrated and give up on it. It's been a pretty interesting ride so far.
I have a meeting scheduled on Friday morning with an internet expert, and my next post may be filled with all kinds of technical jargon as I move closer toward my goal of acquiring a genuine geek badge, complete with passwords and secret handshakes.
See you then.
R. David Weaver
Geek-in-Training
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sitting on a Jury
Lawyers don't often get a chance to sit on a jury and participate in the process of arriving at a verdict. Today, I got one of those rare chances.
Being called for jury duty is not something most people look forward to, especially lawyers. Many people do not realize that lawyers are not automatically excused from jury duty; in fact, we are required to appear for jury duty just like everyone else. What makes it especially worse for the lawyer is that he usually knows that he never will be selected to sit on a jury, hear a case and participate in arriving at a verdict. Therefore, it almost is a certainty that when I get called for jury duty, I am going to waste almost a whole day and will not have an opportunity to serve.
So when I got my summons to appear for jury duty this morning, I was not a happy camper. But I folded my newspaper, filled out my jury information form and headed for the courthouse. When my name was called, I was told that I would be assigned to the Justice of the Peace Court in Arlington. I was thrilled, not only because it gave me a chance to see my good friend Linda Davis, who is judge in that Court, but because I could get out of downtown and get a little time in at the office before I reported. I still did not think that I would be sitting on the jury, but I was pleased that Justice Court cases usually require only a brief voir dire, and I would be getting out of there very quickly.
Didn't happen. I got to sit on a jury and hear a trial that lasted approximately 90 minutes. The trial was like something from Jerry Springer. The dispute was between two former lovers and involved a claim that the woman had falsely accused the man of rape. There were no attorneys in the courtroom (except me), and the testimony and antics of the parties were, to say the least, quite interesting.
When I got back to the office, I found out that the last-minute changes have been made to my new website, www.arlingtontxbankruptcy.com.
I am very proud of the fine work that Britt Todd and his team at The Todd Company have performed in helping me to create this website. So visit www.arlingtontxbankruptcy.com and let me know what you think.
Being called for jury duty is not something most people look forward to, especially lawyers. Many people do not realize that lawyers are not automatically excused from jury duty; in fact, we are required to appear for jury duty just like everyone else. What makes it especially worse for the lawyer is that he usually knows that he never will be selected to sit on a jury, hear a case and participate in arriving at a verdict. Therefore, it almost is a certainty that when I get called for jury duty, I am going to waste almost a whole day and will not have an opportunity to serve.
So when I got my summons to appear for jury duty this morning, I was not a happy camper. But I folded my newspaper, filled out my jury information form and headed for the courthouse. When my name was called, I was told that I would be assigned to the Justice of the Peace Court in Arlington. I was thrilled, not only because it gave me a chance to see my good friend Linda Davis, who is judge in that Court, but because I could get out of downtown and get a little time in at the office before I reported. I still did not think that I would be sitting on the jury, but I was pleased that Justice Court cases usually require only a brief voir dire, and I would be getting out of there very quickly.
Didn't happen. I got to sit on a jury and hear a trial that lasted approximately 90 minutes. The trial was like something from Jerry Springer. The dispute was between two former lovers and involved a claim that the woman had falsely accused the man of rape. There were no attorneys in the courtroom (except me), and the testimony and antics of the parties were, to say the least, quite interesting.
When I got back to the office, I found out that the last-minute changes have been made to my new website, www.arlingtontxbankruptcy.com.
I am very proud of the fine work that Britt Todd and his team at The Todd Company have performed in helping me to create this website. So visit www.arlingtontxbankruptcy.com and let me know what you think.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Remembering Our Blessings
We just completed a very busy week, and a great deal was accomplished. Our new website describing our new debt relief and financial rehabilitation program is just about finished, and it should be finalized during the coming week. What is really exciting is that two families already have retained us to provide debt relief and financial rehabilitation services, and this even before we completed the first phase of our marketing and publicity program!
It is Sunday morning, and as I get ready to attend Church services, I am reminded how grateful I am for God's blessings. My youngest daughter, who lives in Korea and is due to have our 7th grandchild in April, is staying with us for a couple of months so that she can deliver her baby here; one of my twin daughters gave birth to my 6th grandchild on January 12, and both mother and baby are healthy and happy. My oldest daughter is thriving in her career, and my other twin daughter is very busy rearing her three children. They all are happy and productive. How could I not be full of gratitude?
When I began to build my firm many years ago, I decided that I would associate with professionals and staff who shared my view that there is much more to the practice of law than making money. During the interview process, I make it clear to each of them that we are a Faith-based firm, and while it does not matter what Faith they held, it did matter that they considered their Faith to be the primary motivating factor in their lives. I am pleased to say that we are represented by a number of different and diverse Christian denominations in our firm, and each attorney and staff member is committed to upholding the principles of his or her Faith in their work.
Being true to the principles of our Faith not only makes us better people, it makes us better lawyers and better staff members.
And while I recognize that not all people of Faith observe the season of Lent, my prayer for everyone is that we all take some time each day to remember God's grace, perform whatever penitence is consistent with the traditions of our own Faith, and give thanks for the blessings of this life.
R. David Weaver
It is Sunday morning, and as I get ready to attend Church services, I am reminded how grateful I am for God's blessings. My youngest daughter, who lives in Korea and is due to have our 7th grandchild in April, is staying with us for a couple of months so that she can deliver her baby here; one of my twin daughters gave birth to my 6th grandchild on January 12, and both mother and baby are healthy and happy. My oldest daughter is thriving in her career, and my other twin daughter is very busy rearing her three children. They all are happy and productive. How could I not be full of gratitude?
When I began to build my firm many years ago, I decided that I would associate with professionals and staff who shared my view that there is much more to the practice of law than making money. During the interview process, I make it clear to each of them that we are a Faith-based firm, and while it does not matter what Faith they held, it did matter that they considered their Faith to be the primary motivating factor in their lives. I am pleased to say that we are represented by a number of different and diverse Christian denominations in our firm, and each attorney and staff member is committed to upholding the principles of his or her Faith in their work.
Being true to the principles of our Faith not only makes us better people, it makes us better lawyers and better staff members.
And while I recognize that not all people of Faith observe the season of Lent, my prayer for everyone is that we all take some time each day to remember God's grace, perform whatever penitence is consistent with the traditions of our own Faith, and give thanks for the blessings of this life.
R. David Weaver
Thursday, February 18, 2010
My First Blog
It seems like I have been messing with my computer all day for the past few days, making a concerted effort to join the rest of the world online. The impetus to finally do this is a bit self-serving, because I was advised that an online presence is absolutely essential to any marketing program that has any kind of chance to be effective in this day and age.
But there is a more altruistic motive, as well.
In my business, I often encounter people who are facing what many would consider insurmountable financial difficulties. Today, an angry and disturbed man who was facing an economic crisis in his life opted for the ultimate, permanent and destructive solution of taking his own life -- with an obvious intent to take the lives of others in the process. Financial stress is a very powerful and negative force in these times, and people who might otherwise be honorable sometimes feel impelled to seek less than honorable solutions to their problems. Sometimes they even seek destructive "solutions", such as the man in Austin I mentioned earlier.
Over the past several weeks, I have been reviewing my life and my practice with one question in mind: Am I making a difference in the world? My faith teaches me that I am called to represent Christ in my life; hence, the bracelet WWJD is more than just a catchy term easily sewed on wearing apparel. God has blessed me with certain gifts, and it is my responsibility to use those gifts for the benefit of my fellow human beings. It is not about my becoming enriched financially (although I must confess that I do have a strong interest in improving my own economic condition). More importantly, it is about becoming enriched spiritually and emotionally.
A very smart man once told me that I should have a personal mission statement, just like any successful business or other organization has a mission statement. The mission statement must be based on objective principles - principles as unchangeable as true North is unchangeable on a compass. Having undertaken that exercise, I discovered that my mission statement is to conduct my life and practice my profession in accordance with the principles of integrity, charity, loyalty, faith, forgiveness (of myself and others) and love for all mankind. I will conduct my life and practice my profession so that it not only enriches me, but that it touches and enriches and lives of all of those with whom I come into contact.
This mission statement has resulted in a partial re-direction of my practice. I have commenced an aggressive marketing campaign aimed at those who are experiencing financial difficulties. I plan to not only offer these people legal services directed toward obtaining debt relief through bankruptcy and other tools, but to offer them (at absolutely no extra charge) valuable financial tools that they can use to begin to alter their financial destiny and to obtain financial independence. I will be teaming with a financial planning professional who will provide technical assistance to those willing to participate. And so you know, I am not accepting any type of referral fee or remuneration from the financial planning professional.
I am very excited about this new direction my life and my practice is taking me, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store (if you haven't figured it out already, I now consider my vocation more of a divine calling than an occupational choice).
Well, I don't want to go overboard on the first time out, so I am going to end this post now. But as I go, I want everyone to remember that bad economic times come and go, and the truly successful will find a way to win regardless. So win with passion.
R. David Weaver
(I don't know if I'm supposed to sign these)
But there is a more altruistic motive, as well.
In my business, I often encounter people who are facing what many would consider insurmountable financial difficulties. Today, an angry and disturbed man who was facing an economic crisis in his life opted for the ultimate, permanent and destructive solution of taking his own life -- with an obvious intent to take the lives of others in the process. Financial stress is a very powerful and negative force in these times, and people who might otherwise be honorable sometimes feel impelled to seek less than honorable solutions to their problems. Sometimes they even seek destructive "solutions", such as the man in Austin I mentioned earlier.
Over the past several weeks, I have been reviewing my life and my practice with one question in mind: Am I making a difference in the world? My faith teaches me that I am called to represent Christ in my life; hence, the bracelet WWJD is more than just a catchy term easily sewed on wearing apparel. God has blessed me with certain gifts, and it is my responsibility to use those gifts for the benefit of my fellow human beings. It is not about my becoming enriched financially (although I must confess that I do have a strong interest in improving my own economic condition). More importantly, it is about becoming enriched spiritually and emotionally.
A very smart man once told me that I should have a personal mission statement, just like any successful business or other organization has a mission statement. The mission statement must be based on objective principles - principles as unchangeable as true North is unchangeable on a compass. Having undertaken that exercise, I discovered that my mission statement is to conduct my life and practice my profession in accordance with the principles of integrity, charity, loyalty, faith, forgiveness (of myself and others) and love for all mankind. I will conduct my life and practice my profession so that it not only enriches me, but that it touches and enriches and lives of all of those with whom I come into contact.
This mission statement has resulted in a partial re-direction of my practice. I have commenced an aggressive marketing campaign aimed at those who are experiencing financial difficulties. I plan to not only offer these people legal services directed toward obtaining debt relief through bankruptcy and other tools, but to offer them (at absolutely no extra charge) valuable financial tools that they can use to begin to alter their financial destiny and to obtain financial independence. I will be teaming with a financial planning professional who will provide technical assistance to those willing to participate. And so you know, I am not accepting any type of referral fee or remuneration from the financial planning professional.
I am very excited about this new direction my life and my practice is taking me, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store (if you haven't figured it out already, I now consider my vocation more of a divine calling than an occupational choice).
Well, I don't want to go overboard on the first time out, so I am going to end this post now. But as I go, I want everyone to remember that bad economic times come and go, and the truly successful will find a way to win regardless. So win with passion.
R. David Weaver
(I don't know if I'm supposed to sign these)
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