Jacksonville, FL. – A seven-year old boy was at the center of a Duval County courtroom drama today when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him.

        The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulation requiring that family unity be maintained to the highest degree possible. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her.

    When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said that they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

    After two recesses to check legal references and confer with the child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Jacksonville Jaguars, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

(Note: This article was written by Lamar Thames’ son, Robert. They sit on different sides of the aisle when it comes to football loyalty.

      It’s almost here! The game of games between the fabled Alabama Crimson Tide and the rich, fast and powerful Florida Fightin’ Gators.

      I was raised to be a Bama fan, unknowingly, by a Florida fan. The subtext of that remark is what brings scope and color to this game for me.  

       Thanks to my dad [Lamar Thames] for that ‘accidental’ 1973 moment, when   watching the Sugar bowl, he said, “We’re rooting for Alabama son.”  Read the rest of this entry »

   Not wishing ill on anyone who has lost a job or is facing uncertain times, there may be an upside to the economic turmoil we are facing. Sort of getting back to basics, if you will.
    With unemployment rising and a topsy-turvy stock market, a lot of us are being forced to change our outlook on gift giving for the Christmas season. An article in the Times-Union recently quoted some families who were cutting back on their spending this holiday season. That may not be a bad thing.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hail to the soldiers!

 

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight. Read the rest of this entry »