Check out our latest edition!
NOV/DEC 2023
I COME TO FIGHT. I DON’T BARK. I BITE! WWW.THETEXASLAWDOG.COM 817.775.5364
CLEO AND SUGAR’S LASTING IMPACT ON OUR HEARTS
A FAREWELL TO OUR FURRY FAMILY
It’s with deep sadness that I report we recently lost Cleo, one of our family dogs. I know many of you have followed her through the newsletters and our social media over the years. She was with me pretty much all day, every day and was an icon for the Aulsbrook Law Firm. In fact, she was at the office most days with the team, and it hasn’t been the same without her here and at home. Needless to say, the team took the news pretty badly. It’s difficult for us to tell clients and vendors when they stop in that she is no longer with us because of her impact on people. Everyone Cleo met instantly became a friend, and she was a happy face (and wagging tail) many people
looked forward to visiting with. Cleo loved passing out settlement checks to our injured clients, stealing snacks from people’s desks, and keeping everyone on their toes. She also brought comfort, laughs, and hugs to clients when they came in. And as if it wasn’t hard enough adjusting to life without Cleo, we lost our Great Pyrenees, Sugar, eight days after we lost Cleo. I didn’t share as much about Sugar over the years because she wasn’t with me daily at the office like Cleo was, but we loved her just as much. Sugar was a 125-pound bundle of love. She was the sweetest, and everyone
who met her simply loved her. We miss her glitter (our special name for her hair) that she would leave all over the house. (You know what I’m talking about if you have a Great Pyrenees.) Alison and I are huge dog lovers; our dogs are part of our family. Dogs offer us unconditional love, endless laughs, and companionship. While they may not be able to speak or walk on two legs, they become integral parts of our lives, no less. We have been working on adjusting to life without Cleo and Sugar, but I’ll be the first to say that it’s been difficult. Dogs aren’t with us nearly long enough, but I know Cleo and Sugar have crossed the rainbow bridge and are in no pain now.
So, as we move into the holiday season, I just wanted to remind everyone that time is precious with the ones we love — our pets included. I know that some of our family members may be challenging to deal with during the holidays, but try to embrace the time you have with your loved ones this holiday season and tell them that you love them. They won’t be around forever, and only when they’re gone do you feel how big of a space they leave in your life. And, of course, happy holidays from my family to yours. I hope all of your celebrations are filled with love and cherished moments. See you next year! –Matt Aulsbrook
A referral is the greatest compliment you could ever give us! If you know someone in need of our services, we are eager to help. Please pass this newsletter along and tell them to call 817.775.5364 or visit TheTexasLawDog.com/contact-us. Thank you!
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Chefs are artists and scientists, honing their skills in the kitchen to create culinary masterpieces. These experts have developed a range of kitchen hacks to help home chefs elevate their cooking game. Whether it’s enhancing flavors, saving time, or ensuring consistent results, these tips can make your culinary experiences more enjoyable and successful. Bon appétit! Hold the Cork Before throwing the cork away after finishing a bottle of wine, a clever hack popularized by Chef Motokichi on Instagram is to slide the cork beneath the handle of a pot lid. Not only does this make the top easy to grab, but it also prevents your hand from coming in contact with the hot handle! Because sparkling wine corks tend to be a bit thicker in size, they’re best suited for the job. Peeling Garlic Made Easy Executive chef Nicholas Poulmentis of Akotiri in New York recommends thinking ahead when preparing garlic. The night before you cook, place garlic cloves in a container filled with water, and the next day, the skin will peel right off without a knife or tool. Chilled Plastic Wrap Is plastic wrap often more of a struggle than a help? Chef Chaz Eicke of The Salad House in New Jersey has a genius tip: Chilling your plastic wrap in the refrigerator will help prevent it from creasing and sticking together. Protect Your Fingertips Sydney Willcox, culinary instructor at The Brooklyn Kitchen, recommends tucking your fingers into your palm on your nondominant hand while chopping vegetables and herbs. If you use your knuckles to guide your knife, you won’t ever accidentally cut your fingers! Slice Meat the Right Way Did you know that slicing meat with the grain can lead to a tough and chewy entree? Willcox has another tip for that! She recommends always slicing meat, even tender filet mignon, against the grain. Creating restaurant-quality meals in the comfort of your own home has never been easier. These tips can help take your cooking skills to the next level while reducing time, frustrations, and errors! COOK LIKE A PRO CHEF-TESTED HACKS TO ENHANCE YOUR CULINARY CREATIONS
A SAFER HOLIDAY SEASON
Our Top Tips for Child Safety Month
November officially marks the beginning of the holiday season! But while the hustle and bustle of planning gatherings, shopping for gifts, cooking for loved ones, and decorating can be exciting, it can also be dangerous — especially for children. In fact, at least 156,800 children are injured each year around the holidays.
So, what can you do to still have fun celebrating the holidays while keeping your children safe from harm?
No. 1: Safety-proof your Christmas tree. Christmas trees can be beautiful additions to any home. However, if they aren’t properly maintained or “proofed,” they can be a hazard for children. The first step is to ensure that if you use an artificial tree, it is made from flame-retardant material. You can check this by looking for the letters “UL” in a circle somewhere on the tree’s battery pack, safety tag, or product packaging. This symbol means the tree has undergone product safety tests, including flammability. Then, ensure any small ornaments, especially those with removable parts, are located higher up on the tree so a child cannot grab them. These smaller ornaments are choking hazards for young children, whether they can walk or crawl. No. 2: Never leave a child around an open flame or heat source. Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa all typically involve delicious meals that require a lot of time in the kitchen. It’s vital that while the adults cook, children are kept away from hot stoves, boiling pots, or open ovens. And keep all pot and pan handles turned inward and out of reach of curious hands. The same goes for any candles around the house during this season. Keep them only on shelves where children cannot reach (so no coffee or side tables!), and never leave a child unattended with an open flame — even if it’s high up. No. 3: Only allow children to play with age-appropriate toys. Many people believe that the age rating on toys refers to a child’s intellectual or physical ability, but it actually refers to their age. So, only buy toys for your child that match their specific age range, and if anyone gifts your child a toy outside of this range, either keep it until they’re old enough or only allow them to play with it while supervised. Also, be mindful of any toys with removable batteries, as they can pose a choking hazard if removed!
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Celebrate the Season! With These Family-Friendly Events in Fort Worth and Dallas
Although the holidays can be a dangerous time for children, as we talked about on Page 2 of this newsletter, they can also be exciting. At Aulsbrook Law Firm, we, of course, want to help you keep your family safe, but we also want you to have fun! That’s what the holiday season is about, right? So, to help you do just that, we wanted to feature a few local holiday events in the Fort Worth and Dallas areas that are perfect for any family looking to enjoy the season. Whether you live in Arlington, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Dallas, Grand Prairie, DeSoto, or somewhere in between, we highly recommend checking out these events! Movie Night in Burnett Park, Fort Worth There’s something special about watching a movie outdoors on the big screen. If you agree, grab your favorite snacks, folding chairs, and blankets and head over to Burnett Park at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. The movie will be the 2018 version of “The Grinch.” This event is completely FREE, and Red Oak Realty even provides complimentary parking on the upper floors only (ground floor excluded) of the First on 7th Garage. Texas-Size LAUGHS
Moviegoers can purchase “bites and beverages” at Neighbor’s House Grocery across the street, or there will be a few vendors selling items from the grocery in the park.
Photos With Santa at Fort Worth Aviation Museum, Forth Worth If you’d like a picture of your child with Old Saint Nick himself, you can find him at the Fort Worth Aviation Museum from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. on Dec. 9.
Pictures with Santa cost $10 UNLESS you show up in an ugly Christmas sweater, then you get in for FREE!
The Aviation Museum will also have Jeep rides, hot chocolate, games, arts and crafts, and VR simulators for kids to try.
‘Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet,’ Dallas “The Nutcracker” is one of the most well-known holiday stories, and this year, you and your loved ones can experience this tale live in theaters for its 30th- anniversary tour on Dec. 9! This magical experience is filled with larger-than-life puppets, mind-blowing acrobatics, gorgeously crafted costumes, and the stars from the Ukraine ballet. To purchase tickets, visit VisitDallas.com/events/nutcracker- magical-christmas-ballet, click “Buy Tickets,” and use the code 327RK20 to get 20% off!
STUFFED PEPPER SOUP
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
2 lbs ground beef
• • • • • •
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
6 cups water
2 tsp salt
1 28-oz can tomato sauce 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained 2 cups chopped green peppers
2 tsp beef bouillon granules
1 tsp black pepper
2 cups cooked long-grain rice Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
•
DIRECTIONS
1. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook beef until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add beef back to the pot and stir in all ingredients except the cooked rice. Bring to a boil. 2. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until peppers are tender, about 30 minutes. 3. Add cooked rice and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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WWW.THETEXASLAWDOG.COM 817.775.5364 424 E. LAMAR BLVD. #200 ARLINGTON, TX 76011
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INSIDE Saying Goodbye to 2 Beloved Furry Family Members 1
Transform Your Cooking With Chef-Endorsed Kitchen Hacks
Childproofing Your Holiday: A Must-Read for National Child Safety Month 2
Festive Family Fun: Exciting Events in Fort Worth and Dallas!
Stuffed Pepper Soup 3
You Need a Permit for a Lemonade Stand? 4
Cases We Handle: • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death
• Car Wreck • Truck Wreck
You Could Get Arrested for What?!
Ginny, laugh and play along. Ginny’s punishment for breaking the law was that she could not leave her table until she mastered the proper way of eating Southern fried chicken. You must have a permit to set up a lemonade stand. At least once in your life, you’ve either seen or operated a lemonade stand. This longstanding rite of passage teaches kids the value of working hard to earn their own money, so how could this simple tradition be considered illegal?
3 BIZARRE LAWS THAT STILL EXIST
In many cities nationwide, lemonade stands are treated like any other small business — if your child is making money by selling food or beverages, they must abide by food safety regulations and have a business permit or license. Only 14 states don’t require permits for kids to set up lemonade stands!
Since the beginning of time, cities, states, countries, and other groups have developed laws to provide structure for their citizens. Many laws of the past are now completely outdated, but they’re still technically legitimate laws! Here are three of the oddest laws still on the books today. Forks and knives are prohibited! In 1961, Gainesville, Georgia, passed a law
Fortunetelling is only allowed in health care and religious facilities. Many cities worldwide have small businesses that provide services in fortunetelling, astrology, palm readings, tarot cards, evil spirit removal, and other New Age practices. In New Orleans, however, it’s illegal for a business to provide these kinds of services unless you’re in a health care profession or a place of religious worship. Remember, laws are still laws, no matter how silly they are, so do some research online to see if your city has any bizarre mandates you could be breaking right now!
that made eating fried chicken with anything other than your hands illegal. The ordinance was a publicity stunt to advertise Gainesville as the poultry capital of the world. Although the rule isn’t taken literally and is hardly enforced, 91-year- old Ginny Dietrick received a citation for eating fried chicken with a fork and knife in 2009. The practical joke made everyone in the restaurant, including
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