Check out our November newsletter!
OUR FAMILY’S HALLOWEEN TRADITION
November 2026
Smoked Turkey, Southern Sides, and a Thanksgiving Tradition of Our Own
I grew up thinking Thanksgiving was supposed to be a little chaotic. Both of my parents came from large families, with five siblings each, so every Thanksgiving meant a house full of cousins, casseroles, food being passed around, and kids running off to play hide-and- seek. There were tons of people, a lot of food, and plenty going on, and that was just Thanksgiving to me. Then I met my wife, and I discovered that Thanksgiving could look completely different. She has one uncle and one cousin, so her family would get together for a sit-down meal. Everyone would sit around the table and have a more laid-back, reflective time together. When we got together, we had a battle of eating holidays. Mine was thankful and chaotic, and hers was thankful and quiet.
to our home, cook a meal together, and find a place for everyone around one, two, or even three tables, depending on how many people show up. We pass around food, catch up, and go around the table sharing something we’re thankful for that year. Of course, food has always been a major part of Thanksgiving for me, and I have a pretty specific job in the kitchen. I like to smoke meat, so I’m generally in charge of the main dish, and I have a Big Green Egg smoker ready to go. Last year, I brined a giant turkey overnight and smoked it for several hours. Other years, I pulled off smoked chicken or pork butt.
For a while, we did both. When we had our kids, we’d go to my family’s large gathering and then her family’s small gathering. As our girls got a little older, though, the larger family gatherings started to quiet down as everyone had kids and grandkids, and we began to make Thanksgiving our own. Now, Thanksgiving at our house is still centered around family, but it has become its own tradition. We invite our siblings from each side OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST “As a criminal defense attorney, I want to make sure my clients have the best possible representation, even if they have legal issues I don’t normally handle, like being injured by a commercial vehicle. That’s why I’m so glad to know Alex Weatherby. He literally wrote ‘the book’ on commercial vehicle injury claims. I know because I own a copy. Any lawyer looking for outstanding representation for a client with a personal injury claim should look no further than the Weatherby Law Firm.” –Charles C. LEAVE US YOUR REVIEW!
My wife handles the rest with a classic Southern-style Thanksgiving. We have jalapeño cornbread, macaroni and cheese casserole, collard greens, and usually black-eyed peas or green beans cooked with bacon fat. If you imagined what a classic Southern meal would look like, that’s our Turkey Day meal. You have a meat, then vegetables cooked long enough that they don’t taste like vegetables anymore. They taste like some kind of salty goodness. We usually have six or seven different dishes on the table, including mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. The girls especially like the sweet potatoes with caramelized brown sugar, and we always have mashed potatoes with gravy, too. With that many yummy things in front of me, I can have a bite or two of each and somehow end up going back for a second plate. For me, that’s what makes Thanksgiving special. It’s the food, the laughter, the people around the table, and those little traditions that change as our families grow. Whether your Thanksgiving is a house full of people or a quiet meal with a few of your favorite people, I hope you get a chance to slow down, enjoy the day, and spend some time with the people who matter most.
From my family to yours, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good food, plenty of laughter, and a whole lot to be thankful for. And if you happen to go back for seconds, I won’t judge.
- Alex Weatherby
404-689-1287 · WeatherbyLawFirm.com
1
Looking For a New Thanksgiving Tradition? THESE GLOBAL CUSTOMS ARE WORTH TRYING
Thanksgiving has a way of bringing people together, but who says you have to celebrate it the same way every year? While the classic turkey dinner and pumpkin pie will always have their place, cultures around the world have their own beautiful traditions centered on gratitude, harvest, and community. Borrowing a few of these customs can make your celebration feel even more meaningful. Whether you’re hosting a big family feast or a cozy dinner with friends, these global traditions are easy to add to your own Thanksgiving table. Celebrate the harvest together. In Germany, Erntedankfest, or the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival, focuses on giving thanks for a successful harvest. Communities often gather for church services, parades, and shared meals. However, you don’t need a parade to capture the spirit. Consider decorating your table with seasonal fruits, vegetables,
and flowers, then take a moment before dinner to appreciate the abundance in your own life. Turn gratitude into a family tradition. South Korea’s Chuseok is a harvest celebration that emphasizes family, remembrance, and gratitude. Loved ones gather, share traditional meals, and honor relatives who came before them. You can borrow this idea by inviting everyone at the table to share a favorite family memory or say one thing they’re thankful for before the meal begins. It’s a simple tradition that creates lasting memories. Share the bounty. Nigeria’s New Yam Festival celebrates the first yam harvest with music, dancing, and communal feasts. One of the main themes is sharing food with others. Bring that same generosity to your Thanksgiving by preparing an extra dish for a neighbor, inviting someone who would otherwise spend the holiday alone, or donating food
to a local pantry. Gratitude feels even more meaningful when it’s shared. Make food the star of the celebration. In Malaysia’s Kaamatan festival, rice symbolizes life and gratitude, and communities celebrate with traditional foods, cultural performances, and joyful gatherings. While your menu doesn’t need to feature rice, you can highlight foods that tell your family’s story. Serve a favorite family recipe, include a dish from your cultural background, or ask guests to bring something that represents their heritage. Create your own global tradition. Thanksgiving is all about celebrating gratitude in a way that feels authentic. Borrowing traditions from around the world reminds us that gratitude is universal. This year, mix old favorites with new ideas, gather the people you love, and create traditions everyone will look forward to for years to come.
WHEN THE CLOCK KEEPS MOVING Understanding Fatigue Risks for Truck Drivers
A truck driver can start the day with a clear road ahead and a delivery deadline waiting hundreds of miles away. Then traffic backs up, a crash closes a lane, a bathroom break takes longer than expected, and the clock keeps moving. For truck drivers, those everyday delays can add pressure to an already demanding schedule. That’s one reason drowsy driving deserves attention, especially during Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, Nov. 1–7. Why Truck Drivers Face Drowsiness Truck drivers cover long distances, often with firm delivery times. Drivers can face time pressure when they’re expected to reach a location hundreds of miles away by a certain hour, even if unexpected problems slow them down. That pressure can make fatigue a serious concern, particularly during long stretches behind the wheel.
Drowsy driving affects more than the person behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes sleepiness can impair cognition and performance, and drowsy- driving crashes frequently occur during periods when the body naturally becomes more tired, including between midnight and 6 a.m. and in the late afternoon. How Hours of Service Help Federal hours-of-service rules are designed to limit how long commercial drivers can remain behind the wheel and to provide required rest periods. For property-carrying truck drivers, the current rules generally allow up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers also can’t drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. There’s also a required 30-minute break after a driver has accumulated eight hours of driving. The rules also include longer-
term limits, restricting driving after a driver reaches 60 or 70 hours on duty over seven or eight consecutive days, depending on the carrier’s operation. These limits give drivers structured opportunities to rest and set clear boundaries on how much time they can spend working and driving. Why the Rules Matter After a Crash Hours-of-service records can become particularly important after a trucking crash. If a driver was operating outside the applicable limits, questions about fatigue and whether the driver had enough opportunity to rest may become part of the investigation. Drowsy Driving Prevention Week offers a timely reminder that driving while exhausted can have serious consequences. For truck drivers, following hours-of-service requirements is one way to prevent fatigue from becoming another hazard on already demanding roads.
2
WeatherbyLawFirm.com · 404-689-1287
HERE’S HOW TO WALK IN PREPARED Facing a Deposition?
LOVED WORKING WITH OUR TEAM? Tell Us About It!
If we’ve made a positive difference during your experience, please take a moment to scan the QR code and leave us a review. Your feedback means the world to our team and helps others feel confident when choosing legal representation.
A deposition can feel intimidating. You’re sitting across from opposing counsel under oath, and a court reporter is recording every answer. There may even be a videographer in the room. For someone who hasn’t been through the process before, that can create a lot of pressure. The good news is that preparation can make the experience manageable. We will help you understand what to expect, review the difficult parts of your case, and practice answering questions before you’re sitting across from opposing counsel. Meet with your lawyer beforehand. Try to meet with your lawyer about a week or two before the deposition. Go over the facts of your case and talk through the questions the other side is likely to ask. Your lawyer should help you identify the areas that could receive extra attention. For example, in a personal injury case, questions might include who was at fault or whether an injury existed before the accident. Preparing for those topics ahead of time allows you to think through This is the most important rule. Tell the truth, even when a fact isn’t helpful to your case. Your lawyer can work with difficult facts, but a false answer can damage your credibility and create additional problems later. You also don’t need to guess. If you don’t know or don’t remember something, say so. A deposition isn’t a memory contest, and you shouldn’t try to fill gaps with an answer you think might be right. Stay calm and listen. Take a breath before you answer. Listen to the entire question, make sure you understand it, and give yourself a moment to think. If you don’t understand a question, it’s fine to ask for clarification. Staying calm helps you focus on the question instead of reacting to the pressure in the room. Then answer the question that was asked and stop talking. Rambling can open the door to questions you weren’t asked in the first place. A deposition may feel unfamiliar, but you don’t have to walk into it unprepared. Work closely with your lawyer, slow down, listen carefully, and stick to the facts you know. If you know someone who’s preparing for a deposition, share this guide with them. After all, a little preparation can make the experience feel far less overwhelming. the facts and refresh your memory. Tell the truth and don’t guess.
Every review helps us improve and provide every client with the compassionate service, personalized attention, and dedicated advocacy they deserve. Thank you for trusting us and for taking the time to share your experience.
MINI CROISSANT CRUST PECAN PIES A Taste of Home
INGREDIENTS
Pie filling •
• •
4 large eggs
1/4 cup unsalted butter 1 cup light brown sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 2 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp bourbon whiskey (optional)
3 cups pecan halves, coarsely chopped
• • • • •
Croissant crust •
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
•
6 large croissants
DIRECTIONS
1. In saucepan over medium-high heat, combine butter, sugar, syrup, salt, vanilla, and bourbon. Simmer, then whisk mixture and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool for 7 minutes. 2. Add eggs and whisk quickly to combine. Stir in pecans. Set aside until mixture thickens. 3. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with butter. 4. Cut croissants in half, then open each like you’re making a sandwich. Line muffin cups with croissant pieces and press down. Remove any pieces that stick up over the edge. 5. Spoon pecan filling evenly into cups. 6. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. 7. Remove and let sit for 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
404-689-1287 · WeatherbyLawFirm.com
3
CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
820 Church St. Decatur, GA 30030 WeatherbyLawFirm.com 404-689-1287
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
@alexweatherbylaw Weatherby Law Firm
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. A Little Chaos, a Lot of Food, and Our Family Thanksgiving 2. Thanksgiving Traditions From Around the World You Will Want to Borrow Long Miles, Tight Deadlines Can Increase Drowsy Driving Risks for Truckers 3. 3 Practical Tips for Preparing for a Deposition Tell Us How We Did Mini Croissant Crust Pecan Pies 4. A Year of Adventures, Hanging on Your Fridge A FAMILY BUCKET LIST FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
Trade the Usual Goals for Shared Adventures
As the holidays approach and another year comes to a close, many of us take a moment to reflect on the past year and think about what we’d like to accomplish in the next. It’s a natural time to plan a little, and it’s a good opportunity to do it as a family. The problem is that this type of end-of-year planning often turns into the usual personal resolutions we make and drop before spring arrives. Here’s a better option worth trying this year. Instead of making a list of things to fix, change the framing. Sit down as a family and make a bucket list of experiences you hope to share
together in the year ahead. A great place to start is to organize your goals into a few meaningful categories instead of creating one long list of random to-dos. Try to mix a few different categories so the list has some balance. Include some that are purely fun, like movie outings and exploring a new place, along with others more centered on growth, like learning a new skill or giving back to the community. Once you’ve named your categories, let every family member drop ideas into them so the finished list belongs to everyone. Often, the best goals for a family bucket list avoid strict timelines or unrealistic expectations. You want the goals to be specific, but the point is to keep things realistic, achievable, and fun. And remember that some items on your list are meant to take all year, while others can be knocked out in a single afternoon. To keep the list front of mind, write it out and hang it somewhere the whole family will see it, like the fridge or a wall in the kitchen. As the year goes on, you can check things off together and add new ideas as they come up. By the time December rolls around, you’ll have a full list of crossed-off adventures and the memories that came with them, just in time to start planning for the next year.
4
WeatherbyLawFirm.com · 404-689-1287
Published by Newsletter Pro | newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator