Check out our January newsletter!
January 2023
AaronMillerLaw.com 214.292.4225
MILESTONES AND MISHAPS Reflecting on Old and New Adventures
I’m proud to announce that my oldest daughter has passed her bar exam and was sworn in as an attorney late last year! When we found out she passed, I reached out to the judge I clerked for at the Texas Supreme Court to see if he would be willing to do her swearing-in ceremony. Every attorney must take an oath before they are allowed to practice law. Judge Rodriguez is a federal district court judge in San Antonio now, but twenty years ago, he was on the Texas Supreme Court, and I worked for him.
In other news, my dad finally decided what he wants to be when he grows up – a “hot shot” driver. Basically, he will take loads of whatever needs to be moved from one location to another. Usually this is a one-time thing or something that is too
The day we found out that I passed the bar was also election day. Texas Supreme Court judges are elected but he wasn’t on the ballot. He had already left and had turned in his resignation effective midnight that evening. He wasn’t planning on coming back, but when he heard I passed, he was gracious enough to come and swear me
small for a regular tractor trailer. He bought an F-350. He brought it over one weekend so I could help him add some accessories. The entire day was a comedy of errors. We would attach an add-on, only to realize we’d installed it backward and needed to take it off and try again. At one point, we lost a screw and had to take yet another trip to Lowe’s. Of course, the screw managed to turn up later. Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and we couldn’t help but laugh because we knew my grandfather would have loved every minute of it — and would have probably filmed it. When I was in junior high, my family took a trip to Alaska where my grandparents lived. We were visiting a national park. While my sister and I planned to sleep in the camper with my grandparents, my parents had a tent they borrowed from my aunt. Only when we unwrapped the tent did we realize that the poles weren’t shock-corded (they didn’t have a cord that ran through the middle of it to keep them together) and as a result, one section of the poles was missing. Of course, we didn’t discover this until we had been traveling all day and it was probably 11 or 12 at night local time, which meant it was 3 or 4 in the morning to us. Talk about an exciting first night of the trip! We somehow made the tent work that night. I think the next day we found a hardware store and bought a dowel to replace the pole. Of course, it still wasn’t quite right, but we made it work. Granddad thought it was the best thing ever watching us put up the tent. High entertainment! He made it a point to watch us every time we set up the tent in a new spot, and even filmed us one night because he thought it was so funny. Eventually, we started laughing too. I wish I knew what happened to that tape!
in right away. Wendy loaded the girls into the car (we just had Grace and Elissa then) and went downtown to the Texas Supreme Court building. With Grace climbing around the justices’ chairs, and Wendy holding on to Elissa, he swore me in inside the courtroom. I think it was one of his last official acts as a Texas Supreme Court judge. Grace thought it would be neat to have him swear her in too, so I was excited that he was willing to do it and I think he thought the connection was pretty neat as well. He was out of town, but due back on Saturday, so we made a mad dash to San Antonio and spent Friday night there. Saturday morning, we met him for breakfast and get a
tour of the courthouse. It is a brand-new courthouse and he was instrumental in having it built. It was great catching up with him, and getting the tour, but more importantly, Grace is now a practicing attorney! You won’t see her around the firm, because she’s working a big firm job in downtown Dallas as a brand-new associate attorney on a litigation (trial) team.
My grandfather was a real character and always had a running commentary on everything. Worse, he didn’t know how to keep his voice down;
Continues on page 3 ...
AaronMillerLaw.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Over the past few years, beards have come back in style, but growing a luxurious beard is easier said than done and can be a struggle for many men. If you saw Chris Hemsworth’s or Jason Momoa’s beards and thought, “That’s a good look. I should grow my beard out,” only to find your beard came in patchy or uneven, don’t worry. You’re not alone. The good news is that you can make a shaggy beard look good with the proper routine. Hemsworth and Momoa weren’t gifted with beautiful natural beards; they followed a routine until they were pristine, and you can, too. STAY WARM THIS WINTER By Growing a Thick, Luxurious Beard
On Jan. 3, we recognize J.R.R. Tolkien Day in honor of one of the most prolific storytellers and world builders of the past century. Tolkien is responsible for creating the world of Middle-earth, which most people are familiar with thanks to “The Lord of the Rings” books and movies. The talented author has inspired many individuals with his work, including “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin and even Led Zeppelin. If you’re a fan of “The Lord of the Rings” or anything hobbit-related, you might want to take advantage of J.R.R. Tolkien Day. Here are a few ways to get your Middle-earth fix in early January. Read Tolkien’s books. The books are where Middle-earth first came to life. With “The Hobbit,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “The Silmarillion,” there’s no shortage of Middle- earth stories to consume. These books are written elegantly and contain much more detail than Peter Jackson’s film adaptations. These books are lengthy, especially if you’re planning to read the entire “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, so make sure you have ample time to read. Watch shows and films inspired by Tolkien’s work. Peter Jackson’s collection of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movies are fantastic adaptations of Tolkien’s original work and are always worth a rewatch when J.R.R. Tolkien Day rolls around. You can also watch Amazon Prime’s new “The Rings of Power” show that dives deeper into the lore of Tolkien’s expansive world. If you’re looking to learn more about the man himself, try watching the 2019 British-American biographical drama film, “Tolkien.” Play video games that take place in Middle-earth. If you’re into video games and Tolkien’s work, you’re in luck! “Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor” and “Middle-earth: Shadow of War” are both well-received games that are highly beloved by fans of Tolkien’s work and gamers who enjoy stealthy action games. Over the past few years, a game that allows you to play as Gollum called “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” has been in development and will surely bring joy to fans everywhere when it is released. IN RECOGNITION OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN DAY EXPLORE THE WORLD OF MIDDLE-EARTH
Here are three steps to grow a thick, luxurious beard of your own.
Be patient. Growing a beard takes time and effort. You won’t see optimal results within a week or even a month. It takes extreme dedication and patience. Let your beard grow out and resist shaving it if you’re unhappy with the early
results. Over time, your beard will look thicker. A common misconception is that shaving your beard makes it thicker, but this makes no difference. Your beard will continue to grow in at the same thickness regardless of how many times you shave it.
Take supplements. You can take vitamins and minerals that promote hair growth, including biotin, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, copper, and magnesium. You should also use beard oil to enhance your beard’s appearance and soften it. This will prevent dryness and itching, which is essential because the skin underneath your beard needs to be healthy to promote hair follicle growth. Also, be sure to shampoo and condition your beard. Exercise and get proper rest. When you work out, you increase your testosterone levels and improve blood flow, promoting beard growth. This will also help you to reduce stress, which also works in your favor, as stress can stall hair growth. Sleeping also reduces stress and improves testosterone levels, so get eight hours of sleep if you want to grow the beard of your dreams!
2 | 214.292.4225
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
They’re Not Just for Entertainment VIDEO GAMES FOR GROWING MINDS
Video games often get a bad rap. Many view them as time-wasters with nothing beneficial to offer, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Many benefits can be gained from playing video games, especially for children. Although positives exist, pay attention to what you buy or rent for kids, as benefits vary depending on the type and age appropriateness of the games. Also, limit the time your kids spend playing video games, as too much screen time can be detrimental to their behavior and attention span. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests allotting 30–60 minutes daily on school days and two hours or less on non-school days. If they stay within this range, you’ll quickly notice your children gaining some of the following benefits from playing video games. They learn how to problem-solve. Most video games feature puzzles and situations that require critical thinking to overcome. Players
must often try different approaches to solve a puzzle before moving on to the next part of their game. They’re learning how to make their own decisions to accomplish goals. “The Legend of Zelda” games excel in this area. Video games spark creativity. It’s essential that children have a creative outlet to focus on as they grow up. While some kids get this from writing stories or drawing, others can showcase their creativity and grow their skills by playing video games. Take “Minecraft” for example. “Minecraft” gives kids an opportunity to create their own world. They can build castles, create roller coasters, and do just about anything they put their mind to, thus enhancing their creative skills. Kids can improve relationship-building and leadership skills. Some games require kids to play on teams. Consequently, they can make new friends and bond over similar interests. Additionally, when
kids play together, they have a chance to practice their leadership skills and lead their team to victory. Sports games and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) like “World of Warcraft” are great for teaching these skills. Be cautious if your kid is playing online with others, though. There’s no telling whom they’re playing with, so make sure they’re an appropriate age before introducing online multiplayer games.
... Continued from cover
everyone could hear when he thought he was whispering. During a bus tour of the McKinley National Park on that same vacation, a woman began asking about birds and kept pointing out every new one she saw along the way. After continuing, she exclaimed, “Oh, there’s a shrike!” To which my grandfather responded “Three shrikes and you’re out, lady!” He thought he was just talking to himself, but the whole bus got a chuckle. One last funny tale from that trip involved a guy constantly filming his trip but always had his camera pointed at the least exciting object in sight. Instead of filming the breathtaking views and mountains, he kept recording his motorhome telling the folks back home what took him all that way. At one point, we saw him filming the park’s porta-potties! I still crack up when I think of the poor people who had to watch that tape. Laughing at our misadventures in the driveway recently, my dad and I couldn’t help but think back on these stories. And with Global Belly Laugh Day approaching
SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN AND WHITE BEAN STEW
Ingredients
Directions
• 4 15-oz cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed • 6 cups chicken broth • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
1. In a 6-quart slow cooker, combine beans, broth, onion, carrots, rosemary, and Parmesan rind. Top with chicken. Cover and cook on low until the beans and vegetables are tender, about 7–8 hours. 2. Remove chicken from slow cooker. On a clean cutting board, let the chicken rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Shred the chicken and discard bones. 3. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in kale. Cover and cook on high until kale is tender, 20–30 minutes. 4. Stir in lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Discard the Parmesan rind. Serve the stew drizzled with oil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
• 1 cup sliced carrots • 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 4-oz Parmesan cheese rind • 2 1-lb bone-in chicken breasts • 4 cups chopped kale • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1/2 tsp kosher salt • 1/2 tsp ground pepper • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1/4 cup parsley leaves
on Jan. 24, I couldn’t think of a better time to tell them. Some jokes never get old, and I hope your family has plenty of its own to reflect on.
-Aaron Miller
Inspired by EatingWell.com
AaronMillerLaw.com | 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
214.292.4225 www.AaronMillerLaw.com 1400 Preston Road, Suite 118 Plano, Texas 75093
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Stories That Always Make Aaron Laugh
2
3 Tips to Grow a Thick, Full Beard
Explore the Lore of Middle-Earth
3
What Our Kids Can Learn From Video Games
Slow-Cooker Chicken and White Bean Stew
4
How to Stay Hydrated Without Drinking Water
Iced Coffee How often have you heard that coffee is bad for you and will dehydrate you? Coffee is one of the few caffeinated drinks that does not cause fluid loss. It’s also 98% water, so it’s actually helping to rehydrate you. Decaffeinated coffee is the best way to go, but you can get the same benefits by drinking regular coffee. Just don’t overdo it since too much caffeine can cause adverse effects. Limit yourself to one or two cups a day. Coconut Water and Drink Mixes Many people consume sports drinks to counter dehydration, but many of those are loaded with sugar and sodium, which both dehydrate you. Instead, try drinking coconut water. It has more potassium and fewer carbs and sodium than sports drinks, so it’s a great alternative to maintain your hydration levels. You can also try drink mixes that flavor your water and make it taste better. Be cautious of what you use, as many drink mixes contain sugar and caffeine, which can counteract your efforts.
Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? It’s a hidden epidemic that many Americans fail to realize is happening. Most people need to drink at least 4–6 cups of water daily, but Americans only average 2.5 cups each day. This leaves them seriously dehydrated, and they get used to the feeling, so they don’t even notice it. For many people, the challenge comes from finding time in the day to drink enough water, while others simply don’t like the taste. If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy the taste of water, there’s good news. There are other ways to stay hydrated. Here are a few of them. Fruits and Vegetable Most of us already know how beneficial eating fruits and vegetables can be, but they also help us stay hydrated. Many fruits and vegetables are comprised mostly of water. Lettuce and cucumbers have 96% water content, celery and radishes have 95%, and cauliflower, strawberries, spinach, watermelon, and bell peppers are 92% water. Eating enough fruits and vegetables in your daily diet can increase your water intake by 2–3 cups without drinking anything.
Stay Hydrated With These Alternatives Hate the Taste of Water?
4 | 214.292.4225
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator