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October 2024
Your Trusted Advisor Zihmer Law Firm OUR TOP DOGS 2 SPECIAL PUPS IN OUR HOME
This October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, an occasion commemorated by the American Humane Society to help the millions of dogs living in shelters get the attention and love they need and deserve. In light of this, I would like to remind you that we are sometimes greater than the sum of our parts. Charlie, the dog we adopted from a shelter over nine years ago, is a perfect example of this. According to her DNA test, she is part whippet, Great Pyrenees, and Labrador. Add those together, and you get an 80-pound goofball. However, despite her diverse heritage, she looks a bit like a beagle mixed with a miniature greyhound.
Maverick
Charlie
Here is why we adopted Charlie, and why adopting a shelter dog may (or may not) be the right move for you and your family.
We ended up looking at two different dogs who could not have been more different. The first was a pit bull-Lab mix more rambunctious than Maverick. It may have been the right dog for some people, but considering we were looking to add a little less energy to the family, we decided he was not the right fit for us. The second dog was Charlie. I remember sitting outside with her, and she crawled right into my lap. Remember, she’s 80 pounds. As soon as we met her, we knew she would be a perfect match. She has her quirks, but she is also affectionate, loving, and a perfect counterpart to Maverick. Shelter Adoption Full disclosure: It took about a year for Charlie to become a fully functioning member of our home. When we adopted her, she had actually been in three prior homes in a year and a half. That led to some behavioral issues: She was destructive, had terrible separation anxiety, and, to top it all off, she was an escape artist. It took a year of patience, perseverance, and attention to incorporate her into our family. Now, she is a lovable, awesome dog, but it took a lot of work to get to this point. If there is a chance you might end up taking them back, adopting a dog from the shelter is not the right move for you. But if you are in a position where you can care for a dog that may need some extra help, then it may be right for you, like it was for us.
The Original Crew My husband and I went the traditional family route and bought a house, then introduced a puppy to it. Our first dog, Maverick — my husband named him after Tom Cruise’s character in “Top Gun” — was a purebred German shepherd. Maverick was also, as his name would suggest, completely full of energy. He may not have been dogfighting Siberian huskies like his namesake, but he was still a rambunctious pup. His energetic nature and wild personality made him a lot to keep up with, and we decided the best way to reduce that was by getting him a partner-in- crime. We saw a posting from our local shelter announcing that there was another German shepherd available for adoption. We thought we had finally found Maverick’s copilot — the dog version of Goose. What we found instead was Charlie. The Shelter Experience Unfortunately, by the time we arrived at the dog shelter, Maverick’s would-be copilot had already pulled the cord and used the ejection seat (the German shepherd had already been adopted). However, we decided we “would just take a look” at the other dogs. Although I have adopted cats from the shelter before, I had no experience at a dog shelter, and it was staggering just how many animals were there, waiting for a forever home.
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ESTATE PLANNING | PROBATE | TRUST ADMINISTRATION | ELDER LAW
‘Bone’ Voyage EXPLORING THE MARVELS OF YOUR SKELETAL SYSTEM
Make no bones about it; our skeletons are a real rib-tickler of fascinating facts! From the impressive strength of our thigh bones to the tiny marvels of the inner ear, your bones are the unsung heroes of your body. So, rest your bones in a comfy chair because we are about to dig up some of the most shocking skeletal secrets.
ages 11–15, the critical time for significant growth spurts thanks to growth plates that close as we age.
Half of our bones are in our feet and hands. Did you know that many of our bones are in the smaller extremities of our body? Nearly half of our 206 adult bones are in our hands and feet! Each foot has 26 bones, and our hands both have 27 bones, which is 106 bones. Our hands even have a bonus bone called the pisiform, located on the outside edge of our wrists. The funny bone is a nerve. Have you ever hit your funny bone? Well, you are not hitting a bone at all. This area on the body is part of the ulnar nerve, which goes from your neck to your hand. Bone, muscle, and fat typically protect nerves, but a small portion of this nerve on the back of your elbow is more exposed. So, when you hit your funny bone, named for its location near the humerus bone (a homophone of “humorous”), you’re really bumping into the ulnar nerve. So, now that you’ve “boned up” on the most fascinating fossil facts, give your skeleton a little nod for the incredible things it does to support you and keep you moving!
Babies have more bones than adults. Although babies are tiny, their bodies have many bones in a pudgy, little package. Human babies have about 300 bones compared to an adult’s 206. Many extra bones are entirely or partly made of cartilage, allowing the baby to stay
flexible in the womb. Over time, the bones fuse and decrease in
number. Fracture rates are highest when kids are around
TRICK OR MEAT Top Steakhouses Outside Pittsburgh
If you are looking for a savory palette cleanser in the lead-up to Halloween, there are few better treats than a delicious steak. That is why when Andrew and I need an escape, we tend to prefer a steakhouse outside of the city. Wining and dining away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and enjoying each other’s company is a wonderful way to spend an evening. If you are looking for restaurant recommendations, here are some of our favorite steakhouses. Nate’s Chop House Located in Canonsburg, just a half-hour (and then minutes from our office) southwest of Pittsburgh, this hidden gem offers a wonderful assortment of red meat, seafood, and drink options.
Delectable appetizers like their signature crab cakes and wagyu meatballs provide a punch of flavor to start you off strong. You can follow that up either with prime beef or wagyu burger, their delicious filet, or a Chilean sea bass. Pair any of those fine entrees with a refreshing cocktail, like their barrel-aged Buffalo Trace smoked Manhattan or lavender haze martini, and you are in for a wonderful treat. Napa Prime Chophouse Just 20 minutes north of Pittsburgh, the Napa Prime Chophouse in Wexford has an awesome variety of steaks, drinks, and pasta in whatever size, shape, or flavor you could ask for. If you are particularly hungry, they have a prime 40-ounce porterhouse steak that is sure to sate any appetite.
Photo: Nate’s Chop House, Facebook
Ditka’s Ditka’s is located right on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, near Robinson Town Center. Fittingly, its menu is packed with sensational options, like seafood linguine, coffee-rubbed Delmonico, and Berkshire pork chop. They have plenty of steak options and appetizing sides, like the lobster mac and cheese and jalapeño hash browns, to make any meal there feel like a feast for the ages.
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ESTATE PLANNING | PROBATE | TRU
DON’T DELAY Why You Should Update Your Estate Plan Annually
Facts About Estate Plans Despite how important estate plans are, only about 30% of Americans have a plan in place. They usually create an estate plan when a major life event inspires them to put one in place: Maybe they have a major health scare, experience the death of a loved one, or go through either a marriage or a divorce. While these sorts of events can serve as the inspiration to create an estate plan, they are also great reasons to update an existing estate plan. Accounting for Life Events You might be wondering why updating your estate plan each year is so important. To put it simply, life events can impact how your inheritance is divvied up among your beneficiaries and, depending on your wishes, may do so in a way that is against what you want. For example, let’s say you get a divorce but still want your ex-spouse to receive a portion of your inheritance. By default, your ex-spouse could be cut out of your inheritance entirely; if you want them to receive a portion of your estate, you will need to account for that in an update to your estate plan. If you have a new grandchild, or if your beneficiary’s marital status changes, those events will similarly need accounting for in your estate plan. Do not let your estate plan stay out-of-date for too long. Failure to account for major life changes can result in your wishes going unaccounted for — and your beneficiaries suffering as a result.
Estate plans, like the homes and properties they account for, need regular maintenance to remain relevant and helpful. Every year, we experience a number of significant life events; think of when you or your beneficiaries marry, move, receive other inheritances, become estranged, or reenter your life. These changes need to be reflected in your estate plan if they are to accurately represent your wishes upon your passing. An outdated estate plan can result in unanticipated difficulties and shortcomings, which can only be alleviated through regular, annual updates.
Ultimate Baked Ziti
Ingredients
• 1 (16 oz) package of dried ziti pasta • 1 onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
• 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes • 1 cup ricotta cheese • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. 2. Cook ziti according to package instructions. 3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the onion and garlic until softened. 4. Add marinara sauce and diced tomatoes, stirring to combine. 5. Stir in the cooked ziti and season with salt and pepper. 6. Transfer mixture to baking dish. 7. Top with ricotta and mozzarella cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
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3244 Washington Rd., Ste. 210, McMurray, PA 15317 | 412-223-2525 | ZihmerLaw.com
Inside 1 Our Top Dogs 2
Fascinating Facts to Make Your Bones Rattle
Our Favorite Steakhouses Outside Pittsburgh
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The Importance of Updating Your Estate Plan Each Year
Ultimate Baked Ziti
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Tracing the Court Jester’s Origins
Medieval Mischief-Makers
When we think of court jesters, we often picture colorfully clad figures in pointed hats dancing and jesting for the entertainment of royalty. However,
political decisions and social norms under the guise of humor, providing valuable feedback to the nobility. They even accompanied soldiers to the battlefield, distracting the enemy and delivering dangerous messages. The Evolving Jester By the 17th century, as live theater was booming, jesters began transitioning from court entertainers to professional actors and comedians. Figures like Richard Tarlton, the beloved jester of Queen Elizabeth I, became renowned performers in their own right. As jesters found fame outside the court, they paved the way for generations of comedians, satirists, and performance artists. Though the court jester institution largely died out by the 18th century, the legacy of these multifaceted performers lives on. From Shakespearean fools to modern stand-up comedians, the spirit of the court jester continues to entertain, provoke, and enlighten audiences. So, the next time you see a fool in a pointy hat, remember the rich history and complexity behind this enduring archetype.
these medieval performers’ roles and responsibilities were far more complex than today’s caricatures.
The Origins of Court Jesters We can trace the court jester’s roots to the comedic actors of ancient Rome. As the
Roman Empire cracked down on these outspoken performers, many became traveling entertainers, sowing the seeds for the Middle Ages and Renaissance court jesters. Historical references to these “fools” became more common between the 12th and 15th centuries, with the term “jester” gaining popularity in the 15th and 16th centuries. Jesters: Entertainers and Advisors While the jester’s primary role was to entertain royalty through stories, music, acrobatics, and flatulence, they were also often highly intelligent advisors. Jesters could critique
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