Zinda Law - December 2019

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Principal Office 8834 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Suite 304, Austin, TX 78759 877-545-9251 OUR LOCATIONS DECEMBER 2019

ZDFIRM.COM | 877-545-9251 PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

TEXAS Austin Downtown Office: 1601 Rio Grande St. Suite 450 Austin, TX 78701 Arlington Office: 3901 Arlington Highlands Blvd. Suite 200 Arlington, TX 76018 Carrollton Office: 2340 E. Trinity Mills Suite 300 Carrollton, TX 75006 Corpus Christi Office: 3205 Rodd Field Rd. Corpus Christi, TX 78414 Dallas Office: 3131 McKinney Ave. Suite 600 Dallas, TX 75204 El Paso Office: 2300 George Dieter Drive El Paso, TX 79936 Fort Worth Office: 201 Main Street Suite 600 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Houston Office: 1700 Post Oak Boulevard, 2 BLVD. Place Suite 600 Houston, TX 77056 Midland Office: 6 Desta Drive Suite 4600 Midland, TX 79705 Plano Office: 6860 North Dallas Pkwy. Suite 200 Plano, TX 75024 Round Rock Office: 1000 Heritage Center Circle Round Rock, TX 78664 San Antonio Office: 18756 Stone Oak Parkway Suite 200 San Antonio, TX 78258

Temple Office: 319 South First Temple, TX 76504 Waco Office: 7215 Bosque Blvd. Suite 107 Waco, TX 76710 COLORADO Aurora Office: 3190 S. VaughnWay Suite 550 Aurora, CO 80014 Boulder Office: 1434 Spruce Street Suite 100 Boulder, CO 80302

NO SHORTCUTS TO MORE VALUABLE TIME

December has less daylight than any other month. It gets darker and darker, sooner and sooner, until the darkest day of the year, Dec. 21. On that day, the sun will set at 5:35 p.m. in Austin, and at 4:39 p.m. in Denver. The days are short, but we still have the same amount of work to get done, and the same amount of time we want to spend with our families, friends, and hobbies. With less daylight, it can feel like you have less time, and you might be tempted to slack off from the work before you — but you need to press forward. If you’re struggling to keep up your productivity in light of the shortened days and the bustle of the holiday season, know you have a few ways to get yourself back on the wagon. Even with seemingly less time, you can still add incredible value to the time you have. PROPER NUTRITION AND EXERCISE You’ve probably heard this tip time and time again, but it hasn’t become any less true since the last time you heard it. Your daily routine should include some form of physical activity, and your diet should carry a fair amount of nutritional value. It may seem counterintuitive to go for a jog or to the gym, or to cook a meal instead of ordering out, as both of these things take time instead of save it. However, good nutrition and exercise will help you set a good mood for yourself. If you start off your morning working out, you’ll be more focused, driven, and optimistic. Eating more fruits and vegetables will help you remain sharp and focused. Even though eating well and working out take more time, you can create more value with the time you have left. PROPER SLEEP Everyone intuitively knows the value of sleep, but, if we’re honest with ourselves, most of us probably don’t get as

much sleep as we would like. Why? Many of us would probably say it’s because we’re busy. That very well may be, but, if we want the time we have to be more valuable, getting roughly eight hours of sleep a night is a great way to maximize the value of the time you’re awake. Fewer hours awake and rested are worth more than extra hours awake and exhausted every time. Don’t let a lack of sleep sap up your productivity — know when it’s time to hit the hay. PLANNING YOUR NEXT STEPS This tip makes the previous two possible. If you don’t already have a daily planner, or a calendar with all the important tasks and events coming up in your week, you won’t be able to plan time for exercise, sleep, and cooking healthy meals because you won’t know what’s coming next! Have a place to keep all the tasks and plans ahead of you, whether that’s a list on your phone, or a paper notebook you keep with you at all times. It will help you see what’s coming, and, just as importantly, it will help you find the gaps you can fill with any other projects that come up. It’s the best way to ensure every moment of your day is spent doing something meaningful. Even if you’ve heard all these tips before, it never hurts to hear them again. They aren’t shortcuts by any means, but, if you make them habitual, they will make the time you have more valuable. Nothing is stopping you from instilling these habits in your own life. You won’t be able to pursue them perfectly, but so long as you get up and keep trying, you’ll always be moving in the right direction, and your time will always be just a little more valuable than it was before.

Colorado Springs Office: 102 S. Tejon Street Suite 1100 Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Denver Office: 600 17th Street Suite 2625S Denver, CO 80202

Fort Collins Office: 155 E. Boardwalk Drive Suite 455 Fort Collins, CO 80525 ARIZONA Phoenix Office: 4742 N. 24th Street Suite 300 Phoenix, AZ 85016 Tucson Office: 2 E. Congress Suite 900 Tucson, AZ 85701 NEWMEXICO Albuquerque Office: 6565 Americas Parkway, NE Suite 200 Albuquerque, NM 87110 Las Cruces Office: 1990 E. Lohman Avenue Las Cruces, NM 88001

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I’MDREAMINGOF A GREENCHRISTMAS

4 ECO-FRIENDLY WAYS TO DECORATE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

GO WILD WITH PLANTS If you like to decorate your stair rail or mantlepiece, try replacing the shiny plastic and fake-foliage garlands with real holly and pine boughs or bringing festive potted plants indoors. Small evergreen trees, holly bushes, and poinsettias are all attractive choices that can, with proper care, last the whole year. DARE TO DIY If you have the time, scrap paper can be cut into beautiful ornaments, and old holiday cards can be punched into leaf shapes and used to create lovely wreaths. Don’t forget to save your wrapping paper and ribbon scraps for next year! THRIFT SHOP TILL YOU DROP If you have your heart set on glitzy glass ornaments or an elaborate candle centerpiece, check nearby thrift stores before you head to Walmart. They’re often stocked to the brim with festive decor during the holidays, and you can probably get something you’ll love for pennies on the dollar! Plus, by recycling these previously used decorations, you’ll be keeping them out of the landfill.

ROCKE-ING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE How the Famous Tree Came to Be Remember the cranberry and popcorn garlands of holidays’ past? It’s time to bring them back! Pair handmade garlands with iced salt dough and gingerbread ornaments for a fully edible, compostable tree decorating scheme. A bowl of patterned pomanders (oranges studded with cloves) and pinecones makes for a beautiful centerpiece that smells festive, too. Considering all the wrapping paper, decorations, and cards that fill our homes during the holiday season, it’s no surprise the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is not only the most cheerful but also the most wasteful time of year. According to Stanford University, Americans generate 25% more trash during the holidays than any other period — that’s the equivalent of one million extra tons per week, which is enough to convince anyone worried about the health of the planet to cut back on the tinsel and fake snow. Luckily for the eco-conscious, celebrating the season without adding too much to the landfill is totally possible. To start your own green holiday traditions, try these tricks: OPT FOR EDIBLE

lights created the illusion that the 700 fluorescent globes adorning the tree were glowing in the dark. In the years immediately following the war, the tree’s decorations became grander, and it took 20 workers nine days to completely decorate it. The lighting of the tree was first televised in 1951. Reflecting the environmental consciousness of the time, 1971 marked the first year the tree was recycled. It was turned into mulch for nature trails in Upper Manhattan. 1998 was the first year the tree was transported by plane to New York, and 1999 saw the biggest tree to date in Rockefeller Center — a 100-foot-tall Norway spruce from Connecticut. After the 9/11 attacks, the tree donned its red, white, and blue decorations once again. In 2007, decorators used LED lights as a part of an ongoing effort to be more environmentally conscious. At the same time, in recent years, the tree has been donated to Habitat for Humanity after it’s taken down.

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York has been one of the most popular holiday displays in the United States since the tradition started 87 years ago. During that time, the tree and its decorations have come to represent the zeitgeist of the United States. On Christmas Eve in 1931, at the height of the Great Depression, construction workers working to build Rockefeller Center pooled their money to buy a Christmas tree to erect on the site. It was a 20-foot balsam fir, covered with homemade decorations from the construction workers’ homes. Two years later, in 1933, Rockefeller Center paid homage to that tree by making a tradition out of lighting a Christmas tree at the center every year. The second tree stood more than twice as tall as the first one, at 50 feet. Over the years, its decorations have reflected the times. During WWII, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was decorated in red, white, and blue ornaments and stars. In 1944, the tree wasn’t lit due to wartime blackout regulations. Fortunately, however, the tree was returned to its former splendor the very next year. Six ultraviolet

About 125 million people visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree every year, and it no longer just represents what era the American people find themselves in — it represents the enduring good will we strive to have for one another during the holidays.

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DECORATE CAREFULLY AND CONFIDENTLY With These Holiday Lights Safety Tips

When every house on your street is covered in twinkling lights, you know the holiday season is finally here. Holiday lights are a staple of the season, and any house that doesn’t have them looks barren when compared to its

your find your lights have become damaged while in storage, it might be time to get some new lights. HANG YOUR LIGHTS PROPERLY While many a merry decorator will reach for their trusty staple gun to secure their holiday lights to their roofs and gutters, it’s not the safest way to go about things. Staples, nails, screws, and other metal fasteners could potentially pierce the lights’ cords, creating electrical hazards. Instead, use plastic clips where you can, and explore other methods for securing your lights that don’t require your staple gun. PREP YOUR LIGHTS FOR THE OUTSIDE Holiday light strands meant for indoor use often have thinner insulation and can become cracked easily if used outside. Make sure you’re only using cords and lights retrofitted for harsh outdoor weather. Always use extension cords with three-pronged plugs, and plug them into ground fault circuit interrupter outlets, which will immediately shut off in the event of an electrical overload. You should also elevate your cords above ground to keep snow and water from ruining them.

decorated neighbors. That said, there’s quite a bit of preparation that goes into making sure you have the perfect lights display, and safety should be the primary concern. INSPECT YOUR LIGHTS FOR DAMAGE

Cracks, frayed ends, loose connections, or broken bulbs can all create safety hazards, so make sure you inspect your lights carefully before you hang them up. Damaged cords can lead to electrical shorts that can damage your decorations or even cause a fire. If

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ingredients • 1/2 cup canola oil, CRANBERRY GINGERBREAD Gingerbread is a holiday classic of the very first order, but it’s often a construction material rather than a treat. This recipe, on the contrary, is purely for eating. plus more for greasing • 3/4 cup unsulphured molasses • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated • 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped • 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp ground cloves • 1/2 tsp kosher salt

directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Grease a loaf pan with canola oil.

Holidays Flurry Frozen Penguin

Wreath Snowflake Winter Sleigh

Cookies Ornaments Reindeer Stockings

3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup canola oil, molasses, brown sugar, eggs, ginger, and cranberries. In a separate bowl, sift and combine flour with baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until blended. 4. Scrape batter into loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes. 5. Transfer to a rack, let cool for 20 minutes, slice, and serve.

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8834 N. Capital of Texas Highway Suite 304 Austin, TX 78759

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inside this issue

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M aximizing the V alue of Y our T ime

4 E co -F riendly W ays to D ecorate for the H olidays

T he H istory of the F amous R ockefeller C hristmas T ree

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H oliday L ights S afety T ips C ranberry G ingerbread

A bout U s

ABOUT US

Zinda Law Group is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that serves clients across Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and throughout the United States. Our accident lawyers have extensive experience handling a wide range of personal injury claims, including car accidents, 18-wheeler wrecks, wrongful death cases, motorcycle accidents, dog bites and animal attacks, drunk drivercrashes, and much more. Our firm is devoted to providing each client with all the resources of a large firm but with the individualized attention of a small practice. Unlike many other injury firms, we have the ability to conduct investigations, hire expert witnesses, and utilize cutting-edge technology to help you build the strongest case possible. The personal injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group can help you seek the full and fair recovery you deserve. With offices located in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona, Zinda Law Group has a nationwide reach to meet your needs where you are.

Visit ZDFirm.com or call us at 877-545-9251 to schedule your free consultation today.