Take a look at our December newsletter!
The Medl in News
DECEMBER 2021
ONE TRADITION AT A TIME Reflecting on Christmas Memories
As I write this before December arrives in full swing, I hope you’re not reading this in the middle of another unusual snowstorm. Last year’s cold spell was pretty incredible, although my family got lucky in terms of keeping our power on. But back in my day, the onlyway for a Texan boy to have a “white Christmas” was to go skiing — so we’d take a trip to Red River, New Mexico.
This Christmas will likely finally be the year I get to start that tradition with my family. My 9-year-old is old enough to go skiing for the first time, and I’d love for her to enjoy a white Christmas like I did. Although she’s gone sledding and enjoyed snow here and there, she hasn’t been to a place with lots of snow (like a ski resort) in the winter time. The biggest difference perhaps between our trips and most kids’ Christmas memories is that my sisters and I wouldn’t open our actual presents on Christmas Day. Because we’d spend the whole Christmas holiday traveling, our parents would take a picture and write a description of our gifts, which they’d wrap, and then we’d “open” our presents to find out what theywere. It was only later that we’d drive home and get to enjoy them. If they were smaller gifts, however, we could bring them! I think Nadia will love skiing. She takes after me and has no fear, even though I hope she has a little more than her father. Horseback riding, gymnastics, tennis, and golf are all things she loves doing, and she has a real knack for them. Who knows — maybe I’ll teach Nadia how to make a popcorn string too.
“It’s never too late to make the most out of the holidays while we still can.”
I’ve talked about it before, but our family had one of the most classic Christmas traditions: chopping down your own tree. With the right permits, we’d go down to the forest, size up an evergreen pine tree for ourselves, chop it down, and bring it home. Then, we’d prepare and string together popcorn and cranberries into long decorative strings and hang them around the tree. With some Christmas lights and peppermint candy cane sticks, our tree would look amazing. But the main event wasn’t choosing our tree in the beautiful forest filled with the smell of pine. My favorite part was visiting the ski lodge to experience a much whiter — and snowier — Christmas than what we’d get in Dallas. For both the snow and the thrills, skiing was always a magical experience. In fact, skiing was my favorite sport for a long time and remains one of my most favorite activities I’ve ever done.
No matter what your traditions are, I hope you’re enjoying them a little extra this year. You might’ve spent a lot of time separated from your loved ones, but it’s never too late to make the most out of the holidays while we still can. It’s never worth waiting until they’re taken away from us.
– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
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Smoothies Aren’t Just for Summer Anymore! 5 Holiday Ingredients to Toss Into Your Blender
The drinks of choice for winter are usually warm and cozy — apple cider, hot chocolate, and wassail all have their place on the table. But no rule says you have to drink something hot when it’s snowy outside. In fact, a cold beverage might keep you warmer! A study from the Thermal Ergonomics Lab at the University of Ottawa found that when you drink something hot, it can cause you to sweat more and, as a result, will actually cool you off more than a cold drink! Crazy, right? Of course, you could probably reverse the heat loss by bundling up in a sweater so your sweat doesn’t evaporate. But if you’re in your warm, cozy home, why not go for a cold drink like a smoothie? You can even add some holiday cheer to your healthy(ish) treat with one of these five seasonal ingredients. 1. Peppermint — For a protein-rich smoothie that tastes like a candy cane, blitz together almond milk, yogurt, almond butter, mint leaves, ground cinnamon, and a few drops of peppermint extract. 2. Cinnamon — If you love chocolate chip cinnamon rolls, you need to try the smoothie version! Frozen bananas, coconut milk, vanilla yogurt, cacao powder (which is packed with antioxidants), vanilla extract, and cinnamon are the secrets to a healthy version of your favorite Christmas breakfast.
3. Cranberries — Cranberries are both festive and packed with vitamins and antioxidants that may help fight heart disease and cancer. To cash in on those benefits, whip up a smoothie with frozen cranberries, pear slices, goji berries, orange juice, coconut milk, and flax seeds. 4. Ginger —What screams Christmas more than gingerbread? You can make a delicious smoothie version of the cookie with rolled oats, chia seeds, yogurt, nutmeg, cinnamon,
ginger, ground cloves, vanilla extract, and molasses to reap the anti-inflammatory and nausea-fighting benefits of ginger.
5. Eggnog — Eggnog is far from a healthy drink, but it’s a holiday favorite! To enjoy it in a new way, blend it up with a scoop of vanilla protein powder and ice after your workout.
5 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE NEWEST GUN LAW
You’ve probably heard of the House Bill 1927 Legislation, which came into effect on Sept. 1, 2021. The primary purpose of the bill was to give Texans the legal right to carry a handgun in non-prohibited public places without having a license to carry. Prior to the implementation of the bill, only individuals with permits were allowed to carry their handguns in public, regardless of whether their handguns were concealed or unconcealed. However, if individuals choose not to conceal their handguns, they are required to keep their guns in holsters and are not permitted to carry a gun in their hands in public. Without further ado, let’s dive into some important facts about the bill. No. 1: Open Carry Age Restrictions Under the new bill, only individuals ages 21 years or older are permitted to carry a handgun in public. No. 2: Locations Where Firearms Are Prohibited Some of the key locations where individuals are prohibited from carrying handguns currently include schools, college campuses, courts, racetracks, hospitals, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and amusement parks. Firearms are also prohibited from high school, college, and professional sports events and bars.
It’s worth noting that the state currently classifies any establishment which obtains 51% or more of its profit from the sale of alcoholic beverages as a bar. Lastly, civilians aren’t allowed to carry handguns past the security section of any airport in the state of Texas. Any individual who carries a handgun into prohibited locations and events will be subjected to harsh penalties. No. 3: Private Businesses’ Rights to Ban Handguns While individuals may now freely carry handguns in public without a permit, under the bill, all private businesses still have the right to refuse entry to individuals carrying handguns under Penal Code Chapter 30.05. However, any business that opts to prohibit their customers from carrying firearms on their premises must place a clearly visible sign stating their rules at the entrance to their premises. No. 4: The Exceptions Not all individuals are able to carry a visible or concealed gun in publicly permitted locations as a result of the bill. For instance, individuals who have been charged with specific misdemeanors in the past five years, such as assault which has caused injury or any disorderly conduct with a firearm, are explicitly prohibited from carrying a handgun in public.
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PUZZLE TIME
Sloppy Joes
Opt for a little comfort food this December!
Ingredients
• • • • • •
1 lb ground beef
• • • • • •
1 cup tomato sauce 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp butter
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tspWorcestershire sauce 1 tsp Italian seasoning Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup ketchup
Directions
1. In a large skillet, melt butter and brown beef over medium heat. 2. Add onion and pepper, stirring occasionally. Cook for 4 minutes and add garlic. 3. Mix in remaining ingredients, then bring mixture to a boil. 4. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 5. Serve on your choice of bun!
Candles Celebration Jingle Jolly Mistletoe Ornament
Present Santa Sleigh Stocking Wassail Wreath
Inspired by JoCooks.com
Such individuals are only permitted to carry a handgun in their home and car. In order to deter such individuals — who may pose a significant threat to the general public — from ignoring
the restrictions imposed against them, any individual who is banned from carrying a handgun due to a recent demeanorwill face serious penalties if they are caught by law enforcement. No. 5: Individuals Cannot Be Detained Simply for Carrying a Handgun in a Public Area In order for a law enforcement officer to legally detain a suspicious individual, they must have sufficient evidence to detain the individual in question. Currently, simply carrying a handgun in public is not deemed a strong enough reason for a law enforcement officer to detain someone. If you have questions or have been detained for open carrying, don’t hesitate to call our office. This new law provides provi - sions that will protect your Second Amendment rights.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1.
Take It One Tradition at a Time
2.
5 Key Ingredients for Delicious Holiday Smoothies
A Quick Guide to the House Bill 1927 Legislation
3.
Sloppy Joes
4.
Your Attorney Is Good for Your Health!
THE NEXT BIG HEALTH SECRET Why Seeing an Attorney May Be Good for You!
Consulting with an attorney when you are facing legal trouble allows you to have an advocate and expert in your corner who is fighting for you and your rights. And according to recent studies, it may be good for your health too! According to NPR, a 2017 study of Veterans Affairs offices in Connecticut and New York found that veterans who saw clinic attorneys reported improved mental health within three months after their initial meetings. Additionally, in Colorado, a five-year
issues or problems as a result of losing their jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic. By consulting with lawyers — in addition to psychiatrists, social workers, and medical doctors — patients are lowering their stress levels, improving their physical well-being, and staying closer to their families. But howdoes this work? To answer that question, we have to examine the toll stress takes on our bodies. Constant stress, like concerns about visitations or deportation, can cause our bodies to fail. This often
survey of 69 patients from 2015 to 2020 found that patients in Medicaid programs who saw attorneys at their clinics had a decrease in the amount of physical health problems they were facing. While further studies are needed to corroborate this evidence, the message is clear: Finding solutions to your legal concerns through an attorney is healthy! This idea has led to several states permitting Medicaid patients to use some of their health care dollars toward legal clinical programs. For example, in Colorado, some chronically ill patients are struggling with immigration
leads to headaches, heartburn, a weakened immune system, insomnia, stomach problems, and more. These problems then compound into other issues, causing the body to spiral when intervention isn’t possible. However, when the source of stress is relieved, the side effects are eliminated as well. This can powerfully help people who are facing potentially life-altering legal situations. So, while your attorneymay not be able to performheart surgery or help alleviate your knee pain, their expertise may be just what you need to feel better in the long run.
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