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TEXAS TRIAL LAWYERS REVIEW
OCTOBER 2018
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Hard Work and Tradition Lessons From Halloween
Well, Halloween is fast approaching, and I’m sure a lot of parents out there are putting in the work to let their kids dress up as their favorite movie heroes. As someone who grew up in the Star Wars era, I certainly remember wanting to be Luke and Han most years. I even had a friend who had his own Jawa costume, complete with a hooded robe and glowing eyes. My family never really had the money for something as elaborate as that. As badly as I wanted to be one of those heroes from that galaxy far far away, I was content with whatever plastic masks with rubber bands we could find on sale. This was back when my family was living in Chicago — my dad was putting himself through law school, and things were tight. But my mom and dad always had a strong work ethic, and I saw how much their efforts paid off. After graduating, my father moved our family to Houston, and I had to get used to life as a Texan. While there were plenty of regional differences to get used to, Halloween and trick-or-treating still felt much the same way they had back in the Windy City, though it was a bit warmer. This first move prepared me for a much larger case of culture shock in the years to come. As I entered adolescence, my father was hired on as a corporate lawyer for Aramco Saudi Arabia, and so we moved halfway across the globe. Going from my life in the States to the Middle East was quite the transition, and one that gave me a lot of perspective on both the world and my parents.
As far as I know, my mom and dad never set out to be world travelers. They married young and worked their way up, eventually both finding careers in the legal profession. When I was a child, we never took vacations or talked about traveling abroad. It was only when my father’s hard work brought us to Saudi Arabia that my parents thought to themselves, “Well, we’ve come this far, why not see the rest of the world?” By the time I was 13, I’d seen most of the globe. I vividly remember seeing the dizzying lights of Hong Kong to this day. But more than any particular memory, learning to appreciate the differences and recognize the similarities in people across cultures is what stuck with me the most. That, and fittingly enough, the importance of traditions like Halloween.
Within our community of expats in Saudi Arabia, trick-or-treating still took place much the same way as it had in my childhood. I was free to roam the neighborhood (within the confines of the company compound) in costume, hunting for candy the same way I always had. The ubiquity of holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving across countries and regions is something I came to appreciate. My parent’s hard work took me around the world, where I got to experience new cultures and worldviews. But no matter where I was, traditions like Halloween always made me feel at home.
Happy Halloween,
Alex R. Hernandez, Jr.
The ubiquity of holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving across countries and regions is something I came to appreciate.
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If you’re a parent or guardian, chances are that your children are excited to get out and go trick-or-treating at the end of the month. While this can be a great tradition for kids and parents alike, it’s important to take precautions to make sure everyone stays safe while going door to door. Sadly, children are twice as likely to be fatally struck by cars on Halloween, according to the CDC. Here’s our advice to keep your costumed kids safe. Road Safety Is Important on Hall Ghouls and Goblins
A LOVELY NIGHT FOR A RUN Should You Go for a Run After Dark?
OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS
As you’re out walking with your trick-or-treaters, make sure everyone respects the rules of the road and the flow of traffic. This means using crosswalks and
Have you ever been driving home after dark and seen someone jogging on the side of the road? You might have thought they were crazy for waiting until so late in the day to go for a run, but there is actually research that suggests running in the evening is better than going for a run at any other time of day. Here are a few reasons why you should save your run until you can join all the things that go bump in the night.
YOU CAN HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.
Imagine this scenario: You are taking a road trip across the state with your family. You packed snacks for the road, your kids are getting along in the back seat, and traffic isn’t too chaotic, so you are making great time. Off in the distance, you see the bright orange sign you were desperately hoping to avoid. It reads, “Road Construction Ahead.” As you meander up the interstate, you see a long line of cars forced to stop due to a small collision that occurred in the construction zone. Fortunately, those involved in the accident are not injured, but now your trip is not only postponed due to road construction, but you also have to wait until the crash site is clear before you can proceed. If you have ever come across a scene like this one, you might have found yourself pondering the logistics of accidents in construction sites. When vehicle collisions occur in a construction zone, they can be severely complicated. Just as with any other accident, there may be multiple drivers at fault. But in the case of a construction zone accident, the number of cars in a localized area is much larger. These high numbers amplify the possibility that more people will be involved. Zone Collisions Let Us Help You Gather the Details The Complexities of Construction
Many people who run first thing in the morning find themselves pressed for time. Hitting the snooze button is not an option, and with so little time, breakfast is usually a banana on the way out the door. Moving your run to the evening means you can enjoy a more leisurely morning. Not feeling stressed out first thing in the morning can also lead to a more relaxed day.
YOU CAN PUSH YOURSELF HARDER.
It can be hard to get a good workout in the morning after your muscles have been still for eight hours during sleep. A study at the University of North Texas found that your body is better prepared to exercise in the evenings, since your muscles have been warming up all day. With improved muscular function and strength, you can push yourself harder and see greater improvement.
YOU SLEEP BETTER.
You will obviously feel tired after a good run, so why not time it right and use this to your advantage? Research from the University of South Carolina found that people who ran before bedtime enjoyed a better night of sleep and increased energy levels when they woke up, meaning they felt more awake and better rested throughout the following day. The best time to run is honestly whenever you have time to run, but if it works with your schedule, nighttime running might provide your best workout ever. Just remember that if you do decide to save your run for after sunset, you should stay safe by wearing bright, reflective clothing, sticking to the left side of the road, and running only in well-lit, populated areas.
To add to the complexity of these kinds of accidents, there are instances wherein the construction companies are responsible for the accident.
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re Still Pedestrians
TAKE A BREAK
ween
sidewalks whenever they are available. Young children may get excited and run across the street if left unattended, so it’s best to hold hands even when you aren’t planning to cross yet.
MASKS OFF WHILE WALKING
No matter how cool or spooky your child’s mask is, it likely also obscures their vision. They may miss a car or cyclist while walking between houses and driveways. While moving between houses, have your kids take off their masks and assure them they can don them again when it comes time to yell “Trick or treat!”
STAND OUT
‘HEADLESS’
Ideally, you’ll want to finish trick-or-treating before darkness falls, but either way, it’s important to ensure your children remain visible to drivers. Even if they dress as a dark witch or grim reaper, finding creative ways to incorporate reflective tape can help ensure drivers see your child as the sun begins to set.
APPLES ON HORSEBACK
IF YOU’RE DRIVING, DO YOUR PART
There is only so much parents and trick-or-treaters can do on the road to stay safe. If you plan to be out driving on Halloween, make sure you are extra attentive, particularly in neighborhoods. Clean those dusty windshields and never drive while under the influence. Let’s do our part to make sure everyone stays safe this Halloween. In many cases, the road workers have misplaced signs or cones, left equipment in problematic areas, or just created an unsafe environment for drivers to navigate. Here at Alex R. Hernandez Jr. Trial Lawyers PLLC, our team of attorneys is well-versed in gathering all of the last minute but important details associated with construction zone accidents. If you or someone you know is dealing with the aftermath of a collision in these zones, don’t let yourself get overwhelmed trying to sort out all the elements. Alex R. Hernandez Jr. handles accidents in construction zones involving all parties. These cases are specialized and require special effort to determine responsibility for the accident. If you have questions or want a free case evaluation, call 1-888-HDZ-LAW-8 or text your legal issue to 1-361-792-3811.
A take on the classic “devils on horseback” hors d’oeuvres, this recipe requires only three ingredients. These little bundles of flavor are the perfect finger food for your next get-together.
INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS
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16 very thin slices of pancetta (or cured, unsmoked bacon)
1. Core apples and cut each into 8 wedges. Remove rind of manchego cheese and cut into 2-inch sticks. 2. Heat a grill pan or skillet to medium-high. 3. On a cutting board, lay pancetta or bacon slices flat and place an apple wedge and piece of cheese in the center of each. 4. Roll pancetta tightly and skewer with toothpick. 5. Grill until cheese is melted and pancetta or bacon is golden and crispy, about 5 minutes. 6. Drain excess grease on a paper towel and serve hot.
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2 pink lady apples
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3 ounces manchego cheese, 1/4 inch thick
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Toothpicks for skewering
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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INSIDE
1. Lessons From Halloween
2. Running at Witching Hour
2. Road Safety on Halloween
2. The Complexities of Construction Zone Collisions
3. ‘Headless’ Apples on Horseback
4. The Surprising Origins of Trick-or-Treating
WHY THERE ARE KIDS ON YOUR PORCH ASKING FOR CANDY
The History of Trick-or-Treating
As Halloween looms and you load up your grocery cart with candy, you may ask yourself, “Why do I provide these spooky gremlins with a sugar high every Oct. 31, anyway?” Well, when your doorbell starts ringing around 6 p.m. this All Hallows’ Eve, you can thank the Celts for this tradition of candy and costumes. Halloween itself is a kind of mishmash of four different cultural festivals of old: two Roman fêtes, which commemorated the dead and the goddess of fruit and trees (not at the same time); the Celtic Samuin or Samhain, a new
The Catholic Church was never a big fan of these pagan traditions, so they renamed it “All Saints’ Day” and gussied it up in religious garb. By the 11th century, people were dressing up as saints, angels, and the occasional demon instead of spirits. Eventually, costumed children started tearing through town begging for food and money and singing a song or prayer in return — a practice called “souling.” But when did they start dressing up as Minions? Starting in the 19th century, souling turned to “guising,” which gave way to trick-or-treating in mid-20th- century America, and the costumes diversified. So put on some clown makeup and a big smile, scoop up a handful of sweets, and scare the living daylights out of ‘em — ‘tis the season!
year’s party thrown at the end of our summer; and the Catholic All Saint’s Day, designed to replace Samuin and divorce it from its pagan origins. Long before there were young’uns on your porch dressed as Thanos with candy-filled pillowcases in hand, the Celts believed that Samuin marked an overlapping of the realms of the living and the dead. To trick the spirits leaking into our world, young men donned flowing white costumes and black masks — a great disguise when ghosts were about.
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