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December 2019
Criminal & Traffic Defense | Immigration | Personal Injury
This Drafty Old House Lessons From Childhood Christmases and Classic Tales
About eight years ago, I finally watched a Christmas classic. To this day, I’mnot sure how I went that long without seeing the movie, but thanks tomy wife, it’s now a family tradition to gather around and watch“It’s aWonderful Life” every Christmas season. For those unfamiliar,“It’s aWonderful Life”follows the unlucky streak of a local business owner, George Bailey, around Christmastime. In this 1946 film, Bailey is struggling with a sick child, community pressure, lost money, and an angry businessman. As Christmas Day gets closer, George is on the verge of ending it all when an angel, Clarence, provides him a glimpse into what life would be like for his neighbors and family if George had never been born. There’s one line in particular that always sticks out tome. (Consider this a spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen the film!) After George learns that his life— regardless of howmeaningless and small it may feel at the time—does have value, he runs through the home he once grumbled
cousins each Christmas Day. I have somany memories of playing withmy cousins and seeing my family during the holiday. To this day, I’m reminded of the joy of these celebrations, when we would cram 20–30 people in the house. The hearty scents of the food that was being prepared, the sweet smell of the Christmas tree and candles, and the warmth of sweaters and cozy garments all made it memorable. As a kid, I took these gatherings for granted. I never thought about there being a time when my family wouldn’t be together or whenmy grandparents wouldn’t be more than a short drive away.When I look back on those special moments, sometimes I wish I knew to cherish them. Yet I’m aware that if I knew how important those moments would be, it would’ve overwhelmed me. Instead, I’mglad to have memories that are carefree and beautiful.
about yelling to his wife,“Oh, Mary! Look at this wonderful, drafty old house!”
It’s a line that is so innocuous and simple, but I believe it speaks volumes. In fact, whenever I catchmyself getting worked up in the day-to-day bustle and focusing on what’s going wrong, I say it tomyself just to put things into perspective. I have a loving family, a home for us all to live in, and a job that I ampassionate about. Thanks to George Bailey and the annual reminder“It’s aWonderful Life”provides, I have a little piece of advice to fall back on during difficult times. My kids are just getting to the age where the lessons in“It’s aWonderful Life”are beginning to stick, and I’mhappy to know they will have this movie in their Christmas memories as they grow up. I hope they will always remember that even just one action for someone else can impact that person’s life in ways we could never understand. We all have value. In addition to this great film, our holiday traditions are simple and carefree. My wife, children, and I spend the day together, enjoying a quiet holiday where we canmake our ownmemories. Growing up, my parents would host all my relatives and
Christmas was and it continues to be… wonderful.
Have a lovely holiday season,
-Kyle Manikas
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There’s No Expiration Date on Entrepreneurship THE JOYS OF STARTING A BUSINESS AFTER YOU ‘RETIRE’
As a nation, America is getting older. By 2030, 20% of Americans will be 65 or older. With people living longer than ever before and the baby boomers approaching retirement age en masse, older adults will continue to have a massive impact on the American economy at large. Normally, we think of seniors as people who cash in on the hard work they’ve already accomplished. Many young people even worry Social Security will be wiped out by the time they reach retirement age. But who’s to say older adults can’t contribute to the economy? If you’ve ever tried to change jobs late in your career or pick up some part-time work after retirement, you know it’s hard to be hired as a senior. Quartz recently called seniors “the economy’s most underused natural resource.” Until more employers understand the value and potential of older workers, entrepreneurship remains the most viable avenue for seniors wanting to work after their primary career has ended. There are a number of reasons why seniors find creating their own business to be rewarding and why they tend to succeed when they do. Unlike younger people, who often become business owners in an attempt to make a fortune, older entrepreneurs can be content with small, sustainable micro-businesses. They also approach their businesses with a wealth of experience that can’t be purchased. As a result, 70% of ventures founded by older entrepreneurs are still open five years later, more than double the rate of the general population.
With so much potential to be found in senior-run businesses, it’s no surprise that organizations are rushing to empower older adults with the tools they need to succeed. Senior Planet, a coworking space for seniors with outposts nationwide, teaches classes on skills like website creation in a space that makes older learners feel welcome and comfortable. On top of being an important economic driver, entrepreneurship can be a wonderful way for seniors to generate meaning and value in their lives. It’s never too late to start the business of your dreams.
Royal Rinks CURLING ATHLETES EVERY FAN SHOULD KNOW Every four years, as some of the world’s best Olympic athletes battle for gold medals, the world falls in love with curling. Curling originated in 16th-century Scotland and is most popular in Canada, where many Scots immigrated. Now, 480 years after the first recorded instance of curling occurred on a frozen pond in Scotland, many devotees have left their mark on the sport’s history. These are just a few of the greats. Harvey Mazinke Curling Team In 1973, Canada held its collective breath as the Harvey Mazinke Curling Team took their final shot in a world championship match against Sweden. The rock ultimately failed to reach the rings, crowning Sweden as world champions and snapping the 10-0 record Harvey Mazinke had built during a week of competition. But regardless of that final score, Harvey Mazinke’s impact on the sport was not diminished. The team was crowned the Canadian Men’s Curling Champions in 1973, and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame recognizes them as “ambassadors to the game.”
Roy Thiessen Choosing only one devoted coach to highlight is difficult, but it must be Roy Thiessen. Roy coached championship teams —or rinks, as they are called in curling— at both provincial and national levels. His expertise led him to chair the first Saskatchewan Summer Games in 1972, theWorld Junior Men’s Curling Championships in 1979, and theWorld Ladies’Curling Championships in 1983. Budding athletes can learn all of Roy’s secrets and the fundamentals of curling in the numerous books he wrote.
Joyce McKee Curling Team Without Joyce McKee, Sylvia Fedoruk, Donna Belding, and Muriel Coben, the Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship, now called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, would have never become the nationally recognized organization it is today. The aforementioned women were part of the Joyce McKee rink and were the first winners of the championship in 1960. Their style, play, and knowledge propelled women’s curling into the leagues of men’s competitions, proving that women could compete at just as high of a level as their male peers. To this day, the Joyce McKee rink’s accuracy is unparalleled. If you can’t wait another two years before curling hits center stage at the Winter Olympics, check out the podcast “Curling Legends” to get your fix of curling greatness.
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TAKE A BREAK
We all know reindeer visit our rooftops every Christmas Eve, but what brings them there? Follow the unique and complicated history of Santa’s reindeer to find out. A visit fromwho on what night? In the 1820s, Clement Clarke Moore penned a holiday poem that became the foundation for a phenomenon still alive today. Commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,”“A Visit From St. Nicholas” is a beloved story shared by every generation. It is in this poem that reindeer were first credited with powering Santa’s sleigh around the globe. Many popular songs, movies, and plays have preserved Moore’s vision of St. Nick, and his reindeer and their names are no exception. (Well, kind of.) Rudolph wouldn’t join the squad until a department store added him as part of their promotions in the 1930s. What’s in a name? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, and Cupid were all brought to life by Moore, but have you ever heard of Dunder and Blixem? Though we now know the duo as Donner and Blitzen, Moore originally named them Dunder and Blixem— the Dutch words for thunder and lightning — but publishing companies wanted names that would rhyme better with the rest of the poem. Still, it was a few decades before Donner and Blitzen made their appearances in the version of the poem we know today. Reindeer burgers, anyone? Moore’s poem paved the way for Santa’s most famous form of transportation, but it was actually Carl Lomen, an Alaskan businessman, who mass-marketed reindeer as Santa’s companions. In the late 1890s, the Sami natives of Northern Europe, who were longtime reindeer herders, made their passage from Norway to the U.S. with a herd of reindeer to invigorate the Alaskan landscape and help their native neighbors. Lomen saw the reindeer as an opportunity and partnered with the Macy’s department store company to create a promotional Christmas parade in which Santa, led by his reindeer, a sleigh, and Sami herders, were prominently featured. Lomen’s goal was to promote his massive reindeer conglomerate for the production and sale of reindeer meat. Instead, a holiday story was born. WHAT ABOUT DUNDER AND BLIXEM? The Strange History of Santa’s Reindeer
CLASSIC ROAST CHICKEN
Inspired by Ina Garten
Ingredients
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1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
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1 chicken, approx. 5–6 lbs
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2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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Kosher salt
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1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
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Freshly ground pepper
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1 large bunch fresh thyme, 20 sprigs removed
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1 lemon, halved
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Olive oil
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse chicken inside and out, removing giblets if included. Move to a work surface, pat dry, and liberally season with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with thyme bunch, lemon halves, and garlic head. Brush outside with butter, and then season again. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen string. 3. Meanwhile, in a roasting pan, toss onions and carrots in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and 20 sprigs of thyme. 4. Place the chicken on the vegetables and roast for 1 1/2 hours. 5. Remove from oven, and let stand for 20 minutes covered with foil. 6. Slice and serve with the vegetables.
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703-556-0004 www.LawyerAdvocate.com 10513 Judicial Drive, #203 Fairfax, VA 22030 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Criminal & Traffic Defense | Immigration | Personal Injury
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It’s Truly a Wonderful Life
The Power of Senior Entrepreneurship Get to Know Some of Curling’s Best Athletes
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Classic Roast Chicken How Santa Claus Became Powered by Reindeer
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Glamping at Its Finest
YURT SWEET YURT GLAMPING IN BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS
Spruce Hole Yurt, Colorado
The allure of the great outdoors calls to many, but pitching a tent and cooking over a fire isn’t for everyone. If that describes you, consider the yurt: a small, permanent structure often outfitted with electricity, plumbing, and other modern amenities. Expertly nestled in remote locations, they provide comforts of home in the midst of nature. Here are just a few around the United States available for rent. For those new to the glamping scene, this is a great choice for an easy transition. With picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean, the Treebones Resort in Big Sur has an array of spaciously comfortable yurts to choose from. The resort has heated pools, a cozy lodge, and even a sushi bar. About an hour up the coastline, you can find a few shops, restaurants, and art galleries if you decide you’ve gotten your dose of nature for the day. Treebones Resort, California
Nestled in the San Juan Mountains about 10 miles north of New Mexico, this yurt is a snow- lover’s paradise. Skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking trails are plentiful in this backcountry location. At the end of a chilly day, come home to comfy beds, cooking supplies, and decor made to feel like you’re camping — but with sturdy walls to keep out the cold. For the glampers who truly want to get away, hike just under 1 mile into the woods of the Adirondack Mountains to discover rustic yurts beckoning you to cook over a fire or bundle up with a book. At night, the yurt’s domed skylight offers excellent stargazing. For those keen on winter activities, skiing and snowshoeing trails start right outside the front door. In the summer, enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming. Falls Brook Yurts, NewYork
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