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NOVEMBER 2022
communicate with the friend I was meeting in Portland. I needed it to monitor my midweek flight from Portland to Seattle, and navigate the city. I wouldn’t be able to Google the answers to my questions or show my friend pictures of Hannah. But most importantly, I needed my proof of vaccination to attend the dinner that evening with my friend in Portland! I was screwed! At least, I thought I was. A few minutes later, a different flight attendant tapped me on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” she said. “I heard that you left your phone at home. Would you like to borrow mine to text your husband?” I could have cried with relief! Who on Earth is willing to unlock their phone these days and hand it to a stranger? But this flight attendant did — and by the time we touched down in Minneapolis, Dave had responded. Thanks to my laptop and Dave’s quick thinking (he emailed my vaccination card when he realized I left my phone), I connected with my friend in Portland and got everything I needed to navigate life phone-free. In all, I went without my cellphone for five days. It was a strange experience. On the one hand, I felt incredibly frustrated by the things I couldn’t do. On the other hand, the situation forced me to live in the present. I went for a trail run with my friend and didn’t take a single nature photo. I was just there in the woods, soaking in the peace and the sound of my footfalls. Looking back a year later, I’m grateful for that no-phone experience. It helped me appreciate the convenience I usually take for granted and truly value Dave, the flight attendants, and everyone else who helped me along the way. This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to look for gratitude in unlikely places — and while you’re at it, consider mandating a phone-free meal. Don’t Google the answer to Grandpa’s trivia question, or let your turkey go cold while you take selfies. Instead, put the technology aside and just be in the moment. You’ll enjoy it more than you think. OH, SHOOT — I FORGOT MY PHONE! A HEARTWARMING STORY OF AIRPORT MAYHEM
A bout a year ago, I took a weeklong trip that totally changed the way I think about my cellphone. It all started on Friday when Dave dropped me off in front of the airport for my flight to Portland. He kissed me goodbye, then said, “Hey, when you get past security, be sure to text me your flight and hotel information. Okay?” “Sure, no problem!” I told him. I watched the car merge into traffic, grabbed my bags, and sped off into the airport. When I got to my gate, I dug around in my purse for my cellphone … and it wasn’t there. Adrenaline shot through me. My first thought was, “I have to tell Dave.” My flight was boarding in 15 minutes. There was no way he could make it back to the airport with my phone in time, but he needed to know what was going on. I rushed to the nearest payphone and fumbled with the keypad. It looked totally different from the payphones I remembered. Panic was coursing through my veins, my 15 minutes were ticking away, and I couldn’t get the dang thing to work. Then, a flight attendant called for first-class boarding. My shoulders slumped. I boarded the plane and sank into my seat, feeling dejected and overwhelmed. The flight attendant must have noticed my flustered expression because he leaned over to ask me what was wrong. “I left my phone at home,” I told him. The man audibly gasped! Clearly, he understood the full impact of my mistake, even if I didn’t yet know how badly I’d messed up.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Then it hit me. I had a layover in Minneapolis, and I needed my phone to locate a Sky Club to find my next gate. I had to use it to order an Uber and
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WINTER IS COMING
DON’T LET THOSE PIPES FREEZE! Depending on where you live, you may already be experiencing freezing temperatures that signal the impending approach of winter. But while you can bundle up and protect yourself from the cold, your home can’t, so you need to find ways to protect it from winter damage. One such area often overlooked is the plumbing system. When water freezes, its volume expands. When this happens inside of a pipe, it’s at risk of bursting. Water will begin to pour out of the busted pipe into your home until the water is shut off somewhere upstream. You’ll have to call a plumber to repair the broken pipes and may even need to replace your floors if they suffered from too much water damage. Thankfully, you can take some preventive measures to avoid the risk of freezing pipes. Proper Insulation Insulation should be installed around the pipes throughout your home. You can use special insulating tape or tube-shaped foam sleeves to protect your pipes in areas vulnerable to the cold. You should also check your attic insulation OUR TEAM TELLS THEIR ‘THANKFUL’ STORIES 3 BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE
to ensure it’s helping keep the house warm. Block any gaps in your doors or windows with caulking and weather stripping to keep the cold air out.
Consistent Heating and Running Water When you leave your home for work or vacation, you need to ensure the temperature does not drop too much in your home. Keep the heat on and leave your thermostat at a minimum of 55 degrees F. Keep one of your faucets open with a slow steady drip, but be sure to choose a tap that’s far from your main water shut-off valve to help relieve the pressure that an ice blockage could cause. Any cabinets that have plumbing within them (like under your sinks) should be kept open. Your warm house air will help prevent the pipes from freezing over. When a pipe bursts, you could be looking at expensive fees to get it repaired, so it’s much better to be proactive than reactive. Follow these tips and you shouldn’t need to worry about your pipes freezing this winter!
Libby Thorngate Operations Manager I got fired, without cause, from a truly terrible workplace. Three weeks later I had a job offer at Emery Law Office. I needed to leave the other job and I'm thankful the decision was made for me. Working here is a much better fit! Jessica Maza Receptionist Having a 2020 wedding was a blessing in disguise. I always wanted a more intimate wedding as opposed to a large one. So, during the time of social distancing, it was the perfect excuse to keep our ceremony small. Want to keep up with more of our team’s adventures? Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ EmeryLawOffice/ for the latest updates.
As Melissa shared on the cover of this newsletter, even the most terrible situations can have a hidden silver lining. Leaving her phone at home during her trip was awful, but it also changed how she looked at the world and left her feeling grateful. To keep that gratitude going, we asked our team to share their blessings in disguise. They came through with fantastic stories of heartbreak and happiness. Here are a few of our favorite answers! Ashley Gray-Ziba Attorney My friends and I once got lost while driving to Puebla City, Mexico. There was a lot of frustration with each other, there was panic, and we had a late check-in, but there were blessings, too. We got to see more of the countryside, go off the beaten path of the country, and stop to meet people. That never would have happened.
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BARKS FROM BELLA The Floor Food Is Coming! It’s almost time for the best days of the year: Thanksgiving and Christmas! I love ALL of the holidays that Mom and Dad celebrate because they get to stay home with me instead of going to work. But Thanksgiving and Christmas are extra special.
HAVE A LAUGH!
On those two days, all of our friends and family come over, including my best friend, Sadie. There are tiny humans and gray- haired humans everywhere . And you know what that means? Floor food! Ever since Dad went “vegan” last year, tasty floor food has been scarce around here. Sometimes he drops a piece of carrot, a blueberry, or a green bean, but that's about it. No more bacon scraps or fried egg pieces. It’s awful! Mom isn’t vegan, but she isn’t much help because she’s a tidy eater. I could sit by her chair forever without getting a single nibble.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
4 lbs pork loin
• • • • •
3 garlic cloves
2 tsp garlic powder 2 tsp salt, divided 1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp cinnamon
All of that will change on Thanksgiving. I bet I’ll score at least a few bites of turkey and maybe even some ham. If my sister Jessica comes home, I’ll definitely luck out. She doesn’t even make me wait for things to fall on the floor. She sneaks me snacks right from her hand! Mom and Dad don’t like it, but I think she’s the best sister ever.
8 apples
3 tbsp butter, softened
2 red onions
DIRECTIONS
WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help. 1. In a large bowl, season pork loin with garlic powder, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper, then cover and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes. 2. Preheat oven to 425 F. 3. Slice apples and onions, then chop garlic cloves. Season with brown sugar, olive oil, remaining salt, and cinnamon. 4. In a 9x13-inch baking dish, place a layer of apples and onions in the pan, put pork loin on top, then place remaining apples and onions around it. 5. Break butter into small pieces and place them on the pork loin and apples. Place dish in oven and let it bake for 15 minutes. 6. Reduce the heat to 350 F, then continue to bake for 60 minutes. 7. Remove dish and stir apples and onions. 8. Increase heat to 450 F, put dish in oven, and roast for an additional 8–10 minutes.
I’ve been dreaming about tasty floor food for months. For now, the best thing I get to eat is magic peanut butter. It’s a brand-new snack that Mom heard about from her work friend, Andrea. Andrea said it’s supposed to help pups during thunderstorms or fireworks. Boy, does it work! I stop shaking after just one lick. Once I finish the whole peanut butter scoop, the storm doesn’t even seem scary anymore.
Of course, sometimes when it thunders I still climb into bed with Mom and Dad. If I can’t have bacon regularly, at least I can have snuggles!
Wishing you happy holidays and lots of good snacks,
-Bella
call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
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INSIDE
MELISSA’S PHONE FIASCO 1
TIPS TO PREVENT YOUR HOME’S PIPES FROM FREEZING
3 DISASTERS WE’RE THANKFUL FOR 2
BELLA’S FAVORITE PART OF THANKSGIVING
ROASTED PORK LOIN WITH APPLES 3
MAN SAVES 5 FROM A BURNING HOME 4
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
LATE-NIGHT DRIVER BECOMES A SUDDEN HERO
Nicholas Bostic had a heated argument with his girlfriend one night, so he went out driving around to clear his head and relax. Little did he know he would become a hero that same night. During his drive, he witnessed a raging fire that had engulfed a family’s home. Bostic stopped his car and ran inside despite the flames. He immediately began yelling for anyone since no one appeared to be inside the house — not even emergency personnel. His cries woke up 18-year-old Seionna Barrett, the oldest of five children, and she gathered her siblings together to exit the home. Bostic ran to Barrett and her young siblings, and he helped her take the children outside. But Barrett then told Bostic that her 6-year-old sister wasn’t with them. Without a second thought, Bostic again entered the home, hoping to rescue the little girl.
couldn't find the little girl. Then, as he approached a window to exit the home, he heard a child’s cry. Bostic then had an internal conversation with himself: He knew the child needed help, and although he was terrified to go back downstairs through the fire and smoke, he wouldn’t quit. After wrapping his shirt around his mouth, he ran through the home, following the girl’s cries for help. Once he found her, he picked her up, ran upstairs, and jumped out the window onto the lawn. All of the children were safe and suffered no injuries. Bostic received first- degree burns and severe cuts on his arm. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital once first responders arrived at the scene. Bostic’s cousin created a GoFundMe to pay for Bostic’s medical bills, and it collected $556,000.
Today, Bostic is healthy and healing. He now has a new perspective on life and is looking forward to whatever his future might hold.
The fire continued to spread quickly, and Bostic described it as a “black lagoon” of smoke on the ground floor. He checked all of the bedrooms but
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