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DECEMBER 2018 WOODLYN WORD
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A Brennan Family Christmas
CELEBRATING THE SEASON TOGETHER
It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of winter. I much prefer the warm weather. Last year, my favorite part of the winter months was when my family took a trip to Cancun. That said, while I could do without the ice and snow, I always look forward to Christmas. My wife and I are the sort of people who, if we need something throughout the year, we will go buy it ourselves. This makes it a little difficult to shop for gifts. So, around Christmas, instead of trying to find that “perfect gift” for each other, we focus all our attention on our kids. When I was young, the holidays could be a little hard, so I have always tried to make Christmas extra special for my family. When my kids were young, every year was a good year.
always come out to visit us for Christmas. The kids don’t know a holiday without their grandparents. Plus, my father- in-law’s birthday
is Dec. 26, and we’ll often celebrate that, too. And I can’t forget the food. Christmas Eve
I loved to get up early on Christmas morning to set up the camera before the kids dove into their gifts. I’m not ashamed to say I spoiled the hell out of my kids around the holidays. My son got his first four-wheeler when he was 4 years old, and my daughter got a pony when she was around 3. Of course, with these kind of gifts came lessons in responsibility. My son learned a lot about safety when he got that four-wheeler, and when my daughter wanted to start riding horses, it meant she also had to learn how to take care of them. The presents are just one aspect of Christmas. My wife and I have also worked hard to create traditions that turn into lasting memories. We always went and picked out a fresh tree together and spent the evening decorating it as a family. In addition to Thanksgiving, my in-laws have
offers ham, while Christmas dinner is always a big steak fillet with sweet potatoes and green beans. There are a lot of
little things that come together to make Christmas happen, and I love them all.
No matter how much ice and snow come our way, I will always look forward to the holidays. I loved to put on a big Christmas for the kids when they were young, and now that they’ve grown, I value the time we have together. Both my kids are away for school at University of Delaware, so we only have them for a few weeks during the holidays. Every second counts. Giving gifts and eating great meals are fun, but being together as a family, creating memories and remembering the love we have for each other — that’s what Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all. I hope you have a wonderful celebration with your loved ones and enjoy a healthy and prosperous new year.
“I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO MAKE CHRISTMAS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR MY FAMILY.”
—Jim Brennan
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Slipping and Falling
WHEN YOU CAN’T STOP THE FALL, ROLL WITH IT
Slick roads and icy sidewalks become part of the landscape every winter, and every year, the risk of falling is very real. For many people, avoiding a fall can be difficult enough without ice coating every walkable surface. Young or old, here are a few ways you can stay on your feet this month. If the Boot Fits The correct footwear can save you from a nasty tumble or heart-stopping slip. Finding boots that are specifically designed to keep you steady on a slippery surface is a must. It’s also a great idea to buy waterproof footwear to keep your feet warm and dry in the snow. Ice cleats can be helpful as well; they slip over your regular shoes and give you the added grip you need. If you don’t want to wear your winter boots anywhere but outside, bring an extra set of shoes with you so that you can switch once indoors. One Step at a Time It’s important to move cautiously when you’re on an icy sidewalk. Make sure to keep your feet flat while you’re walking and your hands out of your pockets, which will help you
balance should you start to slip. It also helps to spread your weight out evenly by not walking with your feet close together. Try not to be distracted when you’re walking on ice — keep your eyes forward and make sure you know where you’re placing your feet. Knowing How to Fall Unfortunately, even with all the precautions in the world, falls still happen. While no one has invented a way to trip and fall gracefully, there are a few ways you can avoid a serious injury when it does happen. If you find yourself starting to fall, lean forward to help prevent a direct impact to your spine or the back of your head. Try to roll with it, or, if you’re falling backward, try to land on your bottom. Also, try not to catch your full weight with your arms or hands, as that can lead to broken arms or wrists. If you do slip and fall this winter, it’s important to address your injury. It’s better to seek out medical attention than ignore the problem, which can only get worse the longer you put it off.
BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE?
WHEN HOLIDAY DECORATIONS BECOME SAFETY HAZARDS
Don’t Drink the Water Some live trees are sprayed with chemical preservatives to keep them fresh longer. The chemicals on the tree aren’t usually harmful, but they can leach into the water in the tree stand and make it poisonous to drink. Make sure to keep the water dish covered so thirsty pets aren’t tempted to take a sip. A Holiday Fire Hazard Did you know Christmas tree fires are over four times deadlier than fires started by other sources? Here’s what you need to do to reduce the odds of your tree going up in flames: • Set up the tree at least 3 feet away from all heat sources, including candles, fireplaces, and heat vents. • Replace any old or damaged light strings. • Check that your tree has enough water every day. • Don’t keep a live tree for longer than four weeks, and get rid of it before New Year’s Eve. If you love your live Christmas tree, you don’t have to replace it with an artificial one to have a safe holiday. Just keep an eye on your tree and use proper precaution so your family can enjoy this beautiful tradition all season long.
Hey there!
This is Mookie, and I’m so excited for the holidays. Our family does a lot of decorating every year to make the house look festive. They’ll even bring a tree inside the house! I didn’t believe Brice when she first told me — a tree inside the house sounds too wild, even for humans — but she wasn’t pulling my tail. Christmas
trees are a real thing, and they’re awesome! However, bringing a live tree inside has some risks. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to make sure your family stays safe during the holidays. Be Careful With the Needles Fir needles are mildly toxic to dogs and cats. Chewing on tree needles can irritate the inside of our mouths, causing excess drooling or even vomiting. If your pet swallows a bunch of fir needles, they can get caught in their intestines and have potentially fatal consequences. If you can, make sure your pet isn’t left alone with the Christmas tree.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
– Mookie
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IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
Workers’ Comp and Choosing the Right Doctor
If you are injured at work, there aren’t many silver linings. You’re in pain, often unable to work, and stressed about paying your bills and putting food
and how your recovery process goes. For this reason, you want to take care and find a doctor who is the right fit for you. Here are a few factors to consider: • What is their area of specialty? Your family doctor may not be the best choice for a back injury. • Do they have experience with your kind of injury? A doctor who has treated this kind of injury before may have a better understanding of what you need to recover. That said, you don’t want to work with a doctor who offers cookie-cutter treatments without taking your unique situation into consideration. • In order to receive workers’ compensation benefits, you will need to make your doctor’s appointments. This is easier to do when your doctor is located near your home and available for regular appointments. • Do they understand workers’ compensation claims, and will they be willing to advocate on your behalf if you need to fight your employer’s insurance company? If you ever find yourself in a workers’ compensation case, make a point to find a doctor who will put your health first and help make sure you get the treatment you need. And remember, if you have a doctor and don’t feel like you are getting the right treatment, you can often switch health care providers. Don’t slow your recovery by resigning to poor care.
on the table. When dealing with a workers’ compensation case, it’s important to look for
any advantage you have. In Delaware at least, workers are fortunate that they are able to choose their own doctor.
Why is it important to choose my own doctor? A number of states allow employers to choose who an
injured employee goes to for treatment. It’s not uncommon for these so-called “company” doctors to tailor their evaluation or treatment, prioritizing the insurance
company’s costs over the recovery of a patient. Many company doctors have been known to send patients to work too soon or deny necessary surgeries to
save the company money.
While a Delaware employer can require you to have an examination performed by a company doctor, this does not mean they are the only doctor or medical provider you can turn to if you are hurt at work.
Holiday Roast Prime Rib
How do I choose a doctor? Your treating doctor plays a huge role in what kind of workers’ compensation benefits you receive
SUDOKU
Inspired by Food Network
Ingredients
• 1 bone-in prime rib (6–7 pounds) • 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon
fresh thyme, chopped • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 2 cups red wine • 4 cups beef stock
Directions
1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove roast from fridge and let sit until it reaches room temperature. 2. Heat oven to 350 F. 3. Make small slits in prime rib and stuff with slices of garlic. Liberally season with salt and pepper. 4. Place a rack inside a roasting pan and roast prime rib for 2 hours, until medium-rare. 5. To make au jus, place roasting pan with drippings from roast over 2 burners on high. Add wine and scrape pan as liquid reduces. Add beef stock and cook until reduced by half. Finally, sprinkle in thyme. 6. Slice roast and serve topped with au jus.
Solution on pg. 4
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What Makes a Merry Christmas 1
Solution from pg. 3
How to Slip and Fall the Right Way
The Wisdom of Retrievers 2
Do You Have the Wrong Doctor?
Holiday Roast Prime Rib 3
Everything You’ll Need for an Ugly Sweater Christmas 4
UGLY SWEATER PARTIES A Fun Trend You Can Easily Follow!
What Exactly Is an Ugly Sweater Party? It’s rather simple — slip on your favorite Christmas sweater, gather all your friends and family members, make sure there are plenty of refreshments and games, and you’re guaranteed to have a top-tier party. A few ugly-sweater-themed games that should be on the agenda include an ugly gift exchange, which is similar to the white elephant exchange, except with the gaudiest gifts you can find; an ugly photo booth, complete with terrible, tacky props; and, of course, an ugly sweater contest.
It’s speculated that the first ugly sweater party took place in Vancouver, Canada, back in 2001. Since then, the trend has become one of the most popular holiday party
themes. Come Thanksgiving, you’ll start to see racks in all types of
clothing stores lined with hideous sweaters. If you’re ready to jump on the ugly-sweater-party bandwagon this Christmas season, here are a few things to keep in mind.
This is the only time of year when slipping into a lurid red sweater with a stuffed Santa sewn on the front is considered trendy. So adorn yourself in the frumpiest, tackiest sweater you can
Your Very Own Ugly Sweater Ugly sweaters come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. You can head to H&M or a local thrift store to pick one up. However, if you have a sweater that’s been cozied up for years in the back of your closet or a drawer, now’s your chance to give it new life. Arm yourself with a hot glue gun, thread, and needle, and patch Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty on it. And let it be known that an ugly sweater isn’t complete without sparkles, beads, and sequins galore.
find, and have some fun this December!
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