Berlin Law Firm April 2018

Berlin Law Firm April 2018

LEX CANIS THE

Money Can Buy You Happiness Through Experiences

My wife and I love to travel. We didn’t always travel as much as we do now, and it wasn’t always to different countries. But through our experiences, we learned how precious these trips were to us. For nine years, we used to vacation in Indian Wells for the BNP Tennis Tournament every year around the first or second week of March. It was what we looked forward to — it was our big vacation. We had season tickets and spent 10–12 days soaking in the sun and watching as much tennis as we possibly could. We knew everyone around us because they visited year after year, too. We started treating Indian Wells and Palm Springs like a second home — we knew the best places to stay, eat, and play, and we didn’t need a GPS to get around. It was neat, but we realized that there was much of the world we hadn’t seen. We’d been on cruises before to Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Mexico, and we really enjoyed that, but we wanted something a cruise couldn’t offer. The two of us had always wanted to go to Europe, so we decided to look for something we could enjoy there. While searching, I found the seven-day “Best of Paris” tour with Rick Steves, which happened to be at the same time as the French Open. It was perfect! I went ahead and bought the best seats I could — center court — and we were set to go. The

week was unforgettable. We had such an amazing time that we became hooked immediately. My wife and I agreed that this was the type of touring we wanted to do. Out of all the trips I’ve taken, seeing the Eiffel Tower was one of my favorite moments. Because it was our first trip doing something like that, it has stuck with me. We were staying two blocks away from the tower. It’s so much larger than I would have thought. It was so surreal to just look over, and there it was. My other favorite moment was definitely stepping foot into Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland-Garros for the first time. Estelle and I are tennis fans, and experiencing a moment like that was breathtaking. For the first time traveling to Paris and watching the French Open, it was perfect. From this trip and those that followed, I discovered that these experiences are important. Investing the time, money, and energy into these trips makes each one of them memorable and long-lasting. It’s true that money can buy you nice things, but they’re just that — things. In the end, they’re just inanimate objects — but an experience will stay with you. These adventures are the type of possesion that my wife and I can think back on and know for sure

Estelle and me seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time

Berlin Law Firm • DefendingTulsa.com As you read this article, I’ll have just returned from another Rick Steves tour in March, this time in Italy. I continue to try to make as many memorable experiences as I can with Estelle. We’re always excited and eager for our next adventure. - Lee Berlin that we’d absolutely do it again. Instead of buying something like a fancy car, we save our money for our experiences.

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Meet Our Paralegal

Cyndie!

Here at Berlin Law Firm, we have a new paralegal with us, Cyndie Wood. Cyndie has been in law for about 18 years and first got involved with Lee Berlin through a mutual friend. Of Berlin, she says, “The reason why I’m very impressed with him is that he’s more for the client than about the money.” Berlin Law Firm’s focus is one of a kind, and everyone at the firm puts all they can into this branch. “I’ve been with this line of law for a long while, and I’m impressed with how client- orientated Lee is.” “When you put so many years into a career, and you go with someone who continues to help out everyone,” Cyndie explains, “who you work for is a reflection of who you are, and who you employ is a reflection on you. That’s why I chose Lee. My goal in life is to work for someone who loves this field as much as I do and who really appreciates this branch of law, and that’s Lee.” Berlin Law is very team-based. When a client walks through the door, it’s a group effort to ensure they are taken care of. “Everyone plays a part when a client comes in,” Cyndie says. “If we’re going to succeed, we’re going to succeed together.” When she’s not working, Cyndie is spending time with her two children and three grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Larami (age 10), Kylar (age 8), and Cade (age 5), and her children are April and Zac. They like to go camping in the summer and enjoy winter resorts in the colder months. “We go to Winter Park in February of almost every year,” Cyndie remembers fondly. “We’re an adventurous family. We go from hot to cold or cold to hot.” Cyndie’s passion for her career and her family reflects on our company. Berlin Law strives for a client-orientated workplace, and with Cyndie on our side, we can be sure each client is appreciated.

Gardening: Bringing Family Together

Why You Should Consider Investing in a Family Garden

After spending a winter cooped up inside with your family, there might be a little tension between everyone. Fortunately, it’s spring, and the warm weather, melting snow, and blooming flowers offer a good way to ease restlessness. This season, why not bring your family closer together by starting a family garden? A LEARNING EXPERIENCE Nearly every step in the gardening process can be a learning experience for kids and parents alike. Begin by discussing where you should start and why, what supplies you’ll need, and the types of plants you want to grow. Gardening also offers opportunities to learn about science, ecology, and nutrition. COLLABORATION Gardening gives your family a chance to collaborate. When you’re stuck inside for long periods, you may be spending time together, but it’s usually not quality time. Working in a group to create and maintain a garden is a hands-on experience for everyone. It’s a chance to get the whole family involved with a single project, and you can literally share the fruits of your labor. there are many variables to consider. Do you want to grow edible plants, ones that have magnificent blossoms, or ones that are easy to care for? Flowers are a good start if you want a plant that grows a little faster; plus, they lend a pop of color to your garden. Growing vegetables is also rewarding, as the kids will take great pleasure in eating what they’ve grown. Other possibilities include sunflowers, blackberries, peas, and lettuce. You might be surprised at how willingly children eat their greens when they’ve had a hand in growing them. Family gardens can bring something new and fresh to your home. So, get outside, enjoy the sun, and discover the joys of plants and gardening. DECIDING ON PLANTS When it comes to deciding which plants you want in your garden,

2 Berlin Law Firm • 918-770-0172

Think

Before You Snap

Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps available. The company claims that anything you send to someone else will be deleted soon after it gets opened. But does Snapchat really erase your photos? On the surface, yes. A few seconds after a picture or video is viewed, it gets deleted from the recipient’s phone — but not from the server. For instance, if you send a picture to a friend, and they don’t open the app to view your photo, that picture will stay on the server. The expiration for anything sent on the app is 30 days, so your picture won’t be permanently deleted for an entire month. When sending a picture, it’s best to assume that it won’t be deleted for a while. Keep in mind that anything you send could potentially

come back to haunt you. The people you send pictures to can screenshot the photos you send, and there’s not much you can do about it after the fact. Also, Snapchat’s Memories feature allows you to save pictures within the app. Snapchat won’t delete anything you put here — you would have to go in and delete the photos or videos yourself for them to be removed. The only way to ensure your photos and videos aren’t floating around in cyberspace without your consent is to refrain from sending them in the first place. Think before you send a picture or video that could harm you or anyone else. It might save you a lot of grief later on.

Pasta with Turkey and Broccoli

Inspired Be

Ingredients • 3/4 pounds pasta

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped

(shells or orecchiette)

• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

• 2 cups broccoli florets

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• Salt

• 1 pound ground turkey

• Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli when pasta is 1 minute from done. Drain both and return to pot. 2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, garlic, crushed red pepper, and a pinch of salt. Cook while breaking up meat with a wooden spoon for 3–5 minutes. 3. Combine turkey with pasta and broccoli mixture, adding the remaining olive oil as you stir. Serve in bowls topped with Parmesan cheese.

(Recipe inspired by realsimple.com.)

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Inside This Issue

Traveling Done Right Page 1

Gardening: Bringing Family Together Our Newest Addition at Berlin Law Page 2 Does Snapchat Really Delete Everything? Page 3

Fooled Again The History of April Fools’ Day

Although April Fools’ Day has been celebrated for centuries by cultures around the world, the holiday’s origin is unclear. Historians point to a variety of possible beginnings, but the only solid conclusion is that the April Fools’ Day we know today is a blend of traditions. THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR In 1582, France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Some people were slow to get the news, and others failed to recognize that the start of the year had moved from April 1 to Jan. 1. Those who celebrated during the last week of March became the butt of jokes and hoaxes. People placed paper fish

on the backs of March celebrators to symbolize young, easily caught fish and referred to them as “poissons d’avril,” or “April fools.” HILARIA Other historians have linked April Fools’ Day to the ancient Roman festival Hilaria, which was celebrated at the end of March. The festival honored Cybele, a mother of gods, and celebrations included parades, masquerades, and jokes to honor the vernal equinox, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. ‘CANTERBURY TALES’ Another origin story comes from Geoffrey Chaucer’s 1392 book, “The Canterbury Tales.” There are still questions about

whether Chaucer really wrote the stories and whether they have any direct link to April Fools’ Day. In the book, Chaucer describes the date “32 March.” Some believe this was a joke, because March 32 doesn’t exist, but some medievalists insist it was a misprint. April Fools’ Day certainly has murky origins. Whether our traditions come from the Gregorian calendar switch, Hilaria, or even “The Canterbury Tales,” we can all enjoy our chance to let loose and play pranks on our friends and family at least one day each year.