DiBartolomeo Law Offices June 2017

Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER

June 2017

Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability

1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com

NO MORE PENCILS, NO MORE BOOKS

The Surprising History of Summer Vacation

Parents of America, it is, for better or for worse, that time of year again. Yes, summer vacation is here. As movie theaters trot out their latest batch of explosions and public pools fill with an unsanitary clump of human bodies, some of us ponder the origins of summer break. Why do these unruly kids get a three-month break, while most of us sit toiling away at work? The commonly accepted and oft-quoted theory is that the seasonal school gap has its roots in our country’s agrarian past. We imagine rural kids out of the schoolhouse and into the fields, planting rows of crops in the summer sun. But the fact is, the agrarian calendar has little to do with your kids’ inevitable summer boredom. Back in the day, children in agricultural areas were most needed for planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. The school year reflected that and was comprised of a short winter term and a short summer term. While schools in urban areas had different schedules, summer was always included, and the school year averaged 240 days a year, as opposed to the modern 180. However, lessons weren’t mandatory, and before air conditioning was an option, school buildings would often become brutally hot. Kids would skip out to avoid the untenable temperatures, and wealthier families would flee the city for cooler climes.

The poor attendance during the summer months got some pundits wondering: Was such a long school calendar worthwhile? Not only that, but physicians began to speculate about the repercussions of so many days spent indoors behind a desk. This, coupled with a push by school reformers to standardize the school schedule, caused officials to gradually shorten the school year, eventually doing away with the summer quarter altogether. Today, some people wonder whether the three months of no school are a benefit or a burden. Researchers have shown that a “summer slide” occurs during the sweltering months. When students return to school in late August, they often have lost the equivalent of an entire month of learning. For these reasons and others, several nonprofit organizations campaign each year for a restructuring of the calendar, and some private schools remain open in the summer. Whatever the case may be, the kids aren’t worried. They’re too busy getting hyped up on sunlight, mentally mapping out their summer schemes, and composing lists of video games to beat. As the song goes, “School’s out for the summer,” and there’s no turning back.

-Joe Di Bartolomeo

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.joedibartolomeo.com

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4 Drink Hacks to Keep Your Beverage Cool

The sun is summer’s greatest ally — and greatest enemy. For every sun-soaked day at the beach, there are sunburns trying to ruin the party. For every excuse to drink an icy beverage, the sunshine’s more determined to keep the drink from staying cool. These hacks will allow you to enjoy the benefits of the summer sun without the side effect of a warm beverage. First, let’s say you just got home from the grocery store where you purchased a 12- pack of your favorite soda. You’re thirsty and it’s room temperature at best, right? Patience is a virtue, but there’s nothing wrong with accelerating the process. Fill a bowl with ice water and add a teaspoon of salt, then submerge a can of soda in the bowl. This process will cool your drink more than twice as fast as just putting it in the freezer. It was very early, and I was early too, sitting in the parking garage at the Moda Center in Portland. As I caught up with faraway family on the phone, I watched the Portland morning commute unfold. It was not just the sheer volume of cars that stood out, but the bicyclists. There were dozens of them, which explained the bike versus car conflicts I had heard about. What astounded me most was how blatantly so many of the bicyclists disregarded the traffic signals. In all fairness, my reaction is probably a function of being a motorist and not a bicyclist. And you can only wonder how many of us drive above the speed limit, at least some of the time. The law treats bikes and cars as equals on the road, subjecting bikes and their riders to the same laws as

This other example requires less work, but it takes more freezer space. And if you’re like the rest of us, your freezer is pretty packed in the summer! Wet a paper towel and wrap it around a bottle or can before you place it in the freezer. The contents inside will cool much more quickly. If you have more time to plan, this hack will keep your drink cold for longer. Ice doesn’t fit in a bottle, and freezing your beer or other beverage will get you to Slushy Town in a hurry. Fill an empty bottle about halfway, put the cap on, and place it in the freezer on its side. When it’s frozen, pour your favorite beverage inside — the ice from top to bottom will keep the contents cool on the go. Bonus Hack: This has nothing to do with the sun, but is still a neat way to make drinking your beverage easier. If you go fancy and use a straw when you drink from a can, you know how hard it is to get the straw

to stay put. Spin the can’s tab around and feed the straw through it. Now you’ll have a well-behaved straw that doesn’t shift around when you need it to be there for you. The sun is hot, and the summer is long. You need the comfort of a cool beverage to help you get through it. Keep cool, wear sunscreen, and have fun!

What About Bikes?

any other vehicle. DUI statutes apply to people on bikes, and bikes must have working lights, just like cars. Have you ever wondered about those bicyclists in the lane of traffic in urban areas? That is perfectly legal, by the way, so long as there is no road shoulder for the bicyclist.

Bicycle organizations estimate that in Oregon alone, bicycle commuting has increased between 40–60 percent in the past 12 years. As more people take to bicycle commuting, motorists and bicycle riders will have to learn to share the road.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.joedibartolomeo.com

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It’s crossed our mind more than once, and our daughter has pleaded, lobbied, and pestered us. But with two dogs together weighing in at 160 pounds, we already have enough dog love at our house. But there may be someone out there who can do it for Dewey. Dewey is a pit bull, and I know what many of you are thinking, because I thought the same way. That is, until I met Edith the pit bull. She changed my thinking, and if you learn about Dewey, you may think differently, too. Dewey has been at the Clatsop County Animal Shelter for over a year, and he has developed a fan following. I am only one of many advocating for Dewey. From what I know, he cannot live with cats, and he needs to be in a fenced yard. And, you will never guess: Dewey likes tennis balls. So, if you or someone you love is looking for a furry friend, contact the Clatsop County Animal Shelter at 503-861-7387. Dewey may not be your match, but some other dog (or cat) may steal your heart. Here are some other contact points:

Dewey’s profile can be found at petfinder.com/ petdetail/37176575.

Clatsop Animal Assistance’s website is dogsncats.org.

If someone brings Dewey by the office, we will pick up the first vet bill.

Do it for Dewey!

DAD’S WHISKEY BURGER

Ingredients

• • • • •

4 (6–6 ½ ounce) hamburger patties

•

2 large Vidalia onions, peeled, cut in half, and thinly sliced

¼ cup whiskey

• • • •

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat

4 strips bacon

1 teaspoon salt

8 thick slices American cheese

4 hamburger buns

Directions

1. Cook bacon until crisp. Remove and cool. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon fat. 2. In a large skillet, combine olive oil and bacon fat, then add onions. Cook over low heat. Add salt and turn onions often for 30–40 minutes until caramelized. 3. Place whiskey and chopped garlic in a shallow dish and add hamburger patties. Marinate for 15 minutes, then flip and marinate another 15 minutes. 4. Grill burgers over medium-high heat until cooked to desired doneness. 5. Add two slices of cheese to each burger in the last minute of grilling. 6. Put hamburgers on buns, then top with a large spoonful of caramelized onions. Top with bacon.

Recipe inspired by Mantitlement.com.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.joedibartolomeo.com

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1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103

What’s Inside

1

No More Pencils, No More Books

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4 Drink Hacks to Keep Your Beverage Cool

What About Bikes?

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Do It for Dewey

Dad’s Whiskey Burger

How to Journal Without Journaling

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How to Journal if You Don’t Like Journaling DEAR DIARY ...

Record Quotes Quotes are special because they capture a profound feeling in just a few words. By recording some of your favorite quotes, you’re able to capture those feelings and reflect on why they resonate with you. Include quotes from historical figures, books, song lyrics, something you heard waiting in line at the coffee shop, or some of the “darndest things” your kids say. Go Digital Apps like Day One for iOS or Journey for Android are perfect for recording your thoughts quickly. Journaling apps are as easy as scrolling down social media, but can be locked for your eyes only. Integrate written segments with photos to create entries you can reflect on from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Journaling is both a chance to organize your thoughts and an opportunity for therapeutic release, but traditional journaling isn’t for everyone. If you hit a wall every time you try to put pen to paper or worry you’ll have to burn your journal when you’re done, there are other ways you too can enjoy the benefits of journaling. Write Letters to Your Kids Framing journal entries as letters to children can help provide a starting point for you. Many parents journal like this with the intent of letting their kids one day read the letters, but that doesn’t have to be your end goal. Nor do you have to write to your kids. You can address your letters to your spouse, a close friend, your mother, or even a loved one who’s passed away.

There are as many reasons to journal as there are options for alternative journaling. Whatever you decide, just make sure it’s something you’ll enjoy doing every day. Happy journaling!

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.joedibartolomeo.com

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