Donahoe Kearney - June 2021

Donahoe Kearney - June 2021

BRIEF

donahoekearney.com

June 2021

ARE WE THERE YET?

Are My Days of Broken Windows Finally Over?

With our youngest kid, Sean, going off to college this fall, Kathy and I may be getting a little nostalgic. All of a sudden, there are old pictures of little kids (now either in college or working adults) all over the fridge. We have an attic full of old books, art projects, trophies, clothes, toys — although younger nieces and nephews have snatched up a lot of the good stuff — and tons of worn-out sports equipment. Who knows when you’ll need that pair of cleats from fourth grade? But the thing about college kids is they tend to come back. And bring more stuff. And it’s not just college kids. When Emily ended her job on the Hill recently, she was conveniently “between leases,” which is code for rent a U-Haul that is too small and have your brothers and Dad move you, using a variety of family vehicles on the hottest day of the year so far, so you can save money, eat well, and have parents who are so happy to have you home that they wait on you hand and foot. There are some hilarious memes and videos on this, and they are all true, trust me.

practices. Talk about worlds colliding.

This summer, our middle son, Brendan, saw all this and wisely decided to stay in Charlottesville, and all he ever brings home are a few T-shirts and interesting college books for his father to read. So, maybe we’re coming out of the broken window phase of our lives (and on occasion, our neighbors’ lives). For about 20 years now, we’ve had every

This what your windows look like when you have a kid who plays both hockey and lacrosse. The bars were great for stopping basketballs and soccer balls back in the day, but we never upgraded.

kind of ball hit, kicked, thrown, and shot against our house. Windows, shutters, fences, plants, trees, and bushes were no match. Sometimes defying physics — “You don’t understand, Dad. I hit the post, and it ricocheted 100 feet. I couldn’t control it. You know my shot is 90 mph. I think I dented the goal. We probably need a new one.” When my kids were little, I had an older friend with kids going off to college, and I asked him about it. How was it? Was he sad, nostalgic? Was it hard to see them leave? And he said to me, “Well, that last summer before they go, the summer after they graduate from high school, they make it a little easier on you to let go …” I have a feeling that’s the kind of summer we’re in for.

Plus, now every single closet in the house has some of her clothes in it. And this is what it looked like when she asked to use my pull-up bar in the basement. Yes, my workouts start with a warm-up: removing 18 hangers of designer clothes, trying not to wrinkle them or have them get within 10 feet of the lacrosse equipment that inhabits that space to air out after games and

- Frank Kearney

What your pull-up bar looks like when your daughter moves home.

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UPS DRIVER BACK ON HIS FEET AFTER FOOT AND ANKLE INJURY CONGRATULATIONS CORNER

Being a delivery driver is hard work, and we've seen several bad injuries for workers who injured their foot, ankle, back, and shoulder while driving a truck and hauling packages around. Cliff is a hard worker, and he had been working as a delivery driver for 15 years. He loved his job, wanted to do right by his employer, and wanted to continue to be a provider for himself and his family. He certainly never wanted to be injured, but like pro athletes, physical, fast-moving jobs like this can take their toll, and sometimes you get hurt just doing your job. Like a lot of people, he thought it would be okay and that the insurance company would pay him fairly. But he soon got suspicious — were they doing the right thing by him? Were they telling him everything? He knew insurance companies take advantage of people, and he wanted to stand up to them. He just wasn’t sure how to go about it.

He was referred to us so he could focus on his medical treatment and therapy. Trying to rehab a foot and ankle injury is tough because they take so much pounding just by walking. And since he didn’t have to deal with the insurance company or worry about his case, he could really focus on maximizing his recovery. Plus, Cliff learned he could get additional benefits because he had a permanent injury (something insurance companies never tell you). Glad to say the hard work of rehab paid off, and Cliff was able to return to the work he enjoys. And even though his permanent injury didn’t force him to retire like a lot of folks, Cliff got a nice award of benefits to help protect him in the future. And he was all smiles when he came in to pick up his check.

PROFESSIONAL GROOMING TIPS FOR DOG OWNERS

If your dog is anything like Kearney's Beast (spoiled, lazy, somewhat shaggy — like they say, dogs take after their owners ... ) and even if he's not, you know what a difference good grooming makes. So, we reached out to a real pro, local groomer Leah Glass, for some pro tips on keeping your dog looking good this summer. Most people are aware that puppies need to be brushed, bathed, and have their nails trimmed on a regular basis. Some dogs need to be professionally groomed to not only look their best but also to stay healthy. Common breed, long-haired dogs like doodles, golden retrievers, schnauzers, Shih Tzus, poodles, shelties, some terriers, and some spaniels (to name a few) benefit from regular grooming, and many owners rely on groomers to do the job. As a groomer, I have some tips to make your experience and your dog’s experience more pleasant. It is important for dog owners to maintain their pets’ coats by frequently brushing them — ideally once a day. If a dog is not brushed daily, the hair can get matted. You may not see the mats, but you can feel them, especially under the limbs, tail, and ears. If your dog’s hair gets badly matted, the groomer may not be able to de-mat it and will need to shave it out. This is the No. 1 problem I have as a groomer; owners want their dogs to be trimmed, not shaved, but if

the dog’s hair is matted, I do not have a choice. Mats cannot be combed out, so the only way to get rid of them is to cut under the fur with a blade (like sheering a sheep).

Severe matting is not only difficult to groom, but also harmful to the dog. The mats prevent air circulation and pull on the dog’s skin. The more a dog’s hair is matted, the tighter its fur is, which also increases the risk of the dog being nicked by the blade because it is so close to the skin. For long-haired dogs, the best brushing routine includes using a slicker brush, first to loosen any knots and to pull out the loose fur, and then using a metal comb to ensure all the knots have been worked out. Slicker brushes need to have bristles and not plastic tips. My favorite brush is the SureGrip Flat Slicker Brush available from Groomers Choice. When choosing a metal comb, make sure it is intended for dogs, not humans. For short-haired dogs, the “brush” to use is a plastic Curry Comb. This will help remove any loose hair and clean the surface of their fur. Your dog (and groomer) will thank you! Leah Glass Groomer Canine Classics Fairfax Station, VA (703) 690-3054

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAR ACCIDENTS IN 15 MINUTES

I don’t know about you, but I have noticed an increase lately of other people (yes, always other people, not me) making it really difficult on the road. Maybe it’s the warm weather ... maybe people are in more of a hurry. But I swear there is always someone willing to cut me off or speed up when I need to get over. Or pull out in front of me. Can you relate? Most people are worried about standing up to the insurance company after a car accident. We guide you through the process and make sure the insurance company doesn’t take advantage of you after you’ve been hit by another car. One of the ways you can make sure that you don’t get taken advantage of by the insurance company is you can do some self-education using our easy-to-watch webinars. https://bit.ly/caraccidentwebinar This three-part webinar series is broken into easy listening segments and gives you all the information you need to be prepared for whatever the road has for you. FRANK’S FLANK STEAK This is one of my all-time favorites, and we grill this just about every Sunday. I won’t take credit for the recipe — there are many versions of it, but I’ve modified it. I don’t actually measure any of these ingredients, just estimate them (which drives Kathy crazy — she is a measurer).

And then if it happens (the dreaded car accident), you know who to call. 202-393-3320. Register for the webinar series right now at https://bit.ly/ caraccidentwebinar or scan this easy QR Code. We make it really easy to get started.

- Brooke Birkey

INGREDIENTS • Juice of 1 lime •

• • •

2 tsp basil, divided

5–6 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp minced garlic, divided 2 tsp brown sugar, divided

2 tsp rosemary, divided Fresh cracked pepper, to taste

•

•

•

Flank steak

DIRECTIONS 1. To prepare the marinade, add lime and soy sauce into a 9x13 pan. Add 1 tbsp minced garlic and 1 tsp brown sugar. Stir it gently just to mix things up. Add 1 tsp each of basil and rosemary and pepper to taste. 2. Put the flank steak in the pan and top with the rest of the divided ingredients. Refrigerate for 4 hours, turning it about halfway through.

3. Take it out of the fridge for about 30 minutes before you grill it. I get the grill up to about 450 F, drizzle some of the marinade on top, and grill about 8 minutes per side to get it to the medium range. I’m just a working-class guy, so I like everything well done, but the cultured people I cook for like it barely medium, and they are winning me over.

Make sure to wait about 10 minutes after you take it off the grill before you slice it — pretty soon, you’ll be eating it every Sunday.

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Donahoe Kearney, LLP 708 Pendleton Street First Floor Alexandria, VA 22314 202.393.3320 DonahoeKearney.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 Are We There Yet? 2 UPS Driver Back on His Feet After Foot and Ankle Injury

Leah’s Tips for Dog Owners

3 Summer Reads

Frank’s Flank Steak

4 Frank’s Column

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I always knew I wanted to be a dad, and even as a young person, I always thought that was my calling. I used to think it was because I was the oldest kid in the family, but many of my clients say the same thing, and one of the cool things about being a lawyer is that you get to really know people. They really open up to you (probably because of attorney-client privilege … I’ve heard some crazy stuff over the years). And many just light up when they talk about their kids or their parents, no matter what they’re going through at the time.

A question I saw recently was: What trait or habit did you get from your father that you really appreciate? My answer is a sense of humor. My dad is a really funny guy, always ready with a joke or an (occasionally inappropriate) insight and loud Irish laughter to go with it.

- Frank Kearney

Do you know someone we can help? We make it easy on you to refer your friends, family and coworkers! Just have them call 202-393-3320 or use this QR code for a confidential, no-risk assessment of their case.

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