Houston & Alexander, PLLC - October/November 2021

Houston & Alexander, PLLC - October/November 2021

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021

HOUSTONALEXANDER.COM

CALL US: 423-267-6715

Carve a Cooler Pumpkin

3 TIPS THE FAMILY WILL LOVE

BE HANDY

Halloween is fast approaching, and as you prepare your candy bowl, get the costumes ready, and catch up on your favorite horror movies, don’t forget one of the greatest Halloween traditions of all time: carving pumpkins! I recently learned that this tradition dates back to an old piece of folklore. Apparently, people used to fear a con man named Stingy Jack, who continually made deals with the devil to keep his soul out of hell after tricking the devil into a trap. When Jack died, God thought better of permitting him into heaven, so instead, he walked the Earth in a state of purgatory. In order to scare Jack from their homes, Europeans would carve turnips and place burning coal inside to warn Jack away.

This will require safety glasses and a trip to the workbench. Start by carving out your pumpkin like you would for any standard jack-o’-lantern. But rather than carve your favorite design with a kitchen or carving knife, grab the drill! Using different sized drill-bits, create shapes and patterns. These will be more precise than any old knife can do, and you can create fun patterns that go beyond creepy or goofy faces! (This will also work with a fruit coring tool,

but it will require more manual labor.)

THROW A PARTY

Halloween is one of the best holidays for party food! Between mummy fingers (pigs

When immigrants came to America, they eventually turned this tradition into the jack- o’-lantern we know today! Luckily, we’ve upgraded from turnips to pumpkins and can make our creations more fun. Check out some of these great alternatives to a traditional pumpkin carving!

in a blanket), spider bites (cucumbers with olives strategically placed on top), and fruit ghosts (bananas with chocolate chip eyes and mouths), there are plenty of options to up the spook and yummy factor. However, you can add another Halloween food to your party list: pumpkin brains! This is one of my favorite new party hacks!

GET ARTISTIC

Start by once again carving your pumpkin, and then carve a jack-o’-lantern face into it. Make it silly or scary — it’s up to you! Then, place a small tea light in the center of your pumpkin. Next, fill a shallow bowl or cake pan with red- or orange-colored dip, like taco or chipotle, inside the pumpkin. Spread chips around the base for the finishing touch! Don’t forget to watch as your guests realize they are eating braaaains! As you up your jack-o’-lantern game this season, remember that you don’t need to create the perfect pumpkin. Get a little creative, think outside the pumpkin, and have fun! 1 423-267-6715 | HoustonAlexander.com

More families are opting to put down the knives in favor of paint. This is the perfect option for creative little kids, but not just any paint will do! Acrylic is the best paint for pumpkins because it dries quickly and is very easy for any user. And because the surface of a pumpkin is rougher than your average canvas, acrylic will be the easiest to use. However, don’t shy away from fun paint options. You can get creative with spray paints or dabble in 3D with puffy paint!

apples still belong to them because the tree was planted on their property. Unfortunately, in most places, this also applies to trees dropping fruit on the sidewalk. If the tree appears to be planted on private property, it’s best to leave the fruit be — or knock and ask if you can have it! (Note: This gets hilariously complicated when your neighbor’s fruit falls onto your lawn. Now, you can’t legally eat it without permission, but they also can’t take it without permission! To resolve this, sit down with your neighbors and hash out an agreement.) 3. When in Doubt, Thy State Wins Out The laws around picking fruit can be complicated. Some states don’t even follow the first two commandments! For example, in California, you can legally take fruit from branches of a neighbor’s tree that extend into your yard. With this in mind, it’s always wise to research your state’s laws. If you’re still stumped after thorough research, then email a local lawyer or get in touch with a forager (visit RobGreenfield.org/FindaForager to locate one in your state) who will likely know the rules. ‘Can I Pick That?’ THE LEGALITIES OF EATING FOUND FRUIT

In many parts of the U.S. right now, apples are dangling temptingly over fence lines and ripe pears are dropping onto sidewalks. This is the prime season for fall fruit, but if you live in an area where food grows rampant, then you probably think of it as both delicious and confusing. Be honest: How many times have you strolled down the street, spotted something tasty that was potentially on private property, and wondered, “Is it legal to pick that?”

THE 3 COMMANDMENTS OF PICKING FRUIT

1. Thou May Pick From Public Lands In most places, it’s perfectly legal to pick fruit from what the law website Nolo describes as “public trees” — trees that grow on public lands, in state or city parks, or in medians. This doesn’t include sidewalks, which are explained in the next section. 2. Thou Shall Not Pick Thy Neighbor’s Fruit Unfortunately, when it comes to who owns a fruit tree, the trunk is what matters, not the branches! This means that even if your neighbor’s apple tree is bowing temptingly into your yard, the

With These DIY Kitchen Storage Ideas! ACHIEVE MISE EN PLACE

The perfect philosophy for organizing your kitchen is mise en place : Everything needs to have its place. So, it’s time for those lids to stop piling up in a corner of your cabinet and pots to be stored properly! Here are a few DIY ideas that’ll make the tasks even easier:

for pastas, grains, spices, candies, snacks, and much more. Even in different sizes, you won’t run out of uses for these, since they can be potentially used as a gift container too!

when it’s off. It’s annoying how often lids pile up inside your kitchen space — but if you install a single metal bar (yep, just one!), any lid with any type of middle grip can be stored on it. Just slide it on top, and the bar will hold up the lid, thanks to its handle preventing any fall.

NO. 3: HIDDEN MEASURING CUP HOOKS

NO. 1: PEGBOARD UTENSIL AND POT ORGANIZER

Tired of your measuring cups rattling in a drawer? Put small hooks inside a cabinet door, hang your measuring cups, and close. You can use stick-on hooks or drill a small bar of wood inside and attach hooks to the bar. This works great with any small utensils, but it works best if your cabinet’s interior isn’t stacked and overflowing with items.

Add a chic touch to your kitchen and make all your pans and cooking utensils easy to grab with a pegboard! Not only are pegboards constructed rather sturdily, but you can also paint and use metal hook inserts to hold all sorts of kitchen tools, from heavy pans to kitchen scissors.

BONUS — EASY CHALKBOARD MENU/GROCERY LIST

While this isn’t an “item storage” idea per se, it does make it easy to store and update your grocery list! First, use chalkboard paint on the inside (or outside) of one of your cabinets. Then, use chalk markers to create and update your weekly grocery list every time you run out of an ingredient. You can also use it for a menu during parties!

NO. 2: UPCYCLED TIN CAN STORAGE

NO. 4: POT AND PAN LID STORAGE BAR

Don’t throw away tin cans! Instead, keep them, repaint them, and/or label them

Everyone says keep your lid on, but nobody says what to do with your lid

2

423-267-6715 | HoustonAlexander.com

MAN SUES WOMAN FOR TEXTING DURING A MOVIE DATE

Most people would chalk the experience up to a bad date and move on, but Vezmar was so indignant that he reached out to Cruz the next day and requested that she compensate him $4 for the pizza and $17 for the movie ticket he’d paid for. If she didn’t pay, he threatened to go after the money in small claims court. When Cruz initially refused, Vezmar made good on his threat and filed a petition in Austin, Texas. Vezmar made the case that Cruz had violated the cinema’s no cellphone policy and had negatively impacted his and other moviegoers’ experiences of watching a raccoon and a talking tree (among other beings) save the day. He claimed that while he sought modest damages, it was the principle of the thing that really mattered to him. He called Cruz’s behavior “a threat to civilized society.” As entertaining as it might have been to see that case fully make its way through the legal system, the lawsuit was eventually dropped after the TV show “Inside Edition” reunited Cruz and Vezmar and filmed her paying him back for the date. As the camera rolled, he counted his cash and considered them square. Unlike “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” there were no good guys in this story — but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining to read about after the fact!

We’ve probably all found ourselves annoyed with someone who uses their phone during a movie at the theater, but have you ever been so annoyed that you sued them? That’s what Texas resident Brandon Vezmar decided to do back in 2017, following a “first date from hell” (as Vezmar put it) with Crystal Cruz. According to Vezmar, about 15 minutes into “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” Cruz was texting on her phone. When Vezmar asked her to stop texting, she refused. Then, Vezmar suggested that she step outside of the theater to text. Cruz took his suggestion and never returned.

our clients say it best

“Johnny is one of Chattanooga’s, if not Tennessee’s, best DUI

attorneys. His knowledge comes not only from years of experience, but also from his knowledge as an acting judge in Red Bank. He is a wealth of information for younger attorneys and uses all the newest technological advances to help you win your case. I endorse this lawyer.” –Matthew B.

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” –Roger Cara

3

423-267-6715 | HoustonAlexander.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

HoustonAlexander.com CALL US: 423-267-6715

3417 Dayton Boulevard Chattanooga, TN 37415

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3 Ways to Make Your Pumpkins Better PAGE 1

The 3 Commandments of Picking Fruit

PAGE 2

Easy DIY Kitchen Storage Ideas

PAGE 2

Man Sues Woman for Texting During a Movie Date

PAGE 3

Client Testimonial

PAGE 3

The Unique Benefits of Reading Fiction

PAGE 4

SELF-HELP BOOKS CAN’T DO IT ALL How Reading Fiction Can Benefit You

Many CEOs and other successful individuals continually espouse the benefits of regular reading. Many times, leaders read self-help books to improve their leadership skills and become more successful. This is all well and good, but even the most successful people in the world could be missing out on the unique benefits that come specifically from reading fiction. But what are those benefits exactly?

certain way, we tend to think or feel that way with them.

would agree that life sometimes leaves things a little more open-ended. While this fact might stress out some people, researchers have discovered that fiction readers don’t need “cognitive closure” as much as nonfiction readers.

LESS STRESS AND BETTER SLEEP

When we read fiction specifically, we tend to disengage from the world — and that’s a good thing! Our brains can’t always be functioning at their peak capacity. We need breaks, or else we’ll stress ourselves out and negatively affect other areas of our lives. Stress tends to keep us from sound sleep, but reading fiction before bed engages the imagination, taking us away from the stresses of everyday life before we drift off.

GREATER HAPPINESS

Even if none of the benefits of fiction interest you, everyone wants to find ways to make themselves happy — and for many, that is reading fiction. According to one survey, 76% of participants said that reading makes them feel good and improves their lives. So, what are you waiting for? Dust off that novel you’ve been meaning to read and crack it open!

GREATER EMPATHY

When a psychologist analyzed 86 functioning MRI (fMRI) studies, he found that the same parts of the brain that fire up when reading fictional stories also fire up when we’re seeking to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. That’s because when the characters in the book we’re reading are thinking or feeling a

MORE COMFORT WITH UNCERTAINTY

Even though many stories (particularly those portrayed in popular movies) have nice happy endings, most people

4

423-267-6715 | HoustonAlexander.com