Law Office Daniel J Miller - December 2019

Law Office Daniel J Miller - December 2019

INYOUR DEFENSE

DECEMBER 2019

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The Value of a Day

SHORT AS IT MAY BE

The days have been getting shorter and shorter. The shortest day of the year, in terms of daylight hours, will happen later this month on Dec. 21. I love the daylight, and I love the opportunities that come with the day as the sun rises. Every day is a chance to be better than I was yesterday. Even though it gets dark at 5 p.m., and that definitely makes it harder to do everything that I want to in a day, I still think it’s worth it to try and squeeze value out of every second I’m awake.

know who they are or where they’re going or why they can afford to drive at such a leisurely pace, but all I know is I seem to get stuck behind them all the time. I could chalk it up to the way of things, but I started thinking about ways I could get myself out of the situation instead of blaming others.

“It’s always easy to stop striving for excellence when things are going okay, but in both my personal and professional life, I always try and find areas for improvement.”

I call my bouts of frustration on the road “angry bird moments.” The goofy name helps me not take those moments too seriously or to make them a part of myself. After some self-reflection, I found that the reason I’m so often frustrated while driving is because I always wait until the absolute last minute to leave when I need to go somewhere. I found that if I left just 5–10 minutes early, I could avoid getting angry at slow drivers or stop lights because I accounted for it in my drive time. I try and get the most out of every day at the office, too. At our firm, we see every day as an opportunity to improve. For a while now, we’ve sent out questionnaires to clients, asking for feedback on our process and how we can improve. Their responses have allowed us to take an honest look at

how we’re doing as a firm. It’s always easy to stop striving for excellence when things are going okay, but in both my personal and professional life, I always try and find areas for improvement. Take a look at your day, short as it may be right now. Do you take the time to look for ways to improve yourself? What about the environments in which you live and work? We may not always have all the hours in a day we want, but, if you take the time to reflect, what can you do with the hours you do have? – Daniel J. Miller

I don’t often find I’m dissatisfied with what I have. I’m a pretty contentable guy. That said, I think every day is special because it’s an opportunity to challenge myself to be better. Even though I don’t find myself wanting for anything, it’s no excuse to stop improving myself in any way I can. I’ll give you an example. One thing I’ve always struggled with is patience while I’m driving. You all probably know what I’m talking about. We’ve all been behind the guy going 40 miles per hour in the fast lane without a care in the world. I don’t

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WHAT’S COMING UP IN VIRGINIA BEACH IN DECEMBER? W rapping U p the H oliday S eason (A nd 2019)

It’s December in Virginia Beach, and that can only mean one thing: time to dust off the holiday floats and classic Christmas songs and wish 2019 farewell. If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate the holiday season with your community, here are a few events you might want to check out!

If you’re a Christmas music lover, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra has your hookup for all your favorite seasonal tunes like you’ve never heard them

COX COMMUNICATIONS HOLIDAY PARADE AT THE BEACH When: Dec. 7, 5–11:30 p.m. Where: Atlantic Avenue from 15th to 25th Streets Ticket Price: Free!

before. From jingling jams like “Holly Jolly Christmas,” to the angelic choruses of Handel’s Messiah, you won’t want to miss any of these holiday hits performed live.

Spanning 10 city blocks and filled to the brim with 90 different units, the Cox Communications Holiday Parade is a fantastic primer for the Christmas season. Come see marching bands, performing dance groups, fire trucks — and Santa Claus himself! Don’t let this event jingle on by. Bring your family down to Atlantic Avenue for an evening of fun! HOLIDAY SEASON SHOWS AT THE VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA When: (Jingle Bell Jam) Dec. 15, 3–4:30 p.m.; (Holiday Pops) Dec. 15, 7–9 p.m.; (Handel’s Messiah) Dec. 19, 7:30–9:30 p.m. Where: 1000 Regent University Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23464 Ticket Price: $25–$110

LAST NIGHT ON THE TOWN When: Dec. 31, 2 p.m. to Jan. 1, 12:15 a.m. Where: 4525 Columbus St., Virginia Beach, VA, 23462 Ticket Price: Free!

Christmas may have ended, but there’s still one more day worth celebrating. Join the Virginia Beach community at Pembroke Mall starting in the early afternoon to give 2019 a proper sendoff. There will be magicians, jugglers, arts and crafts, and tons of fun for all ages — including a DJ and live music until midnight! Don’t let the last great party of 2019 pass you by.

T he L egend of Y asuke

JAPAN’S AFRICAN SAMURAI

From bonded slave to honored warrior in a foreign land ...

Nobunaga. Well on his way to unifying Japan, Nobunaga was deeply curious about the black

If you think this sounds like the plot of an action movie, you’re not alone, but Yasuke, the 16th century servant-turned-samurai, was very real. He lived a life that blurred the line between history and legend. The story of the sole recorded African to join the Japanese warrior class is surprisingly seldom-told. Although, an upcoming movie starring “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman aims to change that. FROM SHADOWS OF THE PAST Little is known about Yasuke’s early life. Historians theorize he was kidnapped from Mozambique and trained as a slave and child soldier in India, but the details are hazy. What we do know is the man who would come to be called Yasuke was purchased by Jesuit missionaries and acted as the valet and bodyguard to the leader of a delegation to Japan. The island nation was in dire straits itself, reeling from seemingly endless wars between rival clans. In this political turmoil, Yasuke found his place in history. FROM CURIOSITY TO CONFIDANT While protecting European missionaries, Yasuke was brought to Kyoto, home to Japan’s most legendary daimyo, or warlord, Oda

man who had been brought to his court. Having never encountered people from Africa, the samurai lord thought Yasuke was covered in ink and insisted he scrub his skin. But as Nobunaga got to know Yasuke, who now spoke conversational Japanese, a friendship kindled between the two men from different worlds. Contemporary records claim Nobunaga loved learning about the world outside Japan through Yasuke’s stories, and the two often conversed together. FROM SAMURAI TO ICON Nobunaga not only valued his conversations with Yasuke, but he also recognized his friend’s military prowess. The daimyo raised Yasuke to the honored rank of samurai, giving him his own residence and katana, the ceremonial sword of Japan’s warrior-elite. Yasuke fought alongside Nobunaga in battle and is even rumored to have taken the warrior’s sword to Nobunaga’s son after his death. In Japan today, the legend of the African samurai lives on through stories, such as in the children’s book “Kuro-suke” by Kurusu Yoshio, and the Emmy- nominated series “Afro Samurai: Resurrection.”

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T he P ower of T ouch

THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF ST. MARY’S HOME

Caring for children with disabilities is no easy task. It takes patience, kindness, love, and years of hard work to help them throughout their daily lives. It’s enough to burn out even the most well-meaning caregivers, and yet the incredible volunteers at St. Mary’s Home do it every day. In 1944, St. Mary’s Home began as home to provide care for orphaned and abandoned children. It was founded by the Daughters of Wisdom, an order of Catholic nuns, who care for just a dozen newborns and young children. Since then, it has become a state-of- the-art care center for children with severe physical and intellectual disabilities, with over 100 residents. At St. Mary’s, both children and young adults with disabilities can feel comfortable and at home. Their facilities include four interior courtyards with playgrounds and pools, eight classrooms, barbers, beauty shops, and hallways big enough for wheelchairs and full of natural light. When it comes to caring for children with severe disabilities, there aren’t very many places better than St. Mary’s nationwide.

We at the Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller don’t think all the good work St. Mary’s does should go unnoticed or without help. That’s why one of our paralegal assistants

helps coordinate their Secret Santa party every year. On top of that, our employees donate gifts and money to their cause. At St. Mary’s, their hardworking staff and volunteers believe in what they call “the power of touch,” or the creation of strong connections between the staff and their caregivers that can help these children reach their fullest potential. And, at our firm, we’re thankful we get to be a small part of making that possible by matching any financial contributions up to $500 made through our firm. If you want to make a donation, please contact Michelle, our criminal law paralegal.

CLASSIC ROASTCHICKEN

SUDOKU

INGREDIENTS

• 1 chicken, approx. 5–6 lbs • Kosher salt • Freshly ground pepper • 1 large bunch fresh thyme, 20 sprigs removed • 1 lemon, halved

• 1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced • 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces • Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse chicken inside and out, removing giblets if included. Move to a work surface, pat dry, and liberally season with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with thyme bunch, lemon halves, and garlic head. Brush outside with butter, and then season again. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen string. 3. Meanwhile, in a roasting pan, toss onions and carrots in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and 20 sprigs of thyme. 4. Place the chicken on the vegetables and roast for 1 1/2 hours. 5. Remove from oven, and let stand for 20 minutes covered with foil. 6. Slice and serve with the vegetables.

Inspired by Ina Garten

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The Value of a Day PAGE 1 What’s Coming Up In Virginia Beach in December? The Original Afro-Samurai PAGE 2 Celebrating St. Mary’s Home Classic Roast Chicken PAGE 3 Get to Know Some of Curling’s Best Athletes PAGE 4 INSIDETHIS ISSUE

CURLINGATHLETES EVERYFANSHOULDKNOW ROYALRINKS Every four years, as some of the world’s best Olympic athletes battle for gold medals, the world falls in love with curling. Curling originated in 16th-century Scotland and is most popular in Canada, where many Scots immigrated. Now, 480 years after the first recorded instance of curling occurred on a frozen pond in Scotland, many devotees have left their mark on the sport’s history. These are just a few of the greats. ROY THIESSEN Choosing only one devoted coach to highlight is difficult, but it must be Roy Thiessen. Roy coached championship teams — or rinks, as they are called in curling — at both provincial and national levels. His expertise led him to chair the first Saskatchewan Summer Games in 1972, the World Junior Men’s Curling Championships in 1979, and the World Ladies’ Curling Championships in 1983. Budding athletes can learn all of Roy’s secrets and the fundamentals of curling in the numerous books he wrote. HARVEY MAZINKE Curling Team In 1973, Canada held its collective breath as the Harvey Mazinke Curling Team took their final shot in a world championship match against Sweden. The rock ultimately failed to reach the rings, crowning Sweden as world champions and snapping the 10-0 record Harvey Mazinke had built during a week of competition. But regardless of that final score, Harvey Mazinke’s impact on the sport was not diminished. The team was crowned the Canadian Men’s Curling

Champions in 1973, and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame recognizes them as “ambassadors to the game.”

JOYCE MCKEE Curling Team Without Joyce McKee, Sylvia Fedoruk, Donna Belding, and Muriel Coben, the Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship, now called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, would have never become the nationally recognized organization it is today. The aforementioned women were part of the Joyce Mckee rink and were the first winners of the championship in 1960. Their style, play, and knowledge propelled women’s curling into the leagues of men’s competitions, proving that women could compete at just as high of a level as their male peers. To this day, the Joyce McKee rink’s accuracy is unparalleled. If you can’t wait another two years before curling hits center stage at the Winter Olympics, check out the podcast “Curling Legends” to get your fix of curling greatness.

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