Littlejohn Law LLC - July 2021

Littlejohn Law LLC - July 2021

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740-314-4829

07/21

BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.

HOW VISITING OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

MADE ME GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES

In the last couple years, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Italy a few times with my wife — the first of those visits being our honeymoon. We spent a few days in Florence, Venice, and Rome. I love visiting the quaint old towns and historic cities, eating the food and admiring the art, architecture, and other cultural sites we don’t have in the United States. The Florence cathedral was particularly spectacular — images on TV and depictions in video games really don’t do justice to its scale. Nevertheless, when I reflect back on those visits, I can’t help but also think of how my time in Italy made me thankful to live in the United States. For one thing, Italian cities, as I’m sure is the case with many other cities in Europe, just felt cramped. The streets are so narrow, and I found myself longing for the ability to hop in a car and go anywhere I wanted. I can see why ideas of the United States and its seemingly endless territory were enough to make people want to leave the Old Country. I wanted the wide open roads and skies that characterize so much of the United States. Another thing I just couldn’t get used to there was the food, both in supermarkets and in restaurants. Italian stores in smaller towns didn’t have nearly as much variety as American stores did, which I was not prepared for.

As for our time at restaurants, while I thought I knew what to expect when ordering Italian food, it turns out that Italian Italian food is much different than American Italian food. Sure, there was plenty of seafood and pasta like you might expect, but the portions were all way smaller (and more expensive) than I was used to, and I could not for the life of me find a big plate of meat anywhere. Plus, when you order pizza in Italy, it doesn’t come pre-sliced. You have to slice it yourself with a knife and fork. I did, however, appreciate that when you ordered water, you got a nice bottle of mineral water instead of tap water, and the tip was already factored into the price of the food anywhere we went. Now, I should say that a lot of what I couldn’t get used to in Italy just amounts to personal preference. None of it was objectively bad. In fact, my wife and I loved Italy and would love to go back and visit. We would also love to visit some other parts of Europe, too, if we get the chance. I just don’t think I could ever live there. There are plenty of incredible and beautiful countries in the world to visit and experience, but there's only one country I ever want to call home. While you might be reading this after the Fourth of July has already passed, I hope you find moments in your daily life to be thankful for this great country we live in. Happy Independence Day!

–JeffreyMenoski

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7 THINGS TO DO

BEFORE YOU TURN 62

Sixty-two years old is more of a milestone than it seems. When you turn 62, you’re officially old enough to claim your Social Security benefits, which means you could potentially retire. Whether you’re planning on retiring the minute you’re eligible or working for a few more years, here are seven things to do before you turn 62 — in honor of July being the seventh month, too. MAXIMIZE YOUR RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS. With retirement on the mind, why not stock away as much of your income as possible to make your golden years more comfortable? MAKE A RETIREMENT BUDGET. The average person who makes it to age 65 will live to be 84–86 years old. Get ahead of the game and put together a retirement plan budget that will make sure you have enough savings for the next 20-plus years. FIND A FUN, NEW WAY TO STAY IN SHAPE. Who wants to just sit on the couch all day in retirement? If you find fulfilling ways to get up and move, the quality of your latter years will only improve! DISCOVER A HOBBY THAT ENGAGES YOUR MIND. Take up woodworking. Solve logic puzzles. Collect coins. Learn a new language. Without your work, you’ll want to find activities that will keep your mind sharp for years to come. CONSIDER PART-TIME WORK. If you’re feeling restless, finding a job with flexible hours where you can earn a little extra income can be a good idea post-retirement. PLAN A FUN VACATION WITH FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS. What better way to kick off your retirement than with your dream vacation? Plan it before you retire so you can go right from the office to your dream destination. CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR ESTATE PLAN. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy your retirement, but if you want to ensure your family

will be taken care of in the years after you’re gone, call Littlejohn Law today to speak with an experienced estate planning attorney. Your retirement years will be more enjoyable when you know that even after you’re gone, your family will be okay.

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE THE PEST DETECTIVE

If you want effective pest control, call the Pest Detective. They specialize in bat evictions and bed bugs — they get rid of them. They also take care of ants, rodents, stink bugs, spiders, roaches, fleas, bees, wasps, and termites. They are experienced and have been in business since 1992. Unmarked vehicles are available, fully licensed and insured.

Call 740-317-0230

2 | 740-314-4829 This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And remember, Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.

FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE MONTH This book is a great resource to

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

learn the things that you can do now to protect your family

Edward and Kyzlee enjoying the carnival and the Giraffe that Edward “won” (or bought) for her!

and your hard- earned assets. It even includes some tips that other lawyers don’t want you to know. Give us a call to request your complimentary copy today!

MEXICAN CORN SALAD

Inspired by JoCooks.com

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups of fresh corn, cut from 5 cobs • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped • 1/2 red onion, diced • 6 green onions, chopped • 1 jalapeno, diced • 1/2 avocado, cubed • 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed

lime juice • 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika • Salt and pepper, to taste • 2 tbsp sour cream • 2 tbsp mayonnaise • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped • 1/2 cup cotija or feta cheese, crumbled

Happy Birthday … Here’s to 4 years for Kyzlee and 60 for Gigi!

DIRECTIONS

1. In a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add oil and corn. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3–5 minutes or until corn starts to char. 2. Add the corn to a large bowl and let cool for 5 minutes, then add the remaining ingredients and stir together until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning. 3. The salad pairs well with grilled entrees and can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Kyzlee’s hanging out with her new pal, Charley!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

HOW TRAVELING MADE ME GRATEFUL TO CALL THE U.S. HOME

2

7 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU TURN 62

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

3

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE MONTH

MEXICAN CORN SALAD

4

5 WACKY PIZZA TRENDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

THEY EAT WHAT ON PIZZA?!

• Ketchup and Corn Pizza (Brazil) — According to several sources, Brazilians swap pizza sauce for ketchup or tomato slices and top their pies with strange combinations of local ingredients like corn, beets, hearts of palm, and potato sticks. • Haggis Pizza (Scotland) — Pizza may be the only semi-enjoyable way to eat haggis: a mix of sheep or calf offal, oatmeal, suet, and seasonings that are boiled in an animal’s stomach. Last year, Papa John’s got in on the action

Here in the U.S., pineapple is considered a wild and controversial pizza topping. Even celebrities take a stand. Justin Bieber is pro-pineapple, but Jimmy Kimmel is against it. According to a 2019 YouGov Omnibus study, only anchovies and eggplant are more hated. But in other parts of the world, the tangy yellow fruit is far from the strangest topping you’ll see! Here are five wacky pizza trends from around the globe that will either make you hungry or inspire you to sprint the other way. You may want to order a comforting cheese pie from your favorite local pizzeria before reading this, just in case. • Banana-Curry Pizza (Sweden) — The Swedes first accessed bananas in 1944, and since then, they’ve put them on everything , including pizza which they top with tomato sauce, smoked cheese, banana slices, and curry powder.

• Chickpea Pancake Pizza (Argentina) — In Buenos Aires, locals top their super-cheesy pizza slices with fainá — chickpea pancakes cooked separately from the pies and balanced on top of each slice. Keep these pizzas in mind when planning your next international vacation! They might be tastier than they sound, and if not, they’ll still make great Instagram fodder. As actor Cole Sprouse once tweeted, “You're losing followers because you're not relatable enough. Try mentioning that you eat pizza. If that doesn't work, play the ukulele.”

when it released a limited-edition haggis pizza in honor of a Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

• Mockba Pizza (Russia) — This local pie comes topped with four kinds of fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel, and salmon), onions, herbs, and occasionally fish eggs. Most troubling of all, it’s served cold!

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