The Bledsoe Firm - October 2020

The Bledsoe Firm - October 2020

The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 OCTOBER | 2020

T he F ear W e A ll L ove Haunted Houses: Past, Present, and Future

Halloween is a time to enjoy the things that send a jolt of fear through our bodies. Nothing brings out the spirit of All Hallows’ Eve like putting on your favorite horror flick, dressing up in a terrifying costume, or heading to your local haunted house. Haunted houses have been one of the most popular October activities for decades. In the U.S., haunted houses were first created to keep young people from “running amok.” Boys were known to take to the streets on Halloween and cause mischief with harmless pranks like scaring pedestrians, ding-dong ditching, or even stealing neighbors' gates. However, after the Great Depression, their antics grew more serious. Halloween of 1933 is often referred to as “Black Halloween” because hundreds of teenage boys went on a rampage across the country, flipping cars and sawing off telephone poles. In order to redirect these boys' actions, many communities began setting up activities for them to participate in, such as Halloween parties, costume parades, and haunted trails or houses. However, this wasn’t the world’s first haunted house appearance. In the 1800s, London’s Marie Tussauds wax museum had a frightening display of decapitated figures from the French Revolution, dubbed the Chamber of Horrors. In 1915, a British company built one of the earliest haunted houses, which featured demonic screams, shaking floors, and dim lighting. Since then, the allure of haunted houses has taken the world by storm, appearing in countless countries, cities, and communities.

Haunted amusement rides and houses from all over the globe draw thousands of guests each year, but Japan is known for some of the most frightening haunted houses in the world. One of the country’s

most renowned haunts is the Labyrinth of Fear, located at the amusement park Fuji-Q Highland. Not only is it one of the scariest haunted houses in the

world, but it’s also one of the largest. The Labyrinth of Fear is set up in a former hospital, and it takes about 40 minutes to walk through the two-story building from start to finish.

Japanese people and visitors can usually enjoy these frights year-round. During a typical summer, many cities across Japan open haunted houses for the sheer enjoyment of visitors who travel from all over to get their scares in early. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses had to shut down across the country this summer, and things were looking bleak. However, there was one production company, Kowagarasetai, that did not give up. Kenta Iwana, a Kowagarasetai producer, decided the company could still offer a haunted house while practicing safe distancing by setting up a drive-thru haunted house. Although this may sound dangerous at first, the car itself remains stationary throughout the production. In this attraction, guests sit in a car and watch as horror opens up around them — zombies crawl across the hood of the car and press their faces against the windshield, and visitors can hear the shrieks of terror through the radio as an unlucky soul is trapped outside. This new and innovative way to enjoy these annual frights could be just what everyone needs this Halloween. No matter what’s in store for the spooky holiday this year, be safe, have fun, and enjoy Halloween! —John Bledsoe

1

JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551

3 MIND- BLOWING FACTS ABOUT TACO BELL The Secret Link Between Home Depot, the Government, and Fast-Food Tacos

2. Taco Bell killed Taco Kid. Before it bought Taco Bell in the 1970s, PepsiCo tried to compete with it. The company launched a restaurant dubbed Taco Kid under its Pizza Hut banner. According to Mental Floss, Taco Bell swiftly stomped out its kid brother. In response, PepsiCo opened its wallet and bought the chain for $130 million. 3. The U.S. government was behind the Quesalupa (sort of). In February 2016, Taco Bell launched the Quesalupa, a taco featuring a shell stuffed with melted pepper jack cheese. It was the chain’s cheesiest offering to date, perhaps because it got a boost from Dairy Management Incorporated, the branch of the United States Department of Agriculture in charge of unloading the country’s 1.4-billion pound cheese surplus . That’s right: The Quesalupa was (kind of) a tasty government conspiracy. This is just the tip of the Taco Bell iceberg. To learn about the chain’s wacky endeavors (including putting a bullseye in the ocean for astronauts and flying 10,000 Doritos Locos Tacos to Alaska by helicopter), visit TacoBell.com/History.

Did you know that Oct. 4 is National Taco Day? Corn or flour tortillas, hard or soft shells, we really love our tacos here in the USA. According to NationalTacoDay.com, Americans ate more than 4.5 billion tacos last year. End to end, that’s 490,000 miles of tortilla-wrapped beans, meat, and cheese. By far, the biggest peddler of light-speed tacos in the country is Taco Bell, the fast-food scion of Americanized Mexican cuisine. In 2012, Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos Taco went the food equivalent of viral, selling more than 500 million tacos in just 14 months. It seems like there’s a Taco Bell on every street corner, but how much do you really know about the chain? To celebrate National Taco Day, we’re serving up three Taco Bell facts that will blow your mind. 1. Home Depot helped bring Doritos Locos Tacos to life. After Frito-Lay reached out to Taco Bell to suggest a collaboration, the development team turned to a hardware store for help. To create the famous snack, they “basically went out to Home Depot to buy a paint-spray gun” and blasted a taco with Dorito dust, according to Grub Street.

5 Ways to Improve Your Relationship

W ith a S pouse W ho H as B ipolar D isorder

Individuals who have a bipolar disorder diagnosis may show many different “faces,” but they are never sure which one will show on any given day. A whirlwind of emotions may take over when they least expect it, which is a struggle not only for the diagnosed individual, but also for their family, friends, and partners. If you’re married to someone suffering from bipolar disorder, you know all too well how difficult it can be. One moment, life is full of love and positive energy. Then the next thing you know, there’s a shadow looming over your relationship. So, what can you do for yourself and your partner? Get support. It’s not easy being married to someone who’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. You may find yourself focusing all your time and energy on caring for the person you love and can easily forget to care for yourself too. Consider joining a support group or talking with a therapist who can help you come to terms with the faces of bipolar and allow you to focus on how you feel. Build on your relationship. Mental illness takes its toll on most of us, especially when you’re in a relationship. Couples therapy is a great way to build on your relationship and learn to understand the struggles both you and your partner face.

time out to de- stress and analyze your emotions

is a great way for you to understand how you feel whilst getting some much- needed alone time. This will benefit your relationship in the long run.

Just talk. Like in any relationship, communication is important. This is especially true when your spouse has bipolar disorder. To better understand how you should act around them, sit and talk with your spouse to discuss what you can do to support them. Speak about your feelings too, which will help you come to mutual agreements and become closer. Recall your best moments — and laugh. It’s important to enjoy the good times for what they are. Remember why you fell in love with your spouse, and when times get tough, laugh with one another. Often, the best way to get your spouse out of a low mood is laughing with them.

Take time to renew yourself. It’s okay to need some space, especially when your partner’s moods are strong. Going on a trip and taking some

For more informative articles like this one, be sure to visit our blog at JustFamilyLaw.com/family-law-expert-blog!

2

JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551

5 THINGS TO DO BEFORE FILING FOR DIVORCE T agline Before filing for divorce, there are generally several steps a couple should take. While circumstances vary, taking these steps can help you decrease the confusion and frustration that may come along with the divorce process. Seek counseling (both together and independently). Many couples skip marriage counseling because they don’t like the idea or don’t see the point. In many cases, one spouse wants out and may refuse counseling. Though no one can be forced into counseling, it’s important to make an effort in this arena, especially if you have children. You owe it to your kids, yourself, and your spouse to consider visiting a marriage counselor or family therapist. Don’t move out of the house just yet. Barring domestic violence or other extreme situations, stay in the home until you have a chance to consult with an attorney. If you move out too soon or without having taken the proper legal steps, you could be accused of “deserting the marriage,” which will put you at a disadvantage during divorce proceedings. T ake inventory of household items. Go through every room in your house and make note of what personal property you want or has particular meaning to you. Going into a divorce knowing what you want to keep gives you a sense of what property is important to you and a basic plan to follow as you prepare for the next steps. Know what your spouse earns. Child and spousal support can easily become major issues during divorce. During the divorce process, the amount that goes to support is calculated using both parties’ income information. It’s usually easy to determine your own income, but be sure to determine exactly how much your spouse earns. Tax returns are a good place to start. Document questions and concerns. As you think about and prepare for a possible divorce, write down any questions you have about it. This includes questions or concerns about the process itself, financial issues that may arise, and custody issues, just to name a few. This will help you keep your thoughts in order during a stressful time, and you can refer to these questions when you speak to a family law attorney.

Solution on pg. 4

SPOOKY STRAWBERRY GHOSTS

Inspired by Candiquik.com

These adorable chocolate-dipped strawberry ghosts will be the stars of your Halloween party!

INGREDIENTS

• 16 oz white chocolate, chopped • 24 strawberries • 1 package mini dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted. 2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper. 3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth. 5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!

3

JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551

23101 Lake Center Drive • Suite 310 Lake Forest, CA 92630

Inside haunted houses: Past, Present, and Future

1

3 Mind-Blowing Facts About Taco Bell

2

Tips on Coping with a Bipolar Spouse

5 Things to Do Before Filing for Divorce

3

Spooky Strawberry Ghosts

The Best Mental Health Apps You Can Use From Home

4

3 GREAT APPS TO

MAINTAIN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AT HOME

When you lead a busy lifestyle, mental health often takes a back seat to other pressing matters. Thankfully, there are a number of easy-to-use apps to help address this concern. Even if you’re pressed for time, these apps can help you maintain your mental health. And if you’re just looking for some simple resources to guide you through mood-boosting exercises, they’ve got you covered there too. Moodfit (GetMoodfit.com) Think of this app as a fitness tracker for your mind. The mood tracker allows you to record your moods and thoughts and follow trends and changes over time. You can look at these trends yourself or set the app to monitor specific areas of your mood. This highly customizable app is packed with tools and resources to help you with your mental health. In addition to the mood tracker, Moodfit offers a range of breathing exercises and a guide to mindfulness meditation. MoodMission (MoodMission.com) If you’re struggling with mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, you may feel like this free, evidence-based app was designed just for you. MoodMission asks you a series of questions to assess how you’re feeling, then suggests a series of “missions” you can complete to help you get into a better state of mind.

Missions are short, achievable tasks, like taking a walk around the block or cleaning up a room in your home. Of course, like all the apps listed here, it is not a replacement for professional mental health care, but it offers evidence-based exercises and a level of support that’s not often found in smartphone apps. T alkspace (Talkspace.com) While this app contains a number of mental health tools, its primary purpose is to connect you quickly with one of the company’s thousands of licensed and experienced therapists you can message on a regular basis. Unlike traditional therapy where you schedule an appointment and meet in person, Talkspace allows its user to communicate with their therapist through the app’s encrypted messaging system. It also allows you to request a check-in from your therapist and provides a place for them to upload your therapy notes. Talkspace is more costly than some other apps, but depending on your specific needs, it may be worth it.

4

JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551