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While most people expect flowers and gifts for Valentine’s Day, here are some ideas that don’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Do something outdoors (if the weather permits) – a walk in the park with some hot cocoa, ice skating or a day on the slopes are a few things that come to mind. Get out in the air out there! Make dinner at home – what is your favorite meal to share? Whip it up! Head to the grocery store together, grab a bottle of wine and your favorite fixings and go to town. Then maybe you can catch a new series on Netflix after. Recreate your first date – no matter where it was, be it a loud college bar or on a beach, going somewhere to toast the day you met on the most romantic day of the year sounds like the perfect Valentine’s Day tradition to us. Happy Valentine’s Day from us to you!

The 2018 Winter Games have kicked off in PyeongChang, South Korea. They’ll run until Sunday, February 25. The Olympics date back centuries into Greek history but the first official Olympic games that we know of was on April 6, 1896. The International Olympic Committee met for the first time in Paris in June 1894 and chose Greece as the site of the inaugural modern Olympiad. To learn more about the inaugural events dating back to the 5 th century B.C., click here. They were originally a one-day event, and then got extended to three and then to five! Now they last about 16 days in total. What are your favorite sports to watch? To view the full schedule or for scores and updates, visit the official Olympics page.

Everyone loves pizza and today we get to love it even more! Pizza comes in many different variations and whether it be deep dish, thin crust or Chicago-style – we love them all! Here are a few quick facts about pizza pies: Pepperoni is the most popular pizza at 36 percent of all pies ordered. Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year. Add another 1 billion on frozen pizzas. 17 percent of all U.S. restaurants are pizzerias. Antica Pizzeria, the first pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738. Gennaro Lombardi, the first pizzeria in the United States, opened in 1895 in New York City. Americans consume on average 23 pounds of pizza per person each year. It’s highly likely that your favorite restaurants are doing some discounting today, so make sure you take the family out to dinner tonight to celebrate! That’s all we’ve got – you can follow the hashtag on social media: #NationalPizzaDay

This month is generally thought of as the month of love, but the American Heart Association urges you to think about your heart in a different way – a healthy one! The first American Heart Month took place in 1964 after it was proclaimed a federally designated event by President Lyndon B. Johnson. At the time of its proclamation, more than half the deaths in the U.S. were caused by cardiovascular disease. Chances are, we all know someone affected by heart disease and stroke, because about 2,300 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day – an average of 1 death every 38 seconds! That is an astonishing number – so what are the benefits of getting more active? Physical activity can help you: lower your blood pressure boost your levels of good cholesterol improve blood flow (circulation) keep your weight under control prevent bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis So, get out there and take care of your heart! After all, it does more work than ANY other muscle in the body by pumping 2,000 gallons of blood per day – it deserves some TLC.

Most people are saddened by the loss of a police officer, but when it’s a K-9 officer the emotions are so different. These four-legged officers go first to clear the way for their two-legged partners and put themselves in danger for them and us and never once stop to think about themselves. Why is that?  Dogs are protectors of humans. They love us unconditionally and more than likely will befriend most humans until they are shown we can’t be trusted and therefore, it is forever ingrained in the dog that humans are the enemy. Today’s K-9 units are not like they were back in the day when dogs were first being introduced to police work. They are better trained and most of them live with their police officer partners and their families, and when they retire, they may live out the rest of their days with the families that have become so dear to their K-9 heart. The K-9 teams do more than just ride and walk our streets in the line of duty. They are bomb sniffing, drug smuggling detectors and so much more keeping us all safe. K-9 breeds have changed, too – they are no longer just the standard German Shepherd that they had back in the day. Mixed breeds and dogs of all sizes are now used to do so many wonderful things. So, from my pups Barley, Guinness & myself we thank you for your service for putting yourselves in harm’s way for all of us each day. Bark on Bordas dog nation, bark on!

Just recently, my parents took me to one of their favorite getaways. There is a quaint little town hidden at the tip top of the Buckeye state. This place is called Geneva, Ohio, also referred to as Geneva on the Lake. This town is a hidden gem as it sits beside Lake Erie and provides magnificent views. The town has several different vineyards and each one is more beautiful than the last. Every vineyard we visited we ordered a flight of wine. Ordering a flight of wine is the best way to sample all the wines that the vineyard has to offer. The varieties of wine featured were vast. I typically go for a sweet wine like a Moscato or Riesling, but after experiencing so many flavors my favorites may be expanding. From this trip I discovered my new-found love of dry red wines. I tried something new called a mulled wine. It’s a wine that is served warm. I was skeptical about trying a warm wine. I’ve only had wine at room temperature or chilled, but oddly enough I found mulled wine delicious. Not only was the wine incredible but the food was amazing. It was slightly chilly on the weekend of our visit, but we braved the cold to stroll along the shore of Lake Erie and take in the sights. There were plenty of trails and bikes for rent to explore more of what the town has to offer. After visiting I was shocked how this place was kept hidden from me for so long! A return trip is absolutely in my future.

The groundhog hath spoken…we get six more lovely weeks of winter! Phil crawled out of his little hole on Friday and saw his shadow which means we’re going to freeze for six more weeks. Why do we trust a rodent to predict the weather? Well, this tradition began on Feb. 2, 1887 in Punxsutawney, Penn. Local newspaper editor Clymer Freas drummed up the idea and his band of followers went up to a site called Gobbler’s Knob, which is where the inaugural groundhog became the bearer of bad news when he turned around and saw his shadow. This being said, here are some tips for keeping warm over the next several weeks: Wear a hat: Studies show that you lose heat from anything that is exposed – even your head! Layer up: Keeping your core warm is the first step to staying warm. Keep your thermostat at 70 or above: This will help prevent your pipes from freezing or (even worse) bursting. Avoid alcoholic beverages when possible: Alcohol has a tendency to drop your core temperature. Indulge in foods that keep you warm: soup, spicy foods, hot coffee and tea to name a few! Stay warm, friends!

“What kind of lawyer are you?” is a question most attorneys get as soon as someone learns of his or her occupation. However, what I didn’t realize until after graduating law school is that many people don’t realize that there are different types of lawyers who specialize in various areas of law. Although there are attorneys who act as general practitioners and deal with a wide variety of law, just like doctors, many of us attorneys have areas of specific expertise in which we practice. To paint a better picture of the legal world, I’ve provided a breakdown of the many areas of law in which attorneys may work and specialize: General Criminal Law DUI Law Personal Injury Medical Malpractice Trucking Consumer Legal Malpractice Insurance Bankruptcy Workers Compensation Real Estate Oil and Gas Tax Wills and Trusts Contracts Traffic Law Labor and Employment Corporate Disability Intellectual Property Patent Trademark Copyright Immigration International Law Family Law Products Liability Life Sciences Civil Litigation Elder Law Civil Rights Land Use and Development Toxic Tort Entertainment Law Construction Law Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Hopefully this gives you some insight into the various areas of law that exist.

Once again, I find myself looking for things to celebrate. The “big” holiday is over and I am feeling like, “this can’t be it, there’s gotta be more,” so I went looking for more reasons to celebrate, and boy did I find some good ones! Did you know Feb. 2 shares Groundhog Day with Bubble Gum Day? Feb. 3 is Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. It gets better. Feb. 6 is National Chopsticks Day along with Lame Duck Day…really? And, of course, the big one - National Pizza Day on the 9 th along with Toothache Day (because you ate too much ice cream for breakfast and now, too much pizza). Valentine’s Day shares the 14 th with Ferris Wheel Day. One of my favorites comes along on the 16 th - Do a Grouch a Favor Day…who knew?  President’s Day shares the 19 th with National Chocolate Mint Day and Cherry Pie Day follows on the 20 th. Not to leave anyone out, National Margarita Day is on the 22 nd along with Walking the Dog Day, (better save the Margarita for after walking the dog). The 24 th shares two more good ones - National Tortilla Chip Day and Open that Bottle Night!  And finally, bringing up the rear, is No Brainer Day on the 27 th and Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday shares the 28 th with National Tooth Fairy Day, (because you lost your teeth from the ice cream and pizza!!) There is something for everyone to celebrate in February!  Enjoy!!

Last fall, my 15 year old son (who is on the Autism spectrum) informed me that he signed up for the swim team at school.  At the time I had very little knowledge of what occurred at a swim meet as I have never been to one.  To be honest, I was quite surprised that my introverted son, who has never played a school sport in his life, was even interested. We attended the coach’s informational meeting and talked to veteran swim parents for guidance.   He was enrolled in a few swimming and diving classes to polish him up a bit.  I read extensively on safe snacking diets that helped keep energy up without making him feel too full to swim.  A trip to Dick’s Sporting Goods (well honestly, a few trips) was in order.  Finally, he was set and ready to swim. As we move through the season, I see my son progressing in a lot of ways.  He is swimming at a faster pace, eating healthier and even wanting to hit the gym to strengthen his body.  However, the most appealing progress I have seen is in his attitude.  He is an athlete now and part of a team.  His teammates are a second family to him.  They reach out and high-five each other (and opposing teams as well) before they even get out of the water.  Basically, he has reached a whole new level of confidence due to the positive interaction with his peers and the amazingly caring attitude of a great coach. My husband and I have even volunteered as timers and we have seen first-hand the wonderful sportsmanship qualities these swimmers have.  They are competing against different schools, their teammates and themselves; keeping up a good moral by encouraging each other. I love that my son loves swimming so much, and is surrounded by people who have made such a great difference to his life.

One of the more unfortunate facts of modern life is that somewhere around 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce.  Many of those failed marriages involve children, and many of those divorced parents will move on to marry again.  What we have come to call “blended families”, that is, parents with children from previous relationships who get married, seem today to be more the norm than the exception.  Personally, I have been part of a blended family for nearly 15 years now.  My wife has a daughter (Caitlin) from a previous marriage, and I have a daughter and a son (Brittany and John III) from mine. From the time that Denise and I were married in 2003, I struggled with how to describe Caitlin.  I quickly realized that I really, REALLY dislike the term “step-daughter”.  To me, it sounds cheap and somewhat insulting.  It’s as if I would be saying “she is part of our family, but not really part of me”.  It qualifies my relationship with Caitlin (and my wife’s relationship with my two children), and not in a good way.  So not that long ago, I decided I would no longer use the phrase.  I now introduce Caitlin as my daughter.  Period.  Denise does the same with Brittany and John. I am very happy with my decision, and I would encourage other folks in the same situation to consider doing the same thing.  How many times have we heard a person say, “it takes more than biology to make a father” when describing a biological parent who abandons his children.  We all know that statement to be true, yet we don’t consider the converse:  the absence of a biological link certainly does not preclude a person from being a parent. Caitlin’s mother and I have been married for 15 years, so I stepped into her life when she was a little girl of 9.  Since that time, I have been just as involved in her life as any biological parent would be.  I helped to teach her, to discipline her, to mold her into a confident young woman.  I went to soccer games and strings concerts and graduations galore.  I sat on the couch with her head on my shoulder, and entertained her with her friends at sleep-overs.  As she grew older, I scrutinized her potential boyfriends, and I lay awake with her Mom until she got home safely from whatever high school function she had attended on the weekends.  In short, I parented. I made the decision to stop referring to Caitlin as my “step-daughter” several years ago, but before I put my decision into action, I reached out to her biological father.  I explained to him what I was thinking, and told him I did not want to disrespect him or his relationship with his daughter in any fashion.  (And just in case any of those reading this jump to the wrong conclusion, I should note that Caitlin’s father has always been deeply involved in every aspect of her life.  He has been a great father to her.  Who says a child can’t have two fathers, both working to raise her the right way?)  To his credit, he told me he had no problem at all with my referring to her as my daughter, without further qualification. So, it has been, and so it shall be for the rest of my days.  I look at it this way:  I have taught her, worked with her, played soccer with her (if you call rolling the ball at her “playing”), yelled at her, worried about her and tucked her in.  And today, I am as proud of her as I can be, and I love her as I do Brittany and John III.  If that doesn’t qualify me as a parent and her as my child, I just don’t know what does.

We are all familiar with the classic tale of Wizard of Oz. You know – Dorothy and Toto, the yellow brick road, flying monkeys and, of course, the good witch and the bad witch. I loved that movie as a kid, although the wicked witch, with her green complexion and mean disposition, did scare me a bit and I would cover my face during the scenes in which she appeared, but after last weekend, I’m not so sure she was as mean and nasty as initially thought. I had the opportunity to see the Broadway show Wicked at the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. Santa brought tickets and I was looking forward to going as I’d heard the show was top notch. Friends who’d seen it couldn’t stop raving about it and according to playbill.com, in July 2017, Wicked surpassed The Phantom of the Opera as Broadway's second-highest-grossing show, trailing only The Lion King. Based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the show, according to the website, looks at what happened in Oz from a different perspective. “There is another young woman born with emerald green skin, smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde, their initial rivalry turns into the most unlikeliest of friendships until the world decides to call one good and the other one wicked,” the site states. The show included several references to the original 1939 film, but has some twists and turns throughout that kept me guessing. I certainly didn’t expect it to end as it did and I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of humor that was interjected. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend taking in this show. And if you want to make a day of it, there are numerous restaurants near Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Six Penn Kitchen is one of my favorites. There’s discussion amongst my colleagues that we go to The Bodyguard The Musical starring Deborah Cox. It runs Feb. 27 through March 4 also at the Benedum. Sounds like there could be another fun outing in the Steel City on tap. I’m looking forward to it.