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MONTHLY
MARCH 2019
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Our Family Trip to San Francisco ONE ADVENTURE-FILLED VACATION
Vital Care Patients ENTER TO WIN Find the misspelled word in this newsletter and call (623) 544-0300 for your chance to win a $10 gift card! CALL (623) 544-0300 Contest is for past and present Vital Care PT patients only. We went there for the week of the kids’ fall break in October. While a lot of people like to use vacations as an excuse to take a break from their health and fitness routine, we try to plan adventures to keep us moving. We figure the exercise will balance out more time spent relaxing and our higher calorie intake as we eat out more often than we normally do. We try to walk as much as we can, not only to get some exercise, but to save ourselves the stress of driving in an unknown city, dealing with parking, and to save money that would be spent on a ride-share. Spring break signals the perfect time to take a family vacation. You don’t have to worry about your kids getting behind on their homework, and the warmer temperatures open up a lot more locations as possible destinations. We recently took a family vacation in San Francisco.
In addition to walking long distances up and down the San Francisco hills, our trip in October fostered two other memorable experiences in the great outdoors. We knew we wanted to visit the Golden Gate Bridge, but rather than driving there and walking across, we decided to make a full biking day out of the excursion. We rented bikes and rode the several miles uphill to the bridge. As we rode across the bridge itself, we made a pit stop to take some pictures, then continued across into Sausalito. After that, we rode the bikes to Muir Woods so we could stroll through the forest of primeval old-growth coastal redwoods. After spending the afternoon adventuring through this national monument, we rode the bikes to the pier and took the ferry from Sausalito back to San Francisco. We had made plans to have dinner with some relatives that night, but by the time we got home, we were so tired we couldn’t drag ourselves out again. We eventually hit the pavement again the next morning and decided to visit Coit Tower, a slender white concrete column rising from the top of Telegraph Hill. The simple fluted tower is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy eccentric and patron of the city’s firefighters. Coit died in 1929, leaving a substantial bequest “for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved.” Since then, it’s been a major feature of the San Francisco skyline, and we knew we wanted to venture there. While you can drive to the tower, I found out about a hidden staircase, known as the Filbert Steps, while researching the tower online. Being the energetic family that we are, we decided to climb the 600 steps to the top. The stairs wind
through a beautiful garden that we would have never seen by car.
The mileage we put on our bodies during this trip (on all of our trips, for that matter) might not be the recipe for a typical relaxing vacation, but the fact that we are not sitting at our desks and get to exercise by exploring something new is relaxing for us. We are firm believers that the best way to get a feel for a new city is to physically explore it. Whether you’re traveling by bike, scooter, or just meandering around on foot, you can get a firm understanding of the atmosphere by putting yourself right in the middle of it. If you’re planning a trip this spring break, I’d encourage you to start by doing some research to find some neat places in town to visit. Then, ponder some routes to get there that don’t require you to spend most of your vacation in the car. You might feel a little exhausted by the end of the day, but I assure you the adventure will be worth it!
–Andrea McWhorter
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T urning to V ideo G ames A fter R etirement GAME-FULLY EMPLOYED
The rise in popularity of game-streaming platforms like Twitch — a service seemingly only used by snarky teens playing under quirky aliases — has paved the way for a whole new generation of video game enthusiasts. They just might not be the type you had in mind. Clips and articles are popping up online showcasing how older generations of tech aficionados have taken to gaming en masse. Long gone are the days of grandparents calling grandsons in frustration to ask how to send an email. The current generation of seniors bucks the stereotypical ignorance of technology, embracing hand-held controllers and battle cries as they take on their decades-younger counterparts in the digital arena. One team in particular has stolen the spotlight of late: The Silver Snipers, bringers of destruction in “Counter-Strike” leagues around the world. The team from Stockholm, Sweden, took their talents to the stage of Dreamhack 2017, an esports tournament, where they battled it out against some of the world’s most skilled esports players. Their mission was simple: to show the world that gaming is for people of all ages. Each member picked up the game for different reasons; some played as a way to connect to their grandkids, while others did it to S uccess S tories OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST
pass the time. One thing’s for certain: This alliance has turned into a hellscape for their opponents.
With every team member being over the age of 60, the combination of BirDie, Windy, Knitting Knight, Teen Slayer, and Berra Bang — all gaming aliases — has proved to be a first-of-its-kind powerhouse in the growing circle of older gamers. As one member explained, the game is not just for having fun. Gaming has given the team a chance to connect and be a part of a massive worldwide community. The gameplay also allows for mental exercise. It offers teamwork challenges and improves cognitive function, multitasking skills, and reflexes.
If The Silver Snipers are passing along one message, it’s that you’re never too young for an old-fashioned digital beat down.
Here at Vital Care Physical Therapy, we rely on a variety of factors to continue our progress. Out of all of those, none is as necessary as the wonderful patients who come to us for help during their rehabilitation journey. Check out what this patient had to say about her experience: “While my recent shoulder surgery was the scariest event I’ve ever faced, the team at Vital Care Physical Therapy really helped put all my fears to rest. In fact, my entire rehabilitation process was fabulous. From the moment I walked in the door, the entire staff was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable week after week. I want to give a special thank you to Andrea and Abby, who helped me with my exercises, and to the rest of team for taking such great care of me!” – Denise L.
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SOME TOMATO- GROWING TIPS F rom the P rofessional : M y D ad !
Several months ago, I wrote an article on the importance of gratitude, wherein I expounded upon my thankfulness for my family and the wonderful experiences we get to share every Labor Day weekend. Every year, my dad grows up to 400 pounds of tomatoes in his garden! He then uses them to make salsa from his special recipe, and throughout the weekend, the kids sell jar upon jar of it. This last year, the kids sold over 60 jars to neighbors in the community, all of whom know to expect us and eagerly wait as we set up our salsa stand at the end of the driveway.
While I love to share all my stories with my patients, I’ve found that people love to hear about my family’s salsa-making antics so much that they’ve asked me how my dad grows so many tomatoes each year. While I’d like to attribute all of his gardening success to a brilliant green thumb, he was kind enough to offer some practical advice to help those who might be curaious:
HOMEMADE CORNED BEEF
DAD’S GARDENING TIPS:
1. Buy plants that are 10–12-inches tall in 2-inch six-packs. (I have the best luck with Early Girls).
• 2 quarts water • 1 cup kosher salt INGREDIENTS
• 8 cloves garlic • 8 whole allspice berries • 12 whole juniper berries • 2 bay leaves, crumbled • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger • 2 pounds ice • 1 5-pound beef brisket, trimmed • 1 small onion, quartered • 1 large carrot, coarsely chopped • 1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
2. I plant in 12-inch wells so water reaches the roots and isn’t wasted. Use tomato cages; they really help!
• 1/2 cup brown sugar • 2 tablespoons saltpeter (potassium nitrate) • 1 cinnamon stick, broken into large pieces • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds • 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
3. Full sun is best.
4. Cut off all leaves except those around the top of the plant.
5. Bury plants as deep as possible (it will grow a second root ball right beneath the surface).
DIRECTIONS
6. Make sure soil makeup is 50 percent native soil and 50 percent compost.
1. In a large stockpot, combine water, garlic, and all herbs and spices to make brine. Cook over high heat until salt and sugar are fully dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in ice. 2. Once water temp reaches 45 F, place brisket in a 2-gallon zip-close bag, pour in brine to cover, lay flat in a large container, and store in fridge. 3. Brine for 10 days, checking daily to make sure brisket is fully submerged and brine is stirred. 4. After 10 days, remove brisket from brine and rinse under cool water. In a large pot, cover brisket, onion, carrot, and celery with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and gently simmer for 2 1/2–3 hours. 5. Remove, slice across the grain, and serve.
7. Use Miracle-Gro fertilizer when you plant and again every two weeks.
8. Keep plant moist for the first three weeks. After that, new growth will help prevent drying out. After the new growth comes in, you can water regularly every three to four days.
Happy Gardening!
–Andrea
Inspired by Food Network
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THIS ISSUE I nside 14545 W. Grand Ave., #108 Surprise, AZ 85374 One Adventure-Filled Vacation: Our Family Trip to San Francisco PAGE 1
Age Is Only a Level Number
Success Stories PAGE 2
Homemade Corned Beef
Some Amazing Tomato-Growing Tips from My Dad PAGE 3
How to Make Your Sailing Dreams Come True PAGE 4
Take Your Next Trip Offshore SET SAIL FOR VACATION
If you’re lucky enough to have been aboard a ship under full sail, chances are you know the thrill and serenity sailing can give you. If you’ve never been but have always wanted to know what it’s like to get out on the wind and waves, there are many great options available for beginners. Here are some ideas to inspire your next waterside vacation. START SMALL For those who dream of becoming a skipper one day, a great way to start is by sailing dinghies. These one-sail, beach-launch boats fit 1–2 people and can be rented at most water sports shops. If you want to make it a family experience, shops usually have 16-foot catamarans for rent as well. Catamarans have two hulls rather than one, making for a smoother, more spacious ride. If you’ve never sailed before, inquire about lessons. Most rental operations have instructors on hand who can show you the ropes. The great thing about sailing is that whether you’re in a 12-foot dinghy or a 60- foot sloop, the same basic principles, rules, and skills apply. TAKE A DAY SAIL Many day-sail charters exist for those who want to go out a little farther than a dinghy would permit. If you’ve captained a boat and are familiar with the waters, you can apply for a bareboat charter. However, if you are
inexperienced or simply don’t want a local guide at the helm, signing up for a day trip with a skipper and crew is a great option.
DO A FULL CHARTER Short of owning your own vessel, chartering a boat for multiple nights is the closest you can get to living out your nautical dreams. Some of the most beautiful destinations on earth — from the Caribbean Sea to the Mediterranean — are best experienced from the deck of a sailboat. Letting the sea guide you to amazing snorkeling destinations, remote cays, and bustling harbors is the stuff of real adventure.
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