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AUGUST 2018
847-515-8970 • www.KineticPTS.com
WHY OUR FAMILY LOVES ROAD TRIPS GETTING THERE
By the time you read this, my family and I will have just returned from our summer road trip. The plan is to head up to Toronto together, which will be our kids’ first time up to Canada. Our youngest son has been the big impetus for making the drive north; he has his heart set on seeing the Hockey Hall of Fame! What excites me about this road trip is that it won’t just be “there and back again.” We’ll actually be making a wide circle around Lake Erie, stopping to marvel at Niagara Falls before heading down to New York City to visit the Statue of Liberty and see “The Lion King” on Broadway. After the Big Apple, we’ll make our way across Pennsylvania and Ohio, possibly making a stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame before we get home to Huntley. To some, this may sound like too full of an itinerary for a single road trip. But that’s the way Emilie and I prefer it. Part of the joy of a driving vacation is all the little stops and discoveries you get to make along the way. Plus, with today’s modern devices,
“PART OF THE JOY OF A DRIVING VACATION IS ALL THE LITTLE STOPS AND DISCOVERIES YOU GET TO MAKE ALONG THE WAY.” This is not to say those trips in my youth weren’t memorable. As I’ve mentioned in the past, my parents started a tradition of taking the family to St. Pete’s Beach in West Florida every year, and we used to drive. That’s at there’s never been an easier time to be a kid on a road trip. I certainly wish I’d had the option of watching a movie or playing a video game on family trips when I was a teenager! least a 19-hour journey one way, provided nothing went wrong along the way. During these marathon drives down to Florida, we would almost always have major car trouble. I remember one year the power steering gave out.
The following year, it turned out the air pressure in our tires was out of balance, which we only noticed after the car got above 50 mph and started rocking back and forth like an amusement park ride. The irony is that both of these car calamities were accidentally caused by a mechanic we hired to do preventative maintenance before the journey! The first year, he’d forgotten to replace the cap on the power steering fluid, and the second year, he’d failed to top off all the tires. All things considered, we’re able to look back and laugh on it now! That’s part of why I love road trips so much; you create so many great memories along the way. Having the whole family together in a confined space is the perfect recipe for plenty of inside jokes to develop. Getting there really is half the fun!
Happy Trails,
–Mike Ulmer
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HOW TO ACHIEVE A MORE RESTFUL NIGHT’S SLEEP
A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should make a habit of going to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be. WAKE UP NATURALLY. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on the body and even elevate blood pressure, which is not good first thing
in the morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake-up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way. KICK THE SCREEN HABIT. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone — before bed is detrimental to sleep quality. Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to “one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time.
Congratulations to Sarah Robinson, who won the balance board challenge on May 31, 2018 and the $35 pot along with it!
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comfort in both cases is being proactive. AT YOUR DESK Start by adjusting your office chair. Its height should be such that your feet rest flat on the floor, with your thighs slightly sloping down. You also want to ensure your elbows are bent at roughly 90 degrees to use your keyboard. Once you’re seated, make sure your monitor is at the right level. You want to be able to look straight ahead to view your screen rather than craning your neck downward. Those who work on laptops may want to invest in either an external monitor or keyboard and mouse to achieve this. IN YOUR CAR Similar to the desk scenario, you’ll want to start with
your seat. You want the seatback at a roughly 100-degree angle so you aren’t leaning back too far. Adjust your car’s headrest so the middle touches the back of your head, and ensure you are close enough to the steering wheel to avoid leaning forward. You’ll also want to ensure your vision is clear. Adjust your mirrors so you can see each of them without much head movement, and ensure your windshield is clean so you won’t have to strain to see. TAKE A BREAK Whether typing or driving, always be sure to take a break, especially if you feel neck pain on the way. Find a stopping point and stretch your legs. If the pain comes anyway and persists, you should consider seeking the help of a physical therapist.
Those who have spent long hours at a desk for work or behind the wheel on summer road trips are more than familiar with the cascade of sensations. First you feel a stiffening in your neck you can’t shake, then a twinge, and finally pain that begins to radiate out to your head and shoulders. You try to fight it, rolling your shoulders and nodding your head at odd angles. But by that point it’s often too late — you’ve got a pain in the neck. For someone who has to sit for long hours, neck pain can seem inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re sitting in front of a computer or driving on the open road, taking a few simple steps can help prevent the onset of soreness. While desks and cars require different approaches, the key to
Sudoku
Green Bean and Sesame Salad
If you need an easy, healthy side dish with plenty of flavor, this green bean salad will be the perfect addition to your summer menu.
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped • Small bunch of fresh mint • Small bunch of flat-leaf parsley • Salt and pepper, to taste
INGREDIENTS • 3 cups green beans, ends trimmed • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Bring a large saucepan of water to boil; cook green beans for 4–5 minutes; drain well. 2. In a blender, mix finely chopped mint and parsley with olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Blend until combined. 3. Add dressing, onion, and sesame seeds to beans. Toss together. Cool dish, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
847-515-8970 www.KineticPTS.com
11920 Oak Creek Parkway Huntley, IL 60142
INSIDE The Ulmers Hit the Road! PAGE 1
Sleep Better and Feel Great PAGE 2
Balance Board Winner! PAGE 2
Avoid a Pain in the Neck PAGE 3
Green Bean and Sesame Salad PAGE 3
Safe Sailing This Hurricane Season PAGE 4
After last year’s devastating storm season, would- be tropical travelers are undoubtedly hesitant about purchasing those discounted plane tickets to the Caribbean Basin. No one wants to face a possible evacuation during their vacation — or worse, be forced to weather a hurricane at a beachfront resort. If you want the most bang for your buck while enjoying the turquoise waters of the Caribbean this fall, consider booking a cruise. Cruise-ship travel is a fun and adventurous way to explore any time of year. After all, what could be more magical than a floating hotel room where you fall asleep in one country and wake up in another? This charming mobility is also what makes cruise travel the safest option for visiting the Caribbean and the coast of Mexico this time of year. SAFETY AND SAVINGS Much like resorts and airfare, cruise lines discount their Caribbean fares significantly during peak hurricane season, from August to October. However, unlike a traditional hotel, these massive ships have the luxury of navigating out of a storm’s path with ease. For all their ferocity, hurricanes move slowly across the Atlantic and have relatively predictable trajectories.
Meanwhile, modern cruise ships carry the most sophisticated weather-tracking instruments, allowing them to bypass even small storms and inclement weather. FLEXIBILITY IS A MUST The flipside of this ability to dodge storms is the fact that your ship may not be able to stick to its original itinerary. You may have to anchor at an island you weren’t expecting to or miss out on seeing a port you were supposed to visit. If you have your heart set on seeing a specific location, cruise travel this time of year may not be for you. But if you are simply looking for a safe, affordable vacation to a beautiful region, then it doesn’t much matter which white-sanded beach you wake up to next. While unpredictable weather will always be a concern for any vacation, the safety and variety cruises offer make them great options for anyone looking for a Caribbean getaway before the holiday season. So if you have a flexible schedule and a healthy sense of adventure, it’s time to call your travel agent, pack your sunscreen and bathing suit, and head to paradise!
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