The Good Life – September-October 2020

FATHERS | DAD LIFE

The Anatomy of

the American Soccer Dad

WRITTEN BY: PAUL HANKEL • PHOTO BY: PAUL HANKEL

Monday Evening, 4:24pm

It's the start of the second week of your son's soccer season.

His season OFFICIALLY began last week. However, you

forgot to check the Sports Engine app and forgot.

You would've made it to summer camp on time to pick

him up, if University Drive wasn't perpetually under

construction and gridlock.

WHO SCHEDULES YOUTH SOCCER GAMES TO

START AT 5 PM ON A WEEKDAY?!

You pull up to summer camp and jog inside, hurriedly

finishing up a work call before the screams from inside

summer camp can be heard.

Your son excitedly greets you. He, of course, wants to finish

the project he's working on, but you remind him that his

soccer game starts in 32 minutes and that he still needs to

change and eat.

You hustle him into the bathroom to change. Once

changed, he promptly informs you that he has to poop.

While pooping, your son launches into a lengthy dialogue

about Fortnite's latest update. You listen attentively

because we love our children.

Once done, you hurriedly try to help him wash his hands.

He reminds you, "DAD. I have to scrub them for TWENTY

SECONDS to get the germs off!"

Oh, so NOW we're all about the rules?

5:01 pm

You plop down into your collapsible chair and perform a

quick dad inventory:

Sunglasses – $12 from Holiday. Because you're a father

now and can't be about that $100 Ray-Ban® life.

Shoes – Stylish enough to let everyone know you didn't

buy them for yourself, but sporty enough to let everyone

know you dominated the pitch in 6th-grade soccer. No

socks because it's laundry week.

Slacks – Costco brand, $20. Dressy enough to wear to

work meetings, with enough built-in flex to let you play

soccer with your son after the game for 30 seconds before

you get sweaty and run out of breath.

Coffee – $1 and also from Holiday. Because, again, you're

a father and can't be about that $7 Starbucks life. Its

Guatemalan Blend, and 100 percent Fair Trade organic,

because you do what you can to love mother earth.

Blue collapsible chair – A MUST. Purchased for $14.99 at

Gander Mountain's going-out-of-business sale. Double cup

holder, with a triple-stitch, reinforced backrest. The GOLD

STANDARD of collapsible chairs.

5:21 pm

Pretty good competition so far. The other team has a kid

who you just KNOW isn't 8 years old and is a good two

inches and 15 pounds bigger than everyone. You make a

mental note to text the coach about it.

Speaking of which ... you've decided to not coach your

son's soccer team for several reasons:

You have no idea how to play soccer, other than playing in

junior high. You disguised this fact by claiming that you

wouldn't be able to be at all the practices and games, due

to work. When, in reality, nowadays you only watch soccer

every four years during the Olympics. And that usually

entails using false patriotism as a guise to get hammered

at inappropriate hours during the day. You sit on a pitch

of LIES.

The other reason you don't coach is that, in the interest of

child development and everyone having fun, this particular

soccer program doesn't keep score. Which is a decision

backed by sports scientists, child psychologists and most

coaches. However, you never bought into this whole,

"everyone gets a trophy," mentality and, therefore, keep

track of the score in your head. It's about WINNING, gosh

darn it! You decline to coach out of protest.

5:30 pm

Halftime.

2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

Your son trots over, and you force him to consume some

water. He promptly dumps most of it on his head because

he's hot. You swear under your breath because you left

his $32 Under Armor water bottle sitting on the kitchen

counter this morning and now had to pay GAS STATION

prices for a bottle of water on the way to the game. Also,

maybe your son would not be so hot if he'd agreed to get

a haircut like you've been asking him to for two months

now?

Your son gloats over how many goals he's scored. You

vocally remind him that, "We're just here to have fun.

Goals don't matter," while, in your head, thinking, "He's

the next Neymar."

Your son tells you that the one big kid on the other team

isn't even good and is trash.

You remind him that we don't name call in this family.

6:08 pm

You impatiently navigate the line to exit the parking lot.

"WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE %$@#! EXIT?! What

MORON designed this parking lot?"

"DAD, we don't name call in this family!"

As you cruise home, you smile in anticipation of the

ensuing fight regarding why a smelly eight-year-old boy

has to shower after a day of playing outside and then

playing an entire soccer game.

You tell yourself that you're going to be firm and enforce

the rules. However, in the back of your mind, you know that

the inevitable compromise will stem from the promise of

extra screen time before bed.

This is dad life. •

5:58 pm

The game ends and you almost have a mini heart attack

because you thought it was your week to bring the postgame

snack. Thankfully, it wasn't.

You trot out onto the pitch and fire a few rockets at your

son, who is in the goal. You quit after a few minutes, to

avoid sweating. As before mentioned, it is laundry week

and you have every intention of wearing these same pants

again later in the week.

You congratulate your son and he tells you that he,

"dominated that trash kid in the second half."

Again, we don't name call in this family.

urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020

Volume 8 • Issue 2

2

6

10

16

18

24

26

30

32

FATHERS - DAD LIFE

The Anatomy of the American Soccer Dad

ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS

What it Means to Me

DRIFTING

Not Just Smoke and Mirrors

MEN'S HEALTH

4 (Easy) Ways to Boost Immunity

ON THE COVER

The Lure of Bowhunting

ASK 30 WOMEN

Aren't You a Little Old for That?

HAVING A BEER (WATER) WITH

Chris Berg

TAMING THE RAIN

One of the Easiest Things a Homeowner

Can Do is to Install a Rain Barrel

LOCAL HERO - NICK STENZEL

A Lifesaving Sacrifice

Local Donor Matches with Anonymous

Stranger

18

ON THE COVER

THE LURE OF

BOWHUNTING


PUBLISHED BY

Urban Toad Media LLP

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Darren Losee

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Meghan Feir

Alexandra Floersch

Ben Hanson

Paul Hankel

Jeffrey Miller

Krissy Ness

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darren@urbantoadmedia.com

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the views urbantoadmedia.com or policies of The Good / THE Life GOOD Men’s Magazine. LIFE / 5

Alzheimer’s Awareness

What That Means to Me

WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS

If you are like me you had never heard

much about Alzheimer's disease until

it directly impacted your everyday

life.

At first, I was shocked at how little I

had heard of it because of just how

devastating the disease is, but as it

began to rear its ugly head into my

life I understood a little more why I

hadn't heard first hand what it is all

about.

"Alzheimer's disease is a

degenerative brain disease and is the

most common form of dementia. It

is important to note that dementia

is not a specific disease; it is an

overall term that describes a group

of symptoms," according to the

Alzheimer's Association's website.

There is no particular reason

someone develops Alzheimer's

disease. It can be a multitude of things

Alzheimer's disease

is a degenerative

brain disease and is

the most common

form of dementia.

It is important to

note that dementia

is not a specific

disease; it is an

overall term that

describes a group

of symptoms.

including age, genetics, environment,

lifestyle, and/or coexisting medical

conditions.

This disease intruded into my life so

rapidly and yet it is slowly taking away

one of the most important people in

my life. One thing I didn't understand

until enough time had passed is that

you don't see it coming. Silly mistakes

and forgetfulness seemed slightly out

of place but weren't causing major

issues in day-to-day activities. It isn't

until you have seen the progression

do you start to realize something isn't

quite right.

According to the Mayo Clinic's

website, "Alzheimer's disease begins

long before any symptoms become

apparent." As of today, there is no

test you can take to tell you if you will

be affected and there is no cure if you

develop it, although trials and studies

are working towards both.


As devastating as that is there are

ways you can help those affected

by the disease and those caring for

them, right here in our community.

"The Alzheimer's Association

is an organization dedicated to

accelerating global research, driving

risk reduction and early detection,

and maximizing quality care and

support," according to their website.

There is a chapter dedicated to

Minnesota and North Dakota with

As devastating as

that is there are

ways you can help

those affected by

the disease and

those caring for

them, right here in

our community.

offices right here in Fargo,

among other locations.

Each year they host The Longest

Day on June 20th, which is the

summer solstice. According

to their website, "People from

across the world will fight the

darkness of Alzheimer's through a

fundraising activity of their choice."

They also host The Walk to End

Alzheimer's every September,

Alzheimer’s

Top 10 Early Signs

Memory Loss

Social

Withdrawal

Changes

in Mood

Decreased or Poor

Judgment

Misplacing

Belongings

Struggling to

Communicate

Hard to Complete

Familiar Tasks

Confusion of Time

and Place

Changes in

Vision


Alzheimer's disease begins

long before any symptoms

become apparent.

although this year will look a

little different due to our current

circumstances.

This year, the walk will take place

on September 26th, and instead

of a large group walk around the

Red River, people are encouraged

to sign up for a team and walk in

small groups to raise money and

awareness. You can sign up for a

team or register your existing team

on their website.

Due to our present situation support

groups have been put on hold but the

Alzheimer's Association is available

24/7 at 1-800-272-3900 for around

the clock care and support and our

local chapter is open 9 am to 4:30 pm

Monday – Friday at 701-277-9757.

Although this disease is tragic for the

individual affected, the toll it takes

on the friends and family, especially

the primary caregiver, is devastating.

I can only speak for myself when I

write this, as a daughter to a primary

caregiver and their spouse, but you

find yourself in a constant state of

grief and guilt – wishing there is

something you could have done or can

do to make this all go away.

There has been one phrase that I have

kept with me from the very beginning

of this journey, you will go through the

five stages of grief a thousand times

before this is over.

At first, I didn't know what that meant

but three years into this disease I now

understand. There are stages in this

"You will go

through the

five stages

of grief a

thousand times

before this is

over."


disease and they are not clear-cut in any way. One day

the affected may be completely "with-it" and the next day

has no idea what's going on, so you find yourself getting

your hopes up only to have them dashed over and over

again. It is critical to accept the situation at hand and

understand that although some days are better there is

no going back.

FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF

Stage 1 – Denial. When you first hear the

diagnosis, you may deny its accuracy,

continue to expect your loved one to

get better, or convince yourself that the

symptoms are not Alzheimer’s.

Stage 2 – Anger. You may be angry with

the person or with the disease itself.

You may easily become frustrated or

feel abandoned and resentful toward

family members.

Stage 3 – Guilt. You may regret previous

actions, or harbor negative thoughts

about your loved one.

Stage 4 – Depression or sadness. You

may lose hope, withhold your emotions

or even withdraw from social activities.

Stage 5 – Acceptance. This occurs

when the patient’s loved ones ultimately

acknowledge the diagnosis. It's possible

you can find meaning in caring for your

loved one. You can learn to enjoy the

remaining time you have together.

If I could give anyone reading this who is affected by this

disease a piece of advice is to take the time for you. You

can't give the kind of support your loved one needs if you

are in a low place.

Throughout this experience, I have learned that my

family is resilient and my community has stepped up

to provide support at every turn. Whether it is support

groups, fundraising events, or conferences, people want

to help and that is a beautiful thing.

Of course, you can find many other fundraising

opportunities throughout our community.

Head over to the Alzheimer's Associations website at

www.alz.org to see where you can provide help. •


10 WRITTEN

/ THE GOOD

BY: KRISSY

LIFE

NESS

/ urbantoadmedia.com

• PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA


If you are like me, you have only seen drifting in the movies. You

think, well I can pull my E brake and slide around the corner on

an icy road, it can't be that hard. Boy, is that all wrong.

According to Ethan "DK" Seigel and every other drifter out there, sliding on ice

doesn't mean a thing. There is a certain precision and technique that allows

you to be a competitive drifter.

ND Drift promotes events at the drift course at Interstate Raceway near

Sabin, MN. If you hop over to the ND Drift Facebook page you can catch

video coverage and photos of past events and find out just exactly what it

means to drift competitively.

Matt Sandbeck and Ryan Keller operate Interstate Raceway, while Max

Crocker and Darin Smith are on top of all the promotional content for

ND Drift. The drift track has been operational since 2018.

Due to the way competitions are held there are many levels of

drifters, the beginner level is also known as grassroots. Grassroots

competitions are held monthly and the season points winner will

walk away with $1000. Additionally, ND Drift signed on with

Formula Drift, which allows them to host a "Pro-Am Shootout"

which means the top three places at the event will receive their

Pro 2 license. The winner will also walk away with $10,000! The

2020 Pro-Am Shootout will be held August 20-23.


"Once you receive your pro license you can enter pro

events for Formula Drift," said Seigel. "Last year we had

people from Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania traveling to

our event to try and win the money and to try to win the

pro licenses. A lot of these guys, that's what they do, they

chase money and chase licenses because some of them

also run the Formula Drift series."

Seigel not only works for Interstate Raceway but he also

drifts cars. You can find him announcing drift battles on

the clock, and creating smoke on the track off the clock.

Currently, he is driving a 2008 bright yellow Corvette.

Now, you may be asking yourself why on earth would you

take a Corvette out on the drift track? It is bound to crash

into the wall at some point. Who has the money?

"Corvettes are getting cheaper and affordable enough to

become drift cars," said Seigel "Typically you wouldn't

grab a $30,000 car, right? Yeah, so they're getting down

to the five to $15,000 range where it's effective to grab

one and companies are making the drift parts for them."

The most popular cars you will see out on the track are

usually a Nissan 350Z and Nissan S13 and S14. You

are looking for a car that has rear-wheel drive, a manual

transmission, and preferably a bigger motor; this is why

the Corvette works well for this sport — it already comes

with a large motor.

When you are drifting in a competition you have a lead

driver and a follow driver. Essentially the leader decides



the course of action of how they are

going to turn and how they are going

to work the track, while the follower

has to stay as close to that car without

hitting it and mimic the actions of

the leader. Both drivers get a turn to

lead and to follow. A panel of three

judges determines the winner of the

competition.

If you head over to interstateraceway.

com you can find the current schedule

for this year's season. Typically there

would be more dates but as we all

know there are a lot of limitations this

year. What is great about events like,

Drifting the Plains, is that you can

spend all weekend watching the races

and just hanging out and enjoying the

event.

Spectators can participate in 'ridealongs'

where you actually get to take

a ride with a driver on the track. How

cool is that? You can bet you will find

me out there someday soon trying to

catch a ride around the track while

screaming for my life.

If you are ever going to do something a

little wild and out of your comfort zone

this is the place to do it. Of course,

you are paired up with an experienced

driver and are required to wear a

helmet, and the only stipulation is that

you have to be 13 or older. So grab the

kids and bring them out to the track for

some fast action drifting.

"Drifting is the fastest growing

motorsport in the United States. I can

see why, having been involved in it for

a couple of years now. It's crazy," said

Seigel. Do yourself a favor and head

over there for some excitement; you

might even see me cheering on the

sidelines. •


MEN'S HEALTH

4 (Easy) Ways to

BOOST IMMUNITY

WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON

Pandemic or no pandemic, fall brings an annual

onslaught of airborne germs. As kids (hopefully, safely)

return to class, lake cabins close up and outdoor

activities slowly move inside, healthy habits will be ever

more necessary to guard against not only the continuing

challenge of this virus we call COVID, but against the

yearly cold and flu bugs as well.

The added precautions many of us have incorporated

into our daily routines — social distancing, maskwearing,

extreme online shopping — will translate well

into cold and flu season. For those lucky enough to be

able to continue working remotely, you will also get to

avoid that petri dish we call "the office."

But it seems these adjustments to normal life are

unsustainable. People are getting antsy. We want out

of our homes and back to normalcy. Many are reluctant

to put on a mask (even here in the Midwest, where

five months out of the year we're covering up every

bit of exposed skin as possible … presumably to keep

ourselves safe). So knowing that, and realizing it may

not be possible to rely on your fellow human being to

accept slight inconveniences for the common good,

what's the next best thing?

any food — even the so-called "healthy" alternatives labeled

as low-calorie, low-fat and even organic.

"Even what is typically considered healthy or organic can

have loads of sugar in it," Sauer said. Sugar also goes by

many names, so do a quick Google search and familiarize

yourself with all of sugar's secret identities before making

your next grocery list.

Personal accountability. Again, pandemic or no

pandemic, the following advice on how to keep your

immune system in top shape is common sense you

can embrace now to give yourself an edge. These steps

below are easy and effective — kind of like wearing a

mask. (Sorry, couldn't resist … no more cheap shots, I

promise).

Dr. Forrest Sauer, founder of Twin Oaks Health

Solutions in Fargo, shared his top four immuneboosting

tips that are equally applicable to both men

and women. Heading into the cold and flu season, he

recommends focusing on the basics to keep your body

healthy, energized and as resilient as possible.

Reduce Your Sugar Intake

Those pesky bacteria and viruses love to feed on sugar,"

Dr. Sauer said. "Sugar gives those germs superpowers."

He cautioned, however, not to make quick, uninformed

dietary changes. Instead, he advised to read labels

carefully and understand that sugar can hide in almost

Get to Bed

Blow out that midnight oil and go to bed," Sauer said

vehemently. "Getting enough sleep will give your body

enough rest and recuperation for it to de-stress and reset

the immune system for another day."

Sleep is also an important component of maintaining your

mental and emotional health. A drained body cannot fight

back as well against environmental contaminants, nor is it

well equipped to deal with stress … which we're all dealing

with now perhaps more than ever. Establish a routine. Give

yourself a bedtime, and stick to it.


Drink More (Water)

Think of water as the grease your body needs to work

and move," Sauer said. "No greasy, no move-y," he said

with a chuckle.

This is the easiest step of all. Water is a precious

resource, but also a plentiful resource. Find yourself a

favorite water bottle and keep it on you. It should become

an extra appendage, never leaving your side.

"I drink 20 oz. of water every morning before I get to

work, and then another 20 oz. when I get to the office,"

Sauer explained. "Your body craves at least half of your

body weight in ounces of water every single day."

Boost Your Biome

A healthy gut = a healthy body. Your internal microbiome

is filled with millions of healthy bacteria, but there is a

balance that needs to be kept. Hearkening back to tip

number one, too much sugar, for example, can feed the

wrong kind of bacteria in your gut and leave your immune

system compromised.

"Gut health goes far far beyond a probiotic, but taking a

daily probiotic before bedtime on an empty stomach is a

"best practice" first step," Sauer said. "The majority of

your immune system is found in your gut, so you need a

healthy gut to fight off those bad bacteria and viruses." •

Special thanks to Dr. Forrest Sauer at Twin Oaks Health Solutions,

medical consultant for our Men's Health section.


ON THE COVER | BOWHUNTING

WRITTEN BY: JEFFREY MILLER • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA


The coolness of the evening was settling over the forest. As the sun kissed the horizon, the sound of shuffling footsteps

drifted my way. Straining to see through the ever-darkening gloom, I was nonetheless surprised when a deer appeared

in the underbrush. The doe fed around my stand on fallen acorns, so close I could see her jaws working as she crunched

on the treats. At less than 30 feet, I could nearly see her individual eyelashes. While I didn't draw my bow, the ultra-close

encounter, with one of the Earth's most beautiful creatures, is what bowhunting is all about.

Archery is a past-time that is approachable to people from all walks of life. Men, women and children can fall under the

spell of the flying arrow, and today it's easier than ever to get properly equipped.



First and foremost, the bow must

be selected. There are three types of

bows; the compound, the recurve and

the longbow. The longbow is familiar

to anyone who knows of Robin Hood.

A simple piece of laminated wood, the

longbow is bent in a D-shape when

strung. The recurve bow is similar to

the longbow, with the exception of the

ends of the bow limbs are curved. This

small mechanical advantage increases

the efficiency of the longbow design.

Finally, the most familiar bow is the

compound bow. Based on a block-andtackle

design, the compound bow is

far and away the most popular design

used today.

“Archery is a past-time that is

approachable to people from

all walks of life.”

The best place to begin the search for

your new bow is a dedicated archery

shop. Bows are uniquely individualist

tools, which may work great for me but

be nothing but frustration for the next

shooter. An archery shop will provide

the place to shoot a variety of bows and

help to select the gear that works the

best.


It has been said that

archery is 95% mental

and 5% physical.

Once an archer can

physically draw the

bow back, the ability

to shoot accurately

and consistently lies

between their ears.

Bows, like most other things in life,

are expensive. Top-of-the-line flagship

bows carry top-of-the-line prices, but

mid-level bows shoot well and carry a

lower price tag. Don't be afraid to buy

a good used bow and use the savings

to buy the rest of your kit. Arrows are

the next most important part of the

gear, requiring the correct length and

weight to shoot accurately. Rounding

out the essential gear needed is a bow

sight and arrow rest. With the required

gear in hand, it's now time to hit the

range and start shooting.

It has been said that archery is 95%

mental and 5% physical. Once an

archer can physically draw the bow

back, the ability to shoot accurately and

consistently lies between their ears.

Numerous books have been written

about the mental side of archery. For

a beginner, consistency is the most

important factor in shooting well.

The string needs to be drawn to the

same location on the face each time.

The repetition is similar to a baseball

player's swing. If the batter buries the

end of the bat deep in their hand on one

swing, and then chokes up on the next,

the bat speed and angle will differ. If

the anchor point on the archer's face is

different each shot the arrows have

no choice but to fly awry.



Between my significant other Melanie

and I, we have four children. All are

interested in archery, and each has a

bow that fits them. Our oldest is 11,

and she shoots a bow with a wide

range of adjustments. With nothing

more than an Allen head wrench, I can

adjust her draw-length by 10 inches

and her draw weight by 40 pounds.

This is important for a growing child,

as we have already increased her draw

by 4 inches and weight by 15 pounds

in the first year she has shot.

The other kids shoot bows with less

adjustment and are learning basic

archery form. Most people can't pick

up a bow for the first time and shoot

bullseyes. Repeated, consistent

practice prepares the archer for

dependable accuracy down the road.

Of course, the first task for any archer,

young or old, is to practice safety.

Archery gear can be every bit as

dangerous as firearms to the careless

shooter.

Hunting with a bow is a much different

task than simple target shooting, and

the best practice is on life-size foam

animal targets. In Fargo-Moorhead,

there are a couple of archery clubs

that have ranges consisting of multiple

foam animal targets in realistic

shooting conditions. We are fortunate

to live on a rural acreage with plenty


of space for targets. We shoot at a variety of distances,

through trees and grass, to mimic the actual hunt.

Once an archer sets foot in the woods, properly licensed

and with sharp broadheads on their arrows to pursue

wild game, the stakes are raised. A poor shot on a target

will elicit nothing more than a ribbing from your fellow

shooters. A poor shot on a game animal can mean a long

trailing job and recovery. We owe it to the animals we

pursue to shoot accurately. A properly placed broadhead

arrow, placed in the chest of a big game animal, will

dispatch the animal within seconds. My oldest daughter,

even though she is shooting enough poundage to hunt

deer, has decided she isn't ready mentally to hunt.

Shooting foam targets and flesh-and-blood critters are

world's apart, and the pursuit shouldn't be taken lightly.

Fortunately, most bowhunters enjoy mentoring

beginners. If you are interested in bowhunting, seek out

a local archery shop for your gear, and an experienced

hunter as a guide. While there are plenty of books,

magazines and websites about bowhunting, learning

from experience will pay dividends in the field. The

lure of bowhunting is just as strong today as it was

for our ancestors who depended on the bent stick for

their survival. The flight of the arrow is burned into

mankind's soul. •


ASK 30 WOMEN

Aren't you a little

old for that?

Age is just a number, right? The older you get you should be able to do as you choose, or so you think.

We asked 30 random women, what does he do that has you asking, “Aren’t you a little old for that?”

Gentlemen, you may or may not be too old for the following:

1

When he drinks

Mountain Dew for breakfast.

2

Drinking all the time.

3

He's too old to listen to

Demi Lovato. It’s creepy.

4

He still asks for help for simple things

– like putting in eye drops.

5

You’re too old to

sit in the kiddie pool with the dogs.

6

Collecting wresting figures.


7

Going to the club,

the kids are calling you the old guy.

8

Acting like a rebellious teen. We need

to follow at least some of the rules.

9

#1 Answer!

Playing video games

and screaming at the TV.

10

Trying way too hard to win

at games and sports.

11

Not throwing away trash. Seriously,

the counter top is NOT the garbage can.

The trash is only two feet away

12

Using the trending words, like ‘fleek’

You don’t even know what that means.

13

Eating a whole family-size candy bar

(Yes. Not king size… the one even bigger

than that, that looks like a movie prop)

basically while getting ready for bed.

14

Wearing obnoxious

white stitched jeans.

15

Wearing knit hipster hats

in the summer.

16

2-year-old boy humor.

Many eye rolling moments here.

Boobs, butts and fart jokes.

17

Having his mother pay for things.

18

Eating after 7pm. You know you’ll get

heartburn, yet you still do it.

19

Wearing skinny jeans.

20

He is still living at home

with his parents.

21

Going out and partying with your

bro’s. You have children and you have to

work in the morning, and it’s Tuesday.

22

Never running out of Doritos.

23

Having terrible friends.

24

Collecting car magazines

that never really get read.

25

Hangovers.

26

You don’t need that big Nerf gun.

And why do you have a budget

for Nerf guns?

27

Getting into fights at the bar.

28

Doing Jello shots - or any shots. Playing

beer pong - or any drinking games.

29

Sleeping in later than 10 am.

30

Living in a "bachelor pad". Don't hang

posters in your living room.


HAVING A BEER WITH | CHRIS BERG

HAVING A WATER

with chris berg

WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

After graduating from Stanford University (and Fargo South High School

before that), Chris Berg immediately began using his talents, charisma, poise

and voice in as many ways as he could. Over the years he’s traveled around

the country doing promotional seminars on stage for the Tony Robbins

motivational speaking tours, worked with high school students to help them

attain college scholarships and leadership skills, and had a radio show on AM

1100 The Flag. For the past 8 years, he’s been the host of “Point of View” and

“North Dakota Today” on KVLY.

On a Monday afternoon in July, I had the pleasure of chatting with Berg via

Zoom as he drank what Drekker is best known for — their water (totally

kidding, but hey — he had to go to work soon).

Along with his impressive professional history, I had the opportunity to learn

more about Berg’s fascination with Latin culture and his love for Minnesota’s

pride and joy, Prince. He regaled me with tales of landing serendipitously on

the set of some of the most popular TV shows of the ‘90s, and he told me,

in the most concise and meaningful way possible, what living the good life

means to him. Read on to learn more about local legend, Chris Berg.

Good Life: What would a perfect day look like for you right now,

in this moment?

Chris Berg: To be able to wake up near a beach, preferably in Mexico.

I’d take in some sun and then get ready for my shows, kind of like this

— doing it via the distance, whether it’s on Zoom or something else.

Would I want to do it indefinitely that way? I’d like to be in the studio

at times, but at this moment in my life, I’d love to have that kind of

freedom and flexibility.

GL: Okay, Chris. So we’re in, like, the third wave of mullets being

popular, so I’m curious what you think about that trend.

CB: Party in the back, business in the front? Well, I’m always for more

freedom, so if you want to rock a mullet, more power to you.

GL: Would you ever try to pull off a mullet?

CB: No. Not unless I could wear it like Prince and it was all curly on top.


GL: Where else in the

world do you think you

would fit in the best

culturally, climate-wise—

everything?

CB: One thousand percent

Mexico or Buenos Aires,

Argentina. I wish I could

explain it to you. I’ve just

always had this affinity for the

Latin culture, the people, the

vibe, the area, obviously the

beautiful weather, the food,

the language — I could go on

and on and on. I don’t know

what I’d be doing down there,

but it all just resonates with

me.

GL: If you could interview

anyone, who would it be

and what would you ask

them?

CB: Jesus Christ, and I’d ask him

what it was like doing all those

miracles in front of people and

still not having them believe

in you. That would be my

first question for him. Then

I’d be like, “What did you say

to doubting Thomas when

you came back after being

crucified and you’re standing

in front of him and he’s like,

‘Nah, I don’t think so’?”

GL: Yeah, really. It does make

me feel better about my

occasional doubts because

Thomas was literally right

there in front of Jesus.

CB: Exactly! He feeds 5,000

people and Thomas is like, “I

don’t know, man.”

GL: Maybe he had really shortterm

memory issues and was

just always like, “Oh, you’re

right. I kind of forgot about all

that.”


HAVING A BEER WITH | CHRIS BERG

“One time I ended up on

the set of “Frasier” and

“Will and Grace.”

GL: Dawn and Darren want me to ask you about

“Will and Grace,” and I don’t know why. Tell me

about it, Chris.

CB: Speaking of miracles, that was one. I was in LA

and I had a couple of pinch-me moments. One time I

ended up on the set of “Frasier” and “Will and Grace.”

With the “Frasier” thing, I happened to be there the

week of the 200th episode airing. I got to go to this

event where anybody associated with “Frasier” was

there and it was like, “Is this really happening in my

life right now?”

GL: If you had to be stuck on a deserted island

for three years and you couldn’t be with a

family member or friend, with whom would you

choose to live on the island?

CB: Prince. I think he’s amazing. And when you get

bored, he could just grab some coconuts, turn them

into instruments and you could be like, “Okay, give

me some ‘Raspberry Beret’ with those coconuts.”

GL: And the saltwater would keep his curls in really

nice shape. What’s your favorite Prince song?

CB: It depends on my mood, but I will say this: I think

one of his most underrated albums is “Sign of the

Times.” He has a ton of great jams on there. “Purple

Rain” just dominated, but I thought “Sign of the Times”

was incredible. Are you a big Prince fan or not really?

GL: Not really, but most Minnesotans are, so I’m an

anomaly.

GL: What smell do you hate the most?

CB: I don’t know, but sour milk comes to mind.

GL: Does anything instantly make you nauseated

when you smell it?

CB: I mean, I try to avoid that stuff so much that

nothing really comes to mind.

GL: You mean you actually take the garbage out

before it starts smelling? Wow.

My grandpa. He’s just a solid human

being. He’s one of those guys who’s

always pleasant to be around.


GL: In 30 years, what do you

think you’ll wish was popular

or in use again that probably

won’t be?

CB: Breakdancing.

GL: Can you breakdance?

CB: Oh, I’ve got a mad head spin.

GL: Who do you admire most

and why?

CB: My grandpa. He’s just a solid

human being. He’s one of those

guys who’s always pleasant to be

around. He just gets it. Everyone

says how much they love my

gramps. He was always there for

me when I was growing up.

GL: What’s been your favorite

professional memory?

CB: Interviewing President Donald

Trump. I’ve been blessed and been

able to do it three times, twice in

Fargo and once in D.C. It’s a trip.

The guy’s just super gracious. I

think the second time we did it he

walked up and said, “Hey, I hear

you’re pretty good at football,” and

he was just super cool and funny.

GL: What does living the

good life mean to you?

CB: Living out your God-given

destiny.

GL: How do you think people find

out what their God-given destiny

is?

CB: I think you just pray about it

and ask God to use you every day

and see where He puts you. •


Taming the Rain

WRITTEN BY: JEFFREY MILLER

There is something about the whisper of gentle rain on a

summer evening. A low hum emits from the earth as the

ground soaks up the life-giving moisture. But what happens

when the water runs off, instead of soaking into the soil?

Pavement and concrete abound in Fargo-Moorhead, and

rainwater runs quickly off these surfaces straight into the

storm drains. Carrying everything from silt and clay to oil and

other pollutants, the contaminants soon find their way to the

Red River. The myriad of life in the river is affected by this

influx of microscopic debris. Our drinking water is affected

as well.

ONE OF THE EASIEST THINGS

A HOMEOWNER CAN DO

IS TO INSTALL A RAIN BARREL.

There are steps we can take to reduce the effect of polluted

runoff. One of the easiest things a homeowner can do is

to install a rain barrel. A rain barrel is merely a 55-gallon

barrel perched near a downspout coming off a home's roof.

A tremendous amount of water rushes off a typical home

during a rain event. For instance, a half-inch of rain falling

on a 1,000 square foot roof will result in over 300 gallons

of water. When the barrel is full, a diverter will drain off the

excess water.

The harvested water can be used in a variety of places.

Rainwater is better for plants as it has a superior purity and


softness compared to tap water, as well as being free from

chlorine, salts, minerals and other contaminates. Irrigation

for lawns and gardens accounts for a healthy percentage of

household water usage each growing season. Not only does

the rainwater contribute to healthier growth in plants, but it

can also lighten the water bill.

Rain barrels are not the only game in town when it comes to

reducing runoff. Rain gardens are custom-built catchment

basins, populated by water-loving plants, that slowly aid

in water infiltration. Unfortunately, the heavy clay soils

of the Red River Valley do not allow, without substantial

earthwork, the effective installation of rain gardens. Rather

than a rain garden, bioswales or filter strips can be planted

to help reduce runoff contaminates.

At the Cass County Soil Conservation District, we have

helped homeowners with various filter-type plantings. If

you own a home without direct access to a river, creek or

pond, filter strips planted on the downslope of the driveway

is an excellent way to intercept runoff. Driveways and yards

are sloped to shed the water towards the street. Planting

a filter strip of native plants at the toe of the driveway, just

before the water hits the sidewalk or street, will act as a

very effective filter. Water will trickle through the vegetation

before moving onto the river.

If you happen to own land near a stormwater retention pond,

creek or river, there are other options available as well. A

well-manicured turfgrass lawn, sprayed with pesticides

and herbicides and heavily applied with fertilizer, along a

waterway may be the envy of the neighbors. Unfortunately,

turfgrass lawns have poor infiltration rates, losing most of

the rainwater to runoff. Simply planting a strip of native

grasses and forbs as a buffer to the waterway will prevent

contaminants from reaching it.

Best of all native grasses and forbs not only provide

ecological benefits but are beautiful as well. If both warm

and cool-season grasses are selected, as well as forbs with

varying bloom periods, the filter strip can provide an oasis

of beauty and impact.

Water is one of Earth's most precious resources. By

rethinking how rainwater is treated, and taking steps to

minimize pollutants to our rivers, lakes and streams, we

can ensure safe drinking water for the future. •


LOCAL HERO | NICK STENZEL

WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH • PHOTO BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

A Lifesaving Sacrifice

Local Donor Matches with

Anonymous Stranger

People, places and timing – three variables that

add up to unplanned life events that some call

"fate". It could be your split-second decision to

use the Heimlich maneuver to save a toddler's

life or even courage you mustered to advocate

for that woman cornered in the dark alley.

How might have the scene unfolded

without your presence? Would your

absence have changed that pivotal

moment in time?

For 28-year-old Nick Stenzel, the answer may

be "yes". Not only for his own life, but for

that of an anonymous stranger.

Born and raised in Rochester, Minn.,

Nick moved more than 300 miles

away in 2011 to attend college at

North Dakota State University. But

it wasn't the degree he'd eventually

earn, a connection he'd make or even

an inescapable life lesson that would

change the course of his own life … and

that of a stranger.

Fate was set into motion by one

seemingly inconsequential decision he

made along the way.

With the promise of a free cookie

or T-shirt – he admittedly can't

remember which – Nick stopped

to learn more about Minneapolisbased

nonprofit, called Be The

Match. He happily consented to

a painless cheek swab, adding

one more DNA sample to the

company's ever-growing bone

marrow transplant registry.


After processing 11 vials of blood, the organization

informed Nick that he was, in fact, the sole match for this

stranger – a 1 in 430 chance.

"They basically said you have

a pretty small chance of ever

getting called," Nick recalls. "But

the thought of ever getting called

for doing nothing more than just

swabbing my cheek was like, 'Why

not?'"

Fate Takes Control

Fast forward nearly a decade later

to December 2019. Those small

chances suddenly became Nick's

reality with one phone call and the

news that he was a possible match

for a 49-year-old woman with

myelodysplastic syndrome (a.k.a.

preleukemia).

One mundane choice he made long

ago – almost without thinking –

turned out to have monumental

impact … across the nation.

"Even before the donation, I felt

like anything I was doing could

affect my donation, so I tried to be

healthier," Nick explains. "You have

some pressure on you to make sure

you're doing everything you can.

I felt somewhat obligated for this

person's life."

Nick's donor advocate explained he

was 1 of 10 possible matches for the

transplant recipient based on HLA

markers from his swab test back in

2011. "If Be The Match wouldn't

have been on NDSU's campus

that day ... and I wouldn't have

been walking through the student

union, this whole chain of events

would have never happened," Nick

says. "And then, does that mean

this woman wouldn't have gotten a

donation?"

Leading the industry with

92,000 transplants since 1987,

Be The Match connects donors

with recipients in the U.S. and

internationally. "If you have

German and Norwegian ancestors,

you're more likely to match with

someone who has that heritage,"

Nick explains.

While the buccal swab tests for six

out of 10 HLA markers, Be The

Match requests a follow-up blood

test from potential matches to

determine the last four markers.

After processing 11 vials of blood,

the organization informed Nick that

he was, in fact, the sole match for

this stranger – a 1 in 430 chance.

A Race Against Time

"They lay it out for you, saying, 'You

are the match. There's no backup

plan if something happens with

you," Nick explains. "If anything

changes with your overall health,

you need to let us know ASAP, so

we can let your recipient's team

know."

Every three minutes someone is

diagnosed with blood cancer, which

means time is of the essence.

Thankfully, Be The Match fast

tracks the process in scheduling

appointments and alleviating

financial burden by covering all

of the fees associated, including

mileage to and from appointments.

"You're on their insurance

throughout the whole process, so if

something happened and you had

to see a doctor, it's covered under

them," Nick says. Once confirmed

as the official match, donors

undergo a full physical exam to

test for underlying conditions and

to ensure their bodies can handle

the transplant. Then, the donor

advocate sets a donation date.

"You don't go where your recipient

is. You go where the schedule fits

you in, because your date has to

be what the doctor says," Nick

explains. "Mine was February 19,

2020."

Given a choice of four (of 153

total) leading transplant centers

in the U.S., Nick chose Scripps

Green Hospital in La Jolla, Ca., and

boarded the plane with his dad – all

expenses paid.

Reflecting on his experience 35,000

feet above ground, Nick wrote

a letter to his recipient – which

would be delivered anonymously

by the organization. He shared the

emotions he was having and that

"she'd been on my mind throughout

this process – and definitely within


LOCAL HERO | NICK STENZEL

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: NICK STENZEL

"I compare the procedure to a

plasma donation. You have a

needle in one arm that's drawing

blood out of you, taking it to

a machine and separating the

'layers of blood,'" he says. "They

keep what they need, and then you

have a needle in the opposite arm

that's delivering blood back into

your body."

the last week with the pain I was

feeling," he recalls. "I said, 'I'm

sure this is a fraction of what you're

going through,' and I hope this all

goes well."

Two-Plus Ways to Save a Life

For the actual donation process,

two common methods exist:

(1) traditional bone marrow

extraction and transplant or (2)

peripheral blood stem cell donation

(PBSC). Again, the recipient's

doctor decides what's best for the

recipient, depending on their age,

health conditions and other factors.

Nick's method was PBSC which

required two injections per day of

the cancer drug Filgrastim, five

days leading up to the donation.

Designed for people with

compromised immune systems,

the drug stimulates the growth of

and creates a surge of white blood

cells for extraction during the

donation.

"It makes the donor feel really

achy and sore," Nick says. "It was

debilitating. It hit me a lot harder

than I thought it was going to."

Thankfully, Nick found support

(and at-home remedies) through a

closed Facebook group for Be The

Match donors.

While the PBSC donation can

take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours,

Nick's procedure lasted just over

two hours – and his bone pain

subsided almost completely

after the donation. "Based on

how relatively easy it is, and the

biggest impact that it can have ...

it was nothing," Nick says. "If it

saves her life for five days of my

discomfort, it's nothing."

Fostering Hope Amidst Pandemic

With the challenges of COVID-19

and its effects on the healthcare

industry, Nick holds out hope

for his immuno-compromised

transplant recipient and wishes

her "many more years of a healthy

life," as he holds out hope to meet

her in person someday.

"I think if I understood it right, we

can communicate anonymously

for a year. And after a year – if she's

still living – then we can decide

if we want to meet in person,"

Nick explains. Sixty days after

the donation – donors receive

notification of whether or not the

recipient survived the procedure.

"I hope this virus – at least for the

short term – helps people not take

anything for granted," Nick says.

"If someone is presented with

the opportunity to save somebody

else's life, I hope they jump on it –

with or without this virus."

Even during a global pandemic,

the world traveler – setting foot in

40-plus countries – has gained so

much perspective from what he's

heard and seen. "Having been to a


lot of other places, you realize there is

good everywhere, no matter what the

person's race, religion, beliefs are,"

Nick says.

While Nick has been inspired by the

world, his selfless act has, in turn,

motivated countless coworkers,

friends and family around him since

sharing his story. "I got a lot of

messages that said, 'Thank you for

putting something out there. I had

no idea this existed. I registered,'" he

says. "If you've ever known anybody

who's been sick, had cancer, whatever

it is – if you could just give blood

and that would cure them ... I think

everybody would do it."

'Be The Good'

In the midst of a global pandemic,

priorities have adjusted and values

are re-discovered and even re-written.

For Nick, those values have remained

the same, as he plans to continue to

"still be the good in the world," he

says.

"Our employer is really good about

allowing volunteering in any way we

want, so I always do that," says the Bell

Bank project relationship specialist.

Through his employment, Nick and

his fellow coworkers are awarded 16

hours of volunteer time per year and

$1,000 to pay it forward to the people

and causes closest to their hearts – a

unique benefit he cherishes.

"If you can be the good in the

world, I don't understand why

anyone would choose not to,"

Nick says.

For him, the good life simply means

"being happy and having a balance

between work life and personal life

that allows me to enjoy my passions,"

he says. Sometimes that means

accepting fate and enduring a sizable

amount of pain for the chance to save

a life, and other times it's much more

straight-forward. "A beer or a glass of

wine in one hand doesn't hurt either."

•


The Good Life – September-October 2020

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