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SATURDAY • JULY 6
7:02 pm | Sioux City | FIREWORKS!
SUNDAY • JULY 7
1:00 pm | Sioux City | Kids Run the Bases thanks to Erbert & Gerbert’s.
WEDNESDAY • JULY 17
7:02 pm | Sioux Falls | Breast Cancer Awareness Night! Team will wear pink jerseys to be auctioned for breast cancer charities. Presented by Sanford Health.
TUESDAY • JULY 23
7:02 pm | Sioux City | Nintendo Night! Come celebrate national video games day at the ballpark with some 8-bit fun.
7:02 pm | St. Paul | Fiesta Night! Bring your sombrero and enjoy specials on tacos all night, along with other great prizes brought to you by Taco Shop.
TUESDAY • JULY 9
WEDNESDAY • JULY 24
MONDAY • JULY 8
7:02 pm | Sioux City | Hawkeye’s Birthday Party! Come celebrate with all his mascot friends. Inflatables thanks to Games Galore.
7:02 pm | St. Paul | Bros on Broadway Prostate Cancer Awareness Night! Come and help the fight against prostate cancer brought to you by The Hotel Donaldson.
MONDAY • JULY 15
7:02 pm | Sioux Falls | Special Entertainers the Sweet Right Brothers! This dynamic duo will have you laughing all night. Check them out at sweetrightbrothers.com.
TUESDAY • JULY 16
7:02 pm | Sioux Falls | North Dakota One Call Night! The “811 BIKE” will be on display!
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THURSDAY • JULY 25
12:30 pm | St. Paul | Business Day Game! First pitch is 12:30 pm brought to you by Ulteig Engineers, Inc. Post-game concert to follow presented by Network Center, Inc.
FRIDAY • JULY 26
7:02 pm | Sioux City | Special Entertainers the Russian Bar Trio! These high-flying acrobats will wow and amaze fans with their aerial feats.
SATURDAY • JULY 27
7:02 pm | Sioux City | FIREWORKS presented by Gate City Bank.
SUNDAY • JULY 28
1:00 pm | Sioux City | Team Photo Giveaway! All fans receive a Team Photo thanks to our Knothole Gang Sponsors.
FRIDAY • AUGUST 2
7:02 pm | Winnipeg | FIREWORKS presented by Auto Owners Insurance.
SATURDAY • AUGUST 3
6:00 pm | Winnipeg | Team Card Set Giveaway! First 2,000 fans will receive a 2013 RedHawks Card Set thanks to State Farm Insurance. Plus Games Galore Inflatables for the kids in the playground and Boy Scout Night!
SUNDAY • AUGUST 4
1:00 pm | Winnipeg | HUZZAH! It’s Renaissance Day! The first 1,000 fans get a free youth general admission ticket to the 2013 Minnesota Renaissance Festival!
TUESDAY • AUGUST 6
7:02 pm | St. Paul | Baseball Giveaway! The first 1,000 fans will receive a RedHawks baseball brought to you by the North Dakota Corn Growers.
WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 7
7:02 pm | St. Paul | Wednesday Night Baseball presented by the University of Minnesota, Crookston.
THURSDAY • AUGUST 8
7:02 pm | St. Paul | The Chamber presents Military Appreciation Night! Reserved tickets for $5 with Military ID thanks to The Chamber Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo.
MONDAY • AUGUST 12
7:02 pm | Rockland | Potato Days Night plus Dollar Dog Night.
TUESDAY • AUGUST 13
7:02 pm | Rockland | Thrivent Financial Night.
WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 14 7:02 pm | Rockland | T-Shirt Giveaway! The first 1,000 fans will receive a RedHawks T-Shirt thanks to BioLife Plasma Services.
THURSDAY • AUGUST 15
12:30 pm | Rockland | Business Day Game presented by Budweiser! 12:30 pm start with post-game concert presented by Network Center, Inc.
FRIDAY • AUGUST 23
7:02 pm | Kansas City | Special Entertainer Myron Noodleman! The Hippest Nerd in Da’ Biz is back! Check him out at myronnoodleman.com.
SATURDAY • AUGUST 24
6:00 pm | Kansas City | Back to School Night! Backpacks to the first 1,000 fans 17 & under courtesy of Cloverdale Meats.
TUESDAY • AUGUST 27
7:02 pm | Amarillo | Cloverdale Kids Eat Free Tuesday! First 500 kids get a free Cloverdale kids meal.
WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 28
7:02 pm | Amarillo | College Night presented by Buffalo Wild Wings! $3 general admission ticket with any valid College ID.
THURSDAY • AUGUST 29
7:02 pm | Amarillo | PBR Night! Enjoy special pricing on Pabst Blue Ribbon all game long!
FRIDAY • AUGUST 30
7:02 pm | Amarillo | FIREWORKS and Fan Appreciation Night!
SUNDAY • AUGUST 25
1:00 pm | Kansas City | Faith Day! Special ticket rates for church groups. Contact the RedHawks ticket office for more information.
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THE GOOD LIFE JULY-AUGUST 2013
CONTENTS 32
IN EVERY ISSUE 32 LOCAL HER0 ERIC MARTS
A Hero of the Heartland
COVER 18 JAY THOMAS Discovers His Path for a
Good Life
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18
28 The
GOOD LIFE MEN’S MAGAZINE
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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com PHOTOGRAPHY Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Soo Asheim Jessica Ballou Cantrell Jessica Jasperson Jenessa McAllister Alicia Underlee Nelson Danette Nicoloff
ARTICLES 6 FARGO BREWING COMPANY BRINGS CRAFT BEER TO THE HEARTLAND
New Production Brewery Will Be the First in Fargo
10 EVERETT’S BARBERSHOP
All in the Family
16 PREVENTING LAWN SPOTS 17 A SLACKERS GUIDE TO AVOID DOING ANYTHING AT WORK
For Those Days When You’re Feeling Unproductive
25 QUICK AND EASY EXERCISES
For Your Cushy Desk Job
6 26 SUSHI
A Beginner’s Guide
28 ACADEMY OF COMBAT ARTS
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F-M’s Knockout Gym
35 SUMMER GRILLING GUIDELINES
PUBLISHED BY | Urban Toad Media LLP | www.urbantoadmedia.com ADVERTISING SUBMISSIONS Urban Toad Media LLP | 118 Broadway North, Suite 412 | Fargo, ND 58102 | 701.388.4506 The Good Life magazine is distributed six times a year by Urban Toad Media LLP. Material may not be reproduced without permission. The Good Life magazine accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from content in this publication. The opinions expressed, or advice given, are the views of individual writers or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of The Good Life.
urbAn ToAd media
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Fargo Brewing Company Brings Craft Beer to the Heartland New Production Brewery Will Be the First in Fargo BY: ALICIA UNDERLEE NELSON | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
argo Brewing Company will make history this summer, as it moves brewing operations home to North Dakota, expands into new territories and beer varieties and opens the only production brewery in Fargo. Four years ago, none of the four founders would have dreamed they would have come so far, so fast. It all started with a chance encounter between two groups of Fargo natives. Jared Hardy met his high school buddy Aaron Hill for a Red Hawks game and the conversation soon turned to beer. Hill was working in sales and marketing in Fargo, but still retained a passion for beer from his bartending days. Hardy had recently moved back to the F-M area from Portland and was already missing the Pacific Northwest’s well-established craft brewing culture. And he couldn’t get the idea of starting his own brewery out of his head. The pair found interested investors, but there was one small problem – they didn’t know how to brew beer. Enter the Anderson brothers. While elder brother Chris Anderson was out in Washington, putting his master’s degree in biology to use during the day and cutting his teeth in a brew pub by night, younger brother John Anderson was refining his palate and sharpening his service skills at The Hotel Donaldson in downtown Fargo. When John Anderson served Hardy’s table one December night in 2009, the two men discovered they had more in common than they realized. “We called it the ‘Christmas beeracle’”, said Hill with a rueful smile. “It’s a crazy story. We had the same vision for what we wanted to do. They knew the brewing background and operations side of it and Jared and I had the business background, so the four of us partnered up. It’s worked out well so far.” Chris Anderson starting brewing beer as soon as he moved back from Washington and John Anderson found his niche in packing and cellaring the completed product. Hardy put his MBA in finance to work as the resident numbers guy and Hill began networking with beer distributors and local clients. The quartet officially established their business in early 2010 and their momentum hasn’t stopped since. First came the tastings at Atomic Coffee in Moorhead. Then came the buzz. Then came the brewing contract with Sand Creek Brewing Company in Wisconsin and distribution across North Dakota, the lakes region of Minnesota and – if everything goes according to plan – continued expansion into eastern Minnesota and South Dakota in the upcoming months. This summer, Fargo Brewing Company will bring all aspects of the production process home to Fargo in their new location on 610 North University Drive. A new 20-barrel system – plus a 1-barrel system for Chris Anderson’s taproom experiments – arrived from Portland in May and contractors will be working to get the spacious and sunny warehouse space ready 8
for the first phase of beer production in June or July. The city’s first production brewery should be ready for visitors shortly thereafter. “Through the end of this year, our biggest thing is to get our production up and running, to maximize the equipment we have and maximize the space,” said Hill. “Then we’ll start adding styles.” The five Fargo Brewing Company staples include their two most popular beers – Wood Chipper IPA and Stone’s Throw Scottish Ale – as well as the newly renamed Sodbuster Porter, Northern Pacific Pale Ale and a new Kölsch Style beer that’s currently in development. In addition to these favorites, Fargo Brewing Company will also offer seasonal beers, starting with Summer Wheat for the warm weather months, Oktoberfest in the fall, a winter seasonal – most likely a stout – and two spring beers, an India Red Ale and a new Double IPA the group has affectionately dubbed 1.21 Gigahops. Once the production facilities are complete, Fargo Brewing Company will move on to furnishing the taproom and tasting room, opening up opportunities for brewer experimentation and community outreach. “The taproom is our testing ground, and another way for people to come in, do tours and try different beers,” said Hill. “People are always looking for something new and fresh.” 9
All of the founders of Fargo Brewing Company agree that having the creative freedom to run their own business - even one that requires hard physical labor, high risk and a degree of uncertainty – is an important part of living their version of the good life. Running the business their way is even more important. The group’s collaborative working style, casual work environment (T-shirts and beards appear to be the de facto dress code) and their lively – and often brilliantly sarcastic – discourse are all part of running their company on their own terms. So are flexible schedules and impromptu family barbecues that align work, play and family life. “It’s more of a lifestyle and less of a career,” said Hill. “It’s not just punching in and punching out every day. If you do what you really love, it isn’t work.” “And being the brewer, I get to be creative, which is fantastic, added Chris Anderson. “I wanted to do this is because making beer is fun and it’s interesting to me. And I like the challenge to see if I can do it well and continue to do it well.” “If I’m gonna work hard, I’d rather work hard for myself,” said John Anderson.
“Our main concern is making great beer, making it consistently and enjoying our time doing that.”
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ALL IN THE FAMILY Everett’s Boasts Master Sister Barbers
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s third generation barbers, sisters Chelsey Ehlen and Maureen Cannon know what they’re doing. Both are master barbers, meaning that after college, they underwent a one-year apprenticeship and then took board exams. They both graduated from Moler Barber College of Hairstyling in Fargo, owned by their mother, Mary Cannon; their father, Joel Cannon, owns North Plaza Barbers, also in Fargo; and their late grandfather, Everett Cannon, was the inspiration for their business, Everett’s Barbershop, located on the corner of Broadway and Third Avenue North. As a barber for eight years, Ehlen always knew she wanted to own a shop. The opportunity finally presented itself last spring, and she opened Everett’s with the help of her husband Alex, who is a graphic designer in Fargo. She and her sister are the shop’s only barbers. Nestled in the heart of downtown Fargo, Everett’s Barbershop is quickly making a name for itself as a hot, new place for men to get haircuts, beard trims and hot towel shaves for a good price. The shop is decorated with photos of their grandfather’s graduating class of 1948, their father’s class of 1977 and their mother’s class of 1981. In the midst of the photos is a flatscreen TV, which airs many hockey and baseball games. When the City of Fargo updated downtown street signs to the current black and white design, the old green sign for Broadway and Third Avenue was later converted into a coat rack for the establishment. The floor and ceiling are original from 1910, and while the 13
BY: JESSICA BALLOU | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA remainder of the shop has been updated, it still maintains that vintage feel. “It’s very laid-back, no pressure,” Ehlen said about the environment. “It’s your typical, traditional barbershop.” Having two girls in a shop is rare, so how do they deal with flack from people criticizing women who own a barbershop? “We kill them with kindness,” Ehlen said. “My haircuts prove I know what I’m doing. We’re working in what used to be primarily a men’s profession, so you take things with a grain of salt.” Clientele ranges from nine months to 80 years old, and no two days are ever the same. “I never realized how similar barbers and bartenders are alike,” Cannon said with a laugh. “Guys will just spill their guts out, but we do have barber-client confidentiality. There’s a lot of joking around, picking on each other, just shooting the bull.” This camaraderie, a typical aspect of traditional barbershops, is one important feature of the open shop, which holds two barber chairs and a few other chairs in the waiting area. “I love talking all day,” Ehlen said. “I love being able to talk about something different and see someone different every 15 minutes.” Sometimes the sisters hear unique requests from clients wanting to have something shaved on the side of their head. One of Ehlen’s regulars, a professor from North Dakota State University, always requests a unique emblem for Halloween. Last year, it was the Batman symbol.
I never realized how similar barbers and bartenders are alike,” Cannon said with a laugh. “Guys will just spill their guts out, but we do have barber-client confidentiality.” — Maureen Cannon 14
I love being able to talk about something different and see someone different every 15 minutes.� — Chelsey Ehlen 15
Everett’s offers $17 for haircuts, $6 for beard trims, $28 for hot towel shaves and $42 for a cut and shave. Most shaves take about 20 to 30 minutes, with haircuts around 15 minutes. In addition to the services, patrons can buy a variety of products including pomades, mustache wax, after shave, beard oil, t-shirts, razors and more. While walk-ins are welcome, “appointments are especially appreciated for shaves on Fridays. The shop is open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. When asked what the good life means to her, Ehlen responded: “Just being happy. Doing what you want to do in life. For me personally, it’s having my own business and being happy.”
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BY: CANTRELL PHOTO: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
PREVENTING
LAWN SPOTS
You’ve spent countless hours prepping your lawn this spring to look like something that would make the PGA proud. A place to gather with friends holding cold beers in hand and paying respect to the lawn gods. But your beloved family pet, man’s best friend and your lawns worst enemy, can ruin your efforts with just one lift of his leg, making you wish the kids wanted a fish instead of that cute puppy. Fear not greens keeper, there are ways to help prevent those hated yellow spots and keep you from sending Fido to your “cousin’s farm.” Try and train your dog to use a specific spot in the yard, someplace out of view. It may help to use some 17
gravel, sand or clover in the corner of your yard and train your pooch to use this spot. This may sound difficult but it’s just one more step in the housebreaking process. Simply train him/her to use a specific spot that you sanctioned as the doggy restroom. Feed your pup high quality dog food. It may cost a little more, but it will improve your dog’s health and help keep the nitrogen in your dogs waste neutralized. Another option for this, is to buy a supplement or treat specifically given to prevent yellow spots. These are available at most pet stores but please ask your vet if this is a good option. Keep plenty of water on hand.
This will help dilute your dogs urine and is less likely to cause lawn spots. Immediately rinse the spot with a garden hose. It doesn’t sound very practical, but it does work. Maybe tell your kids it’s a fun new summertime game. You may also want to try planting grass seed that is less sensitive to nitrogen. Rye and fescue are a “tougher” grass and less sensitive to the nitrogen in your dog’s urine, while grasses such as bermuda and bluegrass are more sensitive to nitrogen. *If you use a fertilizer make sure it is pet friendly. Give these tips a try. Remember the grass is NOT always greener on the other side.
A Slacker’s Guide to Avoid Doing Anything at Work For Those Days When You’re Feeling Unproductive
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ou have used all your vacation days and your grandparents have passed away six times. You are running out of excuses to get out of work ... but don’t give up! There are ways to avoid working while actually being at work.
WALK AROUND AND CARRY A LOT OF PAPERS. Maybe carry a pen in one hand and point at random objects. Pretend to write stuff down. This will convince anyone watching that you are truly a busy man. Do this in as many departments as you can to pass more time.
TALK LOUDLY AND USE CONFUSING WORDS. Use
words that don’t really apply to the topic of discussion. Try using these words out of context. People will avoid you out of fear of getting involved in a project that makes absolutely no sense.
BE OVERLY FRIENDLY. Say, “hi” and “hello” in a really
loud, overly enthusiastic, annoying voice. If you have a helium balloon available, definitely use it. This will give the appearance of caring about your job and lessen the inquiry as to why you’re not doing anything.
WHEN ASKED A QUESTION, MUMBLE YOUR REPLY. Be patient. It may take a few questions and
mumbled replies to get out of working. This inaudible answer will inevitably annoy everyone resulting in you not being involved in the project.
BY: CANTRELL
MAKE UP A FAKE MEETING. This is only for the brave and works best with coworkers you can trust. Be sure to send out email invites to all of your fellow slackers. Find out when your bosses have a really important meeting. A meeting that you know they cannot miss. Schedule your meeting at the same time as theirs, knowing they will never be able to attend because you are far less important. Now sit back, sign in to Facebook, and enjoy your no-work day while still getting paid.
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BY: SOO ASHEIM | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
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Y
ou are heading off to a meeting somewhere within the Fargo/ Moorhead area, and while driving to your destination you crank the volume up as you listen to WDAY’s 970 AM “The Jay Thomas Show.” Jay has just posed to his on-air guest a question that you have been wondering about as well. But before Jay’s guest can answer, Jay announces that he has to take a break and that the question-andanswer session will resume when they return. You arrive at your destination before the break ends and the guest can respond to the very same question you have pondered. Frustrated and now even more curious, you realize you cannot wait, but as you leave your vehicle and walk to the door, your mind is still on Jay Thomas’ question to his radio guest. Luckily, the meeting is short, so you rush back to your car, turn the key and crank up the radio once more, hoping that the same conversation is still going so that perhaps you can hear the answer to the question Jay asked twenty minutes before. 20
Just a man... his microphone... and his attitude. Naturally, no one’s luck is that good. And as you continue to listen, you realize that Jay Thomas and his radio cohort and producer, Larry, are verbally sparring about something totally inane that has nothing at all to do with the subject Jay and his on-air guest were discussing such a short time ago. The thought of calling in and asking if Jay would mind repeating the question and giving the answer crosses your mind. You could explain that you were on the edge of your seat waiting for the answer, but then Jay had to break away and you needed to make a meeting. Would Jay Thomas tell you to buzz off and that you should have stuck around to hear his guest’s answer, or would he offer the conclusion to your query and satisfy your curiosity? 21
If you don’t know the answer to that question, then you need to listen to the “Jay Thomas Show” far more often. Jay Thomas rejoined the world of radio in 2008 when WDAY’s 970 AM snagged him from his self-imposed hiatus, much to the benefit of WDAY 970 AM radio and talk show listeners in the Red River Valley. Understanding people and their motives for calling in to “The Jay Thomas” show is not anything Jay Thomas ever takes for granted, or ever assumes people will do automatically. Jay has been in radio over half his life, having started as a fill-in at a local radio station while he was still a high school student in Hibbing, Minnesota. He has trekked across the continent a few times pursuing his dream of “making it” in a cutthroat business that can take a person who feels on top of his world and slam him to the ground in the time it takes to spin a disc or acknowledge a sponsor. Jay gave an example of that as we were talking about some of his radio gig adventures that led him as far west as Los Angeles, California, and as far north as Bemidji, Minnesota, with a few stops in between.
It was the late 80’s and one of Jay’s “few stops in between” when he got a call to go out to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a DJ job. Excited about the new job and the opportunity to work in a much larger market, Jay didn’t think too much about the cultural differences he was about to encounter, or that the genre of music he’d be playing would be way out of character for his own personality and musical preferences. After playing an Osmond song for the umpteenth time, Thomas in typical character cracked a snarky remark about the Osmonds and immediately felt the wrath of Salt Lake City’s politically correct establishment. Jay was suspended for a few days, and it was during this mandated recess that he decided he preferred to watch Salt Lake City fade away in his rearview mirror, and he took another job offer in Bemidji, Minnesota. For the next four years, Bemidji was where Thomas called “home.” With California and Utah under his belt and out of the way, Bemidji worked out well. It wasn’t the same old “every day” routine, as he was assigned to go back and 22
forth between Bemidji and a sister station in Minneapolis. However, after the third year the traveling grew tiresome, so when the call came to try out for a station in Denver, Jay packed up the car and with high hopes for more permanency in his life, he headed off for the Rocky Mountain state. Denver was good and things in general were working out well professionally. However, on the personal side, things could have been better, so when a position in Grand Forks’ X-L 93 station opened up, Thomas headed to Grand Forks, where he hung his hat and waited for the next three years for the call he felt sure would lead to a new chapter in his life and in his career. When an aspiring, inexperienced young man finds his calling early in life, it is all but impossible to dream with logic. Call it “kismet” or fate, it doesn’t matter - Jay knew that his next opportunity, wherever it took him, would be a 23
long-term decision. He wasn’t sure why; he just felt certain the angels holding the cards to his next destination also held a surprise he would not recognize until he saw it. The job was in Fargo; the station was “95-X,” an alternative rock station; and the surprise was “blonde with a great voice.” They say the best things happen when they’re least expected, and Alex Taylor was not what Jay Thomas expected when he joined the radio team at “95-X.” A recent hire, Alex was surprised when her training mentor failed to show up and she learned he was no longer part of the “95-X” family. But within 24 hours, she met and began working with the person she has spent the last 17 years with: Jay Thomas. The “95-X” gig lasted another year or so, but as with so many programs and even stations in the radio game, “95-X” went the way of many “here today, gone tomorrow” stations. Jay and Alex moved on
It’s a major award!
as well, to “REAL 96.7,” and had their first talk radio show together, called “Mothers of the Midday.” Audiences being what they are (fickle), and ratings what they are (harsh reality), “Mothers of the Midday” lasted about two years. As that was winding down, Jay decided he needed a break from the manic world of radio. Comparing what he liked to do with what he could do well, he found a job with a local apartment-management firm and headed up their maintenance departments for Fargo and the Minneapolis area. He also worked for a local developer, heading up its department for newly constructed rental properties. During this time, he got his Class B boiler license, for which simply passing the state test is an accomplishment. For the time being, Jay felt content - his job was sound, he had a steady income, and at the end of the day, he enjoyed seeing what he had accomplished. As a bonus, going home
without worrying about what the next day at work might bring was like having a much-needed mental vacation. I wondered where Jay had gained his knowledge about “putzin’ and repairing and replacing things.” Jay said, “Well, my sister and I lived with our Mom, and not having a father around a lot of the time, when things got broken, they needed to be fixed! Trial and error, but you just get out there and learn how to fix something when it’s broken!” When asked about his hobbies and favorite things to do, Jay answered that he likes “putzing around the house,” and Alex chimed in about the many projects Jay has completed in their home. “Jay has done everything from plastering walls to siding the house,” and according to Alex (with Jay agreeing), he is a “total perfectionist.” So much so, he never allowed the boys to mow the lawn when they were teenagers because, as Jay explained, “It 24
ALEX, JAY, CUDA AND MURPHY
took me years to get the lawn the way I always wanted it to be.” According to Alex, it could also have something to do with a “friendly competition” between Jay and some of their friends in the neighborhood. I asked if they hang out or entertain with neighbors often, and Jay explained that he really likes his neighbors and they do things together on occasion. One of Jay’s favorite things in the world is the “Toppers Club;” he is on the Cruise Night board for the Toppers Club and confesses that he would like to have a classic car someday. As for hobbies, he loves his “man cave” and enjoys being down there doing whatever he wants. Sometimes he watches old TV sitcoms, such as “Everyone Loves Raymond,” or one of the “house” shows that demonstrate how to do things such as redesigning a room or how to repair something. Jay mentioned the boys and talked about how proud he and Alex are of them. He feels very strongly about supporting the military, especially since both his sons have joined. Derek is going to “jump school” at Ft. Bragg, and Ty is with the 188th out of Wahpeton (the Army National Guard), as well as working for Titan Machinery and attending undergraduate school at M|State Community College, Moorhead. I asked Jay why he never joined the military, and he explained it was because of an injury he sustained in high school – he has a herniated disc in his back and none of the military branches would accept him. 25
When I asked, “Do you have a definition for what you think living ‘the good life’ is?” Thomas reflected a moment, then responded by saying,
“Having a job I love going to everyday. Living with a woman whom I love very much and who is also my best friend. Feeling as though we’re a part of our community and we do what we can to give back to it.” When I asked if they would ever marry, two answers were given. One: when the Vikings WIN a SUPERBOWL GAME and two: Alex and Jay have raised three children (Derek and Ty, and Alex’s son, who is a few years older than Jay and Alex’s boys) and five dogs together, and Jay says, “It won’t make any difference, nothing would change.” They are together after all these years because they want to be, not out of obligation or religious confines. They are one of those couples who can and do finish each other’s sentences. Jay whines that Alex is the master of their circus, and Alex retorts, “Someone has to be in charge!” They make it very clear to anyone paying attention that they are two people totally committed to one another, wedding band or not. So, what does the good life mean to you?
Quick and Easy Exercises For Your Cushy Desk Job
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o you’ve landed that office job and made your father proud. Now the only form of activity you can call exercise, is playing on the company softball team where you drink more beer then you actually play ball. You need to find another option to get into shape before your wife drags you to the gym and has you join her in yoga class. Here are a few quick solutions to help you get out of that chair and back into shape:
PARK FURTHER AWAY. LL
AN
E TR
B
C Y:
I know you want to park in the front row so you feel more like an executive, but put a little more distance between you and the door. Maybe hurdle a bush or two on your way into the office.
FORGET THE ELEVATOR.
Unless you work on the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building, take the stairs.
SIT UP STRAIGHT.
Okay, now that you just readjusted your posture, try to maintain this throughout the day. This will help strengthen your core and rid you of the guilt for not doing sit-ups.
GET AN EXERCISE BALL.
Replace that old chair with a giant ball from the gym. Wait, on second thought ... do NOT do this. You will look like a fool and it will only tempt your coworkers to kick it from underneath you.
SIMPLE STUFF.
If you can avoid being riddled with silly questions try a few simple exercises in the morning and during your coffee break. Squats, pushups and dips. The things you learned in seventh grade gym class really do come in handy. Try to avoid dips using your office chair if it has wheels. Seems obvious, but my attorney advised me to add that statement. These tips may not get you an invite to the next MMA main event, but they will help you look and feel better. Now sit up straight and get to work. 26
It’s Trendy & Cool ... But What Is It? BY: JESSICA JASPERSON
A
popular misconception is sushi means raw fish and therefore must contain raw seafood. However, sushi actually refers to the vinegar and rice combination that can be paired with raw seafood, cooked seafood or an array of varying ingredients. The three most popular forms of sushi are sashimi (sa·shi·mi), nigiri (ni·gir·i) and maki (ma·ki). Sashimi sushi is uncooked seafood and nigiri sushi is uncooked seafood over rice. Maki sushi is the most common form of sushi found in the United States, which is any choice of ingredient wrapped in seaweed and then wrapped in vinegared rice. Chefs create the maki sushi rolls with the help of a bamboo mat. The long roll is then sliced into smaller rolls which make about six or eight pieces depending on the size. Do not be overwhelmed by the multiple menu items found in sushi restaurants. The choices are beneficial to you, because you can pick from the many different options. The multiple menu items are good for the daring sushi consumer. Most of these menu items may be maki sushi and are most often ordered. Jason Zhou is the manager of Osaka restaurant in Fargo, N.D. and has been in the sushi industry for over 20 years. Zhou said the roll combinations are the most popular items on the menu in the Fargo-Moorhead area. At this point you may be asking, what ingredients besides raw seafood are found in the maki sushi?
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If just saying the word sushi sounds intimidating or you simply want to learn more about this Japanese specialty, read through this beginners guide to calm those nerves. Cooked seafood is a definite possibility such as tuna, crab and eel. Cucumber, avocado and asparagus are vegetables commonly put in maki sushi to add texture and taste. Many rolls incorporate more than one kind of seafood inside the maki roll and on top. Warning: You will not find ketchup and mustard on these tables. The condiments served with sushi include soy sauce, wasabi and gari. True Japanese wasabi is expensive because it comes from a Japanese root. This root has a natural horseradish taste that will not be as spicy as the green paste usually paired with sushi. The green paste is a less expensive horseradish with food coloring added. A tip is to not add too much wasabi to your sushi in order to taste the natural flavors and textures of the food. Between bites or at the end of the meal it is custom to eat the gari which is shavings of pickled ginger used to cleanse the palate. Beautiful presentation is an important characteristic of sushi because we eat with our eyes before any hint of food hits our palate. The condiments add to the bright and colorful display of the sushi which appeals to the eyes first. If you already feel comfortable with eating maki sushi, try the sashimi and nigiri for a different taste and texture. If you have always wanted to try sushi but didn’t know what to expect, pick up those chopsticks and taste for yourself, sushi isn’t so intimidating after all.
Now that you’re an expert ... put your taste buds to the test!
Sushi Restaurants • Cafe 21 1450 25th Street South, Fargo
• Kobe’s 4228 15th Avenue South, Fargo
• Osaka Sushi & Hibachi 1111 38th Street South, Fargo
• Wasabi 623 NP Avenue, Fargo
• 101 Sushi Bar and Korean BBQ 4480 23rd Avenue South, Fargo
• Samurai 1775 45th Street South, Fargo
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“Whether you’re an aspiring UFC fighter or are looking for a fun new way to get in the best shape of your life, Academy of Combat arts offers the fitness achievement of all skill levels.”
www.acand.com
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BY: JENESSA MCALLISTER PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
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W
hen Dylan Spicer opened the Academy of Combat Arts (ACA) in 2008, he had no idea that the company would become the huge success story it is today. With more than 90 students enrolled, the ACA is now one of the most widely recognized and popular mixed martial arts (MMA) institutions in the FargoMoorhead area. Some of the company’s success can be contributed to the recent growing popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Spicer said. “The UFC is the fastest-growing sport in the world,” he said. “Some of our students train with us in hopes to make it to that level.” While there are a select few athletes who train at the ACA who have made it impressively far in the ranks of fighting, Spicer said that the majority of students who come to the ACA aren’t in it for the fighting. “There are so many benefits to training MMA,” Spicer said. “Both mentally and physically — people will come in looking to lose weight, build muscle tone, or just take out the stresses of everyday life.” As listed on the ACA website, “Whether you’re an aspiring UFC fighter or are looking for a fun new way to get in the best shape of your life, Academy of Combat arts offers the fitness achievement of all skill levels.” There are a variety of classes offered at the academy, including a women’s class, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai
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and the class specific to MMA/UFC fighting. Each class focus draws in a different crowd, though Spicer said the range of interested athletes is usually 16 to 32 years old. So what sets this academy apart from the others of its kind in the F-M area? According to Spicer, many gyms in town aren’t accredited, and aren’t on the ACA’s level of experience. Spicer has been training in multiple areas of MMA for more than 15 years, and the four other coaches and have extensive backgrounds in the sport. One of the coaches, Pablo Garza, is a decorated mixed martial artist, who has been ranked as high as 18th worldwide. “Pablo was a guy who came to us a few years ago with no experience,” Spicer said. “He was dedicated and worked very hard to get to where he is today. We’re proud to have him on our team.” Other successful fighters who trained at the ACA include Dane Sayers, who appeared on the popular UFC TV show Ultimate Fighter, and Chris Tuchscherer who wrestled at Minnesota State University Moorhead before appearing on the Ultimate Fighter. Besides these recognizable names, the ACA team has trained a number of local and regional champion fighters, and Spicer is proud of them all. Whether it’s an interest in a UFC appearance or just losing a few pounds, MMA training can benefit everyone, and the ACA is a great place to get started. “We love to help people,” Spicer said. “Most importantly, spend time doing what you love with the people you love. Surround yourself with people who have a positive impact on you. That’s the good life to me.”
“The UFC is the fastest-growing sport in the world.” — Dylan Spicer
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Local Hero
BY: DANETTE NICOLOFF PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Persevering to Help Others “On your feet … at ease.” This is how retired Army Master Sergeant Eric Marts opens his radio show every Saturday morning on 970 WDAY AM. During the hourlong program called “Heroes of the Heartland,” Marts features area service men and women so they can tell their stories. He wants people to know what soldiers overcome and conquer when they serve. He said most who serve, “Are busy telling other people that they are heroes, but won’t accept the title themselves.” That’s especially true for Marts himself. 33
His Story
Marts spent 20 years in the Army, 16 of which were spent active duty. He was a Gulf War veteran and went back again with the 34th Infantry Division when the United States invaded Iraq after 9-11. In May of 2006 his unit was near Fallujah, Iraq when he and his men encountered a roadside bomb. Although he was several yards away, the explosion was so powerful it knocked him on his back. He got up, shook it off, and went back to work. A few days later, he noticed the sight in his right eye seemed fuzzy, so
he had it checked out by an Army doctor. He was told he would be sent to Germany for treatment. Marts refused. Not only did he refuse treatment but he talked his way back into combat. He told the doctor that regulations permitted him to stay if he had 50 percent of his vision. Marts said, “I had people to take care of. You don’t leave your men.” Over the next several months, Marts encountered eight more explosions. Each time he got up and brushed himself off. He said, “You just don’t complain about getting knocked around when your buddy loses his legs.” What he didn’t realize, is that he had suffered many concussions that were damaging his optic nerves beyond repair. By the fall of 2008 he had lost all vision in both eyes. He spent nine months in a rehab center for the blind in Illinois, where he learned to adapt to his new life. He was even elected the unofficial mayor of the facility. He said, “I act like it hasn’t affected my life. The more I act like it hasn’t affected my life the closer I am to normality.”
His Unlikely Career Path
Marts was career Army and wanted to achieve the rank of Sergeant Major. His goals were cut short when he lost his sight. He was forced to retire and found himself sitting on the couch feeling useless. He didn’t want to retire. He loved serving his country and felt an obligation to take care of soldiers. One day while listening to the Jay Thomas show on 970 WDAY AM, Marts heard an interview with a veteran. Thomas ended the conversation by saying he could talk to veterans all day. Marts knew a lot of veterans and thought if Thomas wanted people to interview he could hook him up. So he emailed Thomas letting him know just that. He had no idea that one email would change his life forever. Thomas called Marts and told him that he liked the idea of doing a show about veterans, and invited Marts to the station to pitch the idea. The next thing he knew he was a radio talk show host. On his first show his guest didn’t show up. The rough start didn’t stop him from continuing on with his new career. With his trusty seeing eye dog Deacon or as he calls him “The Corporal” sitting next to him, Marts takes command of the microphone like he took command of his men while serving in Iraq. He uses the airwaves to tell the stories of those who served. He said, “There’s so much history out there that will
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Local Hero never be known. The show isn’t about me it’s about them.” He also wants to set an example for the men and women who come back from war, “You are still viable. Move forward for the guys who didn’t come back.”
Adapt And Overcome
“Adapt and overcome” is a saying Marts uses, but they are also words he lives by. He has never lost his sense of humor. He heard his dog snoring and joked, “Just like a soldier. Give him 10 minutes and he will fall asleep.” He laughed as he told the story about when he was brought up to the stage at a function and was turning his head towards a voice asking him questions. He later found out the announcer was behind him and he was talking to a speaker. Marts lives with no regrets. His wife Bobbie and their five children may disagree with his decision to stay and serve out his tour, but he said he would do it all again. He simply said, “It’s where I needed to be.”
When asked what the good life means to him, he said, “I’m living it.” PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: BOBBIE MARTS 35
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