The Good Life – January-February 2017

The two main characters 

(Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter) 

are named after late television producer 

Sheldon Leonard. 

We still don't know Penny's surname. 

Unlike the other characters, Penny is the only one 

whose surname has never been revealed. Reports 

claim that Kaley Cuoco prefers to keep this a 

mystery throughout the whole series. 

Raj's inability to talk to women 

except when drunk is based on an old coworker 

of executive producer Bill Prady 

when he worked at a computer company. 

The same purse! 

Penny has been using the same purse 

since Season 1 / Episode 02. 

Sheldon frequently wears T-shirts with the characters or symbols of 

Green Lantern, the Flash, or the old TV show The Greatest American Hero 

(1981). The shirts from the "Green Lantern" comic book series are various 

colors with a corresponding symbol, with each color representing a 

different corps of heroes or villains (e.g. Red Lanterns, Orange Lanterns, 

etc). In the comics, each color also represents an emotion, thus possibly 

giving the viewer a clue to Sheldon's temperament for the day. 

Did you know? 

Most of the time, Leonard 

has no lenses in his glasses. 

Amy is the only cast member to have a PhD. 

In 2008, she completed her neuroscience studies. 

She earned her Ph.D. in Neural Biology. 

Sources: 

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-big-bang-theory 

http://www.knowable.com/a/20-rarely-known-facts-aboutthe-big-bang-theory 

http://www.uselessdaily.com/news/40-amazing-factsabout-the-tv-series-the-big-bang-theory-list/ 

http://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-aboutbig-bang-theory/ 

2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com 

Soft Kitty 

is an actual 

song.'Soft Kitty' is the 

only thing that can help 

Sheldon feel better on 

the rare occasions he is 

ill, but did you know that 

it exists outside the 

show? Sort of. 

The song dates 

back to the 1930s, and 

was titled 'Warm Kitty' by 

Edith Newlin. Producer Bill Prady 

revealed that his daughter sang 'Soft Kitty' while 

at pre-school, after her teacher first heard it while 

working in Australia.

Sheldon's favorite word 'bazinga' was first 

uttered in the season two finale, but it 

was created with the help of a silly prank. 

Writer Stephen Engel used the word to 

say 'gotcha' in a recurring backstage gag 

involving an old grapefruit in the writers' 

room. As the word kept getting used, 

it eventually made its way to the actual 

script shortly before filming the finale. 

In 2012, biologists discovered 

a new bee species in Brazil and 

named it the euglossa bazinga 

after Sheldon's favorite word. 

Star Trek 

Even though Jim Parsons’ 

character Sheldon Cooper 

is a huge Star Trek fan, 

Jim himself has never 

seen the show. 

The actors learned to 

actually play their instruments 

for the show. (Amy plays harp, Sheldon 

plays theremin and recorder, 

and Leonard plays cello). 

There is only one set of stairs. 

Every time they walk up the stairs in their 

apartment, they use the same set, but 

they redress every “floor” of the building. 

Kevin Sussman, who plays Stuart Bloom 

the comic book store owner, actually 

worked in a comic book store before 

becoming an actor. 

urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3

Contents 

VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 4 

JAN-FEB 2017 

30 

18 

ON THE COVER 

JON HAUSER • TREADING ON THE HEIGHTS 

02 

06 

10 

RARELY KNOWN FACTS ABOUT 

THE BIG BANG THEORY 

ADULT PLAY TIME 

FARGO VFW'S DERBY FOR THE VETS 

HAVING A BEER WITH... 

STEVE HALLSTROM 

28 

14 

24 

28 

30 

THROTTLE'S AUTOMOTIVE 

REPAIR SHOP ON NITRO 

MANSCAPING 

THE WORLD OF HAIRLESS MEN 

MR. FULL-TIME DAD 

RAISING A CELEBRITY BABY 

LOCAL HEROES 

WOUNDED WARRIORS GUIDE SERVICE 

24 

4 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

The 

GOODLIFE 

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www.urbantoadmedia.com 

OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

Dawn Siewert 

dawn@urbantoadmedia.com 

OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER 

Darren Losee 

darren@urbantoadmedia.com 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Alexandra Floersch 

Meghan Feir 

Brittney Goodman 

Ben Hanson 

Krissy Ness 

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Darren Losee / 701-261-9139 

darren@urbantoadmedia.com 

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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 Men’s Magazine. 



BY: BRITTNEY GOODMAN • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

ntering “your friendly downtown Fargo VFW Club” will 

Elikely not invoke the phrase “trend setting,” with its 

wood paneling, well-worn carpet, patriotic memorabilia, 

and bartenders known for, ahem, a “generous pour.” 

However, Fargo’s VFW was well ahead of one trend – 

the increasing popularity of adult pinewood derby racing. 

Since 2012, the Fargo VFW Derby for the Vets is apparently 

the only adult pinewood derby raising money for veterans, while 

other adult-focused derbies emerge. Milwaukee even has a 

“Mad Max” category for adventurous builders. 

The next Derby for the Vets is February 18th. And … no actual 

kids are allowed! Also, several women compete, including Lisa 

Stremick, 2015 champion. 

Jay Thomas, WDAY Radio, and his car, “The Bone Crusher,” 

have enthusiastically participated: “It gets a bunch of adults 

together to have fun reliving their youth and, at the same time, 

raises money for a great cause — our veterans. I built ‘The Bone 

Crusher’ for the first Derby for the Vets event I got involved with 

three years ago. I had thought that I would do just a quick car 

and I ended up spending days on it. It has done well over the 

years.” Jay adds, “People should go to the event for the sheer 

fun and to support a great cause. It’s adults having ‘kid fun’ 

mixed with beer … need I say more?” 


Every cent raised supports local veterans through the 

VA Hospital, purchasing roller recliner chairs in patient 

rooms. Dan Jacobsen, Derby for the Vets Director, 

explained that the chairs “help with the recovery of the 

veteran and also for the visiting family members. I met 

someone recently who used one of the roller recliner 

chairs as she stayed with her dad in the hospital. She 

emphatically said that the roller recliner chair was a 

lifesaver!” Lavonne Liversage, Health Care System 

Director for the Fargo VA Hospital described the chairs 

as having “a significant impact on our veterans and 

their families and friends” as the VA Hospital strives “to 

continuously improve the veteran experience – and that 

includes their comfort.” 

This year’s fundraising goal is $20,000. Mike McQuillan, 

VFW Quartermaster, said “the best thing is that the 

proceeds all go to a great cause – the VA Hospital, and I 

know from experience that the veterans really appreciate 

it.” 

The VFW has race car kits available for purchase 

including rules and specifications. Registration is $20. 

Registration for Brand Challenge is $50 and includes 

entry into both classes. All registrations include a car kit. 

The Cars 

Gravity-powered pinewood derby cars have no engines. 

For the race, they are on a sloped track held back by pins. 

“The best thing is 

that the proceeds all go to a great 

cause – the VA Hospital, and I know 

from experience that the veterans 

really appreciate it.” – Mike McQuillan, 

Quartermaster, VFW Post 762 


The cars roll down to a digitally-monitored finish line. 

Experts say the fastest cars are aerodynamically shaped, 

with particular focus on wheels, axles, lubrication and 

alignment. 

Creativity counts. Dan described a special category: 

“All entrants get a vote on which car is ‘most unique.’ I 

remember some great ones, including the ‘Coors Light 

Pounder Car’ and a car we call ‘The Wiener Car.’ It’s all 

great fun to see the creativity the event brings.” 

Racing Day 

At 10 am on February 18 the club opens for registration 

and car inspection. An opening ceremony occurs at 1 pm. 

Next, area mayors compete in a race, which is followed 

by a Brand Challenge involving area companies, then the 

derby races. Food, a full bar, giveaways, an auction and 

more round out the action. 

Dan applauded the Mayor’s Race: “I love that last 

year every mayor in the area showed up: Chad Olson 

from Dilworth, Del Rae Williams from Moorhead, Tim 

Mahoney from Fargo, and Rich Mattern from West Fargo.” 

The Brand Challenge emerged last year providing 

companies a unique opportunity. Dan explained, “The 

cars are cool and the so are the names the builders give 

them. I can see it growing exponentially. It was a great 

team-building event for companies and their employees. 

Many of them took up whole tables and they had a lot of 

fun with the friendly competition.” 

Expect a lively experience. Dan described the energy 

as “non-stop” with high-quality audio and video on both 

floors. And Dan’s live announcing keeps everyone in the 

moment. 

The day closes with live and silent auctions. Past items 

have included a “live” painting by artist, Kim Jore; signed 

NDSU Bison football; WEFest tickets; plane rides and 

much more. 

And the event is expanding. For 2017-2018, there will 

be fundraising races at the different veterans clubs in

the area, replicating the successful VFW model. 

The winners of these events would advance to a 

championship in February 2018 at the Fargo VFW. 

For the Vets 

Dan reminisced: “As a dad, I helped build cars with 

my son and let him race them and the whole time 

I was thinking, ‘Wait! I want to race that car!’ Now, 

with Derby for the Vets, the adults get in on the 

action. It’s an event by adults for adults, and we can 

have big fun. It’s our chance to pay it forward and 

have a great time.” 

Recently, an anonymous donor donated $10,000. 

Dan added, “Let’s surpass this year’s goal like 

we have done in the past!” Dan’s team is actively 

recruiting sponsors for the 2017 event, and Dan 

thanked all sponsors and helpers who “will continue 

to make this event a success.” 

VFW Commander Dave Rice concluded: “The 

Pinewood Derby is fun! We live in a very patriotic 

community. Our citizens like supporting our 

hospitalized veterans. Whether they enter a derby 

car or attend to make a donation, bid on an auction 

item or support the event, they are here for our 

veterans.” • 


Raised on a cattle and 

hog farm 60 miles north 

of Minneapolis, Steve 

Hallstrom knew at a young 

age he wanted to enter 

the business world. From 

being a grain elevator 

manager to a mortgage 

banker, the sports 

director on WDAY 

to a senior regional 

director at Discovery 

Benefits in Fargo, his 

wide range of experiences 

have shaped and given him the 

skills necessary to effectively 

perform his current role as 

a morning show host and 

the president and CEO of 

Flag Family Media. On a 

blustery day in November, 

Steve sat down with me in 

Drekker Brewing Company 

to enjoy a beer and a little 

conversation. 


BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

Good Life: Are you nervous for the questions I’m about 

to ask? 

Steve Hallstrom: No. I have two kids, an 18-year-old 

and a 14-year-old. I get weird questions all the time. 

GL: After being a sports anchor, have you ever 

accidentally introduced yourself as “Steve Hallstrom, 

sports”? 

SH: No, but when the phone would ring during the first 

week of my job at Discovery, I had a couple internal 

calls, like, “Sports — uhhhh, Discovery Benefits. This 

is Steve. Can I help you?” 

GL: What’s your favorite family tradition? 

SH: We have this doll that my daughter got when she 

was born. One day we asked her, “What’s the name 

of your doll?” She’d just gotten a new doll, so she 

said “That’s Old Baby.” Somehow along the way, Old 

Baby developed a place in our family’s history book. 

When my kids were little and we were changing their 

diapers, I would prop up Old Baby on the changing 

table, and Old Baby would sing songs to them. Other 

times, we would be in our car driving to the cities, and 

the kids would throw Old Baby up to the front of the 

car. I’d grab Old Baby, put her hands on the steering 

wheel, use my Old Baby voice and talk trash to the 

other cars driving, like, “Hey, if you don’t know where 

you’re going, get out of the way!” To this day, whenever 

Old Baby comes out, they just start howling. It’s the 

silliest, dumbest thing ever, but in my family, it’s super 

precious. That’s probably the best one. 

GL: So I believe you’re friends with one of my older 

brothers. Of us Feirs, who do you think was voted 

“Most Athletic” their senior year of high school? 

SH: Right now, I’m doing damage assessment in my 

mind. If I say you, I’m going to get something thrown at 

me, at some point. If I say him—you’re being very nice 

to me, and the worst thing you can do is throw that 

glass of water, so I’ll say Matt. Am I right? 

GL: Yep, you’re right. I was probably voted “Most Likely 

to Ask Dumb Questions.” 

GL: What is one thing you think people would be 

surprised to find out about you? 

SH: I feel like I’m two, different people at home or at 

work. I try to not be a super serious guy at work. I love 

to have fun. I enjoy our people, and there’s a lot of joy 

in my day, but because of what I do and because the 

stakes are so high, I really feel like I have 16 people 

whose paychecks, food and mortgage payments depend 

on me to be good at what I do. That’s never far from my 

mind. I probably take myself too seriously sometimes 

because of that. But if there’d be something surprising, 

it would be that my kids think I’m just a big goofball. 


GL: We’re supposed to be getting a winter storm 

tonight or tomorrow. On a level of zero to Meghan, 

how excited are you to get some snow? 

SH: Zero. 

GL: Steve. 

SH: There are two reasons for this. No. 1: 

I’m getting old and crabby. No. 2: I like 

to run, so bare pavement for me 

is a wonderful thing. It doesn’t 

matter how cold it is. If I can 

run, I’m a happy man. I’m sorry. 

I know that’s the wrong answer, 

but I’ve been a good guy until 

this point in the interview, so 

we’ve just got one black mark. I 

think I’m doing okay. 

GL: But you did choose Matt… 

SH: That’s right… Two black marks. 

GL: If Batman and Superman each had their own 

radio talk show, whose show would you want to 

listen to more and why? 

SH: Well, Batman would be the better executive. 

A little more understated. A little more 

behind the scenes and stealthy. Superman 

kind of has the Donald Trump factor. He 

would come out and would start ripping 

people, so I would probably enjoy 

listening to Superman more, but I’d 

want Batman doing the books behind 

the scenes. 

GL: What’s the best compliment 

you’ve ever received? 


SH: I ran the Twin Cities 

Marathon for the first time, and 

I wanted to raise money for 

Charism, which is a local social 

service organization that works 

with at-risk kids, many of them 

from immigrant and refugee 

families. It’s a real melting pot. 

These kids are beautiful. They’re 

brilliant and they’re smart, but 

they have a lot of challenges. I 

have publically and very sharply 

criticized the refugee resettlement 

process in our country. I don’t have 

a hateful drop of blood toward 

anyone, but I think common sense 

would tell you we need to ask 

more questions. But these kids 

in our community are here now, 

and we need to love and support 

them. We’re commanded by God 

in the Bible to love everybody in 

our community. So the day we 

went over to present the check 

to Charism, we had all the kids 

there. After it was done, one little 

boy was sitting over by himself, 

and one of the volunteers went 

over and asked him, “What’s going 

on?” He said, “I want to do that 

someday. I want to run 26 miles 

and raise money for some kids.” 

I got that call the day after, and I 

honestly stood there on the phone 

and didn’t know what to say. You 

never in a million years would 

think that would happen. I have 

said for a long time that if you 

inspire a child, you change the 

world, and in some little way, I 

think I helped change his world a 

little bit. I still get choked up when 

I think about it. 

GL: What does living the good life 

mean to you? 

SH: To me, “the good life” is 

making sure that I’m asking God 

every day for wisdom, that I can be 

a person who loves people around 

me, that I’m doing the best job I 

can, and just being thankful that I 

have a God who gives me that kind 

of hope and joy. That’s the good 

life. In some way, shape or form, 

I’m beaten down to my knees 

every day. But there’s going to be a 

better day ahead, and that joy and 

peace never leaves. • 


Mark Dalquist and his wife Lisa opened up their repair shop, Throttle’s 

Automotive, four years ago, Mark is the sole mechanic while Lisa does the 

books. You would think working alone all day would get lonely, but Dalquist 

assured me that between his dog, Lindsey, and the amount of people coming 

through the doors he is rarely ever alone. 

There is a common misconception that Dalquist only works on older cars and 

that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Throttle’s Automotive is your average 

repair shop, but he also works on high performance race car, hotrod and boat 

engines. I had the opportunity to see the vehicles he has been working on and 


BY: KRISSY NESS • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

I must say I was impressed at the amount of work he has on his 

plate. It was very educational for me to get a tour of his repair 

shop and know exactly what he has done and what he needs to do. 

Dalquist has a very easy business model; “I market myself as 

trying to be fair. If it were my wife’s car, how would I service it? I am 

going to treat your car the same way,” stated Dalquist. “I tend to use 

higher end parts to limit the customer coming back.” It is important 

to realize that, though you may be paying more for the part you will be 

saving money in the long run by not having to come back 6 months later. 

Dalquist is ASE master certified and he works on domestic and import cars. 

“I do factory level repair work on emissions controlled vehicles. At the same 

time I’m the go to guy for non-emissions controlled vehicles such as race cars 

or muscle cars,” declared Dalquist. “I’m never slow, I always have work to do.” 

I cannot stress to you how important it is for Dalquist to be fair to his 

customers, he has been in the repair business for many years and that is 

something he always said he would do if and when he opened his own 


usiness. There is always this stigma that surrounds 

mechanics and how they are always trying to cheat 

you and get you to fix things on your car that don’t 

really need fixing at that exact moment. Dalquist 

offered some advice in this situation – read your 

cars owners’ manual. There are regular scheduled 

times marked in your manual so you know exactly 

when you need to flush or change certain fluids. As 

someone illiterate to anything related to cars this was 

information I was excited about. 

Not only does Dalquist build engines, he teaches 

classes on tuning them too. His buddy Scott Clark 

teaches the class while Dalquist is the assistant; he 

provides the engine. From there they hook it up to 

an engine dynamometer and instruct how to tune the 

electronic fuel injection system. 

Dalquist is very good at what he does. For 

the past three years he has completely 

taken a 1967 Chevelle apart, restored 

it and has been putting it back together 

piece by piece. That kind of skill is 

immeasurable. “This isn’t the shop 

that is afraid to work on something 

different,” said Dalquist. From 

working on hotrods, race cars or 

your average Subaru, Dalquist 

knows exactly what he is doing. 

Dalquist and the rest of his team 

competed in the Engine Masters 

Challenge sponsored by Popular Hot Rodding 

Magazine and Amsoil, in 2013-2014, only 40 

teams are selected from around the country, 

engines are ranked based on horsepower they 

can produce. In 2014 his team took ninth, and 

“This isn’t the 

shop that is 

afraid to work 

on something 

different.” 

– Mark Dalquist 


eceived Popular Hot Rodding’s Editor’s Choice 

Award. He and his team did not compete this year 

or last however, due to the changing of rules. “If I 

am going to compete I am going to try and win,” 

declared Dalquist. 

Dalquist has been locally and national recognized 

by the Fargo Forum and as mentioned before 

Popular Hot Rodding Magazine. He truly loves 

what he does and wants to provide honest 

business to honest working people. 

Finally, I asked Dalquist what the good life means 

to him. “The good life to me is being able to pursue 

my own interests outside of work. If all there is in 

life is work, you can start to hate life pretty quickly. 

I'm fortunate enough that my work overlaps my 

outside interests, which is anything race car to be 

honest.” • 


Where it all began 

Jon Hauser, a 2-week-old resident 

of Duluth, Minn., moved with his 

older sister and parents to Illinois 

where his father would pastor a local 

congregation. What the family didn’t 

expect was a devastating turn of 

events. 


When Hauser was only 1, his father 

was swept up in a whirlwind illness. 

On a Wednesday, he started feeling 

sick, and by Friday, Hauser’s father 

had to be carried to the car and sent 

to the hospital. He quickly entered a 

comatose state the following day and 

passed away that Sunday. What the 

doctors initially thought was the flu 

was actually a form of meningitis. 

Hauser’s mother, Rosie, was a stay-athome 

mom with two young children 

and no driver’s license. After the 

death of her beloved husband, she 

immediately set out to learn how to 

drive and used her degree from the 

Bible college they had both attended 

to pastor the church for 16 months.

BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

Church. It’s not always something people look forward to attending every Sunday. For some, if they do go, it’s done 

out of duty. Yet for others, like the members of Prairie Heights Community Church in West Fargo, it’s a healing ground 

full of acceptance, encouragement, love, and changed lives. 

From meeting in a hotel with 200 people to meeting in the Fargo Dome with a congregation of 1,500, Pastor Jon Hauser, 

the church members and staff of Prairie Heights have seen miraculous growth and life-changing transformations since 

its inception 16 years ago and witnessed another milestone Dec. 11 when they held the first services at their very own 

building in West Fargo. 

While the church itself has seen many providential acts that have made its existence and expansion possible, the start of 

its story begins with its pastor. 

“She led the church, preached and 

took care of us,” Hauser said. “When 

we moved to Williston, where she 

was from, she worked at a Head Start 

so she could have summer vacations 

and the same time away as us kids.” 

When Hauser was in second grade, 

Rosie, who had a full-time job and 

took care of her kids, went back 

to college and earned a degree in 

elementary education by attending 

evening classes. She became 

a teacher, then a principal and 

eventually won the Bell Ringer 

Award, a standard of excellence for 

principals across the state of North 

Dakota. 

“Her life growing up was tough,” 

Hauser said. “Her dad had left them 

and her mom was a cleaning lady 

with a sixth-grade education, so they 

worked hard to scrape by.” 

Along with his mother’s determination 

to succeed and make a better life for 

her children and those surrounding 

them, what really stood out for 

Hauser was his mother’s forgiving 

kindness. 

“We’ve all seen people who are bitter, 

and if anyone had a reason to be 

bitter against God, other people and 

life, it was my mom. She saw her 

dad less than 10 times in her whole 


“She taught me everything. She taught me to love the 

Lord, how to love people, how to serve, how to find the 

talents of others, work ethic — yeah, I could never be 

thankful enough. I see her fingerprints all over what goes 

on here. My mom is the most gifted leader I’ve ever rubbed 

shoulders with, and 90 percent of who I am and how I lead 

is a direct result of the influence of my mom. Her legacy 

lives on in my life, in Prairie Heighters, and everyone she 

impacted so greatly.” 

life. She’s full-blooded Lebanese and got teased about 

that. Her husband died, and she was left with two small 

kids,” Hauser said. “I think I saw my grandfather twice. I 

remember that when he was at our house, she was only 

positive about having him there. My mom never talked bad 

about her dad. I’ve never heard her talk bad about anyone. 

I just thought your dad or grandpa only came around once 

every few years.” 

Although Rosie passed away this last summer, her legacy 

lives on in her son’s life and everyone she impacted so 

greatly. 


Taking direction 

Coming from a family of pastors and schoolteachers, 

Hauser was determined to take a different route and 

studied electrical engineering at NDSU. But despite his 

penchant for the field and the promise of a steady and 

substantial income, something kept nagging at his heart. 

“I was definitely afraid of public speaking, so I said, ‘God, 

I will do anything, besides being a preacher or a teacher.’ 

But during my last year of college, I knew I needed to study 

for some kind of ministry. I knew engineering wasn’t going 

to be my long-term career.”

ay 

w y 

God alwa 

my 

my 

wa 

s works in 

m life by 

asking me qu 

q estions. 

qu 

After a series of questions that kept bombarding Hauser, 

he received further confirmation from his wife, Teri, whom 

he was dating at the time. 

“God always works in my life by asking me questions. We 

had a special speaker, and as he was preaching, I heard 

in the back of my mind, ‘Jon, are you willing to do what 

you see him doing?’ and I was like, ‘Well, yeah, but I’m 

not supposed to do that.’ That was question number one. 

There were three specific times where I thought I heard 

God asking if I was willing. But it was still a hard thing to 

give up my dream. The actual way I knew, after all that, 

was when Teri and I got in a huge argument when we were 

dating. Teri said, ‘Jon, there is something you’re struggling 

with, isn’t there? There’s something you aren’t telling me.’ 

I looked at her and said, ‘I’m too afraid to even tell you.’ I 

had fear about being poor and didn’t want anything to do 

with public speaking. I finally said, ‘I think I’m supposed 

to be a pastor,’ and she looked at me and said, ‘I know. I’ve 

known that for six months.’” 

Following his calling, Hauser and Teri moved to Kansas 

City after getting married and he practiced engineering 

while going to seminary. They eventually moved to 

Minneapolis and joined a new church as he continued to 

use his engineering degree full time. 

“I still didn’t know what I was supposed to do, and still the 

biggest piece was the public speaking. I didn’t know if I 

should be a missionary or engineer overseas,” Hauser said. 

“I was at a doughnut shop with my uncle, who is a pastor, 

and he asked, ‘What was your favorite class in seminary?’ 

and right away, I was like ‘It was our class on starting 

new churches.’ It just made sense to me. If you’re trying to 

reach people who like rock ‘n’ roll music, then do rock ‘n’ 

roll music at your church. You don’t have to have a choir 

and you don’t have to wear suits and ties.” 

In the spring of 2000, after a year of pulling a team 

together and planning, Hauser and Teri moved to Fargo- 

Moorhead to begin their next mission of planting a church. 

With a heavy emphasis on serving in the community, 

Hauser and his team were out washing and vacuuming out 

cars, doing full-service car checkups, and more, all to serve 

and spread love. “Some people said we were nuts. We 

didn’t have a building. We didn’t have the people.” 

Despite the skepticism of many onlookers, the first service 

of Prairie Heights launched on April Fools’ Day in 2001. 

“It was also the day you turned your clocks forward,” 

Hauser said. “We have violated many rules of how to start 

a church. It’s like God keeps asking us to do almost the 


No mat 

at 

ta 

a ter your position or sta 

t ge in life, 

opposite of what works, just to show 

that this is only from him.” 

A seven-day kind of faith 

Although cynicism, criticalness and 

negativity surround us, there is hope 

to combat the toxicity of the world 

in which we live, and Hauser is 

determined to offer some of that every 

Sunday, and, well, Monday through 

Saturday, too, as his church and he 

serves the community and practices 

the faith preached about every week. 

“I just got an email last week from 

a young man who’s been sober for 6 

years and came to Prairie Heights 

when he was in treatment. He said 

that if it wasn’t for Prairie Heights, he 

wouldn’t have been able to stay sober,” 

Hauser said. “We have some miracle 

stories of couples that were divorced 

and started coming to church and got 

remarried. We have stories of folks 

who were thinking of committing 

suicide before coming to church and 

seen how God has changed their 

hearts. And there are people who 

knew the Lord and were attending, 

but not active in really following the 


Lord. We’ve seen a lot of folks who 

were spiritually dry come to life.” 

No matter your position or stage in 

life, Hauser wants everyone to know 

they’re welcome. 

“We all need to know that there’s 

somewhere we can go where people 

will love us, no matter what we’ve 

done. You aren’t going to find answers 

in the bar, and that actually costs you 

money. You can come to church for 

free and find hope and love,” Hauser 

said. “We cannot love people too 

much. When people don’t feel good 

about themselves, they can either chip 

away at other people, or they can find 

hope in Christ and realize, ‘Wow, I 

wasn’t a mistake or an accident. I have 

talents and gifts, and no one else has 

the same combination.” 

While it’s common for many people 

in this part of the country to have 

some kind of church background, 

their experiences can raise unique 

challenges. 

“A lot of them had problems in their 

home or things weren’t great, but on 

Sunday they would go to church and 

put on their Sunday best, sit in a pew 

and act as if everything was okay, but 

it wasn’t,” Hauser said. “There was 

a huge disconnect between faith and 

how we treated each other and how 

we were actually living, so a lot of 

people have given up on faith because 

they’re like, ‘Well, it didn’t work.’ We’ve 

worked hard at sharing messages 

that relate to people’s lives Monday 

through Saturday and encourage 

men to pray for their families. Our 

kids and wives need to hear us pray 

for them. Having our faith impact 

our relationships, decisions within 

our homes, and our careers is an 

opportunity to love people and impact 

the world.” 

Living the good life 

For many men and women, living 

the good life is merely enjoying a 

beer on a scorching summer day or 

making the money goals they’ve set 

for themselves, but Hauser went a bit 

deeper. 

“At the end of the day, there are only 

two things we take into eternity with

us: our relationship with God and with other people who love God. To me, ‘the good life’ is when those who know me the 

best, love me the most. But number one, living ‘the good life’ definitely means knowing Jesus Christ, walking with him, 

listening to his voice and following his plan. It’s loving God and loving people.” • 

wa 

Hauser wa 

ry 

w nts every 

r one to know they're welcome. 


BY: KRISSY NESS • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

Manscaping has been growing in 

popularity over the years; it is not 

just for celebrities anymore. In fact, 

it is a growing business. More and 

more men are connecting with their 

feminine side and taking care of 

their skin. Manscaping ranges from 

waxing backs to facials and anything 

in between and I mean anything. 

I got the opportunity to sit down with 

Kendall Kehres, a Josephs graduate 

and local Esthetician and wax 

enthusiasts at Olivieri's in downtown 

Fargo, and watch her work. Kehres 

has been waxing for four years, and 

in the beauty industry for 15. 

“I approached Oliveri’s with a 

business plan, because they didn’t 

have a waxer [on staff] and I created 

this position for myself,” declared 

Kehres. She is very enthusiastic 

about her job and really makes her 

customers feel welcome. 

First, we began with Scott Dahms 

who was gracious enough to let 

me sit in and watch his back being 

waxed. This is the second time 

Dahms has gotten his back waxed, 

both times were here at Oliveri’s with 


Kehres. For this wax Kehres uses soft wax, 

this wax is made from seaweed cream, 

the process was quick and painless for the 

most part, “the wax is comfortable and not 

irritating,” stated Dahms. The soft wax is 

used with strips and is used to cover large 

areas of the body including back, chest, legs 

and arms. 

After waxing it is important to wash the 

waxed area and use a back scrubber to get 

rid of the dead skin and avoid tanning or 

swimming for two days. 

Next, we will move onto facial waxing. 

Darren Zufelt comes to Kehres at Olivieri’s 

once a month to get his eyebrows and 

nose waxed. For this specific procedure, 

because it is used on the face, Kehres 

uses hard wax. This particular wax is a 

pumpkin pie wax and she obtains it from a 

small supplier in California. “Both waxes 

I use [seaweed cream and pumpkin pie] 

are unique to me and no one else in town 

uses them,” proudly stated Kehres. The 

pumpkin pie wax is removed from the 

face differently; instead of using a strip to 

remove the hair Kehres removed it with her 

fingers in a quick jerking motion. 


Finally, we will move onto facials. 

Kehres offers a mini facial for those 

who don’t want to sit in a spa all day. 

“I do dim the lights and I give a hand 

massage but, you are in and out in 35 

minutes,” stated Kehres. For our male 

facial Raul Gomez gladly stepped up 

to the plate. Kehres uses Aveda and 

Lexli products for facials. After the 

scrub she applies a mask and leaves 

it on for 10-15 minutes. The results 

are amazing. Gomez’s face looks 

revitalized and healthy, though it 

wasn’t too shabby to begin with. 

Kehres is available almost anytime for 

her clients, she really works around 

peoples schedules so they can get 

what they want done when they want, 

within reason. 

If you are ever curious about waxing, 

facials, or just a consultation Olivieri’s 

is the place to go and Kehres is the 

person to see. • 

The results are amazing. Gomez’s face looks revitalized and 

healthy, though it wasn’t too shabby to begin with. 


It is with great honor and pride that we announce the release of the first whiskey produced, 

distilled, barrel aged, and bottled since Prohibition, from our great state of North Dakota. 

The Single Malt of North Dakota 

GLEN FARGO 

AMERICAN MALT WHISKEY 

PHOTO BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

Glen Fargo is our own original American 

Malt Whiskey, 100% Malted Barley, 

North Dakota born, raised, and nurtured 

into an incredibly smooth and fine spirit. 

Small batch fermented and distilled 

in a time honored pot still tradition to 

produce a spirit that is true to its roots 

as a Single Malt Whiskey. 

Please join our brands of 

2DOCKS Vodkas & Liqueurs 

and MINIONS Gins in welcoming 

"GLEN FARGO American Malt Whiskey” 

to the Proof Artisan Distillers Family 

of fine spirits. 

The depth of flavors and nuances of this 

spirit are advanced well beyond it's years 

as a direct result of our persistent vigilance 

over every detail throughout its journey. 

Our control of its maturation process 

elevates, or "raises" this spirit from infancy 

to final product. Initially placed in small 

new American oak barrels and transferred 

at the proper moment to hand selected, 

larger, previously used bourbon barrels. 

During this maturation process, we have 

gradually and slowly introduced pure 

filtered spring water into the barrel to 

reduce the whiskey to its finished bottle 

strength. These deliberate and time 

consuming actions allow nuances in both 

flavor and aroma to shine through. 

It is most appropriate to drink whiskey, 

“Any way you like it!” However, we 

recommend that you, at least one time, 

perform a proper tasting to fully appreciate 

the character of this spirit. 

Pour 1 ounce into a small wine glass or 

whiskey tasting glass. Savor the aroma. 

Add 1 teaspoon of cool water. Allow to 

rest for 5 minutes at which time the sweet 

caramel, maple syrup and butterscotch 

aromas come through. Finally, taste with a 

small sip and allow the spirit to coat your 

mouth. Breathe and savor the flavors and 

aromas. Ahh … this is Glen Fargo. 

Joel Kath 

Distiller and Founder 

www.proofdistillers.com 


BY: BEN HANSON • MR. FULL-TIME DAD • PHOTO BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

A few months ago, I noticed a 

peculiar phenomenon starting to 

take shape. Whenever I would take 

Macklin out on the town, we’d get 

stopped mid-errand by folks who 

wanted to say “hi”. But not to me. No, 

they weren’t interested in me. They 

wanted a piece of the Mackman. I 

was nearly invisible… just the guy 

pushing the stroller. 

The peculiar part was that it wasn’t 

just friends or family stopping us. 

Perfect strangers would flag us 

down, recognizing the chubby cheeks 

hanging over the side of the stroller. 

Macklin, it seemed, was becoming a 

bit of a celebrity around town thanks 

to our published #dadventures. 

When I launched MrFullTimeDad. 

com last year, my goal was to 

make myself famous for being the 

greatest dad who ever lived. I never 

anticipated that Macklin would end 


up being the star, but considering 

he’s 50 percent his mother’s genes, I 

should have known better. And now 

that it’s really starting to happen — 

he nailed his first TV appearance 

in November and is now booking 

out months in advance — I am both 

grateful and leery. I am more than 

happy to shift the spotlight off of me, 

but I’m also worried that I may not 

be up to the challenge of raising a 

celebrity baby. 

The Finances 

So far, “no money, no problems” is 

our motto. Between the two of us, 

Macklin and I are currently making 

just enough to satisfy our bi-weekly 

trips to the donut shop. But one day, I 

assume we’ll have to hire accountants 

and money managers to keep us in 

line (and the yachts to a minimum). 

Depending on whom you ask, I’m 

either horrible with money or a 

monetary genius. I hate spending 

money on anything other than a fresh 

bag of chips, so I don’t know what 

I’m going to do with this looming 

influx of cash. Do I let Mack make 

his own purchasing decisions? Will 

I need to bring the aforementioned 

accountants along on every outing? 

I just don’t know. 

The Friends 

As a stay-at-home dad, it can be 

tough to meet new people. However, 

Macklin is finding it even more 

difficult — his lack of a vocabulary 

is proving to be a real obstacle in 

breaking the ice. When he does 

solidify a few friendships, however, 

it might already be too late. Most 

celebrities don’t grow up famous 

like he’s going to, so how will he be 

able to differentiate between his true 

friends who “knew him when” and 

the ones just after his good looks and 

money?

And it’s not just the friends I’m 

worried about. I’m already seeing 

Macklin take his newfound fame a 

bit too far. For example, I’m getting 

reports from the drop-in daycare 

at the gym about how Mack helps 

himself to the other kids’ lunches, 

refusing to eat what I packed him. 

That sense of entitlement will not 

fly, son. 

The Family 

Family is another concern. While 

we might have the smallest bank 

account at the moment, what’s 

going to happen when the money 

starts rolling in? Are we suddenly 

going to be expected to pick up the 

tab every time we go out? I’ve been 

successfully mooching off of my 

family for 33 years now, and I don’t 

foresee an expanded bankroll curing 

me of my addiction to other people’s 

money. 

I’m also more than a little concerned 

about increased family time. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love most of 

them. But I also love locking the 

doors, turning off all the lights and 

pretending we’re not home. If all 

of a sudden I’m fielding calls from 

long-lost relatives wanting their slice 

of the child star pie, I’ll need some 

help coming up with a longer list of 

excuses why we’re not available. 

The Paparazzi 

Considering Macklin’s notoriety 

arose largely from my borderline 

exploitation of him all over 

social media (follow us @ 

MrFullTimeDad!), it might seem 

hypocritical of me to be worried 

about the press. But since November 

8th, it’s now every American’s 

God-given right to despise the 

lamestream media and question 

their bias, so sign me up. 

Ultimately, my fear goes back to my 

love of privacy. And control. I don’t 

want to lose control of the story, or 

overstuff my son’s ego and end up 

losing control of him. The paparazzi 

loves celebrity tragedies, and any 

doughy, curly-haired son of mine is 

surely in for a few. 

Whatever challenges may come with 

raising an adorable child star will, in 

the end, be well worth the inevitable 

heartache. True, I may have gone 

into this Mr. Full-Time Dad business 

with the selfish intent to boost my 

writing “career,” but the personal 

rewards I’ve been blessed with as a 

stay-at-home parent far outweigh any 

professional success I’m sure wasn’t 

coming my way anyhow. Fame or 

anonymity, I’ll always have Macklin’s 

back, because one day I hope he’ll 

have mine (when it’s his turn to 

change my diapers, hahaha!). • 


LOCAL HEROES 

BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH 

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

David Morse joined the Minnesota 

National Guard when he was 17. 

Though not old enough to vote, he 

was old enough to know service 

was his destiny. His grandfather 

served in World War II. His father in 

Vietnam. For Morse, enlisting was a 

no-brainer. 

“It was kind of in my blood,” he said. 

“I knew I was going to do it. Those 

were my heroes growing up and 

I wanted to do what they did — I 

wanted to be a hero for someone 

else.” 

A year after signing, at the age of 

18, he was deployed on one of the 

longest tours of duty since World 

War II. “We were gone for 22 months 

total,” he said. 

As a part of an infantry company, 

Morse saw combat and witnessed 

or experienced casualties, deaths 

and injuries. The results were 

catastrophic and many of Morse’s 

fellow servicemen had issues coping 

with their experiences. 

“The military and the United States 

have a lot of things they can help 

returning service members with, 

but there’s one thing that remains 

constant: when you remove a citizen 

soldier from their life and you send 

them to war, then you throw them 

back into their life, it’s a very hard 

transition,” Morse said. “It’s two 

different lives.” 

Within the first few years of returning 

home, a couple of soldiers took their 

lives as a result of substance abuse 

directly tied to PTSD. The tragedies 

inspired Morse to act. He wanted 

to help his fellow veterans in some 

capacity; the willingness to serve was 

innate, and that desire went beyond 

serving his country. 

Seeking Solace in Nature 

“I grew up in the outdoors,” Morse 

said. “That’s where peace and 

tranquility, for me, are found. 

In watching the sunrise over 

the decoys or feeling that 

cool breeze come off the 

lake in the morning, 

you don’t have all 

the interruptions 

of society and 

technology. It’s 

just you and the 

world.” 

Morse wanted 

other veterans 

to experience 

that same 

feeling. What 

started as 

a couple of 

buddies out 

fishing or hunting 

in 2009 turned into 

a full-service hunting and 

fishing organization for disabled 

veterans. The Wounded Warriors 

Guide Service was born, serving 

veterans living with the physical 

and mental scars of war. 

Morse is now Vice President on the 

seven-person, all-volunteer Board of 


PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: DAVID MORSE 

L: DAVID MORSE, R: KRISTOFFER SCHNEIDER 

“In watching the 

sunrise over the 

decoys or feeling 

that cool breeze 

come off the lake 

in the morning, 

you don’t have all 

the interruptions 

of society and 

technology. It’s just 

you and the world.” 

— David Morse 

Directors. With the help of 20 to 30 additional volunteers 

who donate time, land and resources, the organization 

runs chapters in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota 

and Wisconsin. 

Their mission is simple. 

“We don't do it because we want to get rich from it; we 

don't do it because we want to be famous,” Morse said. 

“We do it because deep down inside, we feel the need 

to serve and we want to be the people that serve others 

without the need for repayment.” 

Veterans must apply, but if accepted, all expenses are 

paid — including licensing, lodging and equipment like 

fishing poles, guns, blinds, four-wheelers, ice houses and 


PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: DAVID MORSE 

action-track wheelchairs for those with limited 

mobility. 

“As of this last year, we had 67 adventures for 

more than 900 veterans,” Morse said. 

Reluctant Heroes 

Signing up for the service is a selfless act, 

and that selfless nature keeps many veterans 

from reaching out and taking advantages of 

the programs and services they feel they don't 

need. Asking for help is not something that 

comes natural. 

Morse described one man who was hesitant to 

attend a fishing outing. “He was in fair health,” 

Morse said, and like many other participants, 

he didn’t consider himself worthy. 

But after a great day of fishing, Morse sat down 

to talk to the man about life and his time in 

Vietnam. Refusing to share, tears ran down the 

72-year-old’s face. “I was never proud of what I 

did, it was my job,” he said. “And I don’t like to 

talk about that.” 

The next morning, the man angrily confronted 

Morse. Their conversation caused memories of 

the war to resurface — a part of his life he had 

attempted to forget for so long. “That kind of 

cut me deep,” Morse said, “because I get a lot 

of success stories out of (these trips). I get a lot 


of people that feel good and tell me ‘thank 

you’ and I don’t like someone to tell me that 

I caused them pain.” 

But, on the last day of the trip, the man’s 

outlook had completely shifted, and he 

approached Morse, gave him a hug and 

offered a ‘thank you.’ “To go through that 

whole transformation is kind of why I do 

this,” Morse said, choking up. While the 

trip was a roller coaster ride for the first 

few days, it ended up being the healing 

journey Morse intends it to be for his 

participants. 

Re-connecting in the Field 

Kristoffer Schneider knows that same feeling. 

Schneider enlisted in the military at 18 — one 

of many inspired to serve his country after the 

terror attacks of 9/11. But he could never have 

expected where his deployment would lead 

him. 

While en route from England to Afghanistan 

in March 2011, Schneider’s squadron landed 

in Frankfurt, Germany. They boarded an Air 

Force bus that would take them to a base to 

continue their trip downrange. 

Before he knew it, Schneider heard gunshots 

ring throughout the airport and watched as a 

ADAM DRESCHSEL

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: ELIZABETH VANLISHOUT 

Florida Alligator Hunt 

— Adam Drechsel, MN Army 

National Guard 

terrorist boarded his bus. He looked on as the gunman shot the driver 

before turning on his fellow servicemen. Schneider was shot in the 

right hip and front temporal lobe, surviving only by the grace of God. 

It wasn’t until a couple of years later that Schneider’s Recovering Care 

Coordinator (RCC) at the Grand Forks Air Force base told him about 

Wounded Warriors Guide Service. In June 2013, Schneider booked 

his first adventure — a prairie dog hunt in South Dakota. 


LOCAL HEROES 

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: ELIZABETH VANLISHOUT 

“It was my first time hunting ever,” he said. “I always 

wanted to try it but my work schedule didn’t allow 

it.” But hunting wasn’t the only “first" Schneider 

experienced on the trip. It was also his first time around 

other wounded veterans since that tragic day on the bus. 

“Everyone has their story, their wounds,” he said. “I 

don’t know how to explain it. It’s like a secret society, It's 

a hard club to get into, but not one you necessarily want 

to be in.” 

Interacting with other men like himself brought 

Schneider back to his years of service, a time when he 

spent every waking hour with his troop. “It just took 

me out of a really dark place,” he said. “It’s like that 

brotherhood, that connection was back. Though we 

were strangers, it was an instant bond, a connection.” 

According to Schneider, being around people who can 

relate — paired with time spent in the outdoors — is 

both a release and a pleasant escape. “Once you’re out 

there, nothing matters,” he said. “When you’re out on 

the water or laying in the field, all the other crap goes 

away. Whatever you’re struggling with — your physical 

abilities, your mental abilities — it all just kind of 

disappears.” 


And it’s precisely that experience that led Schneider 

back, hunt after hunt, eventually to give his time to serve 

others. Now a retired Air Force veteran, Schneider 

volunteers with the Wounded Warriors Guide Service.

“When I first started it was just going on the hunts,” 

he said. “But now it’s like a purpose, something to look 

forward to. I’m not just helping myself anymore, I’m 

helping other guys.” 

Expanding a Legacy 

It’s stories like Schneider’s that keeps Morse and the 

Wounded Warriors team motivated and moving forward. 

He hopes the organization can continue growing, 

refining what they do and finding ways to reach veterans 

even faster. “Hopefully we can find more people that 

want to take part — people that know they’re hurting 

and want to do something about it,” he said. 

As he continues to be a beacon of hope in his spare 

time, Morse also works full-time with the Minnesota 

National Guard… and, of course, living the good life 

which, for him, means making the most of the life he 

has been given. “I think that life is so finite,” he said. 

“We have such a short speck in the continuum of life. 

Living the good life for me is being able to influence the 

lives of others — to expand my legacy.” 

As for Schneider, the good life is rather simple. “For me, 

it’s probably a lot different than most. I shouldn’t even 

be alive,” he said. “I still get to be a dad. I still get to be a 

husband. It’s waking up every day, being with your wife, 

your kids — getting to do the little stuff most people 

don’t think twice about. We have our good days and we 

have our bad days, but just being alive is a good life.” •

The Good Life – January-February 2017

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