The Good Life – November-December 2023

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DAD LIFE This involves a quick trip to the local Dollar General or gas station to purchase snacks because, apparently, “I don’t like anything they sell here, Dad.” Apparently, your superstar is too good for taco-in-a-bag, roller dogs, and sloppy joes. You begrudgingly agree to the off-premise trip (even though you’ll definitely lose your parking spot), because it's either go or watch your star athlete hammer Red Bulls and Skittles for the rest of the afternoon. *Sigh* Evening: Team Dinner Time By evening, the sports and artistic endeavors were behind us, leaving room for a team dinner. The goal was to have a team bonding experience. The actual result was 16 unshowered 12-year-olds, hopped up on Dr. Pepper and Takis, terrorizing a small suburban Buffalo Wild Wings. You order $23 worth of food for your kid and he takes three bites before returning to trying to stick his arm up the crane game and steal prizes in the arcade. Classic unshowered youth behavior. You smile graciously and remember to tip the servers really well. They don’t deserve this. And, hey, it could’ve been worse: the team moms could’ve chosen Dave and Buster’s, which would’ve cost you an additional $50 for games. You count yourself lucky. Now it's time to head back to the hotel for an early 8:00 pm bedtime because we have a championship game tomorrow morning at 9 am. Again, kidding. It’s pool party time! Pool Party Because waking up at 5:00 a.m. and three hockey games wasn’t enough to tire out your athlete, the decision is made by the hockey families to take over the hotel swimming pool. The three loudest sounds on earth: - Fathers snoring - Illegal fireworks - 16 12-year-olds swimming in a Holiday Inn Express in a suburb of Minneapolis. End of list. This part of the evening is actually really enjoyable for you, though. While on your, “snack sprint,” you swung by the local liquor store and picked up some adult beverages. You even made sure to get your significant other her favorite bottle of wine. She smiles and forgives you for the tantrum you threw about parking that morning. The head coach is a real hard-ass and sets a curfew of 8 | THE GOOD LIFE
10:00 p.m. You fist bump him and silently mouth the words, “Thank you,” and your athlete begrudgingly heads off to the room to sleep. You get him all tucked in and then down to have a couple of beers with the other hockey parents, swap stories and money-saving tips, and eat your kid’s leftovers from Buffalo Wild Wings. Life is good. Championship Sunday Sunday dawned with promises of the possibility of making it home in time to catch the second half of the Vikes game. In your head, you’re thinking, “OK the game is at nine. Should last an hour and a half. If he doesn’t screw around too long in the locker room, we can gas up and be on the road by 11:15. Should put us home at 2:00, 2:30.” Wishful thinking, my friend. The game goes into overtime, then a shootout. The Trek Home You’re on the road at 12:30 p.m. and, just your luck, a blizzard rolls in from the west and you now get to drive 55 mph all the way home. You glance in the backseat, as you white-knuckle it down the highway, and see your superstar peacefully sleeping in the backseat. You make it home by 6:00 p.m. (had to stop at the outlet mall in Albertville), and unload everything including the equipment and children. All sports equipment is immediately quarantined in the entryway or laundry room to be soaked in the tub and then washed in preparation for practice on Tuesday. One of the hockey moms told you the recipe for a new soaking concoction made of detergent, lye, baking soda, caustic acid, and Dial dish soap that she swears removes all the smells. You can’t wait to try it. A quick meal is prepared. You’re too tired to prepare a heart-healthy well-balanced meal, so Easy Mac with cut-up hot dogs and a handful of Takis will have to do. The meal is immediately followed by the inevitable half-hour fight about showering before bed. Once tucked in, you kiss your athlete goodnight, say a prayer of thanks that there were no broken bones or hockey sticks over the weekend, and then plop down on the couch just in time to catch the last quarter of the Sunday Night Football game. You check your fantasy football lineup and then promptly pass out from exhaustion five minutes later. Was it all worth it? Absolutely. • urbantoadmedia.com | 9
Page 2 and 3: Saving a life, will change yours! M
Page 4 and 5: Contents NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023 VOL
Page 6 and 7: DAD LIFE Rinks, REWARD POINTS, & TE
Page 10 and 11: want a bit of camaraderie, anyone i
Page 12 and 13: “There’s also a verse in 1 Timo
Page 14 and 15: HAVING A BEER WITH | AMY AND JJ Hav
Page 16 and 17: HAVING A BEER WITH | AMY AND JJ "I
Page 18 and 19: ON THE COVER | DYLAN HENDERSON I do
Page 20 and 21: ON THE COVER | DYLAN HENDERSON “T
Page 22 and 23: ON THE COVER | DYLAN HENDERSON PHOT
Page 24 and 25: A WILD GAME HOLIDAY fill your table
Page 26 and 27: PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: JEFFREY MILLER
Page 28 and 29: WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR WALKER F Fr
Page 30 and 31: “Krampus also has a basket to pla
Page 32 and 33: WRITTEN BY: HILLARY W. SORENSON The
Page 34 and 35: PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA Brick b

The Good Life – November-December 2023

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