Today's Man - April 2015

Todays ManTodays ManReal Men. Real Passion. Real RelaTable.Real Men. Real Passion. Real RelaTable.

aPRil 2015aPRil 2015

RUNNINGMANFinding the Right Running Shoes

Listen Up!Desire Flores

Comics Corner This Months Q&A with Mohammed Amer.

MAN DEBUNKED Boys Dont Cry.

TABOO The Bromance

Jeremy Gaynor A Staff Sergeant in the United States Army competes in Season 8s The Voice in pursuit of his dreams.

TODAYS MAN APRIL 2015

WELCOME to our third edition of Todays Man! Thank you so much for joining us for this April 2015 issue. This would not be possible without you!Our goal is to revolutionize the way you look at entertainment by combining meaningful messages with real experiences from real men. Were not going to convince you to buy anything that you cant afford or convince you to be someone that youre not. We want you to stand up for what you believe in, follow your passion, and achieve your goals and dreams, whether they be personal or professional. Everyone needs a little encouragement on the road to success, let Todays Man be yours.

Features

18 | Man of the Month Jeremy GaynorA Staff Sergeant in the United States Army and singer for the West Point Band, Jeremy com-peted in Season 8s The Voice in pursuit of his dreams.

27 | Comics Corner Mohammed AmerFamous for being one of three members of the show Allah Made Me Funny, Mo has performed shows in 27 different countries, and had been featured and praised for his hilarious co-medic style on NBC, in The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone.

35 | Listen Up! Desire FloresAn interview with an up-and-coming, sultry-voiced singer and model from Hollywood, Florida.

36 | Resistance Short Story by Dustin BlottenbergerNeed a blerb . . .

52 | Prince Ea Where are they now?We touch base with Februarys Man of the Month, Prince Ea, and see what hes been up to since appearing in Todays Man.

Columns7 | Because I Said So Carole Montgomery answers all your embarrassing questions that you just cant ask your mom.

8 | Effortlessly Handsome Mark Walker shares tips to style your hair without much effort.

11 | Running Man Jillian Marshall provides tips on finding the perfect funning sneaker.

13 | Man Debunked Marc Kaye dis-cusses how it should be socially okay for men to be vulnerable.

15 | Taboo Christi Madrid deconstructs the stigma of the Bromance.

30 | Trippin Tales of a Modern Day Drifter by comedian Mark Riccadonna.

41 | Jack of All Trades Mick Moskal provides some tips for moving & disaster prevention.

Todays Man

Man of the Month Jeremy Gaynor

April 2015 | 2

ARE YOU UP FOR THE

CHALLENGE?LOSE WEIGHT, INCREASE ENERGY, & BUILD LEAN MUSCLE.

For more information on the challenge & to see more inspirational stories

SonyaDJonas.MyVi.net

BEFORE

ViSalus is challenging you to make your health a priority for the next 90 days. Its the fastest-growing health challenge in North America, offering over $47 million a year in free products, prizes and dream vacations for those with the most inspiring 90-Day results.

Vi-shapeThe shake mix that tastes like a cake mix.

Vi-Shape is the foundation of every Body by Vi Challenge Kit thanks to an unbeatable combination of great nutrition and great taste. Whether your Challenge goal is to lose weight, be more active, or get fit, Vi-Shape is an innovative and delicious way to give your body what it needs.

About your promoter: After years of dealing with obesity and a severe Vitamin D deficiency, Sonya Jonas made the decision to switch to a healthier lifestyle. In her first 90-day Body by Vi challenge, she lost 25 lbs as well as increased her energy and rid herself of that pesky mind fog.

Todays Man April 2015 | 4

Hello Todays Man reader. Carole here, to help you answer all your embarrassing questions that you just cant ask your mom! Why? Because I said so!

Because I Said So

By Carole Montgomery

My son moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams 2 weeks ago. I am thrilled for him. Ive always taught him to think out of the box and to boldly go where no one has gone,

you get my drift.

When he moved out the first time three years ago, that was a huge jolt. The night

before he left we spent hours listening

to music that we knew would make each other cry and we wept Mostly for the passing of his childhood. I loved being a mom and I still do. I think of the drives to school, the Little League games, the tons of kids passing through my home at various ages, stuff like that.

But being a mom is so different now.

He still needs me, but in less obvious ways. The 18 months he lived away from my husband and me was good for all of us. I slowly accepted the fact that my son was an adult and could take care of him on his own, this was not an easy reality for a mother to take in.

Heres my public service announce-ment: ATTENTION TO MOMS OF SMALL KIDS: BRACE YOURSELF

One day youre wiping his tears and the next hes bringing home his future wife. It happens that quickly. When he moved back, it was if hed never left.

We all fell back into the routine of being one big happy

family, except now when the kids came

over I was throwing out beer cans and not soda cans.

I know he needs to be on his own. I

did the same thing around his age. I

often wonder what my mom felt when I left to


explore my dreams. But hes moving 3,000 miles away. I think thats what bothers me the most. I cant get to him if theres an emergency. Thankfully I lived on the West Coast and have a group of moms who have already committed to mom duty if need be. Were kinda like a Jewish mom circuit for adult kids. So hes covered until I can get out there.

So, my advice to my son is (and may-be this will ring true for other mothers in a similar situation):

1. Go and live your life.

2. Leap as if someone will always catch you.

3. Take chances while youre still young, once you get old its much harder to do.

4. Call your mother sometime and answer her texts!

5. Figure out how to do laundry

Because I Said So Q&A:Q. Whats wrong with a little sex on the first or second date?

A. There is no such thing as a little sex. You either do it or not. That said unless the woman sleeps around, shes not putting out because she may want a relationship with you somewhere down the road. Also the rules have changed since I was young. There is a lot more hooking up nowadays then there was. So go for it, just USE PROTECTION!! Nothing ruins your life more than an unwanted pregnancy.

Q. How do I know Im doing a good job at oral sex?

A. The woman screaming in ecstasy is a good indicator. Also if she has her legs so tightly around your head you cant breathe, its awesome.

Q. What is the one thing that is REALLY embarrassing to say to a woman on any occasion, that should never be said?

A. I think your friend is really thin and hot.

In addition to her numerous tv appearances, CAROLE has headlined clubs & colleges across the USA and starred in 2 different Las Vegas production shows. In her ten years as a LAS VEGAS STAR, it is estimated

that she has been seen by over 5 million audience members. Carole is the voice of MOM on the web animated series Damaged, has produced nine comedy tours for Armed Forces Entertainment, directed numerous solo shows and is a featured blogger for Huffington Post.

Download on Amazon Music or CD Baby

Now Available on Amazon.Carole MontgoMerys

Because I saId so


Todays Man Presents

Perfect Pair Recipes For Men

Food is a great way to your significant othersheart. Weve got the seasonal recipes to keep you satisfied and pair it with a good brew-ski to really make for a special evening.

GRILLED BUFFALO CHICKEN

Serves 4+

3/4 cup hot sauce (such as Crystal)1/4 cup butter, melted2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce1/2 teaspoon onion powder4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halvesCooking spray1/4 teaspoon saltLight ranch dressing (optional)

1. Combine hot sauce, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, and onion powder in a bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup hot sauce mixture; pour remaining hot sauce mixture in a zip-top plastic bag.

2. Add chicken breast halves to bag; seal. Marinate at room temperature 20 minutes (dont refrigerate it - the butter will harden).

3. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade in bag. 4. Sprinkle chicken with salt. Grill chicken until done. Brush reserved marinade over

chicken. Serve with light ranch dressing, if desired.

Beer of Choice: Heavy Seas Cross BonesIPA, Hoppy, flavorful, floral and citrus, light in color, 4.5% alcohol, big body, lingering aftertaste of floral and citrus flavors

KNOW LEDGE POWERIS

Founded in 2009, Make SMART Cool seeks to promote positive social change in various concrete ways from speaking at schools, organizing community events, benefit performances, partnering with com-munity organizations and setting up educational mentorship programs.Founder Prince EA uses his great song writing ability and stage presence to create thought-provoking songs that neatly tie-in humor, wit, passion, and hard hitting punch-lines.

Sophisticating Millions and Revolutionizing Thought

Watch Prince EAs videos online

www.princeea.com youtube.com/PrinceEa

Prince Ea continues to make strides in education with the Make SMART Cool movement, the music industry and in peoples lives. Be a part of the revolution.


Hair loss can affect 60-70% of all men. I find myself staring at my hairline quiet often, wor-rying about what I will do if I lose more hair. Thinning can start at any age and many factors influence how and where you will thin. If you have just noticed youre starting to thin then you are in a good place. Thinning hair is the result of the hair follicles shrinking and eventually shutting down. There are a multitude of products on the market

to keep the follicle from shutting down, but once you start a thinning regimen you are married to it. Thickening shampoos and conditioners and volume products specifically addresses the issues of thinning hair. Youll usually see these words on the bottle, and please go to your nearest barber and salon to ask for them. These products specifically help to strengthen the hair you have and keeps it in the active growth cycle longer. Its perfect for those of us just starting to notice thinning spots or hairlines, but you have to be consistent and use it daily for the first 14-days and then at least every other day afterforever. If that sounds like too much work, then you may just want to consider shaving it off. No product can legiti-mately say it will re-grow hair. If you are concerned that you have already lost too much, you should talk

EffortlesslyHANDSOME

By Mark Walker, Shear Rituals Salon

Q. At what point should I look at the possibility of be-coming bald and losing my hair...and what should I do about it? Is shaving it all off a better look?

Todays Man knows you pride in your hair and your beard. We also know that you dont always want to walk into your local barbershop or sa-lon and ask a bunch of questions on how to maintain yourself, so we sought to find the best and most experience barbers/stylists to answer your hard questions with simple answers.Today, we answered your beard and balding questions, embarrassed? Dont be. We are here to help. Shear Rituals gave us their honesty and their spot on hair and beard tips to keep you looking your best!


At the salon, Shear Rituals favorite color service for men with gray hair is a blending service that takes only 10 minutes. This service camouflages the gray creating a nice, natural look. It also fades out slowly over time, so there are no wild color changes as your hair grows back in. You should get it colored as

often as you are getting it cut and the service typically should cost $20-30. If it is less, then dont bother, because its not as qualitative a salon/barber.Q. What does an attractive, long beard look like? Is it a sharp trim or can I just let it go free all over my neck? If I have a really long oval face, what type of beard or mustache look is the best for me? (Im skinny and tall, also)Beard beauty is completely relative. Beards are on trend right now, no matter the shape, length or style. We at Shear Rituals feel that a clean beard almost always looks best. Unless your goal is homeless chic- keep it clean at your neck, and make sure there arent any stragglers as it is growing out. Also, for some men, you may like just going full-beard, but this can cause more complications for people with sensitive skin. This means, your possibility of developing visible acne is heightened, while its growing, and when you use certain methods in shaving it off or trimming it. It can just become a problem, letting it grow all over can really mess up your face. You can completely transform the shape of your face with a beard. If you want to make your jaw line more prominent and clean, a close cut chin strap look will help. A longer, fuller beard trimmed a little more square can relieve roundness or fullness in the face, so youre essentially trimming the fat by having the right beard style. Have fun with your facial hair. Try different lengths, different shapes, and different styles. We all know how fast our facial hair grows. If a look isnt working just shave it all off and start again!

with your doctor about medications you could possibly take, or vitamin recommendations to keep your head healthier, longer.Recommended: STIMULATE-ME, WASH & RINSE and THICK AGAIN by Kevin Murphy.

Q. If I have some gray hair, is it better to color it all or have half gray half color?

Submit your questions about your hair and beard to our Facebook page, Todays Man. You can leave a comment, or e-mail us personally with your questions to [email protected].


For more information on Shear Rituals, go to their website: ShearRituals.com Facebook: Facebook.com/ShearRituals Instagram: @ShearRituals

To find more information on Kevin Murphys products, go to: KevinMurphy.au.com Facebook: Love Kevin Murphy Twitter: @KevinMurphyIntl Instagram: Love_Kevin_Murphy

Todays Man introduces Mark and Matthew, owners of Shear Rituals Salon in Bradenton, FL.

Mark and Matt have been in the industry for over 15 years, and opened Shear Rituals in 2014. Marks work has been featured in modeling shows and magazines. At the young age of 30, Matts decade of success brought him to the point where he could open his own salon and manage a growing and popular business, while continuing what he loves to do as a stylist. They primarily use Kevin Murphy products, and their background includes exclusive train-

ing with Aveda, Redken, LOreal, and Paul Mitchell. Their reviews on Yelp! Boast 100% 5/5 star rating and their continuing education in salon and off-site classes guarantee their quality passion, drive, and precision in being the best modern stylists to answer your questions, for Todays Man, keeping you, Effortlessly Handsome.


There are three categories: 1) flat, 2) normal arch, and 3) high arch. You can figure out what type of feet you have by making a footprint. If you have flat feet, you will be able to see your whole foot print. The difference between normal and high-arched feet is that with a high arch, you will only see a little bit of the center of your foot. Also another important thing to note is that if you overpronate, underpronate, or have a neutral stride. Overpronation is the reaction your feet have by rolling or flattening from weight distribution and pressure. It is not an injury, but you need to know how your feet work to determine if you have prob-lems with overpronation or underpronation. Pronation can make you susceptible to injury if you dont know how to run. If you have a pair of favorite sneakers that you like to run in, take a look at the bottom to see where they are most worn. If your feet overpronate your sneakers they will be worn in the inside edges and if you overpronate your sneakers will be worn most on the outside edges. If you have a neutral stride your sneakers will be worn in the center. After you have identified your foot type and your stride you can successfully start looking for the right sneaker for you.

Summer is right around the corner and most of us want to get rid of that winter weight we put on. Cardio exercise has proven one of the most effec-tive ways to lose weight. Running is an affordable way to get your figure back. The most important thing is that you find a sneaker that fits to your feet. First figure out what kind of foot type you have.

RUNNING MAN

FIND THE PERFECT RUNNING SNEAKERBy Jillian Marshall


Motion Control sneakers will assist you correct your stride if you are an underpronater or an overpronater.

For high arched runners like myself I highly recommend a supportive sneaker with lots of cushion.

Select a sneaker that best fits you, dont get carried away by how cool they look.

A high quality running sneaker will cost at least $70- $150. Paying for a good running sneaker is well worth it. Your feet will be happy and you will decrease your risk of injury.

For light runners (15 miles a week), I recommend replacing your sneak-ers at least once a year and for heavy runners (30 miles or more a week), I recommend replacing them every 6 months.

If you are considering going the mini-malist shoe route do some research. Though they may be beneficial in working out more leg and foot muscles they do not elim-inate you from injury. I recommend not running more than 5% of your weekly mileage when starting out.

Points to Consider While Choosing Your Next Running Shoe:

Connect with

Todays ManFollow Us on Twitter @TodaysMan3

Like Us on Facebook Todays Man

Follow Us on Instagram @Todays_Man3

J. Sookie Grier, Owner & PR [email protected]

Real Men. Real Passion. Real Relatable.

Breeanna Pierce, Co-Owner & Design [email protected]


A song by the Cure. A movie star-ring Hillary Swank. An anthem for guys everywhere.What is it about male tear ducts that are so different than womens exactly? Nothing, apparent-ly At least as far as mine as concerned and this is why I hate Matt Damon. I saw We Bought a Zoo and I cried like a baby. It was that man-cry where my throat got soar from trying to hold it in and then I just had to hide it by pretending to blow my nose, when anyone sitting near me could clearly tell from my arm position that my nose could not possibly be

MAN DEBUNKED

Marc Kayes

Boys Dont Crythat high on my face. Doesnt Matt know that his acting threshold can not exceed that of the male tear duct capacity?

For that matter, you might as well add

Marley and Me to the list. The worst for me, though, was Pre-

cious. Having the opportunity to watch

movies on a flight back from London that

my wife (at the time) refused to

watch with me, I thought Pre-cious - why not?. This was worse than watch-ing it in a movie theater where at least

the darkness can mask ones true identity. Do you have


any idea what its like to have a flight attendant ask you if every-thing is alright because it looks like you just got the news that your best friend passed away?News flash--guys do have emo-tions. Maybe we bury them but they are there. As a new entrant into the single world, it has been somewhat enlightening to me to speak with other men who, like me, had once been married. The authentic emo-tion, sorrow, and angst that they demonstrate--not only in words but also in expression is palpable. In this day and age, here is the real-ity: stereotypes about men deny us the capability of experiencing emo-tion. On one hand, there are mes-sages that paint us with a uniform brush--men dont talk about their feelings and men are not emotional. Both of these are too simplistic. On the other hand are even more traditional standards where strong, tough men are those that will get the job done and are a protector. By the way, both of these versions are more caricatures of men, usually

Men have emotions - watch a son with his elderly parent or a father after his son leaves the court in defeat. We are protectors by nature, it is in our DNA, and you cant protect that which you havent profound feelings for.So, hopefully that will put an end to that debate but if I were you, Id still watch those Matt Damon movies in the privacy of your own man cave.Yours in Debunkatude, Marc

found on adult cartoon channels or in magazines and not actual representations of men. Yes, men (and women) may choose to not talk openly about their feelings but it doesnt mean we dont have them.


Todays Man Presents

TABOOBy Christi Madrid

As young kids, its acceptable, and even encouraged, for boys to have a best friend - a partner in crime. But as boys grow older, its expected in our society that they leave those relation-ships behind to pursue girls and careers and provide white picket fences. So what is a man to do when he wants to talk about more than weather, work, or sports with a friend? Where is the space for men to be fully human and connect with other men beyond the social expectations? Though the term bro-

mance is relatively new, the relationship it represents is not. Achilles and Patroclus from Homers The Iliad comes to mind. Those two were super close, mostly because Achilles looks past all the rough things about Patroclus. When Patroclus dies (spoiler alert!) Achilles takes it exceptionally hard and heads back into battle to avenge his friends death even though the gods warn him that it will cost him his life. Thankfully, its unlikely that Matt or Ben will ever have to avenge the others death, but it still

makes me wonder how these platonic relationships received such a bad rap and why its taken so long to dismantle that perception.

I posed this question to friends over drinks a few weeks ago and the silence that ensued was palpable. When one brave soul finally spoke up, his answer took me by surprise.

The BromanceAt the age of 8 years old, a young boy in Massachusetts met his 10 year old neighbor, and one of the most talked about bromances of our time was instituted: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Their close friendship has been the talk of Hollywood gossip rags for ages, but only recently has it gained acceptance without stigma. Why is that?


He said that he had recently spent a week-end with his grandfa-ther who had fought in World War 2, and he found himself, also a military man, jealous of the camarade-rie his grandfather spoke of. He told his grandfather as much and his grandfather agreed that men dont relate to each other the way they used to. His grandfather explained that when his life was dependent on the soldier next to him and vice versa, it created a bond that

is hard to replicate outside of battle. The grandfathers son (my friends dad) did not fight in a war, for which the grandfather was thankful, but he (grandfather) won-dered if not having that experience was a part of the reason his son viewed male bonding as simply sporting events and fishing weekends. That son then raised a son of his own (my friend) and by example taught him that men keep their friends on a superficial

level. Grandfather mused that it was the sons way of trying to be tough and macho while being a part of a non-military genera-tion that was sand-wiched between major wars. Interesting take, I thought.My husband thinks its a cultural thing. He was raised in Peru, the 5th of 5 boys, though the oldest boy died at 6 years old. That death caused my father in law to check out for the majority of my husbands childhood and my husband was

Whatever it is that causes society to look down on men connecting emotionally, it seems to be coming to an end.

raised primarily by his mom, grandma, and older brothers. Unlike my friends dad, my husband was raised to express his emotions and affections. He is also side-achingly fun-ny and has a brilliant mind for business. He is the motivator and mentor in his group of friends and is gener-ally the one pushing his friendships beyond the superficial, but he finds it frustrat-ing when guys push

against that when they re-direct conver-sations to soccer or stocks to avoid any real human emotion. My husband has always chalked it up to a cultural differ-ence. But either way, talking about stress, fear, anger, depression and other emotion-al issues men have reported struggling with greatly helps to reduce them. And fear not an hour long, professional setting

isnt necessary! Just a 5 minute release over beers helps to curb the mounting pressure that generally accompanies mental overload. Whatever it is that causes society to look down on men con-necting emotionally, it seems to be coming to an end. Whether its Budweisers I love you, Man! slogan from the 90s that just stuck around for awhile, or whether its the relationship


between J.D. and Turk on Scrubs, the entertainment industry is beaming out a green light on bromances. And since its the entertainment industry that stamps all of our interactions as appropriate or not, it shouldnt be long until bromances are again a healthy, nor-mal aspect to mens relationships. And its about time, too. Aside from releasing stress and allowing men to connect on an emotional plane, bro-mances also create a healthy environment for competition. Men

have been hardwired since the beginning of our human evolution to compete with each other. Its quite literally in the DNA, but competi-tion also comes with a heavy side dose of ego which can be harmful in both romantic relationships and the workplace. Compe-tition within a close friendship, however, spurs those feelings of camaraderie and closeness though it would initially seem otherwise. Perhaps the most beneficial thing about having that kind of close friendship

is that it strengthens feelings of security which allows the other relationships in their lives to deepen as well, rounding out all aspects of work and home and play into a more satisfying life. So when it comes to beer, poker, and football; by all means keep it superficial. But dont be afraid to take a cue from bro-mance experts Ben and Matt by going a little deeper in those friendships. Stepping out of your comfort zone for a few minutes can pay off in spades down the line.

Todays Man welcomes Christi Madrid. Christi Madrid is a spiritually adventurous lover of humanity. Shes a writer, family mediator, and blended family consultant; through which she endeavors to in-fuse light into lifes jacked-up-ness. She is a wife and a step mom and has been

a subsidiary writer for the New York Times. Together, her and her husband strive to rear their daughter to be a globally minded citizen, confident and empow-ered in her world identity. When shes not writing, shes hanging out with her family. Theyre a hundred bags of pop rocks fun. If youd like to chat, she can be reached through ChristiMadrid.com

Christis column, TABOO, tackles all your un-man-ly and manly stereotypical topics, turning them into something accepted, even embraced. Be the man you are! Be a Todays Man.

Man of the Month

This is the Voice! We replay it in our heads, those four words that come at the cut before the commercial and at the beginning of the show. The Voice, NBCs award winning television reality show has boasted some of the biggest names in the music industry as judges. From Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine (Maroon 5) to Blake Shelton and now, Pharrell Williams, these stars have mentored young vocal-ists to stardom. So who are these people that we see on stage? What it is like to try and become a star while being coached by your singing idols?

Meet Jeremy Gaynor a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army and singer for the most professional band there is- the West Point Band. Not only did Jeremy enlist as a Soldier, but he auditioned for Season 8s The Voice, and made it!

JEREMY GAYNOR

By J. Sookie Grier


The Army vocalist has always sung his whole life and had an ongo-ing family history of military tradition. He knew when he had the opportunity, that ser-vice and singing was for him. He just needed to figure out how to incorporate both.I joined to serve my country and my military occupation-al specialty is as an Army vocalist. My uncle, a retired 1st Sergeant, made me aware of the vocal op-portunities the Army provides. I come from a family of servicemen and women. Joining the Army allowed me to follow in that tradition, while giving

me a defined future. Military Service, I believe, is one of the most selfless things a person can do in life. Whatever your career desires, the Army can help make it happen, Jeremy explains.Not a lot of people tend to know that its an actual job in the military to be a singer, but then again, not a lot of people join the military. Less than 1% of Americas popula-tion is a member of the Military. But dont think that being in the service helped Jeremy skate through to audi-tions to The Voice, he had to work hard for it, much like everything else in his career.

I had to win the position at West Point through an intense elimination audition. Selected as one of four finalists for the posi-tion, there was a three day process where one hopeful was not asked to come back each day, and fortunately, I ended as the last man standing.Although he says he wasnt nervous, Jere-my tells Todays Man that performing on stage is no joke, and that its a lot tougher than it looks.I feel as though I had been preparing all my life for my nation-al moment. I didnt believe the intensity and stress of the

I feel as though I had been preparing all my life for my national moment.


environment would be difficult for me. I was mistaken. The stage is unlike any other. So much more respect for the brave individuals who go after opportu-nities like The Voice. When I first got up there for my audition, I wasnt nervous, although there are always some nerves when youre perform-ing, I felt like this was my moment to seize the opportunity. The beauty of it all is that now I truly feel as if no stage is too big.If you havent been in the dark, you may know that Jeremy was one of the artists this year to get a four-chair turn. Singing the sultry R and B song Super-star, Jeremy got great feedback from all four judges. Adam Levine thanked Jeremy for his service and comment-ed on his work ethic, Blake Shelton pointed out that Jeremy was versatile and could sing every genre of music, joking that he had a chance (to have Jeremy on his team), and Pharrell Williams commented

Her belief in me in that moment was

just so convincing... Christina challenged

me to rediscover myself as an artist.

on his presence in his performance. All four judges commented on his swagger, and Chris-tina Aguileras ploy was to mention that her father was a Sergeant in the Army, and that she has an appreciation for everything that he stands for. In the end of the four chair turn, Jeremy chose Christina as his coach.Her belief in me in that moment was just so convincing. All coaches initially turning in their chairs were convincing, but

Im a grinder and her grinding for me to be on her team was extremely relative to my decision. Once we started training for the Battle rounds Chris-tina challenged me to rediscover myself as an artist. I had lost who I was, she told me to find who I am and own it. That ad-vice and challenge has been the most useful in this whole thing, Jeremy reminisces.Unfortunately, Jeremy was put up to what viewers called a hard song to sing, in Battle Rounds, which knocked him out of the top 13 when he performed the song Animals by Adam Levine versus fellow contestant Rob Taylor. Christina said during her live review that it was Such a hard de-cision to make but she ended up choosing Rob over Jeremy, and no one ended up steal-ing Jeremy. Although this has ended his time on The Voice, Jeremy says he is not going to stop singing, and he has no hard feelings against Rob.


Rob became a little brother to me during the process of the Bat-tles. I sang in a con-temporary gospel duet for 7 years prior to my military service. Robs singing style matches that of my counterpart during that time, so I felt at home with the pairing. The focus was more so on being sure we gave the best pos-sible performance as a duet. Its hard to say

that I deserved to be in a certain position. Life should hold no regrets. I do feel I ac-complished something wonderful I stood as an example to never settle for circum-stance. Believe in your hearts desire and act relentlessly to make your dreams happen. Theres a sense of accomplishment I felt being on The Voice. Its such an amazing

organization - first class. Its the dream nearly realized.Viewers criticized Christinas song choice and comment-ed on Social Media that it was a poor decision for Jeremys range. Jeremy is such a stand-up guy, that he took the high road, and didnt have any-thing bad to say about the decision his coach made, and his re-

Believe in your hearts desire and act relentlessly to make your dreams happen.

sponse to the criticism was surprising.The hardest thing about singing Ani-mals was capturing the character of the tune. As a performer, when you hit that

stage you become another side of your-self. Theres a certain compromise that is always made. It may surprise some, but I would have chosen to Battle to Animals,

myself. Its such a fun song to perform.Jeremys been in the Army for 6 years and plans on going as far as he can in his career. He also welcomed a beautiful daughter


into his world as of lately. He had some advice for parents and their children growing up and wanting to be in the Army or be a singer (or both).Its so exciting about becoming a Father. I had a beautiful baby girl named Ryann Christine. I believe in training a child up in the way they should go. Id love for my daughter to follow in Daddys footsteps either way, but I will be a supportive parent regardless of the path. Those who I inspire Id say regardless of the career of the career choice, Find your passion become it, let it become you. Pursue whatever the passion may be until you see your dreams made reality.We asked Jeremy who he looks up to, and who his role models are, since he seems to be such an excellent exam-ple of what a role mod-el is. We promise we didnt tell him to say anything, his demeanor speaks for itself.I have been fortunate

enough throughout my life to be surrounded by some mighty men. I dont believe I can point to just one as my biggest role model. I can say, however, that every determined individual inspires me. Todays Man magazine is also inspiring because what it stands for. Things/people who seek to impact the World, this is what inspires me. I am a man of faith. While my singing talent can be tied to my dads side of the

family, every good & perfect gift comes from above. The glory belongs to God.Todays Man is honestly privileged to have stumbled upon Jeremy Gaynor. His valiant presence, his swagger, attitude, and multi-tasking and sound mind is what attracted us to him and makes him Todays Man, Man of the Month. Thank you for your service, thank you for your time, thank you for your inspiring words.

You can find Jeremy in the future making his own YouTube channel for dedicated fans like our-selves, and look for him on social media:Fans are who really make the dream reality. Im so appreciative of each fan & support, and I make it a point to connect with them. Social media is how I stay connected.Facebook - JeremyGaynorMusic Instagram - @IAmJeremyGaynor Twitter - @IAmJeremyGaynor


CRAZY. COOL.CONFIDENT.

Some Men just ooze confidence; the kind without Ego; the kind that thickens the air when they walk into a room. People like that. People like a strong willed positive sponta-neous man. But talking about what you want and doing what you want are continuously confused with one another. And whats up with all this allowable passive aggressiveness society has these days? By you buying into the weenie-vision, amplifies how much men really lack in todays weird Kardashian fed fantasy world. We need more Hemming-ways! Roosevelts! Chuck Yeagers! Pound your chest, stand up and grunt and own your manliness. It is Gods gift to

women. And by-George you all have it in you, you just have to quit letting all this new jazzy social media and absurd lack for manly discipline we are feeding todays generation, take over your cerebral.

own YourselfBy owning your mistakes and achievements

you shed self-doubt. You take away the ability to lie to yourself and with that comes that blunt honesty your grandfathers had The kind that would make you blush and your granny giggle like a little schoolgirl. Be crazy and own that ability to have confidence even when you may be wrong. Cause you cant be wrong when you own it.

Gaining Sex Appeal Through Attitude By Tamara Gabby Gabbard

Todays Man

stop whInIng and start wInnIngComplaining not only blurs inspiration and ratio-nality, it also looks bad on a man. Men used to work hard and play even harder. Men thrived on the fact that they could pound the dirt and make a castle. Just do it, man. You will find with that accomplishment of completion without complaint makes life a lot sexier and edgy. Nothing is going to be handed to you on a platter. You want to be the go to man. This is the kind of man everyone wants to ask for advice; the main man. Dont mistake that for a know-it-all or the boss. The key here is to wait for them to come to you, and the first thing out of your mouth should not be WHAAAAA!

learn a new skIllMake a list of stuff YOU want to do Like build a motorcycle or weld or learn to surf. Whatever it is, learn it. With new skills come new adventures and new admirers. Also, being good at something takes the confidence meter and sex appeal to another level. Take that de-sire and turn it into ambition. Get your hands dirty and keep yourself busy. Being busy with new things all the time adds mystery, and that is sexy in itself. Whats sexier? Coming out with a byproduct of what you learned and accomplishing goals.

dont Be scared of commItmentCommitment can be momentary. Its all based on hon-esty and knowing what you want. Confident men attract confident women. You dont have to date one woman. That is not lack of commitment. Lack of commitment is NOT owning the moment you are committed to right then, whether it is a day or years. Commit to the time your sharing and then move on to the next one. Let everyone know. Own your inner pimp, but be a gentle-

April 2015 | 24


men about it and dont be generic. This also feeds into your commitment with yourself and what you want to accomplish. Owning the fact that you can say, This is who or what I am about always wins the argument. If you put yourself out there, there is no question you are committed to being a man, one who isnt scared to say this is what I want right now!

Todays Man knows you cannot change your way of thinking, but you can adjust your attitude and how you apply and present yourself to this world full of different people. Stop relying on tech-nology and others to tell you what you are and just accept what you areYOU ARE A MAN, and sometimes, a dirty, committed, ambitious, sexy man with nothing but the world at his hands.

Prove this to yourself, and the rest will follow. Now, go comb your beard, crack open a beer, and put stock into your success! Take all that ability to do man stuff (whatever that may be) and turn it into who you are, not just a conversation piece at a Tupperware party

Were extremely thankful for all the support in getting this magazine off the ground! To everyone who donated to our

FundAnything campaign, we would have not been able to make this magazine a reality without your contribution!

Joan Grier Joanne Ainsworth

Adele Ulrich, HuMAN UPKim Cole

Gina Brillon

Nicole ProbstBenjamin Tuck

Sarah FeerhusenGeary JamesSonya Jonas

We Cant Thank You Enough!


We at hu-MAN Up are cultivating compassion, respect and relationship and working to create effective tools for change. Were seeking a new normal where women are treated as equals and sexism and sexual assaults

are seen as rare, unacceptable exceptions to that rule. Help us end rape culture. Because we need a new normal.

Help end rape culture.hu-MANUp.org#sexismisnotsexy

hu-MAN Upis a planet project initiative to inspire action to help end sexism and gender violence.

Women are not prey.Respect & Consent matter.


Comedy and Allah, you dont always see those two words hand in hand, but for Mohommad Amer aka Mo its just another day in the life of him. Minority, one of 6 kids, Kuwait born, comic, and private school kid, Mo grew up from Palestin-ian descent, with a large and intelligent family. Being the youngest of six, his brother, his sister, and his mother fled Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War, and emigrated to the U.S. in Texas. Quite an adventurous and challenging life, Mos brother pursued school and became a biochem-ist, while one of his other brothers became a

pilot. Mos father passed away when he was 14, a few years after the rest of his family was able to join everyone in the U.S.. So where does this story start getting funny? Well, Mo started doing stand-up by turning otherwise serious experiences into more funny ones that caused him and his whole family to take another look at life and laugh and smile, when it was most needed. He started by doing impersonations of his family members, and jumped into theater as soon as he could in high school making it mentionable by his peers that he should try stand-up comedy. Todays Man hooked up with Mo and asked him some pretty down-to-earth questions with even better results and we are proud to make him the all-star of this months Comics Corner.

By Carole Montgomery

C: Whats your favor-ite political issues to joke about?

M: Theres not really a favorite...as a comedian you have to find the funny on any subject that one chooses to delve into. As a Pales-tinian American Muslim

refugee who happens to be a comedian, I think it makes it self explanato-ry what my top political jokes would be about.C: When was the mo-ment you realized that this was a career and not just a dream job?M: When I started at the

age of 14 I knew this was something for the long term but I just didnt know how long. Not un-til I met my to be mentor Danny Martinez in 1999 that I realized that this is a marathon and not a sprint. It takes 20 years for over night success in this business.

comIcs corner

Todays Man

C: What your funniest childhood memory, that wasnt so funny at the time?M: I would have to say when the Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in 1990 and my family was trying to figure out an exit strategy. Migrating to America from the east was a traumatic experience that I ever thought could or would be funny however its why I became a comedian.C: Where do you see yourself in ten years?M: 3-5 specials in the tank, a few original films and maybe on a farm somewhere in the world to reflect on my spirit.C: Do you regret anything?M: Yes indeed there have been some bad decisions in my life. If I had to pick one now

I would how my rela-tionship with my father unfolded before he passed away. NEVER EVER take a moment with your parents for granted. Life is too short enjoy your parents while you have them!C: Whats your best advice to aspiring comedians?M: Work hard and dont rush it. You can always be 6 months too early but you cant be 6 months too late. Meaning going out to

the bigger markets too early with greed, it can cause you to lose yourself. Get in shape comedically, know yourself and work hard. Most importantly, dont be an asshole.

You can find more on Mo on Social Media and check out his tour dates on his website: MohammedAmer.com and his show at Legallyhomeless.com

Facebook: Mo Amer Twitter: @realmoamer Instagram: @realmoamer

April 2015 | 28


C: How important is college, really? (to you)M: College is important to me. Although I have never been, myself, I come from a family of academics and well learned people. I didnt have the same opportuni-ties as my older brothers had. I think an education is crucial. It also can be attained with knowledge outside of the classroom. The shear desire to want to attain more informa-

tion is the key.C: Do you believe in any conspiracy theories? If so, which ones?M: I am an Arab Ameri-can...its all I believe in. However I know they are not conspiracies.C: What makes a Real man?S: Someone who takes care of his family. Someone who provides financial care and

emotional care to his loved ones around him. Someone who is not afraid to take risks and be something.C: Describe the girliest part about yourself.M: No idea...Id i had to pick? I would say that I am hyper aware and can get emotional in sweet tender moments. I resisted answering this question for two minutes

Stay with Todays Man until next month, where we gets nitty-gritty with more awesome comics in, Todays Man: Comics Corner!

Now, Mo has done several tours for U.S. troops, performed shows in 27 different countries and 5 continents, and he is also famous for being one in three members of the show Allah Made Me Funny. Hes been featured and praised for his hilarious comedic style on NBC, in The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone. He recently showed up to the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fal-lon, which is illustrated in his Instagram photos, and took a massive selfie with Kim, Kanye, Bieber, Talib Kweli, and Dave Chappelle at Chappelles set in NYC. Currently Mo is touring as Dave Chappelles opening act. Dave liked Mo so much, theyve extended his tour with him.


Tonight, I am sitting in a veterans bar in a beat-up part of Baltimore. Its very blue collar. The gin belch soaked wood paneling has seen better days and more members, I bet this place was jumping on the 8th of May 1945. Ben (the opening act this particular night) and his wife are expecting and we have been talking about how life adjusts when you get married and become comedians. As Ben prepares for his set, he talks about his honeymoon. I remember my honeymoon, well parts of mine but Angie and Is big bond that trip was going to hunt ghosts in a haunted New Orleans aka NOLA (cue scary lightning bolt).

Todays Trippin is about New Orleans aka NOLA

We ate, we drank and we went on ghost tours throughout New Orleans. We decided to do NOLA because we both like food, booze and history, oh, and the Zydeco Music festival was going on. I didnt even know what zydeco was then my wife opened my eyes. Cajun or Zydeco? I didnt know the difference. A big mistake most newbies (as I was) is not know-ing its relationship to Cajun music. Cajun and Creole get confused but there is a difference. At first glance they both sound like a polka band falling down a stairwell, but upon further look, Cajun has French lan-guage influence from Nova Scotia. Zydeco has more African-Carib-bean influence (think James Bond Live and Let Die). That being said, same instruments for the most part done very differently. Its like saying Folk and Metal are the same. Both use guitars drums and voices but there is a different tempo, influ-ence and swagger.We start at the hotel and get up early, when drinking is involved I have no problem getting up early and leaping into the day.

TRIPPINTales of a Modern Day Drifter

by Mark Riccadonna


NOLA is known for its DRINKS

And for their FOOD

Sazerac - was creat-ed in New Orleans, the city that loves to be elegantly wasted. Antoine Peychaud created the drink in a French Quarter bar sometime in the 1800s and named it for a French brandy, Sazerac-de-Forge. In 1870, the drink was changed when Ameri-can Rye whiskey was substituted for cognac (CHEAP BASTARDS), and a dash of absinthe added by bartend-er Leon Lamothe (to keep the dance floor bumping).

Milk Punch - This was great! Its a drink I knew about but never knew where it was from. Like most sugary

drinks, the taste of alcohol is clev-erly masked by the milky sweet-ness, so exercise caution and clear your calendar for the afternoon. Absinthe - is a strong herbal liqueur distilled with a great number of fla-vorful herbs like anise, licorice, hys-sop, veronica, fennel, lemon balm, angelica and wormwood. Much of the liquors legendary effect is due to its extremely high alcohol content, ranging up to 75%. Its almost as strong as some good moonshine. France calls it La Fe Verte, or The Green Fairy, which is a reference to its often green color we saw cool posters with green fairys for around the city.

We enjoy a quick scotch to freshen our breath then off for a big fancy breakfast, I also hustle when food is involved. Im the Charlie Hustle of breakfast sandwiches.I am an eater- I love food, I love all kinds of food. NOLA was a great choice. My wife, Angie is more health conscious than me but she loves seeing me happy and I am Happy when Im eating new and

a lot of food. I am like a grizzly bear on a river bank, I concentrate with my food and try to strategi-cally eat. Now the bear looks for the best salmon, I tend to hunt the most expensive and unhealthy food I can and swat it in my gullet while looking for the next handful. Angie and my mother said I am like Cosby when good food is front of me (not doing a cheap rape joke)


For instance, I start dancing and wiggling, being all grandiose with my movements. Oysters - My favorite, raw and spicy. Toss some horse radish on

those boogers. Slurp till it burns your forehead and the inside of your face melting. Oh yea and wash it down with ice cold Abita beer.

Gumbo - Seafood, chicken, sausage, or okra no matter what goes into your gumbo, you cant go wrong. Toss some beans and rice in there along with that Louisiana hot sauce woooweee!PoBoys- Big-ass sandwiches served on French bread. Fried and fried again.

Our tour guide was fun as can be, he plays it up, a bit over the top but I say A+ for selling the hell out of it. This is exactly what I would have wanted when I was in grade school, campy, funny and even busting into that horrible ghost story voice that sounds like Christina Aguilera with all that vocal quivering. Our tour guide started with a few historical stories on the Great New Orleans Fire and a French Theater.

Great New Orleans Fire of 1788:

This was a fire that destroyed tons of in New Orleans, spanning the French Quarter from Burgundy to Chartres Street, almost to the riverfront. Allot of people died that night, I think thats why NOLA has

such a haunted feel. I could hear the Castlevainia Theme playing in my head as we walked the streets.

La Petite Theatre du Vieux Carre:

Picture a French Quarter playhouse. Katherine was an actress. She was sleeping with a director (He was straight. Can you believe it?), and she was picked for the lead role of an upcoming production (Slept her way to the top Can you believe it?).However, the investors said she wasnt good enough to keep the lead.Days before the opening night, the director replaced Katherine with one of her rival actresses. This ended up screwing Katherine up big time (An actresses who needs

NOLA TOURS


help Can you believe it?).During opening night, Katherine decided to end her misery and ruin that bitchs show. She walked up to the catwalk over the stage, tied a rope around her neck, and jumped in front of the entire audience, before the big scene. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum:

Its located on Chartres Street. Dr. Louis Duffulo was a physician and the first registered pharmacist in the United States. He built the townhouse in 1823 and practiced there for 35 years. What a fine citizen, helping man-kind he was such a wonderful man, that years later Walgreens decided to turn his place into the pharmacy museum.Before that when he died, Dr. Dupas purchased the building- There goes the neighborhood, once one doctor moves in they all start moving in and then you get Riff Raff like this fella. On the second floor of the building Dr. Dupas would conduct experimentations on pregnant slaves, gut and exam-ine, test medicine/experiments on people that had diseases with no diagnosis.Dr. Dupas also made potions that were a mixture of voodoo ingredi-ents (like a deadly GNC), herbal remedies, and recent medicines that were to come from Europe. These potions were given in large doses without any regard to side-effects. The female slaves that received them suffered major birth defects and usually resulted in the death of

many mothers. Legend has it that Dr. Dupas dumped the bodies of these people through a trap door on the second-floor, where there was a wagon waiting in the carriageway on the left side of the building.

Vampires?

Angie asked the tour guide if we were going to hunt Draculas. He asked Do You mean vampires? Youre in the wrong country. She actually made a great question because what she was referring to (through all the booze we con-sumed) was the story of Jacques Saint Germain.Telling stories of his life and claiming to be over 6000 years of age, Germain the Frenchman made his American debut in 1903 with claims to have discovered the elixir of life. He was assumed to be a vampire of sorts. Germain took residence in a house at the corner of Royal and Ursuline streets and is said to still be seen (as a ghost).One night a womans piercing scream was heard coming from Jacques French Quarter home (a bad scream not a good one). The scream was quickly accompanied by the woman herself, who flung herself from the second story win-


dow. As bystanders rushed to the aid of the young woman, she told them how Saint Germain bit her (again not in a good way), and that she jumped out of the window to escape... ahhh that old story.By the time the New Orleans police kicked in the door of Saint Germains home, he had escaped. However, what they did find was screwed up, blood everywhere, even the bottles of wine where

filled with human blood.The house was declared a crime scene and sealed off. From that evil night to the present day, no one lives in that home in the French Quarter (but I was told a couple bought it for a vacation home).

In conclusion, I left a lot of amazing things we did but I only had one regret in NOLA We never found the flying John Goodmans that have been spotted around the garden district feeding on babies and puppies Maybe thats the Absinthe talking again.

Oh crap! I have to go perform for these Veterans. Tune in next month.- Mark Riccadonna

Could not have done this Without You!

Thank you to all of you who have helped to make Todays Man possible. We couldnt have done this without your support!

Carole Montgomery Mark Riccadonna

Marc KayeJillian MarshallMark William

Matthew AllenPrince Ea

Travis Blakely Desire Flores

Danielle Hamm Cody Cole

John Fugelsang Crystal Davis

Marquetta Gibson Benjamin Rojek

Willis Turner Alan Owens

Paul Watts Jr.

Phil Diab Corey OatmanDouglas LunaSamantha HoffLindsey KaschStephanie KnoxTamara Gabbard

Kayla KozakCatherine Ainsworth

Todays Man

Listen Up!Hello music fans! Todays Man knows a great artist when we see one, which is why were bringing you the hottest artists that youre sure to find poppin off the hits on the Billboard charts in no time. We also are a huge igniter in the up and comer, and want to give you the chance to meet the artists before they make it big.

By J. Sookie Grier

She recently had a chance to debut her talents in a video with Boyz II Mens Shawn Stockman, in I Want You. With over 20,000 views in the first months of its release, wed say shes doing very well, but well let you decide. We asked her some pretty personal questions and received passionate answers that we know you will be glad you read.Desire aka Des started modeling when she was 16, but has always known she was a singer at heart. She comes from Dominican and Puerto Rican roots that she prides in and says her family is the most important thing in her life, since she can remember. We were sur-prised to hear that Des doesnt have a lot of friends, despite her concrete kindness and inner beauty.

This month for Listen Up! we found Desire Flores, a sultry voiced singer and model from Hollywood, Florida.

April 2015 | 35


For my success I always thank God. My mom is my role model, my father, my hero. My circle of close friends is really small. I find that I dont fit in with many people no matter how nice I am, and it is rare to find those that just click with me. So, I take my close friend-ships very seriously. My friends and I are very close and I think it is important to have best friends because it is always nice to have someone you can talk to, feel 100% yourself with, and trust that they will never judge you.

So which was it? Modeling, or singing, first? Does one prioritize over the other? How can you bal-ance both?Last year, I actually combined both, after I entered a talent con-vention in LA for acting, modeling, and singing. I got introduced to my music manager through that, and it took off from there. I have been singing ever since I was 2, but real-ly began to find my voice and style when I was 14. I started modeling when I was 16, and had a contract by the time I was 19. I make sure that I am always myself.

Just because Des is an R&B artist with some pop flare, doesnt mean she fancies just one type of genre. When asking her how to describe her style she told us how she per-ceives herself, and also talked about her influence on men, and why its important that everyone, man or woman, listens to her music.Well if I was to be put in a category, it would be Pop/R&B. I would love to explore more soulful sounds. I love to incorporate my culture in my music, so I like my music to have a touch of an island

sound. I have also digging the 80s A LOT for awhile now. I grew up listening to a lot of old school hip hop, Celine Dion, and a lot or Merengue and Bachata which is the music of where my family is from (the Dominican Republic and Puer-to Rico). My celebrity influences (vocally) are Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Leona Lewis. I think its important for everyone to listen to each other. Thats how we all learn and grow as human beings. Each artist has a story to tell, no matter what the gender is. No one should discrimi-nate because of that.

My friends and I are very close and I think it is important to have best friends because it is always nice to have someone you can talk to, feel 100% yourself with, and trust that they will never judge you.

- Des Flores

Todays Man

Getting more personal, we asked Des about struggling with her life choices in general, and how she came to be who she is today. Her decisions to surpass her demons and weed out the negativity in her life gave her a moment of clarity that we were happy to share for a little inspiration.I have two short stories that tie together. Ive always had that thought in the back of my head when I was in high school [that I wanted to perform] but thought it was impossible because I honestly didnt know where to start. So I de-cided to make YouTube covers and got contacted by an A&R (Artist and Repertoire) of a major record label. They flew me and my father to LA to sing for them. I had just turned 19 at the time and never had any recording studio experience and my voice wasnt as strong as it was now. But when I heard the final product of the song I sang I knew right then that this was my calling and that I had to work hard in order to get somewhere. Since I was still young and inexperienced, they told me that I should practice more because I had great potential. A year or two later, I lived in the dorms at a 4-year university and by the end of that year I felt stuck. I had anxiety attacks all of the time, I didnt know who I was. I remember crying alone in my room one day because I thought that making it in the music industry was impossible. That moment I knew and I realized that I wasnt happy and that I really

April 2015 | 37


wanted to pursue my dreams. So I talked to my parents about it and ever since then they have been 100% supportive in my journey. I enrolled in an online school, got signed to a talent agency, and ev-erything just took off from there.

We cant imagine being one in a million trying to make it in the en-tertainment business as a singer or a model, its a tough job but some-bodys gotta do it, right? We asked Des what her best advice for other people who want to sing or model would be, and how to approach it, and the response was honest and real. Here are a few factors via Des where she delivers solid guidance on what to take with you when you are a growing artist or model in a cut-throat industry:1. You need to have tough skin and believe in yourself. Sometimes

its easy to feel discouraged when things dont go my way or I get rejected. Ive been rejected plenty of times but that only fuels my fire to keep pushing. 2. To know who your real friends and true supporters are and never forget them. I learned this very quickly. Many people want to claim that theyve known a certain artist and that they are friends when the artist becomes successfulbut they were never there for them when the artist needed their support. 3. To have a great and close rela-tionship with family. My family and I have grown so close to each other over the past 5 years and they are the ones that keep me sane and grounded. I thank God for themI wouldnt know what to do without them.What cant this woman do? She seems to have it all together. So what do you say when youre told you cant do it? How do you respond to haters? Des knows how to take the high road.Everyone has a right to his or her own opinion so if someone told me singing isnt a real job, or mod-eling isnt a real job, I would just be be like Oh, well okay then you go do you boo! Without music, the world would be a very sad place. Music changes lives, and there are amazing songs sung by incredibly mesmerizing voices! Plus, for the most part singers get paid. Its their job to entertain so for someone to say that singing isnt a real job,

Without music, the world would be a very sad place.


is ignorant. The same thing applies with modeling. Modeling is not as easy as it looks. It took me 3 years to finally know what Im doing.

So, youre hideous Des (kidding), you obviously dont have a boy-friend. Were crossing our fingers that youre still singleI am currently in a relationship with the best man! My advice for girls who want to grow up quickly is to NOT grow up too quickly. Enjoy your age and allow yourself to be a kid because once you are older and start to have adult respon-sibilities you are going to wish you were a kid again. I do like a man who is chivalrous and loyal, and I have him.This woman is definitely not intim-idated by men, and Todays Man likes to commend our artists for

acknowledging a changing world. And what good man doesnt enjoy a strong and motivated woman? We love Dess passion and inspiration, and thats why we featured her in our very first, Listen Up!

We are not living in 1950s Hollywood right now. Women are capable of achieving anything now a day. Like Beyonc said, Who run the world? Girls. As of right now, my goals are to stay focused and stick with a plan through my journey of chasing my dreams, and I hope everyone is able to listen to me and enjoy what they hear, no matter who they are.

Dont forget to check out her latest video with Boyz II Mens Shawn Stockman I Want You, and

subscribe to her music video YouTube channel:

Desire Flores Facebook: Des Flores

Also make sure to vote for her and tag her for DList Magazines

2015 Cover Girl contest, by going to DListMagazine.com/Cov-

erGirl and tag her #SeaCoverGirl

Available for Purchase at Shear Rituals SalonShearRituals.com | 941-752-8010 | Bradenton, FL


1You do a walk through your place and start making a mental list because writing a real list is just not practical. Theres too much to do and writing something down is just going to waste your time when you could be packing and moving your precious cargo.

2Prepare A good start includes boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, news paper, foam peanuts(holy crap this isnt going be cheap!) Oh yeah, but it can be. By all means if you have funds available then your local storage facility or mega-hardware store will certainly have these items but for the budget conscience consider these tips:

Get free boxes from your nearest liquor store or surplus store. Not a drinker? Then a grocery or drug-store will also work. Contact the manager ahead of time and ask for boxes before they are broken down.

How about using t-shirts, towels or sheets in place of newspaper

Jack of All TradesMoving Tips & Disaster Prevention

Mick Moskals

While this section will mostly deal with how to repairs or assemblies for common or sometimes NOT so common objects around your apartment or home, in this opening article I would like to discuss a laundry list of moving tips. WHAT? You might ask in astonishment. Well, being a member of the U.S. Military on Active Duty means, yes, RELOCATING. Even if you arent a service member, this will help you move like one.

So the time has come and for whatever reason theres no turning back, the decision has been made; its time to move. Not being a financial guru or property manger; we will NOT be discussing the move from the angle of Did you remember to update your address with those whom you have financial obligations? or Does the new apartment come with free utilities? No, its all about YOUR STUFF; and we want to make sure it all gets to where youre going. Of course since its YOUR STUFF, the first thing you decide is whether or NOT to hire a moving company and DITY (Do It Yourself). If youre going to DITY:


or foam peanuts? Make sure your items are dust free first and un-packing at your new destination will have you feeling brand new. Bulk items youre thinking Oh no, they take up so much space!not so grasshoppah - TRANSFORM them!

Tables- detach the legs if possible. This will not be practical with cer-tain table designs such as wrought iron or metal frames. Some leg removal can be as easy as turning the table upside down and remov-ing a wing nut that is holding each leg to the table top. My two end tables were a combination of glass tops, metal frame and woods legs. The glass tops were not held in place so I simply had to lift and remove. Underneath the glass tops in each corner were two round foam cushions. Peeling these away revealed the screws witch held the legs to the metal frame. Well, played table maker, well played. I should mention at this point that a collection of standard

tools would be helpful; Phillips head and flathead screwdrivers, pliers, hex or Allen wrenches. I found it convenient to invest in a roll of SHRINK WRAP. Its the industrial version of kitchen plas-tic wrap and comes in hand held sizes about 4 to 6 inches in width. After removing the legs from the table top remember to reattach the wing nuts or screws to prevent losing them and then use the shrink wrap to keep all legs together. Youll be thankful when you get to your new place as you wont be looking all over the place for the legs and matching screws - Im sure we all had that happen to us once before. Using zip lock bags to hold the hard-ware also works but remember to shrink wrap the zip lock bag to the legs. If you have matching end tables then consider securing the table tops together (face to face) for added stability during the move. Also, a t-shirt placed in-between will help protect wood surfaces while glass table tops should be placed directly against each other. Once more, shrink wrap will work well with wood tops but I would recommend packing tape to secure glass tops together. Again, face to face with two complete wraps of tape per side, like a tic tack-toe game. The thickness of the two glass tops together will decrease its chances of damage during the move.

Dressers - FML!!! - Its not as bad as you think. While col-


lapsing and dismantling is not a solution here, utilizing the space within the dresser. We all know at least one dumbass that empties out the dresser drawers con-tent into boxes, puts the empty drawers back in the dresser then places the dresser into the moving truck along with the box containing all the stuff that was in the dresser - what a waste of space, right? Heres what Im talkin boutDO NOT re-move all the drawers. Move the dresser frame into the moving truck then put the draws back into the dresser with their contents as is. If the drawers contain stuff that you feel deserve to be packed in its own moving box then do so but dont leave the drawer empty! Which brings me to the next bullet...

3Space Utilization Baby - fill the empty drawers with unbreakable things such as books, linens or Tup-perware; YOU GOT THIS! Pack it up safely, or give it to someone who needs it!

Fragile Items - I might as well write a check now and be done with it!!! Youre right; theres no shortcut here except to place

as many items in one box after individually wrapping each item. Remember to mark the box FRAGILE and load last or transport separate from the bulk items in your cars trunk or back seat. Think of individually boxing lamp shades. Also, dont forget to removes those light bulbs from your lamp and wrap them to prevent breakage. Chances are not many of us have the foresight to purchase new bulbs ahead of time. So for me, when I arrive at my

new place in the evening hours, its nice to have the old

bulbs in work-ing condition so Im not using a flash light to see.

Per-ishable

food - This is going to be tricky and

require some advance planning. Two trains of thought here:

A. Use up as much food during the weeks/days leading up to the big move, or in my case, a bag or two of ice and a big ol camping cooler. This of course would be one the last things to pack and one of the first to unpack at your new abode. Keep in mind how far youre moving (my move was only 5 hours away).

B. This second method might not be the wisest if youre going cross country. By no means should you


throw perishable food away if its not practical to pack them for the move. I encourage you to find a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter to donate these items to. Im an advocate and volunteer for a poverty think tank organization called Rock and Wrap It Up whose concept promotes feeding our nations hungry and holding less landfill waste. Check them out here: Rock and Wrap it Up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Rock_and_Wrap_it_Up

I also believe in supporting your local community so also consider donating to the elderly or neighbors in need. Im a fan of saving the original boxes for certain items I own. Specifically, my flat screen television and surround sound sys-tem. If you will be acquiring new stuff upon arrival at your new place then consider this tip in relation to how long you plan on staying there. If you have the storage area, this helps with future moves knowing

that those items are protected as intended from the manufacturer. This also comes in handy if you decide to sell those items.

Talking about new belongings, heres a last tidbit that gets over looked

4Collect all the user manuals and assembly instructions in one location- Once settled in at your new place dont forget to register any newly acquired items with the manu-facturer for easier warranty support if they should fail; did I happen to men-tion Im a proud owner of my very first washer and dryer? Youll want to protect an expensive investment like that. There are numerous tips that could have been discussed here but I hope the few i mentioned will help if and when you should have to relocate but remember this; if they build it, then more than likely theres a way to disassemble it for an easier move.

Until next month, Jack

One of the best comics that Ive seen in a long time.

Drinks, Jokes & Storytelling

Mark Riccadonna www.markriccadonna.com

Available for Purchase Now.


ResistanceShort Story by Dustin Blottenberger

You look nervous, Jenard says to me. Hes wandering around the ram-shackle apartment with the holes in the plaster, looking at the many books on the shelves. He opens the cream-colored cabinets and peeks absently inside each one before closing them. His voice is low and deep, like the growl of a hunting animal. He approaches the small table in the kitchen where I sit. He leans in close and I can smell the stink of cured meats on his breath and the flowery cologne he uses. Lets go over this one last time.

No need, I say. The words sound harsh, as if I am biting off the ends. I cant help it. Visions of smashing Jenard across the face with a chair fl it around in my mind, but they are just fantasies. He has me and I know it. I know what I have to do. Then go do it, he derides me. I am taller than Jenard, but he always seems to be looking down at me. I want exit papers, I demand. Jenard straightens and looks down his thin nose at me. I will see what I can do. He winks and walks out of the kitchen. I hear the door to the apartment close and his one-two-one-two footfalls on the old stairs. I stand, take a step to the window, and pull the curtains aside. From here I watch him walk onto the street below. He passes the little cafe on the corner. He is far away, but I can still see how he smiles wolfishly at the petite waitress.

I hate Jenard, and I hate even more what he is doing to me, what they are doing to me. They have shackled me as surely as if they had chained me to a dungeon wall. Ive never seen a dungeon wall with holes in the plaster. It has not been so long since the Glessians invaded my city, invaded Vurna. Three months, at most. They strolled in with their tanks and their soldiers clad in bright red uniforms. We didnt raise a finger to stop them coming, but now that they are here, the war has begun in earnest. The underground is mobilizing, using the press, using rhetoric. We dont have tanks and rifles and fancy red uniforms. Th e most aggressive of the revolutionaries use home-made bombs. I imagine they are meticulously put together on kitchen counters alongside birthday cakes and scrambled eggs.


The kitchen here has no bombs and it has no scrambled eggs. I feel the irri-tating heat of hunger prick at me, but this apartment is as devoid of food as my stomach. At the little table, my cup of coff ee has gone cold. The cream has congealed atop it. Jenard brought me the coffee from the little cafe on the corner. I dont want coffee. I want my papers so I can leave. No matter if the Glessians prevail or if the underground forces them to withdraw, Vurna will never be the same for me. I look through the window of the apartment with the holes in the plaster onto Sparrow Street, the winding road that twists around the city of Vurna, up and down the hills. A sputtering car rumbles along the cobblestones. It is autumn now, and where the sun does not fall it is cold. Where the wind blows between the streets it is colder. Two Glessian soldiers march past on the street, rifles on their shoulders, and turn their collars up at the insidi-ous gusts that carry the last of the fading yellow leaves. They look grim, unshaven, miserable. They do not want to be here, but here they are. Inside the apartment it is warm and I wait for the woman to arrive. Jenard has turned the radiators on for us. He fi gures the heat will make what she and I are about to do easier. It is stifling and dry. My throat feels raw, like all the things I have admitted to Jenard, all the things I have agreed to, were pulled from me with sharp iron hooks.Th e secret police will tell me nothing about why they want this woman, but I know her. She and her husband organize meetings of the underground and house some of the more activeand violentmembers in a hidden room at the back of their fl at. She has two children, a boy and a girl, and a small yellow dog. Ive seen her walking the dog from time to time, and the dog is always barking at people passing by and at birds in the street. She also builds bombs in her kitchen, next to the scrambled eggs, I imagine. But I knew her before that, when she was a young girl, and spent her days on her uncles farm in the country. She was scared to milk the cows. I remember her before she made bombs, and housed the revolutionaries, but she is no less beautiful now. We went to school together, and I have always wanted her. I wanted her in that way you want a girl when you are in school with her, and I want her now in the way you want a woman who does what you are not strong enough to do. Th esort of things a photographer has no desire or talent for doing. I have lain awake at night in my house, where it is also cold, and wondered how she would taste, or smell, or feel under my hands. Until recently, I had spent my time fighting the Glessians by taking pictures of the invasion and feeding them to the resistance. She came to me and told me she was enam-ored with my work. She encouraged me to do more.


She told me I was brave and stroked the knuckles on my hand. She told me no one was braver than I was, even among the revolutionaries, and she knows them all. I wish she had never said those words out loud, not where someone could hear them. I wish we had just talked about when we were in school together. Words are innocent without ears to hear them. Pictures are nothing until the right eyes see them. Th e Glessians have me securely under thumb. They know that I have been helping the resistance. They too

are fans of my work and want me to do more.I pray that she will not come. I move to the pho-nograph player and put on a symphony. The needle

touches down on the grooves of the heavy black disc. The opening

movement is lively, full of crashing cym-bals. I nearly turn it off . I fear it will call her. There I sit, for many long minutes until the record is done. I pull another, a somber piece, from the cabinet under the player. Whose records are these? Who owned this apart-ment? Where are they now? Perhaps I do not want to know the answer.When I hear the rusty old doorknob scream in protest at being turned, I imagine for a moment that it is Jenard who will appear and say that the woman has gone home to her husband, that they were wrong about her. He will tell me there is no further use for me, and I will never see him again, never smell that awful cologne, or the stink of meat, will never be the victim of his feral smiles. Or else he will pull a gun that smells of grease and smoke and he will shoot me in the head. A small hole will remain in my head for my soul to climb out of, and I will be dead and rid of Jenard and the secret police. I will be light, and rise on the cold autumn winds that blow between the buildings. But when the door opens and I see her dark curly hair and wondering brown eyes, I remember where I am, in a confiscated apartment. The Gles-sians will never leave Vurna and will never let me go. They will use me to root out other members of the resistance. They have hung a sword above my head by a single horse hair. Tanks and rifles are not their only weapons. They fight silently better than even the Vurnese do.

She enters the apartment. It is so warm inside and she is shaking. She is a young woman again, and she is on her uncles farm in the country, nervous about the cows. Would you like something to drink? I ask her.


Do you have any tea? she asks. I reply that yes, I do, and exit as fast as I can through the curtain that blocks off the kitchen. Under the guise that I am making tea, I check the camera, which extends into the next room through a hole in the plaster. The plaster leaves chalky smudges on my hands. I set the timer on the shutter and realize that by doing so I have given us a script and a set. I am the director of a terrible play. I come back into the room without the tea. She is reading a book on Druvoiy and his ideas on utopian society. Who did all those books belong to? A Vurnese revolutionary? Now they belong to the Glessians and Jenard and the secret police.I approach her, but she does not turn. I place my lips scant inches from her neck and as I breathe I can feel the tiny hairs there stand up to meet me. Ordinarily, this would excite me, but not now. A serpent of guilt writhes in the pit of my stomach. Did you bring the tea? she asks. I dont have any, I say. It is the truth, and it is a plea, a desperate hint to her that something is not right here, that she should run away before it is too late.But she does not leave. I take the book from her hands and as I do so, she turns around and takes a step back. She looks at me. Her eyes are brown, and large, and they are filled with innocent questions. She begins unbutton-ing her sweater, but her hands are shaking so terribly she cant slip the big white buttons free of the holes. The whole time her eyes are fixed on mine and the strings and soft trumpets warble on in the background. For a woman who makes bombs in her kitchen, she has very nervous hands. Let me help you, I say, and unbutton the sweater for her. The irony of my comment bothers meI am not helping this woman. She has come at my invitation. Her husband is not brave, but neither am I. Th e sweater falls to the ground at her feet, and it is soon joined by her dress with the flowers on it and her panties. She stands before me, naked, shak-ing, and still those eyes wont let me go. To escape them I kiss her. Surely those eyes must close while she kisses? I do not know, because my own eyes are closed, and when I open them again she is already staring up at me. I bury my face in her neck and pull her toward me. She gasps, and then her shaking hands start moving over me,


pulling my shirt, loosening my belt, unbuttoning my pants. Her hair smells like hazelnuts. From somewhere far away, I see myself clad in a red uniform. I call myself a coward, a hypocrite, but I cant seem to think about anything but the smell of hazelnuts and how her skin feels under my hands, the bumps of her skin melting under my thin hands with the bruised knuckles. She pulls away and I begin to hope she will leave. At the same time I grieve the dis-tance she has created; I want to move to her again and take her. She walks to the window and draws the curtains closed, her arm thrown over her breasts. I cross in front of her and throw the curtains open again. I like the way the sunlight dances on your skin, I lie. I want to have you in the light of day. That much is true. I can tell this excites her because she pulls me close and digs her nails into the skin of my back, but all I want is enough light for the camera. We make love under the watchful eye of the lens. I had thought the sound of the symphony would cover the clicking of the shutter, but there is no need. She screams the entire time, screeches like a cat with a tom. I wish I could

scream, but it is not part of my act. I am not myself, not the photographer Bruhnov making love to the woman I am in love with. I am the director of a terrible play. I am an actor playing Bruhnov. Where did I go?There is one moment, however, that I cannot deny. I nearly falter. The deed is done, and I feel I cannot go on. I hang my head, but she holds my face in her hands, tells me that it is what she wants. She kisses me and will not let me go. One hand clutches the hair on the back of my head in a tight fist while the other pulls me into her, guiding me. Guilt and longing have electrified my skin. I can feel everything.

I can hear myself moaning into her mouth, and my breath comes in fierce gusts through my nostrils. The loose brass bed frame bangs against the wall with the holes in the plaster. I do not hope it will knock the camera over in the next room. I do not hope anything. I know only that I am Bruhnov and I am with her, my tongue filling her mouth, my hands grabbing at every part of her I can, trying to hold on to her, on to this moment, both of us filled with light. She throws her head back and nearly takes my lip with her. She calls out again, one last time, and I call out with her. The brass headboard is still and quiet.


I stare at her and when she smiles, I smile. The symphony fades. Afterward, we put our clothes back on. I watch her slide her panties up and I feel a surge of something cold and heavy wash into my stomach to join the serpent there. It is a mixture of stifled objection and relief. A part of me does not want her to go, now that our moment is over. I can tell she does not really want to leave, either. We must put things back as best we can, however, the way they were before this, before tanks, and red uniforms, and a terrible play. There is an unspoken understanding between illicit lovers. Another part of me wants to help her dress, rush her out the door. I cant stand to look at her. The moments stretch on for far too long. Please leave! Leave this apartment! Leave Vurna! Dont let them do this to you! She kisses me by the door. Thank you, she says. You are wonderful. I want to see you again. She looks happy. A rosy flush is in her cheeks. I will never see her again.I nod that yes, I would like to see her sometime. She leaves, closing the door behind her. I stand in the foyer. I do not move. The record has stopped playing. If I move, the world will start moving around me as well, and I will be Bruhnov again. For now the play is over, and I do not have to act. I stand still for a long time and the serpent continues to writhe in my belly.Outside, a car door slams shut. I walk quickly to the window, pull the curtain, look out. It is an old man hobbling along Sparrow Street on a cane. It is not Jenard, but the wolf will be here soon.I go to the kitchen where the camera is set up and remove the film. I place it in my pocket and sit at the little table and drum my fingers. The smell of hazelnuts lingers in the room, on my skin. I can hear footsteps on the pave-ment outside, but there is no laughter, no conversation. Life goes on, but it goes on in silence. The edge of the film canister digs into my thigh. I can see the outline of it just beneath the fabric of my trousers, so obvious. Like an erection, shameful. I do not want to see it. I stare instead at the chalky smudges which still mar my hands. An idea strikes me: why not just take the papers from Jenard? I could punch him in the face, and blood would rush from his broken nose. That is it. I will erase the wolfish grin by smashing his mouth against the coat hooks. I will take his own damn papers and run away. I may even have time to get to

Documents

Today's Man - April 2015