Rapp Strategies Rundown – May 2020
What we’re reading, listening to and thinking about this month.
Todd R.: “Billions” is back! Corey Stoll is a great addition as the extremely rich guy who is getting in Bobby Axelrod’s kitchen. Introduced “The Godfather” to one more child, which was very well received. So was “Mrs. Miniver,” a lesser-known Best Picture winner. “The Second Life of Tiger Woods” was an interesting look at the golfer’s fall and rise, and it made me enjoy The Match II a little more. Friday evening happy hours on the lawn have started, with great weather and company.
Alyssa: I recently read a memoir by my friend and longtime Minnesota lobbyist, Bill Strusinski about his time as a medic in Vietnam, called "Care Under Fire." Bill is one of the most positive people I've ever worked with, and I am grateful that he always managed to find time to mentor me as a young lobbyist. It was fascinating to read about his combat experiences and how they shaped his life. Great job, Bill!
I've also been loving the Instagram feed of the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, @ngadc, which has been posting really great guided tours of a particular artist or gallery room each day.
Rich: May has been a busy month at work with several new projects. It’s wonderful to be engaged with our clients on important issues. It feels like our economy will survive the terrible pandemic.
On a personal note the kitchen remodeling is finally nearing an end. Workers will complete the refinishing of the floor Friday leaving only installation of a new faucet and two new light fixtures. Living through a quarantine is hard. Doing it without a kitchen is very hard.
The chance to return to the golf course has been a major improvement in my mental health. Looking forward to the return of other normal activities, and improvements in my game.
Todd S.: All other accomplishments throughout the month were dwarfed by my 7-year-old who (finally!) began riding his bicycle over Memorial Day weekend. While we are thrilled for him, we’re already getting overwhelmed by the volume of requests for “bike ride breaks.”
Sarah: We started watching “Community” because we wrapped up “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and needed another half hour comedy to lighten things up a bit. Our pursuit of Gold Mario on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has hit a frustrating roadblock during the 150 cc Grands Prix. Tips leading to more stars will be handsomely rewarded with homemade bread or treats. As an unashamed Ariana Grande lover, “Stuck with U” has been on repeat.
Anna: I’ve continued sampling new recipes, including crockpot ziti, chicken gyros with tzatziki and my first-ever cake from scratch. It’s no coincidence I’ve been binge-watching “The Great British Bake-Off” as well as catching up on “Boundless,” one of my favorite podcasts. I also tried clay pigeon shooting and let’s just say my aim is far less impressive than the resulting bruise on my shoulder.
Quentin: This month I made a conscientious effort to visit some of the lesser-known parks and trails around the Twin Cities at a safe distance, including the Winchell Trail and Bohemian Flats in Minneapolis. A weekend hiking trip to Whitewater State Park near Rochester looked like it was right out of an REI catalog,
My quarantine bucket list includes a weekly takeout order from a restaurant I had yet to try pre-COVID-19. Standout takeout orders included Billy Sushi, A Cupcake Social, Nautical Bowls and Red Rabbit.