Rapp Strategies Rundown – August
What we did, read, watched and thought about this month.
Todd R.: I finished White Lotus on HBO, and my review is … Interesting. I won’t spoil the last episode, but it didn’t seem like they were setting up a second season. I have been filling other time with older episodes of Inside the Actors Studio, with an outstanding two-parter with Robert Redford. Want to win a bet? Ask your friends what movie got him his Oscar. The Missing on 9/11 podcast is quite good, but I’m not sure we’ll ever get an answer to the mystery. Gonna miss Charlie Watts!
Alyssa: August was one huge countdown to the day my oldest daughter moved away to college. Since she and her sister set a goal to watch every movie in the Marvel Comics Universe - in order! - before she leaves, that’s pretty much been what’s been on our tv at night this month. Aside from that, I had to go dig up Rob Lowe’s 2014 book, Love Life, so I could re-read his perfectly-written story about moving his son to college. Slate re-printed it here in case you’re interested in a good cry.
Rich: Our August was highlighted by a phone call on the morning of Aug. 24. Our daughter Katie, and her fiancé, Nick, called to tell us they had been married the night before in Las Vegas! This began a fun week of phone calls and celebrations upon their return to Minneapolis on Aug. 27.
Katie and Nick got engaged in 2019 but became one of many COVID couples forced to delay and restructure their wedding. We are thrilled they made it happen despite COVID.
The rest of August seems rather secondary, but we did travel to the Hamptons for Kari’s sister’s birthday party. And, I got in a few rounds of golf between work and my volunteer activities with All of Mpls.
Todd S.: The highlight of my month was a long overdue family vacation — a venture into South Dakota, where we explored the Badlands, Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore. We panned for gold, hiked, rode horses and swam in some chilly waters. The roundtrip car rides were long, but we made some great memories along the way.
Sarah: August feels like it went by in a blur. We started off the month with the Freeborn County Fair, where I came out on top of the friendly household ribbon contest with two blues. That was followed immediately by a weekend away at the cabin with my family. Lots of good food, card games and quality time!
Harvest is just around the corner and the farm is in prep mode following a lot of much-needed rain. In the meantime, I’ve harvested a nice crop of tomatoes, tomatillos, cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, carrots and cut flowers. Our counters are overflowing with produce so I’ve been cooking, canning (whole tomatoes for pizza sauce, wild plum jam and dill pickles), dehydrating (anything that can be used in soup) and freezing (carrots and salsa verde) to keep things to enjoy this winter. Minnesotan Stephanie Thurow’s preserving books were great purchases. When I’m not in the garden, I’ve been trying to win the affection of our new barn kitties, watching the latest episode of Ted Lasso or Bachelor in Paradise and prepping for fall.
Anna: As the Southern summer drags on, Isaac and I hunkered down in the AC and watched all six original Star Wars movies. We enjoyed delicious poke bowls from Ahi Poké Bar and tried several new recipes, including parmesan chicken pasta and egg bake with peppers, sausage, potatoes and cheese. We also enjoyed a riveting night of mini golf that had us neck and neck at the last hole – with Isaac ultimately triumphing by two strokes. I’ve been convicted and inspired by Randy Alcorn’s book The Treasure Principle, which turns everything you’ve heard about giving upside down and inside out.
Cullen: In August, I made several trips up to Cass Lake and western Wisconsin that were filled with boating, fishing, grilling and more than a little beersbee. I also flew out to Winston-Salem, NC with my girlfriend to visit her sister for a long weekend, where we made the most of our time exploring the city and hiking Stone Mountain.
Back home, we made sure to visit the new Immersive Van Gogh exhibit. The show has received a significant amount of flak (and deservedly so) for its overpriced tickets and lack of educational material on Van Gogh’s art and personal life, but it is still an incredible display. I’d recommend it if you want to be entertained, just don’t expect to learn much.
Meanwhile, I’ve been enjoying Silk Sonic’s latest single, Skate (and anxiously awaiting their debut album in January), as well as Masego’s Study Abroad: Extended Stay album. Outer Banks has become my latest guilty pleasure binge, and I’m also nearly finished with a long overdue reading of The Kite Runner, which certainly lives up to the hype.
Jessica: August was mainly focused on moving. It was a long process and included some nights slept on floors and days spent working from a cushion. But, I’ve officially moved to Uptown and, since it’s only a five-minute walk away, have spent quite a bit of time down by Lake Bde Maka Ska. In between Ikea and Target trips, I’ve enjoyed watching the end of The Bachelorette and the beginning of Bachelor in Paradise, Outer Banks and the NFL Preseason. I've also enjoyed reading Little Weirds by Jenny Slate and listening to Lorde's new album, Solar Power.
Jayme: August was much of the same as the rest of the summer – packing for our move, and spending time with family and friends. My mom and I had a chance to visit Chicago Botanic Garden before I left, and our family got together for a day of hiking at Koehler-Andrae State Park (my favorite Wisconsin state park). We spent this month really taking in the beauty of Shorewood with our nightly walks and visits to our favorite restaurants and coffee shops. While we’ll miss the Milwaukee area, we completed our move to Saint Paul this past weekend and can already tell we’re really going to like it here! Now if only the boxes could un-pack themselves…
