What we did, read, watched and thought about this month.

Todd R.: While on vacation, I read Mark Seal’s book on the making of the Godfather, Leave the Gun, Take the Canoli, plus a Robert Redford biography. Not sure how I got into reading about the making of movies, but both were quite good. With Yellowstone and Succession back on Sunday night TV, and 1883 starting in December, we haven’t had time for Mayor of Kingstown yet but it is on our binge list. I hope everyone is following this gutsy Minnesota Wild team – they are one of the feel-good stories of this NHL season.

Alyssa: November seemed like a big month for music – absolutely loved Taylor Swift’s performance on SNL. Adele’s sit down with Oprah and the televised concert was a treat. The Beatles Get Back documentary was really long, but awesome, nonetheless.

Rich: November was highlighted by all five of our kids, and their significant others, coming home for Thanksgiving week. We had a great Thanksgiving, and I checked into Tria Friday morning for knee replacement surgery. It went well and my recovery is on track. It has been great to have the kids around to help with recovery.

Early November was highlighted by the Minneapolis elections. I served as a Board member and Treasurer of All of Mpls, an independent expenditure election committee. We had a very good result on Election Day and have shifted our focus to reforming the Public Safety system in Minneapolis and promoting Economic Development in the City and the State. Thanks to everyone who voted in the election and supported the efforts of All of Mpls. 

Todd S.: I am thoroughly enjoying The Beatles: Get Back, the three-part series directed by Peter Jackson that covers the “Let it be” album sessions (and live rooftop performance). I’m a Beatles-geek, and it was astonishing to see the band in such intimate settings. There are plenty of moments where you can see the dynamics of the band working together musically as well as the tensions that would lead to their breakup. Cool moment: Watching Paul McCartney strumming his bass as he finds his way to a new song, “Get Back.” Amazing.

Sarah: Like all swifties, I listed through Taylor Swift’s new version of Red this month. There are definitely a few new favorites from the vault. As if I wasn’t emotionally fragile enough after Red (Taylor’s Version), I followed it up with Adele’s 30, which is incredible. As someone who has chronic pain, I consumed the New York Times series “The Changing World of Chronic Pain” half with relief I’m not alone and half with hope that it won’t last forever. My favorite pieces were about the advancing understanding of our bodies, how research is showing exercise can improve chronic pain (contrary to decades of advice), and how the language we use to describe pain can actually impact the pain you feel. We also started the Netflix series Arcane, an animated series based on the League of Legends universe, which is not normally our cup of tea but the first several episodes have kept us watching.

Anna: A month chock-full of travel made November memorable. Isaac and I attended a marriage conference in Destin, Florida, and I flew to Minnesota to stand in my friend’s wedding (and walk her dog down the aisle). In sweet home Alabama, we attended the National Peanut Festival. Hands down, the highlight was the pig races, where the pigs boasted names such as “Britney Spare Ribs” and “Donald Trump Roast.” On Thanksgiving, Isaac and I celebrated with friends and my visiting in-laws, and I must say, the homemade apple pie we brought was a hit. Over the long weekend, I started the book Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson, which has enthralled me in the story of two German children who escape to England during World War II – and a search to find one of them more than 70 years later.

Cullen: It was fulfilling to gather again with vaccinated family and friends after missing Thanksgiving last year. When I wasn’t celebrating the start of the holiday season, I was dipping my toe back into attending live performances again - I caught the University of Minnesota’s production of She Kills Monsters with some fellow DnD-loving friends, and Lauren and I attended our first show at First Avenue’s 7th St. Entry where we enjoyed Durry and Faith Boblett. You heard it here first, Durry is the next big band from Minnesota. Meanwhile, my roommate convinced me to watch Arcane, which I really enjoyed despite having no familiarity with League of Legends. We’ve also begun Marvel’s new series, Hawkeye, which we are anxiously waiting on to release the rest of its episodes.