Rapp Strategies Rundown – October
What we did, read, watched and thought about this month.
Todd R.: Proving my household is no different than others, we are anxiously awaiting the launch of the latest season of Yellowstone in mid-November. To pass the time, I finished John Sandford’s latest novel and just started Scott Turow’s latest. The Wild season started slow but now they look like the team we knew they were, so I am following Michael Russo and Joe Smith at The Athletic for the most comprehensive coverage any Minnesota professional sports team receives on a daily basis. Still working our way through The Americans, which will probably accelerate when the snow gets here, but it is quite good. And with Election Day coming, I am intensifying my reading in preparation for my evening assisting MPR News with coverage of all of the races.
Rich: October Highlights began with a long weekend trip to Washington, DC. This year is the 45th Reunion of my Georgetown Law School class. I really enjoyed seeing my classmates and reliving our three years together at Georgetown (1974 - 1977). I have a special group of Georgetown friends who have maintained very close friendships since graduation.
Just a week before our graduation, about 25 of us vacationed at the Outer Banks of North Carolina (sharing one beach house)! That tradition has continued annually without a break. It now includes children and grandchildren and rental of multiple beach houses. It is amazing to trace the incredible history and accomplishments of this group. We are affectionately known as “The Veggies,” a name with origins too complicated to cover in this short update. The reunion reinforced for me of the value of friendships and family which make life rich and rewarding. Turns out that those friendships can last a lifetime.
Todd S.: October is all about Halloween for the Stone family. On the big day, we gave out more than 550 pieces of candy, which is close to our pre-pandemic levels. We are fortunate to have wonderful (and patient) neighbors for putting up with our Halloween obsession and ever-growing outdoor display. In the end, the day is really all about having some fun, reconnecting with neighbors and making some new friends along the way.
Sarah: We are very close to the end of harvest, which has been a slog. A lot of my free time has been spent either in a combine or semi, so not a lot of pop-culture has been consumed. When I have had time, I’ve been catching up on Bachelor in Paradise and Abbott Elementary. I’ve also been saving recipes non-stop in preparation for using my root cellared produce. I’m looking forward to trying this Butternut Squash Pasta With Brown-Butter Bread Crumbs, making a side of Farro With Roasted Squash, Feta and Mint and using home-grown bacon for Butternut Squash and Bacon Risotto. My hundreds of pounds of potatoes means we have to eat them at least once a week. Some recipes I plan to try: fondant potatoes, Jacques Pepin Pommes de Terre Mont d’Or and Potato Pave.
Sean: An action-filled month of October that included a (successful) 10 mile run, a men’s league soccer championship, a California wedding, 21 and over Halloween treats, and oh yeah … Rosie and I announcing that we’re expecting a baby! Can’t ask for much more out of a single month, though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to a little relaxation in the month of November.
As we “fall back” and welcome in the start of our never-ending Minnesota winters, I for one welcome the end of the grueling campaign season complete with commercials, digital ads and mailers that will make your toes curl (fitting for Halloween season now that I think about it). Thanks to all who helped Rosie and I enjoy a top-tier month. Can’t wait to see what’s in store next.
Anna: This month consisted of lots of house projects, and a few fun outings to relish the glorious burst of Minnesota fall. Isaac and I climbed 100 steps to the top of the Highland Park Water Tower for a beautiful view of St. Paul and Minneapolis, followed by browsing two of our favorite bookstores, Magers & Quinn and The Red Balloon. We also enjoyed sampling a few savory items from Bellecour Bakery, including a chocolate croissant and salmon tartine with cream cheese, radish, dill and capers. Five stars from me!
Cullen: The biggest highlight of October was a trip down south with Lauren and a college friend to catch a Jacksonville Jaguars game, hit the beach, and spend days in both St. Augustine and Savannah. The Jags may have lost a heartbreaker to the Giants, but the pain was numbed by a lifechanging catfish sandwich at Huey’s and some fantastic brisket at The Bearded Pig. I returned home to find virtually every costume retailer picked clean, but was able to cobble together a solid Jim Hopper for Halloween.
Between rewatching The Witcher and introducing Lauren to the Lord of the Rings, I’ve been deeply enjoying The Arc of a Scythe trilogy. Apparently, I’m on a fantasy kick.
Kaylee: October took a slower pace than recent months, thankfully! That meant embracing my inner introvert a bit more and finding opportunities to get some fresh air. Perhaps a bit unconventional, I checked out Minneapolis’ Quaking Bog for a short, fall hike. Yes, Minneapolis has a bog … and yes, there are likely better hiking routes to soak up the fall colors, ha. I’ve rather enjoyed digging into podcasts, again. The Huberman Lab is what I turn to for a biology fix. A recent episode covered the intricacies of the brain, speech and language learning that just blew me away. I also cruised through Netflix’s Die Kaiserin/The Empress – a period piece about the Austrian-Hungarian and Bavarian monarchies. Typical for a German series, there weren’t very many episodes so I’m anxiously waiting for a new season to come out.
Will: October was full of fall fun! My roommates, my brother and a friend made a one-day road trip to the North Shore, where we hiked a small section of the Superior Hiking Trail to take in the fall colors. I made it up to Saint John’s University a couple times this month, first to join Kate at the annual apple orchard fest and later up to see her introduce Gen. Paul Nakasone, director of the NSA, for a lecture on campus. Gen. Nakasone was great, and the introduction was fantastic as well. I finished off the month by helping my uncle winterize his home the best way possible – installing a golf simulator in the garage.
