Rapp Strategies Rundown – February
HERE’S WHAT WE DID, READ, WATCHED AND THOUGHT ABOUT THIS MONTH
Todd Rapp
Todd R.: The heart of winter means catchup on streaming and sports on TV. We cut the cord over the Thanksgiving weekend and the combination of YouTube TV and streaming apps has been painless to manage. Grades are: Wild Hockey A+ … Olympics A+ … Shrinking A … Night Agent A … Slow Horses A- … Hijack C-. Sorry, Hijack, but this season you went from not understandable to a nice and surprising angle to nearly unwatchable by the end. My theory is that it is hard to sequel a hijacking. Also a shout-out this month to John Ellis’ News Items, the best place for a quick look at what I should understand each morning about politics, economics and world affairs. All that, and our 4th grandchild joined us last week! Somebody is getting pretty tired with all of these small kids around.
Rich Forschler
Rich: February started with a fun family vacation to Naples, FL. Kari and I have been spending 2 or 3 winter weeks in warm locations over the last 7 or 8 years (except during the COVID pandemic). One or more of those trips includes our kids although not everyone could make it to Naples. Two of our kids have their own kids (being a grandparent is great duty) and they all have pretty big jobs that make it hard to get away.
The next two weeks of February included several home improvement projects. Our house was built in 1895 so things do wear out and need replacements and upgrades. The projects are going well but we will be glad when they are done (probably done before summer).
February closed with another fun vacation in Palm Springs with our good friends, Mark and Joan Oyaas. We had a relaxing week with great weather and celebrated Joan’s Birthday.
Family, Home and Friends all make life so much better.
Todd Stone
Todd S.: This past month we made a little extra effort to connect with neighbors and friends. My wife revived the neighborhood soup swap our block used to do regularly, and we found time for a few more chats at the end of the street, over coffee, or even a glass of wine. On the lighter side, much of February was spent waiting for the next episodes of Shrinking and The Pitt — while I admit I’ve fallen behind on my New Year’s pledge to catch up on books written by former colleagues.
Looking ahead, the activism and passion for community I continue to see across the Twin Cities and around the state leaves me optimistic about the future, especially when I think about the world my two sons will grow up in. Speaking of which, we just renewed their passports with the hope that some international travel may be in our near future. Stay tuned.
Sean Oyaas
Sean: That was the longest short month of my life. Hard to tell if it’s a an age factor or a sign of the times, but the days keep getting longer and the months get shorter. We successfully completed James’s potty training (save for a handful of accidents here and there). King James has graduated into a new phase of toddler-hood right before his baby brother or sister is welcomed into our home (due in April).
We’re trying to maximize the joy and relative ease of raising just one child before our lives inevitably get turned upside down once again. Birthday parties, promotional events at Fawkes Alley, outdoor activities at our favorite nature center, swimming lessons and making the most out of these extreme weather swings by stomping around in puddles and mud. James has officially become my best friend.
Rosie and I managed to squeeze in some time with just the two of us. We powered through Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Industry (both on HBO), and I made it through the most recent season of Shoresy in about a day and a half (highly recommend, despite it being a Canadian show).
Lisa Boyd
Lisa: February was characteristic of February — more home‑cooked meals, more half‑finished books (Verity by Colleen Hoover and Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe), and a renewed appreciation for low‑stakes plans that can be canceled without guilt when it’s too dark and cold to go out.
Early in the month, a key highlight was gathering with several members of the Rapp Strategies team at the Crescent Cove Everlight Gala, supporting an organization that offers care and support to children and young adults with shortened life‑expectancies, and to their families who love them.
Around Minneapolis, my home city, February was also marked by one of Minnesota’s best cultural attributes —neighbors caring for neighbors. I continue to be inspired by the acts of humanity and care that show up across the city.
Meredith Mitts
Meredith: I am pretty sure my household was the entire month of February, rotating between the three of us. Thankfully it was a 'short' month and we didn't have too much on our to-do lists. We spent lots of time snuggling, napping, and practicing new skills with Tasha. Her vocabulary has exploded as has her love for donuts, books and fig bars. We are looking forward to more sunshine and time that we can spend outside in the coming months and have a few fun activities planned for March!
Julia Schafer
Julia: February is my least favorite month. Cold temperatures, fading New Year’s resolutions, and the realization that spring is still pretty far away. My family plans a warm weather escape each winter, so I’ll be heading to San Diego for the first week of March. You’ll have to wait to hear about those adventures in next month’s rundown.
I’ve decided there are two solutions to the February blues: go to the movies as much as possible, and pre-plan a few adventures. This month, I saw Hamnet and The Testament of Ann Lee—both intense, but stunning in their performances and visuals. I still have a few Oscar contenders to knock off my list and will give a full report as the awards get closer.
For my adventure quota, my sister and I caught the new comedy show from James Acaster, one of our favorite stand-up comedians. I drove to Madison, scooped her up, and we spent a quick 24 hours in Chicago, one of my favorite cities. We walked the river, spent a few hours at the Art Institute of Chicago, and sipped drinks at a silly Italian speakeasy. It was chilly, but a total blast.
I also joined a new book club. Our first book was a romance novel. It was not my choice. I will not be reviewing it—but stay tuned for
Alida Mitau
Alida: February flew by with a nice mix of family time, travel, and rest. One highlight was celebrating my mom’s birthday at Spoon & Stable. My brother came into town for it, and we thoroughly enjoyed their signature cotton candy for dessert.
I also went to Boston for a dear friend’s baby shower at Beacon Hill Books, a charming New England bookstore where we had afternoon tea while she opened gifts (all baby books, of course). It was a lovely and memorable way to celebrate a new chapter.
Workwise, I had fun going to Owatonna with Julia for two very successful public safety open houses! We tried a nice local Italian spot called Roma's after the first, and opted for Chipotle and a quicker trip home after the second.
I also squeezed in some good TV — PONIES and The Night Manager were both standouts. All in all, it was a busy but enjoyable month, and I’m looking forward to spring!
Jorrun Kuehn
Jorrun: The shortest month of the year often feels the longest, but later sunsets and a few 40 degree days were a good reminder that spring is on the way. I spent much of the month watching the Olympics – my favorites were figure skating, snowboarding and curling. It was fun to see so many Minnesotans competing. My friends brought back our nostalgic “Galentine’s” tradition of exchanging handmade cards and candy, and a friend took me to see Les Misérables at the Orpheum as a late birthday present. Other highlights included escaping the Haunted Mansion room at Breakout and a Bridgerton Season 4 watch party, which of course included tea and desserts.
Marisa Morris
Marisa: I never pass up an opportunity to reiterate my long-standing hatred of February. Even though it's the shortest month, in my opinion, we could shave off a few more days. It’s easy to forget that the season is not permanent.
This is my guide to enduring February, having made it to the other side:
Take advice from other animals enduring the cold. The Minnesota Zoo is the best place to be on a sunny winter day. It amazes me that a caravan of camels can be as content walking through snowbanks as a herd of caribou.
Find the humor. Caleb Hearon’s Netflix special, Model Comedian, is hysterical. I had to keep pausing the TV so I could finish laughing without missing any jokes.
Watch someone make it look easy. I’m convinced Alysa Liu would be lauded as a philosopher in another time. When interviewed about her Winter Olympic gold medal, she said, “I love struggling, actually. It makes me feel alive.” What an inspiring reminder to set goals for yourself and embrace the challenge of chasing them.
