Rapp Strategies Rundown – March
What we did, read, watched and thought about this month.
Todd R.: Rather than watch the Oscars, I have tackled Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears which is a great look at the behind-the-curtain politics that impacts nominations and the final awards. Yep, nothing here makes you feel any better about Harvey Weinstein. We’re most of the way through Poker Face, which does a great job of channeling ‘70’s TV institution Colombo, and are obviously scheduling ourselves around Ted Lasso and Succession season launches. Taking care of the grandkid is also a serious binge pleasure; she enjoyed her first Wild game on TV last Saturday.
Rich: March began with an important precursor of Spring; a trip to Scottsdale with friends for a long weekend of sun, fun and golf. The opportunity to break up our Minnesota Winter makes it a lot easier to accept the last few weeks of snow and cold before Spring arrives.
We celebrated some important events in March. Sean and Rosie Oyaas welcomed “Sweet Baby James” into the world. The Oyaas’ have been close friends for decades and everyone was excited to welcome the first baby of the next generation. The fact that Sean is now also a member of the Rapp Strategies family made it even more special.
We also celebrated Joe Coyne’s 70th Birthday with the Coyne family. The Coynes have also been close friends for decades and we relived a lot of exciting and wonderful adventures and accomplishments with them.
As Winter turns to Spring, we look forward to building more wonderful memories.
Todd S.: Sure, there was too much snow in March, but when you have a new season of Ted Lasso, you find a way to make it through. Random thought: Somehow, we never made it to see the new Avatar. We’ll stream it at some point, but I’m sure it won’t compare to the theater experience. For music — I took a step back in time and experienced Ringo Starr’s 6th solo album, Ringo the 4th, which was released in 1977. It was Ringo’s only foray into disco-ish music and not surprising, it hasn’t aged well. But one song — “Out on the Streets” — is surprisingly catchy. It’s worth a listen.
Jodi: We kicked off the month in Puerto Vallarta with great food, beach time, and an incredible hike along the Los Animas trail. Upon our return, I fell into a state of inactivity, waiting for the arrival of spring. Tackling a few household projects reminded me that a.) I am not a contractor, and b.) I am very thankful for contractors. A recent subscription to BritBox has me exploring a plethora of new British dramas, including The Bay and Karen Pirie. I am also starting Succession (late to the game, I know). I’ve picked up an old hobby of completing the New York Times Crossword Puzzles (in pencil) and can confirm that Saturday is the most challenging day of the week.
Sean: Sean is enjoying some well-deserved time at home with his newborn son. We wish the Oyaas family the very best!
Anna: This month has been busy getting back into the swing of work! Isaac and I have enjoyed watching Owen discover more of the world, including his own fists. He's smiling and babbling like a champ and giggled for the first time. In our limited down time as new parents, we have returned to sunny, elegant Sanditon for its final season. We also visited the Como Conservatory for some much-needed greenery and humidity. Finally, in my ongoing search for easy recipes, I came across this healthy, colorful and tasty sheet pan cashew chicken and also made one of our favorites, the absolute best chicken salad (the secret weapon is the vinegar).
Cullen: March was filled with some amazing travel. First was a long weekend in Knoxville, where Lauren and I visited her sister and brother-in-law and enjoyed delicious southern food and barhopping. During our time on the road, we also squeezed in visits to the Louisville Slugger museum and Buc-ees. Both quintessential American experiences.
A week spent in the San Luis Valley in Colorado visiting a long-time friend from high school was also a much-needed getaway. We spent days in Gunnison and San Isabel National Forests, Great Sand Dune National Park and Penitente Canyon, but the highlight by far was a punishing eight-mile trek up 14,200ft Mount Yale. A lack of snowshoes and an incoming winter storm turned us back about a thousand feet from the summit, but not before we were treated to some incredible views. I’m determined to conquer it sometime in the future – preferably in the summer.
On my flights I finished Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy (exceptional) and watched Witcher: Blood Origin (disappointing) on Netflix. Looking ahead, I’m going to ditch the fantasy and jump on the CoHo train with Verity, which has been recommended to me more than any other book during the past year.
Kaylee: I must start with an obligatory, “I’m ready for summer.” I actually love winter and snow, but this is the first season in my life where I’m itching for the sun and warmth. The theme for this month was just trying to keep up and unplug as life has been busy. But while I may not have had time to read or watch anything interesting, I did log many fun hours on the phone keeping in touch with folks.
Will: March started off with a wonderful trip to Portugal with Kate. We spent time in Porto and Lisbon, checking out the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace at Sintra, Torre dos Clérigos, Belem Tower and Livraria Lello. Kate introduced me to pastel de nata, which I learned can be purchased by the half-dozen and consumed in similar quantities.
I celebrated my 23rd birthday with a trip to the Dominguez Family Restaurant for some delicious Mexican food in a cozy dining room, and to Norseman Distillery for creative cocktails in an industrial-style space. Both have patios, which means I’ll have to go back once we finally get some plus-50-degree days.
