the letters and things

I swear to the sweet baby Jesus that it is STILL February 22 - the birthday of great American Father and Pisces Crier George Washington - in this tedious continuing story of Dud. The only silver lining is actually purple - a 1966 metallic purple Chrysler Imperial.

In the episode, we relive one HALF DAY of the life of Dud, the most tedious person to exist in fiction. We also learn that George Washington was a Pisces and true to the Piscean nature was a known crier that was moved to tears by job changes, a quarrelsome Congress, and the Continental Army. A man that contained multitudes.

In this episode, we rejoin idiot Dud in his caper to get the Secret Service to investigate a man asking about a printing press. If you think this makes no sense you are correct. Also, despite the prevailing attitude toward Galena in this story, it is a lovely-looking town.

In this episode, we resume in part 2 of what is sure to be many, many parts of the story of Dud, who meets the handsome Secret Service agent played by Mike Johnson. Sparks fly!

In this episode, we start what will be a series where we read through some long 'thing'. We have yet to discover what this thing may be, but - regardless - dive right into a tale of a printing deal featuring co-workers, a shady man, an unlikable narrator, someone named Jean, and male stuffers.

In this episode, we read an assortment of Holiday cards, including an anniversary holiday card from Eunice to Lawry - on their Dec 26th anniversary! And the Manette tells a very special holiday movie story.

In this episode, we read some correspondence straight from the USS Chester CA27 at the end of WWII. Join along as Japan surrenders. And a surprise holiday telegram from Franklin D Roosevelt on the occasion of Christmas at war, 1944.

In this episode, we happen to get two really sad letters containing information about illness. In the middle of this sadness we talk about the existential threat of advertisers infiltrating our REM sleep.

In this episode, Grandma is in Wisconsin and Grandpa is in Ohio and there is much to do with the four children, the budget, and also - very important - blenders!!!

In this episode, we hear from Kathy One whose commentary on tuitions costs sends us spiraling RE: inflation. The cost of stamps though? Without reproach. Hug and kiss your local USPS workers this holiday, for they deserve a huge thank you.

In this episode, we have a letter from Mickey to Laury, who is at Camp Roberts with his pinup magazines. And another letter from some guy that uses the word "remember" a concerning amount and who is a bit creepy about young Kathy One, but sends a partial nude which we both appreciate.

In this episode, we discover that Peter stands at the pearly gates of Heaven and judges people's outfits. He is the bouncer for Heaven. You don't need to know anything else.

In this episode we get a doozy of a letter from Anne Hill who is complaining about her husband John (Jack) (don't even get us started about why Jack is the nickname for John), who - in all fairness - sucked. Then we get a letter from record-keeping Grandpa that delivers a measure of shade to his dear old mother-in-law (Anne Hill), bringing us full circle.

In this episode, we meet cat Amanda in a biblical Christmas card from Sam and Kathy One. A subdued letter from Anne Hill still manages to contain a generous serving of pressure, shame, and gossip.

In this episode, Auntie reaches next level Auntie with an astrology-based card, entering her next Era. And we read through a NINE page letter from Lynn about everything under the sun, but mostly her boyfriend Carl.

In this episode, we learn a lot about Grandpa through the many enormous greeting cards that he sent Grandma over their marriage and how we would like to be "greeting card people".

In this episode, we read a letter from deadbeat dad Bud to Eunice with custody arrangements. Another letter contains the scandalous news that Rose wore SLACKS (gasp) to her own mother's funeral. Can you even imagine.

In the episode, a letter includes a photo of a child gun club. And another epistle, delivered in a Thomas Kinkade card. Calling it now, Thomas Kinkade is coming back.

In this edition, some major grievances are aired by grandma (Eunice), in the direction of grandpa (Laury) who is in the hospital across the country for ... wisdom teeth? And a story about dogwood trees and our old friend, Jesus.

A searing investigation of the American Greeting card industry by Sam and Manette. Join us as we dive into the dark underbelly of Hallmark's rumspringa years.

We, still in the Caribbean, continue to talk at the echoing wall and read through a huge stack of greeting cards that feature a sad elephant, hand stuff, and coastal granma vibes, amongst other things.

In this episode we read through Easter cards from 1979, which was a terrible year for Easter card designs and potentially a prediction of bad things to come RE: Precious Moments figurines.

The greeting card industry continues to have many things to apologize for as we read through many 1970s and 1980s greeting cards - bad vibes, illustrations, and poetry abound.

In this episode, we discuss the potential of Trump as a performance artist. We also read a letter from Anne Hill to her daughter with news of comings and goings and whatnots and discuss Sam's long-game to be the shortest serving US President in history.

In this episode, we discuss if hoarding is nature versus nurture and why you should never throe anything away, ever. The two letters in this episode are dark, dark horses in that they aren't actually sad, but contain some references to dark periods of history: Boys Town and WWII.