306 - Present Blitz

[0] This is exactly right.

[1] And welcome to my favorite murder.

[2] That's Georgia Hartstirk.

[3] That's Karen Kilgariff.

[4] And this is the Christmas holiday season.

[5] That's right.

[6] Hanukkah has long gone.

[7] Long gone.

[8] That was like, didn't it start in November?

[9] November until December 6th.

[10] It was such a bummer when I was a kid when this would happen.

[11] Because it was like too close to Thanksgiving?

[12] It was just like over so quickly and then everyone was still being festive.

[13] Yes.

[14] And then, but it was kind of.

[15] and I still have nothing to do during the Christmas break.

[16] Oh, that's true.

[17] You know, no parties or anything.

[18] No parties and no, I mean, do you worry about gift -giving the way people do for Christmas?

[19] Some people do.

[20] I don't.

[21] No, I'm not a big holiday gift person.

[22] Like, we don't really do it much as adults.

[23] It's for the kids.

[24] Oh, okay.

[25] Yeah, like my mom will give a pair of slippers or something, like a bathrobe or something cozy, but.

[26] You save it all for perim.

[27] That's right.

[28] Hard for them, a hard for them.

[29] No, we'll do like gift cards or whatever, but we're just not that big on it.

[30] Yeah.

[31] I think for Christmas, we used to be because I think my mom had such a bad childhood that she always was just like, look, everyone, you have themed gift areas or whatever.

[32] Need to make it big and exciting because I didn't have that.

[33] Yes, and makeup for stuff, which was fine, but we were so spoiled.

[34] You know what I mean?

[35] It was just kind of like, I didn't get the bits I want.

[36] There was a lot of that attitude that I'm ashamed about.

[37] out now.

[38] Yeah.

[39] But then once, when my, after my mom died, it was very perfunctory and we just, for each other, we would just get what we could get.

[40] Like keep it up, but only kind of for mom.

[41] It all got pointed toward Nora, of course.

[42] So then she had themed gift areas piles that were endless and like, you know.

[43] The only granddaughter, the only niece.

[44] Yes.

[45] When I was a kid, we had a lot of lean years where we, a dollar a night was kind of the, my mom would tell us before Hanukkah, I'm sorry, this year's going to be a dollar a night, which was for, you know, cash or you don't spend more than a dollar.

[46] No, no, cash, she'd give us a dollar a night, which was, so I feel like it was never.

[47] And like when it was, you know, it was like a calendar, it was never huge for us.

[48] And it was never about that.

[49] It was like, we had a family Hanukkah party that was like the most fun at my grandma's house with tons of lotcas and canters catering and got deli sandwiches.

[50] So it was like so fucking awesome.

[51] And the kids all got presents, but it was never like, it was more about the hang as opposed to just things.

[52] And you'd get like one big present from my grandma.

[53] But that was like it.

[54] So yeah.

[55] Just I think that's really nice.

[56] Yeah.

[57] I appreciate it now.

[58] As a kid, it was like, you'd go back to school and everyone would be like, you had Hanukkah for eight nights.

[59] What did you get?

[60] You must have got so much.

[61] And it'd be like, mm. That's not how it works.

[62] Right.

[63] That's the Christian equivalency where it's like your holiday must be exactly ours.

[64] Right.

[65] Just like at your house with a different name.

[66] Right.

[67] Right, right, exactly.

[68] Well.

[69] But I love, and I love Christmas.

[70] I mean, we celebrate Christmas now, Vince and I. Yeah.

[71] I mean, I just love the whole, I love that it's winter and people are like, we better be nice to each other.

[72] Because I love this time of year.

[73] Yeah.

[74] It gets, it gets nicer.

[75] But I think actually my favorite holiday has always been Thanksgiving.

[76] Yeah.

[77] A, because of my food issue.

[78] But B, because of that exact thing you're saying, where the size of my family, it would always be like a 30 to 50 person tardy at some house outfits uh you know cousins do you guys well it's so funny because we're film we're recording this before thanksgiving are we glad to say that so i still don't so we'll talk this week in the real episode about thanksgiving because i want to know a lot about yours since we're on the subject of presents i hate to make you uncomfortable but i have a present for the christmas present for you that doesn't make me uncomfortable because it's so weird to like surprise someone with that and be like and you didn't know so you didn't get me anything guess what you get you can have frank he's yours now great i'm bringing me me over um this is actually this is funny because since i knew we're doing the christmas episode i bought you this like two years ago when we talked about this on the podcast that's how long i've had this for and like meant to frame it but like can't find i'm lazy okay here i got it okay it's an envelope everyone but but i have to get you something all right give me a thanksgiving present Oh, get me a Hanukkah present.

[79] It hasn't happened yet.

[80] Oh, right.

[81] This is like, this is backwards world.

[82] I have to get you eight presents.

[83] Here's a card, Georgia, with this very beautiful.

[84] Dear Karen, congratulations on Jesus being born.

[85] I bet he was a rad baby.

[86] He was.

[87] Everybody gathered around him in a manger.

[88] So someday I'll frame this for you.

[89] Oh, my God.

[90] How rad is that?

[91] Okay, I went on Etsy and I googled or I at sea searched.

[92] Ticonderance.

[93] Rosa Roga.

[94] Vintage and found a little postcard that has little 50s or 40s or maybe 30 school children.

[95] And it says Taekondiroga, America's favorite pencil.

[96] And like one of the kids is checking the other kid out.

[97] Like that's kind of creepy.

[98] Yes.

[99] He clearly loves the girl sitting behind the boy who's trying to take the pencil from him.

[100] Yeah.

[101] And the boy standing is passing out Dixon, Dixon, Ticconga Roga pencils.

[102] We'll post it for, we'll post it.

[103] I'm going to frame this.

[104] Yeah, like I was just been looking for like an old vintage like metal frame and I'm lazy.

[105] Thank you.

[106] Literally I've had that on my dresser for two fucking years.

[107] And every time I see it, I'm like, shit, because it's not near Christmas.

[108] Oh, shit.

[109] Frank, I need you to not.

[110] Frank, here.

[111] Frank is trying to crawl inside Georgia.

[112] It's very scary.

[113] He's.

[114] Hey, back, back.

[115] Hey.

[116] He's so thick.

[117] So you see, that's his, that's his like, you can't move me protests.

[118] He's not movable.

[119] He's all muscle.

[120] And if you can't.

[121] He's like leaning into me. Hold on.

[122] Hey.

[123] Yeah, there he goes.

[124] Good boy.

[125] That's it.

[126] Go boy.

[127] Yeah.

[128] I really love that.

[129] I really love it.

[130] That's what I love presents for is like randomly.

[131] Oh my God.

[132] She said she liked this thing.

[133] I'm going to look for it and give it whenever.

[134] Yes.

[135] So that's what that is.

[136] La la la la la la la la la la la la. Also, also because it is out of order, don't tell any of any of secrets.

[137] secret but it is kind of like you just kicked off my holiday season oh yeah that's i love it thank you first present of a season what if we do i'll call it we'll call it present assault and we just keep popping up with crazy presents when you don't don't realize it and it surprises you yeah and then you're like wait was i supposed to have one and it's all kind of like a or maybe a better way to say it is like present blitz have an uncomfortable present blitz but i'm very comfortable with being given presents It's very comfortable.

[138] Okay, good, good, good.

[139] Thank you so much.

[140] Yes.

[141] Well, we hope that you guys listening are having a either passable or a wonderful or anything in between kind of holiday.

[142] We know this time of years can suck a lot.

[143] So we're happy that you're with us and with all your podcast friends because what's better than a podcast when you're like feeling low?

[144] Yeah, or having to spend time with family when everyone knows family of origin is complicated.

[145] at best.

[146] So hopefully you're spending with someone you love or at least tolerate or at least there's a good dog or cat there you can walk out of the room and hang out with.

[147] And if you don't have one again, Frank is completely available for rentals around the nation.

[148] I'll ship him anywhere in a box of three holes punched him.

[149] Right, right, right, right.

[150] Frankie is a real.

[151] You're a beautiful man. Okay, do you want to talk about some ERM highlights?

[152] Sure, let's do that.

[153] Do it.

[154] Oh, very exciting.

[155] Kate Winkler Dawson, our superstar podcast host, is coming back with Season 4 of 10Fold More Wicked in January.

[156] So if you haven't listened, you can binge seasons 1 through three during these holiday weeks during your downtime or your travels or whatever.

[157] Get all cut up and then you're ready for the brand new season 4.

[158] That's a great bingeable podcast.

[159] So good.

[160] She's such a talented.

[161] She's an author.

[162] It's so it's historical.

[163] It's beautiful.

[164] It's beautiful.

[165] It's beautiful.

[166] beautifully researched.

[167] It's beautifully executed.

[168] She's the greatest.

[169] It's a good anecdote to this podcast.

[170] And then the podcast, incredible, hilarious hit podcast, that's messed up.

[171] They cover the SVU Christmas episode Presumed Guilty.

[172] And the extremely talented actor, Dennis O 'Hare.

[173] Dennis O 'Hare.

[174] He's one of my faves, and he is the guy.

[175] I hope I'm not wrong about this, but he's the guy from Michael Clayton in the very beginning of the movie where he hit somebody, like, and he's called.

[176] in Michael Clayton to come to his house because he basically wants Michael Clayton to get him out of a hit and run.

[177] Oh shit.

[178] And it's the most brilliant, amazing scene with him, George Clooney, and then the woman it plays Dennis O 'Hare's wife who I wish I knew offhand, because you know her too.

[179] Amazing characters.

[180] Want me to look it up?

[181] Yeah, you probably should.

[182] She has big...

[183] I don't think I've seen it.

[184] Michael Clayton?

[185] I know.

[186] No, you have to watch that movie.

[187] I'm sorry, but it is...

[188] It's one of those movies when it came out we got to go like for free Tilda Swinton No no no Tilda Swinton's name's name's Karen and Michael Clayton and therefore causing George Clooney to say the name Karen hundreds of times Is it Mrs. Clayton?

[189] What's her name?

[190] Julie White She's at the very beginning Yes I think it is Julie White Dennis O 'Hare George Clooney This is an all -star cast Sydney Pollock come on No no no It's such a perfectly made movie I've talked about it many times.

[191] I've never seen it.

[192] If you've never seen it, it's such a sleeper, but we went because we got free, we got in free because of the WGA.

[193] Yeah.

[194] And it was nominated.

[195] And my friend Lauren Pomerantz and I went.

[196] So this was, I mean, this was like mid -year, yes, 2007.

[197] I just saw it.

[198] I'm not good at this.

[199] I'm not, I just saw it on Google.

[200] I was like, yes, you're right.

[201] We sat there and we were just like, oh, let's go to a free movie.

[202] And at the end, we just looked at each other like, was that the best movie we've ever seen?

[203] The Christmas movie?

[204] sure yes what's the best christmas movie die hard I mean for for yeah what's your family yeah we we put it on the channel that plays a Christmas story over and over they beat their kids oh yeah what's the fucking 30s and 40s yeah yeah all of life was problematic back then like people weren't doing it right yeah and yeah but but the in between parts of like A kid, the story of a kid, basically living a real kid's life.

[205] Yeah.

[206] That's very sweet.

[207] I feel like that's going to be a hot take and you can send hate mail to my favorite murder at Georgia .com.

[208] Yeah.

[209] They also go out to Chinese dinner after when the turkey gets fucked up and there's a kind of it's a very racist moment.

[210] There we go.

[211] Yeah, it's just, it's so hard things from the past where it's like clearly no one was being represented correctly.

[212] Right.

[213] but yeah and thank god it's fixed now anyways let's get on the your argument worked it's no longer my favorite we're supposed to be positive speaking of positivity oh well here's a positive fucking podcast if i've ever seen one yes oh uh i said no gifts oh right so fun bridgers holiday episode is out today and there people are competing in either gift or cursed or gift master so there's a bunch of different guests assembled George and I are on it it's very funny it's so funny there's no rhyme or reason it's just like Bridger being in charge of everyone which I think is like he's a great he's great in that role he's so good at it it's like he's the coldest piano teacher you've ever experienced and it's a delight yeah if you need to cheer up that's a great podcast yeah it is you know and then just make sure if for Christmas as a Christmas present you follow exactly right on Instagram Twitter at Facebook for updates on all our shows.

[214] And please rate review and subscribe to all the podcasts you love out there.

[215] Yes.

[216] It's such, it's like the little thing you can do for your free podcast.

[217] Yeah, that's right.

[218] Make a difference.

[219] That's right.

[220] Just like us.

[221] Hey.

[222] We've been doing it all month long.

[223] Yeah.

[224] And we're very excited.

[225] This was Georgia's idea of from the beginning of let's do a weekly donation because there's a lot of people in need out there, obviously, especially at times like this.

[226] And so we're just basically giving suggestions for our favorite charities and places that we really like and trying to, you know, help encourage people to give a little if they can.

[227] Yeah.

[228] And so we're giving 10 grand to all these charities in the name of murderinos.

[229] Yep.

[230] So you guys, good job.

[231] And this week we're giving to one of my favorite charities and it's Humboy Industries who for the last 30 years have been the largest gang rehabilitation.

[232] an re -entry program in the world.

[233] It's run by Father Greg Boyle.

[234] I've talked about his books and how much his books mean to me and how beautiful they are.

[235] You should definitely read them.

[236] If you haven't, it's a industry that they've set up.

[237] And it's totally based on, like, empathy and love and supporting people who maybe have never had it in their life and they've changed so many lives.

[238] So we're very grateful, Father Greg, and everybody at Homeboy Industries has been doing the work they've been doing to the point where now they have a bunch of other groups.

[239] They have Homegirl Cafe.

[240] They have a bakery that like is at LAX now.

[241] Yeah.

[242] Homegirl Cafe is a safe space for females to receive on the job training.

[243] It empowers individuals to undertake what is often their first real job and their first real opportunity like you were saying and their first time someone believes in them.

[244] So it's incredible and we're so happy to be able to donate to them.

[245] Yes.

[246] Cool.

[247] Well, that was short and sweet.

[248] Yeah.

[249] And I go first this week.

[250] Do it.

[251] For Christmas.

[252] For Christmas time.

[253] Karen, you know I'm all about vintage shopping.

[254] Absolutely.

[255] And when you say vintage, you mean when you physically drive to a store and actually purchase something with cash.

[256] Exactly.

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[267] Connect with customers inline and online.

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[269] Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at Shopify .com slash murder.

[270] Important note, that promo code is all lowercase.

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[272] That's Shopify .com slash murder.

[273] Goodbye.

[274] All right.

[275] Well, this has nothing to do with the holidays.

[276] Great.

[277] It's just a mystery.

[278] Okay.

[279] My gift to you.

[280] I love it.

[281] I love a mystery story.

[282] Right?

[283] This is the mysterious death of Blair.

[284] Adams, which you may have seen on the old school Unsolved Mysteries season 9, episode 17.

[285] Okay.

[286] I also got stuff from a medium, an article by Jennifer Baldwin, unsolved .com, unsolvedmystries