A GREAT STORY TO START THE WEEK: Lovejoy has one hell of a Grandpa. “Dick Stuck” is his name, and he lives back there in Minneapolis. He was a “Graphic Arts” man for the bulk of his career, and we’ve got some proof of his artistic accomplishments right here.

Back in the day there was a product called, “Hobo Soup” made in Ortonville, Minnesota. It turns out that Lovejoy’s grandpa illustrated the “happy hobo” showcased on the label. How about that?

Check his handiwork here: “The Hobo Soup label.”

And then read the “story behind the soup” right here: “The Hobo Soup story.”

Awesome, all around.

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A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE MEAT OF IT: This is what Lovejoy had to say about his Grandpa Dick: “At 81, my grandfather still works as a graphic designer in Minneapolis. My grandmother, Vivian, has adopted the computer end of the business over the last ten years and calls me every once and awhile asking for Photoshop advice. Dick still insists that his paste-up skills are faster than any digital layout program. My favorite Dick quote is “We walked away from another one†after a long day of fishing and drinking beer.”

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AND HEY ALL YOU BARREL STIFFS, YOU ARE IN LUCK: They still make Hobo Soup to this day! Order some up, quit yer job, fill a backpack and hop a rail. Tour this great land living out of a freight car. Strike of fast friendships. Get in fights with dangerous people. Change yer name to “Crotch Itch Carl” or something and make a new life for yerself.

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SPEAKING OF JUNGLES, HOOCH AND GRAB IRONS: We did a “Hobo Symbol Quick Reference Card” and still have some of our “2002 Once-A-Month Card Series” sets left. This card could save yer life, and the other 11 in the kit, well, they might entertain you in between rail stops. Think about it and make a wise choice, friend. Gocco, of course. You need these.