Dumbing of Age Book Twelve

Dumbing of Age

A college webcomic by David Willis
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BUFFER WATCH Comics are currently drawn and uploaded through:

May 5, 2026

Ejected

by David M Willis on August 15, 2022 at 12:01 am
  • 05 – This Was Halloween
└ Tags: dorothy, jennifer, ruth

Discussion (191) ¬

[ Comments RSS ]
  1. Ana Chronistic
    Ana Chronistic
    August 15, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    BJ: “What?”

    Ruth: “BYE FELICIA”

    BJ: “who what”

    Ruth: *takes off running*

    • Beef
      Beef
      August 15, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

      Me: “Who the fuck is Billy Jean?”

      Took me a sec

      • bubba0077
        bubba0077
        August 15, 2022 at 1:21 am | #

        Not Ruth’s lover (anymore).

        • a/snow/mous/e
          a/snow/mous/e
          August 15, 2022 at 2:58 pm | #

          I thought she was the one for her! But the kid is not Ruth’s son. Howard’s actually her younger brother. She probably would be something like a mother figure for him due to their unfortunate home life, though. :/

          • a/snow/mous/e
            a/snow/mous/e
            August 15, 2022 at 2:59 pm | #

            [i wish i’d put parentheses around the final two sentences but OH WELL]

        • Felian
          Felian
          August 15, 2022 at 4:33 pm | #

          LOL nice one.

      • a/snow/mous/e
        a/snow/mous/e
        August 15, 2022 at 2:56 pm | #

        BJ cat

    • Kitschensyngk
      Kitschensyngk
      August 15, 2022 at 1:09 am | #

      All those who haven’t been dumped tonight, raise your hands!

      Oh, not so fast, Billie!

      …put your hand down, Walky. You’re not kidding anyone.

  2. Doctor_Who
    Doctor_Who
    August 15, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Ruth: Personwhosdumpedsayswhat.

    Billie: What?!

    Ruth: Glad that’s settled, I don’t make the rules.

    • bcb
      bcb
      August 15, 2022 at 12:32 am | #

      “Aside from all the hall rules that I do make because I’m an awesome RA!”

      • Some Ed
        Some Ed
        August 15, 2022 at 6:24 am | #

        I thought the awesome RAs were the ones who only enforce the hall rules that mattered. Oh, and also don’t cause more PTSD than they help resolve.

  3. darkoneko
    darkoneko
    August 15, 2022 at 12:05 am | #

    Let the Walkys hit the floor
    Let the Walkys hit the floor
    Let the Walkys hit the floor
    Let the Walkys hit the [tch tch]
    FLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR

    • Cholma
      Cholma
      August 15, 2022 at 12:11 am | #

      One… Something’s wrong with him
      Two… Something’s wrong with him
      Three… Something’s wrong with him
      Four… Let’s face it, the dork’s got problems!

      • Clif
        Clif
        August 15, 2022 at 2:50 am | #

        Dorothy says he’s fine.

        • RedCat
          RedCat
          August 15, 2022 at 4:22 am | #

          Look at her, who wouldn’t believe that face.

  4. Stephen Bierce
    Stephen Bierce
    August 15, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    *”Truckin'” continues playing*

    • Joe Moose
      Joe Moose
      August 15, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

      ♫ Sometimes the light’s all shinin’ on me
      Other times I can barely see
      Lately it occurs to me
      What a long, strange trip it’s been ♪

      • Cholma
        Cholma
        August 15, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

        THIS is the quality content I come here for! 🙂

        • Joe Moose
          Joe Moose
          August 15, 2022 at 12:16 am | #

          Glad you like this content!

          • Clif
            Clif
            August 15, 2022 at 2:55 am | #

            When do we get to the part where Jennifer and Amazigirl decide to investigate Asher’s role in Mike and Amber’s father’s death?

            • Needfuldoer
              Needfuldoer
              August 15, 2022 at 9:44 am | #

              Sal gets involved somehow, and the three of them are in the same room at the same time.

              Jennifer wins gold in mental gymnastics trying to square reality with her perception.

  5. Suet
    Suet
    August 15, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    Man, Ruth somehow made Billie forget about their relationship… Wow awkward city central. But forget all that,

    *in a VERY worried tone* Willis…. What in the Bulmeria happened to Billie’s tag???

    • RassilonTDavros
      RassilonTDavros
      August 15, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

      Robin pulled it

    • Nathan
      Nathan
      August 15, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

      It’s been Jennifer since she started asking people to call her Jennifer (post timeskip). Willis asked (or maybe wondered aloud) in the comment section whether he should change it to Billie again during this flashback chapter.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        August 15, 2022 at 7:14 am | #

        And then it was sometimes Billie for some of the flashback strips, but not all of them and now it seems to have reverted to Jennifer.

        • Needfuldoer
          Needfuldoer
          August 15, 2022 at 9:48 am | #

          I think it’s a gag that got fumbled. Looks like it’s all Jennifer again now, though.

          • Ana Chronistic
            Ana Chronistic
            August 15, 2022 at 10:51 am | #

            Hence why I’ve been saying BJ (also it’s a serendipitous joke)

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 15, 2022 at 12:35 am | #

      It got dumped.

    • Alex
      Alex
      August 15, 2022 at 2:33 pm | #

      I think it’s intentional, and it shows that the break between Billie and Jennifer happened because Billie was heartbroken over Ruth and had to distance herself from those feelings.

  6. Yumi
    Yumi
    August 15, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    WELP.

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 15, 2022 at 3:14 am | #

      Yep.

      • schmess
        schmess
        August 15, 2022 at 4:13 am | #

        YEP.

        • milu
          milu
          August 15, 2022 at 6:11 pm | #

          Yeppers.

  7. anon
    anon
    August 15, 2022 at 12:07 am | #

    I wonder how many o thers heard that. Maybe dina (even if it’s not dinosaur related. or becky? )

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      August 15, 2022 at 9:49 am | #

      Aren’t Becky and Dina still helping Mary take down the hell house?

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        August 15, 2022 at 11:18 am | #

        Unless it’s dramatically convenient for them to be coming down the hall. Last we saw, Jennifer and Ruth and Becky and Dina were all still in the Hell House. Perfectly reasonable for Becky & Dina to have finished.

        • milu
          milu
          August 15, 2022 at 6:14 pm | #

          Also, we may be inflicted a strip of Mary somehow attributing the breakup to her own holy works.

          Remember how pleased she was with herself in the strips immediately prior to the flashback.

      • anon
        anon
        August 15, 2022 at 11:28 pm | #

        Well depending on story/comedic timing they could be right at the tail end of it or so

        Or becky’s hearing relative to lesbian/woman loving things would set off her radar, even if it’s not necessarily a happy thing

  8. Nono
    Nono
    August 15, 2022 at 12:08 am | #

    Wow, panel 4 Dorothy really has the Awkward Amber Smile down.

    • anon
      anon
      August 15, 2022 at 12:14 am | #

      looked more like a 😬 face than awkward smiling

  9. Twig
    Twig
    August 15, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

    WAIT THAT’S HOW SHE DOES IT?????????????????

    • Twig
      Twig
      August 15, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

      IS THAT ACTUALLY ALL SHE SAYS AND THAT’S HOW THEY BREAK UP WHAT–
      JFEIDGHDFILUGFSAUIGSFAIUGBSAFIULGFASILUGBASLIUBGAILUG

      • Yoder of Kansas
        Yoder of Kansas
        August 15, 2022 at 12:15 am | #

        Oh, you know there’s going to be more, probably in tomorrow’s comic.

    • anon
      anon
      August 15, 2022 at 12:12 am | #

      can’t really imagine any alternatives would’ve been better , at least it wasn’t too public/obvious to everyone else

  10. Siddlaw
    Siddlaw
    August 15, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

    Ruth. NO.

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 15, 2022 at 2:57 am | #

      Well, at least she didn’t add to the drama.

      • milu
        milu
        August 15, 2022 at 6:08 pm | #

        Or ok, maybe she did, but seeing how bases on the amount of drama already ongoing, the law of diminishing facepalms means the marginal drama she added to the night has way less impact than if her drama was the only one on offer.

  11. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    August 15, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

    I hope Billie didn’t here that.

  12. RassilonTDavros
    RassilonTDavros
    August 15, 2022 at 12:09 am | #

    idontknowwhatiexpected.gif

  13. The Wellerman
    The Wellerman
    August 15, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

    Nope, not touching this one. Mostly because I’m fucking stoked about IRL.

    Today I had a coding interview with an indie game studio making an Earthbound-style pixel RPG about an ADHD autistic girl and her friends and her struggles growing up! They might hire me as a programmer! 😍

    Wish me luck!

    *plays “I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line on hacked muzak*

    • Lux
      Lux
      August 15, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

      Good luck!!

    • Joe Moose
      Joe Moose
      August 15, 2022 at 12:11 am | #

      Best of luck! Fingers crossed! Golden kittens parading across your walkways with bunches of four-leaved clovers in their mouths!

    • Laura
      Laura
      August 15, 2022 at 12:14 am | #

      Best of luck!

    • Robbie
      Robbie
      August 15, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

      That’s exciting! Good luck!

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      August 15, 2022 at 12:30 am | #

      Best of luck. They would be lucky to have you.

    • Regalli
      Regalli
      August 15, 2022 at 12:36 am | #

      Best of luck!

    • Reltzik
      Reltzik
      August 15, 2022 at 12:37 am | #

      Bah. If you need LUCK something’s gone badly wrong. I wish you an interviewer who recognizes your potential.

      • Opus the Poet
        Opus the Poet
        August 15, 2022 at 1:32 pm | #

        Which is pretty random, which then gets back to Luck. I wish his interview roll is a Nat 20.

    • BBCC
      BBCC
      August 15, 2022 at 12:53 am | #

      Good luck, Wellerman!

    • cbwroses
      cbwroses
      August 15, 2022 at 2:45 am | #

      Good luck.

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 15, 2022 at 2:58 am | #

      Wow! Good luck!

    • Miri
      Miri
      August 15, 2022 at 3:50 am | #

      Aaaah how exciting! I hope they recognise how awesome you are and hire you!

    • milu
      milu
      August 15, 2022 at 6:40 am | #

      Hey that’s awesome! Break a leg!!! 🤞

    • JBento
      JBento
      August 15, 2022 at 8:14 am | #

      Best of luck!

    • Koms
      Koms
      August 15, 2022 at 9:05 am | #

      Good luck!!!

    • Joy
      Joy
      August 15, 2022 at 11:36 am | #

      Good luck! 😀

    • spriteless_auntie
      spriteless_auntie
      August 15, 2022 at 11:58 am | #

      Wow! I hope for the best! And want to play that game….

    • a/snow/mous/e
      a/snow/mous/e
      August 15, 2022 at 3:02 pm | #

      oooh nice 😀 good luck Wellerman!!! <333

    • Wereg
      Wereg
      August 15, 2022 at 4:14 pm | #

      Good luck!

    • Amós Batista
      Amós Batista
      August 15, 2022 at 6:24 pm | #

      good luck

  14. Slartibeast Button, BIA
    Slartibeast Button, BIA
    August 15, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

    Not in a text message?

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 15, 2022 at 3:06 am | #

      Too impersonal.

      • milu
        milu
        August 15, 2022 at 5:59 pm | #

        Ruth wants her and Billie’s to die the way it lived: with an alarming and baffling act of self-destruction.

        • milu
          milu
          August 15, 2022 at 6:00 pm | #

          her and Billie’s *love

  15. Devin
    Devin
    August 15, 2022 at 12:10 am | #

    RUTH NO

  16. Joe Moose
    Joe Moose
    August 15, 2022 at 12:17 am | #

    I mean, the party is ruined – why not make it into a worse state of ruin?

  17. goggleman64
    goggleman64
    August 15, 2022 at 12:22 am | #

    Pfffffahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaa

  18. Diana Nock
    Diana Nock
    August 15, 2022 at 12:23 am | #

    Somehow even ruder than dumping via text…

    • anon
      anon
      August 15, 2022 at 12:28 am | #

      well, that always seemed impersonal but other than rude, if someone was dumped/cut off via text i’d kinda half assumed the person didn’t feel safe doing it irl or just ghosting

      • Leorale
        Leorale
        August 15, 2022 at 1:12 am | #

        It always sucks to get dumped, no matter how it’s done. While some ways may be more rude than others, I think sometimes people get inordinately mad at the method of getting dumped, as a way to feel mad about being dumped at all.

        That said, completely by surprise, while you think everything’s going great, in front of all your mutual friends… yeah a quiet text would’ve been better than that.

      • Joy
        Joy
        August 15, 2022 at 11:37 am | #

        That’s a really good point.

      • Alex
        Alex
        August 15, 2022 at 2:37 pm | #

        That’s a possible interpretation but there is a certain stereotype of people doing it that way because breaking up is unpleasant and when you text someone you don’t have to see any of the messy outcome. That’s why breaking up by text is often seen as cold and unfeeling, or maybe a little cowardly.

  19. Johan
    Johan
    August 15, 2022 at 12:23 am | #

    Yeah no wonder Billifer pissed.

    A break up like that and in public? 😬

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 15, 2022 at 3:02 am | #

      We haven’t yet reached the what why stage.

  20. Well_Played
    Well_Played
    August 15, 2022 at 12:23 am | #

    Oof. Now there’s going to be two people on the floor.

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 15, 2022 at 3:03 am | #

      with or without femors?

      • milu
        milu
        August 15, 2022 at 5:50 pm | #

        I see you trying to spell that word a different way every time you use it.
        Using the medium of daily comments on a comic strip to make a subtle point about English orthography, are we?

  21. TrueVCU
    TrueVCU
    August 15, 2022 at 12:25 am | #

    One hell of an Irish Goodnight

  22. True Survivor
    True Survivor
    August 15, 2022 at 12:31 am | #

    Dorothy is very well drawn in this strip.

  23. Hazel
    Hazel
    August 15, 2022 at 12:31 am | #

    Oh Dorothy, trying so hard. Unfortunately she lives in the DoA universe and is thus doomed to drama.

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      August 15, 2022 at 9:50 am | #

      Drama overload? Always!

      • milu
        milu
        August 15, 2022 at 5:51 pm | #

        Good thing she lives for the drama, of her own admission! She must be so stoked rn.

  24. BBCC
    BBCC
    August 15, 2022 at 12:33 am | #

    OOF. Ruth, damn, way to make the party even more dramatic. Jesus.

  25. Regalli
    Regalli
    August 15, 2022 at 12:37 am | #

    Well… It at least sidesteps the fight I was fearing. For about 20 minutes, probably.

    No wonder Dina and Becky were elsewhere. Seems like this is just the party of Maximum Breakup Energy.

  26. jeffepp
    jeffepp
    August 15, 2022 at 12:49 am | #

    Bobby Joe caught up with her the very next day.

    • Opus the Poet
      Opus the Poet
      August 15, 2022 at 1:34 pm | #

      Go on, take the money and run!

  27. brionl
    brionl
    August 15, 2022 at 12:56 am | #

    So, is that better or worse than breakup by text?

    • Leorale
      Leorale
      August 15, 2022 at 1:16 am | #

      Worse — it’s in front of lots of people whose opinion she cares about. Getting thrown into a couch was less embarrassing than this. At least a text lets you feel terrible in private.

      • thejeff
        thejeff
        August 15, 2022 at 7:28 am | #

        Best worst case: other people heard it, but she didn’t.

  28. the jighole man
    the jighole man
    August 15, 2022 at 1:03 am | #

    what.

  29. alongcameaspider
    alongcameaspider
    August 15, 2022 at 1:09 am | #

    Just casually dropping a drama handgernade in the room before leaving, classic Ruth

  30. Bobcat
    Bobcat
    August 15, 2022 at 1:45 am | #

    DUN DUN DUNNNN

  31. motorfirebox
    motorfirebox
    August 15, 2022 at 1:58 am | #

    Dumbing of Age Book 13:

    • motorfirebox
      motorfirebox
      August 15, 2022 at 1:59 am | #

      Stupid html. Let’s try this:

      Dumbing of Age Book 13: <fourth panel>

  32. Francoinblanco
    Francoinblanco
    August 15, 2022 at 1:59 am | #

    good old teacher aproach Ruth… somebody on the floor? meh i bet he has it coming. Do you want to expell him too?

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 15, 2022 at 3:17 am | #

      Eh, it’s Walky.

      • JBento
        JBento
        August 15, 2022 at 8:16 am | #

        No, this is Dumbing of Age.

    • Alex
      Alex
      August 15, 2022 at 2:39 pm | #

      She may not realize he was pushed and think he’s just being weird.

  33. C.T. Phipps
    C.T. Phipps
    August 15, 2022 at 2:17 am | #

    It needs Ruth giving Billie the bird twice while moonwalking away.

  34. The Oracle
    The Oracle
    August 15, 2022 at 2:17 am | #

    Dorothy and Walky did nothing wrong. I’ve come to the light.

  35. Laura
    Laura
    August 15, 2022 at 2:48 am | #

    Frayed nerves it is. Mine are pretty frayed right now.

    If anyone else has got frayed nerves tonight, feel free to leave soft soothing things in the comments here. We can un-fray each other, maybe.

    Here’s a soft thing: cookie pancakes.
    I was gonna post the Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookie recipe (https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9863/mrs-fields-cookie-recipe-i/), but it’s much too complicated, so instead I’ll just make instant pancakes with chocolate chips. Much easier.

    What are your favorite ways to un-fray your nerves?

    (No snark, please. See above: frayed nerves.)

    Reminds me of the string who walked into a bar and ordered a beer. Bartender said, “We don’t serve strings here.” String contorted himself into a pretzel shape and jumped up and down until his threads were dangling all over the place out every which way. Then he ordered a beer again.
    Bartender said, “Aren’t you the same string I just said ‘no’ to?”
    String grinned proudly and said, “NOPE! I’m a FRAYED KNOT!” ;-D

    • Reaver
      Reaver
      August 15, 2022 at 3:14 am | #

      Gonna make me fat with that recipe! also BOOooooooOoo

      My way to unfray nerves is to tidy/organize my space, helps me clear my head and declutter my mind 🙂

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 15, 2022 at 3:27 am | #

        That sounds like a wonderful way to get calm. I think I would just get more stressed out if I tried it, but I’m glad it works for you.

        • Reaver
          Reaver
          August 15, 2022 at 3:29 am | #

          Well organizing my art supplies with a good video on, new wax in the scentsy burner and ending with a good hot shower is the best lol for me

          • Laura
            Laura
            August 15, 2022 at 3:32 am | #

            Oh, that sounds perfect ! Just the thing to get you in a creative frame of mind to use those art supplies sometime. How soothing!

        • Laura
          Laura
          August 15, 2022 at 11:07 am | #

          Thank you everyone for this long and helpful list of ways to feel better. It’s so good to have resourceful and generous friends like you folks. <3

    • Clif
      Clif
      August 15, 2022 at 3:18 am | #

      What did the bartender say to that?

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 15, 2022 at 3:26 am | #

        She said “I’m SEW KNOT gonna fall for that!”

      • Reaver
        Reaver
        August 15, 2022 at 3:27 am | #

        ” Knotty boy”

        • Laura
          Laura
          August 15, 2022 at 3:32 am | #

          Oooh-ooh! X-)

        • Laura
          Laura
          August 15, 2022 at 4:02 am | #

          She said, “Go across the street to the all night takeout. They serve natto.”

          • Laura
            Laura
            August 15, 2022 at 4:03 am | #

            Or knot-chos with cheese!

            • Reaver
              Reaver
              August 15, 2022 at 4:05 am | #

              Laura this is an intervention

              • Laura
                Laura
                August 15, 2022 at 4:51 am | #

                Whew! Thanks for straightening me out. I would have been stringing them along all night! ;-D

                • Laura
                  Laura
                  August 15, 2022 at 4:53 am | #

                  Ok, last one. Bartender said, “You see this hole in my sock? Well, you’re still a string, *darn* it!”

                • milu
                  milu
                  August 15, 2022 at 7:17 am | #

                  Ahahahahaha
                  love this entire thread 😉
                  i’m afraid to get roped in 😉
                  and get stuck in a loop 😉 spooling out 😉 an endless string 😉 of puns

                • Reaver
                  Reaver
                  August 15, 2022 at 11:53 am | #

                  Ya’ll are being a *noose*ence

                  :V

                • milu
                  milu
                  August 15, 2022 at 12:48 pm | #

                  Awww come on, you’re so serious,
                  you’re like the Stringer Bell to my Omar 😉

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      August 15, 2022 at 3:58 am | #

      Mac and Cheese and the Binding of Isaac for me. 😋🎮😊

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 15, 2022 at 4:02 am | #

        Yum! :-9

        • The Wellerman
          The Wellerman
          August 15, 2022 at 4:15 am | #

          On that note I’m all too curious as to what it would taste like if I made it with CBD oil….

          • Laura
            Laura
            August 15, 2022 at 10:40 am | #

            I bet it would taste delicious and send you right to sleep! I’ve done that with sweet potatoes after an injury — slept for a good 3 days. Lovely.

            • The Wellerman
              The Wellerman
              August 15, 2022 at 3:58 pm | #

              That does sound lovely 🥰

    • Queezle
      Queezle
      August 15, 2022 at 4:01 am | #

      My favourite ways to un-fray my nerves in alphabetical order:
      -Cat hugs
      -Discworld novels
      -Drink some tea
      -go for a run

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 15, 2022 at 4:05 am | #

        That sounds just perfect.

    • milu
      milu
      August 15, 2022 at 8:22 am | #

      oh no! sorry about your frayed nerves. hope you’re feeling better by now.

      Damn those cookies look good! how about the pancakes, did you make them?? also a great idea. Haven’t had pancakes for quite a bit! (why?! what is wrong with me)

      anyway, yesterday i found a bunch of very ripe bananas (dumpster divin’, babies 😎) so i’m definitely planning on making myself some banana milkshake today. lots of ice. hmmmmm yes that ought to be s(m)oothing

      Anyway, here’s some of nerve-loosening techniques…

      1) do you have a friend you can call and just be like “hey i’m feeling like shit, you have a moment?” and they know what to do? like the kind of humour you like, or the sort of discussion to drag you into to get you all excited and distract you?

      3) music! you said you also do music. once i start playing and/or composing, i will often entirely lose myself in the music, the moment, and own it and never let it go (go!). For real, though. it’s to the point where i need to ration myself haha. if i know i have something to do, someplace to be, etc i will not allow myself to start playing because i will only ping back to reality hours later needing to pee real bad and having no sense of the time that’s elapsed.

      2) nature + physical effort? i live relatively near mountains, like if my mental situation can wait till the next day or two to be taken care of, i will go for a hike and it does me wonders. often with a friend. maybe overnight, find a nice place to camp or sleep in an open hut, have a splif, watch the stars, listen to some chill tunes… ✨

      Alternatively if you have a park or forest in the vicinity, just being outdoors and surrounded by trees (and squirrels =3) tends to make me feel better.

      Failing even that i go for an aimless walk while listening to a good podcast. These days i’m super into this gothic midwestern fiction show called Unwell, the production and acting are stellar, and i often make my walks longer these days to finish an episode =)

      9) i think you know pretty well how to take care of yourself, and this is not necessary, but do you take anxiety meds? or have you considered it? Do you have a good mental health professional to turn to and ask? Sometimes biochemistry is just biochemistry.

      5) the way my brain works, unless i’ve reach crisis level or am in a fullblown depressive episode, i can almost always distract and relax myself with NERD SHIT 🤓 I read a lot of evolutionary biology for dummies, i love Stephen Jay Gould’s books for instance. Yesterday i spent several hours on youtube learning about the 19th-century french revolutions (not “the” french revolution, the next few ones =P). Anything that i just happen to find wildly fascinating suddenly for no reason.

      G) novels that leave you feeling fuzzy and optimistic! I recommend “Bean Trees” by Barbara Kingsolver and its sequel “Pigs in Heaven”. She is so endlessly tender to her characters, it’s really heart-warming.

      If you read French and you have a way of finding French books, I suggest “Heureusement Qu’on Va Vers L’Été” by Christiane Rochefort. It’s just lovely, and whimsical, and shamelessly utopian =)

      √2) romcoms. Specifically, lesbian romcoms. In that genre, I have no standards, other than it has to be very mushy and i want girls kissing by the end of the movie. Personal Favourites include: “Saving Face”, “D.E.B.S.”, “But I’m A Cheerleader”, “Drool”, “La Llamada” (aka “Holy Camp!”), “I Can’t Think Straight”, “Imagine Me & You”. They are all awesome. AMA.

      Good luck <3

      • milu
        milu
        August 15, 2022 at 8:28 am | #

        oh! and,

        β) learning Chinese. or whatever, some language you’re interested in. these days i’m learning chinese, chiefly on Duolingo, and i do not have any reason to do so other than, the learning itself is fun. You seem like you like languages, have you thought of picking one up at random for the sake of it? i do that. apparently. (i will spend an hour or more every day on duolingo lately. i’m very committed to this pointless endeavour.)

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 15, 2022 at 10:58 am | #

        Yes, much better milu. Thank you so much. What a beautiful long list of happiness strategies. So lovely and helpful.

        I’m gonna take a little power nap right now, then see what kind of yummy brain-healthy foods I can eat.

        (Loved the puns upstairs too!)

        • milu
          milu
          August 15, 2022 at 12:44 pm | #

          my pleasure!

          oh yeah, sleeping! its a neat #lifehack, now that you mention it. i LOVE sleeping. yay naps!

    • JBento
      JBento
      August 15, 2022 at 9:25 am | #

      Fire up Grim Dawn and murderising everything. Great stress burner.

      Dunk in the bathtub and just stay there soaking in hot water. Can’t do that these days cos of surgery stitches, but I can’t wait to go back to doing it.

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 15, 2022 at 10:36 am | #

        Safe and thorough surgery healing to you, JBento! Here’s hoping!

        • JBento
          JBento
          August 15, 2022 at 10:53 am | #

          Thanks. Stitches come off tomorrow, then it’s gonna be a hassle of taking care that the cuts don’t reopen for a couple of days, and hopefully the biopsy results are gonna be negative so I don’t have to be cut in these specific spots again.

          How’s your head doing today?

          • Laura
            Laura
            August 15, 2022 at 11:00 am | #

            Oh goodness gracious, JBento! You have a lot on your mind! Here’s sending ALL my hopes for your negative biopsy! Wishing good healing for you.

            Brain feels OK right now. Usually does in the morning. Gotta see how I do with a little work. Thank you for asking. <3

            • JBento
              JBento
              August 15, 2022 at 11:46 am | #

              Huh, generally I’m accused of having nothing on my mind, so thanks for the novelty of it. ;p

              Eh, just two neves the dermatologist thought looked iffy. It’s probably fine; if not, they’ll just dig in again. Bit of a hassle, but what you’re gonna do?

              Hope brain OK-ness continues. Sounds like rest helps, so naps and breaks!

              • Laura
                Laura
                August 15, 2022 at 1:12 pm | #

                Thanks, pal! 🙂
                I’m really glad you’re getting that checked out. Best to check!

    • Laura
      Laura
      August 15, 2022 at 11:09 am | #

      Oops. Meant for that reply to go at the end of the thread. Thank you all. A little sleep works wonders. <3

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 16, 2022 at 12:41 am | #

        Thank you everyone for this long and helpful list of ways to feel better. It’s so good to have resourceful and generous friends like you folks. <3

    • Robbie
      Robbie
      August 15, 2022 at 4:01 pm | #

      My favorite way to unfray my nerves is to drink hot drinks. Actually it’s almost the only way I know. I don’t even like hot drinks that much, lol

      • Laura
        Laura
        August 15, 2022 at 5:46 pm | #

        They are so great because they force you to sip slowly. Wonderful idea!

  36. Clif
    Clif
    August 15, 2022 at 3:20 am | #

    If it were done, t’were best done quickly.

  37. Laura
    Laura
    August 15, 2022 at 3:29 am | #

    The Scottish Play!

    • Laura
      Laura
      August 15, 2022 at 3:30 am | #

      Meant that to be a reply to Clif.

  38. AGV
    AGV
    August 15, 2022 at 3:44 am | #

    Do you think Billie even heard that

  39. AbacusWizard
    AbacusWizard
    August 15, 2022 at 3:51 am | #

    wait what

  40. RedCat
    RedCat
    August 15, 2022 at 4:20 am | #

    “He’s fine, we’re fine, I’M FINE!!”
    Very convincing, thank you.

    Also wait WHAT

  41. Thag Simmons
    Thag Simmons
    August 15, 2022 at 5:15 am | #

    Oh so Becky and Dina just flat out missed all the drama

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      August 15, 2022 at 11:18 am | #

      That’s probably why they survived Halloween.

  42. Dot
    Dot
    August 15, 2022 at 6:22 am | #

    Easily the single worst way she could have done it. Casually, like an afterthought, in front of all of her friends.

  43. Plaaaa
    Plaaaa
    August 15, 2022 at 6:25 am | #

    This is the moment she say Joyce’s segregated chex mix.

  44. milu
    milu
    August 15, 2022 at 6:44 am | #

    Ruth: “Wait so Amber’s single? Let me go check on her real quick. Oh, and Billie? We’re through”

    🎵 *New Crack Ship Unlocked* 🎵

  45. Beau Kirin Maysey
    Beau Kirin Maysey
    August 15, 2022 at 7:39 am | #

    Technically

    **Technically**

    Breaking up via whisper footnote is the least dramatic Ruth can be about this??

    But, also- ***TECHNICALLY***

    Since she KNOWS this is an OBNOXIOUS way to break up with someone, and that it’ll get a reaction-

    No. No this is dramatic as all get out xD

  46. JBento
    JBento
    August 15, 2022 at 8:21 am | #

    Wait, was Ruth always going to break up with Jennifer at this party? Not only in public, but also in front of all of Jennifer’s friends?

    JFC.

    • C.T. Phipps
      C.T. Phipps
      August 15, 2022 at 8:57 am | #

      I mean, she wants this to be as permanent and no, “Can we talk about this?” as possible.

      • JBento
        JBento
        August 15, 2022 at 7:51 pm | #

        These people live like two doors from each other. Doing the break-up in front of people does not preclude either of those things happening afterwards.

  47. Chaucer59
    Chaucer59
    August 15, 2022 at 8:34 am | #

    Yikes! So there really IS a break-up method worse than texting it.

    • True Survivor
      True Survivor
      August 15, 2022 at 11:00 am | #

      Thanks. This made me smile.

  48. Koms
    Koms
    August 15, 2022 at 9:08 am | #

    In the second last panel who said “Sure let me help you…” ?

    • JBento
      JBento
      August 15, 2022 at 9:22 am | #

      I’m pretty sure that’s Jennifer. The “all by myself” is there because Ruth is high-tailing it.

      • Koms
        Koms
        August 15, 2022 at 9:41 am | #

        Ah thanks!

  49. poyo
    poyo
    August 15, 2022 at 11:17 am | #

    Dorothy: things are really tense right now so maybe don’t do that thing you were thinking of doing
    Ruth: WHAT ??? BREAK UP WITH HER RIGHT NOW???? IF YOU SAY SO DOROTHY

  50. Bagge
    Bagge
    August 15, 2022 at 12:01 pm | #

    Nailed it

    • milu
      milu
      August 15, 2022 at 12:46 pm | #

      you can take it from here, Dorothy.

      • Bagge
        Bagge
        August 15, 2022 at 1:19 pm | #

        I hear you like being the adult in the room

  51. Keulen
    Keulen
    August 15, 2022 at 1:04 pm | #

    Kinda hoping Billie didn’t hear that, because that’s probably one of the worst ways to break up with someone.

  52. hazel
    hazel
    August 15, 2022 at 1:24 pm | #

    I get it.. Dorothy was begging Ruth with her eyes not to break up with Billie, after Ruth confided in her. Ruth was understandably pissed that her concerns were being reduced to “dramatic.” It was spite. It’s always spite.

    • milu
      milu
      August 15, 2022 at 2:16 pm | #

      I dont… think so? She’s just made up her mind. She wants to tip the bandaid. She knows (or well, she’s decided) there’s never gonna be a *good* time. Compared to how intense her own emotions about the impending breakup must be at this moment, I really doubt Dorothy’s opinion even rates.

      • Hazel
        Hazel
        August 15, 2022 at 6:56 pm | #

        Maybe. I’m going solely off of the visual cue of Ruth’s smaller pupils after Dorothy says that. It is often like a defensive/offended/indignant cue in comics? At lease the opposite of the empathy larger pupil thing.

        It just makes more sense to me why she would completely disregard Dorothy’s request, and it’s more satisfying. Not too attached to this theory tho; I could very easily be misreading.

    • Alex
      Alex
      August 15, 2022 at 2:31 pm | #

      Personally I think Ruth realized the party was already on awkward footing and she wouldn’t be making things any worse by breaking up with Billie.

      • Hazel
        Hazel
        August 15, 2022 at 7:02 pm | #

        Perhaps!

    • Rotunda
      Rotunda
      August 15, 2022 at 6:39 pm | #

      I read Dorothy as asking Ruth not to break up with Billie *at the party*. Dorothy knows that Ruth is resolved to break up: she just wants to salvage what’s left of the social event.

      • Hazel
        Hazel
        August 15, 2022 at 7:02 pm | #

        Oh, this part I get. I still think it was unintentionally condescending of Dorothy, like Ruth wouldn’t understand that it was a bad time. It would be more evidence of Dorothy not understanding social behavior, like the current day storyline is exploring.

        Ruth did say that she wanted to break up when they were both in a good place, and there were signs earlier in the night that Ruth was doubting her decision. I think it just pushed her, since she seems to super regret it in present day.

  53. Amós Batista
    Amós Batista
    August 15, 2022 at 1:37 pm | #

    If life is like Tweet, Ruth is tweeting and muting Billie.

  54. Leadsynth
    Leadsynth
    August 15, 2022 at 2:22 pm | #

    Who said the “pick up this candy” line tho?

    • Needfuldoer
      Needfuldoer
      August 15, 2022 at 4:50 pm | #

      My guess would be Billie. Usually if someone off-screen says something, they get tagged (unless it’s a surprise, then they get retroactively tagged the next day).

    • The Wellerman
      The Wellerman
      August 16, 2022 at 12:00 am | #

      I dunno.

  55. alongcameaspider
    alongcameaspider
    August 15, 2022 at 3:48 pm | #

    If Billie heard Ruth then suddenly all her anger towards Ruth post time skip suddenly makes perfect sense, she didn’t just dump Billie, she did so in probably the most humiliating way possible

    • Alex
      Alex
      August 15, 2022 at 4:43 pm | #

      And in a manner that implied she didn’t really care.

  56. Axel
    Axel
    August 15, 2022 at 5:06 pm | #

    “a walky”

  57. C.T. Phipps
    C.T. Phipps
    August 15, 2022 at 5:10 pm | #

    Needs some finger guns.

  58. thumb
    thumb
    August 15, 2022 at 6:10 pm | #

    Well holy fucking shit!
    If you know what’s going on in her head, it ain’t great but it’s understandable. Her mood here is completely zeroed out. If you don’t know though, this is extraordinarily fucked up.

  59. Thomas
    Thomas
    August 16, 2022 at 5:28 am | #

    Billie claims that Ruth is not good at reading the room, but Ruth is reading the room just fine! She leaps from spotting Walky on the floor to wanting to check up on Amber, even if that’s just an excuse to leave the party.

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