She's Actually Quite Ruthless!

I'm not sure that Grandma Ruth is all that excited about National Ruth Day, but perhaps she's just disappointed that no one has given her girdle money lately. I'm sure she'll feel better once she gets the chance to criticize Helen a few times.

Unfortunately, I suspect Helen will not be home because it's National Working Mom's Day and she's definitely more interested in the "working" part of the holiday. Ruth will just have to give Daria and Quinn all of the passive aggressive comments instead.

With any luck, Camp Grizzly, first seen in the episode "Camp Fear" on this day in 2001, will hold another reunion and give the girls an excuse to leave. Although choosing between staying with Grandma Ruth and spending time with Skip Stevens and Amelia...well, that's a tough call.

Fanfic Update!

• Spider Quinn 20 The Imitation Tempest, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 8): "Sandi entered Cashmans and saw that the knockoff clothes were still on sale. 'There are still a lot of them,' she said."

How Much Punishment Will You Take for Some Thin Mints?

Looks like the Girl Scouts are taking an aggressive tactic to celebrate Girl Scouts Day, but I guess if it sells cookies then you can't argue with results. I hope Jane celebrates, too, perhaps by singing that song about John Jacob Jingleheimer somebody.

Meanwhile, Jake's mother should know that today is National Ruth Day, so she should go out and treat herself. Maybe she could buy herself an extra-special girdle!

Is anyone in the mood for a nature hike down memory lane? On this day in 2001, the episode "Camp Fear" aired, and I will never look at watermelons the same way again.

Fandom News!

• R.I.P., Akira Toriyama.


• Vote in the Celebrity Deathmatch poll between Jem and Melodia.


• Post in a new thread to vent about things that drive you crazy.

They're Just Nuts about Mothers In Law!

It seems It's a Nutty, Nutty, Nutty World has stepped up its marketing campaign for National Nut Day and Daria has dragged Jane in to join her in the misery. And she thought having to smile was bad!

Still, it beats being at home, especially if Grandma Ruth has dropped in for a Mother-In-Law Day's visit. Throw in the never-seen but always-terrible Grandma Barksdale and you'll have a real catastrophe on your hands.

I'm sure the Yeagers will be happy to know that Timothy Leary was born on this day in 1920, so I hope they give whichever number dog they're up to some extra pats to celebrate. Any idea on how things are coming along with that real Timothy Leary replacement?

Fanfic Update!

• Avatar: The Drama Of Daria, by psychotol (part 2): "Jinora and Asami emerged out of the studio and turned their phones back on as they headed for the stairwell, and Asami read a text and commented 'Ugh.'"


• Daria on the Trail, by meesterlee (part 54): "An axle broke on one of the Johnson Company’s wagons the next day. We and the Johnson Company were still traveling together, so Captain Trout ordered our wagons to come to a stop while Mr. Ruffin and his friends set about replacing their broken axle."


• Her Last Words, by Sheila Wisz Ellayn (part 74): "Anna's tree drawings were selling fair and square so far, her work had indeed attracted a lot of attention and yet her true success of that day at the Art Fair was something very different, something that she had not even imagined that would happen..."


• Kevin, Portrait of a QB, by wilddogjj (COMPLETE!): "Brittany was carrying a hamper full of dirty laundry as she made her way to the basement. She opened the door and went down the stairs. What she saw down there made her drop the laundry and gasp in shock."

What About Working Grandmas?

Grandma Ruth is stunned to learn that it's National Ruth Day, and I think she should really make the most of today. Celebrate by buying yourself some nice girdles!

I think Ruth will be less pleased--but Helen will be thrilled--to learn that it's also National Working Mom's day. After all, in her day...well, no one really cares what they did in your day, Ruth. Go stuff a girdle in it.

Today is also the anniversary of the episode "Camp Fear," which aired on this day in 2001. There were no Ruths or working moms in that one, but there was a greased watermelon. So I guess it evens out?

Fanfic Update!

• Breaking Balmora, by welltemperedclavier (parts 3 and 4): "Jeval always liked going to Silk-hawker’s Street. It was the most colorful part of Balmora, what with all the streamers in reds, blues, violets, and more going between the buildings and tumbling down the walls." (Part 4)


• Daria Agere, by RadioFox (part 14): "Quinn walked into the giant pink-hued Payday store with her yellow purse clutched in her arm. She walked through the automatic metal doors and went to search for the aisle she was looking for."


• It’s Just Rock And Roll. It’s Not That Serious, by translayton (part 2): "'Hairspray? Hairspray, PLEASE?' Beavis’s hand twitched while he anxiously waited for one of the two other people occupying the cramped bathroom to hand over the product."


• Purple Sweater, by Sheila Wisz Ellayn (parts 4 and 5): "That day, the football field of the powerful Lawndale Lions looked very different from usual!" (Part 5)

Now Imagine Ruth and Mrs. Barksdale TOGETHER!

I'm going to guess that Mother-In-Law Day isn't one of Helen's favorite holidays, for obvious reasons. Of course, she doesn't have too much room to complain given that Jake's mother-in-law isn't so great, either.

Also on this day in 2000, Wraith posted an essay about "See Jane Run." Check it out if you haven't read it yet!

Fanfic Update!

• Danny Morgendorffer, by st91 (parts 71 and 72): "'Come in.' Ms. Li said when she heard a knock on her office door. 'Oh, good morning Mr. Morgendorffer!' she said smiling when she saw her student." (Part 72)


• Daria: Cuckoo's Egg, by meesterlee (part 5): "She’d tried. If she hadn’t been able to contact Jackie Handley, she’d managed to her mother. Maybe Jackie would call back, or maybe she wouldn’t. There wasn’t anything to do except wait. At least as far as Quinn was concerned."


• Triplets Of Terror, by wilddogjj (COMPLETE!): "After they came back from trick-or-treating, the Carbone triplets sat around the kitchen table to take stock of the candy they've received. They'd gone from that to telling scary stories."

Ruth Is Unimpressed By Your Decorating Skills

Hooray! It's Mother-In-Law Day! Helen's so happy, she's crying tears of joy. At least I think that's joy. Helen, put that bottle of wine down right now! It's American Beer Day, and if you're going to get wasted you'd better do it right!

Also, on this day in 1997, Daria appeared in Fortune Magazine. She's in a photo with a whole bunch of cartoons, and she sure looks as thrilled about it as you'd expect.

Fanfic Update!

• Back To Highland: A Daria/Worm Crossover, by Meester_Lee (part 3): "The C-130 reached the end of the runway, revved up, and then took off, banking as it presumably turned towards the direction of Texas. The military transport's interior was noisy, much noisier than the airliners Daria had flown in."


• Cancerous Like Me, by Lady Evil (part 5): "'I really wish Ariel went to school with us.' Link said to Allen over lunch at school. 'Then I could just run into her and talk to her about the party instead of having to make up some reason to meet somewhere.'"


• Daria's Great Adventure, by dmsfanman (part 31): "As a safety precaution Daria, Shamus, Anton, and Darren had brought with them 'rescue balls.' These were inflatable containers that could hold about two hours of air."


• Spare The Rod, Spoil The Quinn (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (part 1): "Quinn and Stacy are having lunch at Pizza King. While the place is a teen hangout the thrity-something best friends still like to eat here for sentimental reasons."

Daria's Going to Celebrate by Getting That Tattoo Grandma's Always Wanted Her to Have

Oh, boy! It's Helen's favorite holiday, Mother-In-Law Day! While Ruth has a few words with her about Helen's decorating choices and cooking skills, I'd like to take a moment to give a shout-out to the mother-in-law we never actually got to see in the show, Mrs. Barksdale. I don't know why she never appeared onscreen, but fanfic has certainly had a lot of fun with the character in the meantime.

Now please excuse me. I think Helen is about to bludgeon Ruth to death with a piece of fish.

Fandom News!

• Do you want mobile access to the PPMB? Vote in the poll and talk about it in the thread.


• Teeki would like some help with her research paper.


• Reese Kaine shares a few haikus he's written.


• Watch the trailer and talk about the upcoming movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier.


• What are your guilty pleasures when it comes to music?


• What are the five films that you'd recommend people see? List them in the thread!

Odds & Ends & Ruth

In response to a request from a column reader, here are two pictures of Ruth Morgendorffer, one showing she is the same height as Daria. You decide which side is Ruth's best side. Both photos came from "Jake of Hearts."

I want to ask if anyone knows where I can find good counters to put on this page to record hits. Heaven knows if anyone ever comes here, I never would. A free counter that counts individual hits and another that records unique visitors only would be good. Thank you for your help!

Anyone know anything about "Radio by Daria" on the MTV site? See one of the past entries about this.

More suggestions for old sites on the WayBack Machine are always welcome. Anyone find anything interesting?

Peace out.