i before e except after c ftw

January 10th, 2008 · 101 comments

when julie in elkhart, indiana saw this note from her roommate, molly…

i before e except after c ftw

she decided it was time to go on the offensive.

i before e except after c ftw

then came the counter attack…

i before e except after c ftw

…then julie photographed the exchange and sent it to us. game, set, match.

related: i know where she lives

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FILED UNDER: awk abbrev · i before e · indiana · oh snap · roommates · smiley · spelling and grammar police

101 responses so far ↓

  • #1  Luv this site

    hmmmm. Molly just didn’t get the hint did she? I guess that’s just a “facet” of her personality that has to be dealt with. Julie must have really rattled her; she spelled it right the first time.

    So what prize does the newbie poster get for being first???

    Jan 10, 2008 at 9:28 pm   rating: +3  

    • #1.1  morpho aurora

      well we’ve burned the jacket, unitard and unithong
      i guess you could see if grim will let you have that toothbrush - no, never mind, you really don’t wanna do that ;)

      Jan 10, 2008 at 9:45 pm   rating: +3  

       
    • #1.2  Canthz_B

      We could just pin the tail on the donkey for the first person to be a jackass on a thread. ;-)

      Jan 10, 2008 at 11:15 pm   rating: +2  

       
    • #1.3  Grimfool_Reluctant

      So what do I get for being the last jackass? And, no, Morpho, I’m not giving up the toothbrush, which I stole from Cha e’s roommate after Cha e got it from his dentist (who shoplifted it from a bitterly cold thrift store). I’m keeping my Oral-B, and I bristle (softly) at your suggestion.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:50 am   rating: +4  

       
    • #1.4  Canthz_B

      Hard one to answer there, Grim. Some of these threads are never ending. Seems there is always a jackass out there that has to expose him/herself! :-P

      Jan 11, 2008 at 1:10 am   rating: 0  

       
    • #1.5  mamason

      Someone exposed themself? Oh man! I always miss everything!

      Jan 11, 2008 at 1:25 am   rating: +2  

       
    • #1.6  Mishee

      Dammit!

      I miss everything too Mama!

      Jan 11, 2008 at 3:04 pm   rating: +1  

       
     
  • #2  jan

    I’m with Molly. Julie could simply make an effort to save water instead of sending a smart-ass reply.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 9:29 pm   rating: +1  

    • #2.1  WanderingPenguin

      Or she could do both. Where would the fun be if not for the reply to Molly?

      Look, if you can’t spell properly, you should probably not be leaving cutesy little notes everywhere. Try talking face-to-face.

      Team Julie. Or is that “Julee”? :D

      Jan 11, 2008 at 2:19 am   rating: +4  

       
    • #2.2  Tamz

      Or possibly even “Julei”… :|

      Jan 11, 2008 at 4:10 am   rating: +3  

       
     
  • #3  amy d

    Molly, I hear they make an ointment for ‘drippy faucets’ nowadays.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 9:38 pm   rating: +5  

    • #3.1  Lorelie

      And for “drippy facets” there’s a pill.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 11:48 am   rating: +3  

       
     
  • #4  morpho aurora

    ok julie could have turned the faucet off, molly could have said something instead of writing a note, molly should learn to spell “peeve”
    but…
    anyone who is smart ass enough to deliberately misspell “faucet” is funny enough to be forgiven a little P/A-ness

    Jan 10, 2008 at 9:38 pm   rating: +3  

    • #4.1  Rocky

      I don’t think she spelled it “facet” on purpose….in fact, I bet she abbreviated “ppl” because she wasn’t sure about the proper placement of the first “e” and the “o”….

      Team Get it Right All the Time.

      Jan 10, 2008 at 11:31 pm   rating: +5  

       
     
  • #5  anglophile

    I’m not sure it’s quite fair of Julie to accuse Molly of making no effort. After all, she used two different color markers, and tape on all four corners. Sure the spelling and the ripped out edge of the paper leave something to be desired, but give the girl some credit.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 9:38 pm   rating: +9  

    • #5.1  morpho aurora

      and a two-colored shaped post it for her second attempt - with just a little red ink - see, she did make an effort!

      Jan 10, 2008 at 9:47 pm   rating: +3  

       
     
  • #6  Canthz_B

    Poor Molly is conserving water while killing trees!

    Jan 10, 2008 at 10:05 pm   rating: +11  

     
  • #7  mamason

    Damn that Julie with her perfect spelling and cutesy, girly penmanship.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 10:09 pm   rating: +3  

    • #7.1  park rose

      I think that maybe Julie can’t spell, and that Molly should take better care of herself:

      Julie’s note (with creative licence) can be read
      If you want me to take you sen(su)ously, make an effort :)

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:18 am   rating: +2  

       
     
  • #8  Canthz_B

    CB’s pet peeve: People who spend more time writing a note than the time it would take to fix the problem that pisses them off in the first place.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 10:25 pm   rating: +2  

    • #8.1  amazon

      But that’s not as much fun!

      Jan 11, 2008 at 2:51 am   rating: 0  

       
     
  • #9  eh

    team molly. fuck juley. like my spelling error?

    Jan 10, 2008 at 10:26 pm   rating: +2  

    • #9.1  mamason

      What spelling error?

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:47 am   rating: 0  

       
    • #9.2  Grimfool_Reluctant

      I think “eh” meant “ream” Molly

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:54 am   rating: +3  

       
     
  • #10  RD

    Can’t we turn off the faucet, send the spelling error to passiveagressivenotes AND get along?

    Jan 10, 2008 at 10:36 pm   rating: +4  

     
  • #11  Wade

    I wouldn’t be too harsh with Molly.

    She obviously still in mourning for Janis Peive, former chairman of the Latvian Soviet Council of Ministers.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 10:52 pm   rating: +2  

    • #11.1  Wade

      oh, and then there is this depressing observation:

      google “peive” and see the endless number of webpages that use it the same way Molly did in her first note.

      :P

      Jan 10, 2008 at 10:55 pm   rating: +4  

       
    • #11.2  Canthz_B

      It’s the end of the world as we know it! :?

      Jan 10, 2008 at 11:06 pm   rating: +2  

       
    • #11.3  mamason

      Poor Molly.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:49 am   rating: 0  

       
     
  • #12  Lurker

    I’m guessing Molly gets A LOT of use out of those question-mark Post-Its.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 11:03 pm   rating: +2  

     
  • #13  fantasy

    Good Golly Miss Molly
    You sure like to scrawl
    up bitching and a griping all night long
    Good Golly Miss Molly
    Don’t you know how to spell
    writing and a griping all night long
    ooooo oooo
    Good Golly Miss Molly
    You have a phone call
    It’s the water company,saying pay up and all
    Good Golly Miss Molly
    are you on your way to tell
    ooooohh
    How the facet is a drippin and a droppin
    and you don’t know how to spell
    Good Golly miss Molly
    Are you on your way to tell
    How the facet is a drippin and a droppin all night long!
    ooooh
    ooooohhhhh
    A drippin and a droppin
    A drippin and a droppin
    Your bitching and griping
    gonna send you straight to hell
    Just a writin and a scribblin
    All night long

    Jan 10, 2008 at 11:06 pm   rating: +12  

    • #13.1  Lurker

      *wipes tears from eyes, which are dripping like Molly’s faucet*

      Jan 11, 2008 at 9:02 am   rating: +3  

       
    • #13.2  fantasy

      “Good Golly Miss Molly” Thank You Little Richard. :D
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8UhLlPcCXI

      Jan 11, 2008 at 9:33 am   rating: 0  

       
     
  • #14  Kelly

    Of course…calling the landlord to fix the faucet so it doesn’t have to be turned off with super-human strength would be too difficult. Writing two misspelled notes is far easier and FAR more effective.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 11:07 pm   rating: +7  

     
  • #15  Writerrejected

    Green question-mark paper is my pet peave, ppl.

    Jan 10, 2008 at 11:46 pm   rating: +4  

    • #15.1  anglophile

      Come to think of it, W,R, now it’s mine too! Damn! I’m collecting pet peives like cats these days.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 4:56 am   rating: +2  

       
    • #15.2  Lurker

      Proof positive that Molly is The Riddler!

      Jan 11, 2008 at 9:02 am   rating: +3  

       
    • #15.3  Canthz_B

      My pet peeve is when ppl use “ppl” as an abbreviation of ppl…umm? ;-)

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:52 pm   rating: +5  

       
    • #15.4  Writerrejected

      Pet peaves and pet pieves are hard to train. You have to be very consistent and feed them the best treats. Ppl are also hard to train sometimes.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 3:14 pm   rating: +3  

       
    • #15.5  durian

      I need some advice, WR. I have spoken to Barbara Woodhouse, but she has never come across the problem before. I have a peeved pet peive. No matter how consistent I am with ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘p’, nor how many treits I give it, some faucets of its personality are just plain drippy, nasty and trifling. What other training tips would you suggest?

      Jan 13, 2008 at 4:13 am   rating: 0  

       
     
  • #16  Detective Julie

    I always wanted a pet peive; I promise to walk it and feed it every day.

    (I’m not THAT Julie!)

    Jan 11, 2008 at 12:01 am   rating: +3  

     
  • #17  Canthz_B

    I promised myself to leave these things to more capable hands. I lied!
    To the tune of Stormy Weather:

    Don’t know why,
    You can’t turn this knob off tight,
    Faucet dripping,
    Drives me so crazy, I am tripping,
    Keeps dripping all the time.

    Life is tough,
    Roommate consideration’s tough,
    Faucet dripping,
    Wish you’d get your poor act together,
    I hear it drip all night,
    All night,
    All night.

    Jan 11, 2008 at 12:21 am   rating: +7  

    • #17.1  Canthz_B

      Er…How about “I promised myself I’d leave these things for more capable hands”, CB?

      Jan 11, 2008 at 1:50 am   rating: 0  

       
    • #17.2  Alix

      Ha ha! You made my morning, CB!

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:17 pm   rating: 0  

       
     
  • #18  ErikaBlare

    How about a Beatle’s reference?

    Julie

    Half of what I say is misspelled
    But I say it just to reach you, Julie.

    Julie, Julie, ocean-waster, peeves me
    So I leave a note of preservation, Julie
    Julie, obdurate, mocking, peeves me
    So I leave a note of conservation, Julie.

    Her drippy faucet is trickling, dribbling
    In the sink

    Julie, Julie, constant dripper, heed me
    So I leave a note of complaint, Julie.

    While I cannot bother to spell
    I can only speak my mind, Julie.

    Julie, water ravager, spelling critic, hear me
    So I leave a note of grievance, Julie.

    Drip drip drip drip…Peeves me

    So I leave a note of TURN OFF THE DAMN FAUCET, Julie, Julie, Julie.

    (Please excuse my little liberty at the end.)

    Jan 11, 2008 at 1:29 am   rating: +7  

    • #18.1  Canthz_B

      Not being very Beatles literate myself, could I ask for a link or reference of some type (song title)? :-)

      Jan 11, 2008 at 1:53 am   rating: 0  

       
    • #18.2  j

      i think it’s supposed to be to “julia”

      Jan 11, 2008 at 2:25 am   rating: 0  

       
    • #18.3  ErikaBlare

      Yes, “Julia” is a somewhat obscure, though lovely, Beatle’s tune from The White Album.

      C - here you go.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 3:18 am   rating: 0  

       
    • #18.4  DirtyOldLady

      But… you misspelled “peive.” :D

      Jan 11, 2008 at 3:35 am   rating: +2  

       
    • #18.5  GhostWriter

      “…not being very Beatles literate”??

      Blessed Holy Soul of John! I think you must wear the Unitard as pennance.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 8:49 am   rating: +4  

       
    • #18.6  Wade

      um, GW

      perhaps you should do penance for pennance.

      ;)

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:06 pm   rating: +4  

       
    • #18.7  Canthz_B

      Thanx Erika! :-)
      Sorry GW, My mom was listening to The Temptations! ;-)

      Jan 11, 2008 at 12:38 pm   rating: +1  

       
    • #18.8  Writerrejected

      John Lennon wrote it for his mother, Julia. Then named his child, Julian, after her. It is a very cool song.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 3:15 pm   rating: 0  

       
     
  • #19  Team Cassandra

    I have nothing to say. It’s perfection.

    Jan 11, 2008 at 2:15 am   rating: +2  

     
  • #20  WanderingPenguin

    Julie’s 2nd pet peeve: getting a cramp in her neck from having to turn her head at a 45-degree angle to squint at a tiny little post-it in the shape of a butterfly made of question marks so she can read what’s written there only to find yet another spelling mistake… and then forgetting to straighten her neck out before flinching.

    If ever a note cried out for pink penises, it’s Molly, revisited.

    Jan 11, 2008 at 2:33 am   rating: +7  

    • #20.1  Tyler

      I thought it was a butterfly, and had to do a double take after reading they were question marks!

      Team pink penises.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 4:21 am   rating: +2  

       
     
  • #21  Locke

    What’s up with pink penises? Aren’t most penises pink to some degree? Wouldn’t Molly be crying out for pink penises independent of the note anyways? Why am I asking so many questions? Why am I interrogating myself about the interrogation? Will I ever stop? Will Julie turn off the ‘facet’ next time? Tune in next time for another slightly mind-bending episode of “As the Penis Hangs!”

    Jan 11, 2008 at 6:21 am   rating: +1  

    • #21.1  Lurker

      I want to go out and start a condom company just so I can advertise during “As the Penis Hangs.”

      Jan 11, 2008 at 9:04 am   rating: +3  

       
    • #21.2  amy d

      I’ll create a new medication for erectile dysfunction and run it before your ad, Lurker. They can’t use your product until they use mine. After all, the penis is hanging.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 9:19 am   rating: +4  

       
    • #21.3  park rose

      :D :D :D

      Jan 11, 2008 at 9:59 am   rating: 0  

       
    • #21.4  mamason

      Most penises are pink to some degree? I would like to poll the posters about that one. Oh wait, maybe you’re thinking of doggie dicks.

      Jan 11, 2008 at 5:46 pm   rating: +1  

       
    • #21.5  Canthz_B

      If my penis was pink I’d see a doctor! :-P

      Jan 11, 2008 at 5:52 pm   rating: +2  

       
    • #21.6  amy d

      Mama, for the good of the squeamish, please use the gorge friendly term, doggie lipstick .

      Jan 11, 2008 at 6:35 pm   rating: +1  

       
     
  • #22  GhostWriter

    Holy Green Question-mark paper, Batman- Molly didn’t write her 2nd pet peeve, it was the Riddler!

    Jan 11, 2008 at 8:53 am   rating: +2  

     
  • #23  GhostWriter

    You know, if you have two pet peeves, and the first one is drippy faucets, and the second one is having to tell people about drippy faucets…

    …you can’t really be peeved about having to tell people in the first place. I mean, the drippy faucet has to come first, followed by having to tell people about it, right?

    Jan 11, 2008 at 9:00 am   rating: +6  

    • #23.1  WanderingPenguin

      Pretty clever, GW. You’ve run rings ’round Molly, logically.

      I did think, though, that you were going a whole other direction - something like: “If you have two peeves and they are both concerning drippy faucets… then your life is pretty frikkin’ grand and maybe you should just quit yer whinin’!” :D

      Jan 11, 2008 at 11:54 am   rating: +5  

       
     
  • #24  amy d

    Hi, I’m Molly,

    One of the faucets of my personality is that I can be quite drippy when I’m turned on. That must be why I don’t have that many second dates.

    Jan 11, 2008 at 9:15 am