Exactly. By definition. (mine)

Ah. A lame wooden spoon being, almost by definition, a mundle. Or is it the other way around?

Anyway, the word "mundle" makes up for the whole thing. :-)

So do I. My point is that a mundle is just a stirring stick, so it doesn't even have to be a spoon. It can be a really lame wooden spoon, which is to say, no spoon at all. Get me?

I like wooden spoons!

Uhh... no. But I suspect even a lame wooden spoon would suffice. Actually I was somewhat disappointed to learn that a lame wooden spoon could be a mundle, in that even lame wooden spoons are capable of mundling. Who knew?

c_b: I was really enjoying those Danger Tree words. Do you know where I might be able to procure a mundle stick?

C_b, and you all, it's probably happening again. Let's just follow the mal**ntent policy, OK?

And now, let's wait and see.

Well, thank you very much!

(in response to Proptologist ) I was just introduced to Wordie, and this was the first "cool" word i could think of.

I will certainly stick to Wordie. Its a wonderful idea!

I saw this story of a (non) chained bear and thought of you.

C_b, you've passed 5000 citations! Inciting excitement simpliciter!

Well, I may be reading a lot, but my music practicing is suffering quite a bit, so go ahead and feel chuffed if you want. :) Also, I don't read like this all the time. I don't even like fiction, honestly.

c_b: You are eternally gracious, and please don't change a thing about your Wordie postings. The O' Brian list, with associated comments, is a thing of beauty, of which you should only be proud.

Saturday was just a bad day. In retrospect, my own arrogance stuns me - after all, if I log on to Wordie and find it not to my satisfaction, then the obvious remedy is to come up with contributions of my own, not to whine passively about the contributions of others. Again, I apologize for my comments, and thank you for being such a good sport about it.

I am in awe of your reading progress. There I was, feeling chuffed at having just finished six volumes of The Forsyte Saga, but you make me seem like an amateur.

I'm a bit late to this, but...

Wordie has evolved so far from the tiny little site it was when it launched just over a year or so ago, that it's like the difference between an amoeba and, um, a newt. And I'm all for seeing it become whatever its most engaged interesting members want it to be.

But fwiw, entering thousands of citations on arcane words because you're in the midst of a reading frenzy is precisely, exactly the original purpose of the site, and one I still love. It would bum me out if anyone felt discouraged from citing with wild abandon.

I hardly need have said this, because you're all so civilized and decent that you sorted it out. Which is why I have to say, once again, that I love this group. Seriously--pure unadulterated potato love.

Sionnach, I'm sorry you were frustrated and annoyed, and I'm sorry to have caused you grief. I hereby promise that, the next time I decide to read a 21-book series of historical novels and enter notes from nearly every page of it on Wordie, I'll... well... um... I'll try to take longer so that other people's comments come up between mine. :)

Also, I think you're teh alsome.

c_b:

Thank you so much for your civilized answer to my comment, which - having stewed about guiltily all day yesterday - I now believe was totally out of line on my part. For all kinds of reasons.

I would like to apologize to you, and to any other wordies who may have been annoyed or offended. please put it down to annoyance about tax stuff, being quite inappropriately transferred.

I detest internet pettiness, and am mortified to have contributed to it, especially directed at c_b, one of my all-time favorite wordie contributors.

Sorry folks - I was way out of line. Now, back to my satirical Slapstick O' Groin list (evil cackle....)

Apparently it isn't an issue how many words I list, just that I place quotations in the comment sections of those word pages. I'm sorry it's annoying, but it seems to me to be what Wordie is for, so... ?

For what it's worth, chained_bear, I'm enjoying the O'Brian comments. Sure, there are lots of them, but I find them interesting. And I'm sure I've annoyed various Wordies with my lists, as have others. Still, we come back, right? It takes all kinds. :-)

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your expressions of support. I think in this case no one need be congratulated for using Wordie or not using Wordie, for using it in a way that seems right to him or her, or for saying something when it doesn't seem right. To me this is really not that big a deal; I'm almost done with the goddamn books and then nobody ever has to read my list or comments again if they don't want to. :) Have a good rest of the weekend and don't forget to turn your clocks ahead (if you're in one of those regions where you have to).

That's impressive c_b that you read two books a week - if you're not a writer you probably should be.

My two cents about your and sionnach's comments:

Wordie doesn't impose rules on users, certainly none about the the number of comments you can post. Everyone here is different, has different tastes & styles in words, and different ways of expressing themselves.

Just like in "real" life, different personalites will get on each other's nerves. Happens all the time.

I enjoy reading the conversations - many are brilliant. I think people may learn more about words through the conversations than they would through reading a definition.

But everyone has their own style, own way of learning & utilizing the possibilities of this site.

I admire your prolificness, passion & your uniqueness.

I think sionnach is brave and wonderful for speaking up and I think, chained_bear, that you are exquisite for your efforts and love of words and sense of detail...Wordie is so cool..and so are we.

I think reading 21 historical novels and listing thousands of archaic nautical terms gleaned therefrom is of the very quintessence of Wordie. Yes, it is sort of superficially annoying to see them covering the page, but when I think about it I love it and applaud it, and I think I will even miss it when it's over.

N.b. c_b, having finished with Peru, I am currently in central Newfoundland. Where would you like me to go next?

Hi sionnach,
I'm sorry to hear you have been annoyed all this time. I share your frustration when logging on to Wordie and there haven't been any new/interesting comments in a long time. I even share your frustration when logging on to Wordie and there are tons of entries/comments all by the same person, particularly when they're not on a subject I'm interested in. (I can recall a recent instance or two, in fact, when I almost posted a similar comment to yours on the user's profile, but I decided eventually the book or books would be done, or the person would lose interest, and I'd be grateful that I hadn't said anything!) I think the only solution for that is for more people to post more comments. Most people don't--most people just list words. Which is fine.

Let me explain why I'm doing this, so that you know the irritation to other users is at least unintentional. There are 60,000 comments on Wordie now, but the vast majority are insipid (if entertaining) banter: they are not all archaic definitions, usages, or particularly related to the term or phrase in question, not by a long shot. Speaking only for myself, it's irritating to come across an interesting-sounding word that I cannot find in any dictionary (or if I do, the definition doesn't seem to fit why the person might have listed it), and therefore cannot use in a sentence or see how others have used it in a sentence. And therefore, I cannot remember it.

I like to learn new words; I use Wordie instead of paper to keep track of them. I started the O'Brian list because I was coming across so many words I have never seen before. Moreover, lots of them are very specialized (nautical, naval, medical, botanical, etc.) or so archaic as to not have easily accessible definitions. Some are phrases that, of course, won't be in any dictionary. So, for my own learning style but also out of courtesy to other Wordies who might want to see how the word is used or what we can glean from context, I've been posting quotes.

I agree that many of the quotes have been longer than normal comments, making the comments hog up the front page. But again, if more people were posting comments or usages for the words they list, you wouldn't be stuck looking at my stupid comments when you log on. And neither would I.

To answer your question straightforwardly--about when I might be done with Patrick O'Brian quotes--there are 21 books, and I just started the 16th. At the rate I've been reading them lately, I finish about two books a week, although since I've been working 50-60 hours a week, perhaps count on one book a week. I should be done soon enough. Also I didn't post anything from the first five or so books, thinking that I'd make this list some time in the future. Interestingly (perhaps only to myself), one of the reasons I finally picked up these novels was the number of people around me who are seriously ill--I decided to start doing all the things I want to do before I die. And since I can't afford Antarctica, Peru, Newfoundland, or even Ireland, then library books it is. :)

c_b: please don't take this the wrong way. oh hell, there is no right way. please let me know when you think you might be done with the O' Brian quotes, so as I know when it's safe to come back.

see? There's just no way to communicate one's irrational annoyance nicely.

never mind. I should be doing tax stuff anyway.

I was especially drawn to "Roast Beef of Old England."

I have to say, I've been noticing those for quite some time. They are a hoot.

I don't know why, but the Google ads are cracking me up tonight.

Here's what's on Wordie's home page right now:

Patrick O'Brian cover art
Ltd. Edition prints by Geoff Hunt of the Aubrey/Maturin book covers
www.artmarine.co.uk

Roast Beef of Old England
Aubrey-Maturin sea chanties Collected from the O'Brian novels
www.essaycd.com

Where do you suppose they came from, chained_bear? Hmmm??

Eek! No! I'll try to find out and post a comment when I do.

c_b, I've just heard that the Surry House reopened! (See Carry Me Back to Old Virginia.) Can you confirm these reports????

Yay! Yep, skipvia's right. I may save myself some money by reading all your O'Brian comments. ;-)

Plus, when she's done, you don't even need to read the book. :-)

Congrats! You add some fun words. :)

I'm not sure where to put this, but I feel like marking the occasion. No fewer than four words I recently added to my own lists (though I'm certain plenty of other people added them first) are in the "Most Wordied" on the front page: clinchpoop (which I did add first, and only last night! Already six adds!), dreadnought, cadenza, and athwart. What fun! *sighing* I love Wordie.

Welcome back, chained_bear! We were about to send out a search party.

No need to be sorry! I was just making a suggestion. :) I think the comment would go well copied onto the "vase" page, or even on "melee."

Glad you're here!

sorry, i'm just getting used to this website.

I think that would also depend on the word. If I said, "vaahse" instead of "vayse" (for vase) I'd sound more bourgeois.

Haha! Skipvia, you just made a pretty good one! (Joke, that is.)

So--fart jokes are still okay, right?

No no! Don't be silly! I had no intention of censoring anyone. You should feel free to add whatever words you want! This is Wordie, after all.

A word of explanation: I am oversensitive to mental imagery--it burns my retinas easily. There was bilby's quoted newspaper article about some guy frying some other guy... I try to avoid reading or viewing horror and crime and animal-torturing stories, but I just finished a book that was recommended to me, which described this disgusting serial killer in excruciating detail... blah blah, whine whine...

Anyway, please don't censor yourself on my account. I was only posting this to explain why I might not be around/posting.

Oops - sorry c_b. Someone gave me a book of nasty words for Christmas and I've been perusing it with childish (and sometimes horrified) fascination. It should have occurred to me that not everyone necessarily wants to join in being horrified. I will cease and desist and look for words in less deviant pastures.

I really do apologize - it was insensitive of me.

David

I'm considering going away for a while until comments and words about torturing animals and incredibly deviant/violent sexual behavior become less frequent. Sheesh. Give me nightmares, whydon'tya.

Ah, John, you caught my purposeful obfuscation. I originally meant that I like words but not as much as some other people like words. Then I realized that I like words but not as much as I like some people. Then I just gave up and embraced the ambiguity.

P.S. Thanks y'all. Passing 100 lists was fun too. :)

Wait. That "passing" sounded like I meant something else.

It's like The Strand in New York: 18 miles of books :-).

So... do you like some people more than you like words, or do you like words, but not as much as some people like words? Or both?

c_b: Congratulations! If all of your words were laid end to end right now, they would stretch for a mile.*

*: (though, technically, you would have to lop off any sesquipedalian words at the two-third mark)

thanks

Wahoo!

Congratulations on passing 5000 words c_b!

P.S. Head cheese.

I was thinking more of the Wizard of Oz myself, only without the funny jacket. ;-)

Aw, shucks, fellas. You're too kind. :)

I kind of like that image, u. Even if it were transplanted to a tiny apartment in Joisey.

U, substitute "tiny apartment in New Jersey" for "large control room," and it's close.

But I do more than just watch the dials. I'm not only the president of the Hair Club for Men, I'm also a member ;-)

Nobody comments like c_b comments!

I suddenly just got the mental picture of John sitting in a large control room, surrounded by knobs and switches, occasionally pulling random levers, and passing the time by watching our respective odometers with breathless anticipation. ;-)

CB, you're at exactly 2000 comments. Nice! It's like that pleasing moment when you watch your odometer click to a bunch of zeros.

I can't get over all of you linguaphiles and these lists! It's a true thing of beauty. -grin-

What? At this time of year? What a slugabed. ;-)

He may be hibernating again.

Where is that dang chained_bear, anyhow? Hmph.

That *is* a good book, too.

I love that book. Love it! I need to read it again, I haven't read it in years & years.

"Setting Free the Bears" ;oD

Hey chained_bear,

Check out WordPlay's profile. It's a game that uselessness and I have created for wordies. Round one starts at 1pm EST today.

:) jennarenn