November 25, 2002
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Sugar Highs
At this very moment, I have three boxes of Frosted Mini-Wheats sitting on top of my refrigerator. All of them are half empty (or half full, if you prefer). I’m not sure why I open a new box of cereal before I finish the old one, but the result is an impressive shrine to the holy trinity of The Cereal Gods: Kellog’s, Post, and General Mills. Today’s selection: Frosted Mini-Wheats (3 boxes), Fruity Pebbles (2 boxes), Lucky Charms (2 boxes), Golden Grahams (1 box), and Cocoa Puffs (1 box).
How many days beyond the “sell by” date would you still drink the milk in your fridge? The “sell by” date is a bit inaccurate, don’t you think? Instead, there should be a “drink by” date. Usually, I purchase my milk at least week before the “sell by” date and it is rare for me to finish off milk that is a day or two past that date.
But tonight I was desperate. The cupboard is bare, so the only thing I could cook** for dinner was cereal. Unfortunately, the “sell by” date on my milk is November 21. Today, of course, is the 25th. Four days. That’s pushing it, especially since I opened the milk over a week and a half ago. Admittedly, the milk smelled a little weird, but there was no discoloration or unidentified floating objects.
Thankfully, the unusual smell was masked by the cereal’s frosty goodness.
** I define “cooking” as the mixing of two or more ingredients.
Resolve This Dispute!
A couple of weeks ago, I got into a heated debate with Cooter, a co-worker of mine. We agreed to submit the issue to you, dear Xangans, because everyone knows that the best way to settle an argument is to have a blog-poll.
The source of the dispute: the candy known as Spree.
The question: What is the plural form of Spree? Spree or Sprees?
I say Spree. My arguments:
On Nestle’s website (the company that manufactures Spree) will you NOT find the word “Sprees”.
A roll or box of Spree contains more than one Spree, yet the package still says Spree, not Sprees.
It just sounds better.
When it comes to arguments with Cooter, I’m usually right.
Cooter’s sole, pitiful argument:
If you go on more than one shopping spree, you’ve gone on shopping sprees. A shopping “spree” is spelled the same as the candy “spree” so the same rules apply.
My rebuttal:
Rules of pluralization don’t apply to all homonyms. For example, pantyhose and garden hose. More than one garden hose means you have garden hoses, but you have a pair of (panty) hose, not hoses.
His name is Cooter.
Do you really want to side with this guy?
[IMAGE REMOVED AT COOTER'S REQUEST]
Random Quotation:
Bath & Body salesgirl: Would you like to try our new cranberry hand cream?
My dad: No thanks, I just ate.
Weird Picture:
It isn’t often you see a picture of me massaging someone’s blue balls.
Comments (103)
my co-workers and I argued this through…I believe you would be correct…more than one spree grouped together would be many spree.
on a side note…blue balls…HAHAHAHAH
plural is spree, unless you are talking about the river Spree… then again there is only one river named Spree so i guess plural form is never necessary.
tees, knees, trees… sprees it is. on another note: weird smelling milk, cooters, and blue balls- sounds like my prom night.
The collection of candies with a wrapper with the word “Spree” printed on it is called a Spree. Usually the individual components are distinct and may exist as independent objects, in this case, candy and wrapper. This object formed from the aggregation of numerous parts should be considered wholly as a single entity, hence multiple instances of Spree should be dubbed “Sprees”. Example: “I have three boxes of mini-Wheats.”
On the other hand, an aggregation that is the formation of multiple identical objects that otherwise would not exist as standalone entities is by definition plural. Example: “me massaging someone’s blue balls“.
You made a good case for “spree,” but in a manic sugar high state, I think most people will use “sprees.”
I wouldn’t agree with someone named Cooter, either.
Oh good god…first of all, great blog as always!
I have to go with spree. “I have a handful of spree.” Or wait… ”I have a handful of sprees.” Geezus, I dont know!
That gets me back to thinking about my argument with panties. They are ONE unit, and yet…they’re still called PANTIES, not PANTY. And we refer to them as THEM, not IT. *confused*
bashNburn – since we are on the topic of grammar, did you have an argument with panties or about panties? LOL. Sorry felt the need to do that, anyway, yeah, why is english so messed up?
bashNburn – since we are on the topic of grammar, did you have an argument with panties or about panties? LOL. Sorry felt the need to do that, anyway, yeah, why is english so messed up?
I have the same affliction with the cereal. If you find a treatment program, let me know.
I think you need to step back and examine why you are arguing with a person named Cooter. Really, I think the argument is nugatory.
I think that whole milk date is BS. After all, cows aren’t refrigerated at all.
I agree with you.
Great Post
I agree with Cooter on this one. Sprees!!!
hahahaha.. i nearly fell off my chair reading this – thanks i needed the laugh! and as for my 2 cents… i’m with you on the rules of pluralization and, as for the milk situation – try the boxed parmalat it stays forever in your cupboard unopened for those cereal emergencies – they come in quart and drink box size! how handy-dandy is that?
Eenie, meenie, minei, SPREE. Yup, that’s it.
let’s see. my milk has two dates, a sell by and a drink by, regardless, i refuse to drink it if it’s past the sell by date.
spree. that is the plural. that has always been the plural and always will be the plural.
have you ever tasted bath and body works stuff? not half bad…
i’ll leave the blue balls alone. at least that way, they’ll stay blue.
I definatly agree with you, and…and explination for the blue ball picture is in order, I think. :-p
i do the same thing with cereal. there will be enough in the box for maybe half a bowl, but i’ll open another box and forget about the older box. and don’t worry about milk’s exp. date. as long as your fridge is cold enough, milk will last up to a week past the ‘sell by’ date. but if it starts to smell really funky, throw it out!! i kept a carton of sour cream for like 2 months because i thought it never went bad. it’s already sour! i was wrong, of course.
MMMMMMmmm cereal (Like a white silk Hermes scarf, cereal is good for all occasions). Can I have some if I bring fresh milk? Fruity Pebbles…I may have to prance to the store in my jammies for a box. Ok…I’d say Spree, my logic being simply that you are my Goddess, I bow to you and will defend you to my demise!
Wow that’s a lot of cereal. But a very good selection!!
I’ve always called them Spree…sort of like Sheep. Unless it’s possessive like “Spree’s”. But I live in a mental institution.
I toss the milk AT the sell date because I have not forgotten the taste of old milk in my mouth from 20 years ago. I guess this makes me NOT a risk taker.
Not touching the Spree/Sprees issue. Candy is dangerous territory.
I have 6 containers of cereal at my house, too, including one generic bag of mini wheats. It is a testament to the manna that is breakfast food.
Nice balls.
I have to agree that Spree would be the plural form. You make some very good arguments. No wonder you’re a lawyer. Actually, I’m just agreeing with you because I don’t want to side with that Cooter guy. *shudder*
LOL @ your dad & you rubbing the blue balls.
It’s “spree.”
i say “spree” after all, you have one sheep or six sheep, same with moose.
I must side with you in the argument. Spree just sounds better,but dear you’re arguing with a man who appears to be in his late 20′s,early 30′s and answers to the name “Cooter”. Sort of scary
I had to laugh at your collection of cereal. I have the same habit as does my husband. Only difference is my husband does this with boxes of croutons.
on the subject of the candy debate, i say “spree”!
Whoa…..BLUE balls. BIG blue balls. Yikes; what a brave woman!
I think I’d say “spree.” Even though he probably looks better when his face isn’t all squinched up — and you can tell ‘im I said so! 
While your logic is sound on the subject of Spree, I think personally, I would very naturally call them Sprees over the course of a conversation. As in, “Would you like some of my Sprees?” I wouldn’t be surprised if I was wrong in this though.
Btw, great blue balls! Look kinda like mine.
The last day I will drink / use milk is the sell by date. I’m weird like that.
I say Spree! Sprees just doesn’t sound right.
So, being nicknamed Cooter could be a punishment. I am intrigued by this. Was he named that by a “friend” a “really good friend?” Or someone who heaps scorn on him? Can’t get inot the Spreeeeees debate…I am more of a Mentos guy…Would that be Mentoeseses????
It’s Spree. But more importantly, this blog was full of sexual innuendo(s?). I mean, are we really to believe this fellow’s name is Cooter, or is it more likely that you just wanted to use the word “cooter” in your post? And then the blue balls. Being massaged. *cough* Well that wasn’t really an innuendo as mucvh as an overt attempt to titilate us. And as usual, it worked *cough again*
1. I will drink milk for as long as it smells good, and I will bake with it up to a week after that. I don’t care about the date.
2. Spree
3. Love the blue balls pic.
Spree or Sprees…
Maybe it’s both… like the word beer. It is equally acceptable to say “I drank four beers” and “I drank four beer.”
Dontcha think?
lol u are so hilarious..really entertaining blog! lol i gotta go with u on the spree thing. ur arguement just seems a whole lot more reasonable. lol and that bath & body quote lmao. lol anyways just really good entry!
Well, your arguments for Spree make a lot more sense than “Cooters” for “SpreeS”. And, I agree, the package is full of multiple little candies, all named “Spree” whereas a package of little squares of chocolate is called “HersheyS” and a single candy bar is “butterfinger” or “milkyway”. There are some exceptions to this rule–like “snickerS” which is a single candy bar. However, if I have a pile of the candies loose in my hand, do they then BECOME “spreeS” simply because I let them out?? I think not, they remain “SPREE”.
Spree is spree are spree..
How does someone become as popular as you do? Can’t be the milk consumption…
And it’s spree… definitely, spree.
Thanks again, Goddess, for making me laugh out loud at the computer monitor.
How does one get the name Cooter? Is it his last name? Is it some unfortuate nickname? Is it his GIVEN name? Please say it’s not his actual first name.
1.) I will drink the milk after the sell by date if it’s close to half full still. According to the women on The View, milk is good up to 7 days after the “sell by” date. (Because hypothetically you can PURCHASE the milk on the sell by date and then use it.)
2.) Spree. Because even though you say Skittles, Snickers, and Kit Kats, we don’t say Twixes, Marses, or Sprees.
It’s got to be spree. It just makes sense.
Oh yeah, and I would say that milk is good for 3-4 days after the sell by date. Atleast, that’s my rule of thumb.
I’ve always called ‘em ‘sprees.’ Doesn’t mean it’s right, though…but I’m thinking it could be either. You know…like is it ‘Soda,’ ‘pop,’ or ‘coke?’ That sort of thing. Depends on the person.
Aren’t I just infuriating?*grin*
-Rubie-
torn torn torn… between the betrayal of what i know to be the truth… and agreeing with someone named cooter…
my day time co-workers just came up with a better argument to kind of settle the spree/sprees argument.
When someone hands you a bag of “Skittles” you have Skittles, but when you take one out it is a Skittle, so then you have the plural for the name of the product because the packaging contains multiple items of the product…hence many Spree are called Spree
my day time co-workers just came up with a better argument to kind of settle the spree/sprees argument.
When someone hands you a bag of “Skittles” you have Skittles, but when you take one out it is a Skittle, so then you have the plural for the name of the product because the packaging contains multiple items of the product…hence many Spree are called Spree
definitely spree.
cooter is not rockin it.
I just bought groceries last night too! Hooray for the mixing of 2 or more ingredients. Does sandwich-making count as “cooking”?
I think so.
now that looks like fun
I refuse to agree with anyone named Cooter. I think Spree is the plural- the question would then become what is the singular? Spro? Spra? Spru?
On another note, you’ve discovered one of the mysteries of the universe– milk which is no good for anything else (ie mac and cheese or cookie dipping) will still work for cereal. Cereal has some magical element (read: massive quantities of sugar) that cures milk of that not-quite-right taste, right up until it gets downright sour- after which it’s not good for anything but making drains smell really bad when you pour it down (or shove it down with a spoon if that’s what it takes).
Was deadstar watching as you fondled those blue balls? You’re such a tease! (spree)
COOOOOOOTER! just send him out to cooter’s garage (out 66 head toward west virginie) and cooter jr. and cooter sr. can debate the spree issue. (debate or no, you should still send the boy out there to get a t-shirt or something — tell him he might see daisy, that gets ‘em every time.)
naturally, i’m with you. SPREE, people. SPREE.
maybe the plural is Spri.
i think it is spree. , not that im afraid to agree with someone named cooter,
Lemmmeeeseee…
1.) I will not drink milk that is within 2 days of the expiration date/sell by date/etc.
2.) Is Cooter a mechanic in Hazard County?
3.) If you have one candy it is called a Spree, but if you spit a bunch of the candies out of your mouth it is called “Spray”
hysterical! all of it. Thanks for the laugh.
Okay, First, it’s not cooking unless mix ingredients, and you add HEAT! Otherwise it’s PREPARING! As to the “Sell by date”, it’s 5 days max! And finally, it’s “SPREE” both singular, and plural, because “Shopping SPREES” are ACTIONS! Not OBJECTS! Plus, a term for molten metals is “Spruil”, one piece is not “spru”, it’s still the same name, Now. Wishing you well, and some quicky meals from home.
Some candies are meant to be pluralized. (ie: skittles, smarties, m&ms). Some are not. (ie: bit o’ honey, toffifays, tiffin) I have to agree w/ you about the Spree thing. Sprees actually sounds like Esprit…and all I’m reminded of are the ugly bookbags that were all the rage in junior high ages ago.
How’s the current book? I’m soliciting new reviews to add to the reading list. (Need more to occupy my mind.)
You’re right — you won’t find any mention of “Sprees” at Nestlé’s site, but you will find tons of references to “Spree candies.”
Please tell me those aren’t Cooter’s blue balls…
I’m not afraid, I agree with Cooter. (did his parents have something against him?)
It’s “Spri”. Here’s why:
1. Everything else that doesn’t sound well ending in an “S” ends in an “I”. I don’t know why, I’m no English scholar, but it was either that or “Spreexen”, like “ox” becoming “oxen” but that just sounds stupid, unlike “Spri”.
I dunno about Spree, Spree’s or whateva… I just cant stop laughing at your random Quote… hehe
For sure it’s Spri in the singular, Spree in the plural.
It’s the only thing that makes sense, considering that in a bag of Spree there are many individual components. Therefore the name on the bag refers to the plural – Spree.
Spree
And my god, I miss cereal- been low carbing it for too long now……..
HAH!
I usually go by the rule: If you pour it, and see no chunks…don’t drink it
Just strain it and make cheese.
I forgot to put in my vote for the SPREE issue. My vote: Spree’s
It’s like when you’re asking how many E’s are in Spree?
Ok. I must school all of you weirdos siding with the goddess, as well as the godess herself:
I am the Spree God. All Sprees answer to me. They are ‘Sprees’ when there are more than one of them. As for my credentials, lets just say that I made a hell of a living during jr. high, buying packages of Sprees in bulk, eating them in front of other kids, and then selling them at outrageous prices to the kids who couldn’t stand to watch someone else consume sugar without some sugar of their own.
Milk is good for one week after the ‘sell by’ date. Notice the period at the end of that sentance. There is a reason it is there…
As for the blue balls: not a turn on. I wouldn’t want you to turn my balls blue, and if you did, the last thing you should do is massage them. PAIN!!!
RYN…I remember that entry now. And I’m relieved to say I have yet to see any “twin” part of my body. (I’d pity the other woman though.)
I read “Confessions of an Ex Girlfriend,” “Dating w/o Novocaine”, “Slightly Single,” “Spanish Disco,” and “LA Woman.” (I’m sure there are more that I’ve read, but just didn’t associate w/ RDI.)
I’ve been disappointed with many of them though. Amusing…but after a while, I get tired of the genre.
what’s the plural of prius?
I love Frosted Mini-Wheats!
That is a hard one to call.. I would say Sprees, but then the same rules don’t apply to other candy, say Twix. You wouldn’t say Twixes, you’d sound like a cooter
But I think my final answer Regis is Sprees.
oooooooooo fascinating!!
nice post!
and by all means – guess again
Never heard of Spree (except the shopping variety) but I’m with you ~ and his argument is hella weak! Please tell me he’s not a lawyer!!!
Happy Thanksgiving Danielle!
- Kenny
spree, had the same type of “discussion” with a friend of mine…
it’s spree
hehe, fun post, cereal for dinner all the way!!!
*scratches head* ok, after careful concideration, i have decided i have to agree with you. “spree” does make more sense, plus, anybody who has the same name as me, is also obsessed with purple & also has the same cereal ritual i do, cannot possibly be wrong.
it’s true, when was the last time you went out & bought 3 marses??
ya know this is the same company that makes, SweetTartS, see the S? so that would mean that Spree is already the plural. They also make Fun DipS and a bazillion others (don’t they make RuntS too?) seee my point yet?
My couch *is* purple
I think it’s Spree….and you’re one funny woman.
Gonna have to go with “Sprees”…first of all, it’s definitely more natural, it rolls off the tongue…
try it: sprees…sprees…sprees
I’ve never heard anyone call them “Spree” in the plural form, so it’s gonna be sprees. Sorry
Definitely Spree. What was he thinking? Oh wait, he wasn’t. I love lucky charms! But where’s the Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
Spree…
LOL at your comment ~ yeah, the world would be a safer place with Homer in charge.. that said, I’m fairly sure the Shrub is a cartoon character himself. Is it physically possible to be that dumb?!
I drink milk the day I buy it. The next day it goes down the drain. I love fresh, cold, skim milk. I hate milk that is even a day old (after being opened). As for Spree – I agree with you. But to be safe, you could always add of – three bags of Spree candies. I would say in this case, Spree is an adjective describing the candy. You wouldn’t say three reds. You might say three red candies.
as if you needed validation, goddess, it’s most definitely “spree”. (made me giggle because it’s one of best mates nickname..his name is leigh – one of friends commented he looked like eminem which led to spree..i digress)..
looks like from your da’s witty retort that it runs in the family. good genes, diva. xx cheers xx
I would actually have to be pretty desperate to drink milk on the sell by date. Usually if the sell by date arrives and the milk isn’t gone, down the drain it goes. Even the day before the sell by date, I will smell it to make sure it is ok.
Thank for your kind comment .
Your entry has inspired many people not only for the grammar rules !!! (-)
Amitié Michel
The Spree you see on the package is the plural form of Spree. Skittles, M&Ms, Rolo- all come packages in plural amounts, and they are named as such. I’m really not sure of the singular of spree, but since I’m never left with just one, I won’t worry about anything like that. I like your blog though
also, that’s the most accurate description of cooking I’ve ever seen.
“Spree”. Hands down, it is “Spree”
i agrea with chamele.. one a sugar high it’s ‘sprees‘… but on a non-sugar high it would be ‘Spree’
and the milk… it’s good if it doesn’t smell fishy. when it comes to mayonnaise though, sometimes it mayo tastes better after the due date..
cheers
~michelle
btw lucky charms is my fave, can i have one of your boxes?
To spree or not to spree……..or to agree with someone named Cooter….*laughs*
Sniff the milk, if it smells funny, do what most men do ….put it back
i have to agree with you danielle… spree it is… it sound stupid to say sprees! it just doesn’t sound right. kinda like pokemon… it’s a see a pokemon and also i see many pokemon. NOT POKEMONS!
some people just don’t get it!
I say Sprees, definitely. The point I was going to make, which Vengeful_Grape already did, incorrectly, is the comparison to other candies and the commonly accepted forms of pluralization. While some do have the plural noun on the package (M&Ms, Skittles) others do not. Rolo (which he mentioned), Tic Tac, etc. Have you ever heard the argument that you ate two tic-tac cause the ‘s’ isn’t on the little plastic box? Of course not. Also, not only is the candy Spree spelled the same as the word ‘spree’ as in shopping spree, the name for the candy comes from that word; so just like Fireballs, Snickers, Three Musketeers, and Starburts, you would take the same word forms as those of the original noun. Plus, to make common English sense, there a very limited number of words for which the plural does not change the form of the word itself (as in fish, deer, moose, aircraft, sheep, etc. and the isolated example of hose), and ‘spree’ is no exception. How the idea occured to you, I have no idea. It does not sound better. By the way, your ‘rebuttal’ consists of much more pitiful arguments than his.
Have a nice day.
=)
actually… it’s Starburst not Starburts
starbursts
you get the point
Think about it this way, if you do happen to buy the milk on the sell by date, you bring it home, and the store has absolutely nothing to do with whatever or however you choose to use the milk. They wouldn’t care because they’ve already gotten your money. It wouldn’t be the store’s fault if you do happen to get sick from drinking the milk, and if you were to sue, you’d probably sue the company, not as often, the store. Not to scare you, but I really think dumping the milk is the better idea. Just to be on the safe side. I mean, you wouldn’t want to get sick just because you decided to ignore the sell by date, now would you?
About the spree. I think the right way to say it in its plural form is Spree, even though you’ll probably see a lot more people end up saying Sprees instead. It’s not their fault, it’s the English language. It’s just strange that way, and yet, I don’t see why English is the “Universal Language.”
No offense to Cooter, either, but he really needs to come up with a better argument. I’m wondering… Does a name really tell you everything about a person? Just because his name is Cooter, that doesn’t really mean a thing… or does it?
Love your blog. It’s quite entertaining to read.
Very interesting debate. We don’t have Spree here in England. I wonder what they are like?
SPREE it is!
“Can you hand me those Sprees?”
answeringthe milk question, always smell. if past experation date, try a taste first (smelling doesn’t always catch spoiledness)
I win
I already know the answer, but I agree with “Spree because that’s what’s printed on a package of them.” I’d say “Spree Candies” though, to be safe from such debate in the future.