"Build Your Brand" - May 8, 2020

[DrTom]

I have been chasing rabbit holes all over this grid--I'm about ready to "go ask Alice". I'm going to treat this extended stay on the ship like a pelagic birding trip--maybe I can pick up a lifer or two while I'm strolling the deck. When I tire of that, I can head in for a drink and game of checkers with Isaac.

Last night, I dreamed that I solved the meta. Maybe I really did, but I can't remember the particulars of the dream.

I'm completely lost as well.
LadyBird I googled your avatar and came up with an Indian Roller. (?)
Can you tell me about it? Did you take the picture? What a beautiful bird.

Lady Bird has possible the prettiest avatar but She also ofteN has a mini-meta of her OWn, She will include a bird name in the message onlY with random capitals and I never rEGRET looking for them. I mean I am often operating on a wing and a prayer anyway so a bird reference is appropriate.

[Anita]

Whew. The grid was filled without much fanfare, though two of the answers are really odd (don't seem to have anything to do with their clues). The meta is proving opaque to me - not even an inkling of where to start.

[SeanS]

Since I am wandering around the ship, I got this from one of my golfing friends on Cape Cod

Hey guys, my wife and I sing with an a cappella group out of Cotuit Center For The Arts, called Centertonix. Of course we can't rehearse right now, so to pass the time we individually recorded a parody to one of our songs, and somebody a lot smarter than I put it together and put it on YouTube. Hopefully it will bring a smile to your face in these very frustrating times. John Q


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Gx8D-gdxQ

Hopefully I can catch a live performance of this at the Nauset Beach gazebo in August

[Joe Ross]

I have 963 places to start! Maybe in the morning, one will show itself as correct.

Missed my golf round, today, due to weather. Mr. McGrumpypants is NOT happy.

[MarkL]

Well, haven't we found ourselves in a real pickle.

I (think) see the diving board/jumping off point, BUT the logical(?) progression gets me an answer that I just don't like.

Hanging with Isaac; not sure if alcohol will help, but willing to give it the 'good old college try!'

Cheers!!

[Bob cruise director]

I have been chasing rabbit holes all over this grid--I'm about ready to "go ask Alice". I'm going to treat this extended stay on the ship like a pelagic birding trip--maybe I can pick up a lifer or two while I'm strolling the deck. When I tire of that, I can head in for a drink and game of checkers with Isaac.

Last night, I dreamed that I solved the meta. Maybe I really did, but I can't remember the particulars of the dream.

I'm completely lost as well.
LadyBird I googled your avatar and came up with an Indian Roller. (?)
Can you tell me about it? Did you take the picture? What a beautiful bird.

Look up Lilac Breasted Roller. It is very similar to the Indian Roller but in Africa rather than in Asia

[Don S.]

On shore less than 5 minutes after finishing the grid. Sometimes you just see it right away.

[ky-mike]

Finally got to shore on this. Team effort with my wife.

Now to noodle on PGWCC.

[Wendy Walker]

I thought I was making good progress yesterday with the first strategy I tried, but it has gone absolutely nowhere!

[boharr]

Sometimes you just see it right away.

That happened to me. Once.

[LadyBird]

I have been chasing rabbit holes all over this grid--I'm about ready to "go ask Alice". I'm going to treat this extended stay on the ship like a pelagic birding trip--maybe I can pick up a lifer or two while I'm strolling the deck. When I tire of that, I can head in for a drink and game of checkers with Isaac.

Last night, I dreamed that I solved the meta. Maybe I really did, but I can't remember the particulars of the dream.

I'm completely lost as well.
LadyBird I googled your avatar and came up with an Indian Roller. (?)
Can you tell me about it? Did you take the picture? What a beautiful bird.

Pookie--it is a Lilac-breasted Roller. I took the picture a few years ago when we were on safari in Botswana. It is a stunningly beautiful bird. Even the other (non-birder) folks in the jeep were impressed with this bird.

[bradisbrad]

Yikes. Finished the grid quickly, but I don't even see the shoreline, and I'm pretty sure my compass is broken. May be spending the weekend with Isaac, but sounds like I'll have good company.

[LadyBird]

I have been chasing rabbit holes all over this grid--I'm about ready to "go ask Alice". I'm going to treat this extended stay on the ship like a pelagic birding trip--maybe I can pick up a lifer or two while I'm strolling the deck. When I tire of that, I can head in for a drink and game of checkers with Isaac.

Last night, I dreamed that I solved the meta. Maybe I really did, but I can't remember the particulars of the dream.

I'm completely lost as well.
LadyBird I googled your avatar and came up with an Indian Roller. (?)
Can you tell me about it? Did you take the picture? What a beautiful bird.

Lady Bird has possible the prettiest avatar but She also ofteN has a mini-meta of her OWn, She will include a bird name in the message onlY with random capitals and I never rEGRET looking for them. I mean I am often operating on a wing and a prayer anyway so a bird reference is appropriate.

Ah-- we don't often get Snowy Egrets in Chicago. I saw this one in Siesta Key in January (feels like it was 4 years ago, not 4 months)!

[pookie]

I have been chasing rabbit holes all over this grid--I'm about ready to "go ask Alice". I'm going to treat this extended stay on the ship like a pelagic birding trip--maybe I can pick up a lifer or two while I'm strolling the deck. When I tire of that, I can head in for a drink and game of checkers with Isaac.

Last night, I dreamed that I solved the meta. Maybe I really did, but I can't remember the particulars of the dream.

I'm completely lost as well.
LadyBird I googled your avatar and came up with an Indian Roller. (?)
Can you tell me about it? Did you take the picture? What a beautiful bird.

Pookie--it is a Lilac-breasted Roller. I took the picture a few years ago when we were on safari in Botswana. It is a stunningly beautiful bird. Even the other (non-birder) folks in the jeep were impressed with this bird.

Thank you! It is beautiful!

[Inca]

Hmmm....doesn't look like this is going to happen.

[Scott M]

Well, looks like pandemic brain has set in. Was shocked to see 5 pages of posts only 90 minutes after the puzzle was released. Then realized it was Friday, not Thursday. Which does not bode well for me solving this one. I'll pull up a stool with Isaac for the time being.

[ChrisKochmanski]

Many hours at the bar with Isaac (he's THE BEST!), but now I'm ASHORE!

I did require a slight nudge, so I won't submit for the mug.

Terrific puzzle!

[UTHfan]

Hmmm....doesn't look like this is going to happen.

lolz, not even a slight inkling right now.

[DrTom]

I'm completely lost as well.
LadyBird I googled your avatar and came up with an Indian Roller. (?)
Can you tell me about it? Did you take the picture? What a beautiful bird.

Lady Bird has possible the prettiest avatar but She also ofteN has a mini-meta of her OWn, She will include a bird name in the message onlY with random capitals and I never rEGRET looking for them. I mean I am often operating on a wing and a prayer anyway so a bird reference is appropriate.

Ah-- we don't often get Snowy Egrets in Chicago. I saw this one in Siesta Key in January (feels like it was 4 years ago, not 4 months)!

I'm in Jacksonville, FL so I see them quite a bit, along with herons and Ibis - we often have loads on the lawn like a bunch of pigeons.

[CPJohnson]

Still LAS. Cynthia J