"Counting Calories" - December 20, 2019

[NaluGirl]

I just made this harder than I needed to, finally found the party!

[jenirvin]

Finally got back to this and found a way to shore. Happy holidays to all.

[Bob cruise director]

I have no idea how to solve the meta part of this.....

First - welcome to the land of the muggles.

On our Come Aboard page under FAQ community, there is a page with a lot of ways of attacking meta contests. Everyone is different so these are general guidelines. There is also a considerable learning curve so do not be discouraged if it take a while to get the hang of it.

After midnight on Sunday, there are explanations posted both here and in the puzzle in the WSJ. People here will also give you their approach for both right and wrong answers which is also instructive.

Good luck

[Bob cruise director]

We were close to shore early on but it was a bit too foggy to see the lighthouse. As the fog lifted this morning we found that we had washed up on the beach. On shore for sure. We're enjoying a visit from our son, his wife and our 4 year old granddaughter and wish everyone holiday joy.

Have fun with the granddaughter. They don't stay young for very long and 4 is a great age. (but don't spoil her too much )

[MajordomoTom]

welcome - I just discovered these about 8 weeks ago, have been able to solve a few without any assistance (ALSO, GLANDS) and a few with some nudges, and last week's - destroyed me. I had the right mechanism and an answer that worked, but not the answer that MG wanted, so ...

These things are wicked and nasty by design, and ... it feels so good when you figure it out. Even with a nudge or two.

Come by the bar, Isaac will serve you the cold beverage (or hot, if that's your preference) of your choice. I'm buying this round.

[MajordomoTom]

OMG, on shore!

[maprasad]

Hi all, happy holidays. New poster. Solving/submitting for the last five months or so but never a mug winner! I might be ashore on this one and went ahead and submitted but worried there is a second step (or third, depending on how you'e counting) that I'm missing.

[Tom Shea]

I guess I'll be hanging with Isaac for the holidays.

Can't even smell a rabbit right now.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all.

Mele Kalikimaka and Hauʻoli Hanukkah if you're doing the hula at the tiki bar.

[Bob cruise director]

Hi all, happy holidays. New poster. Solving/submitting for the last five months or so but never a mug winner! I might be ashore on this one and went ahead and submitted but worried there is a second step (or third, depending on how you'e counting) that I'm missing.

Welcome to our happy clan and happy holidays. We will se in a little over 7 hours if there are those second or third steps

Good luck winning the mug

[MajordomoTom]

at least the answer this week is not PHIL SIMMS nor BART STARR. Last I saw, 34A had retired both of them for the season.

[Bob cruise director]

at least the answer this week is not PHIL SIMMS nor BART STARR. Last I saw, 34A had retired both of them for the season.

But they were selling Marie Kondo books

[Softie]

I guess I'll be hanging with Isaac for the holidays.

Can't even smell a rabbit right now.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all.

Mele Kalikimaka and Hauʻoli Hanukkah if you're doing the hula at the tiki bar.

Right there with you. Getting a little seasick at this point but at least I have company.

[MarkL]

I have been making chocolate covered cherries this week and so have two jars of cherry juice left over. Being reluctant to pour it out I am mixing it with ginger ale and vodka. Not a bad little holiday drink and a lovely pinkish/reddish color. Now I just need a name for my drink. I looked on the internet to see if such a drink already had a name and couldn't find it. Sounds like a task for the Muggles. Please help me name my drink.

All I got is Tinsel Tonic. Cheers!!

[MarkL]

at least the answer this week is not PHIL SIMMS nor BART STARR. Last I saw, 34A had retired both of them for the season.

But they were selling Marie Kondo books

Signed by Yma or Margret?

[FrankH]

I literally came off a cruise ship yesterday. But for this meta, only just now got off the LAS cruise. Made it much harder than it needs to be as the path is related to something I was considering; and a red herring didn't help.

[Bob cruise director]

Our final count is 25 on the ship and 67 on the shore.

We also have two new Muggles - TrojanMan on the ship and maprased on the shore

New to the ship's bar are ALS and Trojanman

New to the shore are
Jim and Anita
ky-mike
Jennifer
Nalugirl
maprasad
MajorDomoTom
Frank H

and finally guess what time sunrise is tomorrow in Boston - you guessed it 34A. A Matt Gaffney coincidence? I think not.

[CPJohnson]

Solved, with help from my daughter who's visiting for Christmas. (Why didn't I think of the correct tactic sooner?)

[bhamren]

I am on shore, late in the game as usual, and amazed that Matt and Mike (and others) can construct these beauties. Hats off!

[Colin]

Thank you all for a year of inspiration, motivation and avoidance of frustration! It helps to know that others are (sometimes) in the same boat!
With Isaac this week - Season’s Greetings to all!

[bobbydeee]

I struggled with this, but managed to swim to shore just in the St. Nick of time.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hanukkah!