MEOW #141 Forethoughts

[whimsy]

Well, what an honor! To be offering a MEOW the same week as International Cat Day!

This week's puzzle is probably a CALICO at most; and the answer to the meta is:

An apt 8-letter word.

Nudges late Friday or PM.

Thanks to DrTom for testing, tweaking, and providing a better title; to Kay for another pair of eyes as she readies the reveal, and to Tech-Man, Joe.

Enjoy!

*** New clue for 20A (see post # 14) "I've been fired by my boss! My mortgage is under-water! How on ----- am I going to make it?"***
Thanks, @woozy!



Forethoughts crosshare

Forethoughts PUZ

Forethoughts PDF

Forethoughts spreadsheet

[benchen71]

Cat's out - I think. (Awaiting an answer to a PM.)

Fun meta concept!

[hoover]

Cats are free and having a post-breakfast nap!

[whimsy]

OK -- We all know it wouldn't be a whimsy puzzle without a glitch in it.
20A is inaccurate. But I trust that you will still be able to deduce the meta answer.

[Meg]

Very nice!! And well done! The cat sends his appreciation.

[Schmeel]

Cat's gone.
Thanks for the puzzle!

[boharr]

Cat went bye bye. Thanks for a fun puzzle.

[woozy]

I love me a whimsy puzzle.

Kind of funny I was halfway through the grid (and well exposed but not yet aware of the metanism) when I thought of one clue "wouldn't that be better with....? Oh, well" and it wasn't till much later I got it. Well played. Very well-played.

[ChrisKochmanski]

Vendre la meche!

[HeadinHome]

Cat free and now back to my paying job. Fun challenge .. maybe a tad more than calico. Entertaining as well!

[MatthewL]

Cat has been debagged. Thanks for the fun puzzle, Whimsy!

[Darth]

Cat out of the bag, and...(Yes, I'm your fan!)

[hcbirker]

Cat's out! Great idea for a meta!

[whimsy]

We interrupt this program to bring you a new and improved clue for 20A, courtesy of @woozy (I know, confusing names, but we're not actually the same person. ) This removes the inaccuracy and helps to pinpoint your answer. (Which many of you were able to get anyway -- I knew you could!)

New clue for 20A -- "I've been fired by my boss! My mortgage is under-water! How on ----- am I going to make it?"

[Bird Lives]

The bag is catless, The puzzle is wonderful. Nothing I like better than a good contrived clue. (I solved it with the pre-Wooz clues and liked it just fine.)

[lbray53]

Cat is free. I am missing something. The original clue for 20A was better for me.

I figured out what I was missing. Yes. The new clue is better.

[Qmark]

Cat's out of the bag...thanks for the fun puzzle!

[MarkWoychick]

Cat's out of the bag! Thanks, @whimsy!

[whimsy]

Here are today's solvers:

DrTom (TS)
KayW (TS)
Joe Ross (who never gets listed but who sees all and knows all!)
benchen71
hoover
Hector
Meg
merlinnimue
Schmeel
boharr
Pair O Ducks
Tyrpmom
DrButtBeard
woozy
Sharkicicles
I K Snamhcok (Thanks for the French instruction!)
HeadinHome
MatthewL
BrennerTJ
Laura M
Darth
Heidi
Carolyn
Alex Sisti (Do you have any Bobbsey Twins books?)
Chris Barbee
JM
Cindy Weatherman
Gutman
BarbaraK
Bird Lives
Markhr
Wendy Walker
lbray53
Berto
Qmark
Mwoychick


And surprise, surprise! All of whom will receive a commemorative drinking vessel!
(Of course so will tomorrow's solvers, and the next day's.....)
No worries about reimbursing me from forum funds; I was able to pick up a gross at Walmart for $1.97.

[rjy]

Debagged the feline! Took me off and on noodling today, but fun to get the aha in the end. Fun puzzle, nice concept, @whimsy!