A place to discuss the weekly Wall Street Journal Crossword Puzzle Contest, starting every Thursday around 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Please do not post any answers or hints before the contest deadline which is midnight Sunday Eastern time.
Ashore! Finally!
I couldn't even find a rabbit hole that went more than an inch deep, but I was caught up on a whale of a red herring.
With some encouragement from @hcbirker to keep looking where I was looking, I managed to see past it and solve the puzzle anyway.
Sounds like I might be joining a few others in the line at the complaints department.
Bespoke nudges available upon request (if I'm on shore, off the couch, in the castle, petting an un-bagged cat, ...).
Let me know how small or large a hint you want, or hit me with a specific question(s).
We have a bunch of new muggles to welcome - @badatmetas , @newbieclueser ,@jash and @Faust . Always great to have more muggles
So far we have 11 on the ship keeping Isaac company and 151 on the shore. A tricky meta where you know you have the answer when you get it. He could have made it just a little better with an addition that I will post on Monday.
On the ship are
Commodore
Tom S
Dickie_Dunn
ELSavage
Mirage
Ben B and son
Gman
TheCatt
Cactusjoe
badatmetas
newbieclueser
And on the shore are
mattythewsjpuzzler
docison
Mme
Mike H
Wendy
MikeyG
paige
Eric C
MatthewL
Merry Potter
D B Miller
Harbo
straffin
Beth A
Peter
Lee-Ann
bagman
SJMck
Larrry
oldjudge
DelanQ
ajk
boharr
flepper
Meg
Georgeall
Anita
Homer
Cindy
Bird Lives
Jim and Anita
Laura
whimsy
Mikey and puzzle buddy Jane
batfella
Mister and Mrs. Squawk
CptnCodon
TeaJenny
charliewentling
shalmanezer
Kay
ky-mike
clonefitz
Flying_Burrito
DCBilly
ArthurD and MrsD
Cinny
HeadinHome
Kevin L
kurtalert
Schmeel
IAMForeverAhab
InAJelly
Aragorn
girubato1
Scuba28193
darth
DavyGravy
Don and Cynthia
Jace54
Joepickett
ladybird
scrabbler
chriscross
rjy
BrennerTJ
Wescovington
Acarl
Barbara K
TeamDoubleTow
Char
Steveb
NDStegs
jash
joe
Joe R
michaelm
sjm
MajorDomoTom
Jeremy
Jean
Chris
woozy
Fred
Miki
Les
JimJim
Eric P
Bill
Beth T
CV-at-Sea
femullen
ImOnToo
altosax
H and J
WSJosh
DeuceMTN
regfish
meowmiao71
Faust
Guffman
Sleepy
mommyX4
lbray
Ergcat
Heidi
Al
elvanya
cbarbee
Al Laubenstein
BoomerBanker
Don and Lisa
HunterX
benchen71
pjc
RDaleHall
Tina
minimuggle
Berto
Bob B
Cruise Director
chopkins828
Steve M
Beleaguered Castle
Beccabecca
mlvilv
Birdbrain
jimbo1
Katiedid
SamKat9
turbotron
Cindy N
JoDave
newbymar and brothers
chocoholic
Crest
auee89
Onaquest and Tim
Bobj
Required_ransom
Brian K
Franky_T
Libbypibby
vandono
BisbeeTam
Dow Jones
Wdunbar
sharkicicles
Zach
geipey
Pelicanz
Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 10:46 am
This week's earworm is from The Thomas Crown Affair. About the only movie that I know where the remake is better than the original.
Aaron wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 1:26 pm
On shore. Gin and tonic, for the vitamin C to help fight a cold.
Oh, I don't know about a cold, but I've insured I will never get Malaria. My quinine titer is probably close to maximum!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
Well, I could use a G&T now. I needed SUCH a push on this one. I had the right idea yesterday about 4 hours in but did not follow through because of an erroneous assumption. It is frustrating, not because of missing a chance at a mug I know I will never win, but because I was RIGHT THERE and passed it by. My thanks to a longtime nudger and test solver @lbray53
What I needed to solve and deserved for needing it
Last edited by DrTom on Sat Feb 01, 2025 1:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
On shore as of Friday evening, thanks to some direction on the Zoom call. Being relatively new to crosswords and especially the meta concept, I have frequently struggled these past months. But I appreciate the challenge to my "little grey cells" and the help I receive every Friday afternoon. I may never be on a par with some of you, but I enjoy the activity anyway. Until next week...
"If the little grey cells are not exercised, they grow the rust." Hercule Poirot
RVAtoOBX wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 2:27 pm
On shore as of Friday evening, thanks to some direction on the Zoom call. Being relatively new to crosswords and especially the meta concept, I have frequently struggled these past months. But I appreciate the challenge to my "little grey cells" and the help I receive every Friday afternoon. I may never be on a par with some of you, but I enjoy the activity anyway. Until next week...
Oh, give it time and people will be PMing you for hints. This is an activity that. like many, one gets better with over time (of course I say that having just struggled mightily with this puzzle!!!)
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
debbierudy wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 4:44 pm
Ashore! Still feeling chilled from training to lead maple sugar tours, so I'll have a hot toddy!
Sapped all your energy did it....
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
