MEOW #231 You're Bugging Me

A weekly meta crossword on the forum started by member Josh (aka madhatter5). These puzzles are often very creative with solving mechanisms out of the norm and skewing towards the more challenging. Puzzles are posted every Wednesday, and the solution appears the following Tuesday.
Post Reply
User avatar
CPJohnson
Posts: 1313
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:38 pm
Location: Kingsport, TN

#21

Post by CPJohnson »

Thanks, @DrTom! Cat is free!
Cynthia
Top
User avatar
HeadinHome
Posts: 1459
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:06 am
Location: Charlotte, NC

#22

Post by HeadinHome »

A welcome diversion from work! Cat jumped off couch, stretched, and got back on for a second nap. Me, just grindstone…
The other Wendy. :roll:
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#23

Post by DrTom »

MatthewL wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:00 pm Cat has been loosed and is hunting moths. Thanks for the puzzle, Dr. Tom!
How appropriate, it is almost Mother's day

Thanks for solving.

T
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.
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#24

Post by DrTom »

HeadinHome wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:08 pm A welcome diversion from work! Cat jumped off couch, stretched, and got back on for a second nap. Me, just grindstone…
Well that has to hurt, thanks for taking a break!

T
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.
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#25

Post by DrTom »

ky-mike wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:19 pm Cat freed after finding a loose thread in the gunny sack and distractedly playing with it for too long.
Hmmm, ours did that to a comforter!

Thanks for solving

T
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.
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#26

Post by DrTom »

schmidzy wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:13 pm Cat's free and begging for treats (he says he deserves them after being stuck in that silly bag!)
Well at least your's has a good reason. Ours beg for treats because they are tired from using all of their energy begging for treats.

Thanks Lydia

T
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.
Top
User avatar
lbray53
Posts: 1509
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
Location: Elkhorn, WI

#27

Post by lbray53 »

Cat is out of the bag.

I had a hard time getting the last letter until I remembered how Dr. Tom likes to clue!
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#28

Post by DrTom »

lbray53 wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 9:00 pm Cat is out of the bag.

... how Dr. Tom likes to clue!
A. Like a drunken sailor😵
B. Like a mad scientist🤪
C. With little regard to the conventions of grammar and syntax (which is no doubt a 6% addition to any carousing and drinking)😎
D. Obtusely😙
E. All of the above

Whatever, glad you arrived debugged!

T
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.
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#29

Post by DrTom »

Well, that's encouraging. Thirty seven of you found your way to the end of the MEOW already!

1 benchen71
2 Berto 
3 boharr 
4 DavyGravy 
5 SJ 
6 rjy 
7 I K Snamhcok 
8 Cindy Weatherman 
9 Meg 
10 Tom Wilson 
11 hbxwords 
12 Darth 
13 LarsCaine 
14 woozy 
15 Bird Lives 
16 MatthewL
17 ergcat
18 kymike 
19 Pair O Ducks 
20 kurtalert 
21 Hector 
22 ajk 
23 markhr 
24 GamingGuy907 
25 Mwoychick 
26 Dave C 
27 FedexPope 
28 CPJohnson 
29 Carolyn 
30 HeadinHome 
31 DIS 
32 Danny Brown 
33 Tim 
34 Tyrpmom 
35 lbray53 
36 Moreo5 
37 KayW 
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.
Top
User avatar
whimsy
Posts: 3746
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:51 am
Location: Hopkinton MA

#30

Post by whimsy »

Got the solution to the meta finally, and also figured out the mystery of where all those bags the cats get stuck in come from.
Untitledcatbdparty.png
Thanks for the puzzle, DrTom!
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#31

Post by DrTom »

whimsy wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 10:09 pm Got the solution to the meta finally, and also figured out the mystery of where all those bags the cats get stuck in come from.Untitledcatbdparty.png
Thanks for the puzzle, DrTom!
Well the Ben bag I understand, but shouldn't the other one have been Rick or Alan or Lydia, etc.

Thanks for solving Claudia!

T
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.
Top
User avatar
Cap'n Rick
Posts: 1967
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2020 12:44 pm
Location: Nahant, MA
Contact:
Contact Cap'n Rick

#32

Post by Cap'n Rick »

I had a lot of fun with the "Rick" bag, @DrTom. :D
Ahoy! Check out my meta puzzles! Also check out "Smooth Sailing Sundays"!
Top
User avatar
whimsy
Posts: 3746
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:51 am
Location: Hopkinton MA

#33

Post by whimsy »

DrTom wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 10:25 pm
whimsy wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 10:09 pm Got the solution to the meta finally, and also figured out the mystery of where all those bags the cats get stuck in come from.Untitledcatbdparty.png
Thanks for the puzzle, DrTom!
Well the Ben bag I understand, but shouldn't the other one have been Rick or Alan or Lydia, etc.

Thanks for solving Claudia!

T
Yeah, I tried to work in Ben's "Special Day" the other day, but apparently this was Oscar's party. Oh, and @benchen71 needs to send the Bouncy Castle back to me -- I'll need it on Friday! 🎈🎂🪅
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#34

Post by DrTom »

Cap'n Rick wrote: Wed Apr 30, 2025 10:32 pm I had a lot of fun with the "Rick" bag, @DrTom. :D
Well you know what us old hippies used to say, "If that's your bag...."

Thanks for solving
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.
Top
User avatar
KayW
Moderator
Posts: 5403
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
Location: Chicago

#35

Post by KayW »

:crossed_swords: :rabbit: Thanks Tom! Fun meta and a great aha moment - even if I needed a bit of help from boharr to get the cat free.
Hmmm. Maybe now I need more help to put him back IN the bag...
Image
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#36

Post by DrTom »

KayW wrote: Thu May 01, 2025 10:24 am :crossed_swords: :rabbit: Thanks Tom! Fun meta and a great aha moment - even if I needed a bit of help from boharr to get the cat free.
Hmmm. Maybe now I need more help to put him back IN the bag...
Image
Oh, I can relate! Thanks for solving.

T
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.
Top
User avatar
ReB
Posts: 772
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:34 pm
Location: East Tennessee

#37

Post by ReB »

Cat's loose and starting to bug me...
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#38

Post by DrTom »

ReB wrote: Thu May 01, 2025 8:30 pm Cat's loose and starting to bug me...
Well now you are just nit picking!

Thanks for solving!

T
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.
Top
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 4910
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#39

Post by DrTom »

More people who the puzzle bugged enough to solve:

38 Cindy Heisler 
39 Capn Rick 
40 shalmanezer 
41 Jordan W 
42 DCBilly 
43 jetelana
44 Patrick Povinelli 
45 heidi 
46 ReB 

Pretty good, closing up on another 50!
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.
Top
User avatar
ELSavage
Posts: 194
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:44 pm
Location: New Hampshire

#40

Post by ELSavage »

There you go, kitty!
With a late, but quick solve of the WSJ under my belt, I was able to double back and free the poor feline from all those bugs.
Like others I was bugged by a few distractions and wrong turns, but got it all lined up this morning.
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).
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Madhatter's Enigma on Wednesdays (MEOW)”