"The Party Starts at 10" - December 31, 2020

[BrianMac]

Ashore, but upon reading the comments, I'm a little concerned I may have botched it.

[DrTom]

Well, well, well - Mr. Gaffney either tried to pitch us a lob OR he is chuckling somewhere while watching a pageant. There is of course one very logical and consistent way to arrive at AN answer, but an equally logical (and according to the web, acceptable) alternate. I will submit what I feel most people have submitted, but having recently been "stocking stuffed" I will do so with trepidation and probably only after I look at whatever Machiavellian twists the great creator might have thrown our way.

[RDaleHall]

On shore. Day off of work today so I actually did this one in the actual newspaper over a nice cup of morning coffee. Very good way to bring 2020 to a close.

[JaneGummy]

On shore without need of a nudge which makes me ridiculously giddy. Thanks for the gift Matt

[Plymouthrock]

Another Holiday drink on the house. Think I’ll grab an IPA to get ready for a quiet New Year’s eve by the fire playing Bridge on Line. I bet there are more than a few Muggles out there who do the same.

[SusieG]

Well, well, well - Mr. Gaffney either tried to pitch us a lob OR he is chuckling somewhere while watching a pageant. There is of course one very logical and consistent way to arrive at AN answer, but an equally logical (and according to the web, acceptable) alternate. I will submit what I feel most people have submitted, but having recently been "stocking stuffed" I will do so with trepidation and probably only after I look at whatever Machiavellian twists the great creator might have thrown our way.

I also wonder if I’m missing something. The answer doesn’t seem to fit the title. I haven’t seen the alternate answer, though.

[eagle1279]

I’m on shore with an answer that seems obvious to me, joining the crowd in the bar who are trying to figure out what the alternative could be.

I did feel a bit silly having to use Google to confirm 3D, but I guess that’s why it was invented.

[mflaminio]

On shore! Happy New Year, Muggles!

[JordanianTomlinson]

I think on shore. I submitted already but if anyone is willing to verify id be eternally grateful. Happy NYE muggles!

[MikeM000]

But that jogged a memory - I don't know if he still does this, but Will Shortz would be on NPR's weekend edition news and have a weekly puzzle. On the first weekend of the year, he'd give the contestant a list of about 10 names of people who were briefly prominent in the just-ended year and see how many they could remember who they were.

Who would be on this year's?

Joseph Maldonado-Passage
Melissa Carone
Randy Arozarena
Marie Yovanovitch

I know Joe and Marie but I'm at a loss for the other two!

I know who Arozarena is!! Hero of the Tampa Bay Rays!

If you've already forgotten her, just watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF3WtrPDmHU

The local connection probably makes her name stick for me a week or 2 longer than the rest of you. Also, the (actual) black female representative in this video is a good friend of my sister-in-law... My brother was floored that someone he knew was portrayed on SNL.

What other names would people add to this list for 2020?

[Dplass]

I know Joe and Marie but I'm at a loss for the other two!

I know who Arozarena is!! Hero of the Tampa Bay Rays!

If you've already forgotten her, just watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF3WtrPDmHU

The local connection probably makes her name stick for me a week or 2 longer than the rest of you. Also, the (actual) black female representative in this video is a good friend of my sister-in-law... My brother was floored that someone he knew was portrayed on SNL.

What other names would people add to this list for 2020?

"Oh, I don't know...maybe...SATAN?"

(Evoking another SNL skit)

[Schmeel]

Each year at around this time, The New Yorker magazine publishes a bit of verse, “Greetings, Friends,” which is basically a long exercise in dropping names – some that you know, many that you don’t but think that you would if you were at all up to speed with the news, science, the arts, etc. You can find this year’s version here. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020 ... stmas-poem

So I have put together a bit of doggerel with names that should be more familiar, at least to visitors to xword-muggles.com.

Immortal Bird! As I immerse
Myself in your delightful verse
In rhyming couplets, sweet and sweeter,
Of iambic tetra-meter,
I cannot help but gaze with awe
How skillfully with words you draw
A portrait of this forum fair
And its participants who share
A common interest, good rapport
All clambering to cry "Ashore!"
And "Beam me up!", "Banana's peeled!",
Or "Off the couch!" success may yield.

I thank you for the toil and sweat
Required to craft all that, I bet
I'm also grateful – thanks-a-plenty –
For echoing the thoughts of many!

[grwinski]

Ashore! Mike and Matt have given us another 'fun' puzzle to end out this dreadful year! Happy New Year (not four words!)

Rita and George

[Kris Zacharias]

I know what the answer is, but typed it wrong in my submission and only noticed the error as I heard the little whoosh upon sending. So I'm not on shore, but should be. Is there a blog category for this? Some sort of cruciverbalist purgatory? Oh well. Happy new year!

[grwinski]

On shore, and still happily subscribing to the WSJ. One of the few real delights of the past year, post-March, was the discovery of the meta puzzle, the WSJ contest, and this group. Enjoy 2021!

Sounds like a low bar, but we'll take it!

[SeanS]

Comfortably on the beach. Thanks for the kindly hand this week, Matt, and happy new year to everyone! I look forward to cracking my ice cold champagne-sized bottle of Miller High Life tonight and saying good riddance to 2020.

[grwinski]

Ashore!

No potables with which to celebrate, but a heartwarming tale for those of you in northern climes: I'm stretched out in a tent with my wife and children in the middle of Everglades National Park (where I miraculously have cell signal) and am listening to the brisk wind rush off the Florida Straits at a lovely 72°F into clear skies overhead.
An unsolved meta would have cast the only pall over this perfect night, so I thank the crossword mavens for their providence.

how does one stake a tent in the everglades?

[MaineMarge]

Waded Ashore with a smile at the fun Matt always brings in his offerings to us.

August 4, 2008 photo

Here I was having fun wading in our back pond tidying up the water lily pads.
Glad tidyings to all, Muggle friends, and
HAPPY NEW YEAR

[Bob cruise director]

Ashore!

No potables with which to celebrate, but a heartwarming tale for those of you in northern climes: I'm stretched out in a tent with my wife and children in the middle of Everglades National Park (where I miraculously have cell signal) and am listening to the brisk wind rush off the Florida Straits at a lovely 72°F into clear skies overhead.
An unsolved meta would have cast the only pall over this perfect night, so I thank the crossword mavens for their providence.

how does one stake a tent in the everglades?

How does one stay alive in the everglades between the snakes and the alligators and the bugs?

[DrTom]

Waded Ashore with a smile at the fun Matt always brings in his offerings to us.

August 4, 2008 photo

B9F8A215-0E85-4AEF-8BDF-0837750CB670.jpeg

Here I was having fun wading in our back pond tidying up the water lily pads.
Glad tidyings to all, Muggle friends, and
HAPPY NEW YEAR

I KNEW it, she can walk on water! Well that partially explains the unrelenting beauty of your gardens.

EDIT: OK, on/in sue me for a vowel.....