Introduce Yourself

[hashbrownoholic]

Hi, I'm Megan. I grew up in San Diego but moved to Atlanta after graduating 2 years ago for a job as a Data Analyst. I've always been a huge NYT crossword fan (and any other crossword or puzzle tossed my way), but I'm new to WSJ puzzles. I have a constant need to be solving a problem, optimizing, or puzzling and if I don't have something to work on, my brain just starts creating problems for me to solve

[SReh26]

Hi, I'm Megan. I grew up in San Diego but moved to Atlanta after graduating 2 years ago for a job as a Data Analyst. I've always been a huge NYT crossword fan (and any other crossword or puzzle tossed my way), but I'm new to WSJ puzzles. I have a constant need to be solving a problem, optimizing, or puzzling and if I don't have something to work on, my brain just starts creating problems for me to solve

Welcome Megan! Love your screen name! We have a Muggle named Hashbrown - any relation?

[hashbrownoholic]

Welcome Megan! Love your screen name! We have a Muggle named Hashbrown - any relation?

Thank you! no relation, I just really love hashbrowns! Or any way potatoes can be prepared for that matter

[SReh26]

Long time lurker, first time poster. My wife and I have been following along and getting on shore more often than not over the past year, so we figured it was time to buy a ticket and join the party! I’m on the marketing team at a local university, with a particular interest in baseball history and analytics. Looking forward to the cruising! -Phil & Kelli

killer screen name - do people know the reference to V?

[Guffman]

This is Ed from Prairie Village, Kansas. I was a humor writer, editor and manager at Hallmark Cards for 35 years before retiring in 2010. Discovered Matt's Weekly Crossword Contest Puzzle more than a few years ago and have been beating my head against the wall ever since. Loved puzzles of every kind since childhood. Can any of you remember the old New York Magazine cryptics by Stephen Sondheim and Richard Maltby Jr.? Well, that's when I really got hooked on the non-standard varieties. So glad to have found this site!

[Al Sisti]

This is Ed from Prairie Village, Kansas. I was a humor writer, editor and manager at Hallmark Cards for 35 years before retiring in 2010. Discovered Matt's Weekly Crossword Contest Puzzle more than a few years ago and have been beating my head against the wall ever since. Loved puzzles of every kind since childhood. Can any of you remember the old New York Magazine cryptics by Stephen Sondheim and Richard Maltby Jr.? Well, that's when I really got hooked on the non-standard varieties. So glad to have found this site!

We've been waiting for you!

[zach]

Hello everyone!

I’m Zach! I just completed my 52nd WSJ crossword contest which means I’m entering my second year of this excellent hobby. I told myself I’d join the forum after 52 weeks or winning the mug, whichever came first. No mug yet, but I have had 40 tries so far. 12 of the puzzles were a tad too difficult for me! My favorite puzzle from the last year was Mike Shenk’s “Risky Business” from December. I wish my wife captured a video of me having the prime number epiphany late Sunday night!

I am a data analyst for a living and have been tracking the results from Mike’s posts each week. Want to know your odds of winning the mug? That would be 1 out of 1424, but as expected, the harder the crossword, the better the odds.

[cheryl w]

Hello all! I've been doing the crossword contest and watching the forum for about a year. Your posts and reference materials have been so helpful, and I've loved the humor and positive spirit of the forum. My husband & two adult sons also enjoy pitching in each week, trying to help me out. I'm recently retired from Coca-Cola, and we just moved from Atlanta to Montgomery AL. Looking forward to joining in some weekly conversations now that I finally created an account!!

[Hector]

Hello everyone!

I’m Zach! I just completed my 52nd WSJ crossword contest which means I’m entering my second year of this excellent hobby. I told myself I’d join the forum after 52 weeks or winning the mug, whichever came first. No mug yet, but I have had 40 tries so far. 12 of the puzzles were a tad too difficult for me! My favorite puzzle from the last year was Mike Shenk’s “Risky Business” from December. I wish my wife captured a video of me having the prime number epiphany late Sunday night!

I am a data analyst for a living and have been tracking the results from Mike’s posts each week. Want to know your odds of winning the mug? That would be 1 out of 1424, but as expected, the harder the crossword, the better the odds.

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Fantastic! The stars are genuinely measuring something, and impressively close to linearly. Welcome.

[Bob cruise director]

Hello! I'm Carolyn from Sacramento, a long time lurker and recent recipient of hints on a couple puzzles so I thought I should introduce myself. I'm a retired ICU nursing instructor, birder, recent crossword addict, French language student, mom of two grown kids, wife of retired doc and lover of travel. I do the WSJ, MGWCC and PGW each week with varying degrees of success. No mug yet, but maybe someday.....

Hi
In my records, I have a Carolyn Mercer from the WSJ. Are you the same Carolyn?

[Carolyn]

No. I'm Carolyn Shaw Woodruff, retired RN, originally from San Diego, lived in Sacramento for many years, but now have moved to Carlsbad, California. I just updated my profile. I'm CHSW on MGWCC. I rarely post but do enjoy reading all the comments. Thanks for all you do!

[kimberlysg]

Hi, I'm Kimberly from Chattanooga, Tennessee. By day I work as a corporate paralegal, although I was a high school English teacher in a past life. I've been doing the WSJ crosswords for several months now and enjoy them so much that they are the sole reason I subscribed to the digital WSJ. I can usually solve the puzzle but only occasionally get the meta and am SO proud of myself when I do. I've been following this forum for awhile as well and finally made up my mind to register. Thanks for letting me mix and mingle here with all you awesomely smart people! (I'm hoping it will rub off . . . . )

[whimsy]

Hi, I'm Kimberly from Chattanooga, Tennessee. By day I work as a corporate paralegal, although I was a high school English teacher in a past life. I've been doing the WSJ crosswords for several months now and enjoy them so much that they are the sole reason I subscribed to the digital WSJ. I can usually solve the puzzle but only occasionally get the meta and am SO proud of myself when I do. I've been following this forum for awhile as well and finally made up my mind to register. Thanks for letting me mix and mingle here with all you awesomely smart people! (I'm hoping it will rub off . . . . )

Welcome, Kimberley!
I once visited a lovely little park in Chattanooga with my daughter when she was living in Nashville. It was by the river and had a merry-go-round!
Also rode the Incline Railway. In fact, my ticket stub is staring at me right now, from a memories montage I made that's hanging on my porch wall!

[kimberlysg]

Welcome, Kimberley!
I once visited a lovely little park in Chattanooga with my daughter when she was living in Nashville. It was by the river and had a merry-go-round!
Also rode the Incline Railway. In fact, my ticket stub is staring at me right now, from a memories montage I made that's hanging on my porch wall!

Ah, yes, that would be Coolidge Park, and I live only a hop, skip and a jump away. We do have a lovely riverfront, and the Incline is definitely a must for anyone who hasn't done it. Come on back some time and visit our wonderful aquarium too!

[Puzzled]

Hello all : )

My name is Lydia. I am a project coordinator for a retail company in Montreal, Canada. I regularly do the NYT crosswords, but am new to the crossword contest. I finally cracked "Connect the Dots" this week, so thought it would be alright to join. I will be teaming up with my Dad, who is also on the forum.

[femullen]

Hello all : )

My name is Lydia. I am a project coordinator for a retail company in Montreal, Canada. I regularly do the NYT crosswords, but am new to the crossword contest. I finally cracked "Connect the Dots" this week, so thought it would be alright to join. I will be teaming up with my Dad, who is also on the forum.

And I am Frank, proud Papa Bear of Lydia and the southern half of Équipe Canuck.

8^D

[regfish7]

Hi all! My name is Rachel. College mathematics professor and language lover. My mom and I started our puzzle journey together with word jumbles and celebrity ciphers, working our way up to crosswords and other fun puzzles (we especially like the "rows" garden puzzles). Mom was the one who started working on the WSJ contest and I've been helping her make it to shore the last few weeks. I've started to try on my own and we help each other out, so thought it was time to join the Muggles officially!

[Bob cruise director]

Hi all! My name is Rachel. College mathematics professor and language lover. My mom and I started our puzzle journey together with word jumbles and celebrity ciphers, working our way up to crosswords and other fun puzzles (we especially like the "rows" garden puzzles). Mom was the one who started working on the WSJ contest and I've been helping her make it to shore the last few weeks. I've started to try on my own and we help each other out, so thought it was time to join the Muggles officially!

And we are glad to have you here. Welcome.

[Bob cruise director]

Hello all : )

My name is Lydia. I am a project coordinator for a retail company in Montreal, Canada. I regularly do the NYT crosswords, but am new to the crossword contest. I finally cracked "Connect the Dots" this week, so thought it would be alright to join. I will be teaming up with my Dad, who is also on the forum.

I hope that Papa Bear buys you one of those beers he has in his avatar whenever he gets to see you. Welcome to the group

[T-Square]

Robert from Austin. I've been doing the WSJ puzzle for a while but new to this forum. I am looking for any other puzzle contests, especially those where you can actually win something.