Me, too! In recent weeks I got my sons, my daughter, & her friend, involved in my weekend addiction “WSJCC”!!KscX wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:22 am As life opens up and I’m spending more time with people outside my family, it is difficult to explain my new weekend “job” of the the WSJCC to them. When I entered the pandemic I had never heard of this! I sat with friends on a beautiful porch looking out on Table Rock, Hawksbill and Grandfather 🏔 yesterday morning working the grid. They looked on to my puzzle with less than curious eyes… but I’ve dragged other friends in with me so that’s good!
"Pardon My English" - June 4, 2021
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- Posts: 785
- Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:12 pm
- Location: Seneca SC
- SReh26
- Posts: 765
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:48 pm
Me too! I read my impromptu limericks to my brother today. Unclear whether he was impressed.Ergcat wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:33 pmMe, too! In recent weeks I got my sons, my daughter, & her friend, involved in my weekend addiction “WSJCC”!!KscX wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:22 am As life opens up and I’m spending more time with people outside my family, it is difficult to explain my new weekend “job” of the the WSJCC to them. When I entered the pandemic I had never heard of this! I sat with friends on a beautiful porch looking out on Table Rock, Hawksbill and Grandfather 🏔 yesterday morning working the grid. They looked on to my puzzle with less than curious eyes… but I’ve dragged other friends in with me so that’s good!
- femullen
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2020 1:02 pm
- Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
You could well be right, but I won't know till Monday morning when the mystery of the parens is revealed. This weekend I have occupied my customary stool with Isaac. I've absolutely no idea what to make of the meta.
My own parenthetical two-word phrase here is a Cartesian puzzle of ambiguous origin. Some people here could surely crack it in a minute or two.
For nudges, feel free to PM me. I won't have a clue how to help you, but you might shove me ashore.
- C=64
- Posts: 690
- Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:29 pm
- Location: PDX
I want to give full props to @KayW, who is frequently in the #1 position (or #2 or #3) with a time between 11 and 18 minutes.
- DannyWalter
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:14 pm
Thanks to all you nudgers, I got confirmation that I was on the right track, but am still only 50% (maybe 75%) of the way through step 1. And I have no idea what step 2 would be. And just not in the mood to crawl again through the prior puzzles with parentheses to try and find a path.DannyWalter wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 6:24 pm Once again, this is beyond my feeble skills. I thought I had an aha moment, but it only works for half the clues, and even then I don't know what I would do with it. I can't stop staring at it though. Anyone online care to give me a nudge?
Happy at this point to wait the answer and then gripe about it
- lbray53
- Posts: 1221
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
- Location: Elkhorn, WI
I finally broke down and asked for help. I had all the pieces but could not put them together. I abandoned an early strategy which was my downfall. The 25% confusion plagued me as well, largely because Google got me to the 75% so quickly. The correct solution is fair in my opinion. It just depends on one’s familiarity since the internet was of less help.
On another note, thanks to this forum, I am still in the game. After a week of being lost at sea other than the Gaffney week one I was considering giving up metas.
Thank you all for your direct and indirect encouragement.
On another note, thanks to this forum, I am still in the game. After a week of being lost at sea other than the Gaffney week one I was considering giving up metas.
Thank you all for your direct and indirect encouragement.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
- KscX
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Sat May 02, 2020 12:09 pm
- Location: Charlotte, NC
I still insist on my husband sitting and listening to my very dramatic description of how (IF!) I solved it every week. He is very patient with me.
On rare occasion he even gets involved, which makes it the best of solves!
Last edited by KscX on Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- boharr
- Moderator
- Posts: 3207
- Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:57 am
- Location: Westchester, NY
Hey man,lbray53 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:02 pm I finally broke down and asked for help. I had all the pieces but could not put them together. I abandoned an early strategy which was my downfall. The 25% confusion plagued me as well, largely because Google got me to the 75% so quickly. The correct solution is fair in my opinion. It just depends on one’s familiarity since the internet was of less help.
On another note, thanks to this forum, I am still in the game. After a week of being lost at sea other than the Gaffney week one I was considering giving up metas.
Thank you all for your direct and indirect encouragement.
Thank you for being a part of this forum.
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- Posts: 82
- Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:46 am
Was away last week so I solved the last 2 weeks today. i really enjoyed this week's puzzle. now on to the MGWCC for the Trifecta hopefully.
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- Posts: 82
- Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 2:57 pm
I’m ashore. No brainwaves until about 20 minutes ago, and then it clicked. Tough one.
- Bonnibel
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2021 10:40 pm
- Location: Westlake Village & La Jolla CA
Safely ashore for a while now, thanks to a very helpful nudge from CPJohnson and confirmation that I was, after all, headed in the right direction. Thankful for the very nice members of this forum. And wine-ding down as I write this.Bonnibel wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 6:29 pm Oh man I am really trying but continue to paddle around in circles. I thought this morning's mimosas on the lake would help! I am now back to the puzzle but none of the many things I observe make sense with those numbers. I need a bit of help to get back on course..
- SReh26
- Posts: 765
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:48 pm
I almost quit metas last week but kind words, nudges and solves pulled me back. Which makes me think there may be Seven Stages of Meta involvement... anyone?boharr wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:04 pmHey man,lbray53 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:02 pm I finally broke down and asked for help. I had all the pieces but could not put them together. I abandoned an early strategy which was my downfall. The 25% confusion plagued me as well, largely because Google got me to the 75% so quickly. The correct solution is fair in my opinion. It just depends on one’s familiarity since the internet was of less help.
On another note, thanks to this forum, I am still in the game. After a week of being lost at sea other than the Gaffney week one I was considering giving up metas.
Thank you all for your direct and indirect encouragement.
Thank you for being a part of this forum.
Enthusiasm / Confidence
Defeat / Disillusionment with Self
Sour Grapes / Depression
Hope
Solves w Fewer Nudges
Getting the Hang
Addicted!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3781
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Well that's ironically amusing!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3781
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Well I think there is also a 12 step program if you find yourself too addicted. Problem is that around step 6 or 7 you are looking back at previous steps to see if they spell anything.....SReh26 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:42 pmI almost quit metas last week but kind words, nudges and solves pulled me back. Which makes me think there may be Seven Stages of Meta involvement... anyone?boharr wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:04 pmHey man,lbray53 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:02 pm I finally broke down and asked for help. I had all the pieces but could not put them together. I abandoned an early strategy which was my downfall. The 25% confusion plagued me as well, largely because Google got me to the 75% so quickly. The correct solution is fair in my opinion. It just depends on one’s familiarity since the internet was of less help.
On another note, thanks to this forum, I am still in the game. After a week of being lost at sea other than the Gaffney week one I was considering giving up metas.
Thank you all for your direct and indirect encouragement.
Thank you for being a part of this forum.
Enthusiasm / Confidence
Defeat / Disillusionment with Self
Sour Grapes / Depression
Hope
Solves w Fewer Nudges
Getting the Hang
Addicted!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- SReh26
- Posts: 765
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:48 pm
It seems like, just as with any new skill, there is a significant feeling down phase that one just has to work through.
For sesame street fans, check out kermit Mary Had a Bicycle on youtube. Its a great lesson in not giving up even when things are bleak.
As they often are in this Alice in Wonderland coal mine alternate universe.
For sesame street fans, check out kermit Mary Had a Bicycle on youtube. Its a great lesson in not giving up even when things are bleak.
As they often are in this Alice in Wonderland coal mine alternate universe.
- DrTom
- Posts: 3781
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
When reading Muggle poems to your kinSReh26 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:36 pmMe too! I read my impromptu limericks to my brother today. Unclear whether he was impressed.Ergcat wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:33 pmMe, too! In recent weeks I got my sons, my daughter, & her friend, involved in my weekend addiction “WSJCC”!!KscX wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:22 am As life opens up and I’m spending more time with people outside my family, it is difficult to explain my new weekend “job” of the the WSJCC to them. When I entered the pandemic I had never heard of this! I sat with friends on a beautiful porch looking out on Table Rock, Hawksbill and Grandfather 🏔 yesterday morning working the grid. They looked on to my puzzle with less than curious eyes… but I’ve dragged other friends in with me so that’s good!
In order to make them all grin
They may never smile
Plus think you senile
And the time that you wasted a sin
But at this point I couldn’t exist
Despite often missing the gist
As I struggle to solve
And my skills to evolve
Doing Metas that turn as they twist
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- KayW
- Moderator
- Posts: 3269
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
- Location: Chicago
...and then lather, rinse, repeat when I hit the inevitable next slump...SReh26 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:42 pm
I almost quit metas last week but kind words, nudges and solves pulled me back. Which makes me think there may be Seven Stages of Meta involvement... anyone?
Enthusiasm / Confidence
Defeat / Disillusionment with Self
Sour Grapes / Depression
Hope
Solves w Fewer Nudges
Getting the Hang
Addicted!
...for which I am now seriously overdue
(but aw garsh, thanks guys!)
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
- hcbirker
- Posts: 2017
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:24 pm
- Location: Studio City, CA
I started doing the WSJ puzzle contest before this forum existed. No nudges or help. You just keep plugging along, learning as you go, successes and failures are what fuel my drive to master these enigmas, and along the way you realize it’s just a puzzle.SReh26 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:42 pmI almost quit metas last week but kind words, nudges and solves pulled me back. Which makes me think there may be Seven Stages of Meta involvement... anyone?boharr wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:04 pmHey man,lbray53 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:02 pm I finally broke down and asked for help. I had all the pieces but could not put them together. I abandoned an early strategy which was my downfall. The 25% confusion plagued me as well, largely because Google got me to the 75% so quickly. The correct solution is fair in my opinion. It just depends on one’s familiarity since the internet was of less help.
On another note, thanks to this forum, I am still in the game. After a week of being lost at sea other than the Gaffney week one I was considering giving up metas.
Thank you all for your direct and indirect encouragement.
Thank you for being a part of this forum.
Enthusiasm / Confidence
Defeat / Disillusionment with Self
Sour Grapes / Depression
Hope
Solves w Fewer Nudges
Getting the Hang
Addicted!
Heidi
- Bonnibel
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2021 10:40 pm
- Location: Westlake Village & La Jolla CA
And I should mention that sometimes my head just isn't in the right place. I have to unscrew my brain a bit - some days it's easier than others. Today I realized that sometimes I have way too much of my self worth wrapped up in the ability to solve these metas, which is ridiculous! For sure, WSJ puzzles literally saved me during the pandemic, and I am so grateful. Matt Gaffney is a god! Although things in California are finally opening up (and we are vaccinated), resuming the pace of the prior life is not so easy nor is it always desirable! I am going to stick with the puzzles, whatever it takes. And thanks again to the nice people here, both at sea and ashore. I heart you.Bonnibel wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:27 pmSafely ashore for a while now, thanks to a very helpful nudge from CPJohnson and confirmation that I was, after all, headed in the right direction. Thankful for the very nice members of this forum. And wine-ding down as I write this.Bonnibel wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 6:29 pm Oh man I am really trying but continue to paddle around in circles. I thought this morning's mimosas on the lake would help! I am now back to the puzzle but none of the many things I observe make sense with those numbers. I need a bit of help to get back on course..
- MajordomoTom
- Posts: 1409
- Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 12:09 am
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Lost at sea x3 this weekend
nothing for WSJ
nothing for Gaffney
nothing for Pandora
nothing for WSJ
nothing for Gaffney
nothing for Pandora
"Lots of planets have a North", the Ninth Doctor.