"A Sail of Two Cities" - June 18, 2021

[CPJohnson]

I am on my usual bar stool at Isaac’s. I’ve seen one thing, but have no ideas that have led to the next step.

[sfed]

long time reader, first time poster. ashore!

[Amanda Hugginkiss]

Struggled a little with the last bit, but I’m on shore.

[FKelly]

On shore!
I was the first solver (or one of the first) the last time Matt used this mechanism. However, I totally blanked out on it this time.
Didn't see it until just now. Chalk it up to Covid-19 induced brain rot, Doh!

[femullen]

I think I have every bit of it except the final Aha insight. I imagine it's staring me in the eyes. Meanwhile, there's no better band than Isaac and the Bar Flies.

[hcbirker]

Still on the ship, in the same place as most of you that are with Isaac. I'm determined to crack this one though!

[Olof]

On shore. A sweet meta, not too hard, not too easy. I think this week I'll have a Pisco (a nice five letter word, no?)

[Wendy Walker]

Still on the ship, in the same place as most of you that are with Isaac. I'm determined to crack this one though!

I'm right there with you, Heidi! Yesterday the house museum where I volunteer had its first post-COVID shindig and they HAD THE NERVE to schedule it not only on a Thursday but in prime puzzling hours, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (My suggestion to hold it on a Friday fell on deaf ears.) Our guests were so happy to mingle that I didn't get home until after 8. My brain must be zonked from making small talk: I have the grid done, and have identified what I believe are Steps 1 and 2, but that's it so far!

[higgysue]

The rule (for me) is no nudges. Over on MGWCC I sometimes ask for a nudge since there is a “non solo solve” button you can click. Here I just keep thinking about it until the bitter end. Other people have different rules and that’s ok too.

[wb93]

Most of the way there. Could use a little coaching to clear into shore. Would appreciate a PM from someone who could help.

[Annabelle]

Still on the boat, [spoiler redacted]? Only need five letters for the meta, [spoiler redacted], please bring me a Jamison's neat for some inspiration.

[Richard]

On the beach.

Did get a nudge.

[mlvilv]

Okay it's nudge time for me. I was 'sailing' through this confidently yesterday, thought I figured out some significant things, moved through it thinking I was headed for a page one and then I just came to a screeching halt. Nothing I'm trying is making any sense and now I think I've started overthinking it and going down rabbit holes.

[Jace54]

Sudden enlightenment got me to shore!

[woozy]

well, i'm determined to get this. But it's going to be hard if I don't keep on repeating the same idea over and over again. It's just really hard to think of anywhere to look, or what is more likely, to look where I am looking but in any angle.... I don't want a nudge yet but... I dunno, I'm curious what it felt like to get the final aha moment and... Oh, I don't know. I've got to think of something else eventually.

[SReh26]

In a big City
Composing a Ditty
Aiming for Witty
or a big hit-ty
Will settle for Pretty
There goes the Kitty

Two cities and a sail
hope there’s no hail
or a big whale
we wont be pale
the bread will go stale
but what the hay-el

Bored
out of my gourd
don’t breathe a word
would be untoward
at least Im shored 🏖
praise the L-rd

Way too much thinking
Not enough drinking
Ship may be sinking
no glasses klinking
At least Im blinking

A year spent at home
wish it were Rome
or on the Somme
writing a tome
instead of a poem

Grew up on Ogden Nash
Writing for Cash
Even got the Sash
Flew by in a Dash

Eviction Moratoria
Hallelujah Gloria
Not so much Euphoria
nor shopping at Emporia

Don’t pay the rent
don’t have a cent
somehow it was spent
no idea where it went
don’t live in a tent
LL will relent


yes I’m fine but its been quite a year!

[regfish7]

Finally on shore. Needed some nudges from mom. Turns out I made it a little too complicated at the end. Enjoying some muscadet wine

[MaineMarge]

Still here with 5-letter Isaac. Here are some more five letter words to enrich our evening as we hope to sail toward Mugsville

Peony, field, lawns, trees,green, Maine
Marge

[Bob cruise director]

Still on the boat, [spoiler redacted]? Only need five letters for the meta, [spoiler redacted], please bring me a Jamison's neat for some inspiration.

Don't you love it when you are on the boat, in some deep rabbit hole and you have not one, but two spoilers redacted. And you still have no clue why what you said was a spoiler. - been there, done that

[otlaolap]

Still on the boat, [spoiler redacted]? Only need five letters for the meta, [spoiler redacted], please bring me a Jamison's neat for some inspiration.

In Post 41 this week I wrote "On Shore" followed by a one-sentence attempt at casual humor regarding this status. Sixty or so seconds later It hit me that my casual comment contained -- gasp! gasp! gasp! -- a completely inadvertent spoiler (or two?) and luckily I was able immediately to delete the added comment. I think one person may have seen it (since someone "liked" it and there is nothing in "On Shore" worth a like). It would be interesting on Monday to see what was redacted from your post.