"Now That's a Gift!" - December 24, 2021

[BrianMac]

On shore with my son in Naples, Florida. Happy Christmas everyone!

[DrTom]

Now that's what I call a community!

So, I was stuck (thankfully no longer) and could see nothing. I mentioned it on the forum because, well because misery loves company. Then what to my wondering eyes should appear than an offer from someone not here a year.

This community is SO strong that nobody fears their help will go unrecognized or unheeded. In my working life I was often hindered by the "Oh, he already knows that" or "He's not going to accept help from me. I'm too new". Know what, though certainly a different level of criticality, people probably did not get the best they could because of that.

We are the oddest community I have ever been a part of. It's not just Christmas, it is every day. People are looking out for one another and I'm so darn proud to be a Muggle I cannot tell you.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night (see you tomorrow for the MGWCC rush!!!) Oh, and I WANT that Christmas badge so if I cannot solve it I'll be BEGGING for help - just saying

[bread-girl]

On the shore! Happy holidays to everyone!

[Bonnibel]

On shore and loving the Christmas cookies with my wine! Fun meta.

[otlaolap]

Merry Christmas. Just got it! On shore on Christmas Day.

[Ann]

On shore! Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

[coffeefrog]

With such a quick solve to the meta and no weekend varity xword puzzle I had a try at a different type of puzzle this weekend. Still incomplete with 4 people total working on it on and off since Friday night. Hope all who celebrate had a very merry Christmas!

[Deb F]

Merry Christmas, Muggles. I guess being on page 14 signifies a relatively easy meta. But, as I have been of late, it's eluding me. Sigh. Maybe tomorrow!!

Sleep tight, all.

[DrTom]

A Visit from the WSJ -- (need some help to finish this!)

Twas the night before Monday and all through the net,
Solvers were solving who hadn't solved yet;
The clues were gathered on a notepad with care,
In hopes that the meta soon would be there;
The shore-party were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of mugs danced in their heads

OK, request acknowledged:

Mamma in jammies and a cat in my lap,
We had just settled in for some TV pap,
When on the computer there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the laptop I flew like a flash,
Tore open the cover and hit a backslash.
The window opened upon a new page,
And words did appear, as if from some sage
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a path to solution all crisp and clear,
What a cagey constructor with the grin of a tyke,
I knew in a moment it must be our Mike.
More slowly than treacle the letters they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, a common refrain:
"Now, look at the title, the theme words, the clues !
Oh come on, concentrate like I know you can do!
To the top of the page! to the list of the clues!
Now solve away, solve away, solve away true!"
Wild scribbles on pages that get tossed to the floor,
Each met with an obstacle, and helped me no more;
So up to my ankles the discards they grew
My pencils all dull, my hands black and blue
And then, in a twinkling, I got me a hunch
The scrawling and writing had helped me a bunch.
As I worked it all out, and was turning around,
From the margins an answer came with a bound.
It looked to be right, met all the constraints,
To finally arrive, what a picture it paints;
Mike had some herrings behind his back,
And my smile disappeared as one came from the pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! His laughter, how merry!
But a menacing smile made it seem very scary!
The corners of his mouth were drawn tight in a smirk,
And now it appeared the AHA didn’t work;
The stump of a marker he held tight in his hand,
And he quickly showed I was not on the sand;
He had a sweatshirt with a Nittany Lion
And a box of Kleenex cause he saw I was crying
Not chubby or plump, with a solid set jaw,
And I laughed though my certain destruction I saw;
A wink of his eye and a shake of his head
Soon gave me to know my solution was dead;
They’d not pick my e-mail, no mug for my work,
I’d toiled for hours to end up as a jerk,
But laying his fingers just under his chin,
He gave me a nod that said “try again”;
He ran to the door, to his team gave a whistle,
In an Uber they flew down the road like a missile.
But I heard him exclaim, ere they drove out of sight—
“There’s another next week, maybe you’ll get it right!”

[C=64]

Got around to the puzzle on Xmas night. Solved in about 15 minutes.

[auee89]

Ashore! Knew I was close, but woke a few moments ago with the “how”. I guess it’s Boxing Day now at 1 am eastern time! Hope all are having a nice holiday!

[SewYoung]

Kudos to Janet and Dr. Tom. Janet got it off to a very good start and Dr. Tom carried on in a masterful way!! I think that the WSJ should publish it in the paper.

[ajk]

Just popping in to record that I’m still shipbound. Haven’t had loads of time, but seems like I’ve had more than what should have been required.

[martimeryard]

Ashore! Good to be back!

[mrmd]

Ashore! Happy Boxing Day from Tokyo!

[haydendog]

Still out to sea but enjoying all the comments! No aha moment for me yet but hopeful it will come.

[Adajeo]

Merry Christmas Muggles!

We are on shore. Thanks for another fun puzzle Mike.

This week marks one year since my puzzle loving son introduced me to metas. For those just starting out please don’t get discouraged. It takes time and practice to develop the skill to solve most of these incredible constructions. My nudges come from my son who has a knack for seeing things. But the thrill of the eventual solo solve is very much worth the time and effort!

Mr. Gaffney said it best in 2015 “When you solve a meta puzzle, in the 10 or 15 seconds that you realize you’ve just figured out the key to this thing, you get this adrenaline rush, no joke.” Here's a link to the article: https://observer.com/2015/11/chasing-th ... ta-puzzle/

[ZooAnimalsOnWheels]

I'm on shore. Fun puzzle. Merry Christmas to everyone!

[MaineMarge]

Ashore on Friday with my Team Maine Muggle partner, but a serious case of the HOLLY DAZE kept me from posting til now.
As so many of you have commented, this fabulous forum of frolicsome fanatics wins first place in our hearts among gifts we have received.
For sure you’ll all join me in a huge shoutout to @BrianMac and his band of merry elves who gave us this gift that keeps on giving.
Good wishes to all from the North Country

And no, that’s not cotton candy on Trigger’s head..

[Bob cruise director]

Merry Christmas Muggles!

We are on shore. Thanks for another fun puzzle Mike.

This week marks one year since my puzzle loving son introduced me to metas. For those just starting out please don’t get discouraged. It takes time and practice to develop the skill to solve most of these incredible constructions. My nudges come from my son who has a knack for seeing things. But the thrill of the eventual solo solve is very much worth the time and effort!

Mr. Gaffney said it best in 2015 “When you solve a meta puzzle, in the 10 or 15 seconds that you realize you’ve just figured out the key to this thing, you get this adrenaline rush, no joke.” Here's a link to the article: https://observer.com/2015/11/chasing-th ... ta-puzzle/

And spouses love the AHA moment because they get to see us again but only after we gleefully explain the meta and they go through the eye roll.

Thanks for posting.