"Mixed Together" August 2, 2024

[MMe]

Finally got it! Took me longer than any WSJ one in recent memory.

[newbymar]

After going down a lot of rabbit holes during our 7 am zoom call, then our 5:30 pm zoom call, brother Bill got it for us! We are ashore!!! PHEW! That was a hard swim to shore! Almost called the lifeguards!

[Cindy N]

Ashore! I could see what I needed for the answer, but was missing the middle to get there.

[dho]

Nice nudge from the Zoom Room lead to shore. Thanks to all, and congratulations to the rabbit hole award recipients!

Don and Lisa

[Nlobb]

Ashore!!

[benchen71]

And now we come to THE GOLDEN RABBIT HOLE AWARD WINNER. and it should be no surprise that this year’s ultimate honor goes to ** drum roll, please** … benchen71.

Over the course of the last year Ben has received a record six nominations, demonstrating a dedication and consistency to the art of being lost. His logic, faulty as he has repeatedly demonstrated, always seems so much clearer as he provides color grids, clearly outlining the error of his ways. Ben travelled to ALBUQUERQUE while everyone else was going to SCOTTSDALE (“Make it an Even Dozen” Post #254 ), dined at ARBY’s when the crowd was at TACO BELL (“Sign Language” Post #167 ) and found his own RUBRIC in the “Piece Process.” Post #253.

There is a certain amount of irony that Ben was last week’s guest constructor of the Friday Gaffney puzzle. He is to be commended for his ability in creating metas as well as showing humility and humor in not solving them. Like DB Miller, last year’s winner, he is being honored for a body of work as much as any single post. The X-Word Rabbit salutes you!

My thanks to @The XWord Rabbit for this incredible honour! I will wear the Golden Rabbit Hole award with pride. Finding rabbit holes, the deeper the better, in tricky WSJ puzzles has become a bit of a passion. Either they lead to meta ideas which I then use in a MOAT (or the occasional Gaffney appearance. Fun fact: last week's "Up In The Air" was actually inspired by a rabbit hole I explored trying to solve Patrick Berry's WSJ puzzle, "Left Up In The Air"), or to an XWord Rabbit submission!

And as I said on the Zoom meeting, much thanks to Ed for all you do to make the XWord Rabbit such a fun part of this site.

[meowmiao71]

On shore after quite a struggle swim.

[DBMiller]

And now we come to THE GOLDEN RABBIT HOLE AWARD WINNER. and it should be no surprise that this year’s ultimate honor goes to ** drum roll, please** … benchen71.

Over the course of the last year Ben has received a record six nominations, demonstrating a dedication and consistency to the art of being lost. His logic, faulty as he has repeatedly demonstrated, always seems so much clearer as he provides color grids, clearly outlining the error of his ways. Ben travelled to ALBUQUERQUE while everyone else was going to SCOTTSDALE (“Make it an Even Dozen” Post #254 ), dined at ARBY’s when the crowd was at TACO BELL (“Sign Language” Post #167 ) and found his own RUBRIC in the “Piece Process.” Post #253.

There is a certain amount of irony that Ben was last week’s guest constructor of the Friday Gaffney puzzle. He is to be commended for his ability in creating metas as well as showing humility and humor in not solving them. Like DB Miller, last year’s winner, he is being honored for a body of work as much as any single post. The X-Word Rabbit salutes you!

My thanks to @The XWord Rabbit for this incredible honour! I will wear the Golden Rabbit Hole award with pride. Finding rabbit holes, the deeper the better, in tricky WSJ puzzles has become a bit of a passion. Either they lead to meta ideas which I then use in a MOAT (or the occasional Gaffney appearance. Fun fact: last week's "Up In The Air" was actually inspired by a rabbit hole I explored trying to solve Patrick Berry's WSJ puzzle, "Left Up In The Air"), or to an XWord Rabbit submission!

And as I said on the Zoom meeting, much thanks to Ed for all you do to make the XWord Rabbit such a fun part of this site.

Congratulations on a well-deserved award. I have relinquished my golden award avatar. May you wear yours proudly over the coming year.

[Al Laubenstein]

Had the right idea, but couldn't sort it out until the zoom meeting. Thanks!

[scrabbler]

Ashore now! Very certain on this one. A lovely ride.

[Greta1234]

Ashore, so clever!

[otlaolap]

Looks like the start of another nice long cruise. Out on the ocean, and expect to remain there. Good luck to those on shore.

[Bob cruise director]

Dragged to shore by @Wendy Walker

I am afraid to count the nudges, bludgeons and rescues

Clearly I won't be submitting.

[BigPear]

This week's WSJ contest is titled "MIXED TOGETHER" by Mike Shenk

The answer to this week's contest crossword is a five-letter word.

Mixed Together Excel file
Save to your drive. Open. Allow permissions.

Good luck with the grid and the meta.




And I have to post this. 55 years ago today (Friday) was one of the greatest of con jobs in history. I convinced a wonderful classy lady to marry me. (she is also an outstanding cook which is why the picture is a few pounds lighter than now)


IMG_20220801_0001-2.jpg

Congratulations!

[Collegetowngirl]

Wow this group is inspiring! CollegeTownHubby and I are still working on the grid. Normal pattern is to complete the grid on Friday after dinner and puzzle over the meta on Saturday and Sunday. I’m so discouraged that we can’t even finish the grid that I was thinking about throwing in the towel altogether. Y'all are giving me hope that we should keep at it! (No nudges please. I will ask for one if we get to that point.)

[BigPear]

Just stepping out of my cabin and onto the deck with a cup of coffee, admiring the endless miles of ocean around me. I am inspired by everyone’s enthusiasm—will get to work!

[BigPear]

Ashore! Glad I had that coffee.

[Craven_Mug_Craver]

Many thanks to the gang on the Zoom call --surprised I didn't have that mech in my tool box but glad to have it now! Still a few loose ends / confusion points. I look forward to seeing in the posted solution but confidence is at 100%. Thanks again to the Zoomers!!

[whimsy]

On the ship.

Looked at it a few times and am weighing comments such as "brilliant construction", "clever meta", "ashore with a smile", and "great click", against "whew", "slog", "work", "rough surf", "tricky", "perseverance" and "hundred different ways to interpret the clues".
So despite 8D, I may pass on chasing this bunny for too long in this heat --

[Laurab]

Ashore!