"The Party Starts at 10" - December 31, 2020

[NaluGirl]

Quickly on shore even with a late start. Wishing us all a better new year. My location now in line for the vaccine (one of these days....)

[LizD]

Each year at around this time, The New Yorker magazine publishes a bit of verse, “Greetings, Friends,” which is basically a long exercise in dropping names – some that you know, many that you don’t but think that you would if you were at all up to speed with the news, science, the arts, etc. You can find this year’s version here. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020 ... stmas-poem

So I have put together a bit of doggerel with names that should be more familiar, at least to visitors to xword-muggles.com.


Greetongs s.png

Amazing! I bow to your greatness!

A little late to start the puzzle, but quickly and neatly now ashore. And I didn't even complete the grid.

Grateful Gaffney didn't make 1A of us as we slide limping and thoroughly worn out through the finish line of 2020. Happy New Year all!

[LizD]

What a creature of habit I am: I forgot the puzzle was coming out early until Mark reminded me. I'm on shore! Happy New Year, all! You folks are very dear to me. Jay, your poem is PERFECT.
And here is a link to the Mushroom Drop in my town:
http://midnightinthesquare.com/

We do a Ruby drop in mine! How fun!

[Bob cruise director]

how does one stake a tent in the everglades?

How does one stay alive in the everglades between the snakes and the alligators and the bugs?

Bob--where are you (pictorially at least) this week. I love traveling with your avatar photos.

Hi
That picture was taken Tuesday in York Maine. I wanted to get some pictures of the full moon over Nubble Light which is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country. To get the moon large relative to the lighthouse, you have to be a couple of miles away with a long lens. This was about 30 minutes before sunset. I wanted to get some images after sunset on Wednesday but there was clouds that blocked out the moon.

Thanks.

p.s. Harlequin Ducks are by that lighthouse and I will be trying to get some pictures of them next week like this one.

[Bob cruise director]

So, the other day on the Muggle Zoom there were questions on some different issues (including plumbing) but one about the new variant of the COVID virus. I put together something for my family members because there was a lot of concern/panic that we would NEVER be out of the woods. So, although I do not think that we will be anywhere near out until much later this coming year, I can shed a little light on this new specter. I am going to say up front that I am NOT an Infectious Disease specialist, though I do have some training in that area. What you see here is the condensed opinion(s) of people a whole lot smarter than I am (which on some days I figure is about 7.5 of the 7.594 billion people on this planet). So read them with an eye towards the fact that this is a new disease with a "new" organism and that information, like the information has since the very beginning, will become more refined and exact as we progress.

Musings of DrTom (no puns included, though I was tempted)!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BCK5nl ... sp=sharing

Tom
I could not get access to the file on google drive as you need to allow open access.

Thanks in advance. Lots of evolving information on this.

Bob

[KayW]

Another Holiday drink on the house. Think I’ll grab an IPA to get ready for a quiet New Year’s eve by the fire playing Bridge on Line. I bet there are more than a few Muggles out there who do the same.

Guilty as charged (minus the fire)! Do you play ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) bridge on BBO (Bridge Base Online)? I think it's fabulous how the ACBL and BBO cooperated and quickly adapted to pandemic times, and got all us bridge geezers playing online. Since the clubs and tournaments have shut down, it's been a sanity-preserver for many of my friends. I have three standing weekly games and more than a few ad hoc ones.

[Jackie88]

On shore! Happy New Year to all!

[John77]

Ashore, and very glad I didn't have to struggle with this until Sunday.

Now off to the store to find a beverage for this evening. Happy new year to everyone!

[agatha]

Lounging on the shore with my Dom perignon! Happy NYE to all!

[Billy M]

Happy New Years to all from the shore! Although I can't help but feel like I'm being pageanted...

Since it's new years I'll having beer and a rum.

[Grover]

I now see two answers and trying to figure out which one is the one Matt wants.

I think the shorter one is more his style.

I agree with Majordomo Tom that the shorter answer is more likely correct. If that's right, I am ashore to end 2020. Happy New Year, Muggles.

[Orsys]

Could someone who has solved PM me? I would like to confirm my solution. I am split between two.

Edit: Confirmed. Happy New Year everyone!!

[KayW]

What a creature of habit I am: I forgot the puzzle was coming out early until Mark reminded me. I'm on shore! Happy New Year, all! You folks are very dear to me. Jay, your poem is PERFECT.
And here is a link to the Mushroom Drop in my town:
http://midnightinthesquare.com/

Wendy, this sounds like a really fun(gi) time!

Will they be serving sauerkraut icecream to go with the 'shrooms?

https://www.fox43.com/embeds/video/521- ... 7c0/iframe

And though this first sounded like just the PERFECT dessert for 2020 , on second thought - I'd try it!

[ReB]

On shore - sure hope I'm not joining a PAGENT.

But one way or the other, I have the rest of the weekend free.

[Billy M]

Despite thinking my toes are in the sand, I now have suspicions regarding the two possible answers. The answer I came up with didn't match my initial thoughts on the meta, but is undoubtedly AN answer. Could someone who came up with both PM me?

Edit: talked to someone and feel comfy enough on the beach

[cbarbee002]

Despite being reminded, oh, about 7 times that the meta was coming out Wednesday, here I am on Thursday "waiting" for it. :-/

[Olof]

I'm on _a_ shore, which is probably _the_ shore, and will love to hear what the other shore looks like in due course.

[cpelster]

On shore, hopefully the correct one!

[CPJohnson]

So, the other day on the Muggle Zoom there were questions on some different issues (including plumbing) but one about the new variant of the COVID virus. I put together something for my family members because there was a lot of concern/panic that we would NEVER be out of the woods. So, although I do not think that we will be anywhere near out until much later this coming year, I can shed a little light on this new specter. I am going to say up front that I am NOT an Infectious Disease specialist, though I do have some training in that area. What you see here is the condensed opinion(s) of people a whole lot smarter than I am (which on some days I figure is about 7.5 of the 7.594 billion people on this planet). So read them with an eye towards the fact that this is a new disease with a "new" organism and that information, like the information has since the very beginning, will become more refined and exact as we progress.

Musings of DrTom (no puns included, though I was tempted)!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BCK5nl ... sp=sharing

Tom
I could not get access to the file on google drive as you need to allow open access.

Thanks in advance. Lots of evolving information on this.

Bob

I couldn't access it either, DrTom.

[CPJohnson]

And, I am the only person in the world at Isaac's bar. I see nothing.