"Please Find Enclosed" - July 2, 2021

[hoover]

That’s my one regret about being ashore. What do I do now?

I only do one meta a week. On other days I just do the WSJ crossword. Im think of trying two metas a week and wondering what would be the best one for a newbie. Someone recommended Pandora‘s Blocks. Any suggestions?

Can't go wrong with the Gaffney contest (MGWCC). Expertly constructed obviously, and you also get a nice and predictable variety of difficulty levels.

Do those levels vary from "impossible" to "@#$%!!!!" like his WSJ puzzles?

[SReh26]

That’s my one regret about being ashore. What do I do now?

I only do one meta a week. On other days I just do the WSJ crossword. Im think of trying two metas a week and wondering what would be the best one for a newbie. Someone recommended Pandora‘s Blocks. Any suggestions?

One becomes two which becomes three.....

Try the MMM because they are a bit easier, done by your friends and usually have clues that reference muggles.

I suspected this was an adult-onset, gradually worsening condition..

thanks, I‘ll try it!

I was going to use another word for gradually worsening but thought better of it.

[BarbaraK]

That’s my one regret about being ashore. What do I do now?

I only do one meta a week. On other days I just do the WSJ crossword. Im think of trying two metas a week and wondering what would be the best one for a newbie. Someone recommended Pandora‘s Blocks. Any suggestions?

Can't go wrong with the Gaffney contest (MGWCC). Expertly constructed obviously, and you also get a nice and predictable variety of difficulty levels.

Do those levels vary from "impossible" to "@#$%!!!!" like his WSJ puzzles?

The week 1's are really easy. Pretty much everyone gets them right away. Kind of like this February's WSJ's.

Week 2's are a mixed bag. They're usually just a bit harder but still quite doable, but occasionally Matt misjudges these and the solvers find them harder than he expected.

Most of the WSJ's are probably in the week 2 - week 3 MGWCC range.

Week 4's are really tough, like the hardest WSJ's.

Week 5 - hold on to your hat.

All IMHO, YMMV. Other opinions welcome.

[SReh26]

If Muggles had their own 70s shows:

Barney Muggle
The Muggle Bunch
Muggle to Muggle
Muggle Island
Hawaii 50A
All in the Meta
One Meta at a Time
Welcome Back, Muggle
Metas of Our Lives
Muggle Mouse
Get Smarter
Meta Impossible
Muggle P.I.
The Meta Tyler Moore Show
M-E-T-A
The Bob and Wendy Show

And the winner is..... Hawaii 50A
runner up: Get Smarter

[DCBilly]

On shore, with help. A successful first use of the Private Message function to compare notes with a similarly struggling muggle. I eventually got encouragement to follow up on one of my thoughts after my solving buddy saw the answer first.

[DBMiller]

Done and done. Biting my tongue (or is it pinching my fingers?) so I won't add anything more.

[Richard]

Have now made it to shore.

Found the grid to be pretty easy. Had to put it aside after completing the grid. When I got back to it saw the first step.

Had some time today on and off. Discussing the meta with my wife thought of something to try while not even looking at the puzzle.

Aha.

[Jeremy Smith]

On the beach! I’ve been in a meta-slump recently. After only solving 1 out of the last 5, it’s great to be hanging out with the cool kids again!

[TeaJenny]

I'm keeping Isaac company for now. I got the grid quickly last night, but am stuck on the meta. Based on other comments, I'm probably overthinking it and will feel very stupid once I finally get it.

[Meg]

I apologize in advance. And it doesn’t even have anything to do with the topic. But I cannot resist. The cabana boy told it to me.

What's the best thing about Switzerland?
I don’t know.
Well, their flag is a big plus.

Aw c'mon. Didn’t you laugh just a little??

[whimsy]

Poor @DrTom -- I didn't realize he was in such dire financial straits -- having to take a second job as a cabana boy.....

[802puzzler]

Keeping Isaac company for now. Grid done, multiple methods tried resulting in alphabet soup. Will sleep on it!

[Bob cruise director]

Poor @DrTom -- I didn't realize he was in such dire financial straights -- having to take a second job as a cabana boy.....

@Meg and @whimsy - I loved both posts and read them to my wife. She says that I hang around with strange people but have found my tribe

[802puzzler]

Keeping Isaac company for now. Grid done, multiple methods tried resulting in alphabet soup. Will sleep on it!

Drove 15 minutes home and it came to me in the car!

On shore! I'll have a Maine Mule!

[SingleMalt]

Ashore. Pour me one bourbon, one scotch, and one beer.

I lived in Newark way back in the day. Can we meet at the Stone Balloon for a scotch? George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers....

Love the reference

[Colin]

Wow! Parentheses!
With numbers no less - oh geez!
Devon cream tea please!

(I’m under the 13th palm tree, south of the tiki bar!)

[RDaleHall]

Grid done. First step done. But still milling around with Isaac and asking for the well double shots. Hope to
join you all soon on the shore.

[SReh26]

Wow! Parentheses!
With numbers no less - oh geez!
Devon cream tea please!

(I’m under the 13th palm tree, south of the tiki bar!)

Where there are parentheses
and muggles eyeroll, oh jeez!
Courage! I entreat you, please
don’t let them bring you to your knees

Behold! The parenthetical
a fearsome thing
some say that it’s heretical
alarm bells ring

it brackets the numerical
a dangerous foe
it seems to be chimerical
and bring on woe

it’s sometimes hypothetical
appears in the grid
some people get hysterical
like I just did
no need to call for medical
I‘ll close the lid.

[RDaleHall]

Hmmm. Causation or correlation? Now on shore. A quick look back at the grid after posting and VOILA. Celebrating with a nice “Born in the USA” Keg Grove Brewery Super Industrial Turbo IPA. Have a great holiday weekend to all US friends!

[hunkra]

Was treading water for a bit today, mid-solve, but made it to shore just after some post-dinner enlightenment. Glad to have that under my belt, as I head into the cooking/baking tasks for the Sunday BBQs. Blueberry Crumble Bars or Florida Lime Pie… Why not both?? Happy 4th Muggles!