XWord Muggles Forum

Posted: **Wed Mar 19, 2025 5:34 pm**

The cat hissed at me and told me to be more careful when following the path.

Posted: **Wed Mar 19, 2025 7:17 pm**

Cat's out! Nice one Tom!

Posted: **Wed Mar 19, 2025 8:21 pm**

The cat finally unraveled the entire ball of string and looks mighty pleased with himself. Unlike my wife who wonders what on earth took me so long…

Posted: **Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:14 pm**

I was a tester for this, across the pond on vacation right now, so I’m anxious to get a chance to re-solve it, but am so happy to see the great comments for this one. It was impressive to see first-hand the work and re-work and re-re-work that went into this one, and while DrTom is quick to credit the testers, we’re just on the sidelines while he works his magic, sometimes having to prune away some really terrific clues.

If you’re sitting on the fence, do give this one a spin!

Posted: **Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:49 pm**

Cat's out. I'm in the bus driving back to school at the end of my canoeing camp. Fun puzzle, DrTom.

Posted: **Wed Mar 19, 2025 11:38 pm**

MUCH better than my last attempt:

1 eleanor48
2 Pair O Ducks
3 Moreo5
4 Hector
5 imontoo
6 Darth
7 Dave C
8 kymike
9 I K Snamhcok
10 boharr
11 LarsCaine
12 Jaclyn
13 hoover
14 woozy
15 Cindy Heisler
16 MatthewL
17 Meg
18 Cindy Weatherman
19 markhr
20 Tyrpmom
21 Tim
22 heidi
23 Berto
24 SJMcK
25 Gutman

That first day total is more than all week for Slight Changes and it is getting some very nice comments from the Muggle community. Thanks folks!

Posted: **Wed Mar 19, 2025 11:46 pm**

Whoops a PM solve, almost missed it since I usually find them on Crosshare, but this was from our vacationing Aussie so ....

26 benchen71

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 12:24 am**

another fairly easy one I tried to make too hard. But there was a big flashing something that just made so much sense with the title! Dr. Tom had to guide me to the right path, and the rest, as my calculus teacher used to say, was algebra.

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 1:14 am**

HeadinHome wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 12:24 am another fairly easy one I tried to make too hard. But there was a big flashing something that just made so much sense with the title! Dr. Tom had to guide me to the right path, and the rest, as my calculus teacher used to say, was algebra.

Too much humility...essentially what I did was to say, "ignore the glaring herring and now read the title again"

I'm glad you got even! It kind of tied into your WAG on Crosshare didn't it!

T

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 8:35 am**

Wow! Great mechanism. The cat’s MEOW.

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 11:58 am**

DrTom wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 1:14 am
HeadinHome wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 12:24 am another fairly easy one I tried to make too hard. But there was a big flashing something that just made so much sense with the title! Dr. Tom had to guide me to the right path, and the rest, as my calculus teacher used to say, was algebra.
Too much humility...essentially what I did was to say, "ignore the glaring herring and now read the title again"

I'm glad you got even! It kind of tied into your WAG on Crosshare didn't it!

T

Thanks! Once I ignored the glaring red herring and read the title again, I was able to find the path.

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 2:35 pm**

lbray53 wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 8:35 am Wow! Great mechanism. The cat’s MEOW.

I appreciate the comments and also your help as a tester on so many puzzles (not this one, but certainly lots you will see!)

T

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 2:35 pm**

Meg wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 5:34 pm The cat hissed at me and told me to be more careful when following the path.

Hiss back...then you'll be even!

Thanks Meg

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 2:37 pm**

Berto wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 8:21 pm The cat finally unraveled the entire ball of string and looks mighty pleased with himself. Unlike my wife who wonders what on earth took me so long…

Isn't it amazing that you can look at something forever and finally see it, then show it to someone who says, "well there it is, you didn't see that?"

Matters not, you are on the board and have my thanks.

T

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 2:40 pm**

rjy wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:14 pm I was a tester for this, across the pond on vacation right now, so I’m anxious to get a chance to re-solve it, but am so happy to see the great comments for this one. It was impressive to see first-hand the work and re-work and re-re-work that went into this one, and while DrTom is quick to credit the testers, we’re just on the sidelines while he works his magic, sometimes having to prune away some really terrific clues.

If you’re sitting on the fence, do give this one a spin!

Well, believe me it was you who gave me the biggest kick in the pants towards doing it the way it was done. I was going to settle for OK, but you insisted on GOOD! Thanks, and Muggles, listen to the man, give it a try!!!!!

T

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 2:43 pm**

DCBilly wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 11:58 am
DrTom wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 1:14 am
HeadinHome wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 12:24 am another fairly easy one I tried to make too hard. But there was a big flashing something that just made so much sense with the title! Dr. Tom had to guide me to the right path, and the rest, as my calculus teacher used to say, was algebra.
Too much humility...essentially what I did was to say, "ignore the glaring herring and now read the title again"

I'm glad you got even! It kind of tied into your WAG on Crosshare didn't it!

T

Thanks! Once I ignored the glaring red herring and read the title again, I was able to find the path.

There once was a man who’s daring
Involved tracking down a red herring
That way was too stinky
The path far too kinky
But then he found the right bearing

T

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 8:51 pm**

Solved this morning, but forgot to comment. This was an even better meta than I remembered. Just as much fun to solve the second time. It seems by the comments that others enjoyed it as much as I did. Great construction. Thanks, Dr Tom!

Posted: **Thu Mar 20, 2025 10:53 pm**

Cinny wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 8:51 pm Solved this morning, but forgot to comment. This was an even better meta than I remembered. Just as much fun to solve the second time. It seems by the comments that others enjoyed it as much as I did. Great construction. Thanks, Dr Tom!

Well, like most children, it grows over time, sometimes so much so that you hardly recognize it. You saw it in its youth!

Thanks for circling back.

T

Posted: **Fri Mar 21, 2025 10:58 pm**

Well sorry to say, only a few more solvers:

28 rjy
29 lbray53
30 Patrick P
31 DCBilly
32 CPJohnson
33 Cinny

I don't usually get the 70+ that SSS and MMM do, but that is kind of a low number for what is a much less difficult one than my last tragic attempt. Maybe it's just that nudges are needed?

Nudges:

OK, I got busy and missed the Friday AM nudge deadline, but better late than never:

Posted: **Sat Mar 22, 2025 9:09 am**

She liked the look of nudge #2 --

Thanks for an impressive puzzle, DrTom!

XWord Muggles Forum

MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?

Re: MEOW #225 OK, Are We Even?