Introduce Yourself

[Flamel616]

Name's Nick, I go by Flamel (and I greatly appreciate the Muggles reference). I'm new to doing crosswords regularly, and this whole meta stuff has me a bit confused, but I think I can get that hang of it.

[Bob cruise director]

Name's Nick, I go by Flamel (and I greatly appreciate the Muggles reference). I'm new to doing crosswords regularly, and this whole meta stuff has me a bit confused, but I think I can get that hang of it.

Welcome to the group. It takes a while to get metas even if you had been doing crosswords. Look through the Come Aboard/FAQ Community for a lot of tips solving the metas. Also Joe Ross has posted all the prior WSJ contests and their solutions

And feel free to ask questions

Good luck

[WSJosh]

Hi, I’m Josh and have been doing the Friday crosswords for a couple months now. Thought it would be nice to join a community of solvers. Just finished the grid for today’s puzzle.

[arlecchino]

Hi, you can call me arlecchino, I've been solving the WSJ Friday contests for a few years, trying to get that doggone mug!

[Bob cruise director]

Hi, you can call me arlecchino, I've been solving the WSJ Friday contests for a few years, trying to get that doggone mug!

Welcome to the group. Most of us have been chasing the elusive mug for a while.

[802puzzler]

Hi, Phyllis here. I'm addicted to the WSJ puzzles as well as jigsaws, sudoku and other wordplay. Although I've been solving the daily puzzles for years, I just started attempting the meta on Friday's puzzles. Like all of you, my new life goal is to win a mug!

[ALECgator13]

Hi all, Alec here!

I loved trying to help my mom solve the local paper’s crosswords growing up, and graduated to working on the WSJ puzzles in college. Fast forward a couple years, and I now print them off on my lunch break at work to complete!

I’ve been completing Monday WSJ grids regularly, Tuesday/Wednesday grids occasionally, (never a Thursday yet) and a couple Friday grids here and there! Still haven’t completed a meta yet to this point, but I’m so intrigued and hoping to learn and become a master!

I joined today after lurking for a couple of months, to learn from the community and hopefully be able to contribute to help someone else some day!

Any tips / help appreciated and welcome

[Tripod]

I'm Chuck, Third of his Name. That plus science geek leads to the nickname, Tripod. I used to enjoy tests in school, so now I like to torture myself with Meta. Was feeling the lurking-guilt, so here I am. Thanks for having me on the cruise (and perhaps occasionally the shore).

Spend most of my time working, so Mug-hunting seems like a good way to unwind.

[Bob cruise director]

I'm Chuck, Third of his Name. That plus science geek leads to the nickname, Tripod. I used to enjoy tests in school, so now I like to torture myself with Meta. Was feeling the lurking-guilt, so here I am. Thanks for having me on the cruise (and perhaps occasionally the shore).

Spend most of my time working, so Mug-hunting seems like a good way to unwind.

Welcome to the clan. We love lurkers. This is a no guilt zone so don't worry. Good luck with this one. There are a lot of the ship including some who are always on the shore.

[LaceyK]

Hi, I've been here awhile, but just noticed this section (and I wonder why I sometimes fail to 'see' the meta! )
My name is Kathy. I have always loved crosswords but I could not pull myself away from them to attend to pesky life details. So I allowed myself to solve them on planes, where a 5 hour flight would go by instantly.
My 14 year old son went through a business phase a year ago and his grandpa bought him the WSJ subscription. One day last fall, I discovered the paper had a crossword, and it must have been Friday, because there was this extra question/contest. It was the Knight chess theme puzzle and I had encountered regular puzzles that used paths around the grid before, so I actually had the idea of trying to make L shaped moves, but could not form anything meaningful with it. The rest is history--I have been fully hooked.
I live in San Diego, play tennis, love to cook, hike, learn, listen to music, read...yeah no end to my passions!
I'm so happy this message board exists--I would not be doing metas without it. It really enriches the experience. Thank you!

[Bob cruise director]

Hi, I'm a professor at Sauder b-school, UBC, in beautiful Vancouver, BC (so, sadly, not mug-eligible). I've been doing the WSJ metas off and on for some years with some successes, some failures, and I only recently discovered this group. I've been in Vancouver for more than 30 years, and I'm a dual Canadian/US citizen originally from NJ (and proud of it!). I've done crosswords forever, and also juggle, bike, ski, hike, and dote on my grandchildren (to the extent possible these days). I am safely on the beach for the current meta, but never quite made it there last week.

What subject do you teach. I saw the BC but the BC I got my MBA from is Boston College.

[txgordo]

Hi - I'm Gordy from Austin TX, by way of New England. I usually do the puzzles on-line, trying to do Monday and Tuesday puzzles in under 6 minutes (my best is a 5:42). I'll admit that I sometimes don't do Friday, because it doesn't allow you to check your grid when you're stuck, and I think I've sent in two replies, but no mugs . Looking forward to learning how people find answers!
I am a semiconductor test engineer, married, father of a future doctor and a rocket engineer. Love Texas, the Red Sox, and Catamount hoops!

[Bob cruise director]

Hi - I'm Gordy from Austin TX, by way of New England. I usually do the puzzles on-line, trying to do Monday and Tuesday puzzles in under 6 minutes (my best is a 5:42). I'll admit that I sometimes don't do Friday, because it doesn't allow you to check your grid when you're stuck, and I think I've sent in two replies, but no mugs . Looking forward to learning how people find answers!
I am a semiconductor test engineer, married, father of a future doctor and a rocket engineer. Love Texas, the Red Sox, and Catamount hoops!

Go Sox
and welcome to the clan

[stmv]

Hi, I'm a professor at Sauder b-school, UBC, in beautiful Vancouver, BC (so, sadly, not mug-eligible). I've been doing the WSJ metas off and on for some years with some successes, some failures, and I only recently discovered this group. I've been in Vancouver for more than 30 years, and I'm a dual Canadian/US citizen originally from NJ (and proud of it!). I've done crosswords forever, and also juggle, bike, ski, hike, and dote on my grandchildren (to the extent possible these days). I am safely on the beach for the current meta, but never quite made it there last week.

What subject do you teach. I saw the BC but the BC I got my MBA from is Boston College.

I teach Operations (supply chain management).

[Bob cruise director]

Hi, I'm a professor at Sauder b-school, UBC, in beautiful Vancouver, BC (so, sadly, not mug-eligible). I've been doing the WSJ metas off and on for some years with some successes, some failures, and I only recently discovered this group. I've been in Vancouver for more than 30 years, and I'm a dual Canadian/US citizen originally from NJ (and proud of it!). I've done crosswords forever, and also juggle, bike, ski, hike, and dote on my grandchildren (to the extent possible these days). I am safely on the beach for the current meta, but never quite made it there last week.

What subject do you teach. I saw the BC but the BC I got my MBA from is Boston College.

I teach Operations (supply chain management).

the past few months will give you a lifetime of case studies

[Richard B.]

Hello there. I’m Richard from the upper west side of Manhattan. I’m recently retired, having spent the first part of my adult career life in medicine, before switching to law. I practiced tax law for the past 20 years or so. My puzzle routine includes cryptics wherever I can find them; daily crosswords from the NYT; metas from the WSJ, MGWCC and pgw; and weekend variety puzzles from the NYT and the WSJ. My wife and I enjoy, coronavirus permitting, our season tickets to the New York Rangers, travel, the arts of NYC and each other (of course).

[zacmoretz]

Hi folks. Figured it was the right thing to do to introduce myself since I have been lurking for awhile. I am an attorney in Charlotte North Carolina and I try to do the puzzle each weekend with my aunt Norma who is 85 and lives in Charleston South Carolina. We usually communicate back and forth via text throughout Friday and the weekend in trying to figure out the grid and the contest. We are far from puzzle people and usually don’t get the contest right, and are simply amazed at those of you who do. Once in a while we get lucky and that sure is a good feeling. But most importantly it is a great way for she and I to stay connected. Cheers to all and thank you to those who maintain the forum and those who post all the thoughtful commentary - especially the contest answer explanations which we typically need each week!

[Cindy]

Hi folks. Figured it was the right thing to do to introduce myself since I have been lurking for awhile. I am an attorney in Charlotte North Carolina and I try to do the puzzle each weekend with my aunt Norma who is 85 and lives in Charleston South Carolina. We usually communicate back and forth via text throughout Friday and the weekend in trying to figure out the grid and the contest. We are far from puzzle people and usually don’t get the contest right, and are simply amazed at those of you who do. Once in a while we get lucky and that sure is a good feeling. But most importantly it is a great way for she and I to stay connected. Cheers to all and thank you to those who maintain the forum and those who post all the thoughtful commentary - especially the contest answer explanations which we typically need each week!

Welcome. I am in Matthews and we are far outnumbered on here by folks from the northeast.

[norrin2]

Hi folks. Figured it was the right thing to do to introduce myself since I have been lurking for awhile. I am an attorney in Charlotte North Carolina and I try to do the puzzle each weekend with my aunt Norma who is 85 and lives in Charleston South Carolina. We usually communicate back and forth via text throughout Friday and the weekend in trying to figure out the grid and the contest. We are far from puzzle people and usually don’t get the contest right, and are simply amazed at those of you who do. Once in a while we get lucky and that sure is a good feeling. But most importantly it is a great way for she and I to stay connected. Cheers to all and thank you to those who maintain the forum and those who post all the thoughtful commentary - especially the contest answer explanations which we typically need each week!

Welcome to you and your aunt. I live in Charleston SC

[JRS51]

Hi all!
My name is John, I'm a retired pulmonary physician. Have been doing the WSJ crossword on ipad off and on for a long time. I've been a lurker here for the past few months and decided it's time to join in!
I've had fairly good luck with the Friday contest this year, though a few of the harder ones have unfortunately stumped me.
No mug yet but I'll keep trying!
As others have mentioned above, thanks to all who organize and maintain the forum!