MEOW #102: Initial Impression

A weekly meta crossword on the forum started by member Josh (aka madhatter5). These puzzles are often very creative with solving mechanisms out of the norm and skewing towards the more challenging. Puzzles are posted every Wednesday, and the solution appears the following Tuesday.
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DrTom
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MEOW #102: Initial Impression

#1

Post by DrTom »

Well goodness, we have had such great response from other (and even NEW) constuctors that I haven't had a puzzle for a while. I think this one should play pretty easily, but heck I always think that. My test solvers (Whimsy, Cinny, KayW) all found their way to the answer fairly easily and, as usual, helped me patch any glaring errors (not to say there are none left, heck that WOULD be unusual!). Let's just hope it makes a good initial impression :)

So. I'd rate this a Calico at most. I hope everyone enjoys it. Leader Board and nudges as usual and of course you can always PM me directly.

Kitten
CALICO
Persian
Puma
Lion


Initial Impression crosshare

Initial Impression PUZ

Initial Impression PDF

Initial Impression spreadsheet


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NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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woozy
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#2

Post by woozy »

Oh, This is a nice pick-me up for my bruised ego from this weekend!
GUAVA is not an anagram of VAGUE
Schmeel
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#3

Post by Schmeel »

Cat's gone.
Dave C
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#4

Post by Dave C »

The cat's out of the bag.
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DrTom
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#5

Post by DrTom »

Dave C wrote: Wed Nov 02, 2022 8:38 am The cat's out of the bag.
All right fellow trapezium! We lived in Southgate before we moved to Florida and my wife was born in Monroe.
hand-bones800.jpg
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
Qmark
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#6

Post by Qmark »

Cat's out of the bag...thanks Dr Tom! Enjoyed the punny clues as always.
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boharr
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#7

Post by boharr »

Cat is free. Thanks, DrTom, for another fun one.
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Cinny
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#8

Post by Cinny »

🐱 I enjoyed it as much as the first time. My favorite clue is still 21A!
Cindy Heisler
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rjy
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#9

Post by rjy »

Stumbled around in a rabbit hole for a bit - seemed a legit toehold but went nowhere - before backing out to find another way to debag the cat. And par for the DrTom course, there were some nice chuckles with the cluing along the way! Thanks
Ray
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MikeyG
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#10

Post by MikeyG »

Beautiful grid, great fill, a solid mechanism. What's not to love??

Image

No, you can come out now! (Okay, if you insist.)
Less cross words, more crosswords.

Solve my latest "Pun of a Kind" Meta!: 133. Don't Think Twice
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Darth
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#11

Post by Darth »

The Cat is out... “I am not crazy; my
reality is just different from yours.”
download (7).jpg
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DrTom
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#12

Post by DrTom »

Cinny wrote: Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:58 am 🐱 I enjoyed it as much as the first time. My favorite clue is still 21A!
One of my favorites to write as well!

T
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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DrTom
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#13

Post by DrTom »

MikeyG wrote: Wed Nov 02, 2022 12:33 pm Beautiful grid, great fill, a solid mechanism. What's not to love??

Image

No, you can come out now! (Okay, if you insist.)
WAY too kind....but I'll take it!!

Thanks Mikey.
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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Meg
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#14

Post by Meg »

The cat has launched herself over the balcony railing. Thanks, Dr. Tom!
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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KayW
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#15

Post by KayW »

Solved the puzzle a second time, as a senior memory test... whew! I passed. Able to solve it the second time too, and had just as much fun with the clues. Thanks Dr. Tom!
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Ergcat
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#16

Post by Ergcat »

Cat is out! Thank you, Dr Tom!
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#17

Post by Abide »

1-D clue is stellar. 15-A should be seven letters!
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MarkWoychick
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#18

Post by MarkWoychick »

Great puzzle, Dr. Tom - a delight to solve, clues, fill, and meta - thank you very much!
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benchen71
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#19

Post by benchen71 »

Hey, I got the cat out of the bag! Nice puzzle, DrTom.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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Cap'n Rick
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#20

Post by Cap'n Rick »

Now I see what you're doing, DrTom! The cat is gone!
Ahoy! Check out my meta puzzles! Also check out "Smooth Sailing Sundays"!
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