"Gift List" December 22, 2023

[Katiedid]

Ashore. Fun one! The grid had some interesting words, tho. I'm glad this one was quick, because I still haven't solved the MMMM, and this weekend is busy. Merry Christmas!

[MatthewL]

Ashore. Fun one! Happy holidays, all! I'll have an egg nog -- heavy on the brandy, light on the nog.

how did you get it in ten minutes?

Fast fingers, I guess. Even so, 3 people were faster, and @Wendy Walker got it in 5! I guess she had her afternoon Red Bull right before it dropped.

[caf.caf]

Ashore in plenty of time to enjoy the weekend!!

[Dennis]

Ashore. To copy what many have written: fun one and amazing construction. Mike always does some of his best work on these holiday weekend puzzles. Merry Christmas to all!

[Joe Ross]

Ashore. Fun one! Happy holidays, all! I'll have an egg nog -- heavy on the brandy, light on the nog.

how did you get it in ten minutes?

On the beach! Merry Christmas, dear Muggles!

Five minutes?

Easily. I thought I'd take my time & solve it my slow way, using the PDF on screen, but had it solved in way under 8 minutes. Of course, @Wendy Walker is always that much quicker than I am.

A tick after midnight, Monday morning, I'll post exactly where I was when I solved. Remember the deadline:
Email your answer—in the subject line—to crosswordcontest@wsj.com by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday,
Dec. 24.

NOTE TO ALL: The grid does not have to be completely filled before the meta can be solved.

[Tom Wilson]

On shore, next to a double-parked sleigh. Happiest of holidays (and safe travels) to all.

[DrTom]

NOTE TO ALL: The grid does not have to be completely filled before the meta can be solved.

It does if you are an OCD like some of us (myself, of course, included)

[KscX]

Done and fun. Merry Christmas!

[Justmarebear]

Nice one, and tis the season… thanks for such fun meta puzzles… and Merry Christmas to all…

[MatthewL]

NOTE TO ALL: The grid does not have to be completely filled before the meta can be solved.

It does if you are an OCD like some of us (myself, of course, included)

I was going to say anal, but OCD works too.

[Mirage]

Ashore and happy to be here. I’m always amazed at how quickly muggles see the way on many of these metas. It took me awhile to see what I had to see but once I did it was a breeze from there. Merry Christmas one and all.

[Bob cruise director]

Good Friday morning muggles

First we welcome out newest muggle Archfrog. Always great to have our community grow and grow and grow.

We have 178 on the shore so far and Isaac is closing the bar down for the weekend.

Because of the season and the ease of the meta, we have decided to forego the Last Call zoom session on Sunday. There will be a zoom session tonight at 4:30 pm ET hosted by @ship4u (Don) with the always effusive and first on the board this week @Wendy Walker

And last before everyone scatters, I want to thank all the people that make this forum such a great and friendly success - those who administer it behind the scenes, the many very talented creators for SSS, MMM, MOAT, MEOW, Pun of a Kind, Sunday Crossword, Phil's Crossword Corner, MMMM, CCCC, MGWCC and any that I missed.

And finally thanks to all of the muggles who make this such a delightful community. It is such a welcome relief from everyday life and the best part is that I feel like I have a lot of friends in all of the 50 states and throughout the world from Schmeel (Shmuel Schmell) in Israel to Benchen71 (Ben Chenoweth) in Melbourne and everywhere in between.

[hunkra]

Logged into the puzzle today and sailed to shore. With so much holiday TO DO, am grateful for an easy ride. Time to crack open the eggnog - wishing all the Muggles a happy holiday and a healthy New Year!

[JoDave]

On shore. This was one of those where the meta helped me solve the grid.

[AdenaAndPaul]

Ashore! That's two weeks in a row for us without help from the zoom - our longest streak yet!

[Dannyvee]

Got to it this morning and sailed quickly to shore— happy holidays, all!

[Tom Shea]

NOTE TO ALL: The grid does not have to be completely filled before the meta can be solved.

It does if you are an OCD like some of us (myself, of course, included)

I was going to say anal, but OCD works too.

Stolen joke from one of the Garden Party constructors (I think Michael Blake, but not sure):

It's CDO if you're really compulsive and you put it in alphabetical order.

[newbymar]

Ashore! Needed a life raft.

[Fogway]

Ashore. With this cold virus, I'm ordering up a hot tea with honey. Happy Holidays, all!

[femullen]

I must be the only Muggle still in the ship. Even Isaac seems to have gotten ashore.

Ahoy...oh, never mind, Isaac, I'll pour it myself.