"Back To The Start" January 19, 2024

[Relic]

Ashore. Hate to admit it, but I've been pregaming, so just need a cabernet top-off.

Baby, its cold outside, too cold for the beach. Just give me a chair and warm blankie!

[LuscombeDriver]

Not getting it...

[Colin&Chuck904]

We've both separately arrived ashore. Colin was dry and drunk first. Awesome and clever Meta.

Grid was varsity level difficult.


Go Bills.

[auee89]

Ashore after completing the WSJ Trail Mix puzzle this morning.

[LadyBird]

I am onshore as of last night--what a fun and clever puzzle! I glanced briefly at it on Thursday but then there was another invasion of three grandboys--WHIch is a pretty lame excuse since Darth solved in the midst of flooding and electrical sparks and being evacuaTEd! But I got BACK to it last night, lookED over my page, and the answer was quickly diVULged. I am enjoying a coffee (Trader Joe's gingerbread roast) with a splash of leftover eggnog as I take sancTUary from the bitter cold and REad through the forum.

The aforementioned bird, doing cleanup at a Painted Dog kill.

Botswana, Chitabe Camp, December 2017

[LadyBird]

What word crime is this? Felonious Mike Shenk strikes again.

Cute video-- but don't let it get us started on the Oxford comma!

[Damaged]

We've both separately arrived ashore. Colin was dry and drunk first. Awesome and clever Meta.

Grid was varsity level difficult.


Go Bills.

I bet we'd get along. Bills notwithstanding.

[Bob cruise director]

Good Saturday morning muggles

A warm welcome (well it must be warm somewhere, just not here) to our newest muggle @HeyMikey and his puzzle buddy. Always great to have more and more muggles.

A fun meta from Mike. He probably wants to give us time to get ready for today's and tomorrow's playoff games of hockey games or basketball games or movies. Anyway we have 197 on the shore and one muggle still working on the meta while chatting with Isaac.

Our shore party is

docison
Beth A
Joe R
ajk
MikeyG
oldjudge
Mme
clonefitz
Heidi
NebFaninCA
Dave C
Brainbow
Wendy
streroto
Jace54
michaelm
hoover
Cap'n Rick
Dannyvee
benchen71
Meg
Cindy
Georgeall
Mike H
minimuggle
CptnCodon
ky-mike
mattythewsjpuzzler
MarkWoychick
Laura
Jean
SJMck
H and J
pjc
krf
girubato1
jhseeman
higgysue
Mister and Mrs. Squawk
Sleepy
otlaolap
Scott M
Tom Wi
Don and Cynthia
Jim and Anita
DelanQ
lxpeterson
Al Laubenstein
will j
MatthewL
Bmacdo
Ergcat
Rita and George
C=64
Glyn
sjm
SamanthaA
Merry Potter
sweetc
whimsy
Kay
boharr
Miki
Trish
SarasotaSun
harhanlake
Cruise Director
Guffman
JoeFlanders
EmilyW
sharkicicles
Dow Jones
straffin
Lee-Ann
DavyGravy
Peter
elvanya
woozy
joe
Barbara K
Homer
Kevin L
Don and Lisa
Damaged
mikeB
b4alltime
CAe39
nosolvenosleep
Jkj
Joepickett
Flying_Burrito
Yoda66
LittleGood
darth
Chris
JoDave
HeadinHome
Ron
CPJohnson
Beth T
Cinny
copperriver
NDStegs
hottieruth
Tom S
Hidden in 3D
Al
MileHighSolver
chriscross
Les
dudeski
lbray
DrTom
Acarl
TeamDoubleTow
Char
Steveb
chatger
Books&Bakes
Justmarebear
RobM
Barnhart6
mlvilv
SamKat9
BrennerTJ
Bird Lives
Beleagured Castle
jrdad
meowmiao71
Cindy N
BigPear
Trey and Marion and Jill
halseymac
Schmeel
Tina
Jayboy1
buddysayswhat
phofer
Kas
Dickie_Dunn
Penny_Keatley
Aragorn
Archfrog
David K
JimJim
Beth C
Googly
vandono
nancymck
Onaquest and Tim
Haari
MajorDomoTom
Kaykay
haydendog
NaplesGuy
DaveG
Katiedid
ImOnToo
Wescovington
JaneGummy
William
Nlobb
chocoholic
hunkra
Fred
SingleMalt
ColinM
Crest
shays
M and M
Zagman49
Kris Zacharias
TeaJenny
Alvibu67
NuYear68
CromsFury
Janet
Susan G
Doug C
turbotron
Deb
D B Miller
Adajeo
Birdbrain
altosax
CallMeShane
relic (and Maggie)
Mirage
mbryant
rjy
Bill
Libbypibby
Colin&Chuck
bread-girl
Mikey and puzzle buddy
ladybird
auee89


Stay warm and good luck winning the mug.

[Steve_S]

I'm ashore after several weeks of staying on the ship with Isaac! I'll have a Guinness if there's any left - looks pretty crowded here on shore.
Steve

[Tom Shea]

Good Saturday morning muggles

A warm welcome (well it must be warm somewhere, just not here) ...

Stay warm and good luck winning the mug.

There's a reason we spend winters in Honolulu. It got down to a chilly 71 F this morning. Brrr.

Jesse Sapolu was at the restaurant (google it if you not an ancient football fan). He was in town for the Polynesian Bowl (high school all-star game for Pacific Islanders). Our bartender Russell (sorry Isaac, we cheated on you) is a lifelong 49ers fan and was quite happy he was sitting at the bar.

[PQ63]

Ashore. It’s a dry January so I’ll have an Arnold Palmer.

[DannyWalter]

Joining the shore party! It's crowded here.

[Toby]

I had to thaw out my fingers after walking the dog in order to report that I solved this one pretty fast. I LOVE the ones that aren't too hard but reflect amazingly clever construction...I suspect these are the ones that make new converts to this kind of puzzle since they generally don't take all weekend to solve. Then, when hooked...there go some of your weekends!

[LuscombeDriver]

On shore

[Commodore]

Ashore.
Delayed by meeting with Commodore Anson who asked that I review Ensign D. Grann's logbook. What a fine read! Highly recommend.
Once the work was complete, we hungrily ate up Mr. Shenk's delicious puzzle.

[whimsy]

^Ditto!^

[cheekumbaldy]

Made it to shore! Guinness in hand.

Trying to stay above the fray with regard to the Oxford comma kerfuffle. But here’s a pic my friend sent me just today. I guess this is an example of the Cambridge comma?

For now, I’d like to dedicate my solve this week to Mike Shenk, my crossword hero and God.

[Gman]

Ashore. This is one of those very satisfying puzzles that elude you until the epiphany produces a glorious AHA moment.

[HunterX]

Just back from a week skiing in the French Alps... I mean... doing work... at home... at my desk... and shoveling snow.... (yeah, that's the ticket), and reporting in as:

Ashore.

Downloaded puzzle in Savoie and solved on the plane. I mean... in between shoveling sessions. Time to have some Reblochon raclette while drinking some Mondeuse.

Don't know what raclette is? I think my clothes will smell of it for a month or two after this past week.

[BetterMonday]

Glad to be onshore after last week.