" WE’LL BE BACK SHORTLY" January 26, 2024

[Ann]

On the shore!

[LadyBird]

The only kind of eye movement I get from Mr. Hidden (when metas are the subject) is of this variety: . Well, maybe it's not a full eye roll, but more like what I do when he explains how he missed getting a birdie by mere inches. I really do try to listen politely and offer condolences when needed, but what can I say: we both enjoy different interests!

Haha! We must be married to the same guy! Mr Ergcat also gives me the eye roll when I speak of metas and then he regales me with his prowess on the golf course! And we used to live in Chicagoland ( Deerfield) before moving down here to SC !!

@LadyBird , @Hidden in 3D and @Ergcat It works both ways. I get the eye roll on both meta explanation and golf from Mrs Cruise Director. But she does enjoy it when I read sagas like the three of you posted. Thank you all.

Meta tolerance (and even some enjoyment) has been a years-long process--as long as I do the grid. And he does enjoy some of the anecdotes and mentions of travel to places we've been or want to go. Everyday birding still elicits eye-rolls. Of course, I return the eyerolls when he is giving a turn by turn description of a cycling route.

[Katiedid]

Finally got around to a second look - on shore now!

[PHOFER]

But if everyone won the mug, it would have no value. There would be no quest for the holy grail.

Of course, one must be pure of heart to approach the grail. That, and know the airspeed of an unladen swallow.

What, European or African?

I keep waiting for someone to say what must be said in response to this question, but since no one has:

What, I don’t know that—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHH!!!!!!!

[ImOnToo]

Took one last look and there it was!

On shore. I’ll have a shot of NyQuil, please.

[Onaquest]

Looked at the puzzle for the third time and there it was. On shore with only a few hours to spare.

[Bob cruise director]

Me neither, and I’ve been submitting since the very first WSJCC Some of our luckier members have posted here

Count me with those who are grumbling about having submitted weekly for years without winning. I've been doing the puzzle with my two kids ever since the pandemic hit and we found it a good excuse to get on a zoom call. My wife told my kids that if either of them ever wins the mug, they have to give it to me. I'm not even sure they both submit answers. We just like getting on a zoom call, chatting, and then seeing who can find the metanism first.

But I want to win that mug...

I want to win that mug! Been doing this for what seems like YEARS (actually it's been maybe 4 years) and my entire family keeps asking me why I haven't won yet. Little do they know (or understand) just how many crossword fiends are out there who also submit correct answers each and every week! Sigh.

My consolation is to just enjoy the fun, along with some frustration, and the satisfaction of solving by myself. When I first joined this forum I asked for a nudge once or twice, and though it was very helpful, in the end solving didn't feel the same.

The ever-so elusive mug may never be mine... but if I am ever so fortunate, I will honor it.

I do wonder about the growth of the number of participants and correct entires. since the inception of WSJCC. As those numbers steadily increase, it would seem that the mug has become even more precious, and virtually impossible to win.

@Bonnibel your odds each week have been diminishing. When the WSJ meta started there were about 800 submissions on a typical week. Now there are about 1600 however over the past six months that average has dropped to about 1200 per week. The percentage correct has remained remarkably constant. It has slowly risen from an average of 75% in 2016 to an average of about 79% now. However in both numbers there is a large variation from week to week.

The odds are against you every week. So just relax, enjoy the trip and enjoy the company.

[Bob cruise director]

Our final count this week is 6 on the ship and 189 on the shore.

Good luck winning the mug. And stay safe

[JerryF]

I submitted, but am not confident I have it right. We'll see.

[Ann]

Also, GO LIONS!

[femullen]

Finishing the evening firmly on deck, utterly without a clue. The shame I should feel is obliterated by a bottle of merlot, which, since I don't work tomorrow, I have completely surrounded.

Ahoy, hic!, Isaac!

[DaveKennison]

Ashore! (I’ve been outrageously busy the past week, but finally got a chance to really look at this meta and, mirabile dictu, got it!)

[Relic]

Exited the infirmary just long enough to submit a hail Mary. There is some logic behind it, though I'm sure it's incorrect. I just hate folding. Good news is I feel enough better to have a glass of cabernet supplemented by hibiscus tea.

[Qmark]

Made it to shore while watching football earlier today.

[hcbirker]

[femullen]

Looked and looked for BACKward entries, never noticed the mo. abbrs. By now I should probably get credit on my DD-214 for another year of sea duty.

8^(

[Wendy Walker]

POSSIBLE CLUES FOR DEVON CEDED


1. Start of last names in France and Germany as Alsace/Lorraine transferred between the two countries (@Bob cruise director)
2. Aoki who yielded to pressure? (@hcbirker)
3. What her fans said when Aoki gave up? (@eisense)
4. Footballer Witherspoon gave up. (@BrennerTJ)
5. Short deviation already sounds unalive. (@BrennerTJ)
6. Response to your date's claim to the last Australian sausage on the plate. (@ReB)
7. Note from the Normans at Northam (October 1069) (@DrTom)
8. Healthy homophonic bread from Exeter England (@DrTom)
9. An English county relinquished control of Dartmoor (@TeaJenny)
10. Demand the 14th version of a new wave band give up its first letter (@Tom Shea)
11. Darlene Ellen Vanderbilt, née Darlene Ellen Donovan (@Wendy Walker)
12. Headline: Exeter county becomes Irish? (@DBMiller)
13. Seahawks cornerback Witherspoon sent like Alaska to the United States. (@Bob cruise director)
14. A beautiful British beach handed over to the French? (@ship4u)
15. Tempe nu metal band fronted by Knowles-Carter imposter known as “Queen Dev”? (@Merry Potter)
16. Charles III returned Exeter and environs to the Celts? (@Scott M)
17. Dartmoor denizens delivered to Dorset. (@LadyBird)
18. Running back Achane tackled behind the line? (@PHOFER)

And Muggles being the outside-the-box thinkers they are, these two crafted their own answers that include NOV and DEC spelled backwards:

Sound of Music summer refreshment (VonTrappIcedTea) (@Merry Potter )
Beguiled a rocket scientist. (Seducedvonbraun) (@@Al Laubenstein )

Finally, @Nlobb had fun creating a clue for another pairing of grid words:
Place to fight over Colombian corn cakes (arepa arena)

[Deb F]

Very clever, Mr. Gaffney. Never saw it. Congratulations to all you solvers.

Have a great week, Muggles!

[PHOFER]

Thanks to Wendy for compiling many good possibilities for a clue for the missing theme answer. My own proposal, which I now see is hardly original:

Running back Achane tackled behind the line?

[Wendy Walker]

Thanks to Wendy for compiling many good possibilities for a clue for the missing theme answer. My own proposal, which I now see is hardly original:

Running back Achane tackled behind the line?

I must have omitted yours while I was cutting-and-pasting -- I've now added it back into the list. My apologies!