"Parting The Waters" - January 31, 2020

[LesY]

On the beach! 🏖 (since last night, didn’t have a chance to check in here til now)

AND, I experienced a new type of AHA!!! Hope it’s not too corny. Home alone for a couple of hours, I was working away on the puzzle, trying all kinds of things and flailing around. My husband gets back home, gives me a kiss, and at that moment, a BLINDING flash of light lights up the path to the shore!!! It was like a fairy tale! A magical meta kiss.

Something else to add to my meta solving bag of tricks?

POTW (Post of the Week)

[Joe]

Long time listener first time caller. Hi, all. I'm stuck because I'm seeing two very particular somethings that I canNOT unsee but I can't do anything with them. I can't possibly be alone in seeing them. Are they related to the meta?? Is that a fair question to ask here? I don't want to break the rules.

[juliet]

Ashore! This bunny chase started off quick and easy, ended slow and difficult--altogether, very satisfying.

[FrankieHeck]

Long time listener first time caller. Hi, all. I'm stuck because I'm seeing two very particular somethings that I canNOT unsee but I can't do anything with them. I can't possibly be alone in seeing them. Are they related to the meta?? Is that a fair question to ask here? I don't want to break the rules.

I sent you a message...you can respond to it if you want to ask about what you're seeing.

[Joe Ross]

AND, I experienced a new type of AHA!!!

Beth, may I borrow your husband for a quick second?

[BarbaraK]

It's amazing how humbling these puzzles can be. Almost like they know when I'm getting too full of myself and it's time to knock me down a peg. I've been on such a roll lately. Even got last week's MGWCC solo and on Friday.

And now, this. Lots of ideas, none of them going very far.

And the Fill Me In meta - I see the first step, but haven't got to a character yet.

At least, I gather, this week's MGWCC is not a real week 5; maybe I can get that and turn my luck around.

Sorry puzzle gods! I didn't mean to be so arrogant. I really haven't a clue about how to solve these things. Please let me out of the penalty box.

[Leslie]

Solving the MGWCC gave me the boost I needed to jump ship and swim to shore! Once I noticed something it was a fun one!

[Bird Lives]

Well, this is a revolting development. I’m sitting here all at 6s and 7s, just crying in my beer with Isaac. A beautiful upcoming weekend now all shot to !^%?*#$. Count me #11 Bob. (Phil Simms too)

Sounds like you're living the life of Riley.

[hcbirker]

It's amazing how humbling these puzzles can be. Almost like they know when I'm getting too full of myself and it's time to knock me down a peg. I've been on such a roll lately. Even got last week's MGWCC solo and on Friday.

And now, this. Lots of ideas, none of them going very far.

And the Fill Me In meta - I see the first step, but haven't got to a character yet.

At least, I gather, this week's MGWCC is not a real week 5; maybe I can get that and turn my luck around.

Sorry puzzle gods! I didn't mean to be so arrogant. I really haven't a clue about how to solve these things. Please let me out of the penalty box.

You've got this one Barbara! Put it down for awhile and try a new method later.

[markhr]

Took me a while, but once the light dawned it was a fun puzzle to work out. Very enjoyable. My chances for the long-elusive mug may be a bit better than usual this week. I can hope, anyway.

[Susan Goldberg]

I’m with Issac. And with Barbara K.

[LaceyK]

This one looked juicy with possibilities, but after pursuing them all, I am still at sea. This puzzle is definitely ripe for all the watery fishy comments. If I liked hops more, I'd say I'm ready for a grapefruit Sculpin.

[rexthree]

Count me on the ship with Isaac as well.

[Beth Tyrpin]

I got it!

[Jacksull]

I’m with Isaac.
Matt warned that the WSJ contest meta is more challenging than this week’s MGWCC. I hated to hear that.

[elan]

I'm going to stick with Isaac this week. I've spent today moving my dad into a nursing home, fielded calls from my partner's neurologist about his life-ending diagnosis, and still need to start packing because we fly to Australia on Monday for his niece's wedding and his last trip "home" to see his family. It's... um... been a bit much.

I'll see you all in a few weeks, I'm sure. Solving the metas has kept me sane in the last few months and I suspect I'm going to rely on them more and more.

[MaineMarge]

The waters have miraculously parted, so I have walked to shore. Now I really can live the life of Riley this weekend.

[MajordomoTom]

waters have not yet parted, time to buy another round with my friends on the boat.

Isaac - time to take it up a notch - Margarita, rocks, light salt, Cuervo Gold.

[Joe Ross]

On shore. Great puzzle!

Steve:. I've sent a PM requesting the help you offered on past WSJ CC PDFs. Thank you!

Past Crossword Contest combined grids, clues, & solutions are available from mid-February 2017 to the present and for the last few months of 2015, here:

Past WSJ Crossword Contests & Solutions

[Tom Shea]

On the boat with Isaac, with no land in sight.
Did see some nice coral along the way though.