"Long Road Ahead" May 19, 2023

[MaineMarge]

Ashore. Just as I was about to drive off the cliff, @Bob cruise director came by and gave me a Lyft to shore.
Thanks Bob- I needed that!
I’d tried all the mechanisms cept for the right one.

[Dennis]

Ashore. Looks crowded!

[aschuchert]

Ashore!! I’m so glad to be here. Now I will have the jingle in my head for the next 4 weeks, minimum.

Happy spring, everyone! I’m off to see Sue at the Firld Museum. Haven’t been in at least 15 years!

[ship4u]

How about a new theme song for the Zoomers?

Well, you can rock it, you can roll it
After weekdays take their tollin' at the zoom
When your friends start appearin'
We can all start a cheerin' at the zoom
Do the meta sensations that are sweepin' the nation at the zoom

Let's go to the zoom
Let's go to the zoom (oh baby)
Let's go to the zoom (oh baby)
Let's go to the zoom
Come on, let's go to the zoom

Well, you can swing it, you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the zoom
Where the chat is the smoothest
And the fun is the coolest at the zoom
And there ain't no struggle when you're a muggle at the zoom

[ship4u]

For those too young to remember, this is the melody for the zoom theme:

[Hidden in 3D]

Mr. Hidden often asks me on Friday night if I have solved the meta yet. (I think he does this to gauge whether I will be a grumpy non-solver, muttering to myself all weekend, meaning he needs to lie low and not pose totally unrelated questions, such as "When's dinner?") Last night when he asked, I dejectedly uttered, "No, I'm too stupid to get it." I did this hoping that my negativity would somehow jog some brain cells to prove me wrong and knowing my hubby would say something encouraging like, "You always say that and then you find the answer by Sunday night." Well, low and behold, this time it worked. This morning, after the third cup of coffee, I realized what I needed to do and am very happy to be ON SHORE. (Yes, Mr. Hidden is glad, too. Dinner will be on time tonight. )

[Bob cruise director]

For those too young to remember, this is the melody for the zoom theme:

Note the deep inner meaning of the words from the song

[Bob cruise director]

Done and done. Our daughter and future son-in-law are Brewers fans, so I thought I'd make a little adjustment to their dog's collar and see if they noticed. All I know is, Carter seemed happier afterwards--his mom and dad, not so much...

@Scott Lindholm I bet that with muggle support, we can supply your daughter with tags from every team in MLB. I can definitely get a Sox (the red ones and not the white ones) tag

[norrin2]

On the shore. I'm not reading any of y'all's comments cuz I'm afraid you're going to say it was easy, and I really struggled with it.

[ReB]

On shore, late reporting following yesterday's Zoom session.

[DrTom]

How about a new theme song for the Zoomers?

Well, you can rock it, you can roll it
After weekdays take their tollin' at the zoom
When your friends start appearin'
We can all start a cheerin' at the zoom
Do the meta sensations that are sweepin' the nation at the zoom

Let's go to the zoom
Let's go to the zoom (oh baby)
Let's go to the zoom (oh baby)
Let's go to the zoom
Come on, let's go to the zoom

Well, you can swing it, you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the zoom
Where the chat is the smoothest
And the fun is the coolest at the zoom
All the cats and the chicks can get their kicks at the zoom

Can I propose a second Zoom Room theme song?

Weeheeheehee geeee pleeeeeeeze take this one away
Weeheeheehee geeee pleeeeeeeze take this one away

In the darn grid, the very tough grid
The answer lurks tonight
It was fun til I made a bungle
The paper looks a fright

Weeheeheehee geeee pleeeeeeeze take this one away
Weeheeheehee geeee pleeeeeeeze take this one away

I’ll join the zoom, I’ll join the zoom, I’ll join the zoom, I’ll join the zoom
So I can sleep tonight
I’ll join the zoom, I’ll join the zoom, I’ll join the zoom, I’ll join the zoom
So I can sleep tonight

You can consider it a Tokens of my appreciation.

[sharkicicles]

Done and done. Our daughter and future son-in-law are Brewers fans, so I thought I'd make a little adjustment to their dog's collar and see if they noticed. All I know is, Carter seemed happier afterwards--his mom and dad, not so much...

Bordering on animal abuse...

(Of course just kidding... see my avatar for details.)

[Bob cruise director]

Good Saturday morning muggles

First welcome to our newest muggles Wescovington and moron (which we know you aren't)

And for anyone in the Rochester area the PGA tournament is not a good advertisement for your city's weather. Thursday's start was held up due to a frost delay (at least it was not snow which is not unheard of) and then play has been delayed and cancelled for rain - a lot of it. But take heart - the weather forecast for next week is sunny skies and warm.

One of the things I love about the comments is that reactions of nonmeta spouses. Check out @Hidden in 3D comment #206. It is so appropriate I had to send it to my wife.

Back to business - we have 4 on the ship enjoying Isaac's company and 167 on the shore.

With Isaac are

fourletterword
Barney
femullen
hoover


And on the shore are

docison
MikeyG
Mike H
streroto
Heidi
Al
JetStream
paige
Jace54
RobM
joe
clonefitz
Laura
Ron
Wendy
pjc
Joe R
oldjudge
schmidzy
hunkra
Lee-Ann
michaelm
dpl11
Kay
Eric C
NebFaninCA
Beth T
boharr
Georgeall
krf
Jean
altosax
Jim and Anita
Eric P
Don and Cynthia
MileHighSolver
jrdad
Moi
Gman
Jeremy
Cindy
mbryant
Meg
CPJohnson
TeaJenny
chriscross
ajk
dudeski
Trish
woozy
Homer
TheFusionMoose
LittleGood
darth
stmv
Beth A
DebbieC
mikeB
AaronT
David Wi
lisajoy
Ergcat
lxpeterson
Steveb
ky-mike
Justmarebear
Tmart
mydogsam
Chris
Tom Wi
mattythewsjpuzzler
HeadinHome
TeamDoubleTow
Miki
Char
Fred
Nlobb
Franky_T
Jay
MajorDomoTom
JeanneC
escapeartist
minimuggle
H and J
benchen71
Sleepy
eagle1279
Barbara K
Omnibus
whimsy
DavyGravy
higgysue
Bill
meowmiao71
Tina
Toby
Berto
Trey and Marion
Matthew
Schmeel
ColinM
Rita and George
Guffman
NuYear68
ZooAnimalsOnWheels
Barnhart6
CAe39
Grover
Jackie J
Mister and Mrs. Squawk
RDaleHall
Peter
ImOnToo
rexthree
qvart
Guy L
JimJim
shalmanezer
William
Beth C
Pilsbandy
Scott M
Dow Jones
MatthewL
MarkWoychick
Flying_Burrito
BigPear
WSJosh
Henry Paul
EVJ
PlymouthRock
lbray
Dannyvee
Jennifer
Paul D
Wescovington
Al Laubenstein
Lyman
linsocalm
Bird Lives
rjy
D B Miller
Hidden in 3D
OliviaL
Katiedid
JaneGummy
Kris Zacharias
copperriver
sharkicicles
Adajeo
HunterX
FloridaMan81
Jarrod
cheekumbaldy
Ann
Fogway
Deb
Qmark
Anna
mkmf
hottieruth
Olof
Scott L
moron
MaineMarge
ReB
norrin2

Good luck with the meta and the grid. And hopefully in 20 minutes, the MGWCC will come out.

[Penny_Keatley]

That was a long swim, but made it to shore. I remembered something that someone said here…”write it down”…that’s what helped push me in the right direction!

[DrTom]

For those too young to remember, this is the melody for the zoom theme:

Note the deep inner meaning of the words from the song

Following the Cruise Director’s suggestion to note the deep inner meaning I reviewed the lyrics and my findings are:

You apparently can do any number of various contemporary dances at this particular soiree and even learn new, very popular, ones that are becoming all the rage.

You are entreated to attend this particular fete several times, sometimes using terms of endearment to emphasize the desire.

After that the narrator suggests various physical exercises including playing on a swing and apparently some woodworking so that you really begin to get active at this soiree. There is subsequently some sort of very elegant leaping events to pleasing music after which you, and this seems cruel, spend some time kicking kittens and young chickens.

These activities are repeated at least once before the narrator begins to evoke memories of Scrooge and oddly begins to yell “BAH” at everyone.

At least those are my interpretations…

[LadyBird]

I am on a (rather marshy) shore. Didn't get started until Friday. Finding the first step wasn't HARd, but then...the rabbits. One--rather persistently--cRIed, "hey, pSSSt, over here PAl". Then, late last night, inspiration struck. I stealthily huRRied over to the other side of the hotel room to get my crossword folder. Yes!!!! And then I once again thought, "wOW, how do they keep coming up with these fun and clever metas".

Kansas State University campus, May 2023

[M and M]

We made this much harder than we needed to! Everyone does this sometimes, and this was our time. But we came to our senses, went back to basics, and there it was. Have fun, everyone!

[ship4u]

Glad to see that you have all of your ducks in a row! Congratulations.

[flamingbear]

I'm mostly suck at the moment so count me on the ship. Been a while since I've tried a WSJ puzzle too.

[Fishoutowater]

Ashore with an early afternoon cocktail!