"Winter Fall" - December 17, 2021

[Sopuzzled]

Ahoy all. I could sure use a nudge. Thanks

[norrin2]

I’m on shore.

[Bob cruise director]

Ashore! I needed a lot of help again so not submitting.
Can’t seem to get my meta mojo going. I’m blaming it on the pandemic (I’m blaming everything on the pandemic); pandemic-meta-brain-fog. But it’s good to be on the beach with you all. Is that pitcher of Cadillac Margaritas still going around?

EVJ - I find that my successes and not so great metas come in waves. One month I am a superstar and the next one a superdud. keep plugging

[coffeefrog]

On shore since Thursday night

[Bob cruise director]

Good Sunday morning muggles

A few things on nudges for our newest muggles. There is a posting under Come Aboard/ FAQ-Community about the etiquette that has evolved about asking for nudges - viewtopic.php?t=390

Essentially it is 1) don't post a general request as we don't know if you have gotten no response or many and 2) send a PM (make sure that you have enabled receiving a PM) to someone who has indicated that they are on shore, tell them what you have done and where you have problems. Do it for a couple of people


We welcome our newest muggles since yesterday - Sopuzzled and Lacern and jwilkerson. Great to have more muggles

Right now we have 14 on the ship with Isaac enjoying his special Christmas Egg Nog and his charming wit. And we have 190 on the shore keeping Meg's Cabana boy scurrying to get everyone their drinks.

Joining the group in the ship's lounges are:
sphorning
802puzzler
JeanneC
Sopuzzled
Lacern


And making their way to the increasingly crowded shore are:

Anita
barney
Trey and Marion
Dannyvee
Eric P
DannyCincinatti
ZooAnimalsOnWheels
Bird Lives
ship4u
rosiegirl
phofer
Cosmo
mitchel674
cpelster
jwilkerson
relic (and Maggie)
JaneGummy
Fred
Gman
MarkWoychick
EVJ
MamaE
Franklin
diplomatt
norrin2
Annabelle
Puzzle mom
Jarrod
David
wildjed
coffeefrog


Good luck to all completing the meta and stay safe

[sphorning]

Finally on shore with a little push from Cynthia J.
I still need to back solve for 3 of the letters, but I'm calling myself "toes in the sand."

[JetStream]

I just figured it out but I don't know how to post my answer. Anyway, ashore for the 2nd week in a row! Woohoo!

[hunkra]

Late to solving this week -- still needed a confirmation from a kind muggle that I was heading in the correct direction and am now safely on shore (albeit late for the party) Bringing a tin of Christmas sugar and spice (and LOTS of butter) to make up for my tardiness. Ready for some wassail from the cabana boy!

[Ann]

On the shore!

[JAQT]

Happy to be counted among those on shore! It's been an embarrassingly long dry spell.

Getting ready for the fireworks tonight, and other festivities, on the last night of the Balboa Boat Parade.

[mindle]

On the shore - enjoyed the puzzle!

[Powers2020]

Got onshore Thursday evening, but forgot to post! Great meta!

[EdStrong]

Ashore - loved this one, very impressive!

[Magistra]

Found a mechanism that makes sense and I think I've got it. Sent in my answer.

[Joey Avocado]

Went away for the weekend and the brilliant Mrs Avocado solved it!!

Should go away more often. On shore !

[OGuyDave]

Done and done. Positive I have the correct answer, but just one gnawing glitch. Looking forward to how this will be resolved in seven hours.

TFTXWD

[Thurman8er]

Okay...JUST now got it!

Beautiful puzzle. I'm curious about one thing, but in Matt I trust.

I'm on shore! (And vacation!!)

[MatthewB]

Safely and enjoyably on shore. What an elegant and satisfying solution..... Bravo Matt!

[EVJ]

Ashore! I needed a lot of help again so not submitting.
Can’t seem to get my meta mojo going. I’m blaming it on the pandemic (I’m blaming everything on the pandemic); pandemic-meta-brain-fog. But it’s good to be on the beach with you all. Is that pitcher of Cadillac Margaritas still going around?

EVJ - I find that my successes and not so great metas come in waves. One month I am a superstar and the next one a superdud. keep plugging

Thank you for your encouragement! I am not giving up.
This is just too much fun even if I do need help. I have a great meta-buddy who has been doing most of the hard work lately. And I know where to go when I need help (you know who you are…)

[Janet]

I just figured it out but I don't know how to post my answer. Anyway, ashore for the 2nd week in a row! Woohoo!

I haven't gotten through all the comments, but in case you haven't gotten an answer. Email to crosswordcontest@wsj.com with the solution as the subject.