Pun of a Kind

PDF / PUZ Hello hello! My Broncos have a win so far, but it's still baseball season in my book! Cubs and  White Sox are both into the playoffs, the first time in a full season since 2008! Posting a day early to avoid a MGWCC double-post. Also honored to have a puzzle represented at the upcoming " Midwest Gridfest "! --- Puzzle #191 answer: NAIL IT Correct entries: 71 Shortest explanation: Form a new word using letters 9 through letters 5, in order, in each of the themers (NAMED, VITAL, CARET, ARTSY, AWARE, SALAD). Find the entry whose clue references that word. In order: NENE, AGE, INSERT, LOFT, INON, TOSS. Those initials spell NAIL IT , the answer to the meta! --- When all the dust settles, I'm thinking we'll be at a Level 3  for this one! Thanks to Alan and Jangler for test-solving! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 4-letter group who might appreciate it.  

PDF / PUZ Hello hello! My beloved Broncos are starting this weekend, so I have to balance that with my beloved Cubbies! Tough start to September, so let's see if we can get back on track in the final games of the season! --- Puzzle #190 answer: TIME Correct entries:  55 Shortest explanation: Solid Level 3/3.5. Each of the six themers has at least two pairs of multiple letters (so the NUMBER TWO allusion to the pencil); erase these to get six new entries (NURSE, ASK, CLUE, JO, CHILE, CAROL) - and you know what to do! The alternates are also in order, all acrosses as well: TASTE, ICH, NUDGE, MEG, ECUADOR, NOEL. We have...TIN MEN? Not too apropos! Follow the deletion mechanism one more time to get TIME , a fitting end to this last "proctored meta exam" of the summer! --- Honoring the late, great Dolly Parton with this one - I think, like the last one, it'll be a relatively solid Level 2.5/3 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the met...

PDF / PUZ Hello hello! A brutal road series, where the Cubs go 1-2 against both the Mariners and the Diamondbacks, the latter of which always play us tough. --- No answer for the previous meta, since we're posting this one a day early to avoid a double-post with MGWCC. This is puzzle #190, almost to 200 and our final puzzle in this year's Summer of Solves. We will go back to every other Saturday until the Winter Solvestice , as long as inspiration strikes! Final one will clock in at Level 3/3.5 , and thanks to Jangler for test-solving and somehow getting the entire thing in 8 minutes. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is my apropos message to you right after you finish it.  

PDF / PUZ Hello hello! And now Cubs are six  games back at the Brewers. Sigh. --- Puzzle #188 answer:  COUNT BASIE Correct entries:  62 Shortest explanation: A bit SAD: the five main themers have the numbers ONE through FIVE appearing, with a letter change. Those letter changes spell BASIE, suggesting (with the numbers) COUNT BASIE , the answer to the meta. --- Penultimate meta in the Summer of Solves ! I had no idea here, so I asked a buddy behind the scenes for some brainstorming topics, and this is what resulted! Solid Level 2 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 2-word phrase in the form (7, 4).  

PDF / PUZ Hello hello! Cubs are only 3 games back on the Brewers, so I'm happy. That is all. --- Puzzle #187 answer: MACBETH Correct entries: 92 (!!!) Shortest explanation: The five themers all have the letters A, B, and C in various permutations: L ABC OAT, CASH CAB , D CBA SED, RI BCA GE, and WIN BAC K. The missing permutation of ACB can be found in MACBETH  (also 7 letters!) - and the answer to the meta! --- Antepenultimate meta in the Summer of Solves ! I'd say somewhere in the Level 2.5/3  range. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a well-known 20th-century American in the form (5, 5).  

PDF / PUZ Hello hello! Cubs had an incredible series at home. Yeah, we only took 1 of 3 from the Yankees - but then have since swept the Dodgers, had an incredible Blue Jays come-from-behind win, and are taking care of business on the road. (Too bad the Brewers are always perfect, haha.) --- Puzzle #186 answer: EMMA Correct entries:  70 Shortest explanation: Unfortunately, I underestimated this one. There were nine surnames in the grid, of people both real and fictional: PEEL, WATSON, WOODHOUSE, SLATER, THOMPSON, BARON, LAZARUS, ROBERTS, and STONE.  I was hoping a few of these would nudge in the direction to EMMA , but I think too many were rather obscure. However, at least one got it immediately upon seeing WOODHOUSE in the grid, so I'll take it! --- This has to be a Level 1 . Please lol Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is the Shakespearean play that would have made a good sixth theme entry.  

PDF / PUZ Hello hello! Cubs had a rocking homestand this week, going 5-2 against the Pirates and Cardinals, including an epic bat flip by Pete Crow-Armstrong (even though it was one of the two games we lost!) Meta posting a day early to avoid MGWCC conflict. --- A quick personal note before the puzzle. Several months ago, I actually had to say goodbye to Ginger Cat. You may have noticed slightly fewer references to her in my puzzles. She had some health issues, and it was time for me to say goodbye. It was hard, but I remember her fondly as the best cat ever and think of her every day. I made sure to pay my respects and honor her memory and was at the point to welcome a new cat into my life a couple of months ago. She came from a more difficult back story and, understandably, is still pretty reticent around me (except when it's treat time, haha). She is cautiously curious but already savors her salmon, her playtime, and her zoomies. I am excited to get to know her more in the comi...