Pun of a Kind

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Now it's just 20 days until spring training! Early post this week, since MGWCC comes out on Saturday. Note #124 is still live for a day, so the reveal will be delayed on that. Let's get to it! --- 1.  Puzzle #124 answer:  ??? Correct entries: ??? Shortest explanation: ??? --- 2.  I plan to start February (last month of the Solvestice!) with a Level 1 , and I can't imagine it going too much above that, but I'll say Level 1.5 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 9-letter creature.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! It's just 26 days until spring training, and I'm counting down already! Oh, yeah, we have the Super Bowl first, of course. --- 1.  Puzzle #123 answer: I DID IT Correct entries:  54  - solid Level 3  or so! Shortest explanation: Six 6-letter words have their letters in a 1-2-3 pattern. Take the letters that appear that many number of times, respectively, to form a new 3-letter word. Then, search the grid for an alternate 3-letter entry based on the clue. Those alternates spell I DID IT , another 1-2-3 formation, and a great victorious cheer upon solving the meta! --- 2. We'll finish the month with a Level 4 ; however, note there are immediate nudges on Crosshare if you want a little push to get you started! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a noted historical figure.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! My Broncos had a swift exit from the playoffs, but I actually like the Bills, so I'm okay with that. Hoping for an eventual Bills-Lions Super Bowl to tide me over until spring training - it's just one month away! --- 1.  Puzzle #121 answer:  THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE Correct entries: 39  - we're vacillating between easy and hard this month! Shortest explanation: A bit SAD, but you do have to get on my wavelength. Take the initial letter of any entry that has an odd length (either across or down). In standard top-down grid order, the letters spell THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE , with NOT EVEN alluding to ODD (which I am - stay weird, folks!). --- 2.  In reverse fashion, I thought this one might be challenging, but all of my test solvers grokked it and felt it would be a solid Level 3 . Perfect! Thanks to Claudia, Jay, Kay, and Lydia! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is what you might say after finis...

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! No baseball yet, but my Broncos are in the playoffs, so I'll take it! Wishing all of you continued peace and compassion as we start off the new year. Now onward to the puzzles! --- 1.  Puzzle #121 answer:  WHY NOT Correct entries:  75  - a beautiful Level 1! Shortest explanation: Five silly themers are missing a "Y," and the nod to the homophone in the final down gives us our NOT, a fitting answer to a puzzle without any Ys: WHY NOT --- 2.  It's a small one today, but I'm not sure how this will go. We'll say that I intend  this as a Level 2  (to try to keep the increase this month), but I'm thinking more 2.5 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is what you don't want to hear when solving a puzzle.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Happy 2025! SPRING TRAINING STARTS NEXT MONTH. Ahem. Sorry about that. I'M JUST SO EXCITED. --- 1.  Puzzle #119 answer:  FACTORIAL Correct entries: 44 Shortest explanation: More like a Level 3.5 , I'd say - we have nine clues that are appropriately punctuated with exclamation marks. Their fifth letters, per the title's directive, give us FACTORIAL , a fitting answer to the meta since 5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 120, indeed! --- 2. Starting off the year with a Level 1 , I hope! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 2-word phrase in the form 3, 3.