NYT Spelling Bee

[cathwen]

Good afternoon/evening!

My last words, thanks to 2LL hints, were tatami, hematite, and mimetic.  I got to QB finally today, but it was a struggle. 

For LB, I first found wraith-hockeys; then skywatch-heriot (didn't know that was a word!); then hotcakes-skywriter.  Why yes, I was avoiding work. Why do you ask?

Langue_doc, I hope that hip improves, also that you find a reasonable place for an MRI. 

Happy puzzling!

[ab_grp]

Congrats on two 2fers, Langue_doc, and on another one today! And QB yesterday! I'm sorry to hear about your hip but hope it isn't ailing because of a gunshot wound. ;-) Do you think you tweaked it or something more? I hope you are able to get some help tomorrow.  There are hip stretches I find helpful when I have hip pain or it feels out of joint, but it sounds like it's more than that.   

And congrats on your QB, cathwen! And three 2fers! Wow! 

[ciao_yall]

Morning! QBwH, last word mahatma. My new list of missed words is getting long but still not useful.

LB - 3fers coming out of my ears and a 2fer b4ss beauts-symphony. Finally went to hints for myths-subpoena

[cathwen]

Good morning!

QB with 1L help for mammoth and (!) hath.  It took me a while to find the pangram this morning, but now I'm at Beta with five words to go.

LB:  I had myths-subpoena, then found eyebath-homophonous.  I had homophonous first, then wondered if eyebath was even a word...and it took.  I have a 2fer today also.

Happy puzzling!

[Langue_doc]

Good morning!

Pangram (whew!) and above genius. Missed haboob yesterday. Are we supposed to know all the weird weather words?
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/weird-weather-how-to-tell-a-williwaw-from-a-haboob/

ambush/honeypot; found the latter first, and then saw that the remaining letters just arranged themselves into the latter.

cathwen and ab_grp, thanks for the good wishes. Stretches help if I know what the problem is--I have several back problems for which I've been getting therapy and have all the exercises. This is a new one which is far more debilitating than the ones I have, so at some point I have to go to the ER because I don't think I can get to the spine specialist who is a long drive away. I'm dragging my feet because I have to stop and get gas (which would be an effort given my state) and am also concerned that I'll be surrounded by people using the ER as a place to detox, get some rest and food (as happened on a previous visit), which adds to the time I'll have to wait before being seen by a physician.

Happy solving!

[ab_grp]

Good morning!

Finally got the pangram and finally got to genius.  I thought that I had the pangram right away, but apparently that was not a real word.  Not sure why it's so difficult for me today! Yesterday I think we had team QB, and I was missing loath, moolah, oath.  As for haboob, that phenomenon is not a stranger to this region, and it got me to genius.  It's one of those weird words that sticks out, I think.  Langue_doc, thanks for sharing that guide to weather words! I am very interested to learn some new ones and find out differences between the ones I have heard of.  Thankfully, the haboobs I have seen up close have not been as consequential as what's described there!

For LB, I had so many good contenders that I was sure would get me somewhere, but I finally ended up with a weird one: aptonyms-subhouse.  Okay, whatever! Congrats on all your solutions!! I don't think I had any of the words in any of them.  Congrats on another one today, cathwen!

Langue_doc, you're right that sometimes it's hard to pinpoint what the actual issue is.  If you already have back issues and see someone(s) for that, you probably know the old tricks and if the ER is the only option, but that is really rough!! And it seems not great to have to drive yourself when you're ailing.  I wish I could help! I can certainly understand the reluctance to go sit around and wait there.  I am wishing you the best and hope you stay safe and can get some relief!

Happy solving!

[Langue_doc]

Good morning!

Pangram and above genius. Missed fanfic yesterday.

deform/majorization

ab_grp, thank you for your kind words! I'm feeling much more human today--on Sunday I was convinced that I'd be stuck in a wheelchair the rest of my life.

cathwen, I've been meaning to ask if you are familiar with ithacating when discussing the weather. We (in three different states) when discussing the recent cold blast chuckled because we remembered winters that were colder and lasted much longer than the ones we're currently experiencing.

Happy solving!

[ciao_yall]

Morning! QBwH for fanfic, lain. Gah.

LB fjord-demonization.

Happy solving!

[ab_grp]

Good morning!

Got the pangram right away but still not to genius.  Yesterday we had team QB, but I was missing calculi, laical, fulfill, and of course fanfic.

I also got the schmofficial fjord-demonization after trying for way too long with dramatization, then monetization which was a ship with fjord.  Thankfully I figured out the correct mate.  Whew! Congrats on yours, ciao_yall and Langue_doc!

Langue_doc, I'm so glad to hear you are feeling a little better.  Hip and back pain can be so debilitating, and given how many possible causes, and then the secondary issues that arise from compensating for the initial injury by moving differently... it's a mess! It's hard to be in pain and feel as though you can't move normally (or much at all).  I hope it continues to get better!!

Happy solving!

[cathwen]

Good afternoon!

I needed hints for fanfic and lanai yesterday.  Today I have about five words to go.  It took me a little while to find the pangram!

LB: I also had deform-majorization.  And like ab_grp, I tried mightily to find a mate for dramatization!  No 2fer yet today. 

Langue_doc, I am indeed familiar with the terms ithacating and ithacation!  The winters were long and very cold when I lived there.  My first year there it snowed in October, then again in May—I hadn't realized that that was even possible!  I also was stunned when my winter coat was not warm enough.  I then bought my first heavy goose down parka.  And decent boots.  But I loved living there! 

Happy puzzling!

[ab_grp]

I finally got to genius, but geez... I still have a bunch of words left! And a lot of 4s! What the heck!

Cathwen, it was so frustrating trying to get dramatization to work! It was hard to let go of that one and try other things.  I was so excited when I found it. Argh! Congrats on your solution! I hope you ended up finding one today.  I am still trying.

[cathwen]

Good morning!

I got to QB with help for titivate and kvell.  Today I have just squeaked into Alpha, but am now completely stumped. 

As or LB, I had the "official" wildfire-eponym.  I found one today also.

Happy puzzling!

[ab_grp]

Good morning!

Didn't get to puzzle much yet, but I got the pangram and am getting toward genius.  Yesterday we almost had team QB but were missing kvell.  I was excited to remember titillate but then missed titivate, along with tattletale, allele, valve.

I almost forgot that I had finally gotten the schmofficial solution of wildfire-eponym right before bed! It was another day of trying and trying.  Congrats on yours and on another today, cathwen!

Happy solving!

[ab_grp]

Can't modify, but I finally got to genius and got a 2fer!

I also meant to ask if anyone has opinions on the new sudoku format on the website (now I, at least, can't switch between easy, medium, hard puzzles on the puzzle screen but have to go back and select a different one).  I think I prefer the old way.  Why have to go back and forth? I'm not sure why they made this change.  Any ideas?

[ciao_yall]

Morning! QBwH and a new word titivate. LB I achieved a 5fer, couldn't find anything else and finally went to the hints for wildfire-eponym. Sort of ironic because a few days ago I was playing with synonym, homonym and the -ous forms.

Quick GwP and 2fer today.

Happy solving!