Satisfying solution

[mamagotcha]

jillcook and her clever sweetie joined 2006in2006 and I for comfort food, bad puns, and group solving on "Mall of America," which turned out to be a fantastic puzzling experience... plenty of funny and fiendish moments, along with a very rewarding finish at the end. There's nothing quite like staring at something that seems totally incomprehensible, wrestling with it alongside your friends, and then getting the glimmer of an idea that bursts into a full-blown "A-HA!".

One of my frustrations here in KC has been the lack of puzzling partners, but I'm told there are a number of NPL Krewe members in the Chicago area, so perhaps the Midwest version of the Fall Equinox gathering will be a bit larger.

Our produce box delivery was really late... the driver was new and missed our delivery earlier, and he wandered up to the door around 9:30pm, when we were in the full swing of things with the puzzle. He looked really tired and forlorn, so he was invited in for food. Pretty soon, he was at the table too, entirely mystified but curious about what the hell we were doing. He got enough to appreciate the "Denouemall," I think. Still, he was blown away that people would do this type of activity for fun. Is this really all that strange?

Homemade bagels will soon be winging their way towards rubrick and Trazom, carrying our gratitude with them.

Comments

[jillcook.livejournal.com]

We had a blast! You had the best "aha!!!" moment of the evening (it's true! don't be modest!) but we 4 made a great team, I think. Thank you for hosting!

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

I think it was probably because I've had more exposure to these NPL-style puzzles.

I was somehow paired up with Trazom for some game at my very first Equinox party, and he totally blasted through the puzzles, sheepishly apologizing to me that he'd had a LOT of practice with them (hooo boy, if I only knew!).

Thanks for joining us, and for the nommy brownies!

[tara-doula.livejournal.com]

Your puzzle parties all sounded like so much fun. I am bummed I never made it to one. I just need Ro to get big enough for D and I to leave him after bedtime... but darn it I think you will be moving before that. Maybe I can roadtrip to Chicago for one in the future! :D

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

If you like, I can "run" the puzzle for you and D, or a couple of other of your friends (It COULD be solved by a single solver, but it would be difficult, I think). We could do a midday thing. Nikki missed out, too; maybe she'd want to join in. Let me know! It certainly doesn't have to be at night!