Puzzle #612

[Karen]

New players! Read the rules before you join, please, and be prepared to host the next if you win!

These are the rules:

* 1. You may only guess one letter at a time.

* 2. After you have guessed a letter, you must wait for another player to guess a letter before you can go again. (see also rule #9)

* 3. The host of the game responding to a guess does not count as a turn. Should you choose a letter, then receive a response from the member host, you must wait for the next member to guess a letter.

* 4. One point will be awarded for each correct letter, 2 points for vowels.

* 5. Only six misses are allowed in the game.

* 6. If you wish to guess the phrase, send it to me via Pet Talk Private message. (This is accessible via the 'PM' or 'Profile' buttons on any of my posts). DO NOT post it on the forum. If you wish to guess a letter, post it on the forum.

* 7. You must have submitted a correct letter to submit your solution. Unlike letters, if you submit a wrong solution, you are disqualified from continuing in that puzzle.

* 8. The player who correctly guesses the phrase wins the game. If no one has guessed it correctly after six misses, then the player with the most points wins the game.

* 9. Only 5 guesses allowed in total until the host updates the puzzle. Any guess after 5, before the next update, won't be counted as a guess. And as always, someone else has to guess a letter before you can guess another letter.

And here is what you win ... you get to create the next puzzle.

(Should you win the game and are unable to host the next puzzle, you may pass it to the member with the next highest points)


Here's the puzzle:


---- ---'- --- ----- --- -------. -- ---- ----'- --------- ------ ---- --.
---- ---- -- -------- ---- ----- -- ------- ---- --- ----- ---- --- ---------- --.
------ ----- ---- ---- ----'-- -------- -- -- --------, -- ---- ---- ------
---- ------ --- ------ -- ---- ----. ----- - ----, ----- ---- --- ---
------ -- --- --------- ------ --- --- -- ---- --- ----, --- ---- ----
------ --- ---- -- ----- ---.

---- ---- ----- --- ---
-- ---- ------


Letters left to guess:
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

[cassiesmom]

May I start with a C for cat, please :) There are a LOT of letters in this puzzle!

[Steve Arnold]

And I'll take /S/ for Shih Tzu.

[Karen]

C--s ---'- -s- ----s --- s-c---s. -- ---- ----'s s-------- -----s ---- --.
C--s ---- -- --s---c- ---- ----s -s ---c--- ---- --- ----- ---- --- ---------- -s.
-----s ----- ---- ---- ----'-- s----s-- -- -- --------, s- ---- ---- -----s
---- c--c-s --- -----s -- ---- ----. ---c- - ----, S---- s--s --- ---
c--c-s -- --- --------- ------- --- ---- -- --c- --- ----, --- ---- --s-
-----s --- ---- -- ----s ---.

---- ---- s---s --- ---
-- ---- C-----


cassiesmom: C(12) = 12
Steve Arnold: S(29) = 29

Letters left to guess:
ABDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRTUVWXYZ

[Felicia's Mom]

N, please

[Karen]

I *knew* you'd pick N! As soon as I realized how many there were ...

C--s --n'- -s- ----s -n- s-c-n-s. -- -n-- ----'s s------n- ----ns ---- --. C--s
---- -n -ns--nc- ---- ----s -s ---c--- ---- --- ----- ---- --- --------n-
-s. ----ns n---- -n-- ---n ----'-- s----s-- -- -- -n----n-, s- ---- n--- ---n-s
---- c--c-s -n- -----s -- ---- ----. ---c- - ----, S---- s--s --- ---
c--c-s -n --- -------n- ------- -n- ---- -- --c- -n- ----, -n- ---- --s-
-----s --- ---- -- ----s ---.

---- ---- S---s --- ---
-- ---n C-----


cassiesmom: C(12) = 12
Steve Arnold: S(29) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) = 25


Letters left to guess:
ABDEFGHIJKLMOPQRTUVWXYZ

[cassiesmom]

May I have D, please.

[Karen]

You can have 12 of them!

C--s d-n'- -s- ----s -nd s-c-nds. -- -n-- ----'s s------n- ----ns --d- --. C--s
---- -n -ns--nc- ---- ----s -s ---c--- ---- --- ----- ---- --- --------n-
-s. ----ns n---- -n-- ---n ----'-- s----s-d -- d- -n----n-, s- ---- n--d ---n-s
---- c--c-s -nd -----s -- ---- ----. ---c- - ----, S---- s--s --- ---
c--c-s -n --- -------n- ------d -n- ---- -- --c- -n- ----, -nd ---- --s-
-----s --- --d- -- ----s ---.

---- ---- S---s --- D--
-- ---n C-----

cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) = 24
Steve Arnold: S(29) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) = 25


Letters left to guess:
ABEFGHIJKLMOPQRTUVWXYZ

[Steve Arnold]

R, please.

[Pinot's Mom]

T please!

[Karen]

C-ts d-n't -s- ---rs -nd s-c-nds. -- -n-- t--t's s---t--n- ----ns --d- --. C-ts
---- -n -nst-nct t--t t---s -s ---ct-- ---t t-- r---t t--- --r ---r-t--n-
-s. ----ns n---r -n-- ---n t---'r- s----s-d t- d- -n-t--n-, s- t--- n--d t--n-s
---- c--c-s -nd t---rs t- t--- t---. T--c- - ---r, S-r-- s-ts --- t--
c--c-s -n --r ---rt--nt --r--rd -n- ---r -r --c- -n- ---r, -nd t--t --st
-r---s --- --d- -- ---rs -r-.

-r-- ---- S---s t-- D--
-- ---n C----r


cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) = 24
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) = 25
Pinot's Mom: T(35) = 35

[Karen]

Bumpity!

[Felicia's Mom]

G, please

[Karen]

C-ts d-n't -s- ---rs -nd s-c-nds. -- -n-- t--t's s---t--ng ----ns --d- --. C-ts
---- -n -nst-nct t--t t---s -s ---ct-- ---t t-- r-g-t t--- --r ---r-t--ng
-s. ----ns n---r -n-- ---n t---'r- s----s-d t- d- -n-t--ng, s- t--- n--d t--ngs
---- c--c-s -nd t---rs t- t--- t---. T--c- - ---r, S-r-- s-ts --- t--
c--c-s -n --r ---rt--nt --r--rd -n- ---r -r --c- -n- ---r, -nd t--t --st
-r---s --- --d- -- ---rs -r-.

-r-- ---- S---s t-- D--
-- G--n C----r


cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) = 24
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) = 35

Letters left to guess:
ABEFHIJKLMOPQUVWXYZ

[cassiesmom]

H, please -- for hey, it is really cold outside in Chicago today

[Pinot's Mom]

L please!

[Karen]

C-ts d-n't -s- h--rs -nd s-c-nds. -- -n-- th-t's s---th-ng h---ns --d- --. C-ts
h--- -n -nst-nct th-t t-lls -s ---ctl- -h-t th- r-ght t--- --r ---r-th-ng
-s. H---ns n---r -n-- -h-n th--'r- s----s-d t- d- -n-th-ng, s- th-- n--d th-ngs
l--- cl-c-s -nd t---rs t- t-ll th--. T--c- - ---r, S-r-h s-ts -ll th-
cl-c-s -n --r ---rt--nt --r--rd -n- h--r -r --c- -n- h--r, -nd th-t --st
-r---s h-- --d- -- h--rs -r-.

-r-- L--- S---s th- D--
-- G--n C----r



cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) H(25) = 49
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) ((11) = 46

Letters left to guess:
ABEFIJKMOPQUVWXYZ

[Asiel]

a U please

[Karen]

Oooh, our first vowel! And more important for this puzzle than usual for the lowly "u"!

C-ts d-n't us- h-urs -nd s-c-nds. -- -n-- th-t's s---th-ng hu--ns --d- u-. C-ts
h--- -n -nst-nct th-t t-lls us ---ctl- -h-t th- r-ght t--- --r ---r-th-ng
-s. Hu--ns n---r -n-- -h-n th--'r- su---s-d t- d- -n-th-ng, s- th-- n--d th-ngs
l--- cl-c-s -nd t---rs t- t-ll th--. T--c- - ---r, S-r-h s-ts -ll th-
cl-c-s -n -ur ---rt--nt --r--rd -n- h-ur -r --c- -n- h-ur, -nd th-t -ust
-r---s h-- --d- u- h-urs -r-.

-r-- L--- S---s th- D--
-- G--n C----r



cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) H(25) = 49
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) ((11) = 46
Asiel: U(13) = 26

Letters left to guess:
ABEFHIJKLMOPQVWXYZ

[robinh]

Not good at these things, but an "M" please.

[Asiel]

Y please

[cassiesmom]

May I try a K (for kitty ;) ) please.

[Karen]

C-ts d-n't us- h-urs -nd s-c-nds. -- kn-- th-t's s-m-th-ng hum-ns m-d- u-. C-ts
h--- -n -nst-nct th-t t-lls us ---ctly -h-t th- r-ght t-m- --r ---ryth-ng
-s. Hum-ns n---r kn-- -h-n th-y'r- su---s-d t- d- -nyth-ng, s- th-y n--d th-ngs
l-k- cl-cks -nd t-m-rs t- t-ll th-m. T--c- - y--r, S-r-h s-ts -ll th-
cl-cks -n -ur ---rtm-nt --r--rd -n- h-ur -r --ck -n- h-ur, -nd th-t -ust
-r---s h-- m-d- u- h-urs -r-.

-r-m L--- S---s th- D-y
-y G--n C----r



cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) H(25) K(6) = 55
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) ((11) = 46
Asiel: U(13) Y(8) = 26
robinh: M(10) =


Letters left to guess:
ABEFHIJLOPQVWXZ

[Freckles]

F, please

[Karen]

C-ts d-n't us- h-urs -nd s-c-nds. -- kn-- th-t's s-m-th-ng hum-ns m-d- u-. C-ts
h--- -n -nst-nct th-t t-lls us ---ctly -h-t th- r-ght t-m- f-r ---ryth-ng
-s. Hum-ns n---r -n-- -h-n th-y'r- su---s-d t- d- -nyth-ng, s- th-y n--d th-ngs
l--- cl-c-s -nd t-m-rs t- t-ll th-m. T--c- - y--r, S-r-h s-ts -ll th-
cl-c-s -n -ur ---rtm-nt f-r--rd -n- h-ur -r --c- -n- h-ur, -nd th-t -ust
-r---s h-- m-d- u- h-urs -r-.

fr-m L--- S---s th- D-y
-y G--n C----r



cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) H(25) = 49
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) L(11) = 46
Asiel: U(13) Y(8) = 26
robinh: M(10) = 10
Freckles: F(3) = 3


Letters left to guess:
ABEIJKOPQVWXZ

[Pinot's Mom]

J please!

[Karen]

That's an easy one! Yes, you may have one J, that's all there is!

C-ts d-n't us- h-urs -nd s-c-nds. -- kn-- th-t's s-m-th-ng hum-ns m-d- u-. C-ts
h--- -n -nst-nct th-t t-lls us ---ctly -h-t th- r-ght t-m- f-r ---ryth-ng
-s. Hum-ns n---r -n-- -h-n th-y'r- su---s-d t- d- -nyth-ng, s- th-y n--d th-ngs
l--- cl-c-s -nd t-m-rs t- t-ll th-m. T--c- - y--r, S-r-h s-ts -ll th-
cl-c-s -n -ur ---rtm-nt f-r--rd -n- h-ur -r --c- -n- h-ur, -nd th-t just
-r---s h-- m-d- u- h-urs -r-.

fr-m L--- S---s th- D-y
-y G--n C----r



cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) H(25) = 49
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) = 29
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) L(11) = 46
Asiel: U(13) Y(8) = 26
robinh: M(10) = 10
Freckles: F(3) = 3


Letters left to guess:
ABEIKOPQVWXZ

[Steve Arnold]

O, please.

[Karen]

That's a big one - I'll expect guesses soon after this!

That's an easy one! Yes, you may have one J, that's all there is!

C-ts don't us- hours -nd s-conds. -- kno- th-t's som-th-ng hum-ns m-d- u-. C-ts
h--- -n -nst-nct th-t t-lls us ---ctly -h-t th- r-ght t-m- for ---ryth-ng
-s. Hum-ns n---r -no- -h-n th-y'r- su--os-d to do -nyth-ng, s- th-y n--d th-ngs
l--- cloc-s -nd t-m-rs to t-ll th-m. T--c- - y--r, S-r-h s-ts -ll th-
cloc-s -n our ---rtm-nt for--rd on- hour or --c- on- hour, -nd th-t just
-ro--s ho- m-d- u- hours -r-.

from Lo-- S---s th- D-y
-y G--n Coo--r



cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) H(25) = 49
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) O(27) = 83
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) L(11) = 46
Asiel: U(13) Y(8) = 26
robinh: M(10) = 10
Freckles: F(3) = 3


Letters left to guess:
ABEIJKPQVWXYZ

[Asiel]

a V please

[Karen]

C-ts don't us- hours -nd s-conds. -- kno- th-t's som-th-ng hum-ns m-d- u-. C-ts
h-v- -n -nst-nct th-t t-lls us ---ctly -h-t th- r-ght t-m- for -v-ryth-ng
-s. Hum-ns n-v-r -no- -h-n th-y'r- su--os-d to do -nyth-ng, s- th-y n--d th-ngs
l--- cloc-s -nd t-m-rs to t-ll th-m. T--c- - y--r, S-r-h s-ts -ll th-
cloc-s -n our ---rtm-nt for--rd on- hour or --c- on- hour, -nd th-t just
-rov-s ho- m-d- u- hours -r-.

from Lov- S-v-s th- D-y
-y G--n Coo--r



cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) H(25) = 49
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) O(27) = 83
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) L(11) = 46
Asiel: U(13) Y(8) V(6) = 40
robinh: M(10) = 10
Freckles: F(3) = 3


Letters left to guess:
ABEIJKPQWXYZ

[Karen]

Bumpity!

[Pinot's Mom]

I'm sorry - I'll take a look at this tomorrow. Absolutely horrid week.

[Karen]

Awww, sending you a hug!

[Pinot's Mom]

Thanks for the hug - sometimes I wonder how long I'm going to put up with where I work.

Anyway, there's a word that confuses me, so I think it's time for a vowel. Could I have an A please?

[cassiesmom]

Not confident about a couple of spots. May I try W, please.

[Karen]

Both, I think, were key choices!


Cats don't us- hours and s-conds. W- know that's som-th-ng humans mad- u-. Cats
hav- an -nst-nct that t-lls us --actly what th- r-ght t-m- for -v-ryth-ng
-s. Humans n-v-r -now wh-n th-y'r- su--os-d to do anyth-ng, s- th-y n--d th-ngs
l--- cloc-s and t-m-rs to t-ll th-m. Tw-c- a y-ar, Sarah s-ts all th-
cloc-s -n our a-artm-nt forward on- hour or -ac- on- hour, and that just
-rov-s how mad- u- hours ar-.

from Lov- Sav-s th- Day
-y Gw-n Coo--r



cassiesmom: C(12) D(12) H(25) W(9)= 58
Steve Arnold: S(29) R(21) O(27) = 83
Felicia's Mom: N(25) G(6) = 31
Pinot's Mom: T(35) L(11) A(29) = 104
Asiel: U(13) Y(8) = 26
robinh: M(10) = 10
Freckles: F(3) = 3


Letters left to guess:
BEIJKPQVXYZ

[Steve Arnold]

I'll take the P, please.

[Steve Arnold]

And actually, I'd like to solve ...PM to follow ...

[Karen]

Yes, you got it! Would you host the next puzzle?


The solution is:

Cats don't use hours and seconds. We know that's something humans made up. Cats have an instinct that tells us exactly what the right time for everything is. Humans never know when they're supposed to do anything, so they need things like clocks and timers to tell them. Twice a year, Sarah sets all the clocks in our apartment forward one hour or back one hour, and that just proves how made up hours are.

from Love Saves the Day
by Gwen Cooper

It's a fun book, a novel written from Prudence the cat's perspective! I got to interview Gwen on the radio show this week!

[Steve Arnold]

Yes, I have a passage picked out, I shall be happy to do the next one.