Day 2,151, Quasi-Quarantine: Celebrating The Hops In Puzzle Form

The "Crafty" puzzle from Happily was another fun one, documenting 48 different craft breweries from around the globe. This 1,000-piecer was made in the Netherlands and showcased some truly tremendous cans and obscure microbreweries.

The only (small) downside was that three sets of hands put this one together, so I perhaps didn't get an opportunity to spend time with and appreciate this one enough. Regardless, it was a winner -- and the more the merrier, with puzzlers and beer alike!

8.4, would solve amid icy blasts again

Day 2,149, Quasi-Quarantine: "Lazarus Man" Documents Atonement, Hope, Depression, And Community In Strata Of NYC

“Mary, still focused on trying to figure him out, at least had no doubt about the genuineness of his anguish, and for a moment it made her want him to be the real thing, despite all the signs and portents and poetic phrasing that whispered to her otherwise.”

A collapsed building and the impact it has on a series of interconnected lives is the subject of Richard Price's most recent novel. "Lazarus Man" explores the ramifications and repercussions of decisions made, using gritty New York City as a central character.

“He took me to a Mets game once when I was eight, we’re in a bar by the stadium beforehand and I told him I was worried we were going to miss the start. So what does he do? He orders himself another beer, says to me, ‘Look down there,’ and I see three Mets sitting at the short end of the wood throwing back cocktails.

“He says, ‘When they leave, we leave.’”

Price's cast stumbles through monotonous lives, ruined relationships, abusive situations, and small glimpses of happiness (sometimes even in the midst of petty crime). The novel brilliantly demonstrates how connections and communities form, allowing you to root for characters -- both despite and because of their supreme flaws.

“ … Within each of us lies the power to surprise ourselves with who we never knew we could be.”

Limerick Friday #649: Saying Goodbye To A Life Fully Lived -- Day 2,146

What a life he had

When you can look past the sad

Didn't always see eye to eye

But I'm gonna miss that guy

Semper Paratus, Dad

Lotta changes for Dolphin Nation

A mix of doubt and elation

But they finally seem to have a plan

That doesn't involve resurrecting Dan

Just hoping for a playoff win this generation

A welcome distraction

From the fascism faction

"Stranger Things" arrived on the scene

Made me remember being a teen

Before the dread of the world gained traction

A bumpy start for Will Wade

The haters thought they had it made

Then the Wolfpack got a taste

And the Red Road Warriors laid waste

Now into their holes all the clowns fade

Everyone looking to lay blames

And favor certain suck-up names

Frauds and butt sniffers

I guess my way differs

I do the shit and skip the games

Last time ...

Day 2,145, Quasi-Quarantine: Request For "Banned Books Puzzle" Misinterpreted As Confusing-But-Fun "Band Books Puzzle"

 

This 1,000-piece puzzle from White Mountain had a pretty liberal interpretation of "Great Stories." Ostensibly capturing "classic literature and classic books," this 24- x 30-inch work leaned hard on books about rock music, mostly rendered by artist J. Scott Nicol.

The bizarre theme aside, this was a worthy challenge. The book spines made for a fun element of connecting various parts of the puzzle.

7.8 out of 10, would cobble together during an ice storm again

Day 2,143, Quasi-Quarantine: Ambitious "The End Of The World As We Know It" Sets Tales In The World Of Stephen King's "The Stand"

 

“I wanted to tell him that blood had always and would always lubricate the grinding gears of the universe.”

~“The Story I Tell is the Story of Some of Us” by Paul Tremblay

In many quarters, Stephen King's "The Stand" is the most iconic post-apocalyptic novel of all time. The sprawling story has inspired a legion of fans and creators, and "The End Of The World As We Know It" encapsulates its beloved status among established and aspiring writers.

“I wanted to curl up and cry for days–to just expel everything and then fade into the soil, to be recycled and fed into the earth so I could be of use to something again.” 

~“La Mala Hora,” Alex Segura

Edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene, this collection of 34 tales set in the world -- or the aftermath -- of "The Stand" represents nearly every geography and perspective one might imagine. There are stories set in outer space and Pakistan, and from the perspective of children, animals, and the living dead.

“You did not understand that we were the new. God’s rejects were the change. We will remake the world into a thing you do not recognize. We will remake the world into a thing that works.”

~“The Devil’s Children,” by Sarah Langan

At nearly 800 pages, "The End of the World As We Know It" can be something of a slog, and the quality of the short stories can vary. Many were better in concept in execution, and novellas may have been a better format than short stories for some as well.

“He looked like the hero of a Springsteen song, but in every way he bled darker.”

~“Keep the Devil Down,” by Rio Youers

However, a number of these works were worthy of the (Stephen) King, including "In a Pig's Eye," by Joe R. Lansdale; "La Mala Hora," by Alex Segura; "Kovach's Last Case," by Michael Koryta; "Keep the Devil Down," by Rio Youers; "Grand Junction," by Chuck Wendig; and "The Unfortunate Convalescence of the SuperLawyer," by Nat Cassidy.

“A utility worker starfished along the roadside with a throat so black and swollen you felt you could float down the river on it with a cooler of beer and some George Strait on the boom box.”

~“Lenora,” by Jonathan Janz

These stories -- among a handful of others -- made the effort more than worthwhile ... and a worthy complement to the King canon.

“‘There are no police anymore,’ she whispered. ‘And there are no doctors. There are only survivors and dreamers, and there are two kinds of dreamers. Only one of them is going to write the story from here. Which one will it be, Detective Kovach?’”

~“Kovach’s Last Case,” by Michael Koryta

Day 2,136, Quasi-Quarantine: Stearns Seeks To Salvage Mets' Offseason With Winter Flurry Of Activity

It's clear the Mets and president of baseball operations David Stearns were intent on breaking up the 30-something "core" of the team this offseason in favor of more dynamic and defense-oriented players, and while many fans got into their feelings, there were a number of compelling reasons:

• Brandon Nimmo's agent has helped turned him into a high-strikeout, medium-power guy, and he's devolved into a bad outfielder with perhaps the worst throwing arm in MLB.
• Jeff McNeil is a utility guy who was a progress stopper for a backlog of younger infielders in the system.
• Pete Alonso's bat didn't offset his age enough to justify a lengthy deal -- which just wasn't in the cards after contract talks got a bit contentious last year -- and he wasn't willing to move to a permanent DH role yet

Now, replacing those guys with Marcus Semien (35 years old, strong fielder, good clubhouse guy), Jorge Polanco (32, never played first base in a game), and Bo Bichette (great hitter, never played third base in a game, can opt out after one season) was questionable at best. In the process, New York also took third base away from Brett Baty -- who earned the gig -- and added another infielder to a roster that already had entirely too many.

In addition, closer Edwin "Sugar" Diaz -- the team's most popular player in some quarters of the fanbase -- inked with the Dodgers, despite the Mets offering slightly more money. The New York beat seemed to think that "Sugar" just preferred Los Angeles at this point in his career, and it's hard to blame him for that.

At that point, I was among those looking for any hints at the larger plan. But then Stearns really went to work. 

First, he landed center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the White Sox in exchange for infielder LuisAngel Acuna and an A-ball pitching prospect. While Robert hasn't been able to replicate a 2023 season that saw him crush 38 homers and earn down-ballot MVP votes, he is a stellar defensive player with a ton of athleticism and a chance to overcome his injury history.

Prior to the Robert trade, one could argue the Mets only had one everyday outfielder on the roster, and that was Juan Soto, a weak fielder. Tyrone Taylor is a fourth outfielder/defensive replacement and Baty has a handful of minor-league appearances in left field. I know they want Carson Benge to win the left field job out of spring training, but that's extremely, um, hopeful thinking.

Next, Stearns dealt for pitchers Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers, sending righty starter Brandon Sproat and top prospect Jett Williams to the Brewers in return. Peralta is an All-Star entering a contract year, but one has to think that the Mets have a plan to extend him at some point before he hits free agency. Losing Sproat was a hit to future rotations, but Williams seemed to be caught in the middle of a logjam of infield prospects.

After this dizzying series of transactions, the positional lineup looks like:

• Catcher: Francisco Alvarez
• 1B: Jorge Polanco
• 2B: Marcus Simien
• 3B: Bo Bichette
• SS: Francisco Lindor
• LF: Carson Benge or Brett Baty
• CF: Luis Robert
• RF: Juan Soto
• DH: Mark Vientos or Brett Baty
• PR/IF: Vidal Brujan
• PH/OF: Tyrone Taylor

The rotation looks like:

• Righty Freddy Peralta
• Righty Nolan McLean
• Righty Kodai Senga
• Lefty David Peterson
• Lefty Sean Manaea
• Righty Clay Holmes

The rotation looks more established, the bullpen looks deeper (Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter, Tobias Myers, Huascar Brazoban, Luis Garcia, others), the lineup looks capable of more consistent contact, and the defense looks more polished.

Does that add up to a better overall team? Maybe. But keep in mind that the Mets were 10 games under .500 (47-57) in the final four months of 2025. So was that rapidly aging core really worth keeping in place anyway?

For better or worse, Stearns has put his stamp on the franchise in a big way now. We'll find out soon whether his seismic late moves will pay off in 2026.

Day 2,135, Quasi-Quarantine: Complex Puzzle Depicts Stunning Sea Shells, With Only One Thing Missing

 

After unexpectedly having some extra time around the house recently, we tackled a sea shells puzzle from Elena Essex. Measuring 28 x 20 inches, this work was challenging, with a lot of similar shades making you really work for it.

Unfortunately, this 1,000-piecer did have a missing piece, though the company did include a note inside the box for how to contact them in such cases. A) How thoughtful! but B) Does this mean it's a common occurrence?

All told, this was a beautiful and complex puzzle that made me long for the beach -- with a slight ding in the grade for the missing piece.

8.7 out of 10, would painfully construct during bereavement again