Today's Cryptogram

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

G RTH'O AGHR RWAN NCTHRS MTPSF, 'DQWFS G PHTX G QGH'O RWAN QHR G PHTX G QGH'O NCTHRS. - [QOOLGNWOSR OT] RTCCK VQLOTH

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

You can find this fun quotation puzzle, to combat early dementia and senility in us baby boomers, in several daily publications. I challenge us with the best ones out there.

The way it works is a letter stands for another letter. For example: AXYDLBAAXR is LONGFELLOW (does not apply to today's cryptogram).

Beware, the game is very addictive. If this is your first time, don't be intimidated, you’ll be solving them all within a few days. If you’re stumped, take a break and return to it.

PLEASE DO NOT post the answer in general comments, but DO post your time and how you made out.

You can certainly send your solution to my private reply, or if you need a hint for today’s Cryptogram ASK THE GROUP FOR HELP!

I suggest printing these out and work them on paper. If you need a little help you can copy and paste it to Hal’s Helper below.

You can then work on the puzzle without using pen and paper, but I recommend that you do NOT look at the letter counter.

HAL'S CRYPTOGRAM HELPER

One last request. Feel free to post a fun or clever clue, the more tangential to the quotation the better, but please don’t put the actual words of the quote in the clue.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

If you need a clue ask the group to send you a letter to your private reply.

4 minutes good
3 minutes excellent
2 minutes exceptional
90 seconds superior

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Previous puzzle Saturday, November 25, 2023

CXO BOVODM BLYOW AD UTAK CXO QXLFFOIZ AD MAID
AU CXO NLV BZJO CXOR QZBBOM VLCQXO VEKOO
CXO BZJO, LC LW WZLM, DOYOT VLYOW EF XOT MOZM
IXOD CXO WJLOW AU DAYOKNOT CETD VBAAKR

VATMAD BLVXCUAAC

Solution to previous puzzle (select the yellow text with your cursor to read):

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy

Gordon Lightfoot

HAL'S CRYPTOGRAM HELPER

[ComputerGuy]

Did Dallas the other day.

[lefty-lie-spy]

That was cute.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Especially good in comparison to whatever Jack Harlow was doing in Detroit.

[Magnum44]

[Mr_Moonlight]

Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame’r

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

How many NCTHRSF does it take to screw in a light bulb?

[A_perfect_lady]

Okay, that’s cute.

[Baldwin77]

Is the hair all that's fake??

[Baldwin77]

One more for good measure:

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Is the hair all that's fake??

Maybe not just the hair? Actually better looking untreated, but that's her shtick.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

In Britain they have Essex Girl Jokes, most of which are quite ribald. Sort of like Valley Girls, but different. A tamer example:

Q. Why are Essex girls only allowed 30 minute lunch breaks?
A. It takes too long to retrain them if they take an hour.

Essex is the county north of London, noted for prosperous and and ambitious people who commute into “the city”. How their daughters got this reputation I know not. Envy?

[gitmo]

I briefly met the author’s sister. Distinct family resemblance.

[manna]

Thanks.