Theme: Frequent 'F and F' Formats
20A: "American Idol" contestant's dream: FAME AND FORTUNE
37A: Hard data: FACTS AND FIGURES
52A: Like a movie auto chase scene: FAST AND FURIOUS
Argyle here.
All the first theme words start with FA, and only have one syllable. There are total 9 letter F's in this puzzle (NY Time's record is 12), quite unusual. One Z and 2 J's also makes this puzzle rather scrabbly.
Not much to say: If it gets any easier there won't be much reason to blog. That's not to say it isn't a good puzzle, it is, but I'll bet we have many that didn't have to google at all today.
Think of some other F and F and leave it in the comments section. I have several, but I'll wait to post them. Have a good week.
Across:
1A: Cough syrup amts.: TSPS. Teaspoons
9A: Pirate's chum: MATEY. "Ahoy, MATEY".
18A: With 10-Down, approximately: ON OR. 10D: See 18-Across: ABOUT.
19A: Sure to end in failure, as a situation: NO WIN.
23A: Swiss painter Paul: KLEE.
25A: Wander (about): GAD. Gadabout Gaddis (Roscoe Vernon)- The Flying Fisherman. An early pioneer of television, Gadabout's name was synonymous with freedom
28A: Handyman's tasks: ODD JOBS.
30A: Shriner's hat: FEZ. Thimble Cute!
35A: Place for mil. planes: AFB. Air Force Base.
36A: Jazz jargon: JIVE.
44A: Mummy's threesome?: EMS. Three letter M's in Mummy.
45A: Bead of morning moisture: DEWDROP. Common name for a roadhouse, The Dew Drop Inn.
48A: Oink spot: STY.
49A: U2's lead vocalist: BONO. nee Paul David Hewson. BONO owns Forbes magazine.
59A: Connect the _: DOTS.
60A: Kitten lifting spot: NAPE. Place "awwww" picture here.
61A: Ivan of tennis: LENDL.
62A: Blunt blade: EPEE. Sharp point.
Down:
1D: "Finally, the weekend!": TGIF.
3D: Pilot or Treo maker: PALM. Palm USA, is an innovator of easy-to-use mobile products including Treo and Centro smartphones, handhelds, software, and accessories. Rival of Blackberry.
5D: Copied genetically: CLONED.
6D: Passed (out): HANDED. Hmmm, why did I think of a different kind of "passed out".
7D: Dating from: AS OF.
8D: Mislead deliberately: THROW OFF. from 'THROW OFF the trail'. Foxes were known to have doubled back on their trail and then jump sideways(to a log or hard ground or water)thus throwing the hounds off their trail.
9D: "Praying" insect: MANTIS. Greek for prophet/seer.
21D: At __ for words: A LOSS.
22D: Temple leader: RABBI.
25D: Faux pas: GAFFE. The fishing hook is GAFF.
29D: Bored with life: JADED.
30D: Pink-slips: FIRES. Pink-slips used as a verb here.
36D: Moonshine container: JUG.
39D: "Ah, that explains it!": NO WONDER.
40D: Rubbernecker: GAPER.
45D: "This I gotta hear!": DO TELL.
46D: Traveled like Huck Finn: RAFTED.
47D: Numbered works: OPUSES. I half expected the plural to be OPUSAE or OPUSI or something. Update: noun - a plural of opus: opera [oh-per-uh](Who knew?)
51D: Tendon: SINEW.
52D: Agonize (over): FRET.
53D: Ill-fated Boleyn: ANNE.
54D: Nitwit: DOPE.
55D: "I do," for one: OATH.
56D: __ no good: plotting: UP TO.
57D: Evidently are: SEEM.
58D: Trains above streets: ELS. In Chicago. And ERNIE (58A: Berts Muppet buddy). Poor ERNIE ELS. Maybe he will pull off a surprise at Hazeltine (PGA Championship) this week.
Answer grid.
Argyle
20A: "American Idol" contestant's dream: FAME AND FORTUNE
37A: Hard data: FACTS AND FIGURES
52A: Like a movie auto chase scene: FAST AND FURIOUS
Argyle here.
All the first theme words start with FA, and only have one syllable. There are total 9 letter F's in this puzzle (NY Time's record is 12), quite unusual. One Z and 2 J's also makes this puzzle rather scrabbly.
Not much to say: If it gets any easier there won't be much reason to blog. That's not to say it isn't a good puzzle, it is, but I'll bet we have many that didn't have to google at all today.
Think of some other F and F and leave it in the comments section. I have several, but I'll wait to post them. Have a good week.
Across:
1A: Cough syrup amts.: TSPS. Teaspoons
9A: Pirate's chum: MATEY. "Ahoy, MATEY".
18A: With 10-Down, approximately: ON OR. 10D: See 18-Across: ABOUT.
19A: Sure to end in failure, as a situation: NO WIN.
23A: Swiss painter Paul: KLEE.
25A: Wander (about): GAD. Gadabout Gaddis (Roscoe Vernon)- The Flying Fisherman. An early pioneer of television, Gadabout's name was synonymous with freedom
28A: Handyman's tasks: ODD JOBS.
30A: Shriner's hat: FEZ. Thimble Cute!
35A: Place for mil. planes: AFB. Air Force Base.
36A: Jazz jargon: JIVE.
44A: Mummy's threesome?: EMS. Three letter M's in Mummy.
45A: Bead of morning moisture: DEWDROP. Common name for a roadhouse, The Dew Drop Inn.
48A: Oink spot: STY.
49A: U2's lead vocalist: BONO. nee Paul David Hewson. BONO owns Forbes magazine.
59A: Connect the _: DOTS.
60A: Kitten lifting spot: NAPE. Place "awwww" picture here.
61A: Ivan of tennis: LENDL.
62A: Blunt blade: EPEE. Sharp point.
Down:
1D: "Finally, the weekend!": TGIF.
3D: Pilot or Treo maker: PALM. Palm USA, is an innovator of easy-to-use mobile products including Treo and Centro smartphones, handhelds, software, and accessories. Rival of Blackberry.
5D: Copied genetically: CLONED.
6D: Passed (out): HANDED. Hmmm, why did I think of a different kind of "passed out".
7D: Dating from: AS OF.
8D: Mislead deliberately: THROW OFF. from 'THROW OFF the trail'. Foxes were known to have doubled back on their trail and then jump sideways(to a log or hard ground or water)thus throwing the hounds off their trail.
9D: "Praying" insect: MANTIS. Greek for prophet/seer.
21D: At __ for words: A LOSS.
22D: Temple leader: RABBI.
25D: Faux pas: GAFFE. The fishing hook is GAFF.
29D: Bored with life: JADED.
30D: Pink-slips: FIRES. Pink-slips used as a verb here.
36D: Moonshine container: JUG.
39D: "Ah, that explains it!": NO WONDER.
40D: Rubbernecker: GAPER.
45D: "This I gotta hear!": DO TELL.
46D: Traveled like Huck Finn: RAFTED.
47D: Numbered works: OPUSES. I half expected the plural to be OPUSAE or OPUSI or something. Update: noun - a plural of opus: opera [oh-per-uh](Who knew?)
51D: Tendon: SINEW.
52D: Agonize (over): FRET.
53D: Ill-fated Boleyn: ANNE.
54D: Nitwit: DOPE.
55D: "I do," for one: OATH.
56D: __ no good: plotting: UP TO.
57D: Evidently are: SEEM.
58D: Trains above streets: ELS. In Chicago. And ERNIE (58A: Berts Muppet buddy). Poor ERNIE ELS. Maybe he will pull off a surprise at Hazeltine (PGA Championship) this week.
Answer grid.
Argyle
80 comments:
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - 3:52 today; this is basically about as fast as I can do it. No pauses, no 'huh?'s, pen never left paper. How someone can do it in under 3 minutes is simply amazing.
Anyway, a fun puzzle, and as Jerome pointed out, probably as difficult to construct as a Friday one. Speaking of Fridays, It always fascinates me when a subject (TGIF) appears almost immediately after we've discussed it (TGI Friday's).
Argyle, as always, nice job when there wasn't much to work with.
Today is National S'Mores Day, and National Lazy Day. Not a bad combo.
Today's Words of Wisdom: "The thing you are ripening toward is the fruit of your life. It will make you bright inside, no matter what you are outside. It is a shining thing." -- Writer Stewart Edward White
Quotes for today:
- Rules are for people who don't know how to get around them. -- Tori Harrison
- We're all in this alone. -- Lily Tomlin
Dennis,
3:52 is amazing too. I've never solved any puzzle under 25 minutes. Asians believe rules are to be obeyed, westerners tend to think rules are to be broken.
Argyle,
Great write-up, as usual. What's the F and F phrases you have in mind? Cute NAPE picture. Thanks for THROW OFF origin. Dictionary says the plural form of OPUS is OPUSES when it means "musical composition", and OPERA when it refers to "a literary work or composition, as a book".
Al,
Somehow I like the old Preview format.
Melissa,
Honeycrisps are best when eaten raw. They are meant for eating out-of-hand.
Sallie,
I wish everyone would just heed your (and my) repeated requests on not to feed the trolls.
Good morning Argyle, C.C. and all, the usual Monday morning walk in the park for me today. Made the fills as fast as I could write. I sort of wish I could have had a bit more of this ease for Sunday’s puzzle. I am still working on yesterday’s puzzle and it is difficult to stay away from your comments/solutions, from yesterday, until I complete the puzzle.
Today there were no G spots or outside help.
My favorite clue today was 45A “Bead of morning moisture.”
Hope you all have a great Monday.
Good morning all:
I was up early, and had a question; how do you post the first post? All I see is yesterday until someone else is there/
Anyway, not much too it, though I do not see well enough to write that fast.
I find it interesting that former tennis great IVAN LENDL has raised his daughters as golfers, not tennis players. So has PETR KORDA , who was also a Czech
I would be remiss not to mention that to most Orthodox Jews, Temple leader: RABBI is incorrect. It was the Priest who led the Temple, and it is at a synagogue where a RABBI rules. While synagogues are called Temple this or that, until they locate the Ark of the Covenant and rebuild the Temple, we pray in meeting places.
Have a wonderful week.
I lose my train of thought so quickly, sorry. My point about golfers was to remind myself that I became a blogger, rather than a lurker when a discussion of multi generational professional golfers came up in this world. There have been so many golfers, whose children pursued the same dream, yet I cannot think of a single tennis player's child who did likewise; any help?
Good Morning, All. What can I say, this one was way too easy. I got it all in just one pass. The "stumper" clue was PASSED OUT (6D), but I got the response from filling in the "acrosses". Reading the clue, however, lead me more in the "drunken stupor" direction.
On this Date:
~ 1846: The Smithsonian was finally created after having received the bequeath 10 years earlier. Also known as "America's Attic", it contains some wonderful artifacts of Americana as well as numerous other artwork and cultural items from around the world.
~ 1946: This is the birthday of Ronnie Spector of the Ronette's fame. She was also married to Phil Spector for 8 years in the 60s and 70s.
~ 2000: A bald eagle chick hatched in Washington, DC. It's parents were the first pair of eagles that had been seen nesting in the nation's capital. Concerns about pesticides had lead scientists to believe that eggs were too fragile to develop into viable chicks.
QOD: There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist. ~ Mark Twain.
Something my mother used to say to us a lot as we were growing up: If you can's say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all.
Hahtool,
I've related it on here before, but your quote is so close I can't resist. Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the doyenne of DC for many years, had the following message needlepointed on a pillow on her couch:
"If you can't say something nice about someone, come sit next to me."
Lemonade: You are so right about the Temple / Rabbi connection. It is not only the Orthodox Jews, however, who do not use the term Temple to denote their place of worship. Interestingly, there is a group in Ethiopia who believe that the Ark of the Covenant is located there. This dovetails with one of yesterday's clues about Haile Selassie. Legend has it the he was a descendant of King Solomon and Queen Sheba.
Good Morning All,
Blew through this one in 12 minutes. I couldn't write any faster and still be able to read it. I will never break the 10 minute mark.
Punishing the kids wore me out KQ and Chickie! A truck load of junk to the dump and things are pretty neat and clean at the old homestead.
Have a great day!
C.C., so far, from what I've read, I'll stick with my original definition of opus/opera. And the plural of opera is operas.
Don't ya' just love the English language!
rolling past houses, FARMS AND FIELDS.
Good morning Argyle,CC et al., This was definately a 'fast and furious' one. Love it! And good job, Argyle, as usual. Thank you for the 'EMS' explanation. That one just blew right by me. Or maybe I blew right by it in my frenzy. Loved 36D the 'jug' of moonshine (which reminded me I'm out) and 48A the oink spot (which reminded me of the medicine a pig uses on a sore spot...oinkment). It's 'no wonder' I love Mon puzzles.
Other F and/or F sayings:
Feast or famine; fact or fiction; few and far between
This pic is of the newlyweds. Her shirt says "My husband Rocks" and his says, "Big Mistake", which got a laugh, but is soooo far from the truth. They're ecstatic.
Enjoy this gorgeous day.
Enjoy this gorgeous day.
Good Morning!
Easy puzzle..finished in 6 mins. Hopefully this means that the day will go well too :)
Only clues that made me ponder:
PASSED (OUT): I too was thinking on the lines of Argyle. Have had that sensation some 2-3 times when I was younger, mainly with RUM and VODKA. Hence, I stick to only beer now.
And instead of NO WONDER for 'Ah, that explains it!', I was thinking NOW I GET IT till I realized it wont fit. Ofcourse the perps helped
Thank you Argyle...I'm curious about the other F & F phrases.
Have a great week.
C.C. added the part about theme words start with FA, and only have one syllable. I was just thinking about like what Lois had.
Enjoyed the quick puzzle on a morning with a lot to do and enjoyed C.C. and the other comments, as usual. Thanks, Dennis for reminding us about National S'Mores Day and, thanks also, for the delicious milkshake recipe earlier that would be the perfect drink on this hot summer day.
good morning c.c., argyle, and all,
stellar job as always argyle. clever title.
never thought of bored as JADED.
I DO has made an appearance in either clue or answer almost daily. yesterday koko the gorilla, today planet of the APES. ROE again today also, but clued differently than yesterday.
lois, HI-larious!
i like the new preview box, as al said yesterday, less scrolling.
I think they were trying to THROW us OFF with the PASSED OUT clue. I too finished in short order this am, my only error in writing TANGY vs. ZESTY. But that was very quickly corrected when I realized FEZ.
Cute picture Lois, glad they can make fun of themselves.
Maniac, the good news is that you got something done as recompense for their behavior.
CC, I agree wholeheartedly on not feeding the trolls. I have yet to comment on them for that very reason, and this will be my only note. However, I will say it is easier having not been one of their targets.
My son arrived back safely from Mexico late last night. He had a great time with the orphans. I think he really bonded with some of them this year. My avatar is a picture of him with a few of his favorites. He came home with a lovely figurine of the "Last Supper", having picked it out knowing that it was something I would like. So thoughtful. Miracles do happen.
Have a lovely day.
G'day all,
My only duh moment today was the EMS too, as soon as I had it, light dawned. Many others were answered before I looked at clues too. Nice and easy.
Lois,
Good F & F phrases--I was coming up blank.
I checked OPUS in my Latin dictionary, and as I suspected, it's not one of the common -us words of the 2nd declension which do plurals with -i. Instead, it's 4th declension, with the -era endings. The dictionary gives the genitive singular ending (-eris), so I'm assuming the -era would be plural, as Argyle said, because I have no grammar reference for Latin and I can't remember from 47 years ago!
There's a second listing of OPUS than is indeclinable, and that perhaps explains why in English we use our own plural form, opuses.
Tarrajo,
Did you have a chance to try those cookies yet?
I did this puzzle in sub-10 minutes, which is as fast as I can do it. I thought DOLT for DOPE but fixed that with the fills.
Thanks for all your good wishes for my dad's bar mitzvah. I printed them out for him and he was thrilled. The event was terrific. My dad did a great job in reading his torah portion and haftorah and giving his d'var torah - explaining the meaning of his torah portion (and the whole experience) to him. I was so nervous I hardly remember my torah reading. When I first started to read from the actual torah scroll all the words seemed to run together. The best part: Traditionally at a bar mitzvah you pass the torah from generation to generation, from the grandparents to the parents to the child. On Saturday we passed the torah from my nephew (the grandson) to my sister to me to my brother to my mother and finally to my dad. The congregation and the family and friends loved it. A fun and spiritually fulfilling event, indeed. And then we had a lovely luncheon - of course! Even the five great grandchildren between the ages of 10 months and 7 years behaved for the whole 2.5 hour service and the luncheon - a minor miracle.
I got the theme quickly. Of course, it's Monday. I liked 18A-10D tie in. I also wanted passed to be drinking related. No more Long Island Iced Tea. Bad Reno experience about 20 years ago:}
Elissa-glad the bar mitzvah went well. Have never been to one. I think it would be a great experience.
Sounds like everyone is keeping busy. Good.
They are working on the main road out of our subdivision. Last week they were working on the secondary road. It may be a pain in the a-- to get out of here today.
Ok, going to take my fuzzy brain and do something constructive. Maybe.
Have a great day all.
Argyle,
Thanks for the Arlo link. I was interested to compare the sound of that one from 1978, with the more recent one from the Boston Pops and others. The voice has become much more gravely over time.
Elissa,
Sounds like a very moving experience for all. Glad it went so well.
BTW, on the discussion on the use of the term "temple", I wanted to share that in France, they use "temple" for protestant churches too. The only true churches, "églises", are apparently Roman Catholic.
Kazie, thank you for your definition of opus/opera. If I keep listening to you, I'll know more about Latin than my one year in high school ever taught me.
My, my, there were a lot of options on YouTube for the City Of New Orleans. The Hank Snow version was nice.
I don't care for the new preview box; now I have to scroll to see if there are new comments made while I was typing(I type slowly, very slowly).
Good morning CC, Argyle and all,
Fastest puzzle ever for me. I'm not sure there was enough time to enjoy it.Did in one swoop, but had to go back to "with 10 down".
Lemonade, I think you may be right about tennis players. Hmmm, makes one wonder. Many have promoted tennis thru camps and clinics for kids.
Anybody else's Calif cat acting strange this morning?Parsley is crawling in and out of bookcase mewing.
KQ, that is a picture to be proud of!!
Elissa, sounds like a beautiful ceremony.
Elissa, Did the DOLT for DOPE last week. I think I only got it right this time as I had the perps filled in first.
Sounds like a wonderful event. Family is such a gift. Loved the improvisation for passing the Torah.
Good late morning CC and gang:
Mondays are my favorite puzzle days...you can do ours, NYT`s and the awful tripe they now print in our paper in a short time! I don`t know why (being such a poor speller) but "praying" mantis really bothered me. From now on, if I`m unsure of a spelling or trying to be clever , I`ll just put "quotation marks" around it too.
Cleverest clue:Mummy`s threesome. And why is a goal a soccer "rarity?"
Glad grankids had left when we found a badly injured dog on our carport yesterday PM. There was blood but no "trail". Since she could not get up...we don`t know how she got there. No tag...so we called Animal Control but I could not watch when they lifted her. He told me it looked like she had been hit and "rolled' by a car. Her cloudy, pain-filled eyes still haunt me...
Part of being an "Ugly American" abroad is the all-too-often "air' of "the rules don`t apply to us." Pity.
Elissa: Bat and Bar Mitzvahs are wonderful yet solemn family times, much like Baptisms. Glad yours was so lovely.
Picture is me, Rachel Lampa, granddaughter and Eddie Carswell of the group "New Song". We got to go back stage before the concert. FUN!
Good Morning, Thanks for the blogging explanations, Argyle.
I didn't make it through in one pass and had to go back to the perps for a few fills.
We don't own a cell phone, so I had no idea what a Treo was and I didn't know PALM was the company name for PALM Pilot. I had OPUS, but the ES just didn't look right. I'm sure we've had it before, but I didn't connect "Blunt blade" with EPEE.
Argyle, Not so easy as it sounds. How about "Form and Function", "Fun and Frolic" and "Friends and Family". With just one more "F", we can have Flip Flop and Fly.
I don't care for the new preview either. Like Argyle, I still have to scroll down to see what new comments have been made, while I was typing.
I love it that Kazie still has her Latin dictionary from 47 years ago. I think mine went to the local thrift store about 45 years ago.
Elissa, a wonderful description of a moving family experience.
Lois, great photo AND t-shirts. The family that laughs together, stays together!
CA,
I have quite a collection--you never know when they'll come in useful! When I bought a new German one a few years ago at a foreign language conference, the salesman looked at me askance when I told him my old one was from 1963. So now I have both of those, a Spanish one and a Danish one that really belong to DH, three French ones--one is a pocket version I got as a free sample when I was assistante anglaise in Montpellier. They all serve a purpose for a dedicated linguist.
Linda,
I agree about the ugly American, but it also applies to other nationalities as well, like Aussies and Germans.
I think the "praying" mantis is so named because of its stance, it looks as if it's praying.
Good morning Argyle and everyone!
I'm with C.C. on the preview window. It helps to see what has been posted while you were composing in the old way. Now, it's more difficult to check that out.
@argyle, 57D is SEEM. Easy typo to make -- I do it ALL the time!
@C.C. No troll food around here, but it is difficult at times!
@lois I'll enjoy this gorgeous day. You do the same, sweetie!
@linda Made the lazy man's peach pie -- yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
@elissa Such a great event and you were able to put a personal twist to it. That will make it even more memorable. Mazel Tov! once more.
@jd Hope that behavior is not a precursor of anything. Probably just strange cat behavior!
Have a great Monday, all!
Easy, breezy puzzle today which I finished in record time with absolutely no red letter help or g-spotting. Only got a little perp help in Klee and opuses. My favorite clues were “mummy’s threesome” – ems and “oink spot”- sty. Anyone know how the firing practice using “pink slips” came about?
Lois, when I click on your avatar to get a bigger picture, it goes to your profile but the picture there is the one of you and Windhover. Strange.
Kazie, I made a batch of those cookies just last night and Brady loved them. Thanks for the recipe.
It’s a picture perfect beautiful MN summer day. I wish I wasn’t stuck inside :(
Kazie: Still learning so I guess I`m not dead. I always thought it was "preying" mantis...
jd, yes! cruiser woke me up early this morning by pushing on my arm with his paw ... puuuuuuusssssshhhh, until i opened my eyes and looked at him. then he curled up on my chest. he never does that, usually he just meows until i get up and let him out.
Reading your discussion on crossword blogs, wanted to comment. Came upon this blog like so many others, googling for help in solving my daily puzzle. This is the first time I have commented on a blog; am not familiar with any others. (Thank you, Chickie, for your welcome). Must admit I am just shy of 'computer illiterate'. Reading this blog has been like peeking into the windows of the warm and happy home of a loving and fascinating family. I've often felt like a 'peeping tom', afraid to knock on the door. The impetus for my first comment was my curiosity of Dennis' hobby shop. C.C. - you do an amazing job. You are obviously very bright, well-organized, and generous with your time. The links you provide are informative and entertaining. Thank you so much for providing an outlet for those who have a passion for puzzles, as well as an interest in those who share that passion.
GAH and I have only Charlie the Schipperke. He is semi-comatose in the middle of the family room floor right now...that's normal for him. He has not given any clue to a "natural event". But then, he ignores the rabbits nibbling our lawn and birds nesting in the shrubs. What kind of a dog doesn't chase rabbits and birds? (Maybe a smart one, who knows he can't catch them.)
FYI non-Californians....it is a pretty well known phenomenon that animals can behave strangely before an earthquake. It isn't a sure-fire prediction method, but we do pay attention when they act a little weird. We have earthquakes all the time and the vast majority are little shakes that humans don't feel at all. If there is something going on underfoot for the cats, it is probably just one of those minor things we'll never feel.
Patricia, please keep posting. It is always nice to get new points of view on puzzles and all else.
Hello All--Breezed through the puzzle today. No help needed which always boosts my ego. My favorite was Handed for Passed (out). It was misleading but gave me an aha moment when I finally got it. Thank you Argyle for your "take" on the puzzle today. Good job, as usual.
Maniac, So glad you got something positive out of your hard work.
Elissa, Thank you for the lovely description of your Father's bar mitzvah. Such a joyous time.
You can purchase praying mantis' egg cases usually from a nursery. I had one every year in my classroom for our insect unit. When all of the baby mantises hatch there are so many that the children are amazed that all of those can come out of one egg case. After a few days I released the babies into my garden. A good organic way to rid your garden of pests.
Morning all...I'd best get this posted...By request, my avatar today is WH and gang haying on his farm...he has something to comment on so please refer back to this photo...being very secretive. The 3 hour time difference means he has been sitting on his hands for bit.
Easy-peasy puzzle...started at the top and kept on going. But it is Monday after all. After struggling with Sat and Sun I was beginning to feel quite stoopid! :o( was thinking about cutting back on the evening glass(or 2 ) of wine...killing off brain cells must be outweighing the anti-oxident benefit...
Argyle...superb job as always and much appreciated...
Elissa...was waiting to hear about your Father's Bar Mitzvah in person today...its sounds wonderful.
JD, now that you mention it the kittens have been digging into everything this morning...I would not be surprised if we had some kind of small earthquake today.
Meeting up with JD, Chickie and Elissa today...I know will have a lively Xword discussion...LOL
Posting, so WH can take over...
Bay Area people...so far today only a 1.8 earthquake here where I live at 2:36 am...not enough to feel if I had been awake, but maybe more is on tap for the day. For anyone who is interested if you Google USGS there is a great earthquake site with US and World that is on constant update. I have it bookmarked...you can even comment on the ones you feel as they are constantly gathering data.
Oh... and thank you to all who have been voting on the painting.
Dennis...loved the WoW today...and S'mores could be a possibility if I pick up some marshmallows(if they are in season)
Melissa...love the aquarium photos...they are lovely and restful.
Patricia, good to see you back.
Lois, loved the avatar today...a good sense of humor helps to keep a marriage alive. Be 35 years this year!
C.C....have never had Honey Crisp apples...a favorite here is Pink Lady...smallish, sweet, and with a lovely pink blush in the center...Yum(Dennis...leave it alone ;o) )
Lemonade...so good to see you back, have missed all the great info you share with us.
Going to be gone the rest of the day, too hot in the sunroom to paint anyway...paint dries on the brush before I can get it to the canvas...Bleh :o(
Good day to you all.
Hi everyone,
Never thought I would be able to blog today because of a major storm that went through our area yesterday afternoon. We were without electric until a short while ago. Dennis we need you and a few more Marines to help clean up!! Mother Nature is amazing-our property had some medium branches down and lots of little ones. But ¼ mile from us on the same road, the damage was extensive. One hundred year old walnut trees uprooted, many other large trees with about 1/3 of the tops shirred off, power lines and telephone lines all over the place. Couldn’t believe the destruction in such a short time. We have friends coming to stay with us since they are without electric which means no AC on the hottest day of our summer. We helped some “older” neighbors clear their driveways, and picked up lots and lots of branches. We will all have a good supply of firewood this winter. Still can’t get through the one end of our road until power lines are taken care of.
Had to do the crossword online because we still don’t have our paper. This had to be one of the easiest puzzles I have ever completed. Well, I’m cooled off and ready to go back out and help with the small branches--no power tools for me. Take care all and hope you have a calm day.
Stupid joke:
Flatlander: You old geezer, you are so stupid!
Elwin(old Vermonter): Ya' think I'm stupid...you shoul see my sister, Mabel. She's so stupid, she's nearly bent over double.
First of all, thanks to WolfMom for the assist.
I haven't in fact been sitting on my hands (or any thing else) today. I've been unloading the 12 tons of hay we baled and loaded yesterday.
This post is inspired by the "it's cut and dried" (hay) clue and fill the other day and Embien's subsequent remark that haymaking has been mostly automated these days.
As you can see in the picture, which I took from the tractor seat with the crappy camera in the iPhone, it is very much still a manual labor job. That's the Irish driving the tractor pulling the hay wagon, along with the traditional "two men and a boy".
I think it may have been Mark Twain who said he wanted to die in Kentucky because "everything happens twenty years late there".
This morning during unloading (the work crew is long gone), the Irish and I have been using a machine we refer to as the Armstrong Hay Unloader. It has four arms, four legs, three brains (one rather small and only used to think about one subject), and is normally fuelled by Irish Ale. When the day's work is done, it can be reconfigured into the TMPP, or Tricycle Motor Production Platform. Of course that requires liberal amounts of Guinness and G & T to be successful. This machine is popularly known , at least here locally, as the Beast with two Backs
So, Embien, we're sorry your experiences in haymaking weren't as positive as ours. It's our favorite job on the farm. It is dirty and dusty but we have a spring fed pond right beside the hay barn. Doesn't that make you want to do it again? Load hay, that is.
Lois: can't believe you're not all over 44A.
Random thoughts while haying:
Tarts are one of my favorite snacks. Didn't know they came in Blonde, though. Have to check that out.
Final note to Embien:
no offense, but it ain't cool to dwell too heavily or often on other xword blogs. I personally have never looked at one, and have no desire to do so. I'm sure others do but don't mention it. An Excellent personal policy.
Long post, so barring any compelling reason I'm done for today.
Good afternoon everyone.
Windhover, that is one of my favorite lines. (Except here, of course.) I've always gotten a chuckle out of it.
Argyle, a great job. Thank you. Even tho I didn't have to come here for answers, it is fine to see your comments on the xword.
Cheers.
PS: I just tried the new preview, and don't see the advantage. Maybe because I use a Mac, but I can't see what anyone has posted since I started. The preview is stuck in the middle of right here.
PPS: The line I was referring to, Windhover, was the quote from Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Not anything about your post-haying activities.
Once upon a time, long ago and a land not too far away, I found myself living with a young lady, an apricot miniature poodle and a lilac siamese. The dog and cat hated each other. About 3:00 am, one summer, both the cat and dog jumped up on the bed and crowded in the space between me and she. This woke me up, as they had NEVER both been on the bed at the same time. Ten minutes later, I heard the distant roar of an approaching train, followed by the most incredible thunder and lightening and then flying trees. The tornado did not last long but it passed down our street, and did serious damage throughout Gainesville. I learned that night tornados really do sound like trains, and animals can feel storms long before we can. Batten down the hatches, and be careful.
Elissa מַ×–ָל טוֹב.
no earthquake..our poor old cat got locked out last night.That was a 1st. Problems stems from too many 4AM visits by a raccoon who visits our kitchen to eat Parsley's dry food.So we are locking him in; oops!
Patricia, welcome. As you must know, we enjoy everyone's input.
Argyle, I think I forget to tell you on Mondays how much I appreciate your work.That means I probably don't thank CC as much as I should either. Merci beaucoup
WM, speaking about forgetting- thanks for the reminder to VOTE.
Melissa Bee, can you make it????We're hoping to see you too.
Chickie, what a great thing to do in your classroom. I did the Monarch Butterfly thing and had to gather milkweed for a few weeks.BTW, did you know that praying mantises can capture and eat a humming bird? I was not too happy when I saw one a few weeks back sitting in my rose tree under the hb feeder.
My bad...Moon...I meant to offer you huge congratulations on your new job. I think from your overall attitude that you will be very well suited to your new job...what you don't know now you will learn quickly...You should be walking around with a big smile on your face!
#3
sallie and others, about the new preview box .. i guess really all it does is alter when/where you have to scroll. the old way you had to scroll back up to edit and hit publish, the new way you have to scroll down to see any new comments. the new way is more convenient for short comments, not so much for longer ones when more posts may have been added.
If a puzzle's theme is the main entree then I'm going to rave about the dessert- ODD JOBS, THROW OFF, JIVE, ZESTY, GAFFE, DEW DROP, and NO WONDER.
There's a lot of F and F phrases. My favorites are Fiddle Faddle and Philadelphia Phillies. Ah, another American breaks the rules!
Reliving history:
1833- Chicago was incorporated as a village of about 200.
1932- an 11 lb meteorite broke into 7 pieces and landed in Archie, Missouri...scary
1948- Candid Camera with Allen Funt made its debut.
and, how many of you remember in 1984, Mary Decker tripping on Zola Budd's heel at the Olympics?
2006- all toiletries were banned from commercial airlines....next came the shoes
Thought for the day :
" Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall. "
Hi gang -
Enjoyed this fast, easy one today. No troubles at all but that is Monday for you!
I read the comments from yesterday - seems there were several of you that went 'round and 'round that vinegar jug again.
Elissa, what a nice ceremony for your family and especially your Dad. Truly good family memories for the younger ones too.
Tarrajo, thanks for mentioning the picture on Lois's post...same thing happened when I clicked on it. I thought it was just me. I can make computers do things no one else can!!
Too bad my talent doesn't extend to other things :)
Windhover, loved that quote by Longworth, she must have been a hoot!!
Hope you Californians don't have an earthquake..I don't like the sound of your cats (and somewhat dis-interested dog) acting unusual. That usually is not a good sign.
5:53 today. Anytime I'm sub-six minutes it means it's an easy puzzle. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, though, from start to finish. "Easy" doesn't always equate to "boring."
@WH: My memories of haying aren't as romantic as yours appear to be. What I remember is a four-man crew: a truck driver (in compound low which meant occasional overheating), a stacker (who stood on top of the truck flatbed and stacked the bales four levels high), and two tossers who walked the field and threw the bales up onto the truck. When the bales on the flatbed grew to the last level, that meant you were throwing a bale about four feet over your head.
All this was in 90º heat. And you had to wear a long-sleeve shirt or your arms would end up with a horrible rash from rubbing against the hay all day. Oh yeah, and it was very dusty, with chaff blowing down your neck.
We usually only hayed a 40-acre field, but in Oregon's climate we got two or three cuttings in a summer. Kept the cows happy all winter long (though in Oregon they could graze for much of the winter).
The other positive aspect of this was that the wages earned over four years paid for the first two years of my college.
I'm sorry to burden the blog but being a rail buff I just can't help sharing a great version to go along with Arlo's City of New Orleans. I think any rail fan will like this one: City of New Orleans.
Musicians who can set words to music have a special talent, but are not necessarily poets.
Today's BONO(49A) recently had this poem read on the BBC. It was pretty well panned. I won't post the whole thing because it is long. I tend to think BONO should stick to writing lyrics for wildly successful U2 songs.
ELVIS : AMERICAN DAVID
elvis son of tupelo.
elvis mama's boy.
elvis the twin brother of Jesse who died at birth and was buried in a shoe box.
elvis drove a truck.
elvis was recorded at sun studios by the musical diviner sam phillips.
elvis was managed by colonel tom parker, an ex-carnie barker whose last act was a singing canary.
elvis was the most famous singer in the world since king david.
elvis lived on his own street.
elvis liked to play speed cop.
elvis had a monkey named scatter before anyone.
elvis wore a cape at the white house when he was presenting nixon with two silver pistols.
elvis was a member of the drug squad.
elvis wore eye make up, just hangin' out.
elvis wore a gold nudie suit and trained his lip to curl.
elvis was macho, but could sing like a girl.
If you want to read the rest, here's the link.
Speaking of Irish BONO and other things Irish, I received an email from Irish Jim with this link The Wild Rover. I mentioned this song was sung-along yesterday after a Guinness or two. Luke Kelly's version is so much better! Thanks, Jim.
Embien:
OK, you got me. It was 92 here yesterday and pretty miserable. But the pond was nice afterward. I really do like haying, but you're right, it feels better when it's done. We hay about 50 acres total, but when we get our normal rainfall, which is 46 inches/yr. , it basically doesn't end from May-October. In the category of "misery loves company", come on down whenever you feel like reminiscing about those days.
And I for one like the rail links, and anything by Steve Goodman. Pop Quiz, Embien or anyone. What's the best SG song ever? I once requested it that way in a bar and got the song I wanted to hear.
Afternoon CC and all
Clear sailing today so must have been a real easy one.
One minor quibble as Linda said goals are not a rarity in soccer.
On the rules and laws. It may be me but it seems people today are more likely to ignore the common decency, courtesy and good manners that used to exist. I find this ture on the orads and especially with cell phone usage in public places.
Jimmy S Carolina.
Embien,
Completely agree with City of New Oleans. Picked it up from the other day also.
Ca Thank you. Dont think Bono will threaten to enter the Irish Poets hall of fame.
Jimmy S Carolina.
IRISH JIM said...
One minor quibble as Linda said goals are not a rarity in soccer.
Could ye clarify your statement; I'm not sure you are saying goals are rare or not rare?
Argyle.
In my opinion goals are not rare in soccer.
BTW Usual great job blogging today.
Question then: what is a lower scoring game?
Oooh oooh, I know, I know!! But you'll have to email me for the answer, otherwise C.C.'ll bounce my ass from the blog.
Aw Dennis please dont tease us like that.
Argyle
To answer the SOCCER question 1-0 or 1-1 would be considered low scoring as opposed to no scoring 0-0. Incidentally that does not necessarily translate to a boring game to me.
Jimmy S Carolina.
Though soccer goals may not occur as often as scoring in other games, it's far more exciting than many games with higher scores. Since goals are the ONLY way to score in soccer, it's more difficult if teams are evenly matched, and the goalies good, but the game can still be very fast-paced and fun to watch.
WM,
I also wondered what happened to the other photo earlier.
Hopefully the earthquake omen was one of those little ones.
Welcome Patricia!
Please stay--you're among friends.
I'll rephrase the question: What other game has such low scores? (Easy, Dennis)
I don't think it's a boring game either, but the rarity of a goal is why there is so much hysteria when one is scored.
Can you imagine an announcer screaming SCORE after every basket at a basketball game?
Moon: Congratulations on your new job. I am so happy for you, both with your job and the fact that your husband will be returning soon.
Elissa: Your father's bar mitzvah sounds truly wonderful and truly a family event. What a joy.
It is miserably HOT here today. The temps were only in the low 90s, but the humidity was unbearable. Just walking a few feet outside feels like you are just melting away.
The public schools began here last Friday, which seems like an odd day to start. Whatever happened to school years that began after Labor Day.
Argyle: The quote I used this morning was my, apparently too subtle, way of reminding people not to respond to obnoxious comments by others.
The one cricket game I attended was a very low scoring game and it was very boring and very long. Never been to a soccer game. Hockey games are often low scoring, but they are anything but boring.
Have a good evening, all.
Argyle:
what about Marv Albert? Yeessss!
After every basket, IIRC.
And Dennis:
no hiding behind the apron. Give it up. We're waiting, and I only have one left.
Welcome, Patricia and Blueberry - I think you'll find this a most entertaining and stimulating blog; C.C. has done a simply masterful job of creating this wonderful environment.
Lemonade, I'm not sure exactly what you're asking about the first post, but if you'd like to post first, I'll gladly hold off 'til I see yours. The only reason I'm usually first is that I get up early to work out or do paperwork, but it's certainly no big deal if you want it.
Windhover, mail. And your comments were dead-on, as usual.
Jeanne, I was wondering if you guys got hit with that storm; it was very nasty looking on radar. I'm glad you all came through it relatively unscathed.
Hey,
Just dropping by for a bit.
JD-I wouldn't know if my cats are acting strange or not. They're always strange!
About 1993 there was a sizable earthquake in Klamath Falls. Felt over the mountains in Medford. About that time I got up to get a drink. Our doberman went to the front door and stood there. Since he had a habit of knowing when someone was about to knock, I opened the door. Nobody there. Was only after I sat down and my hubby asked if I felt the shake. Same evening the big aftershock came through. Was lying in bed watching the 11PM news. Saw the anchors give each other a funny look. Then I heard the 'train' coming.
Moon-hope your new job is going great.
Jeanne-Good luck getting the mess cleaned up. Glad you are safe.
Going to check out that USGS site.
@Elissa--It sounds like you and your family enjoyed a wonderful, memorable celebration. What an awesome testimony to the younger generations in your family!
@WM--Thank you for the link to USGS. I have bookmarked it for future reference.
Today is the 150th anniversary of Big Ben in London, and with all the talk about hay today, I had to share a news item from TV this afternoon showing a Big Ben replica made of hay! It's in the countryside in Cheshire, England. The clock face actually functions. To see it google: Big Ben replica of hay. It's on Daily Mail link. Wish I knew how to imbed links....sigh.....
.. why is a goal a soccer "rarity?"
I was asking a question...didn`t mean to open a can of worms.
Moon: What a lovely name. Congrats on all the good fortune (actually blessings) coming your way.
Dennis@3:57. Shades of Horshack!
Patricia,
Blueberry: Welcome to the best (and least snobbish) puzzle blog on line...with the most intelligent blog-master of them all, Chow Chin, alias, CC. We have people from many countries, walks of life, religious and political viewpoints, age levels, and to quote some one I heard speak, "We have blue collar, white collar, no collar and ring-around-the-collar." A love for xws is the cohesive.
Late for me today; I’ve been having connection problems. The tech told me to try a new phone line before I replace the modem. So far that’s working. I’m trying to do everything I need to do quickly.
I particularly liked the clue for Sty (oink spot) Lois, LOL (oinkment).
KQ, that’s great picture. Did you say he was on a mission?
Elissa, what a beautiful ceremony. I loved reading about it.
Linda, great picture. Sounds like you had fun.
And welcome o Patricia and Blueberry.
It’s so nice to read about our families; I feel that my life is enriched by knowing you all.
Dennis - look out for some heavy incoming e-mail as to 'how low can you go' :)
Patricia and Blueberry - welcome, welcome...we are a little crazy around here at times but as Lois always says, 'it's all good' (except for the T word)
WM, Honeycrisp apples were cross-pollinated at the University of Minnesota and are primarily grown in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, hence you may not have heard of them. They are my favorite apples and only available in the fall around here. They even have their own Honey Crisp Apple web site and they are patented if you can believe that. That is some apple.
I think it is interesting how many bloggers said they do not like the new preview box as they cannot see the new posts while they are typing theirs. I have never looked at other posts while I am typing so I guess I have been left in the dust on that one.
Ah, see, immediately caught on that one! BarbB was responding to me as I was previewing my entry, and I missed responding back because I don't look at new posts while I type. How fortuitous.
BarbB, in response, yes he was on a mission trip. 20 teens from his church go to an orphanage in central Mexico to do a bible school. It is his second year, but was so much better this year as he didn't lose his passport in Mexico this time. Less stress, and he knew many of the kids. Wonderful experience and memories for him.
Hi C.C. & gang, my wife left work late tonight and I was looking for something to do. Very easy puzzle for Monday.
For @tarrajo on
pink slip origin
"So just where did the legend of pink slips come from in America? The most famous legend is that it came from the Ford Motor Company and the brainchild of Henry Ford who was into evaluating his employees via a color scheme on a piece of paper. Perhaps that was brilliant--but no word why he picked pink to be the color of the slip that showed disapproval for your work of the day."
first and foremost
fluff and fold
flora and fauna
KQ...thanks for the link. I am always interested in new things. Thought maybe I had missed something out here.
New Avatar...xword lady meeting this afternoon and a good time was had by all...Elissa brought some of her new scarf designs and they are fabulous...came home with one for myself!
No earthquake yet of mention, but JD did have a teensy 1.6 over by her this morning around 10:30 so her kitty may have been reacting to that.
The sky here is looking like it did during last summer's fires...so high pressure and hot icky weather for a few more days.
#4
Hey, everyone. Fun puzzle with solid fill and theme. A round of applause to Ms./Mr. Truitt for a nice start to the week. Tried solving the downs first, so the theme didn't register till halfway through. Two-word clues just are tough for me to parse. I got 19A from the downs but "now in" looked wrong. Duh! (45D) "Do Tell" and (39D) "No Wonder" were clever, as was (28A) "Odd Jobs." Those aren't the kinds of clues/answers you can't just phone in, I bet.
CA, I adore the poems you choose for us but Mr. Bono should stick to music, lyrics, and charity work, which he is so good at. I do wonder now if (a) he really is Irish and (b) if he actually has read any poetry! Remember when he gave the prior Pope, "JP II"' his trademark tinted sunglasses?
Only "F and F" printable expression I can think of isn't in common use. It's the unofficial name of the very first psychotherapy group I ran, which I inherited from a mentor: 12 women participating in an experimental program to treat morbid obesity. The name, which they came up with, was emblazoned on a teeshirt they gave me when our year was up. Although I'm 6'1" and maybe 170 lbs, I am still officially Fat and Fabulous.
More later, time permitting.
wm, love the pic! hate that i couldn't join you all, but hopefully another time.
Did anyone say "food, folks and fun?" or "Frick and Frack" or "feast or famine"?
Just finished "Message in a Bottle." Booooo! I like my fairy tales with a happy ending.
Past the old girl`s bedtime...Night all.
WM, Elissa, JD & Chickie, Great photo. I'm jealous. One of these days (when it is a bit cooler), I'll say the heck with it and make the five hour round trip for a ladies lunch. It looks like you all had a fantastic time!
We're back to 100+ weather here. At least we aren't in earthquake territory. That is farther down the valley and closer to the coast.
Linda I had to laugh at Frick and Frack. Not too many people remember the Ice Follies skating stars of the 1940 and 50's. Skating fan that I am, that one was a gimme.
PJB, I hope Yeats, Joyce and Wilde aren't turning over in their graves, at the idea that it might be Bono who will be remembered as the voice of Irish poetry in 100 years.
I just came from the big "parade" in town and a subsequent house party that is in the "line of fire." I must learn to take the subsequent day off. Sadly, I have not. I am not in the position to do that right now. However, I am prepared to pick up where Dennis left off, being subservient and a disciple to boot.
Dennis, you dropped the ball by the way on the fries...we go through about 3000 cases a week. I covered you; as a good disciple does.
Maybe you couldn't see over your "bling".
Please forgive me, my Holiness. I meant SUBSERVIENT...I promise that faux pax won't happen again. Hey, just enjoyed a small town USA experience in the lamest parade I have ever seen. Thankfully my Hostess with the mostest had all the bases covered. Fresh corn on the cob, a keg of beer, venison brats, homemade kraut, potato salad, cucumber salad w/sour cream. It just doesn't get any better than this folks.
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