google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Monday, November 30, 2009 Pancho Harrison

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Nov 30, 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009 Pancho Harrison

Theme: "Going Down the Road" - Just three of the Fifty Ways to Leave you Lover.

20A: Shed some pounds: TAKE OFF WEIGHT.

38A: Divide earnings equally: SPLIT THE PROFITS.

57A: Talk to the answering machine: LEAVE A MESSAGE.

Argyle said: Nice little Monday starter. I have no problem with the first answer being two words and the others just one, but then, I'm not a purist other than wanting the words to show up in a dictionary somewhere.

Across:

1A: Vikings quarterback Brett: FAVRE. He had a great game this weekend but some credit must go to the 25A: Some NFL blockers: RTS. and the rest of the line. Can't call him a 55D: Golden __: senior citizens: AGER. quite yet

6A: Recipe amt.: TBSP.

10A: 1960s-'70s NBA center Thurmond: NATE. One of the greatest rebounders and shot blockers in basketball history, Nate owns a well-known restaurant, Big Nate's Barbeque in San Francisco.

14A: Former Apple laptop: I-BOOK.

15A: Eurasian boundary river: URAL. Or mountain range, as we just had.

16A: Expel: OUST.

17A: Marsh grass: SEDGE. Remember SEDGY?

18A: Italia's capital: ROMA. In the Italian language.

19A: "I'll be there in __": A SEC.

23A: City square memorial: STATUE.

28A: Begins: STARTS. and 22D: Beginning, informally: GET-GO.

31A: Woodsy route: TRAIL. where you don't want to meet 33A: Bear: Sp.: OSO.

36A: Logger's tool: SAW. Like my Stihl MS 361

37A: Either of two Modesto-based vintner brothers: GALLO. Ernest & Julio Gallo, here in their younger days.

43A: Fella: KIDDO.

44A: Charlotte of "The Facts of Life": RAE. She is still working! The 82-year-old recently played one of the big screen's most, ahem, mature "cougars" when she had a romp with Adam Sandler's titular hairdresser in 'You Don't Mess With the Zohan.'

46A: Ancient Indo-European: ARYAN.

47A: "Blue" evergreen: SPRUCE.

51A: Topeka is its cap.: KAN.

53A: Mariner: SEAMAN.

63A: Move, to a Realtor: RELO.

64A: Scatter, as seed: STREW.

66A: Former Lacoste partner: IZOD. Former partners, huh. Who gets custody of the croc?

68A: Ashram advisor: GURU.

69A: Caustic fluids: LYES.

70A: __-craftsy: ARTSY.

Down:

1D: Dukes in boxing gloves: FISTS. "Com'on, put up your dukes"

2D: Pound __: cover one's route, cop-style: A BEAT.

3D: Screwdriver liquor: VODKA. Which can lead to 26D: Leans to one side: TILTS. and 27D: Wade through the shallows: SLOSH. Not the wading part, the slosh part.

4D: Classic thesaurus: ROGET'S.

5D: Barely make, as a living: EKE OUT.

6D: Gang land: TURF.

9D: Checkered pattern: PLAID.

10D: Biblical helmsman: NOAH.

11D: Koala's home: AUSTRALIA. The koala was featured in "I hate Qantas!" commercials

12D: Prufrock creator's monogram: TSE. T.S. Eliot, wrote the poem, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock".

21D: Famine's opposite: FEAST.

30D: Insignificant one: TWERP.

33D: Schindler of "Schindler's List": OSKAR.

34D: Former veep Agnew: SPIRO.

35D: Classic boy-and-dog Disney film: OLD YELLER. I won't say much about it, in case C.C. hasn't seen it.

39D: Actress Lupino: IDA.

47D: Dwarf who needs tissues: SNEEZY.

48D: Big name in small planes: CESSNA.

49D: Day to put all your eggs in one basket: EASTER.

52D: Pop singer Lavigne: AVRIL.

54D: French Revolution journalist: MARAT. Jean-Paul Marat (1743 – 1793) was a Swiss-born physician, political theorist and scientist better known as a radical journalist and politician from the French Revolution. He was murdered in his bathtub.

56D: Full of the latest happenings: NEWSY.

60D: Stylish '60s Brits: MODS. The Mods were in conflict with the Rockers. In a nut shell, the Mods(modernists) wore chic clothes and rode motor scooters, while the Rockers were in denim and leather and rode motorcycles.

62D: "The Simpsons" Squishee seller: APU.

Answer grid.

Argyle

63 comments:

  1. Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - pretty typical Monday puzzle, very little hesitation, very simple theme. Argyle, I'm with you - not being a nitpicker, so I had no problem with the first theme answer being two words and the others, one.

    Not a lot to comment on; lots of familiar words, a couple gifts for Lois and the DisFunctionals (great name for a girl band, no?), and a twerp right in the middle of it all.

    Today is Stay At Home Because You Are Well Day.

    Today's Words of Wisdom: "A little inaccuracy sometimes saves a ton of explanation." -- H. H. Munro

    And a couple more from the Washington Post contest:

    - Coffee: The person upon whom one coughs.

    - Circumvent: An opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

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  2. Good morning Argyle, C.C. and all, a rather easy puzzle today. The only slow point was the crossing of 33D and 46A. I knew Schindler’s name, but was not sure of the spelling and I also did not know 46A “aryah”. In the end I guessed at the “A” and was rewarded.

    Not much else to say about this puzzle as it was easy and mostly very quick fills.

    It is rainy and miserable here today so the deer hunting will be spotty at best.

    Hope you all have a great Monday.


    BTW Argyle, did you notice that the boxes in your pic of the Gallo brothers are backwards?

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  3. "Oh Cisco, Oh Pancho." Well, it is Monday and I hope you all had a great holiday, and are ready for the month of December. Argyle, thank you.

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  4. Morning CC, Argyle and Friends. Well, this wasn't the easiest Monday puzzle for me. I got a bit hung up in the center part for a while, I took a little longer to complete today's puzzle.

    Good puzzle, though. SEDGE was a new word to me. No, I don't remember Sedgy.

    Favorite clue: Biblical helmsman: NOAH.

    Ease back into the workweek.

    QOD: There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. ~ Bertrand Russell

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  5. Argyle,
    But it would be perfect if there's another theme answer starting with 2-word meaning "depart" to match with TAKE OFF. Thought of Jeannie when I filled in FAVRE and then TBSP consecutively. Just saw "Old Yeller" the other day, no tears from me at all. Thanks for the write-up.

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  6. Oh, my favorite clue is EASTER ("Day to put all your eggs in one basket"). I also like the clues for TONKA "Big name in little trucks" (TONKA) and CESSNA "Big name in small planes".

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  7. Old Yeller is a little slice of "Life isn't always a bowl of cherries".
    A good lesson that kids don't get from the modern movies.

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  8. Does anyone here watch Jeopardy? Last Monday, Oscar Schindler was an answer. He is buried in Jerusalem.

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  9. Yes Hahtool I saw JEOPARDY! That is how I learned that his first name was Oskar. My dad said you could never learn anything by watching TV. This is proof he was wrong. The older I get the more I find out that he was wrong about a lot of things.

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  10. play possum: feign sleep or death.

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  11. Good morning, C.C., Argyle and friends,

    A pretty straightforward puzzle today. My only hangup was the crossing of Aper and Apu. Somehow, aper does not seem to gibe with impressionist; I was thinking of painting style, I guess.

    For months I have been intending to Google the cast of characters in the "Simpsons" and keep it by my PC. I never watch that show because I think it is stupid, also because I can't hear the dialogue very well. However, character clues from it appear frequently in puzzles, and I need help.

    Yesterday was the first time a Vikings game has been carried in my area. Favre more than made up for advance billing. The whole team is great and should win the NFC conference title.

    Good job on the blog, Argyle.

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  12. Good job, Argyle.

    As aforesaid, easy puzzle today. I wanted GUM TREES for AUSTRALIA, but one letter too many. And I had sailor before perps told me to change to SEAMAN, otherwise no hangups.

    I also thought of Jeannie with TBSP.

    I empathize with TFrank on the Simpsons. I used to think it was stupid too, but what it's doing is showing how stupid our society is by using characters who are just exaggerations of typical people. However, I don't watch it either, because I am impatient with animated anythings. But our younger son was always a fan and if we watched it with him we always ended up laughing out loud.

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  13. Had the same problem as tfrank.

    Thought impressionist was some kind of painter. Otherwise thought it was a pretty easy puzzle.

    Looks like a November without snow. I'll take it.

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  14. good morning c.c., argyle and all,

    great job as always argyle, the usual quick monday puzzle, nice chill after the weekend challenges. only unknown was MARAT, easily gotten with perps.

    re OLD YELLER, the dog always dies. go to the library and pick out a book with an award sticker and a dog on the cover. trust me, that dog is going down.

    taking barb b to airport this morning, a sad chore but an absolutely delightful holiday.

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  15. This was an easy one for me today. Only unknown was Nate Thurmond as I don’t follow basketball at all. Being a HUGE Vikings fan, it was fun to see Favre in the puzzle. Being a huge Vikings fan, I wasn’t so keen on Favre coming across the border, but have changed my tune quickly. Dare I say it….WE COULD GO ALL THE WAY….

    Tonka trucks were made in Mound, MN which is situated on Lake Minnetonka hence the name.

    If you haven’t seen Marley and Me do so. I bawled like a baby, but I am a sap when it comes to those kind of movies.

    Melissabee, sorry to hear Barb b is leaving you today. I am glad your holiday was great.

    Dennis, LMAO on circumvent.

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  16. Good Morning All, The difficulty level for a Monday was right on, as far as I was concerned. I loved the theme. When I first figured it out I thought of "I'm Outta Here"

    Lots of proper names, but I liked them all. Thank goodness constructor Pancho Harrison gave us FAVRE, a football player everyone is familiar with. No ERRON Kinney today. I even knew NATE Thurmond. SPIRO, AVRIL, SNEEZY, MARAT and APU bounced all over the pop/culture knowledge map, but I enjoy that kind of variety.

    There is a famous painting by Jacques-Louis David that depicts the Death of Marat.

    I'm a Jeopardy junkie and watch it often. It's a treat to, once in a while, get the answers/questions before the contestants. I also like The Simpsons, although I haven't seen it for quite a while. The social satire is great and I've never seen an episode that didn't make me LOL at least once.

    I furrowed my BROW when I saw the cross of OSKAR Schindler and ARYAN. I wonder if that was a purposeful juxtaposition.

    Modesto is a frequent shopping destination for us and we have often been to concerts and shows at the GALLO Center for the Arts.
    GALLO was a gimme for me, but I can understand why puzzlers from other parts of the country might have a problem with this one.

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  17. The clue about the capitol of "Roma" was in NYT or Universal puzzle today (CRT)...shared clues are happening often.

    Schindler reminded me of "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." Excellent character study of the German military mindset vs much of the German populace.
    It would be well worth your time to watch it.

    A Rose by any other name.

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  18. Jeannie: Could you please post (or e-mail) your mac and cheese recipe that was mentioned a few days back? I must have missed it the first time around. Thanks in advance.

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  19. Hi Argyle, C.C. and all -

    Fun puzzle and very fast too. I slipped up in the NW corner by putting SPAR in for 1D because I didn't remember FAVRE (I don't follow football). I also stalled out on 14A but all soon became clear.

    Had to laugh at 53A (SEAMAN) - I put sailor in at first...but when you have one you have the other and this is why the population of our fair city increases 9 months after the Navy visits each June for Rose Festival. Maybe someone should have told the 'girls' about 'The Facts of Life' and about 'scatter, as seed'. I am sure there was some 'Gallo' involved too.

    I am another one that has never seen The Simpsons. I have heard it is funny. Guess I should tune in on an episode - should be a rerun on somewhere.

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  20. Good morning Argyle, CC and all,

    A very quick puzzle today.Loved TWERP!Guru was a WAG for me. Didn't know Marat,Prufrock creator, or Avril, but the perps filled them. Like tFrank, the aper/apu left me with a blank P.I should also make a list of the Simpsom characters as I haven't watched it, but I do watch Jeopardy.


    Melissa,didn't Lassie come home??How nice that you were able to spend time with mom.

    Dennis, love stay at home day. My daughter had to go back to work today, so I get to take care of Grady(4 mo) until he starts with Truman's sitter in Jan. And, at long last I am very healthy. Cold is gone. A recent biopsy was benign and the bug that came back with me from SA is gone.
    Bob says it's SYBSTD day.Whatever.

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  21. Jeezus, I just fell in love with SYBSTD Day!!

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  22. Ha, I wasn't sure what SYBSTD was, so Googled it. It seems that SYBSTD is celebrated about six or seven times a year, or maybe even daily for some...Dennis?...Dennis??

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  23. I don't watch the Simpsons regularly either but when I accidentally land on it, it does seems creative and funny. Being teachers, we shied away from it because of Bart's attitude toward school.

    I do watch "Two and a half men." There aren't many things that make me laugh on TV but this show does.

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  24. Sorry, ClearAyes, I'm immersed at the moment. Research, you know.

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  25. Hello All--A straight-forward puzzle today. I even knew all the proper names. Those I didn't know, Apu and Marat, were filled in with the perps. After last week's more difficult puzzles, this was a nice break for me.

    My favorite clues today were: Dukes in boxing gloves=fists, and Biblical helmsman=Noah.

    Kazie, I immediately thought of you when I filled in Australia.

    JD, I'm glad to hear that you are feeling much better. Your little one will keep you hopping until January. Take a nap when he does!

    Melissa B, I'm sorry that Barb B must return home, but glad to hear that you had a great holiday. Our last two guests left Sunday morning to go back to college. The house was noisy, full, and so much fun. It is so quiet today!

    Have a great Monday everyone.

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  26. you're right, CA, I don't think there is a real date for SYBST Day, for some, it is every day

    Yesterday seemed to be the day for putting up C'mas lights/yard decorations.Does anyone decorate a spruce tree?We usually get a noble

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  27. JD, We had a live tree for so many years-always a noble fir. But three years ago we purchased a large (noble-fir like) artificial tree. Since we have very high ceilings in our family room, a live tree was expensive and I hated to toss it out, even though we had the Boy Scouts pick it up for composting.

    I don't miss having to put on all those lights. As we get older, easier is better, as least for us.
    I do miss the woodsy smell, though.

    Speaking of Boy Scouts, this weekend we attended an Eagle Scout Court of Honor. It is such a pleasure to hear of the accomplishments of young people who are committed to community service, and self improvement. As his father said, it wasn't cool to be James at times, but he did everyone proud with what he has done.

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  28. @Argyle.
    Lacoste has custody. Or, was that
    rhetorcal?
    Thought for sure we would have a sub 4 minute solver today. Or, aren't we posting times anymore?

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  29. JUST SLIP OUT THE BACK JACK....Good morning C.C., Argyle and all.


    I liked this puzzle a lot. Mostly because I could do it! I misspelled Oskar Schlinder and have never used kiddo for fella. Must be a generational thing? Sedge new to me. Insignificant one=twerp? I dunno.

    Have a great Monday, Make a New Plan Stan....

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  30. The Simpsons from HULU dot com

    The Simpsons

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  31. Kazie, I'm sorry to say that Australia is to blame for global warming. I've just read an article in the Telegraph that they're studying ways to limit belching by that country's sheep. Seems that the methane expelled has 17 times the environmental warming capacity of carbon dioxide. Perhaps they could cut back the beer a bit.

    And don't get me started on Austalia's cow farts.

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  32. dennis, nice of you to keep us abreast of important dates.

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  33. Melissa Bee, my pleasure; I'm easily titillated by such things.

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  34. ...and facts. I wonder about the New Zealand sheep? At last count the sheep numbered about ten times the number of people there.

    And while I don't think they feed the sheep beer to drink in Oz, I stayed with a friend on her father's sheep farm once, and she was feeding a couple of orphaned lambs milk out of beer bottles--the 20 oz size common there.

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  35. Anon@12:59

    Thanks for the Simpson's clip. It was a riot!

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  36. Good afternoon Argyle, C. C., and all.
    Almost a trouble-free solve today with "aha!" clues for NOAH, CESSNA and EASTER. "Whaaat" moment for me with RTS.

    In the unasked-for advice category comes theme-fill "TAKE OFF WEIGHT" just days after Thanksgiving and at the start of high season for holiday shindigs... Of all the nerve! (lol)

    I learned the joys of TONKA (trucks) and GALLO (wine) at different times, so there was no danger of me drinking while "driving" in first grade. Those trucks could really take a lot of rough play and still be passed on to another KIDDO once that phase was over.

    Surprised to see so many words ending in long O in a grid by Mr PanchO Harrison? Spiro, Gallo, Kiddo, Aloe, Relo, Oso, Aloe, Get go.

    Simpsons is best watched with other people. Good social commentary, clever dialog and occasional guest stars make it a fun half hour now and then. Sort of unlaxing to watch [gr] Better than South Park, imho. Fewer TWERPs, too!

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  37. @dennis and melissab You're both busted!

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  38. Anybody else on this blog does the live New York Times puzzle? Not the 6-week behind syndication.

    Sara

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  39. Crockett - I think Dennis fell into a booby-trap!

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  40. And In case you need more......I'm your breast friend.....

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  41. @carol At least he'd have a soft landing.

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  42. You guys have taken this to an art form. Would've commented sooner, but I was sidetracked listening to my favorite Bocelli song, 'Busomy mucho'.

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  43. @dennis Glad you got that off your chest and made a breast of things. Going to have to stop this now before my cup runneth over.

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  44. 4:44 today. Anytime I go sub-5 it's an easy puzzle (I don't approach Dennis times).

    I channeled Clear Ayes by thinking "I'm Outta Here" as the theme. I'd imagine we'd see a post from Buckeye today just so he could say "IMBO".

    Argyle, I'm definitely coveting that Stihl--puts my chain saw to shame.

    Well, I've gotta run--have to pick up in the living room 'cause the cleaning lady is coming tomorrow.

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  45. The above, folks, is what happens to otherwise somewhat-intelligent minds when the subject of mammaries comes up.

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  46. Hmm, I dare not dip my toes into the DF lake because I'm still kind of new here. Made a bad miscalculation once throwing myself into the Secretarial pool, and NEVER again will try that maneuver!
    Fun to read about, though.

    @Melissa B: Your line re: the children's books and the gold sticker and the dog is priceless; may I please borrow it?

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  47. pjb, sure ... i borrowed it myself.

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  48. Dennis @ 3:46 - Well what else would you expect from busom buddies - kiddo!

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  49. The reason the Gallo cases are all upside down is that is the way wine is usually stored. It keeps the corks wet and prevents excessive exposure to air (which can oxidize the wine).

    Nowadays wineries tend to put the bottles in the cases with the cork end down. Cork down or on the side (as in a wine rack) is the only way to go--never store wine long-term standing up as you see on grocery store shelves.

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  50. Dennis, we need to thank JD for the mammaries!!!

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  51. Wow, Y'all are in rare form today. I was going to say Thanks for the mammaries, but Robin beat me to it.

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  52. Fresh off the comedy jokespotcorner regarding Tiger Woods' recent vehicular run-in with a fire hydrant:

    First words Tiger said to his wife upon regaining consciousness:

    "You did WHAT with my nine-iron?

    Didn't write it, but I gave it four out of five stars.

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  53. I heard Tiger changed his name but kept it in the Cat family: Cheetah!!

    Way to go Elin :)

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  54. Here you go Bill G.

    IMO the best Mac and Cheese Bake

    3 cups macaroni (uncooked)
    2 Tbspn Butter
    2 Tblsn flour
    1 cup chicken broth
    1/2 cup half n half
    1/2 cup milk
    1/2 cup cream cheese, softened (key ingredient)
    4 cups plus additional to go on top finely shredded cheeses (sharp cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, muenster)
    1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    A few dashes paprika

    In a large pot, according to the packaged macaroni, add water & 1/3 of the chicken broth that equals the liquid requirement. (Just enough to cook your macaroni in) Bring to a boil. (Adds flavor, another key step)

    Add macaroni, I use elbow or small shells, and cook until al dente. When macaroni is done, drain and set aside. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter & whisk in the flour. Cook for about a minute. Whisking the entire time. Slowly whisk in the remaining chicken broth, half n half, & milk. Whisk until combined. You want the mixture to steam but NOT boil.
    Add in the cream cheese & stir until completely dissolved and smooth. Remove from heat & add in 4 cups of cheese & stir until smooth. Pour cheese mixture over cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Add some black pepper if you'd like. (I would suggest you do) Grease a 9 X 9 inch pan with butter & pour the mac n cheese into it. Top with reserved cheese and paprika. At this point I add some bread crumbs or stale potato chips on top.
    Bake in preheat 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. You want the macaroni & cheese to be sort of jiggly when you take it out. It will set as it cools.

    Oh...and as you can see I used the word "jiggly."
    I thought it was actually SHOW your buddies some...

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  55. Jeannie:
    Forgot to tell you that we made this and it was truly good. I snuck bacon in, on course (not recommended for vegetarians, or those keeping Kosher or Hahlal!) but it satisfied a ravenous picky crowd. Good the next day too! Thanks.

    No need for a shawl, lady! You got the cookin, goods. Stand proud.

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  56. Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
    All alone with the memory
    Of my days in the sun.
    If you touch me, you'll understand what happiness is.
    Look, a new day has begun.

    and what a day!

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  57. @jd I just had to bust out laughing at that one!

    #5 and out

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  58. Dennis, Robin, PBJ the shawl was off today. I got lunch bought for me too. Not sure why the HR guy needs to speak to me tomorrow...I tried to explain. I even directed him to this site. We'll wait and see what he comes up with and I'll take it from there.

    Lois, Carol, Melissabee, Robin...I am on a limb. Your turn.

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  59. Thanks to Jeannie and Clear Ayes for the recipes. I hope to make them soon.

    ~ Bill

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  60. Pretty quick puzzle for me today too. I think I got 2 of my sisters interested in doing puzzles online this weekend by working a few puzzles together.

    Dick: Happy hunting! Today would have been my father's 98th birthday. He's been gone 15 years now, but enjoyed spending many birthdays in the cold Pennsylvania woods, waiting for another "Buck" to come along.

    Well, as of today, it looks as though we've survived another hurricane season!

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