Theme: None
Total blocks: 35
Total words: 72 (the maximum word limit for a themeless)
I think this is the first time we have a themeless Saturday with a mini-theme. A mini-theme has two symmetrically placed theme answers that share something in common. In today's case, it's "environmental":
6D. Work in the environmental sector: GREEN COLLAR JOBS
9D. Environmental impact factor: CARBON FOOTPRINT
Both have 15 grid-spanning 15 letters. Awesome entries! In the language and au courant, with Obama's penchant for talking about renewable energy.
Also a bit of Italian undercurrent flowing:
34A. "__ tu": Verdi aria: ERI. Literally "were" in Italian. Tu = You. Eri tu = "It was you".
3D. Trattoria order?: MANGIA. Italian for "Eat"/"Enjoy your meal".
45D. Bologna bridge: PONTE. Italian for "bridge". As in Florence's Ponte Vecchio ("old bridge").
Very enjoyable puzzle. Still had to peek at the cheat sheet. Quite a few "D'oh" moments for me. Would have quibbled about the clue/ANSWER duplication in SARGASSO (35D. Sea named for its seaweed) and SEA (39A. Watery expanse). But I like the trivia in 35D. Great crossing of SARGASSO and SEA.
Across:
1. Like some pigeons: HOMING. Homing pigeons.
7. Little shot?: PIC. Oh, photo shot.
13. Wild Asian equine: ONAGER. See this picture. It has a a black stripe on its back.
14. "Measure for Measure" heroine: ISABELLA. I can never remember those Shakespeare character names.
17. "Receiving poorly," to a CBer: TEN- ONE. No idea. Waiting for Argyle to explain. (Here is Argyle's reply.)
18. Singer/pianist with the 2002 hit "A Sorta Fairytale": TORI AMOS. Wikipedia says "A Sorta Fairytale" is her most commercially successful single in the US to date. Have never heard of the song before.
19. Russian fighter: MIG. Used in Korean War. Acronym of its Russian designer Mikhail Iosifovich Grevich.
20. Shockers in the deep: EELS. The electric eels generate shocks.
22. Rear: BOTTOM
23. Rival of Bjorn: ILIE (Nastase). In 1970's. Too early for me to remember.
25. "On the contrary!": NOT SO
27. "Forever, __": 1996 humor collection: ERMA (Bombeck). See the book cover.
28. Likely visitor to the principal: CLASS CLOWN. Did not come to me readily.
30. Nair alternative: NEET. My first fill in the grid.
31. What it takes?: TWO. This refers to "It takes two to tango", right?
32. Locomotive output: PUFF
35. Biblical verb: SHALT. Thought of SMITE/SMOTE.
37. Sociologist's interests: MORES
41. Prosaic: BLAH
43. Bourbon flavoring: OAK. Good to know.
44. It covers all the bases: TARP. Baseball bases. Can't fool me.
46. Flats: APARTMENTS
51. Ship that sailed from Iolcus: ARGO. Jason and the Argonauts.
52. Highlight reel accompaniment: RECAP
53. Many a retired racer: SIRE. I was picturing a racing car racer, not a horse. Tricky clue.
54. Common lunchbox fare, briefly: PB AND J. Not in mine. Lovely bento box.
56. Sci-fi captain: KIRK. The ''Star Trek''. I penned in NEMO.
58. Never, to Goethe: NIE. German for "never". NEIN is "no".
59. Floundering one: LOST SOUL. I like the clue and the answer.
61. Stuck: IN A JAM
63. Coordinated outfit: ENSEMBLE
64. Like much meditation music: NEW AGE. Do any of you practice meditation? If so, have you really experienced total bliss?
65. 1906 Runabout, e.g.: REO. Here is a 1906 Runabout, complete stranger to me.
66. Stars may represent them: Abbr.: STS (States). Stars in American flag. Got me.
67. Got tight: TENSED
Down:
1. Possible source of unwanted feedback, for short: HOT MIC
2. "Mourning Becomes Electra" playwright" O'NEILL (Eugene). Electra is the sister of Orestes, who was chased by the Furies for the murdering of his mother.
5. Maui flapper: NENE. The Hawaiian goose.
7. Active time for a racetrack crew: PIT STOP. For refueling.
8. Metric lead-in: ISO. Isometric, a new word to me. Iso is a prefix meaning "equal".
10. Shade sources: ELM TREES
11. One may be late: BLOOMER. Late bloomer. Another great clue.
12. Long-grain rice of the Punjab: BASMATI. Not fond of its fragrance.
15. Playbill feature: BIO
16. Downed: EATEN. Was not thinking of food.
24. Bk. after Nehemiah: ESTH (Esther). Bk. before Job.
26. Like a butterfly in water?: SWUM. The swimming stroke "butterfly", not the insect.
33. Big name in oil filters: FRAM. Too bad, not big enough for me to know.
36. Sports trainer's supply: TAPE
39. Office tool: STAPLER
40. Incus or malleus: EARBONE
42. Defensive anger, metaphorically: HACKLES. As in "raise one's heckles". I was stumped.
47. Thor Heyerdahl craft: RA I. Absolutely no idea. There is only RA and RA II here.
48. Stealthy warriors: NINJAS. The stealthy Japanese assassin. I wrote down DRONES. They are stealthy warrior too. No?
49. Combat injury system: TRIAGE
55. Mil. award: DSM ( Distinguished Service Medal)
57. A tot may bounce on one: KNEE. Nailed it.
60. Nth: Abbr.: ULT (Ultimate)
62. Grass appendage: AWN. The bristlelike appendage.
Answer grid.
C.C.
Total blocks: 35
Total words: 72 (the maximum word limit for a themeless)
I think this is the first time we have a themeless Saturday with a mini-theme. A mini-theme has two symmetrically placed theme answers that share something in common. In today's case, it's "environmental":
6D. Work in the environmental sector: GREEN COLLAR JOBS
9D. Environmental impact factor: CARBON FOOTPRINT
Both have 15 grid-spanning 15 letters. Awesome entries! In the language and au courant, with Obama's penchant for talking about renewable energy.
Also a bit of Italian undercurrent flowing:
34A. "__ tu": Verdi aria: ERI. Literally "were" in Italian. Tu = You. Eri tu = "It was you".
3D. Trattoria order?: MANGIA. Italian for "Eat"/"Enjoy your meal".
45D. Bologna bridge: PONTE. Italian for "bridge". As in Florence's Ponte Vecchio ("old bridge").
Very enjoyable puzzle. Still had to peek at the cheat sheet. Quite a few "D'oh" moments for me. Would have quibbled about the clue/ANSWER duplication in SARGASSO (35D. Sea named for its seaweed) and SEA (39A. Watery expanse). But I like the trivia in 35D. Great crossing of SARGASSO and SEA.
Across:
1. Like some pigeons: HOMING. Homing pigeons.
7. Little shot?: PIC. Oh, photo shot.
13. Wild Asian equine: ONAGER. See this picture. It has a a black stripe on its back.
14. "Measure for Measure" heroine: ISABELLA. I can never remember those Shakespeare character names.
17. "Receiving poorly," to a CBer: TEN- ONE. No idea. Waiting for Argyle to explain. (Here is Argyle's reply.)
18. Singer/pianist with the 2002 hit "A Sorta Fairytale": TORI AMOS. Wikipedia says "A Sorta Fairytale" is her most commercially successful single in the US to date. Have never heard of the song before.
19. Russian fighter: MIG. Used in Korean War. Acronym of its Russian designer Mikhail Iosifovich Grevich.
20. Shockers in the deep: EELS. The electric eels generate shocks.
22. Rear: BOTTOM
23. Rival of Bjorn: ILIE (Nastase). In 1970's. Too early for me to remember.
25. "On the contrary!": NOT SO
27. "Forever, __": 1996 humor collection: ERMA (Bombeck). See the book cover.
28. Likely visitor to the principal: CLASS CLOWN. Did not come to me readily.
30. Nair alternative: NEET. My first fill in the grid.
31. What it takes?: TWO. This refers to "It takes two to tango", right?
32. Locomotive output: PUFF
35. Biblical verb: SHALT. Thought of SMITE/SMOTE.
37. Sociologist's interests: MORES
41. Prosaic: BLAH
43. Bourbon flavoring: OAK. Good to know.
44. It covers all the bases: TARP. Baseball bases. Can't fool me.
46. Flats: APARTMENTS
51. Ship that sailed from Iolcus: ARGO. Jason and the Argonauts.
52. Highlight reel accompaniment: RECAP
53. Many a retired racer: SIRE. I was picturing a racing car racer, not a horse. Tricky clue.
54. Common lunchbox fare, briefly: PB AND J. Not in mine. Lovely bento box.
56. Sci-fi captain: KIRK. The ''Star Trek''. I penned in NEMO.
58. Never, to Goethe: NIE. German for "never". NEIN is "no".
59. Floundering one: LOST SOUL. I like the clue and the answer.
61. Stuck: IN A JAM
63. Coordinated outfit: ENSEMBLE
64. Like much meditation music: NEW AGE. Do any of you practice meditation? If so, have you really experienced total bliss?
65. 1906 Runabout, e.g.: REO. Here is a 1906 Runabout, complete stranger to me.
66. Stars may represent them: Abbr.: STS (States). Stars in American flag. Got me.
67. Got tight: TENSED
Down:
1. Possible source of unwanted feedback, for short: HOT MIC
2. "Mourning Becomes Electra" playwright" O'NEILL (Eugene). Electra is the sister of Orestes, who was chased by the Furies for the murdering of his mother.
5. Maui flapper: NENE. The Hawaiian goose.
7. Active time for a racetrack crew: PIT STOP. For refueling.
8. Metric lead-in: ISO. Isometric, a new word to me. Iso is a prefix meaning "equal".
10. Shade sources: ELM TREES
11. One may be late: BLOOMER. Late bloomer. Another great clue.
12. Long-grain rice of the Punjab: BASMATI. Not fond of its fragrance.
15. Playbill feature: BIO
16. Downed: EATEN. Was not thinking of food.
24. Bk. after Nehemiah: ESTH (Esther). Bk. before Job.
26. Like a butterfly in water?: SWUM. The swimming stroke "butterfly", not the insect.
33. Big name in oil filters: FRAM. Too bad, not big enough for me to know.
36. Sports trainer's supply: TAPE
39. Office tool: STAPLER
40. Incus or malleus: EARBONE
42. Defensive anger, metaphorically: HACKLES. As in "raise one's heckles". I was stumped.
47. Thor Heyerdahl craft: RA I. Absolutely no idea. There is only RA and RA II here.
48. Stealthy warriors: NINJAS. The stealthy Japanese assassin. I wrote down DRONES. They are stealthy warrior too. No?
49. Combat injury system: TRIAGE
55. Mil. award: DSM ( Distinguished Service Medal)
57. A tot may bounce on one: KNEE. Nailed it.
60. Nth: Abbr.: ULT (Ultimate)
62. Grass appendage: AWN. The bristlelike appendage.
Answer grid.
C.C.
Never heard of RAI.
ReplyDeleteArgyle,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great CBer 10-codes link. Dennis mentioned that yesterday was "Santa's List Day". What list did you get from naughty Lois?
Vern,
You are an inspiration. I hope I can be as active as you are when I am at your age.
Al,
Great posts yesterday. Thank you so much for taking time informing and educating us. You give me more reasons to eat nuts. Love them as snacks.
Hahtool,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the achievement!
Chickie,
What's the most unforgettable memory you had in CALI?
Pamela,
Linda mentioned cinnamon tea for arthritis relief a while ago. Give it a try.
What is on Lois' list is privileged & confidential information (and can't be published anyway).
ReplyDeleteCool mini-theme. NINJAS is fantastic.
ReplyDelete@Annette, I want your recipe for Italian Balls too.
Good morning, C.C. and gang - well, two days in a row I've been all over the g-spot. Great puzzles, both both took way longer than they should've.
ReplyDeleteGot slowed right away when I didn't pick up on the question mark in 'Trattoria order', and was looking for a dish. Also didn't know all the 'ten' codes (thanks, Argyle). Couldn't come up with 'class clown', although I spent almost as much time in the principal's office as in the classroom for various stunts/pranks. First time I remember seeing 'basmati'.
In a way, it was like two different puzzles for me; struggled with the north, very little problem with the south.
Today is both Bathtub Party Day, and Repeal Day (marking the end of Prohibition). I have a feeling Lois will be paying tribute to both.
On the subject of Christmas cookies, is anyone familiar with 'sand tarts'? No, not beach bimbos, but very very thin sugar cookies in various holiday shapes sprinkled with colored sugars.
Good morning CC et al., Difficult but doable and certainly better than yesterday's. Thank you, CC, for the links. Enjoyed the Tori Amos clip. Never heard of her. Really liked 11D bloomer and 26D butterfly clues. 62D 'grass appendage' sent me somewhere in line w/32A 'puff'. Never heard it called 'awn' before, but in this 'new age', who knows? Might be part of an 'ensemble' aka paraphenalia pkg that is used when 'in a jam'.
ReplyDeleteCC: you crack me up. My list to Santa Baby is a big and long list this year. But Santa Cutie may need a train car to haul all the coal he's likely to bring me though.
Santa Baby: great answer to CC! Thank you for your discretion. I'm looking forward to you coming in my chimney. With CA's cookie recipes, we'll have even more cookies to enjoy. Hurry..
Enjoy your day.
Good Morning CC and All,
ReplyDeleteI attempted yesterday's grid and then the day went hay wire. I never did finish it and this morning when I was reviewing the posts I was glad to see I wasn't the only one who encountered difficulties. The 15 minutes I put in was pure misery.
Today's was a different story. Definitely the easiest Saturday since DSL came to our house. I still needed red letter help for Onager and Nene. I also couldn't get my mind away from drinking words for Got Tight which slowed me in the SE. One of the many Duh moments.
Hahtool, Mazel Tov! Enjoy the party!
Al, Great read on LDL. I'm right on the boarder line which keeps me sweating at least 4 times a week per the Docs orders. I've also implemented some minor life style changes.
I've got to get at it. First snow of the year is on the way tonight so I've got to dig the plow out of moth balls. Get to watch the youngest play basketball too!
Have a great Day!
Dennis: LMAO You are sooo right! It's Sat and I'm revving up for the celebration of Repeal Day in Richmond which will probably end in a 'tub party' at some point tonight. So apropos! Here's to Bubbles and Booze! Cheers!
ReplyDelete@dennis, can we have "santa's list day" again?
ReplyDeleteanon@8:29, I think for the next 20 days, every day is 'Santa's list' day.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of, I hope everyone will remember, and contribute to, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive. This year, more than ever in recent history, there's an awful lot of needy kids who are facing a bleak Christmas.
Agree with Dennis' take. Had more googling than usual. Lots of clever clues.
ReplyDeleteNENE is a regular cw visitor. Knew ONAGER, wild ass of Asia. Thought of quagga but is an extinct type of zebra from S Africa.
LOL'd at cyberchortle; clever clue.
26D seems to call for an adjective. Don't think SWUM is considered one.
Good morning all!
ReplyDeleteInteresting blog yesterday!
I could not sleep at all after several disasters (e. g., construction guys removing termite eaten boards from bedroom and adjacent room--beginning at the crack of dawn, replacement DirecTV not wanting to work, many phone calls, etc.)
Great recap C. C.! Nice gift from Argyle. Also previous nice gift of military ranks recently from who???
Shoulder ice packs finally arrived. First they sent a knee wrap instead. Didn't bother to send proper ones by one day Air. Mobility is improving though the pain is still intense.
Can't seem to get Christmas shopping finished. Very frustrating. (I only have to go to one "real" store to take advantage of good coupons! That is difficult as my friend who drives me around has been sick for a week and I do not feel up to slogging out anyway.)
Perhaps you tea experts can suggest some kind that aids insomnia! (Must not contain caffeine, which disturbs my heart.)
Not looking forward to Christmas Day. Will be 71 (a prime at least).
Have a good weekend everyone!
PS Had to resort to a few googles today. SWUM really was odd.
I had corrected "from who" to "from whom" above. However it disappeaqred!
ReplyDeleteFrom Vern:
ReplyDeleteWow. I got the whole thing (right corner) with no problem. The rest was misery.
Ten one reminded me of my part time cab driver days in the late 50's.
(Before O'Hare Field was a commercial airport).
I picked up a passenger at 8:30 a.m. at a local tavern. As he was helped into the cab, he opened one eye and asked: "What time is it?"
I responded 8:30. He asked incredulously "In the MORNING?"
(British)Flats: APARTMENTS
ReplyDeleteDennis,
I have 2 charities. Jerry's kids and USMC toys for tots. I give $10 for every year I was in every Christmas. A local radio station has a promotion where the DJ 's play the USMC and admission to see the game is a new toy.
QOD: "Officials are the only guys who can rob you and then get a police escort out of the stadium." - Ron Bolton, Cleveland Browns defensive back (1976-1982)
Ron Bolton
I spent way too much time with Mr. G. today and ended upcoming here for those he didn't give me. Not worth enumerating, but I missed some I shouldn't have and just couldn't come up with, and others I never would have got.
ReplyDeleteHahtool,
Congrats and good luck on the Bat Mitzvah!
Dennis,
Your sand tarts sound the same as the German "Heidesand", which are my favorite kind to make because they are so easy and tasty. The name literally translates as "sand of the heath".
Good Morning All, I liked seeing a Shakespeare clue for 14A. I knew ISABELLA. Measure For Measure is a play that doesn't fit easily into the Comedy/Tragedy catagories. It is very much a "What goes around, comes around" story. How, I don't know, but TORI AMOS fell right into place. After that, the perps got me through that area.
ReplyDeleteExcept for O'NEILL, the NW stumped me. I know we've had ONAGER before, but I couldn't remember it. TEN-ONE was a total unknown. PJB is probably familiar with a HOT MIC, but it was new to me.
I liked seeing PJB's anagram-ish PB AND J and IN A JAM on the other side of the puzzle.
The two 15 letter mini-theme entries were terrific. Once entered, they helped immeasurably with the rest of the puzzle.
Fermatprime, Celebrate that upcoming birthday! I don't remember which comedian made a joke of advancing years, but the punch line was, "Considering the alternative..."
Kaz, I'm not sure those are the same; I'm told sand tarts are extremely tough to make.
ReplyDeleteSupposedly comes from something called 'Sandbakkelse'.
Under the general heading of "If it ain't one d... thing, it's another": I've got the sinus waterfall today. Dripping eyes, dripping nose, sneezing. I think hubby and I are passing this thing back and forth. Not pleasant. I'm taking Echinacea (caps and tea), Vit. C, Vit.A, fish oil, and using Zicam swabs. Zinc lozenges don't seem to help and they make my tongue sore.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time in a long time, I left some of the fills blank: Nth, ponte, and floundering one. I had the "lt" part of "ult" but just couldn't finish it. I had "Loseso_l" because I didn't know "Ponte." Kept trying to find a bridge's name that fit.
This was a hard puzzle for me. I g'd several, but some of the clues weren't really "g-able." I had no idea about Tori Amos, so I had to look for her. Had "pip" for little shot at 7A for a long time.
Hope everyone has a nice day. I'm going to take my dripping, sneezing self back to bed. Have fun.
We got a Christmas tree. I found a place where you can rent a living tree for Christmas. They will deliver it in a pot and will pick it up after Christmas. We thought about it but decided to go to the local nursery instead as we've done the last few years. They have good-quality trees (expensive) kept in stands with water. So we picked out the one we like and they keep it in water until we call them to deliver it. I would rather go out in the woods and chop one down but that doesn't work so well in Manhattan Beach.
ReplyDeleteLife is interesting, as I found this to be an extremely challenging puzzle with some very creative cluing, and I thought there would be complaining about how hard it was. So much of this was a slog for me, with answers like HOTMIC and SWUM and MANGIA very elusive.
ReplyDeleteBig day in college football, so GO GATORS, I am out of here.
Dennis, Sandbakkelse really are "tart shaped" and are made in cookie baking molds. They can be served plain (inverted), or turn right side up and filled with jam or custard cream. The molds for the cookies can be purchased at a Scandinavian specialty store (Ikea, maybe?)
ReplyDeleteMy Swedish grandmother made these once in a while. I don't have the molds and they are time consuming to make. I do remember that they were delicious.
There is a thin flat cookie that is called a "sand tart" and does have sugar sprinkled on it. I don't know which recipe you are thinking of, but here is one. It's makes a LOT of cookies, so you might want to halve it.
Halve it??? Have you been drinking??
ReplyDeleteGood Morning C.C. and all you smart people!
ReplyDeleteI am getting an inferiority complex reading how quickly you had this puzzle fall into place for you. I had no idea through most of the first half.
I am with Kazie on this one...too much time spent looking things up. Takes the fun out of it for me - but on the brighter side of that, I do learn a lot!
Dennis: you must be fun to cook / bake for too! Joe has an appetite to match yours. I always make large batches of most anything I cook. If anything is left more than 2 days, I always freeze it.
CA - I remember those spritz(sp) cookies (melt-in-your-mouth good). Also some cookies that had sliced almonds in them and the dough was rolled into a log shape and refrigerated, then sliced onto cookie sheets. Yum. I'd be fat as a hog if I baked because I'd probably eat every one.
Another Christmas tradition was Mom's 'almond rocca'. She put the toffee mixture in a square baking pan and then spread melted chocolate on top and topped that with chopped almonds.
this one was fun and challenging. i went to internet for a a little help toward the end. on 61A i started on the first pass with "in a rut" then went to "on a jag" and finally "in a jam".
ReplyDeleteonager came instantly as it was in Swiss Family Robinson, which i read at age 10 and is the only book i ever reread immediately. i'm now 63.
"Halve it??? Have you been drinking??"
ReplyDeleteNot yet, but thanks for reminding me. In honor of Repeal Day and the fact that it is five o'clock somewhere, I think I'll go rattle a few pots and pans for tonight's pot roast AND keep a sipping glass of Twisted Oak Torcido handy. (Twisted Oak Winery is just up the road apiece, and we like to drink local when we can.)
Won't talk much about the puzzle. It sort of got me today.
ReplyDeleteJust reviewed yesterdays posts, and everyone was into the cookies. I love to make spritz and think they are incredibly easy and good. My favorites are Pecan Shorts (shortbread cookies with finely chopped pecans, rolled and covered with powder sugar) but I can no longer eat them as they give me canker sores:-( and Dream Bars loaded with coconut and walnuts. I always have to make these to bring somewhere as otherwise I would eat most of them.
Annette's mention of "Italian Balls" made me think of a hilarious Alec Baldwin SNL skit. In honor of Santa's List day yesterday, have a laugh.
It happened again! "Ensemble" (you have to admit, not a very common answer) appears in both puzzles printed in the Detroit Free Press today...are Kyle Dolan and Wayne Robert Williams the same person???
ReplyDeleteHello all.
ReplyDeleteTodays puzzle was not as difficult as yesterday's.
The heavy fog this morning is still trying to burn off. We are supposed to have rain from Sunday
to Thursday. There will be snow on Mt. Hamilton.
For the holidays, I make Pizzelles.
I process the walnuts to an almost buttery state so they don't stick in the tiny grooves in the baking iron.
eddyB
Dennis and CA,
ReplyDeleteI gues my Heidesand are definitely something else. More like a sugar cookie, but somehow taste a lot better to me.
Sand tarts sound too ambitious for me but wickedly good!
GERMAN HEIDESAND COOKIES
1C. unsalted butter
½ C. sugar
½ C. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 ½ C. unbleached flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
Cream butter and sugars, add egg and vanilla. Stir in flour mixed with cream of tartar and baking soda. Form into small balls. (Refrigerate on hot days if needed.) Place on ungreased cookie sheets, flatten with a glass slightly dampened and dipped in colored sugars. Bake at 350 degrees 10-15 minutes, until lightly browned.
Good afternoon CC and all.
ReplyDeleteAgree that today was not as difficult as yesterday.
Never heard of Basmati evn my trusty Websters didnt list it.never saw RAI either.
Also had to come here to have SWUM explained. Never though of swimming reference.
Liked TARP, PIC and PJANDB.
Good weekend to all, keep the ovens hot.
Hopefully, I'm back and can get rid of my "anonymous" name. Because "age" has been referenced more than one, one of my favorite senior citizen's joke is: Wife says to husband--"let's go upstairs and make love". Husband replies: "Pick one"
ReplyDeleteObviously, I was so concerned about getting back, I didn't proofread once again. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI completed the puzzle with perps and a few guesses, but had to come here to understand some of the clues. I left the NE totally empty for quite a while, until I circled back around after completing everything else. It still was a struggle for me, with the cross for HOT MIC and TEN ONE being the last to fall...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing the 56A fill of KIRK, as I was watching the Biography of William Shatner as I did the puzzle!
Another favorite was Cyberchortle for LOL.
Russian Fighter: MIG reminded me of one of my favorite books: "Eagle in the Sky" by Wilbur Smith.
I saw the requests for the Italian Ball recipe. I'll get it posted sometime this weekend. This recipe is good, and they're addicting, even before being iced! When I dig out that recipe, I'll add a few names to the cookie list. I can't remember what they're called. Although we made something that sounds like KQ's Pecan Shorts, but had a different name. I don't remember if that's what we called Snowballs, or round chocolate cookies rolled in coconut...
KQ: Hilarious! I don't know how Alec Baldwin was able to keep a straight face through that...
I used to make a variety of cookies every year, but that was a labor intensive day from 5:00 a.m. to past midnight on my feet in the kitchen. Then, the trays all had to be delivered right away while they were still fresh, and they take up a lot of room.
ReplyDeleteNow I make spicy, candied pecans. I got the recipe in a salad recipe. With the pecans and the salad ingredients and the added fetta (or blue) cheese and a respberry vinaigrette, one has all the flavors possible to taste in the mouth at the same time. It's like a party in your mouth. However, most people tell me the pecans never see a salad. One advantage of the pecans over the cookies is they don't have to be handed out right away because they don't get stale. So far I've made 24 lbs. Plan on stopping at 30.
Thanks for the tape on the Schweddy Balls. I had forgotten how funny it is.
Doreen
OOOuch, I started the day by breaking my right big toe!!! Not much to do, got an xray, taped them together and got a script for vicoden! Life is better on pharmaceuticals today.......
ReplyDeleteDid not do the puzzle but read the posts today. I really love all of the recipes shared and KQ the SNL skit was the best, haven't LOL like that in days!
@Dennis, I always remember the Toys for Tots, hope everyone does too!
Lois, Santa Baby comes in your chimney? Whoohoo you must be a very good girl!! @0818
EddyB do you have a recipe for your Pizzelles? and Doreen for the spicy candied pecans?
Hope your Saturday evening is good and that your favorite football team wins!
You all are the best!!!
Lois, Santa Baby comes in your chimney? Whoohoo you must be a very good girl!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like premature gifting to me...
Must be a hell of an interesting chimney!
ReplyDeleteWonder what it is made of?? Are any lubricants involved? Jolly old elf indeed.
The Torchido, I mean Torseedoo....oh, oh, it much have been that third glass. Anyway, the wine is very good and there is just enough left to go with that pot roast.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the cookie recipe, Kazie. The German Heidesand cookies sound lovely. And thanks to Jeannie for the idea. It sounds like most of us are pretty careful diet-wise most of the year, so December is the perfect month to exchange WTH cookie ideas.
DCannon, Hope you are feeling better soon.
Robin, I've broken my toes several times..I've never learned not to jump up to answer the phone when I have bare feet. My toes and the coffee table legs are intimately acquainted. I know how much it hurts and that there isn't much to be done except bandage it and take good drugs. It sounds like you are on top of the situation.
Dennis@6:15, I trust you aren't speaking from experience.
Chickie Here. Google won't accept my password--again!
ReplyDeleteHello All--Whew Finally finished the puzzle. I had to look up Fram, RA I, Tori Amos, and Isabella. After those were in the rest pretty much fell into place, but with some doh moments. This was an enjoyable puzzle with the Enviornmental clues. With Rachel Carson clue recently, it fit right in with our thinking. I didn't bomb out quite as bad as yesterday, though.
I wanted to put in Kon Tiki, for the Thor Heyerdahl's boat, but that was too long and I had never heard of Ra I. I guess he also had a Ra II.
C.C. There are so many experiences and memories that we took away from Cali. Maybe experiencing a different culture and exploring a very old city and meeting so many new people who came from all over the globe were among the most memorable. We had about 60% Colombian Children (learning English)20% US born and 20% European born attending our school. We also had Nursery school through High School on one campus. This made for a great school even though it was small at the time.
CC, thanks for the write up and links. I guess I only connected Thor Heyerdahl with Kon Tiki. It was interesting to read about RA and RA II and the reed boats.
ReplyDeleteLOSTSOUL could also be a lost "sole" with the flounder clue. Not that it would fit :)
I've heard more than one person get in trouble with a HOTMIC. Unwanted feedback indeed.
I liked GREENCOLLARJOBS and was pleased to remember SARGASSO sea and TORIAMOS from discussions a few days ago. AWN was new to me, thanks for the picture.
PJB, do you have PBandJ in your lunchbox? Right now my (virtual) lunchbox is full of Christmas cookies. Yum...
Robin, OOWCH! Try really hard not to hit that toe again. Somehow I always manage to hit a tender spot again and again until it is healed.
ReplyDeleteThere is a marvelous children's book called, "King Bidgood's in the Bathtub and He Won't Get Out". The author is Audrey Wood. This should fit right in with your Bathtub Party Day, Dennis.
MY GRANDSON IS NOW TAKING SWIMMING LESSONS AND. COINCIDENTALY,IS CURRENTLY LEARNING THE BUTTERFLY STROKE!! ENTIRE PUZZLE IMMEDIATELY SOLVED! VOILA! OF COURSE, I LIE! SORRY.
ReplyDelete@Hutch, don't shout. We are hearing fine.
ReplyDeleteHi gang -
ReplyDeleteWow, am I late. It'll be Sunday in another hour. Pretty enjoyable puzzle today. I had to set it down and come back later. Not sure how or why that helps, but it often does.
ONAGER popped into my brain from some unknown location, but I couldn't spel it rite. TEN ONE is new to me. Never thought of MANGIA. Didn't get the ERI - BASMATI cross. Guessed an O for the I. Just feel like a LOST SOUL. Good quip there Mary!
Guess I'll had for bed. Night all.
Cheers!
JzB the almost got it this time trombonist
Robin,
ReplyDeleteHope the toe heals as painlessly as possible. I've banged mine many times but so far no breaks.
G'night all!
Robin: Ouch! Sorry to hear about your bad "break". What a time of year to be slowed down, just when you need to put things in overdrive to get it all done!
ReplyDeleteC. C. and all, this puzzle was simply over my head. I choose not to use help aids, so I struggle.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy the mini-theme, green collar was great fun!
Gee, do I win a prize for latest non-anon poster? Lots going on today, good stuff, including guest-hosting a pseudo-workshop, shopping, "baking" and a social gathering that took FOREVER to get to and from, but still fun. All travel was via foot or train so a low CARBON FOOTPRINT was left. My feet hurt, but not as much as Robin, R.N.! [ouch]
ReplyDeleteTough puzzle. Like many of you, I had a few CyberChortles, a few "Whaaats?" and lots of time googling, but got the grid finished, more or less. Five wrong squares. Am still + or - a newbie, with no learner's permit.
Didn't escape my notice that the anagrammatic PBJ showed up.
I know more about HOT MICs than I will ever post in a public forum (!), but yes, it happens. That's why it's good to get along very well with your sound tech. person!
See you in the morning, or thereabouts.
p.s., Does anyone remember the un-PC term "pink-collar job"? One of the business weekly mags did a whole series of articles about that "phenomenon," maybe 15 years ago.
ReplyDeleteTimes have changed....