google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Monday March 29, 2010 Barry Silk

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Mar 29, 2010

Monday March 29, 2010 Barry Silk

Theme: "Keep it Under Your __" HAT (73A. The last word of this puzzle's five longest answers is a type of one)

18A. Gyroscopic toy: SPINNING TOP. A child's toy.
Top hat.

24A. Central American fishing mecca: GULF OF PANAMA. On the Pacific end of the canal.
Panama hat. (No, I don't know who he is.)

40A. Pretender in a ten-gallon hat and boots: DRUGSTORE COWBOY. Ersatz cowboy.
Cowboy hat. Regrettable hat/HAT duplication.

52A. Proverbial backbreaker for a camel: THE LAST STRAW. One step over the limit.
Straw hat. This is one of many styles; they just have to be made of 'straw'.

63. Arctic solar phenomenon: MIDNIGHT SUN. When the Earth's axis is tilted towards the sun, it never sets.
Sun hat, extreme.

Astounded Argyle here. A Barry Silk with five long theme entries plus a unifier (Total 64 theme squares) on a Monday, what is Rich Norris smoking? A 'Z' short of a pangram. I better get busy.

Across:

1A. Calligrapher's need: INK. Calligrapher- One who is highly skilled in decorative handwriting, as with a great many flourishes.
Example

4A. Hilton alternative: HYATT. (Hotels)

9A. Fragrant wood: CEDAR.

14A. Lair: DEN.

15A. Surrounding glows: AURAE. (or AURAS)

16A. Fuming: IRATE. When I had AURAS instead of AURAE.

17A. Day "Grey's Anatomy" airs: Abbr.: THU.

20A. Archery projectile: ARROW.

22A. Time past: YORE.

23A. Comic Philips: EMO. Is he still around, besides in cw?

28A. At liberty: FREE. Often said of escaped prisoners.

29A. "Flying kangaroo" airline: QANTAS.
An acronym of Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. 'Q' without a 'U'. Plane.

33A. The Beatles' "__ the Walrus": I AM.

36A. Skin layer: DERMA.

39A. British nobleman: EARL.

44A. Division word: INTO.

45A. __ Bruce, '30s-'40s Dr. Watson portrayer: NIGEL. The good
Doctor

46A. Scand. nation: SWE.. (Scandinavia) (Sweden)

47A. Be lenient: GO EASY.

50A. Chinese leader?: INTO. (Indochinese)

58A. IV squared: XVI. 4x4=16, in Roman numerals.

61A. The same, on the Seine: EGAL. French: Remember "Liberty, Egality, Brotherhood".

62A. Bush successor: OBAMA.

67A. __ alai: JAI.

68A. Kindle download: E-BOOK. Amazon Kindle is a software and hardware platform for the rendering and displaying of e-books and other digital media.

69A. Gizmo: THING.

70A. Ques. response: ANS.. (Question and Answer)

71A. Homes in trees: NESTS.

72A. Letters after thetas: IOTAS. (Greek Alphabet)

Down:

1D. Dog collar attachment: ID TAG.

2D. India's first prime minister: NEHRU.

3D. Small knob: KNURL. A knob, knot, or other small protuberance. Also, a small ridge or bead, esp. one of a series, as on a button for decoration or on the edge of a thumbscrew to assist in obtaining a firm grip.

4D. Argues: HAS WORDS.

5D. "Fer sure!": "YUP!".

6D. The Diamondbacks, on scoreboards: ARI. Arizona Diamondbacks are a baseball team.

7D. Tucker of country music: TANYA.
Delta Dawn.

8D. Part of a carpenter's joint: TENON.
Here

9D. Movie theater: CINEMA.

10D. Fraction of a joule: ERG. Joule is equivalent to 10 to the power of 7 ergs

11D. Dinner and a movie, say: DATE.

12D. Tiny particle: ATOM.

13D. Seized auto, for short: REPO. Repossessed.

19D. Big oil exporter: IRAQ.

21D. Not quite right: OFF.

25D. There are three in every yard: FEET. And
a cross-referred SIT (65D. Get off one's 25-Down).

26D. Eva of Argentina: PERÓN. "Evita" is the musical based on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón.

27D. From square one: ANEW.

30D. Folder features: TABS.

31D. Get one's ducks in __: A ROW.

32D. Leonard __: Roy Rogers's birth name: SLYE. Roy was a cowboy and actor before he became a fast food chain.

33D. "Got it, man!": "I DIG!".

34D. Pisa's river: ARNO.

35D. "Turn off the sound" button: MUTE.

37D. X-ray cousin, briefly: MRI. (Magnetic resonance imaging)

38D. Auspices: AEGIS. (patronage, support, sponsorship)

41D. Nanny __: GOAT. WH?

42D. Penny: CENT.

43D. Numbers on 45s: OLD SONGS. Musical numbers on 45RPM records, from an earlier time.

48D. Arab chieftains: SHEIKS.

49D. Safecracker: YEGG. (unknown origin)

51D. Gambling parlor letters: OTB.

53D. "Chicago Hope" actress Christine: LAHTI.
Her picture.

54D. Even if, informally: ALTHO.

55D. Indian prince: RAJAH.

56D. Kenmore competitor: AMANA.

57D. Spot for a belt: WAIST.

58D. Mutant superhero group: X-MEN.

59D. Hard-to-describe feeling: VIBE. Shortened vibration.

60D. Nuptial vows: I DO'S.

64D. "Wayne's World" catchword: "NOT!".

66D. Italian article: UNA.

Answer grid.

Argyle

49 comments:

Dennis said...

Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - well, I never, ever thought I'd say 'speed run' and 'Barry Silk' in the same sentence, but today's puzzle was exactly that. I'm assuming Barry's original submission was dumbed down for Monday. And as Argyle points out, this one, with its long theme answers and unifier, is not a typical Silky. Regardless, I usually enjoy doing any puzzle with his name on it.

Had no idea as to the theme until the very end. The puzzle itself presented little challenge, comprised mostly of familiar clues and answers.

Favorite clue was 'Numbers on 45s', just for the memories. With my dad being in the record business, he was sent a copy of virtually every new release, 33 and 45, regardless of label; we had a street mailbox the size of a schoolbus. Wish I had my collection now.

Today is National Smoke & Mirrors Day.

Today's Words of Wisdom: "Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment."

And on the Battle of the Sexes front:

- There are only two places in the world where men outlive women: southern Asia and Iran.

tfrank said...

Good morning, C.C., Argyle and all,

I, too, was surprised at the ease of this Silk output. I usually say, 'uh oh" when I see his name on a puzzle. I gather from one of the interviews C.C. did last week, that Rich is having trouble getting Monday puzzles. Easy does not mean that it was dull, however.

Good job blogging, Argyle. Were you ever a milliner? I would like to have that Panama.

Have a good week.

Hahtoolah said...

Good Morning, CC and all. I struggled a bit with this one, although I realized we were looking for various types of HATS after filling in PANAMA.

My first thought for a Calligrapher's need was Nib, since all pens use INK. Besides, I have a felt tip pen that has a special Nib for calligraphy lettering. The ID TAG and NEHRU quickly set me straight.

I never heard of KNURL before. Definitely not a Monday word. Is this what they are? Can anyone explain how they work?

Favorite clue was Numbers on 45s = OLD SONGS (Brilliant).

Has anyone used a Kindle? Are E-BOOKs all they're cracked up to be?

Passover begins at sundown tonight. It starts with a big Seder with friends and family. My favorite holiday.

The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward. ~ Winston Churchill

Dick said...

Good morning Argyle and All, not a very challenging puzzle today and since I worked from the bottom up today the theme appeared quickly. I struggled to get last in “The Last Straw” as I have always heard the expression as “The Straw That Broke the Camels Back”, but eventually it all made sense. I had Iran for 19D instead of Iraq and stared at nantas for a long time before the aha moment.

Hahtool, I liked your avatar from last week, nice hat and glasses too.

Weather is warming up this week and will be inn the 70’s about mid week. Wouldn’t you know it would warm up as I am going to South Carolina later this week.

Hope you all have a great Monday.

Hahtoolah said...

Thanks, Dick. Since Evita Peron was in today's puzzle, I changed the avatar to show the marker commemorating Evita on the Peron family mausoleum in Buenos Aries. Her body, however, is not entombed with the rest of her family.

Lemonade714 said...

Yes, good morning all. Happy Passover and enjoy the week whatever your orientation may be. It is always fun to have lots of themeage, but it was pretty simple work, though I had a problem with across lite (it would not show me all of the across clues, so I had to use some imagination on the long ones) but I also knew everything but KNURL, and the perps had that in before I knew I did not know.

I still have 300 45's, including some orignal Elvis, but these days all I do is move them from place to place.

When I started traveling representing bands, the first one I represented on my own signed with MCA, and I had dinner with Tanya Tucker and some other of their artists back in the late 70's. She was a very pretty girl.

Ciao chow

Mainiac said...

Good Morning Argyle, CC and All,

I agree with all that this was not the normal Silk puzzle. The only problems I had were with some of the names. Nigel and Lahti were unknowns and I had a head slap moment with Peron. Quick run through today, 12 minutes and I could actually read my handwriting.

We're looking at a couple days of rain here and in the 40s. That'll shut some jobs down and allow me time to catch up on paperwork. They're predicting 70s this weekend!

Have a great Monday.

Argyle said...

Interesting...
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day uxorial

Dennis said...

Argyle, C.C., did we see 'uxor' before? It's latin for 'wife'. I remember seeing 'et ux' in legal documents, too.

Incidently, 'luxor' is english for......nah, I'll be nice.

Tinbeni said...

Argyle, great job.
Greetings C.C. and gang. The race here in St.Pete will be a soggy affair at 10:00 am.

Like always I searched out the theme unifier, 73A Hat, and it was a Go Easy time from there.

Like Hahtool I never heard of Knurl. Didn't know 32D, Roy Rogers birth name, Slye. Thing for Gizmo, 69A was thinking along the line of a "do-dad" but I already had 52D, Lahti, Chicago Hope actress.

Barry Silk's offering was a notch up from the typical Monday LAT.
Altho I believe having the current President in any crossword should be banned (why not put the letters in the grid, did anybody have to think to get 62A, Bush successor?).

Col_Gopinath said...

Good evening from India,

Nice to be back after a looooooong time. My blog and a couple of other cryptic crosswords on this side of the world keeps me busy.

Got mail from Mangesh the other day when his first CW was published on the LAT and also about his interview by CC, happy to see someone from half way acroos the world appearing in the LAT, hats off. Tried my hand at cluing a couple of times but gave up.

Like most of you have said it was an easy Monday, wrapped the CW in 16 mins of course I had to cheat to get some of the names like Lahti and Slye.

Nice to see NEHRU and RAJAH here, though I have a crib on the clue for Rajah. A Rajah is a king and not a prince.

Ciao for now

kazie said...

I thought this seemed a bit hard for a Monday, then looked and saw it was a Silky--that explained it. So I settled in and enjoyed the rest of it with few missteps: PEN (for ink), AURAS, MEXICO (for Panama), DIME (for drug), all fixed fairly quickly. Same unknowns as others have already mentioned.

I didn't make it here over the weekend, since we left early Saturday for a wedding and didn't get back home until late yesterday, so didn't work either puzzle yet.

Have a great Monday!

Bob said...

Usual easy Monday puzzle. 13 minutes.

Clear Ayes said...

Good Morning All, I was excited to see a Barry Silk puzzle for Monday. More unusual fill like KNURL, TENON and SLYE keep it a cut above the ordinary fare. There wasn't anything particularly difficult and I enjoyed it all, with one exception.

I'm not an expert, but my high school French teacher taught me that "equal" is not "la même chose" (the same thing) as "same". 61A EGAL translates to equal, but the clue called for "The same on the Seine". "Same" in French is MEME. We may all be equal, but we are not the same. Vive la différence! French speakers, what do you think?

I always like longer theme phrases and today's were fun. I was thrown off the theme trail by the inclusion of HAT in the clue for 40A. I should have learned by now to peek at the bottom of the puzzle for a hint clue.

My favorite version of an "Arctic solar phenomenon" is June Christy's Midnight Sun.

I appreciated seeing my childhood sweetheart Leonard SLYE make an appearance. I loved Roy almost as much as I loved Trigger.

Anonymous said...

Good morning everyone.

I found this one more difficult for a Monday. DH supplied Drugstore Cowboy and a few others which helped a lot. And it is fun to work together. Missed Qantas which made that section full of holes. But it was fun to do.

Hahtool: To read a book on kindle is a terrific way to have a book to read without having to lug the whole book around. When DH lets loose of the iTouch he got me for my birthday, I do carry it and read. And my eyes are not good, so I assure you, even with a small as an iTouch it is easy reading.

Col Gopinath: it is so good to have you back. You've been missed.
Now where is Buckeye?

It's cloudy here and we're warned of tornadoes. Not our usual gorgeous day, fer sure.

Cheers

carol said...

Good morning Argyle, C.C. and all -

This went well for me until I got to the SW corner and I stopped dead. Had no idea about XMEN and Roman numerals are a lost cause for me. I did know KINDLE but it didn't help too much.

Funny story about 'ET UX': When Joe and I bought our first house, we went in to sign the loan papers. Joe signed and slid the papers over to me for my signature. I looked under the line where I was to sign and noticed it said Et Ux instead of my actual name. I refused to sign until they typed my NAME under the line. Small rebellion but I thought why should the mans name be spelled out and not mine!

Hahtool - Quite the picture of the KNURL!! Maybe it's just me but what the heck is that thing? ...looks kinda kinky in an 'ouchy' sort of way.

Dennis, don't feel too bad about your record collection. Joe sold his large collection in 2000 while there was still a lot of interest in 50's 45 records and were willing to pay a lot to get the rare ones. Today, the values are not what they were and I don't think there the number of avid collectors. The LP's are going that way as well.

Col_Gopinath said...

Thanks Sallie,
Must remember to put in a weekly appearance, think I shall pick Monday's :-)

kazie said...

Clear Ayes,
I had même at first too. But in the phrase "ça m'est égal", égal does mean "same"--(it's all the same to me).

Spitzboov,
Thanks for Büstenhalter--I should have looked it up, but I still swear I've seen the BH abbreviation in ads and in stores there.

Great weekend photos by the way, Jeannie and Dodo.

Also, I'm glad to see the Colonel will be joining us weekly again. You have been missed.

Clear Ayes said...

Younger or not so young, we all have memories that he have shared here.

The Cupboard

It's a board carved wooden cupboard;
the ancient dark-coloured oak
has taken on that pleasant air
that old people have; the cupboard is open,
and gives off from its kindly shadows
inviting aromas like a breath of old wine;
full to overflowing, it's a jumble of quaint old things:
fragrant yellowed linen,
rags of women's or children's clothes, faded laces,
grandmothers' kerchiefs embroidered with griffins;
- here you could find lockets,
and locks of white or blonde hair,
portraits and dried flowers
whose smell mingles with the smell of fruit. -

O cupboard of old times, you know plenty of stories;
and you'd like to tell them;
and you clear your throat every time
your great dark doors slowly open.

- Arthur Rimbaud 1854-1891

Chickie said...

Hello All--For me the puzzle was a tad harder than the usual Monday puzzle. I got off track with Iran for Iraq, Dime Store rather than Drug Store and Nor instead of SWE, so the middle section was the last to fall.

I realized after I had finished the whole puzzle and came here that some of fills had fallen in place and I didn't even read the clues. Go figure.

I got the theme once Hat was in but I still had a pocked marked center area until I had my mistakes corrected.

Chinese leader and Three in every yard were my favorite clues today.

Hatool, my friend uses her Kindle when she travels. She downloads several books and has only the device to carry around. Also doesn't spend travel dollars on books at the airports! She loves it.

Good to hear from you Col. Gopinath. It has been a long time.

JD said...

Good Monday morning all,

So nice to see a Silkie, and it was almost a smooth 15 min. I slowed down for aegis/indo/otb, but worked around them. Needed the perps to fill egal,knurl,tenon, and Siye.

Fav clue was numbers on 45's. I was thinking of the recording times."Smoke gets in your Eyes" was 2:38. Those old songs were so much shorter.I still have some of my favorite 45's also.

All the closet floor in our house are cedar. I think they need to be resanded.

Welcome back Col.G!

We are supposed to get rain every day this week. Seeing is believing, but I'm going out to do the yard work now, just in case.

Chickie said...

The "Panama" Hat factory near our city in Colombia had marvelous hats. All of them in different sizes and shapes. You picked out the one you wanted and they blocked it according to what you specified.

I bought mine in the original shape, (for yard duty in a very tropical hot sun climate) and just wore them unblocked. They rolled up and could be put in my school bag or suitcase and came out just fine.

I still have a couple of them, but don't use them very often. Should get them out again.

Happy Passover.

dodo said...

I, too, put in 'meme' for 'same', 'dime' for 'drug', and 'Iran' for 'Iraq'. That last then gave me an 'N' for the airline and I put in 'Naruda' but felt that didn't really go with the kangaroo logo! Finally got the 'antas.' Duh!

Qantas reminded me of one of the funniest emails I've ever received: it's a 'Flight Check List' from Qantas, notes from pilots to ground crew and the responses. If anyone is interested in still more email, let me know and I'll send a copy. I still laugh at it.

CA, I loved the 'cupboard'. Reminds me of childhood days at my grandmas playing with her old lace petticoats and other relics. She had a wonderful old bureau full of treasures, now in my daughter's storeroom.

Hahtool, I'm sorry you changed your avatar; I loved the last one but the shades cover up too much of your pretty face.

Anonymous said...

I love my Kindle since I usually read more than one book at a time. The downloads are inexpensive, $9.95 at the most--even new hardbacks--and are as quick as downloading a new app on your iphone. Some books are free. Font size can be made larger or smaller. One can underline or make notations. And, it can read to you if you like.

Clear Ayes: I also had "meme" for "same on the Seine" even though I have used the phrase "Ca m'est egal" many times.

Off to the Senior Center's exercise room.

Doreen

ARBAON said...

CC; I heard "sheik" pronounced as "sheek" all my life as in the song ..."the sheik of Arabee..." Now, all I hear is "shake." "Sheek" comes first in my Webster`s, though.

CA: My grandmother had a "pie safe" with beaten tin doors decorated with tiny holes made in swirl patterns. It served the same purpose as your cupboard...but there was no place her pies were actually "safe."

We have relatives who do/did work in metals and they say the "knurl" is the thread below (or on) the head of the knob which makes it easier to grasp...not the knob itself.

Jeannie: Just saw your parent`s picture. Lovely couple. Those fancy seams on that coat show that she was quite the seamstress.

The Grand Prix has come and (with the noise and inconvenience) gone...

Kazie: Did you visit the Clinton library in LR? (and does it look like what they say...a glorified trailer home?)

kazie said...

Clinton Library shows the top level which I guess he uses as an apartment when he's in town.

close up, this is more like the view I took of it. But we decided not to go in. I didn't really think it looked like a trailer, though now you mention it...But it's much bigger and more solid looking.

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Kazie,
How do you roll the French R? Below is what Lemonade told you while you were away, but I still can't have the R vibration. Mine is still just like "h".

"The tongue is pulled back with the tip behind the teeth and the rest of the tongue lightly touching the roof of the mouth; it is then pulled slowly back toward the uvula as you say the "R" word while breathing out, letting ther air pass between the tongue and the roof of the mouth. The tongue should be firm, but the tip loose to vibrate with the air to produce the trill."

Jazzbumpa said...

Hi gang -

thought the puzzle was a little above Monday difficulty.

My day has spun out of control. Off to rehearsal.

4 and a w/u.

Cheers!
JzB

Lucina said...

Good day, Argyle,C.C. and everyone.

Today I was helping a friend in need who, after she underwent some medical tests was unable to drive. I was happy to be her driver of choice as we are very good friends.

I did the xwd while waiting in the lounge area and luckily also included a book because solving was quick.

When I saw Barry Silk's name I prepared for more of a challenge; however, as always, with him, it was fun and engaging.

I started with pen for calligrapher's need but i.d. tag quickly changed that; also had Iran instead of Irag. Other than that it was easy as a cowboy lassoing a dogie (a real cowboy).

The Roman numeral made me chuckle thinking of past discussions on the subject.

Great clue:
Part of a carpenter's joint: tenon

Most interesting new word: knurl

Carol:
Kudos to you for standing on principle!

CA:
Great poem as always. Thanks.

Hope you are all having a marvelous Monday.

Lucina said...

Jeannie:
I went back to study your Mom's coat. That is some impressive handiwork!

windhover said...

Before Windhover was a farmer, he was a tool and die maker. As ARBAON said, and others suggested, a knurl is simply a crosshatch pattern impressed on a piece of steel such as a handle, a lever, a knob, or sometimes a thumbscrew that makes it easier to get a grip. You
can probably look around your kitchen and find items that are knurled. A knurl can also be molded into
plastic, and probably is more commonly found there in this throwaway age.
Anyone care to opine why there are so few posts today?

In weather news, 36 forecast here this evening, but 80 later in the week.

Annette said...

Clear Ayes: I enjoyed today's poem! I like exploring old things and little niches.

Annette said...

Windhover: I don't know where everyone is. I think it's Spring Break for some school districts, so people may be vacationing or have company.

I know I did the puzzle, but reading the blog, I don't remember a lot of the fill! I did it at 2 am, after getting back from the emergency animal hospital.

Yesterday was my cat's 22nd birthday, and shortly before midnight he was gasping for breath. The result was that it was time to put him to sleep...

Once I got home, I just wasn't ready for sleep. The puzzle was a good distraction, but I honestly don't remember enough to comment tonight!

carol said...

WH - I was just thinking the same thing about the posts today...only 33 and it is 6:20 Pacific time..weird.

Annette..you know that I know (and many others here) how painful that decision is regarding your beloved cat. 22 years is a great long life. My Laurel lasted 21 1/2 years exactly but I knew it was time. My sincere, heartfelt condolences!

JD said...

Annette, so sorry to hear about your cat.He had a very good life, but it must be very empty without him.

CA, I enjoyed that poem; it does make one think about the memories we gather holding on to those older treasures that we stuff into drawers.

Clear Ayes said...

Beginning of Easter vacation? Passover? Spring Fever? General laziness? Then, there is the possibility that there just wasn't a lot to talk about with today's puzzle. Take your pick.

I spent a couple of hours doing a little housekeeping (gotta do it sometime) because we are having guests this weekend. Tomorrow, we'll be doing some grocery shopping to feed the descending horde.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people are in the same boat.

I knew about KNURLed thumbscrews. I had to order hardware supplies for the maintenance mechanics when I was gainfully employed.

I'm glad so many of you are still enjoying the poems. I enjoy seeking them out.

Sorry to hear about your cat, Annette. It is hard to make that decision.

Dick said...

@Annette sorry to hear about your cat. It is always a sad time when we must make the decision to put them down, but in most cases it is the right thing to do for them and you.

HUTCH said...

Anette! Sorry about your loss. It's not hard to make the decision. But it"s so hard to implement the decision!

Crockett1947 said...

Annette, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss of your friend and companion. If s/he was with you for all 22 of those years, I'm certain you have many pleasant memories to cherish. So sorry for you.

Jerome said...

Lucina- As a long-time carpenter I must say that I've never seen a TENON as "Part of a carpenter's joint". Questionable characters, beat up pool tables, grumpy bartenders, and machismo to the hilt, yes. But never a TENON.

Bill G. said...

Annette, I'm really sorry about your cat but that translates into I'm feeling really bad for you.

We had a dear sheepdog (who I've had as an avatar from time to time). She got old, lame and incontinent. I had to lift her up whenever she laid down on a shiny floor area as opposed to carpet. I had to help her up stairs. We put a towel down in the upstairs hall for her to sleep on (easier to clean the towel than the carpet). Finally, at night, she slipped on the slate floor downstairs and got her leg caught between a step and a coffee table. She spent the night there. When we found her the next morning and extracted her from her predicament, she couldn't walk. The vet was very kind and sympathetic. I know it was the right thing to do but it was a very sad day for all of us.

Lucina said...

Jerome:
Far be it from me to comment on any aspect of carpentry, tools, or any phase of them.

You, as a constructor can probably best comment on 8D: part of a carpenter's joint. Ans. Tenon

Dictionary definition of tenon:
A projection of a piece of wood that is shaped to fit into a mortise and form a mortise joint.

Is there a hidden meaning here?

Lucina said...

Annette:
Please accept my condolences on the loss of your cat. I know it is a huge loss. I had a dog for 17 years and it was devastating to lose her when the time came. I'm so sorry.

MR ED said...

Hello CC, Argyle, Dennis, Clear Ayes and everyone else here.
Classy job as usual Argyle. Enjoyable puzzle. My fav's in a puzzle are the nostalgics & Roman numerals.
Tell me CC, is the almost daily reference to China in these puzzles in honor of you? If so, what a nice gesture. You deserve honors.
Colonel G.,you seem like an interesting person. I would like to get to know you.

CA., would like to be one of the horde. You're the best.

Dennis, I have a large supply of 45's, 78's and 33&1/3's. I would be glad to sell them to you...or anyone else for that matter.

Speaking of Passover, the size of the portions of food in the modern paintings of the Last Supper has increased. Things change.


I think my posts are being reviewed before they are allowed thru. I wonder why.

Dennis said...

Annette, deepest sympathy. Even when it's the right thing to do, it's an unbelievably gut-wrenching decision.

For me, it was the toughest single thing I'd gone through since Vietnam, and that was with a dog we'd had for only eight years; I can't imagine how tough it would be after twenty-two.

We all have you in our thoughts.

Zhouqin (C.C.) Burnikel said...

Annette,
I am sad to hear about your cat.

MR ED,
"Chinese leader?" is simply the best way to clue INDO.

kazie said...

Annette,
I too must express sympathy over your loss. We've gone through it many times over the years, with both dogs and cats, so I know what you aree going through.

C.C.,
I never roll the French "r" with the tip of my tongue. I got into the habit of using the uvular "r", simply letting the air vibrate at the back of the throat as it passes over the uvula seems to work better for me. Strictly speaking, I think different words are supposed to use one or the other of the two different types of "r", but I have just made do with the one.

Hahtoolah said...

Annette: I am so sorry to hear about your poor cat. I know how difficult this must be for you to lose a loving pet you have had so long. I send you my prayers.

MamaRuth said...

Annette--Sorry about your cat. We lost our dog in Dec. 2008 and I still don't think I'm over it. She got very sick very fast. Stopped eating one day, threw up water the next and couldn't walk. Our vet sent us to the ER at the U of Penn vet hospital. She started having more and more trouble breathing while she was there. When we went in to say good-bye to her, she couldn't even lift her head so we knew she didn't have long to live.

I just adopted a new rescue dog 2 weeks ago and every time I see her running up the stairs or jumping on the couch,I remember how hard those things were for our previous dog. This one is very sweet but we had some trouble the first night with snapping and nipping and biting. She still snaps occasionally but she also follows me from room to room so things are getting better.