Theme: ANAGRAMS! - The second word of each theme answer is an anagram of 'Skate.'
16A Prospector's funding: GRUBSTAKE. New to me. Noun: Supplies or funds advanced to a mining prospector or a person starting a business in return for a promised share of the profits. Also a historic restaurant near me.
23A. Compete in a derby, maybe: ROLLER SKATE. Roller derby.
36A. "To Autumn" poet: JOHN KEATS. There's your cue, Clear Ayes.
54A. Disbelieving looks: DOUBLE TAKES
62A. Tenderized cut of beef: CUBE STEAK
Only other possible anagram is TEAKS. But it has the same scheme as TAKES, with the plural form.
Melissa Bee here. Mike scattered in lots of artistic references today: RED A, JOHN KEATS, DELFT, ERIK, ALULA, ADELE and KLEE.
Across:
1. State of disarray: MESS
5. BLT condiment: MAYO. i have been making my own, very easy.
9. Ding-a-ling: DODO. and 45D: Featherbrain: AIRHEAD
13. __ Alto: PALO. Gimme for Californians.
14. Baby step? A TO B
15. Human, e.g.: BI-PED. Two -footed.
18. Simpson of fashion: ADELE. Is it just me, or does she look exactly like Erma Bombeck?
19. Zone: AREA
20. It's not pretty: EYESORE
22. "Bad Moon Rising" band, familiarly: CCR. American rock band, Credence Clearwater Revival. Played at Woodstock.
27. Remedial treatment: THERAPY. A term used in massage therapy, and, as i just learned, also in forestry and woodworking.
29. Opus __: "The Da Vinci Code" sect: DEI. Never saw it. Yeah, yeah, i know.
30. Rolodex no.: TEL. Telephone number. Does anyone still use a Rolodex? Seems a little archaic, but then again you never had to worry about viruses or power outages.
31. "The Scarlet Letter" letter: RED A. Nathaniel Hawthorne's book about an Adulteress in 17th century Boston. Also a play and a movie.
32. __-en-Provence, France: AIX
34. Run-down: SEEDY. Like this. Or this
40. Son of Abraham: ISAAC
43. Memorable time: ERA. Yawn.
44. Lawyer's aide: PARA. Paralegal.
48. Spa benefit, for short: TLC. That'll be extra.
49. FedEx rival: UPS
52. Tehran inhabitant: IRANIAN
57. Some OR staff: RNS. Registered Nurses in the Operating Room.
58. Showing no emotion: STOICAL
59. German chancellor, 1982-'98: KOHL. Helmut. Oversaw the end of the Cold War and the German reunification. According to George H. W. Bush, "the greatest European leader of the second half of the 20th century."
61. Flay and Ray, e.g.: CHEFS. Bobby and Rachel. Even though i don't watch t.v., i nailed it.
66. Dutch city known for its blue-and-white pottery: DELFT. View of Delft, by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.
67. Swiss abstractionist: KLEE. We've seen his name before. He liked shapes and colors.
68. Fee: RATE
69. Breyers competitor: EDYS. Ice cream brands.
70. Succumbed to being grilled: SANG. Grill is slang for interrogate. Sang is slang for confessed, or ratted out. Made me think of this.
71. Mideast city on its own gulf: ADEN. Seaport city in Yemen, in the crater of an extinct volcano.
Down:
1. EPA sticker datum: MPG. Environmental Protection Agency / Miles Per Gallon.
2. Otitis: EARACHE
3. Like a sot's speech: SLURRED
4. Fruit juice brand: SOBE
5. Protective pad: MAT. Here's Drew with hers.
6. Words with clip or time: AT A
7. Backwoods type: YOKEL
8. Heeded: OBEYED
9. Passed, say: DID OK
10. Run: OPERATE
11. Erased: DELETED
12. 36-Across work: ODE
15. Paul McCartney or Sting: BASSIST
17. Lee with frozen desserts: SARA
21. Poetic preposition: ERE
22. NFL snapper: CTR. The center passes (or "snaps") the ball to the quarterback at the start of each play.
24. Shimmering aquarium fish: OPAH
25. "__ Eyes": Eagles hit: LYIN'
26. Tarzan portrayer Ron: ELY
28. Rani's spouse: RAJA
33. 1960s-'70s Jaguar Down: XKE
35. "Baseball Tonight" airer: ESPN
37. Eye doctor: OCULIST
38. The Phantom of the Opera: ERIK
39. Bern's river: AARE. Wow, beautiful.
40. "__ be an honor": IT'D. Groan. I suppose it can't be helped.
41. Waded (through): SLOSHED
42. Keen way to be aware: ACUTELY
46. Lasted longer than expected, as a meeting: RAN LATE. Not always a bad thing.
47. Q&A part: Abbr.: ANS. Question and answer.
50. Push-up target: PEC. i was thinking this.
51. IHOP servings: STACKS. Pancakes.
53. Wants to know: ASKS. And if you don't want to know … don't ask.
55. Smash hits, in slang: BOFFS. No comment.
56. "Be-Bop-__": 1956 hit: A-LULA. Originally by Gene Vincent, but check out one of the greatest live albums ever, imo, Van Morrison's A Night in San Francisco - disc 2, track 4.
60. Other, in Oaxaca: OTRA
61. B-F connectors: C-D-E
63. Kingsley who played Gandhi: BEN
64. Short head lines?: EEG. 'Short' to indicate abbreviation. EEG = Electroencephalogram.
65. Baseball's Griffey: KEN
Answer grid.
Melissa
Note from C.C.:
I am very pleased to announce that Melissa Bee will blog two Wednesday puzzles a month from now on. Melissa joined the blog in May 2008 and has entertained & educated us with many of her fun links and witty comments. Thanks for the time and commitment, Melissa!
16A Prospector's funding: GRUBSTAKE. New to me. Noun: Supplies or funds advanced to a mining prospector or a person starting a business in return for a promised share of the profits. Also a historic restaurant near me.
23A. Compete in a derby, maybe: ROLLER SKATE. Roller derby.
36A. "To Autumn" poet: JOHN KEATS. There's your cue, Clear Ayes.
54A. Disbelieving looks: DOUBLE TAKES
62A. Tenderized cut of beef: CUBE STEAK
Only other possible anagram is TEAKS. But it has the same scheme as TAKES, with the plural form.
Melissa Bee here. Mike scattered in lots of artistic references today: RED A, JOHN KEATS, DELFT, ERIK, ALULA, ADELE and KLEE.
Across:
1. State of disarray: MESS
5. BLT condiment: MAYO. i have been making my own, very easy.
9. Ding-a-ling: DODO. and 45D: Featherbrain: AIRHEAD
13. __ Alto: PALO. Gimme for Californians.
14. Baby step? A TO B
15. Human, e.g.: BI-PED. Two -footed.
18. Simpson of fashion: ADELE. Is it just me, or does she look exactly like Erma Bombeck?
19. Zone: AREA
20. It's not pretty: EYESORE
22. "Bad Moon Rising" band, familiarly: CCR. American rock band, Credence Clearwater Revival. Played at Woodstock.
27. Remedial treatment: THERAPY. A term used in massage therapy, and, as i just learned, also in forestry and woodworking.
29. Opus __: "The Da Vinci Code" sect: DEI. Never saw it. Yeah, yeah, i know.
30. Rolodex no.: TEL. Telephone number. Does anyone still use a Rolodex? Seems a little archaic, but then again you never had to worry about viruses or power outages.
31. "The Scarlet Letter" letter: RED A. Nathaniel Hawthorne's book about an Adulteress in 17th century Boston. Also a play and a movie.
32. __-en-Provence, France: AIX
34. Run-down: SEEDY. Like this. Or this
40. Son of Abraham: ISAAC
43. Memorable time: ERA. Yawn.
44. Lawyer's aide: PARA. Paralegal.
48. Spa benefit, for short: TLC. That'll be extra.
49. FedEx rival: UPS
52. Tehran inhabitant: IRANIAN
57. Some OR staff: RNS. Registered Nurses in the Operating Room.
58. Showing no emotion: STOICAL
59. German chancellor, 1982-'98: KOHL. Helmut. Oversaw the end of the Cold War and the German reunification. According to George H. W. Bush, "the greatest European leader of the second half of the 20th century."
61. Flay and Ray, e.g.: CHEFS. Bobby and Rachel. Even though i don't watch t.v., i nailed it.
66. Dutch city known for its blue-and-white pottery: DELFT. View of Delft, by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.
67. Swiss abstractionist: KLEE. We've seen his name before. He liked shapes and colors.
68. Fee: RATE
69. Breyers competitor: EDYS. Ice cream brands.
70. Succumbed to being grilled: SANG. Grill is slang for interrogate. Sang is slang for confessed, or ratted out. Made me think of this.
71. Mideast city on its own gulf: ADEN. Seaport city in Yemen, in the crater of an extinct volcano.
Down:
1. EPA sticker datum: MPG. Environmental Protection Agency / Miles Per Gallon.
2. Otitis: EARACHE
3. Like a sot's speech: SLURRED
4. Fruit juice brand: SOBE
5. Protective pad: MAT. Here's Drew with hers.
6. Words with clip or time: AT A
7. Backwoods type: YOKEL
8. Heeded: OBEYED
9. Passed, say: DID OK
10. Run: OPERATE
11. Erased: DELETED
12. 36-Across work: ODE
15. Paul McCartney or Sting: BASSIST
17. Lee with frozen desserts: SARA
21. Poetic preposition: ERE
22. NFL snapper: CTR. The center passes (or "snaps") the ball to the quarterback at the start of each play.
24. Shimmering aquarium fish: OPAH
25. "__ Eyes": Eagles hit: LYIN'
26. Tarzan portrayer Ron: ELY
28. Rani's spouse: RAJA
33. 1960s-'70s Jaguar Down: XKE
35. "Baseball Tonight" airer: ESPN
37. Eye doctor: OCULIST
38. The Phantom of the Opera: ERIK
39. Bern's river: AARE. Wow, beautiful.
40. "__ be an honor": IT'D. Groan. I suppose it can't be helped.
41. Waded (through): SLOSHED
42. Keen way to be aware: ACUTELY
46. Lasted longer than expected, as a meeting: RAN LATE. Not always a bad thing.
47. Q&A part: Abbr.: ANS. Question and answer.
50. Push-up target: PEC. i was thinking this.
51. IHOP servings: STACKS. Pancakes.
53. Wants to know: ASKS. And if you don't want to know … don't ask.
55. Smash hits, in slang: BOFFS. No comment.
56. "Be-Bop-__": 1956 hit: A-LULA. Originally by Gene Vincent, but check out one of the greatest live albums ever, imo, Van Morrison's A Night in San Francisco - disc 2, track 4.
60. Other, in Oaxaca: OTRA
61. B-F connectors: C-D-E
63. Kingsley who played Gandhi: BEN
64. Short head lines?: EEG. 'Short' to indicate abbreviation. EEG = Electroencephalogram.
65. Baseball's Griffey: KEN
Answer grid.
Melissa
Note from C.C.:
I am very pleased to announce that Melissa Bee will blog two Wednesday puzzles a month from now on. Melissa joined the blog in May 2008 and has entertained & educated us with many of her fun links and witty comments. Thanks for the time and commitment, Melissa!
Good morning, Melissa Bee, C.C. and gang - very much a fun puzzle today - liked the anagram theme, loved all the fresh clues. I had one hiccup, with 'ran over' for 46D, but 'Kohl' quickly straightened me out. Didn't like 'stoical' - it may be a real word, but to me, 'stoic' is the right word. And 55D, isn't the word 'boffo', not 'boff'? 'Boff' always meant something, uh, different to me. Those aside, I thought this was a great offering from Mike Peluso; enjoyed it a lot.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Bee, always a pleasure to sample your offerings, and now twice a month!. Very nice job w/great links, especially the push-up targets. And if TLC is "extra", what is it comprised of?
Today is Meteor Day. It's also something else, and I can't think of it.....damn......wait.......just a minute, it's coming to me.........ok, I remember now: IT'S OUR FEARLESS LEADER'S BIRTHDAY!!! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, C.C.!!! I hope it's your best yet. Anything special today?
This is a good time to mention, again, what an amazing job C.C. has done in creating and maintaining this blog; those of us who have guest-blogged particularly appreciate the day-in, day-out effort C.C. put in for almost two years before allowing others to occasionally blog. Also, one of the reasons for the blog's success is our cadre of loyal readers/posters who have been here through good times and bad (and I'm certainly guilty of prolonging some of the bad times), and that's also a tribute to C.C. Anyway, I'm proud to be part of this group; I greatly value loyalty, and C.C. has certainly earned it.
Good morning C.C. and everyone.
ReplyDeleteCertainly a good Wednesday puzzle.
2D should have been clued OTALGIA, the medical term for earache. OTITIS is generally an inflammation of the ear, external or internal.
August
Happy birthday C.C.. May you have more to enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteAugust
Hello Puzzlers - Well done, M. Bee! I must agree with Dennis about the push-up targets. I have been fooled more than once by those newfangled bras...
ReplyDeleteStruggled a bit here & there. Couldn't see RED A, didn't know KLEE or Keats' first name.
A most happy birthday to you, C.C.! Spoil yourself today - maybe some TLC and EDY'S?
A very BIG Happy Birthday to you CC! Hope you have a truly wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle was a bit of a challenge for me. There were several fills that I just "knew" were correct, and I had a hard time letting go of them for the "real" correct fill.
I wanted Ran Over instead of RAN LATE, and I thought Paul McCartney and Sting were British instead of BASSISTs. I also thought that the Phantom spelled his name with a C instead of a K (ERIK).
I lived in AIX-en-Provence several years ago. Although it is famous for many things, I especially liked the Four Dolphin Fountain.
Paul KLEE was a CUBIST. Did anyone else notice that his name crossed with CUBE STEAK?
You need a pretty big aquarium for that OPAH to swim in!
Carol: I am glad your eye surgery went well yesterday and could join us following the procedure.
QOD: A drawing is simply a line going for a walk. ~
Paul Klee
A line is a dot that went for a walk. ~ Paul Klee
Well, they didn't exactly cross, but CUBE was immediately STACKed (like the IHop panckakes) above KLEE.
ReplyDeleteThe CHEFS were in front of the CUBE STEAK.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, C.C.
It's C.C.'s birthday? Who knew ours were so close together... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, C.C!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBit of a slog today, mostly because I didn't figure out the theme until I came here. Had I known the theme, I wouldn't have put JOHNYEATS instead of JOHNKEATS for 36A. Yeah, I know it's William Butler Yeats, but I didn't know Mr. KEATS's first name and my brain misfired. That section was doubly difficult for me because AIX was a complete unknown and XKE was buried very deep in the dark (and, sad to say, dank) recesses of my brain.
The other main trouble spot was the SW corner due to (a) my inability to accept BOFFS as a legitimate word, (b) the fact that I initially had SLOGGED instead of SLOSHED for 41D and (c) the fact that I inexplicably put STOICLY instead of STOICAL for 58A. Hey -- it looked good at the time, I swear...
Fortunately, I was eventually able to extricate myself from these problem areas unassisted, and the rest of the puzzle was very smooth.
Oh -- and thanks again to everybody for the kind birthday wishes yesterday!
Melissa Bee looks stunning.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Melissa B., how nice to see you and have you twice a month. C.C., happy birthday, your first as a fellow American, and with many, many more ahead. I would repeat Dennis’ comments, since law school teaches us to never miss an opportunity to reuse someone else’s work, but my typing stinks, so understand I second the sentiment. On a hopefully amusing note, when C.C. gave me a puzzle to blog which was all about law stuff, I was amazed, so it is with trepidation that I note today does have the double dose of ditz : Ding-a-ling: DODO. and 45D: Featherbrain: AIRHEAD, not that I think it is in anyway a reference to our esteemed demi-Wednesday blogger- I am just saying….
ReplyDeleteWhen you think about the incredible number of words in the English language, it is always fun to find words like STAKE which can create so many variations, and I do love a good anagram to walk in the park with a good pun.
I am not sure, but I had trouble remembering OCULIST, which considering my eye history amazed me, and I did not want to go from DIDOK to DID O K. There are times run-ons get me. I also was very impressed with the observation that when a man wants to make his chest more impressive looking, he does a push up, and woman buys one. The picture was nice as well.
I enjoyed the puzzle but would hope they would rid the world of the concept anyone actually refers to a legal helper as a PARA; it would be like calling our incomparable GB, a THERA (which incidentally did show up, sort of in this puzzle).
Finally, I noticed in your SEEDY pic, they did not have a dollar store, they had a $2 store, so it must be classier than you thought.
I have always liked the work of KLEE, though I could not tell you why; his observations are also interesting; thank you H.
Again, many happy returns C.C., perhaps you and Barry G. can exchange astrologic influences….
If I have not welcomed the newbies, or said HEY to Kazie, I am just supre busy, but good to see everyone.
Morning all,
ReplyDeleteGood puzzle this a.m., but it took me a bit longer to complete than a normal Wednesday. Grubstake was certainly new to me, some recess of the brain remembered Adele Simpson, and yes MB that picture is certainly Erma Bombeck unless her twin was Adele. Looked for other pictures of Adele but that seems to be the only one available. Thanks for the picture done by Klee--certainly is colorful. Couldn’t believe the picture of an Opah--size and color is unbelievable. Don’t go to IHOP very often but I do like their Cream of Wheat pancakes.
I joined the blog around March of 2008 and also found it by googling an answer. Don’t comment very often but usually check in everyday. It is the necessary second part of completing a crossword. Happy Birthday C.C. and have a wonderful year ahead. You are amazing. Have a great day all. I’m busy getting ready for the whole family here for the 4th of July weekend. Lots of food and drink and family time. Love it.
Jeanne not Jeannie.
Hi all
ReplyDeleteBig happy birthday CC!
Puzzle was fun today. Got everything without help except for 22A. Big DOH!. Should have known since I used to listen to them a lot!
Great day everyone. Will be serving community meal this evening.
Melissa Bee, Wonderful write-up!
ReplyDeleteCC, Happy Birthday!
21 again? I'm not surprised!
Hahtool: Yes, I grinned at KLEE being below CUBESTEAK for that same reason. Personally, I think the cubist are square.
Dennis: Must be on the same wave length. BOFFS, in slang, has nothing to do with "Smash hits." Must be the result of my SEEDY way of thinking.
Which brings to my faves today: Loved having SLOSHED & SLURRED in the grid. Ahhh, Definition of character.
In my newspaper, 12 Down was clued as "38-Across work" (NOT 36-across work) but the perps said "12D is ODE" and I went with it.
CHEFS also by perps. I have no idea who FLAY & RAY are since I rarely (if ever) watch cooking shows.
Never heard of the well known Dutch pottery town, DELFT, a wag.
STOICAL KOHL, nice descriptive line.
All-in-all a FUN Wednesday puzzle!
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, C.C., and many more! Congrats on the citizen thing too--I didn't know you'd taken that plunge, but it certainly makes life simpler, doesn't it?
I took a little more time today, but needed only perp help. My last fills were the NE corner, because I started out having WAS OK for DID OK and I didn't know ADELE Also am not familiar with Flay and Ray, and had CHE- before BOFFS came to me--don't know that word either. I also wasn't up on the meaning of GRUBSTAKE. To me, grub means food, not digging.
I think I've mentioned before that there's a bear pit in Bern, and that the XKE was always simply and "E-type Jag" where I grew up.
Also, Melissa B, Thanks for a wonderful collection of links. I remember that fountain in Aix, and had the same thought on the push up link.
Good morning all -
ReplyDeleteMelissa Bee, great blogging (altho I was expecting a different pec pic...). I am excited that you'll bee a regular contributor.
CC - may all your birthday dreams come true. You have created a wonderful community here - maybe if we all sing Happy Birthday at noon central time, you'll hear us!
Enjoy the day.
Tinbeni,
ReplyDeleteI too had the same reaction to the "38 across" thing.
I started out here in July of 2008, but I can't remember exactly when. I found this blog the same way as most--by googling for an answer. Now, as is obvious, I find it a necessary part of finishing my daily puzzle.
Off to a meeting now. Maybe later I'll get some photos into the computer.
A Happy Bday to you CC. I am glad I stopped by this am. I have not been very consistent on that as of late. All that driving kids around in the summer.
ReplyDeleteI caught on to the theme early which helped out, but still missed a few unknowns. ALOLA, KLEE and EEG had me stumped, as well as not getting SANG - a DOH moment for me in the end as I should have gotten them all, especially EEG!!! Had to come here to reveal the meaning of A TO B, and was clueless on AIX and XKE. But otherwise did really well. Jerome should like this one.
We used to have CUBE STEAKS when I was a kid. That was the upgraded meat for us, but I always still found them rather grisly. I was with Melissa B on the push up thoughts. I couldn't get past those Victoria Secret brands (they don't work for me at all as there isn't much to push up there).
Great job Melissa B and welcome to the blog world. Thanks for taking on the challenge. Have a great day all, especially CC.
Great job Melissabee! I am happy to see that you will be a regular contributor. I didn’t grasp the theme even though I got roller skate, John Keats, double takes and cube steak right away. I never had heard of “grubstake” though but the perps helped there. I also got Adele, Aix, Dei, Delft and XKE that way as well. Believe it or not I still use my rolodex every day. Sometimes I find it faster to find someone in it. I have heard of an optometrist and an opthamologist but never heard of an “oculist” so basically I made a WAG and didn’t get any red letters so it had to be right. I too expected a different “pec” picture Melissabee, and that was my favorite clue of the day.
ReplyDeleteI had a wonderful visit with my family and am planning on going back over Labor Day weekend to celebrate my Mom’s 77th birthday. The weather was great and I even managed to take a swim in Lake Michigan on Saturday.
Kazie, I am glad you enjoyed your trip and am looking forward to seeing some great pictures. You were missed here every day.
C.C. HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you get to do something special today.
Jeannie, not Jeanne.
Good Morning All. C.C. Happy B-Day and hello to Melissa Bee. This is a great blog!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the Dogs, Dixie and Dolly, are Bernese Mt. Dogs and belong to a crazy friend of mine. Good eye Clear Ayes. They don't fit in the MG, but they have their own carts to pull! (I have my own towing service for the MG!)
The car is mine, all mine, as my husband has his own '54 TF. This way we don't argue over who gets to drive.
Bill G. the famous Gilroy aroma comes and goes. It's usually stronger in June/July when it's harvest time and the garlic is drying in the fields...like right now! www.howdoesgilroysmelltoday.com
(I'll have to figure out how to post a link, I know.}
Now the puzzle. As usual, missed the theme. Liked Baby Steps, Head Lines, question Rachel Ray being referred to a chef - she always refers to herself as a cook, not a chef and boffs not boffo. Oh well, I finished in 21 mins., not so good for a Wednesday. Everyone have a great day and thanks for all the encouragement.
Am I not Blue again....ugh!!!
UGH!!!!! I am such a dork!!! Insert eye rolling from my kids.... I think I've got it now. Sorry. ;)
ReplyDeleteGood Morning MelissaB, CC and All,
ReplyDeleteI got some of the theme answers until the SW corner where it turned sloggy. I had written Dansk for 66A for no good reason, UPS fixed what my thoughts were for 50D and Acutely wouldn't pop into my brain at all. I turned to red letters and DoubleTakes filled in. Fun puzzle!
Happy, Happy Birthday CC and many thanks for your efforts creating this blog. You ahh wicked smaht deah!!
That four letter word interrupted my blogging yesterday. Things are cranking up getting ready for the holiday weekend. It'll be busy as the parade is Saturday and the fireworks are Sunday night, prolonging the celebration.
Adding to the fun is my sibs will be arriving on Friday bringing all the nieces and nephews. My nephew, his girl friend and his two year old son will be staying with us. Its been awhile but I'm actually looking forward to having a toddler around. After work we'll be entertaining. Lobstahs, mussels and steamahs are on the menu Saturday night.
Jeannie, Glad you had a good time with your folks!!
Melissa Bee, Excellent write up! I'm looking forward to your regular appearances.
Have a great Hump Day!
Fairly typical for a Wednesday puzzle. Took 17 minutes to complete. A few I didn't know (4D SOBE, 60D OTRA) but could work them out OK. Started with BOZO at 9A and RANLONG at 46D and SLOGGED at 41D until it became clear they wouldn't work. 12D should have read 36-Across and not 38-Across.
ReplyDeletePretty much a slog for me today. My mind wasn't in it having just had a - um - "discussion" with DH over something trivial. I started out with great confidence by filling in most of the top tier, but soon hit the skids in middle and bottom. Once again, the theme fills were easy enough, but I didn't guess the theme.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of SOBE or EDYS; not brands we have, I guess. Relied on perps for those. Didn't know BOFF, either. I also put RANover instead of RANLATE.
Nice blog, MB.
Happy BD, C.C.
Glad your eye surgery went well, Carol.
No puzzle time this morning, but I wanted to wish C.C. a very happy birthday. This is a great blog.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Bee does a wonderful job as a guest blogger too.
Thank you Paolo for the cheese and fish information.
Rachel Ray is NOT a chef.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday C.C.! Please know how much your blog brightens my day each morning.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Bee - Great job with the solving (as usual) and thanks for all the links, especially your take on the "push-up target". I thought it curious that STACKS was the next answer. I guess there's a PEC under there somewhere.
Hahtool - I enjoyed your Klee notes. He's also connected to the AARE clue since there is a large Klee museum in Bern.
Since we're halfway through 2010, here are some stats for the anally inclined:
Rich Norris has used 71 different constructors for the Monday through Saturday puzzles so far this year. Twenty-one of those were new to us.
Constructors we've seen most often:
Dan Naddor (14)
Donna Levin (9)
Barry Silk (8)
Jack McInturff (7)
Gareth Bain (5)
Brad Wilber (5)
Personally, my average solve time so far this year is 26.2 minutes, exactly the same as all of last year. So much for thinking I was getting better at this!
What about Don Gagliardo and John Lampkin? We have seen several of their puzzles.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you are getting better at the puzzles - just the clues are different so you are learning new things.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY C.C.-we all vodka you.Hope you go somewhere special so you can use that new toy.
ReplyDeleteand, good morning Melissa Bee & all,
Melissa, that has to be a mistaken identity. I also looked for Adele's picture and could not come up with one either, but now I know who she was.BTW, Welcome on Wedesdays!
anagrams..clever...didn't see it, but easily filled them and thought it was no theme day.I was a dodo in many areas like not being able to read reda..red A-d'oh!
Couldn't fill the C (ccr/ctr) or the G(eeg/sang).
Loved stoical, but not bassist.Enjoyed seeing Klee. I find cubism fascinating..the weirder the better, similar to Picasso.
Boffs certainly has many meanings:
* a blow with fist or open hand
*to do the sex act
*to vomit or barf(hopefully not all are done at the same time)
* a joke or witty remark
* a sockeroo, which is a show that pleases an audience
Boffo
* a dollar bill
* a joke
* successful entertainment
Boffola is a belly laugh.
Garlic gal, what is your involvement with the Garlic Festival?
Puzzle poser- Mike's center grid entry, JOHN KEATS, is nine letters long. Why does it have to have an odd amount of letters?
ReplyDeleteAnon- Rachel Ray is a CHEF. True, she defines herself as a cook, but it doesn't matter. She cooks for a living. It's her profession. That, by definition, is a chef.
Lemonade, Hahtool- Is there a male equivalent of a Shiksa? Just curious.
Happy birthday C.C.!
Good Morning All, Today seemed easier than yesterday to me. Maybe it was because I sailed through all the three letter fill. Oh yeah, PEC did give me a problem. I had CUP and then BRA first.
ReplyDeleteThe only place I had trouble was the SW. I filled in SLOGGED for 41D "Waded through". It took me a while to replace the "GG" with "SH". ACUTELY, STOICAL and the CHEFS eluded me until the end.
GarlicGal beat me to it about 61A Rachel Ray/CHEF.
Merriam-Webster does give a noun definition of BOFF "3 : something that is conspicuously successful". Somebody somewhere might use it that way, but the primary verb definition is what we have all heard and understand as the REAL meaning.
Cute that Mainiac's avatar showed up right after GarlicGal. He has a lovely Bernese Mountain Dog.
I also tried to google the elusive ADELE. No luck and I gave up and googled Erma Bombeck. The same photo came up. Somebody is trying to pull ADELE searchers lower extremities.
JimmyB you are one dedicated puzzler!
Jeannie, glad you had a wonderful visit.
OK, sorry non-poetry people, but the next comment just has to be KEATS.
jerome: i am always baffled, but cc said the center answer has to have odd number of letters.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I just scanned all of the fun "extras" you added. I died laughing over the nail gal. The place where I get a pedicure is EXACTLY like that..funny she didn't mention the hot wax treatment which I never get.Every so often I am talked into getting a flower on my toe.And my manicure salon has no s on nails either.
ReplyDeleteOh, I still use my rolodex for numbers I use infrequently. I am still cell phone challenged or phobic.
Edy's is Dreyers, right?
Am looking forward to some yummy opah in August .I think it is sometimes called a moon fish.
Mystic - Don Gagliardo and John Lampkin have had 4 puzzles each this year (Mon-Sat). Also with 4 are Jeff Chen, Mike Peluso, James Sajdak, Gary Steinmehl, and Bruce Venzke.
ReplyDeleteOur buddy Jerome is in a group of six that we have seen 3 times this year.
Morning, Melissa Bee, C.C. and all.
ReplyDeleteA very happy Birthday to you, C.C., and many more!
Jerome, If there weren't an odd number of letters in the center, it would not be possible to make the grid symmetrical.
Speaking of center, the only square I couldn't get right was the 'c' in 'ctr'. I don't know 'ccr' and wasn't sure what 'snapper' meant. Otherwise, this was a winner for me! Either the puzzles are getting a bit easier lately, or I've improved vastly since joining the group here! Nice to see progress. I did today's on the net last night. Including all the corrections I had to make because of getting the letters in the wrong squares, my time was 26 minutes. I have no idea what it usually is but as you all know, the puzzle on Cruciverb automatically times you. What happens if you have to answer the phone or the doorbell? Does the timer still keep going, or is there a way to pause it?
Melissa Bee, your blog was really great! Loved all the links, too. I must learn how to do that. I'm glad you're going to be a regular! You do it so well! And I thought the nail thing was hilarious! Gotta watch it again now!
BTW, 'boffs'no, 'boffo'yes; 'stoical'no, 'stoic' yes, IMHO.
Maybe I should change my ID to
dingaling.
Kazie, glad you're back. And we didn't even have any foreign words for you to translate today!
ReplyDeleteJeannie, glad you're home safely, too. Why did I think you were from Mississippi?
Jerome, re: CHEF. I gotta disagree on this one. Mike Peluso obviously linked "Flay and Ray" because it was a cute rhyming phrase.
ReplyDeleteYour definition "cooking for a living" makes the guy who mans the grill at Denny's, or even the kid at the McDonald's grill, a chef.
A chef does more than cook professionally for other people to eat the food he or she has prepared. The chef is trained at a culinary school, or as an apprentice/intern to another chef. The chef runs the kitchen and is the boss, whether it is in a restaurant, the White House, or Oprah's house.
(I know that makes Julia Child iffy as a chef, but she did have classical training at Paris' Cordon Bleu culinary school.)
Rachael Ray has never "cooked for a living". She has taught cooking classes and has TV shows where she demonstrates how to cook simple recipes. She has become famous because of her personality and ability to relate to the home cook. If she insists she is not a chef, why dispute it for the sake of a crossword fill?
Hi gang -
ReplyDeleteHappy BD, C.C. Many more, and thanx for the great blog.
Melissa - terrific as always.
Jerome - I think that would be a goy.
I had a rather tough time with the puzzle today. Took a while to suss the theme. Eventually I DID OK, but couldn't find Mike's wavelength.
We have a couple granddaughter's with us today through tomorrow. We're going for a walk now. Not warm enough to get in the pool. Odd way to end an otherwise very warm June.
Cheers!
JzB Who is amused by "push up target" and STACKS
Aha! Adele Simpson. She is in the upper left corner of this vintage 1950's Dress Pattern.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dodo. The grid is an odd number of squares wide. The center consists of some word with two equal number of squares on either side. That can only happen if the center word has an odd number of letters with two equal number of squares on either side adding up to an odd number. If you tried to have the center word with an even number of letters with two equal number of squares on either side, that would add up to an even number and the grid always has an odd number of squares for its width. (I'm finding this harder to try to explain in writing than I expected.)
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon Melissa, CC, et al., Not a speed run but faster than a usual Weds for me. Theme? What theme? Great job, Melissa. thank you for the links...ALL of them.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of 'boffs'...won't forget that one any time soon. Will soon have to use that in a sentence - court imposed - tennis court - and will reserve another definition for later after the game. It's all good.
Carol: so glad the procedure is over and you are fine.
CC: Happy happy birthday to you, our celebrated fearless leader and my idol. I whole heartedly wish you many many moreand the very best today...and every day really, but especially today.
Game time. Enjoy your day.
JimmyB: why don't Sundays count in figuring how often a constructor's puzzles appear? According to CC's labeling, John Lampkin's puzzles have appeared 7 times since Jan. 11, 2010. Three of those times were Sundays.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, KEATS...
ReplyDeleteJohn KEATS poem Ode to Autumn is rather long to post here. His 18th century language can also be difficult to understand. I think we can all understand this one.
Give Me Women, Wine, And Snuff
Give me women, wine, and snuff
Until I cry out "hold, enough!"
You may do so sans objection
Till the day of resurrection;
For bless my beard they aye shall be
My beloved Trinity.
-John Keats
dodo- Bravo!
ReplyDeleteBill- You're a math whiz. That's cheating. :)
Jazz- Goy can be female or male. No? If so, goy doesn't answer the question.
Clear Ayes- "... why dispute it for the sake of a crossword fill"
Because Mike was correct calling Ray a chef. The clue is not incorrect and Mike certainly didn't misuse chef in order to rhyme Flay with Ray.
Melissa Bee,
ReplyDeleteyou are a doll! If you are not married, I would like to meet with you. Let me know.
Jerome - both shiksa (or shikse) and the male counterpart shegetz can be considered to be derrogatory. I wouldn't use them in a crossword puzzle if I were you.
ReplyDeleteHi all -
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost: Happy Birthday to you C.C. and many, many more. You are an inspiration to us all. As was suggested, do something you want and where you can use your new camera.
Thank you all for your well wishes, it must have worked as all is fine - post op appt this morning confirmed it.
Puzzle was easy in the NW corner so I got pretty full of myself and was slapped down in the NE corner. I just could not figure any of those answers out, so I skipped it and filled in all the rest...went back to it and had to look up the 1st letter of 9A. Once I had that 'D' I managed to get all the rest.
Argyle: that pattern picture from the '50's made me sit up and take note: for all you women, notice the size is 12 - now look at the bust and hip measurement on the pattern. What a hoot! Those would be a size 4 or 6 today! The type of 'sizing' has changed radically of the last 50-60 years. The reason Nordstrom was such a fun place to try on clothes was that their size 10 was always too large on a lot of women, so they could buy an 8 and feel good about themselves...even thought they were probably a 1950's size 14 - but hey, whatever works, right?
JD (12:10) where did you see a 'nail gal'...I looked all throught Melissa Bee's links and ?
Melissa Bee, congratulations on your Wednesday hosting...you do such a terrific job each time you blog, I always enjoy it.
anon@1:58, an excellent move - I know Melissa Bee has a weakness for anons. I think it's the mysteriousness of it all that attracts her.
ReplyDeleteAnon- I'm reading a novel and this woman quotes a Yiddish saying, "Men tracht und Gott lacht"
ReplyDeleteThe guy she says this to, the hero of the book and a Jew, says to her, "Man, I love it when you shiksas speak Yiddish." A few pages later I learn the meaning of the phrase- "Man plans and God laughs"
Out of curiosity I was wondering if shiksa had a male equivalent. That's all. And no, derogatory words do not belong in puzzles, but thanks for the warning with "shegetz" and for answering the question
happy happy birthday c.c!!! unagi to you!
ReplyDeletelemonade, stellar observation - just call me airhead.
nice to see you jeanne.
carol, click on the link for 70 across. so glad your surgery was successful.
anon, wow i'm flattered. call me at 555-555-5555.
Dennis,
ReplyDeleteI think thou dost tempt fate a little too much!
Kazie,
ReplyDeleteI think Melissa likes those who tempt fate, the gutsy MOREL kind, not the coward anonymous who dares not even leave his name.
August,
Where are you from? Taiwan?
Haltool,
JimmyB's newspaper does not carry LA Times Sunday, though he does solve occasionally.
Jeanne et al,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sweet birthday wishes. Boomer took me to Twins' Game last night. Denard Span tripled thrice and we walloped Jazzbumpa's Tigers.
I had fun with my new camera too. But man, my life is indeed changed, Dodo! The camera has such high resolution that every wrinkle shows!
Hahtool - I don't keep track of the Sunday puzzles since 1) like C.C. says, they are not in our Sunday Mercury News; and 2) they are a different grid size and I don't always have time to tackle them.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started doing crosswords I thought constructors were consistently "hard" or consistently "easy" so I started to keep track of my times to see whose puzzles were the "toughest". Then I realized the difficulty was more a function of the day of the week, dependent on the decision of the editor. Thus constructors like Dan Naddor, Don Gagliardo, and Barry Silk could be BOTH easy or hard, depending on the day. At least for me, anyway.
Of course, another reason I don't keep track of Sunday puzzles is that they would totally screw up my average time (since they routinely take me 2-3 times as long). Got to protect that ego!
C.C., I wish you a very Happy Birthday! I wondered if there was a special occasion for Boomer to be giving you a nice, new camera the other day…
ReplyDeleteOoooh! I'm so very late for this party, and C.C.'s birthday, too.
ReplyDeleteA very happy birthday to you, C.C.! I cannot tell you how pleased I am to have found this blog and every day I admire you more for it. I send a firm, warm cyberhug to you. Ditto on Dennis's remarks
Our court hearing ran late, lasting much longer than expected as they were behind schedule with only one judge.
My niece and her husband adopted three siblings, whose mom is on drugs; they now have a total of nine children, through three who are adults are out of the house.
All the family were invited to witness and celebrate. Afterward we went to lunch.
Luckily the puzzle was a sprint which I completed when I arrived home. I did get mired in the SW corner because had no idea about BOFFS, but DELFT and CHEFS helped.
Some years ago I read The Girl With the Pearl Earring which takes place in Delft. Wonderful story about Vermeer.
I shall return to check the links you are all raving about; no time at the moment.
It's so good to have everyone on board!
Melissa Bee, welcome to Wednesday's
I look forward to your blogging.
I hope your Wednesday is wonderful!
Jerome, because you say Rachael Ray is a chef doesn't make it so. Even she knows better. She is a TV celebrity hostess who cooks. I was a professional line cook at several excellent restaurants for many years. I cooked for a living. I was never a chef.
ReplyDeleteJimmyB, great reply.I find it fascinating that you have kept that information. Sundays would really mess up my time too, although I don't really keep tract..maybe next year. :-)
ReplyDeleteCarol, it was the comedian (70A-sang)
Melissa, how did you come across her, or have you seen her before?
Melissa bee - thanks for the 70A - I am sorry I didn't open that link, I thought it was a 'song' (as in a person singing, and I usually don't care for those). That was a funny routine...I have never had my nails done professionally, but have heard enough about 'those' salons to appreciate the humor.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard from Buckeye??? Hope he is ok.
jd, yes i knew about anjelah johnson, she's from san jose and actually did a little show at my daughter's high school a few years ago. that nail bit was the first thing i thought of when i typed out 'ratted out.'
ReplyDeletec.c., i see no wrinkles.
argyle, great job finding the correct picture.
a belated happy birthday to barry g., your car suits you.
Oh, my, C.C. Your life has changed already? Wow. I'd never have thought it would work so soon. But that's great, because I just ordered one like yours and at my age, the faster things work, the better! Can't wait to see how it'll be!
ReplyDeleteToday's puzzle and following discussion have made for a very enjoyable day! I'm so lucky to have found this blog and all you personalities! C.C., it's all your doing! Thank you, thank you, thank you! And again, HBTY!
Carol, how great that you can get right back on the blog so soon after eye surgery.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking when I filled in 'oculist' that it's strange that eye doctors have so many different titles! I know that the M.D. is an ophthalmologist, but what's the diff. with the others. Seems like there's still another one. Am I right or just dreaming?
I don't think many other specialists have so many titles.
Oh, boy, it seems that when I send multiple comments close together, I get my identity back! Temporarily, anyway.
Anon 1:58
ReplyDeleteIt's 867-5309, ask for Jenny (her real name).
Happy Birthday C.C. and wishes for many more happy years of blogging!
ReplyDeleteRaimona- I think what we have here is a failure to communicate. I'll take the blame.
ReplyDeleteMany excellent dictionaries define "Chef" as a professional "cook". In that context Rachel Ray is a chef and there is a ton of dictionary backup for this. I understand we relate "chef" to fine-dining and upscale restaurants and the head honcho in the kitchen. I certainly do. But, just because we think it doesn't make it so.
I'm also positive you realize that a cook will make less than a chef and isn't that just dandy for the boss.
I have good friends that are chefs in high-end restaurants, Some Michelin rated. And I'll be damned, they all call themselves "cook", just as you do. Regular folk, honest, down to earth people shun being pretentious.
At my house it was always spelled Shaygetz, but maybe that was the Polish influence, though my grandfather spoke 9 languages, so I beleived him. Shikseh is not always a perjorative, but it is always better to err on the side of caution. Most of my Polack and Canuck relatives agree.
ReplyDeleteA fun day here in wordland.
Lo-li-ta, while you ask about the KZ pics, where are you and the little Michiganahs?
Ah, Lemonade, on this issue, I fear we must part ways. I would say that Shiksa and Sheygets are both pejorative terms. The words are, although Yiddish, are derived from the Hebrew root, Shin, Kof, Tzadei - which means loathsome. As for the spelling, Yiddish used the Hebrew alphabet, so that transliterations often varied.
ReplyDeleteShiksa is sometimes used more light-heartedly, as in the famous Seinfeld episode where Elaine had "Shiksa Appeal", but then, Seinfeld was often irreverent.
I enjoyed the blogging Melissa Bee.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday C.C.! How did Joe Mauer do at the game last night? Has he become a favorite of yours? I understand he's got the most all-star votes.
I get the impression you have posted some pictures taken with your new camera somewhere. Where can I go to see them?
Coming to your party late, CC, but my well-wishes are just as strong. Thank you for this forum and all your contributions. The happiest of birthdays. Mine is tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw "doubletakes", it reminded me of "spit-takes"...when you spew out a mouthfull of liquid laughing or being greatly surprised...mostly confined to cartoons :) BTW...the news said Wonder Woman has a new costume :Leggings and a jacket...I can hear 14 year olds weeping even as I write this.
The last time I bought cube steak, it was so "tenderized" it wouldn`t hold together long enough for me to do anything with it...it was the next thing to ground meat! I looked at "didok" for the longest time (did och) before I saw "did ok." About mayo...there really isn`t one other than Helmans `s IMO. I think it`s the touch of horse radish that I like.
Dodo; Remember that the sweetest and most caring person on "All in the Family" was the one called "dingbat" by the meanest and most prejudiced one. Be proud of your blog name.
Dudley:
As long as the chief glitch of the blog lets me sign on blue...it will be "ARBAON." When it won`t, it will probably be "Rose." BTW, is your last name "Doright?"
BTWII: The sous-CHEF (under chef) does peeling, chopping, prep, dishwashing...whatever needs to be done while he/she learns "under" the head chef and they are still accorded the title "chef".
JD, I'm usually at the Garlic Festival all 3 days, volunteering for the local historical society or putting in time for my office fund raiser. It's a great event for volunteering because so many non-profits benefit! Plus I get a "free" t-shirt...
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday C.C.!
ReplyDeleteSorry but it's been a long time since I've found time to post.
Good blog job Melissa Bee, have you ever visited that SF restaurant you quoted?
For GarlicGal: In my neighborhood (Cambrian area) in the fall especially even with my poor sense of smell I can easily smell garlic in the air when I go out to pick up the morning newspaper. Once before in the Mercury News they explained how the smell travels for ~100 miles at night due to the winds and fog that keep it close to the ground. We went to the Garlic Festival shortly after moving here in 1989 but thought that garlic ice cream was a bad idea...
;-)
I think George Burns was right, I need a prop.
ReplyDeleteH. I said:"Shikseh is not always a perjorative, but it is always better to err on the side of caution."
You said:"Shiksa is sometimes used more light-heartedly, as in the famous Seinfeld episode where Elaine had "Shiksa Appeal", but then, Seinfeld was often irreverent."
but Warren, the lime&garlic calamari is to die for!
ReplyDeleteIt's Edy's east of the Mississippi and Dreyer's west of the Mississippi...
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, enough with the jewish language talk for one night!
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, C.C.! Like many (most?), I found your blog about a year ago when G-spotting for a tough Saturday clue, and was thrilled to find that I no longer had to wait until Monday to get the correct answer in the newspaper. Thank you for this wonderful site!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melissa Bee, and to all who help by guest blogging. It's always fun to enjoy your individual styles.
Hahtool, please forgive my misspelling of your name last night. Even with preview, I often miss my errors. Yes, cubist Klee created interesting art.
Jeannie, so glad your visit was enjoyable, and that you'll be able to revisit in September.
John Lampkin, I really enjoyed the preview pics from your book. Beautiful! BTW, my avatar is a photo I took in Costa Rica in January, 2008. A very memorable trip.
Lucina, how wonderful that your niece and her DH are so generous to adopt and care for the three new siblings.
Night, all!
Happy Birthday C.C.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday C.C.!
ReplyDeleteGood job Melissa Bee! And thanks for making me aware of Van Morrison's live album A Night In San Francisco. I wasn't aware of that one at all. I have his live album: Too Late To Stop Now.
Oy veh, a fercockt shvantz Anon has a ofgabe with the yiddish?
ReplyDeleteOkh, I'm getting ungabluzum and verklempt.
Maybe it was the sunset toast has me shikker.
Probably should just call Tommy Tutone's Jenny.
Jerome, I can see where you are coming from in the dictionary sense that all chefs are cooks. But not all cooks who make their living from cooking are chefs. The title of chef indicates years of training, vast culinary knowledge, inborn talent and technical expertise. It is extremely difficult to achieve. The dictionary may say that the cook at the local burger joint is a chef, but I still would disagree. I think without being pretentious or snobby, your chef friends would also say there is a difference.
ReplyDeleteHere is a list of kitchen staff around a professional kitchen. The sous-chef works as the next in charge to the executive chef. The kitchen assistants peel potatoes and do prep work and dishwashers wash dishes.
Happy Birthday C. C.
ReplyDeleteI'm watching old episodes of NCIS on a cable channel. They stand up well. I miss Kate.
ReplyDeleteGibbs is beginning to annoy me. I can't imagine any of the women here thinking he would be a husband you could spend the rest of your life with. But, maybe I'm wrong. I know I wouldn't like him as a boss. If I ever had a principal with his personality and management style, I never would have made it to collecting retirement. What do you think?
Bill G
ReplyDeleteGibbs gets to shoot the bad guys (sometimes) on NCIS.
When you taught, they didn't let you shoot the students or the principal.
Also, remember it is just a show with exaggerated personalities.
Fun to watch, hardly true to life.
Anon, I have friends in high places. Seriously, I have had exactly one procedure that Melissa preforms and that was a massage that a vendor graciously sent me a certificate for. I don't get manicures or pedicures or anything else her new job offers. I still dig in the dirt, put a worm or leech on my hook if fishing and manage to take a fish off if I catch one. My hair is naturally curly and blonde. I might get a couple of highlights once in a while, but other than that what you see is what you get. It works for me, so leave me alone.
ReplyDelete12D referenced 38A -- there was no 38A????
ReplyDeleteI see the Twins beat the Tigers again today. T's seem to do well at home and struggle away. They're a pretty good team, but the relaity is the Twins are better.
ReplyDeleteZumaya was having great year. Losing him will hurt.
Probable won't get here tomorrow in the press of other things. Sammie and Bekka are staying here tonight and through tomorrow. Best band concert of the year tomorrow eve - the annual 4th of July spectacular. Lots of great patriotic music and other Americana.
Cheers!
JzB the tired trombonist
C.C., many happy returns! Hope you enjoy your new camera a lot.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Bee, welcome to Wednesdays. You always have an interesting blog.
Jazzbumpa, bust a lip!
Is "Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue" worth a trip to the Blues Festival?
Tschuß!
Hello All--First and foremost a very, very Happy Birthday to you C.C. Your dedication to making this blog what it is is admirable.
ReplyDeleteM-Bee, great blogging today.
I finished almost all of the puzzle, except for the SW corner. I put in Slogged for waded (through), and just wouldn't change my mind. I didn't know Boffs, so I couldn't think of a word starting with GT for showing no emotion. I knew GT had to be wrong, but my stubborness kept it in there until I came here for the answers to that tough corner.
Delft was a given, as my spoon hoder by the stove is a small Delft dish which was a gift from a Dutch friend.
I had a problem with the 38-across clue as there was no 38 across in my puzzle. I figured it had to be a mistake. This doesn't happen very often and was surprised it did today. The perps and other clues gave me the answers I needed, but only after a lot of head scratching.
Phew, just got back a little while ago from keeping my granddaughter company while my daughter spent a few hours at the local surgery center having carpal tunnel surgery on her left wrist. Granddaughter and I had a late lunch, did a little shopping and picked up Mommy who was a little goofy, but was otherwise feeling fine (with the help of some good pain meds). It is amazing how quickly they do these things nowadays.
ReplyDeleteNow for some of the left-over lasagna GAH saved for me...and a glass of wine too! Have a good night everyone.
Lucina, I thought about you when the word Mat turned up today. I think you use one in your Yoga workouts don't you?
ReplyDeleteAlso, hearty congratulations to your neice and her husband. Adoption is a wonderful thing and they are to be commended for adding three children at once. It takes special people to do this.
Jeannie, I'm so glad you had a wonderful visit.
I have the bunting up on the porch in anticipation of our neighborhood July 4th parade. It gets bigger and better every year.
It is fun to see all of the children who have decorated their bikes, trikes, and wagons. They outshine the big floats that their parent's put together.
OMGosh I almost forgot to wish happy birthday to C.C. That is one I really don't want to miss.
ReplyDeleteJD and Chickie:
ReplyDeleteThank you on behalf of my niece. I, too, admire them since they were within a few years of being empty nesters and now have the responsibility for three toddlers.
The new parents did not want to see them separated. The birth mother is one of our family members. A sad story.
Yes, Chickie, I very definitely use a mat. Thanks for thinking about me.
Good night all!
Rose Blue Arbaon ( Rosa Arbaonsis ) - Um, actually, it's Doright Most Of The Time But Not Always. My friends find that too long so they just call me Doofus for short.
ReplyDeleteDodo - Well Done! I think you'll enjoy the Nikon, and of course you can always contact C.C. for tips. I hope you get to play with it soon.
Re: Leverage. Did you believe, even for a second, that Artison could play a violin well enough to convince a symphony conductor? Silly but fun.
ReplyDelete