Theme: It's a bird, it's a ... - Plane, a jet, to be precise according to the unifier. The first theme requires a two-word verb phrase while the next two are single verbs; altogether, they describe a plane flight.
20A. Lose a few pounds: TAKE OFF WEIGHT
37A. Act defiantly toward: FLY IN THE TEETH OF, 'In the Face' is more common.
54A. Find ideal employment: LAND A GREAT JOB
58D. You might be on one if you do the starts of 20-, 37- and 54-Across: JET
Argyle here.
A perfunctory Monday puzzle rather easy to solve but was an ambitious construction. Six letter stacks in two corners, two near grid spanning themes and a third that made it all the way. It takes a lot of work to make it look easy.
Across:
1. Estimator's words : OR SO
5. It's cut and styled : HAIR
9. "Of __ I Sing" : THEE
13. Kathmandu's country : NEPAL
15. Part of A.D. : ANNO. Anno Domini, which is Latin for "year of our Lord". Now sometimes referred to as the Common Era, Christian Era, or Current Era (abbreviated as C.E. or CE).
16. Sniggler's prey : EELS
17. Maliciousness : SPITE
18. Not so much : LESS
19. Bivouac : CAMP
23. Opposed (to) : AVERSE
24. Pekoe, e.g. : TEA
25. "Far out!" : "RAD!". I don't believe "RAD" ever got much use.
28. Legal thing : RES. By itself, RES is Latin for thing; it starts many legal terms.
29. They're exchanged at the altar : I DOs
32. Make fun of : TEASE
34. Sweet snack with coffee : DONUT
36. Northern California peak : SHASTA. Located at the southern end of the cascades in Siskiyou County. Map.
41. __ Pieces: candy brand : REESE'S
42. Brings up : REARS
43. Make into law : ENACT
44. Bank claim : LIEN
45. Fashion that doesn't last : FAD
48. Canadian A.L. team, on scoreboards : TOR. TORonto, north across Lake Ontario from Buffalo, NY. The Blue Jays.
49. Crude in a tanker : OIL
51. Invent : CREATE
58. Monopoly square with bars : JAIL
60. Yves's girlfriend : AMIE. A Frenchman's girlfriend.
61. Country with a wall : CHINA
62. Poet __ St. Vincent Millay : EDNA. Her Columbia County, NY, farmhouse, which she christened Steepletop, is within miles of my sister's house.
63. Heavenly music maker : HARP
64. Kids' flying toys : KITES
65. Clothes : TOGS
66. Norway's capital : OSLO
67. Open-and-shut __ : CASE
Down:
1. GM navigation system : ONSTAR
2. Fix potholes in : REPAVE
3. Volleyball smashes : SPIKES
4. Wild West movie : OATER
5. One of two equal portions : HALF
6. From the beginning : ANEW
7. Maps within maps : INSETS
8. Talk radio host O'Donnell : ROSIE. Image.
9. PC support pro : TECH
10. Summer itch cause : HEAT RASH
11. Stately tree : ELM
12. Psychic's claim : ESP. Extrasensory perception (ESP)
14. Some summer babies, astrologically : LEOs
21. Deceptive moves : FEINTS
22. Collect : GATHER
26. Regarding : AS TO
27. Unable to hear : DEAF
30. "Of course I knew that!" : "DUH!". Followed by a smack to the head with a V-8 can. (D'oh is when someone else smacks you with a V-8 can.)
31. "SNL" alum Cheri : OTERI. Image.
33. Food, on a diner sign : EATS. Or the whole sign.
34. Computer insert : DISC
35. Common pickup capacity : ONE TON. A half-ton is more common.
36. Afterworld communication meeting : SÉANCE
37. Get all worked up : FRET
38. Letterman rival : LENO. Late night talk show hosts.
39. Horse that isn't two yet : YEARLING
40. Golfer's gadget : TEE
44. Alpaca cousins : LLAMAs
45. Tex-Mex serving : FAJITA
46. Makes reparations (for) : ATONES
47. Lower in rank : DEBASE
50. Wyoming neighbor : IDAHO
52. __ of lamb : RACK
53. Value system : ETHIC
55. "Woe is me!" : "ALAS!"
56. "__, Interrupted" : GIRL. It is a best-selling 1993 memoir by American author Susanna Kaysen, relating her experiences as a young woman in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The memoir's title is a reference to the Vermeer painting Girl Interrupted at her Music. It was a 1999 drama film, starring Winona Ryder, Brittany Murphy, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg and Vanessa Redgrave. The painting.
57. Bank takeaway : REPO
59. Bustle : ADO
Answer grid.
Argyle
20A. Lose a few pounds: TAKE OFF WEIGHT
37A. Act defiantly toward: FLY IN THE TEETH OF, 'In the Face' is more common.
54A. Find ideal employment: LAND A GREAT JOB
58D. You might be on one if you do the starts of 20-, 37- and 54-Across: JET
Argyle here.
A perfunctory Monday puzzle rather easy to solve but was an ambitious construction. Six letter stacks in two corners, two near grid spanning themes and a third that made it all the way. It takes a lot of work to make it look easy.
Across:
1. Estimator's words : OR SO
5. It's cut and styled : HAIR
9. "Of __ I Sing" : THEE
13. Kathmandu's country : NEPAL
15. Part of A.D. : ANNO. Anno Domini, which is Latin for "year of our Lord". Now sometimes referred to as the Common Era, Christian Era, or Current Era (abbreviated as C.E. or CE).
16. Sniggler's prey : EELS
17. Maliciousness : SPITE
18. Not so much : LESS
19. Bivouac : CAMP
23. Opposed (to) : AVERSE
24. Pekoe, e.g. : TEA
25. "Far out!" : "RAD!". I don't believe "RAD" ever got much use.
28. Legal thing : RES. By itself, RES is Latin for thing; it starts many legal terms.
29. They're exchanged at the altar : I DOs
32. Make fun of : TEASE
34. Sweet snack with coffee : DONUT
36. Northern California peak : SHASTA. Located at the southern end of the cascades in Siskiyou County. Map.
41. __ Pieces: candy brand : REESE'S
42. Brings up : REARS
43. Make into law : ENACT
44. Bank claim : LIEN
45. Fashion that doesn't last : FAD
48. Canadian A.L. team, on scoreboards : TOR. TORonto, north across Lake Ontario from Buffalo, NY. The Blue Jays.
49. Crude in a tanker : OIL
51. Invent : CREATE
58. Monopoly square with bars : JAIL
60. Yves's girlfriend : AMIE. A Frenchman's girlfriend.
61. Country with a wall : CHINA
62. Poet __ St. Vincent Millay : EDNA. Her Columbia County, NY, farmhouse, which she christened Steepletop, is within miles of my sister's house.
63. Heavenly music maker : HARP
64. Kids' flying toys : KITES
65. Clothes : TOGS
66. Norway's capital : OSLO
67. Open-and-shut __ : CASE
Down:
1. GM navigation system : ONSTAR
2. Fix potholes in : REPAVE
3. Volleyball smashes : SPIKES
4. Wild West movie : OATER
5. One of two equal portions : HALF
6. From the beginning : ANEW
7. Maps within maps : INSETS
8. Talk radio host O'Donnell : ROSIE. Image.
9. PC support pro : TECH
10. Summer itch cause : HEAT RASH
11. Stately tree : ELM
12. Psychic's claim : ESP. Extrasensory perception (ESP)
14. Some summer babies, astrologically : LEOs
21. Deceptive moves : FEINTS
22. Collect : GATHER
26. Regarding : AS TO
27. Unable to hear : DEAF
30. "Of course I knew that!" : "DUH!". Followed by a smack to the head with a V-8 can. (D'oh is when someone else smacks you with a V-8 can.)
31. "SNL" alum Cheri : OTERI. Image.
33. Food, on a diner sign : EATS. Or the whole sign.
34. Computer insert : DISC
35. Common pickup capacity : ONE TON. A half-ton is more common.
36. Afterworld communication meeting : SÉANCE
37. Get all worked up : FRET
38. Letterman rival : LENO. Late night talk show hosts.
39. Horse that isn't two yet : YEARLING
40. Golfer's gadget : TEE
44. Alpaca cousins : LLAMAs
45. Tex-Mex serving : FAJITA
46. Makes reparations (for) : ATONES
47. Lower in rank : DEBASE
50. Wyoming neighbor : IDAHO
52. __ of lamb : RACK
53. Value system : ETHIC
55. "Woe is me!" : "ALAS!"
56. "__, Interrupted" : GIRL. It is a best-selling 1993 memoir by American author Susanna Kaysen, relating her experiences as a young woman in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The memoir's title is a reference to the Vermeer painting Girl Interrupted at her Music. It was a 1999 drama film, starring Winona Ryder, Brittany Murphy, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg and Vanessa Redgrave. The painting.
57. Bank takeaway : REPO
59. Bustle : ADO
Answer grid.
Argyle
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - a very easy Monday offering, in my opinion anyway. I ended up doing just the acrosses to complete it. Had an idea that the theme was plane-related after the first two theme answers, but I needed the unifier to pull it all together. I liked the fact that there were a healthy number of fresh clues in a Monday-level puzzle; good work by David.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh when I read 29A, 'They're exchanged at the altar' -- in my case, there were more than a few glares from my wife-to-be and the bridesmaids, directed at me and my best man. I was very, very hungover, which wasn't received well and my friends and best man pulled a couple stunts that didn't exactly endear themselves to the distaff side of the wedding.
Argyle, nice job on the blog; also, you said it perfectly about Monday puzzles: it takes a lot of work to make it look easy.
Today is America Recycles Day, National Philanthropy Day and Clean Your Refrigerator Day.
Did You Know?:
- The kid on the Cracker Jack box is named Robert.
- We can never run out of salt. There's enough in the oceans to cover the world 14 inches deep.
- Houdini trained his dog to escape from a pair of miniature handcuffs.
"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, Argyle and Friends. This was a good Monday puzzle. Just the ticket for a rainy Monday morning when I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane. We disparately need the rain, though.
ReplyDeleteI liked seeing RAD and FAD in the same puzzle.
My only error was to think that VOWS were exchanged at the altar instead of I DOs.
QOD: All quotation is taken out of context. ~ Enoch Powell.
Hello All!
ReplyDeleteNice work Argyle and CC!
Yesterday's offering required no cheating! (O frabjous day!) Today's particularly easy! (Did not attempt Saturday.I hear from my crossword buddy that it was awful.)
Orthopod said ankle hadn't stitched itself up well enough, but that I should try to stand a little bit on leg. However, other knee has become very painful. All in all, though, things a bit better.
Thanks to all who have wished me well!
Morning Argyle, CC and All,
ReplyDeleteAlthough this was on the easy side I had some erasing to do. I wrote Vows for 29A and Demote for 47D. Everything else flowed smoothly.
Even though I only watched half the game last night, I'm still shaking out the cob webs so its a good thing the puzzle was easy. Go Pats!
Thanks for the write-up Argyle.
Have a great day.
Good morning Argyle and all, a nice easy stroll through the park today. The puzzle was very easy, but as Argyle pointed out it must be just as difficult to make a puzzle easy as it is to construct a hard one.
ReplyDeleteNot much else to comment about the puzzle.
Looks like the Pats have the Steelers number; they have won six times in the last seven outings. OUCH!
Hope you all have a great Monday.
Good day folks,
ReplyDeleteNot much too add to those who have posted earlier. Like others, only slowdown was when I entered vows for "Exchanged at....... ". My logic was you exchange vows when you say "I do" Duh!
Overall, pretty vanilla today.
Enjoy your Monday.
Morning, all!
ReplyDeleteRunning a bit late today (stayed up watching the Pats demolish the Steelers and had trouble getting out of bed).
Puzzle was a speed run for the most part, but I hit a pothole at 29A when I confidently entered VOWS instead of IDOS and everything suddenly went wonky for a bit. Once I realized my mistake, though, I was back on track.
Gotta go, have a great day!
Argyle, Excellent Monday write-up.
ReplyDeleteI liked this theme and think the FLY-IN-THE-TEETH-OF may be an "Age" thingy.
Also enjoyed the mini-theme, TECH & DISC.
Really like to dine at places called EATS.
Fell into vows before IDO'S ... DUH ...
I like to keep my HAIR "Marine length" but then I close my eyes and think it is still that "Hippy-from-the-60's" lenght, on my shoulders.
Last week I had 2 offers from company's that want me to LAND-A-GREAT-JOB ... don't know what I'll do since that Moscow Consulting job kept me from doing the NYT until late in the day or commenting here.
Note: I sent the final rpt. back @ 7:15am this morning, so I'm Retired ... again.
A "toast" to everyone at Sunset!!!
Good morning all.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Argyle and all the earlier commenters. Easy speed run but probably much more difficult to craft. Just one pass was needed. Gimmes included REESES (my favorite) and SHASTA (considered Lassen briefly). I guess Shasta is more prominent. The theme readily revealed itself. Good start to the week.
Fermat - glad to hear you are making progress. Hope you keep improving.
Enjoy the day.
Good morning Argyle and the gang.
ReplyDeleteEasy peasy Monday! The clues were straightforward which made the solving easy. Clued differently, this could have been a little more difficult, but then it wouldn't be a Monday puzzle.
You're right, Argyle, about the longest sentence. It's supposed to be a life sentence, but quite a few opt for early parole.
OK, I can celebrate all three days by cleaning out my fridge, donating the leftovers to a shelter and recycling the empty containers... works for me.
Fermatprime, I went through the problem of knee pain in the "good" leg also. I figured out that I was locking the knee before fully putting my weight on it. Try to keep it slightly flexed if you can.
Have a great week, everyone.
Good Morning C.C.,Argyle and all,
ReplyDeletePleasant Monday puzzle. Thanks, David. You have some interesting and fresh fill. I think Monday puzzles are well clued to entice beginners. Yours are classic.
Argyle, thanks for your write-up.
Have you seen Steepletop?Interesting. Also, I didn't know the CE thing at 15A. Where have I been? Christian Era. Huh. I think this is where 'thingy' usage comes in. Right, Tinbeni? Where are you?
Isn't it a shame cars can't run on salt? and refrigerator leftovers?
Have a nice day everyone.
A nice easy Monday with no errors, only a pause thinking VOWS but I already had FEINTS so it took mere seconds to get I DOS.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else notice that the middle theme answer was the only one to span the grid, as in the longest part of a flight, take off and landing being of less duration? I thought it was apt.
I really missed seeing a few of the down clues, I went so fast with the acrosses.
Fermatprime,
Sound like at least a little progress, and that's better than none at all. Chin up and take Grumpy's advice, that should help. Get well!
Easy puzzle (11 minutes). Very straightforward. No tricky clues.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning All, A nice Monday puzzle to ease into the week. The only phrase I wasn't familiar with was (37A) FLY IN THE TEETH OF. I have heard FLY IN THE FACE OF, so I suppose it isn't so different.
ReplyDeleteEverything else fell into place. I even had to go back to check some of the perps that were filled in before I had read the clues. I wouldn't have known (28A) Legal thing/RES otherwise.
No Ogden Nash (44D) "Llama" poem from me today. I know we've seen it several times. An (62A) EDNA St. Vincent Millay will show up later.
Until then, here are some New Zealand photos from our trip.
Clear Ayes and GAH - Bay of Islands in the background
Hole In The Rock, Cape Brett cruise
Clear Ayes - Stopping at Otorohanga for lunch
New Zealand Huntaway hound and GAH find true love at the Agrodome Sheep Show
Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve in Rotorua
GAH and Clear Ayes at Huka Falls on the Waikato River (even a rainbow!)
Overlooking the capital Wellington. View from the hilltop cable car station
The view from our hotel balcony - Queen Charlotte Sound and Picton Harbor
From our tour bus window - mountainside after mountainside of beautiful bright yellow gorse shrubs
Clear Ayes hiding behind a gorgeous rhododendron at Christchurch Botanical Gardens
Christchurch - still some damage from the Sept 3rd earthquake
GAH and Clear Ayes at beautiful glacier Lake Tekapo with Mt Cook National Park in the background
The Remarkables mountain range (honest, that's the name) from Queenstown
So pretty. In Mount Aspiring National Park, South Island
Argyle, et al, I too put in VOWS but to compound my idiocy I put in heatWAVE but corrections came easily. With deference to our friend Dennis, I can't do all Acrosses first. I am compelled to work out sections fully. Damned compulsions!
ReplyDeleteI learned what a SNIGGLER is today (spell check just underlined it), SPIKES reference was timely as Nebraska just finished it H.S. tournament. Nebraska has more Division I VB players per capita than any state in the union. Our state champion was rated anywhere from 4th to 7th in the country. UNL volleyball has a sold out streak that runs for decades in its 4,200 seat arena and has routinely filled the Qwest Center (14,000 seats) when they play in Omaha! We do that well here!
I loved Rosie O'Donnell before she went mean. People like her and Glen Beck just don't do it for me as they both have an agenda and have jumped off the deep end. Even if you hate Bill O'Reilly, he has every point of view on his show - from Karl Rove to Al Sharpton to Code Pink. I like hearing all sides!
Cheri O'Teri brings up the curious phenomenon of why there has not been a female, breakout star from SNL like Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, et al.
We are painting the sunroom today and so I'd better get at it so I can golf in the 55 degree sunshine this afternoon. Fore...
Clear Ayes, Great Pix of spring in NZ! Just like California, what makes NZ beautiful makes it dangerous!
ReplyDeleteG'day all. No chance of early parole for me.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that "togs" was U.S. usage - thought it was strictly UK&C. I put in "rags" first, as in "glad rags" - is that US too? Maybe I'm getting my knickers in a twist here.
CA, great to see the KiwiPics (esp. inc. you and GAH). Did you visit LOTR-land? I hear they are planning to make The Hobbit next, unions permitting.
NC
Nice Cuppa, we didn't take any of the speciific LOTR tours, although there were many of them. There were so many optional things to do and we took advantage of as many as we could fit in (and afford). Then too, we are both in our late 60's and had to rest up once in a while!
ReplyDeleteWe did take the Trans-Alpine train from Greymouth to Christchurch. That took us through a lot of the LOTR mountains.
The Hobbit movies were front page & TV news the first week we were there. They did settle the union problems and the two movies are on target to be made in NZ.
Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950) was considered one of the greatest American poets of her time. She was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The following poem reflects on the many lovers she had during her lifetime.
ReplyDeleteWhat Lips My Lips Have Kissed
What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why,
I have forgotten, and what arms have lain
Under my head till morning; but the rain
Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh
Upon the glass and listen for reply,
And in my heart there stirs a quiet pain
For unremembered lads that not again
Will turn to me at midnight with a cry.
Thus in winter stands the lonely tree,
Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one,
Yet knows its boughs more silent than before:
I cannot say what loves have come and gone,
I only know that summer sang in me
A little while, that in me sings no more.
- Edna St Vincent Millay
That's enough from me for a while. Heading for Modesto now. Have a nice day, everybody.
Good morning everyone.
ReplyDeleteNice write up, Argyle. I loved that I could finish this with no help. I think I could do better on the other days' puzzles, but I'm not willing to spend the time looking things up or pondering too long. My days fly by quickly enough already.
Clear Ayes, the pix were wonderful. I especially liked DH and true love. Clever of you to include it.
Fermatprime, I'm so glad that you're a bit better. I guess "one step at a time" is going to have to be your motto.
Cheers
CA: Loved your beautiful pix, always love your poems and admire your zest for life.
ReplyDeleteAn original verse that is somewhat akin to the one you posted:
For slow the night moves
Taking peace and rest with it.
Pictures behind closed eyelids post
What might have been.
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteFast one today, enjoyed all of it :)
I had never heard "Fly in the teeth of" either.
CA: thanks so much for the beautiful pictures! What a lovely place!
Fermatprime: glad you are making progress even if it is slow. You'll get there!
More later, want to get a bike ride in before the &^$# rain starts and we have to "recycle".
CA,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pix-- all of them, though I can honestly say only the one showing Lake Tekapo is familiar to me. Is that the point where there's a little chapel looking out over the lake with a stained glass picture making it look as if Christ is walking on the water?
I remember Wellington being cloudy and windy (another windy city) when I was there. Your pic is beautiful.
CA, I have pored over the wonderful pics. The ones of you and GAH are spectacular! I have put them on my favorites. The others are gorgeous shared views,as you two saw them- so much fun to see.
ReplyDeleteYou all are a great looking couple!
Beautiful and healthy. Thanks!
And 'Miss Edna' surprises me a little, but in a good way. A fun share. Thanks for that,too.
Tinbeni, I had my post on hold for over an hour, talking, and didn't know you had posted your 'thingy'-lol,by the way. Now, I know why you miss posting here some days.
Fairly easy puzzle today despite me never hearing the expression “fly in the teeth of”. I got some perp help with Edna and res, and “sniggler” and “bivouac” were my learning moments today. All’s good though. I don’t want to tax my brain that much on a Monday.
ReplyDeleteHusker Gary, RE: SNL female stars….how about Tina Fey?
Clearayes, thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures. NZ is prettier than I had imagined.
Carol, when you take your bike rides, do you follow a specific route every day or switch it up a little?
Dennis, for Houdini to do that to his dog seems a little cruel don’t you think?
I'm amazed I've never come across the term "Togs" before - not even in a crossword puzzle. As a short word comprised of common letters, you'd think it would pop up just as often - and just as obviously clued - as words like ewe, ete, and so forth.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Argyle, C.C. and all,
ReplyDeleteHand up for not knowing "fly in the teeth of"; FLY was last to land because fret took forever to come to mind.Like Jeannie, I had to look up what a bivouac was..even though I have heard it.Those days are long gone.
Whenever we have L O N G fills, I work the downs after completing the 1st 2 or 3 rows.They have always seemed easier.
Argyle, thanks for info on Girl Interrupted. I loved the movie but was unaware of the memoir and Vermeer's painting.
Funny @ 5:43!!
Fermat, really good to hear some positive news. Hang in there.
CA, I favored the pictures of you and GAH, but the gorse and rhododendrons are lovely too.
ooooooo Arabon...dreamy verse
Having a good monday and the puzzle was an indication of the day.
ReplyDeleteCA love your pictures, especially the lake one, water really that blue? beautiful.
Lol @ Jeannie, perfectly good waste of handcuffs I would say ;)
off and running...
Hello, Argyle, C.C. and cyber friends.
ReplyDeleteSubbing again this morning so I'm posting late. I had half filled before I left and finished the rest pronto as it was so straight forward.
As Dennis did, I went across most of the way until the long ones stopped me, then downward to fill those.
I liked bank takeaway, REPO and Bivouac is such a nice sounding word I think.
We said our I DOs twice, before a judge and much later at church.
There is a woman's clothing store called The Tog Shop.
CA, I'll check your pics later.
Ferma, you amaze me with your positive spirit.
I hope all are having a wonderful Monday!
Jeannie (11:38) We usually follow our same route. It's a 'known good', very little time on busy streets, most on side streets. We go out 8 miles and then turn around and to back the same way so the total is 16 miles. Boring but safe. We do have an alternative route off of the one above, but only use that now if the weather is really nasty. We have used many routes in the past, but they have become too dangerous traffic-wise.
ReplyDeleteHi gang -
ReplyDeleteQuite a technical achievement in constructing today's puzzle. Even for a Monday, though, it was much too easy. I'm sure that could be changed with some different cluing.
Argyle -
Good info, amigo. Especially like learning about the Vermeer painting. Did that girl have a pearl ear ring?
CA -
Wonderful pics, and love the poem: The Lays of Millay, it might have been called. Was she promiscuous, a serial monogamist, or just given to flights of imagination, I wonder.
ARBAON -
Your poem is delightful, and poignantly evocative.
Jobs are in the past tense for me. I've landed a great retirement.
Cheers!
JzB
I see from Millay's Wikipedia page that she was both wildly promiscuous and bisexual.
ReplyDeleteThat always doubles your chances to score.
Cheers!
JzB who is monogamous and straight
Really easy puzzle. I did it in less than 10 minutes and I was computer chatting with my daughter while I was working on it. I think this may be my fastest time.
ReplyDeleteOh, BTW, now it's my turn to have health issues. I've been in the hospital for the last 5 days with an intestinal blockage caused by Crohn's Disease which I've had for 40 years. Usually I don't have a problem but it flared up last week and the blockage is always quite painful. The remedy is to go on IV fluids and take nothing by mouth until things start flowing again which just happened this morning. Steroids are injected through the IV to reduce the inflammation that is causing the blockage. I know: TMI.
ReplyDeleteHere is a picture of the plant that Steepletop was named for. It is steeplebush, Spiraea tomentosa. I believe some of the local wags were wont to call her home, Nippletop.
ReplyDeleteI have driven by the house but it isn't open to the public yet.
Jeannie,
ReplyDeleteTina Fey's name passed through my mind this morning and she has made some nice little movies (Baby Mama, et al) but I don't think she can open a movie like Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd can and John Belushi did. I don't think she will ever be Merryl Streep or Julia Roberts (although I want my money back for Live, Love, Pray)! She did make a lot of hay out of her resemblance to Sarah Palin and her humor is smart and clever.
Clear Ayes, thank you for sharing your gorgeous pictures! What amazing scenery and what a treat for you, I can only imagine! That rhododendron is simply amazing as are the mountains, waterfall, etc., etc..
ReplyDeletei think it would be difficult to do a crossword in NZ! Some of those names, whew.
Tina Fey received some kind of award on PBS last night but I didn't watch it. Maybe someone else did.
MH, I hope you are on the way to recovery. I understand those problems are extremely painful.
JAZZ, you always know exactly how to hit the nail on the head.
Clear Ayes: I Love, Love, Love your pictures! Thank you so much for sharing them with us. I am trying to convince my husband that we *need* to visit that part of the world. Your photos will help!
ReplyDeleteMH: I hope you are on the mend!
Good evening Argyle, CC, et al., Thank you Argyle for the great job. Learned a lot.
ReplyDeleteI love Monday puzzles and this one especially.Flew thru it missing a lot of clues and just watched as words appeared in the crosses. Then I'd go back and read what the clue was. 37A blew me away... I wanted in the 'face' of instead of in the 'teeth' of and even in that solve I was missing that particular 'h' which made an intersting concept. Never heard 'in the teeth' before with the 'h' or w/out. Then 35D made me LOL. "common pick up capacity"? I'm thinkin' 1 guy 'or so' per night or perhaps per club just to dance with and share some drink 'spikes' and not even thinking about a dang truck! 'Seance' reminded me of the 'hair' raising night at the Lizzy Borden house in MA last year. We got our 'rears' outa there so fast we almost got a 'heat rash' and went and drank something a lot stronger than 'tea'....a serious 'case' of 'esp' that would give 'on star' a whole new dimension. Fun times!
Argyle: LOL longest sentence comment. cute
Grumpy1, LOl also over 'early parole'. It seems to me guys get paroled for 'bad' behavior a lot of times.
Robin: LOL w/Jeannie: on handcuffs.
MH: thoughts are w/you. Wish you a speedy recovery.
Husker: Ana Gasteyer and Amy Poehler are out movin and shakin'; Jane Curtain was for a long while back when. Jeannie got Tina Fey who is utterly amazing.
Gonna go clean my fridge and eat some of Robert's nuts and play w/his toy. It's all good.
Enjoy your night.
Geeze forgot!
ReplyDeleteCA: fabulous pictures! Loved esp the ones of you and GAH. Gorgeous landscapes. Also enjoyed the poem. Great job, as always.
Argyle: steepletop at nippletop? Am I understanding that correctly? That's funny! My kind of place!
CA, great pics, Australia is one of my bucket items. I am just not looking forward to the long plane ride. Very happy that you enjoyed your trip.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you all liked the photos. It was hard to pick out just a handful to show you.
ReplyDeleteRobin, yes the water in Lake Tekapo really is that blue. It was explained to us that lakes and rivers formed by glacier run off have a lot of "rock flour" sediment that gives it that color. Breathtaking!
Kazie, exactly. The little church was directly across the road. We took photos of that too, but it wasn't as spectacular as the lake.
Lucina, many of the town and street names are in the Maori language. I couldn't get my tongue around half of them, but even the non-Maori Kiwis had no trouble with the longest ones. How about Te Whakarewarawatangaoteopetauaawahiao? It means "The gathering place for the war parties of Wahiao". That's really the name, honest!
Hahtool, if you think you "need" it, you do. I'd be glad to send a glowing recommendation.
Dick, the plane trip isn't easy, but it is worth it. Kazie is the Australia expert and I'm sure she could furnish a recommendation of her own.
ARBAON, thanks for your lovely verse.
One would not expect retirees to be too busy to find time to work a crossword puzzle, but that has been the case for the last week or so for us. The best part was Saturday when the family gathered in an early Thanksgiving celebration. Some of them stayed over until sun. night so it was a busy weekend.
ReplyDeleteI hope your improvement picks up speed, Fermat.
And may your improvement be rapid, also, MH.
I am familiar with "fly in the teeth of". It probably is a generational phrase. maybe "togs" is also because I'm familiare with that term, also.
Dot
Hola Everyone,
ReplyDeleteI did the puzzle quickly today. I left early for a meeting, but am just now getting around to reading the blog and posting.
I caught on to the theme after the first two theme fills. Fly in the Teeth of was new to me. I've always heard it said,"Fly in the face of".
I liked Afterworld communication/seance, and some summer babies. I'm a Leo, so that was a given.
CA, I absolutely loved all of your pictures you posted today. They were just beautiful. What lovely scenery NZ has to share with the world.
Fematprime, I'm glad to hear that you are coming along, slowly, but surely.
MH, good thoughts on a speedy recovery.
Argyle, great write up of a pretty straight forward puzzle. MH, and all others and family, HEAL! Robin, handcuffs, hmm, I did not you were that kind of girl; Lo-li-ta on the other hand...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the shortest sentence is not, "Go!" Not alway a pleasant experience.
When I think of FLY IN THE TEETH OF, I think of motorcycles, ich! I have heard it used with storms.
Got my car back, all is well in the world. It looks brand new...I am so happy to be "back in the saddle" again in my "Goldilocks". It's my Bro's 50'th birthday today so HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK!!
ReplyDeleteHusker Gary, don't forget about 30-Rock, if you haven't seen that sit-com you might enjoy it.
CA, I was worried you might have suffered a stroke when you typed that name!!
Fermat, good news on your baby steps. You are an inspiration to us all...
BillG, I am still thinking about you, and hope all is well and you are able to be home for Thanksgiving.
Lemonade, I keep those under lock and key. I just use them for special occasions, or as needed.
Sshhh, our secret....
Lo-li-ta.
I'm enjoying watching the Eagles lay a 59-spot on Washington.
ReplyDeleteCA, wonderful pictures; thanks for sharing them. I'm revising the order of things on my bucket list.
Fermatprime, I'm really glad to hear things are starting to improve, and I've no doubt that your positive attitude has helped that.
Jeannie, couldn't agree more about Tina Fey.
Thanks everyone for the good wishes. Dennis, for once you and I agree - very much enjoying the Eagles win over Redskins.
ReplyDeleteClassic Baldwin bit on SNL...I know Alec Baldwin is also on 30-rock. This one cracks me up. you know
ReplyDelete