Theme: Last, but not Least - The end of four theme entries(see 39A for #) are synonyms for the unifier, 39-Across.
17A. Side-to-side skid: FISHTAIL. Unfortunately, tail isn't a separate word.
24A. Have no place to go but up: HIT ROCK BOTTOM. Too many celebs seem to just keep bouncing on that rock bottom.
39A. Pistol handle, and what 17-, 24-, 50- and 62-Across each have: BUTT END
50A. Bus driver's request: "STEP TO THE REAR"
62A. Idler at the shore: BEACH BUM. The other three I understand but how did BUM become a synonym our backside?
Argyle here. This seems a good fit for a Tuesday. I'm not feeling too sharp, so feel free to pick up the slack. But please, not too DF.
Across:
1. Unconscious state : COMA
5. Big Apple line : MAC. Steve Jobs' creation.
8. Buster who played Flash Gordon : CRABBE. Actor Buster Crabbe starred as Tarzan before moving on to such roles as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, plus numerous westerns, from the 1930s. He was a swimmer and won medals in two Olympic Games: 1928 and 1932. Like a Louis L'Amour hero, broad at the shoulders and narrow at the hips. Image.
14. Rat-__ : A-TAT
15. Texter's "I think ..." : IMO. "In My Opinion ..."
16. Cosmetics giant founded in 1932 : REVLON (Clecho) 20A. Cosmetics giant Lauder : ESTÉE
19. Top-priority : URGENT
21. Doodad : GISMO. Thingamajig
23. In the past : AGO
27. Old man's domain, in a Hemingway work : THE SEA. A real fish tale. Image.
29. "¿Cómo __ usted?" : ESTÁ. Spanish.
30. With perfection : TO A T
31. Bite like a rat : GNAW
34. Get all A's : EXCEL
38. From the past : OLD
41. Gentle-lamb connector : AS A
42. Wallpaper goo : PASTE
44. To be, in Bordeaux : ÊTRE. French.
45. FBI guy : G-MAN
46. Mtn. stats : ALTs.. Mountain altitudes.
48. Virgil epic : AENEID. A epic poem written by Virgil, in Latin, in the late 1st century BC.
55. Point, as a pistol : AIM
56. Disinfectant brand : LYSOL
57. Port near Kobe : OSAKA. Japan.
60. Ex-Soviet leader Brezhnev : LEONID. Russia.
64. Nonsupporter's political sign words : VOTE NO (Clecho) 54D. Supporter's political sign word : ELECT
65. U.N. Day mo. : OCT.. United Nations Day on the 24th of October.
66. Wild West's Wyatt : EARP
67. Monopod feature : ONE LEG
68. Mo. town : ST. L.. St. Louis, Missouri.
69. Some NCOs : SGTs.
Down:
1. Hard Rock __ : CAFE
2. Bluesman Redding : OTIS
3. Newspapers' staff lists : MASTHEADs
4. Nonbeliever : ATHEIST
5. Athletes for Hope co-founder Hamm : MIA. Athletes for Hope is a nonprofit organization that works to educate professional athletes about philanthropy, connect them with charitable causes, recognize these efforts and inspire others to get involved in the community. (Wikipedia)
6. Chum in Chihuahua : AMIGO and 28D. Chihuahua greeting : HOLA and 47D. Chihuahua, e.g. : TOYDOG. Triple clecho!
7. What drives a baby buggy? : COLIC
8. Cookie jar morsels : CRUMBS
9. Transplanted successfully : REROOTED
10. Batting no. : AVG.
11. Lamb's greeting : BLEAT
12. Salsa drum : BONGO
13. Bug sci. : ENTOM. Entomology.
18. Head, to Henri : TETE. More french
22. Cookout holder : SKEWER
25. Maker of Mama's Special Garden Sauce : RAGU. Look for it on your grocer's shelves.
26. Invoice add-on : TAX
27. Sports car option : T-TOP
32. Big bomb blasts : N-TESTS. Triple alliteration.
33. Courtroom VIP : ATT.
35. Photographer's tote : CAMERA BAG
36. Morales of "NYPD Blue" : ESAI. And of crosswords ever since.
37. Arrive, in a way : LAND
39. Spare tire site? : BELTLINE
40. About to arrive : NEAR
43. Light hit : TAP
45. Grinds, as teeth : GNASHES
49. Fair-hiring org. : EEOC. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
50. Round of gunfire : SALVO
51. Attach, as to a hitching post : TIE ON
52. Ham it up : EMOTE
53. Vagabonds : HOBOs
58. Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Warner : KURT. Quarterback for the St. Louis Rams at the time.
59. Gig gear : AMPs
61. "__ Blu Dipinto Di Blu": 1958 hit : NEL. Dean Martin.(3:04) "Volare"
63. Eur.-North America divider : ATL. Atlantic.
Answer grid.
John is enjoying Costa Rica this week and hopes you all enjoyed his puzzle. However, if you feel like killing him for a tricky clue or difficult crossing, he has a special message for you.
Argyle
17A. Side-to-side skid: FISHTAIL. Unfortunately, tail isn't a separate word.
24A. Have no place to go but up: HIT ROCK BOTTOM. Too many celebs seem to just keep bouncing on that rock bottom.
39A. Pistol handle, and what 17-, 24-, 50- and 62-Across each have: BUTT END
50A. Bus driver's request: "STEP TO THE REAR"
62A. Idler at the shore: BEACH BUM. The other three I understand but how did BUM become a synonym our backside?
Argyle here. This seems a good fit for a Tuesday. I'm not feeling too sharp, so feel free to pick up the slack. But please, not too DF.
Across:
1. Unconscious state : COMA
5. Big Apple line : MAC. Steve Jobs' creation.
8. Buster who played Flash Gordon : CRABBE. Actor Buster Crabbe starred as Tarzan before moving on to such roles as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, plus numerous westerns, from the 1930s. He was a swimmer and won medals in two Olympic Games: 1928 and 1932. Like a Louis L'Amour hero, broad at the shoulders and narrow at the hips. Image.
14. Rat-__ : A-TAT
15. Texter's "I think ..." : IMO. "In My Opinion ..."
16. Cosmetics giant founded in 1932 : REVLON (Clecho) 20A. Cosmetics giant Lauder : ESTÉE
19. Top-priority : URGENT
21. Doodad : GISMO. Thingamajig
23. In the past : AGO
27. Old man's domain, in a Hemingway work : THE SEA. A real fish tale. Image.
29. "¿Cómo __ usted?" : ESTÁ. Spanish.
30. With perfection : TO A T
31. Bite like a rat : GNAW
34. Get all A's : EXCEL
38. From the past : OLD
41. Gentle-lamb connector : AS A
42. Wallpaper goo : PASTE
44. To be, in Bordeaux : ÊTRE. French.
45. FBI guy : G-MAN
46. Mtn. stats : ALTs.. Mountain altitudes.
48. Virgil epic : AENEID. A epic poem written by Virgil, in Latin, in the late 1st century BC.
55. Point, as a pistol : AIM
56. Disinfectant brand : LYSOL
57. Port near Kobe : OSAKA. Japan.
60. Ex-Soviet leader Brezhnev : LEONID. Russia.
64. Nonsupporter's political sign words : VOTE NO (Clecho) 54D. Supporter's political sign word : ELECT
65. U.N. Day mo. : OCT.. United Nations Day on the 24th of October.
66. Wild West's Wyatt : EARP
67. Monopod feature : ONE LEG
68. Mo. town : ST. L.. St. Louis, Missouri.
69. Some NCOs : SGTs.
Down:
1. Hard Rock __ : CAFE
2. Bluesman Redding : OTIS
3. Newspapers' staff lists : MASTHEADs
4. Nonbeliever : ATHEIST
5. Athletes for Hope co-founder Hamm : MIA. Athletes for Hope is a nonprofit organization that works to educate professional athletes about philanthropy, connect them with charitable causes, recognize these efforts and inspire others to get involved in the community. (Wikipedia)
6. Chum in Chihuahua : AMIGO and 28D. Chihuahua greeting : HOLA and 47D. Chihuahua, e.g. : TOYDOG. Triple clecho!
7. What drives a baby buggy? : COLIC
8. Cookie jar morsels : CRUMBS
9. Transplanted successfully : REROOTED
10. Batting no. : AVG.
11. Lamb's greeting : BLEAT
12. Salsa drum : BONGO
13. Bug sci. : ENTOM. Entomology.
18. Head, to Henri : TETE. More french
22. Cookout holder : SKEWER
25. Maker of Mama's Special Garden Sauce : RAGU. Look for it on your grocer's shelves.
26. Invoice add-on : TAX
27. Sports car option : T-TOP
32. Big bomb blasts : N-TESTS. Triple alliteration.
33. Courtroom VIP : ATT.
35. Photographer's tote : CAMERA BAG
36. Morales of "NYPD Blue" : ESAI. And of crosswords ever since.
37. Arrive, in a way : LAND
39. Spare tire site? : BELTLINE
40. About to arrive : NEAR
43. Light hit : TAP
45. Grinds, as teeth : GNASHES
49. Fair-hiring org. : EEOC. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
50. Round of gunfire : SALVO
51. Attach, as to a hitching post : TIE ON
52. Ham it up : EMOTE
53. Vagabonds : HOBOs
58. Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Warner : KURT. Quarterback for the St. Louis Rams at the time.
59. Gig gear : AMPs
61. "__ Blu Dipinto Di Blu": 1958 hit : NEL. Dean Martin.(3:04) "Volare"
63. Eur.-North America divider : ATL. Atlantic.
Answer grid.
John is enjoying Costa Rica this week and hopes you all enjoyed his puzzle. However, if you feel like killing him for a tricky clue or difficult crossing, he has a special message for you.
Argyle
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - I started solving today's puzzle without noting the constructor, and when I got 'Big Apple line' and 'What drives a baby buggy', I thought, "this guy's really good" -- then I saw it was John Lampkin. Two of the best misleading clues I've seen, and that got my expectations up for the rest of the puzzle, which unfortunately reverted to a standard Tuesday one. Still enjoyable, still a fun theme, but damn, those two clues spoiled me.
ReplyDeleteAs Argyle points out, great triple clecho with the three 'Chihuahua' clues. Argyle, for "not feeling too sharp", you did a great job with the blog.
Annette, congratulations on the new car. You picked a good one; the car magazines had very positive things to say about it. I'm in the process too -- this is always a good time of year to buy a new car.
John, funny picture.
Today is Boy Scout Day (celebrating the birthday of scouting) and Fly a Kite Day. Yes, that's right, Fly a Kite Day in early February. Go figure.
Did You Know?:
- 25% of all the vegetables consumed in the United States are french fries.
- Twinkies are 68% air and 32% 'Twinkie stuff', which means you can pack three Twinkies in the same space taken up by only one.
- One out of five American meals is eaten in a car. I think it's mine.
Fermatprime,
ReplyDeleteI apologize for having misunderstood you. There's no way I knew what you meant by the vagueness of your language.
Hello Puzzlers - and Good Morning, John. I'm not motivated to complain about the puzzle, but as to your being in Costa Rica while we're in another snowstorm...well, that just stinks!
ReplyDeleteSeriously now, this was a fun Tuesday. Loved "baby buggy". Thanks to Monty Python, I knew about British usage of BUM at an early age. I heard it used in Oz also, no surprise there. I find it amusing.
Spelled AENEID wrong, never heard of KURT wutzizname, but these things were cleared up quickly.
Be sure to look at today's Google doodle. Cheers!
Argyle and all the little socks:
ReplyDeleteOnce again I am in awe of the intricacies of Mr. Lampkin’s work, while still presenting a Tuesday level puzzle. We have the variety of CHIHUAHUAS making their presence known; we have HOBO intersecting BEACH BUM; we have GNAW and GNASHES; we have VOTE NO and ELECT: we have the wonderful: What drives a baby buggy? COLIC, though usually it is the parents going bonkers. Neither of my boys were colicky; and we have more ways to say derriere than you can shake a stick at. I guess I will stop before I make an ass of myself.
Thanks Argyle and JL.
Good Morning, Argyle, John Lampkin and friends. I really love the John Lampkin puzzle days. I got a bit stuck with Buster CRABBE. I could only think of Buster Keaton, and unfortunately that name also fit into the spaces.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite clue was What Drives a Baby Buggy = COLIC.
QOD: Mistakes are the usual bridge between inexperience and wisdom. ~ Phyllis Theroux
Good day folks,
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling a bit "out of sorts" this morning which reflects the so so attitude I have about Mr Lampkin's latest effort. I only had one minor slow down. I wanted "tie up" for attach to a hitching post, but 64 A & 67A remedied my mistake.
I know it's nit picking but "Gismo" rather then Gizmo? I understand he needed the S for skewered, but it's rare variant. Wasn't crazy about having both "in the past" & "from the past" either. Seems redundant.
Overall, I found today's difficulty factor much less then Monday's, and most of the cluing was vanilla. Favorite clue was spare tire site. Unfortunately, it fits me TO A T.
Having lunch with an old friend today. That will get my spirits raised a few levels. Lots of yuks will be in order.
Good Morning Argyle, C.C. et al.
ReplyDeleteArgyle, you sounded sharp as a tack to me. (Just don’t set your BOTTOM down on one.)
“Ode to John Lampkin”:
I noticed the author
when I opened the puzzle.
You gave me some laughter,
so step away from the muzzle!!
Lemon, yes -it is amazing how many words we have for derriere. I don’t remember if I told you this story before, but there is a town in NH called “Derry”. When the new Xerox rep came into the office for the first time, she introduced herself as the “Derry area representative”. All the guys thought she had a fine one.
Hand up for favorite clues being “Big Apple line” and “What drives a baby buggy”.
ClearAyes, from last night, thanks for the new “word of the day”: Melismatic. Now all I have to do is work it into a conversation.
Dennis, hmmm…do I need to tell a Boy Scout to go fly a kite today?
Have a great one everybody!
Good morning Argyle, CC and fellow solvers. Easy puzzle today. The MAC clue was cute but obvious. The baby buggy clue had to wait for a couple of perp letters.
ReplyDeleteI noticed in yesterday's puzzle that there was another British term for todays theme that is an anagram of 'ears'. That could have blown that discussion deep into DF territory...
I like the poem, HeartRx.
In honor of Dennis's "fly a kite day" and also considering the theme I just have to dig up this oldie:
ReplyDeleteHenry is out in the yard with a kite, running back and forth trying to get the kite airborne. The kite keeps flipping and crashing. His wife opens the door and shouts "Henry, you need more tail!" Henry drops the ball of string, looks at her and says "will you make up your mind? Last night you told me to go fly a kite!"
Hi everyone, and thanks to John for a great puzzle. No AIMing the cannon at you from me today!
ReplyDeleteArgyle,
Nothing wrong with a nice concise blog. I like the links as much as anyone, but on a busy day, it's often good to be able to get to the comments quickly too.
No real problems here, the only erasure was TIE UP for ON. For MAC i though it would be an unknown (to me) subway line. BELTLINE is a freeway road circling the south of Madison, WI, and I've known a few BEACHBUMs at Bondi Beach.
We had to read Virgil's AENEID Book IV in the last year of Latin at school. One section tells how to attract bees to start a honey production. Trouble was, he got them confused with blow-flies, and the suggestion was to beat on an animal carcass and leave it bloody, then they would come.
John Lampkin - Very nice puzzle - and very clever construction - Thank you, thank you - have a great trip in Costa Rica.
ReplyDeleteArgyle - your blog was wonderful, as always.
I didn't know that the song 'Volare' , had an alternative title ... I only knew that it was in the Italian to begin with. Thank you, so much, for the link up.
Like Dennis, I found 'Mac' and 'colic' to have great clues. Didn't get the unifier till I got here - guess I'm not familiar with all the synonyms.
Have a great week, you'all.
Good Morning, folks. This was a fast puzzle. Thank you John Lampkin. I trust you will not become cannon fodder. Also thanks to Argyle for all your great comments. C.C., for posting. Fun Group!
ReplyDeleteFun theme. Rear ends. I was able to zip through it, especially because I was in a hurry to finish packing for my trip to VA. Hopefully I can print a crossword out there and continue this fun.
Abejo
Great puzzle and picture John. It was my own errors that tripped me up on this one though. The worst was misspelling Lysol with an I. I had Lap Dog first and the misspell really threw a wrench into my brain. At the top I also confidently wrote RBI instead of AVG, and Crabbe is new to me so there was some head scratching and erasing to finish there. Good time though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the write-up Argyle, you seem right on your game to me.
Terrific Tuesday!
I forgot to mention earlier - to those who may have infants, under 7 months, 'Gripe water' is considered a prophylactic against 'colic'.
ReplyDeleteVery popular in Canada and the UK.
Basically, a diluted, mild, sweetened aqueous solution of Dill seed and Anise seed ( no, not the liqueur -!! )and sodium bicarbonate ( baking soda). Google the recipe if interested.
Thanks Argyle and Lampers
ReplyDeleteJohn's canon photo and Abejo's remark reminded me of BUMF (meaning worthless writing - but a perfectly respectable word) ), which is a shortening of BUM FODDER = (Brit schoolboy term for 'toilet paper').
So this crossword was all about BUMS but certainly not BUMF, and I consider 53D (HOBOS) to be the ultimate unifier.
The origins of the British "BUM" is obscure (it's older than "bottom" in this sense); so is the American "BUMMER", with its back-form (no pun intended) of "BUM". They may be related, with the same onomatopoeic origin, to BOOM and BUMBLE (as in BEE, Kazie).
Despite their relatedness, the phrases BUM STEER and BUM BOY have obviously evolved independently.
And I will not revisit "bum a fag" - enough said on that subject.
GISMO looks like a Brit spelling (Cambridge, not Oxford) of GIZMO. So I suppose it's Ok within today's theme.
NC
Good Morning All, What a nice way to start a Tuesday morning.
ReplyDeleteI really liked 21D Doodad/GISMO. I forget words all the time, so I am familiar with whatchamajigger too.
7D What drives a baby buggy/COLIC was the best. I spent a good portion of SB Sunday ferrying an eight week old non-colicky baby boy named Glen on my hip. I'd thought to give his mama a break, but I enjoyed it thoroughly, including a good number of pats to his baby BUM.
I must be older, but I remember the version of "Nel blu dipinto di blu" (Volare) I swooned to was by Domenico Modugno. I don't remember ever hearing the Dean Martin version before.
Thanks for the shout out from John Lampkin. Not to worry. We miss you....ever since we took the site off the rifle (old joke to go with a cute photo.)
Hi There~!
ReplyDeleteYup, did the same, confidently put in KEATON, yet knew it was CRABBE - I have an early Star Wars book that talks about where Lucas got his ideas from, and they had a pic of Buster as Buck Rogers.
Also put in LAUDER for REVLON, until I got to the clecho - liked all of those today...
That's funny, Grumpy1 ~!
Since I am in NY, I was stuck on a subway line for MA_, had to come here for my can of V-8, oh, I get it now - I did have MAC, since I figured it had to be COLIC.
I don't like bugs, and so it's ironic that the study of words (such as crosswords) is E-tomology, and the bugs is EN-tomology, and I can never recall which is the "good" one...
Splynter
Good Morning C.C.,Argyle and all,
ReplyDeleteGood, concise write-up, Argyle. Thanks for the Dean Martin link.
Hope your feeling better fast.
LOL theme,John.
Perps took care of some of my lapses:SALVO, NEL, LEONID.
Nice, fresh fill; great, long
{7,8,9} entries. A good Tuesday.
Fav: 7D
No potshots today, John- you can put your hands down and thanks !
Have a nice day everyone.
Further to what Dudley posted - Todays Gooogle has the logo-doodle ....
ReplyDelete.... in the honor of Jules Verne - it is an "interactive" doodle - of a porthole view from/ in a submarine - and you can 'lean' on the joystick and go front, back, up and down - really peachy keen !!
Hi all -
ReplyDeleteI liked this puzzle and laughed at theme and 'BUM' (I have always like the British terms). Speaking of that, isn't GISMO the British spelling of GIZMO? I have never seen that word spelled with an 'S' on this side of the pond.
26D was a tiny stumbler (before the perp help) as we do not have sales tax in Oregon.
25D was another question mark for a few minutes. I don't buy spaghetti sauce since I make (and freeze) my own.
John Lampkin: (re your picture) no worries on you being the target, I had fun with this clever offering of yours.
Splynter,
ReplyDeleteThink of ENtomology as sounding like ANT, while the E- prefix of Etomology is the shortened form of the Latin preposition EX, meaning 'out of' or 'from'--hence the origin of words--where they come from.
NC,
Interesting comment on the use of 'z' in gizmo versus British gismo. I find myself getting spellchecked for using 'z' in a lot of -ize words because that's British and American uses -ise for many of them. Seems back to front, doesn't it? Also I didn't realize Cambridge and Oxford had arguments/differences over spelling.
Hi Argyle, C.C. & gang,
ReplyDeleteI had gizmo too until the down made it gismo...
Here's the original version of "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" (Volare) 1958 - Domenico Modugno originale
As someone stated moduego domenco took volare to number one in 58 for five weeks. Plus bobby rydell took it to 4 in 60. Martin took it only to 12, but his version was in 58 too.
ReplyDeleteSplynter, not to make a confusing situation worse, but don't forget "Etiology", the study of origins or causes (usually medical, as in the "etiology of a disease").
ReplyDeleteBut one small correction - isn't the study of the historY words "etYmology"? I remember it because they both have a "y".
(I meant "history OF words"...
ReplyDeleteClear Ayes et al.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the up-beat version of Volare by Bobby Rydell.
Warren, neato. Loved seeing the translation.
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the puzzle as I always do when John is the constructor. Since I always get here a bit later than many of the rest of you good folks, I'm going to make a few puzzle-related comments first before I read your thoughts.
I loved COLIC (what drives a baby buggy). Very clever! I thought GISMO was spelled with a Z. If STL means St. Louis, I would call it a city, not a town. BUM is a mostly British euphemism for backside as in 'Move your bloody bum!'
Did I tell you I saw Mia Hamm at the local supermarket a few days back? She's been a sports hero of mine for a while now.
Good morning everyone.
ReplyDeleteGreat write up Argyle. Hope you feel better soon.
Liked the puzzle, John, so you don't have to duck.
Except I agree that gismo is not up to snuff. (Spell check doesn't like it either.) But I left gizmo in even though zkewer didn't make any sense.
Agree with the comments about colic, and three Chihuahua clues.
Cheers
Musings
ReplyDelete-Subbing today. Call came at 6:30am during deep slumber!
-Jimmy Dean’s Big Bad John was “wide at the shoulder and narrow at the hip" too!
-Didn’t realiSe Gizmo could be Gismo
-Hard Rock is a great place for R’nR’ memorabilia and overpriced food in Orlando
-My neighbor raises African Violets as a hobby and gave me one in November that I think needs to be REROOTED or receive botanical CPR
-Had NEOC instead of EEOC because I only knew EOC and did not know E was the second letter of Virgil’s epic
-Big Apple ain’t NY and line ain’t MTA
-Blue Man Group does a fabulous set with Twinkies
-Knew Buster Crabbe from campy early TV and besides his brilliant comedy, Buster Keaton was in the landmark movie Sunset Boulevard playing what we was, an actor whose salad days are behind him
Argyle, yes, I remember Bobby Rydell's version very well from 'sock hops' back in the day. CA, same with the original version by Madugno.
ReplyDeleteBill G., I have a good friend that lives in Manhattan Beach, and he said the he frequently sees Mia out and about. You've got several celebrities who call Manhattan Beach home.
HOLA, cyber AMIGOs!
ReplyDeleteArgyle, great blog and good links. Sorry you're not feeling well.
Ay, Chihuaha! This was a good Tuesday puzzle from John. Except for GIZMO which then became GISMO and KEATON before CRABBE all else fell in quickly.
KURT Warner is a rock star in AZ and I'd have to be in a COMA not to know about him.
Hand up for
what drives a baby buggy, COLIC
Big Apple line, MAC
Lemonade:
You summed it up TO A T!
ETRE, all the French I know I learned doing xwds.
Have a lovely Tuesday, all!
Good Morning C.C., Argyle and folk,
ReplyDeleteFun solve today! I can't say I solved to a T (30a) as I was sucked in by that one, again!
27a. Old man's domain, Hemingway...I was reminded of John Masefield. (Sea Fever.) CA, did you think of him, too?
41. Gentle-lamb connector : AS A. Or as a kitten.
67. Monopod feature : ONE LEG Is that like a geoclam (pronounced gooeyclam) which I was reading about in the New York Times last week?
I was so happy to see the FL contingency photos and to hear of the good time, should I say 'you all' had. Ah, life's good!
When we get our place in San Diego, I look forward to the possibility of meeting up with some of my CWC friends. Who lives in the environs of Del Mar?
Post 1 and...
I'm out.
Dennis said: "You've got several celebrities who call Manhattan Beach home." Yep. I'm surprised they let me stay here too. Maybe they provide special dispensation for teachers. :>)
ReplyDeleteRe: Geoclams. I saw an episode on Dirty Jobs about them though they were called geoducks.
Do any of you enjoy Dirty Jobs too? Very entertaining and informative I think. Also, there was a nice column in Time about one of my other favorite TV shows, Friday Night Lights. Its final few episodes are coming up later this year on NBC. It's a really high-quality drama.
Frenchie, I don't live in Del Mar but it's a pleasant drive from here for lunch heading south toward San Diego.
HeartRx,
ReplyDeleteYou're right of course, about etymology. I didn't know for sure, so I just copied Splynter. I guess entomon in Greek meant insect, so that's how we get entOmology. No wonder it's hard for foreigners to learn English--it's hard enough for us!
Hi Again ~!
ReplyDeleteYup, I knew it looked wrong when I typed it, too, but the "Y" thing eluded me - but that's the correct spelling.
The ANT = ENT thing is good, that will help me remember, because as far as bugs go, I can watch ants for hours; even thought about having a full wall converted into an ant farm - sort of neat in a strange way - but the other, ugly ones really creep me out.
Splynter
I just got my Camry washed and ran a couple of errands. The Camry has a really nice-sounding standard sound system. While in the car, I was listening to a CD of Leon Redbone. I was thinking that what he does is so much different-sounding than what you hear on the pop radio stations or American Idol. Being a fogy, I'll bet you can guess which I prefer.
ReplyDeleteColic certainly had a great clue. I agree (and can testify) with Lemonade that its the parents that go buggy.
ReplyDelete#2 was the perfect little tax deduction for about 4 weeks. Then it hit. We tried everything from soy to any other organic product to help his belly to no avail. My only role in the early months of his life was to walk him around the round turn driveway at night, to give his mother a break. I bundled him up (screaming bundle), put him in a snuggly and put my coat on over both of us. His face was the only thing exposed and when we hit the cold air he puckered up and started cooing. Two to three hours at a wack and then the second I put my hand on the doorknob to go in, he'd start screaming. One of my feet were frostbit one night when temps were below zero with wind chills added on. Four months later he eventually came out of it, I'm not sure his mother and I have ever been the same! All good!
Time to taxi!
Hi.
ReplyDeleteI am looking at 10 ctns of Russian made Marlboro cigarettes. If any one wants to bum a smoke, let me know.
Luther College is no longer sponcering the eagle cam. Replace
the bookmark with Raptor Resource
Project Site. The first egg was laid on 2/15 last year.
Some remarkable and amazing SEM
photos were sent to me. Give credit where it is due - the book
"Microcosmos" and Brandon Brills.
Let me know if intererted and I
will forward the e-mail.
take care
oops. interested
ReplyDeleteeb
Hello all from Tortuguero, Costa Rica! Finally made it to a wireless hub in the middle of a lagoon where nearby, turtles come to the beach to lay their eggs.
ReplyDeleteThank you C.C. and Argyle, and thank you all for the kind words. So nice to be understood and appreciated.
My only regret is that I forgot all about the Chihuahua references. When I constructed the puzzle, I had intended to post some photos of Chihuahua sculptures from Chihuahua, Mexico. Oh well, next time!
Thanks again, happy solvers. See you all again here soon. -- Buenas noches!
Good day to all!
ReplyDeleteFun, fun puzzle from John Lampkin today. As always with John"s puzzles, a number of clechos. Hand up for being tickled by the clues for MAC and COLIC. Also thought "Mo. town" (as in Motown music) was clever. Thanks, John for a great Tuesday ride!
Lemonade. LOLed at your greeting this morning to "Argyle and all the little socks." Cute!
Bill G., Although I haven't quilted recently, it's a hobby I have enjoyed in years past. I'd love to see some of Barbara's creations.
Frenchie, like Bill G., I live a short piece up the road from Del Mar. Keep us posted on your relocation.
Enjoy the night!
JL,
ReplyDeleteA pleasant drive by surprise; no gripe water here.
There are as many recipes to fight colic as to prevent the common cold, if any worked for you be grateful.
Considering the theme this would be the perfect puzzle to post last rather than first, but not tonight, later.
The word "bum" is British for rear end, ass, buttocks. So you could say, "Get off your bum, you bum".
ReplyDeleteFrenchie, it may be a little late, but yes, I too thought about Masefield. This one is so alluring.
ReplyDeleteTrade Winds
In the harbour, in the island, in the Spanish Seas,
Are the tiny white houses and the orange-trees,
And day-long, night-long, the cool and pleasant breeze
Of the steady Trade Winds blowing.
There is the red wine, the nutty Spanish ale,
The shuffle of the dancers, the old salt's tale,
The squeaking fiddle, and the soughing in the sail
Of the steady Trade Winds blowing.
And o' nights there's fire-flies and the yellow moon,
And in the ghostly palm-trees the sleepy tune
Of the quiet voice calling me, the long low croon
Of the steady Trade Winds blowing.
I forgot to say that the John Masefield poem should be dedicated to John Lampkin. I hope Tortuguero, Costa Rica is just as lovely as the poem.
ReplyDeleteGood-ish news for me today. I got results from last week's PET scan. My oncologist says the results are an 8 out of 10. There are no indications of either breast or colon cancer. The only thing to be somewhat concerned about is the metastatic cancer in my hip. It isn't any bigger, but is still there. So, I'll have blood tests and an Aredia infusion treatment once a month. I'll have another PET scan in three months to see what they can see. I get a reprieve from chemo, so my energy should get a big boost and maybe I'll feel like exercising to walk off some of this BUM. Thanks to everyone here. You definitely make it all easier.
CA: such wonderful news on the 2 fronts! Crossed fingers (and toes, legs and arms) for the hip.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this good news...all the rest of us should be grateful if all we lose is a few hours sleep, some muscle cramps, a cold or whatever. You want a scare??? Try facing cancer!!!!
CA:
ReplyDeleteNo greater present, thank you for sharing your news.
Great news, CA.
ReplyDeleteClear Ayes, wonderful, wonderful news! I've got the utmost admiration for your spirit and positive attitude. You're one hell of a lady.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping the next report is an 'all clear'.
Good evening Argyle, CC, et al., What a kick ass puzzle! Cracked me up too. It ran the gamut from TETE to ...TAIL today.Reminds me of the prOCTologist and the shrink going into business together. Business name options were: REARs and Queers (vote no); Nuts and BUTTs (again vote no); they decided on Odds and ENDs (elect(ed)). Also had to laugh at how appropriate it is to have a reference to the 'one leg'ged specialized kicker in today's puzzle. Gives getting a 'bum's rush a new dimension, doesn't it. What a hoot of a puzzle. Thanks, John Lampkin!
ReplyDeleteManiac: I know your pain on the never-ending colic every night for months and months. For us it was X4. I learned a lot...patience being one and the true depth of the remarkable man I was lucky enough to marry. You remind me of him from what you said.
Enjoy your night.
CA, The most superb news! Your positive attitude, no doubt, is an attribute to your success.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, even though I rarely comment, Thanks again for the poem. Be awhile for fire flies up here, but boy, I'm beginning to look forward to it.
CA: would also like to congratulate you on the excellent report. You are a lesson to us all. I admire you so much and hope the next report is perfect.
ReplyDeleteAlso thank you for that wonderful Trade Winds poem. I love that.
Argyle: and thank you for the great write up today with the great links. You always do such a good job and even today when you're not feeling sharp...I hope you feel better soon.
Clear Ayes,
ReplyDeleteWhat positive news! I don't post often lately, but do follow the blog and comments most days, and am so glad to hear this good news from you. You are an amazing trooper, and such a positive example of grace.
Hugs, MJ
CA, I'm so happy for you. I love your positive attitude. Thanks for the very enjoyable poem.
ReplyDeleteMJ, I'd love to share some of Barbara's quilts with you. I'm not sure what's the best way to do it. I could attach them to an e-mail to you or ...?
Good night all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments on the Naples Corner pix, Dodo.
Glad to hear from you Annette. We look forward to the next outing.
Eddie B. Thanks for the Raptor Resource link. We so enjoyed the eagles last year.
Sleep well.
Clear Ayes; I read your good news after I posted. But I want to add my appreciation for your positive attitude and fortitude. I agree, you're one hell of a lady!
ReplyDeleteSleep well.
Ca- Just dropped in and saw your great news! This will be my thoughts when I get back in bed tonight. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe Trade Winds were wonderful!
Clear Eyes ~~
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add my good wishes to you on learning of your excellent report. I wish you continued good health. You are truly a lady to be admired!
Hi.
ReplyDeleteCA, Congrations. You are my inspiration while I fight my scary battle.
Sallie, You are welcome. I also loved watching the eagles. I didn't know that the nest was on a golf course.
I just finished tomorrow's LAT and ran the answere sheet. Happy solving.
Now it's time for NCIS and another injection.
take care
Clearayes, Wonderful news! We'll keep pushing out positive prayers your way and hope it will take care of the rest!
ReplyDeleteLovely puzzle, John. Yours are always great fun. Argyle, hope you're feeling better soon. You did a great job today, as usual!
EddyB- I didn't realize that you were in the midst of a battle. Thank you for sharing. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteWe used to go every January to Land Between the Lakes for the eagle weekend. It meant so much to me. We may still repeat this next year.Thanks for your site.
CA,
ReplyDeleteBravo! I too hope the final verdict is an all clear, but so far so good! Attitude is everything in that battle!
Clear Ayes, thanks for sharing your wonderful news. I hope the next report is a trifecta!
ReplyDeleteEddyB, I hope your own battle is just as successful!
Our family used the term bum all the time. I never realized it wasn't as common for everyone.
Thanks for the puzzle, John. I enjoyed it, as always. Keep an eye on your CAMERA BAG! My sister just came back from Costa Rica and shared some amateur photos their friend took there. I look forward to seeing how beautiful your professional ones will be.
eddyB, you've picked good 'inspiration' in your battle. I hope yours is every bit as successful as hers. Keep the thoughts positive.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was helping a customer with a computer connectivity issue this afternoon, someone pointed out a hawk in the tree outside her window right, beside us.
ReplyDeleteWe couldn't tell what it was chowing down on, but it was enjoying a feast!
It was both amazing and disgusting at the same time... Especially as all the inspectors around us were trying to guess what poor, defenseless little animal it'd caught!
I was sad thinking it might be one of the little ducklings that'd recently hatched by our pond. But someone "kindly" informed me that all 8 were all already gone...
UGH!
Sorry for the gross-out in my previous post! I just wanted to share my rare "Wild Kingdom" moment.
ReplyDeleteHola Everyone, Hands up for falling into the Keaton and Tie up traps today. But any time I finish a puzzle without lookups is a great day for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks John for a great day and Argyle for the great blog. (I promise not to use the word great again today.)
My favorite clue today, was What drives a baby buggy?
CA, Hooray and WooHoo for your good news. Upbeat attitude has a lot to do with healing. I'm sure of it. Also, thank you for that beautiful Trade Winds poem today.
John, Who is at the other end of that cannon?
CA:
ReplyDeleteThough it's late I want to add my applause for you! How wonderful and I hope the hip will be clear as well.
You are such a gracious lady with that positive attitude which I'm sure accounts for your progress.
Good night everyone!
Just came back to read the new comments and noticed my typo:CA, I meant OUR(not out) prayers and also positive vibes for recovery with the hip, too. And Eddie, the same goes for you.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, this blog is pretty full of good vibes on the whole!
You are all the best. I will have a difficult time being modest what with all your generous compliments and kind thoughts. They are very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteAdversity does have a way of teaching us lessons we didn't really want to learn. Since we often don't have a choice, we may as well go with it. Good luck with what you are going through, eddyB.
BillG, yes, Geoducks...This book on Oysters is on my mind and Clams from the other day...my poor brain! Thanks for refreshing my memory on that!
ReplyDeletePeter is there, in Del Mar, Mondays through Thursdays since early January. He is staying at a Marriott Residence Inn. When he feels more settled into his new office, same company for 30 years, first time out of the home headquarters in Phoenix. Among other projects, they are preparing a build which is a hospital on UCSD campus. It's more complicated than that, but you get the idea. I haven't been to see him there yet. I am having our Scottsdale home remodeled. So many exciting things going on here. When I finish, I will be able to visit. I want to be here during the construction on this house. I'm really having fun with it.
When I get some time soon, I would love to have a little get together. MD is willing to meet us, too! How grand! Peter already listens to me talk about 'my virtual friends' often. He kind of knows you already. I'll keep you posted! I'm excited!
CA, that was wonderful! The tone...the mood...descriptions. I felt like I was sitting there with them! Beautiful! Thanks for sharing it...Madame Artsy! LOL
love you guys,
Frenchie and...
I'm out