Theme: Fun for the Whole Family - A few words and phrases that start with a bowling term and the unusual placement of the unifier at 1-Across
1A . Postseason gridiron game, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in starred answers : BOWL
17A. *Sign of a typing mistake : STRIKEOVER
25A. *Indigent's request : "SPARE CHANGE?"
38A. *Wizard's game in the rock opera "Tommy" : PINBALL. Both parts of this entry would work.
53A. *Street urchin : GUTTERSNIPE
62A. *Chain for plus-size women's fashion : LANE BRYANT
Argyle here but it should be Boomer; it's right up his alley. Also, an unusual grid with triple eights and sixes down the sides. I didn't find a few entries until my write-up but still it was harder then Monday's puzzle, IMO.
Across:
5. Baseball card brand : TOPPS
10. Young men : LADS
14. Tiny battery : AAAA
15. Well-honed : SHARP
16. Vicinity : AREA
19. Dogpatch possessive : HIS'N
20. Country singer Gibbs : TERRI. Somebody's Knocking".(2:42)
21. Ostrich cousins : EMUs
23. Quick swim : DIP. but 31A. Not a good area for nonswimmers : DEEP END
24. Before, before : ERE
29. Nine-digit ID : SSN
30. Ready : SET
32. Rehab woes, briefly : DTs
34. Also-ran : LOSER
35. Little demon : IMP
41. B'way sellout sign : SRO
42. Shearer of "The Red Shoes" : MOIRA. The Red Shoes (1948) is a British feature film about a ballet dancer. Image.
44. ID checker's concern : AGE
45. An original Mouseketeer : ANNETTE
48. Séance sound : RAP
50. Make a choice : OPT
55. "To Kill a Mockingbird" author Harper __ : LEE
56. AOL chats : IMs. Instant Messaging (IM).
57. California wine valley : NAPA
58. Church chorus : AMENS
60. Playwright Simon : NEIL. Barefoot in the Park (1963), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983), The Goodbye Girl (1993).
65. Automaker Ferrari : ENZO
66. "What's in __?": Juliet : A NAME
67. Orchard grower : TREE
68. Fret : STEW
69. Pert : SASSY
70. Murderous Stevenson character : HYDE. Psst, it's really Dr. Jekyll.
Down:
1. Moistens in the pan : BASTES
2. Many John Wayne movies : OATERS. Westerns.
3. President Harding : WARREN. Here's your shout out, Warren.
4. Lion's den : LAIR
5. Taoist Lao-__ : TSE
6. "Well, lookee here!" : "O HO!"
7. Road repair worker : PAVER
8. Future doc's undergrad concentration : PREMED
9. Smarten (up) : SPRUCE
10. "Well, __-di-dah!" : LAH
11. Desert feature : ARIDNESS
12. Fashion world VIP : DESIGNER
13. Los Angeles bay named for an apostle : SAN PEDRO
18. Smooch : KISS
22. Turtle's protection : SHELL
26. Salon service often paired with a mani : PEDI. Cure for bad nails.
27. Memo-routing abbr. : ATTN.
28. GI's address : APO. Army Post Office or Air Force Post Office, while Navy and Marine Corps use FPO (Fleet Post Office).
33. Entrepreneur-aiding org. : SBA. Small Business Administration.
35. Makes believe : IMAGINEs
36. Memorial structure : MONUMENT
37. Peewee : PINT-SIZE
38. Eucharistic plate : PATEN. Usually of gold or silver, it is used to hold the host during the celebration of the Eucharist. I haven't seen it in a puzzle lately but has been common in the past.
39. Farming prefix : AGRI
40. "Look before you __" : LEAP
43. On a pension: Abbr. : RET.
46. Sung syllables : TRA LAs
47. Francia neighbor : ESPANA
49. Bartlett or Bosc : PEAR
50. Chicago Fire Mrs. : O'LEARY. Her cow is alleged to have started the fire but I think it was a scapegoat
51. In a sty, say : PENNED
52. Exam taker : TESTEE. Go ahead; take a shot.
54. Family matriarchs : NANAs. Just ask grandma if you don't believe it.
59. Fable : MYTH
61. Sad : LOW
63. 911 response initials : EMS. Emergency Medical Services.
64. Ottoman governor : BEY. The last of the Thursday words on Tuesday.
Argyle
Good morning, Argyle, C.C. and gang - only have a minute, but I thought this was a solid Tuesday-level offering. The theme, which Boomer must've enjoyed, was apparent after the second hint. I can't remember seeing the clue reveal at 1A before -- anyone?
ReplyDeleteTopps, of course, was a gimme; they're now the only licensed Baseball Card producers. Needed perps for Terri Gibbs. The only discordant note for me was 'aridness', which just sort of clanged when compared with the smooth flow otherwise.
Have a fun day.
Ditto on ARIDNESS.
ReplyDeleteActually heavy themeage and the bonus 1 across clue is Kelly Clark's signature move; see her earlier LA Times efforts as well as her interview with C.C.
ReplyDeleteNot as easy as yesterday but a fun Tuesday and a tribute to all who live in the oiled lane.
Thanks Argyle and Ms. Clark
Morning, all!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't get to the puzzle via my usual link today. Finally was able to access it by going to the main LA Times site and clicking through the links. Not only did I have to watch a commercial before I could play, the interface for the puzzle itself was atrocious. So I wasn't in the best of moods when I actually did the puzzle.
Having said that, there was nothing really memorable about the puzzle today. Of course, it doesn't help that this interface doesn't let me review the puzzle once finished... MOIRA Shearer was unknown, but I think everything else came very quickly.
That's two days in a row I've had trouble accessing the puzzle. Hopefully, the issues will be resolved soon!
Good Morning, Argyle and friends. Another fun quick and easy before the going gets rough. When I uncovered BOWL, I thought we might be headed for some post-season college football. Oh, the other type of BOWLing!
ReplyDeleteA nice shout-out to our missing ANNETTE. I hope she is well.
Crosswordgirl: I hope you can figure out how to turn blue!
My thanksgiving guest leave later this morning.
QOD: When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt. ~ Henry J. Kaiser
Good morning Argyle, C.C. et al.
ReplyDeleteSince BOWL season is coming up, all the talk on ESPN is about who will be playing in them.
Hand up for scrunching up my nose at ARIDNESS, even though it's a perfectly valid word. "Aridity" seems more common, though.
I smiled when I saw TOPPS, and guessed that C.C. wouldn't even skip a beat before filling that in. Me? I needed every single one of the perps to get it!
The theme was well-executed, and even though the triple stacks in the NE and SW looked more Thursday-ish, they were quite doable. Loved seeing PINTSIZE crossing GUTTERSNIPE.
Have a great day, all!
@BarryG - there's no "issues" with accessing the puzzle - if you've been reading the comments over the last couple of weeks - the LA Times have retired the old format and introduced a new one.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of ARIDNESS or TESTEE, but liked the rest - had to pick around the SW a couple of times; nice theme and a little misdirection with the 1A hint - I thought "football" and then "oh, not football!"
No food today - boo! Time for breakfast!
For some reason I wanted NORMA rather than MOIRA and DEY rather than BEY. Slowed me down a little in the south. Otherwise, it was a top-to-bottom solve, only slightly harder than yesterday.
ReplyDeleteDo young people have any concept of a STRIKEOVER?
@Steve - I guess I need to read the comments more often, then.
ReplyDeleteI really, really hate the new format. I hate the mandatory ad, and the interface itself is painful to use.
Good day folks,
ReplyDeleteTOPPS was a gimme in view of the fact that a lot of there older cardboard keeps me busy 48 to 50 weekends a year supplementing our retirement income and meeting so many interesting people.
Thought ORCHARD GROWER/TREE was cute. Never heard of LANE BRYANT, but I'm willing to wager the family "plastic" has met them a time or two.
This was a nice Tuesday level puzzle, very doable, but certainly not a speed run. However, aridness and testee were ugly. otherwise no complaints.
Barry,
ReplyDeleteGo back to November 22 comments. CC provided a link to the old format. I've bookmarked and so far so good.
Morning all,
ReplyDeleteStrange things are happening this a.m. CC's link to the puzzle did not work when I tried it about an hour ago. So I went to the site on my own and got that new format which is awful. Click on feedback and give them your opinion on new format.
Then a few minutes ago, I clicked on CC's link again and got the old format again. Whatever you did CC, thanks.
Loved the puzzle. Brought back memories of a bowling team I played on many eons ago. Everyone wanted to play us. We preferred to think it was because we were so much fun but I really think it was because we played so poorly.
true speed run today I think this one was easier than yesterday's puzzle. the first clue gave away the farm for the entire puzzle. on the baseball cards i started with fleer but the new interface let me know that I was wrong so I put in topps and cruised to an quick end.
ReplyDeletedesper-otto, I had NORMA SHEARER at first, too. I soon corrected that with perps. Also, agree with your reaction to STRIKE over. I immediately thought How old fashioned!!
ReplyDeleteTESTEE and ARIDNESS don't phase me.
I like valid words that are not so common. If they are easily sussed like these, they seem fair for a Monday or Tuesday.>
Good morning, folks. Thank you, Kelly, for a swell Tuesday puzzle. Thank you, Argyle, for the comments.
ReplyDeleteBarry G. You might try the Chicago Tribune Crossword. I print mine each morning from that site. I believe you might find it user friendly.
This puzzle went easily. My first entry was NAPA. 57A kind of jumped off the page at me.
I had no problem with ARIDNESS. I already had ARID and ESS. Plugging in the N became obvious with most of the word CHANGE in place.
I have never seen an AAAA battery. I did see the package that Argyle displayed. I will have to nose around in the stores.
Liked the long entries in the four corners. Lots of hard work for Kelly, I am sure.
See you tomorrow.
Abejo
I hope it’s okay to drop in, w/o a puzzle comment. I want to touch base before the phones etc get started.
ReplyDeleteYour responses to my sadness have meant so much to me. I have noted every comment and email in my permanent file; and have read and re-read them Such a comfort to have that love returned to me.
WH, you are right. I reached out to my cyber friends before our old friends. Very special feelings that not everyone would understand. Yes, Kazie, I have instructed both my daughters to notify you all. That’s an important thing that I hope you all do.
My new life may offer me a chance to get together with many of you. We never know; do we? I certainly hope so.
Been working puzzle and reading posts in the wee hours, when it's quiet; sometimes too quiet.
Hi all, When I got 1A I thought I'd see some references to bowls - like soup and cereal....Wrong bowl!
ReplyDeleteCute puzzle. I had a little trouble with the names: Moira, Tse, and Bey, otherwise smooth and easy.
I liked Gutter Snipe. My high school bowling team's name was "The Gutter Queens". Although I enjoy a good game now and then I can't say my skills have improved since my Gutter Queen days.
Good morning, Argyle and gang. Hand up for putting ARIDNESS and TESTEE in the ugly fill box, but a very good puzzle otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI paused to check a down before deciding between Fleer and TOPPS, and just stayed with downs for awhile. There were quite a few clues that went unread until I came here.
OK, Argyle, I'll take a shot... when the prof notifies the exam takers that the exam is ready, is that a TESTEE Call?
Thank you Kelly Clark ( Hey, this name could work either way ! ) for a wonderful puzzle, and Argyle for a great commentary. I got 'Topps' right away, its the only name I know, and immediately thought of Cc and Boomer (the only bowler, I 'know').
ReplyDelete'Guttersnipe' was a WAG, but I loved it.
BTW, Sergio Scaglietti, intuitive genius and sculptor of the famed Ferraris, died 5 days ago, at 91. He worked with a hammer in his own hands, with bags of sand, without blueprints, and his bio is worth a read, to those interested. 'Testa Rossa' ( red hair) , the cars that cost millions, came about because he ran out of black paint, and instead used red paint on the cam shaft covers.
BTW, my Alt QOD's come straight from a newspaper, I am not smart enough to pick and choose or concoct my own. Its supposed to be funny, but sometimes, they're just meh.
Todays, ALT QOD:- The greatest of kings, on the proudest of thrones, is obliged to sit upon his own arse. ~ Ben Franklin.
Have a happy week, you all.
Good morning all. Nice thoughtful write-up, Argyle.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Argyle about the difficulty. Harder than Monday. Had to leave the center NW-SE axis, 'til late in the solve. But when the right unknown triad of ATTN, PEDI, and PINBALL were selected together, it all worked out. Figured out the * theme near the end, and thought of Boomer. No lookups were needed.
21a. EMUS. Clued as 'ostrich cousins'. While they are both ratites (lacking a large keel in the sternum), they are classified as being in separate bird Orders - Casuariiformes (emu) and Struthioniformes (ostrich). To call them cousins is something like calling a cat a 'squirrel cousin' (Carnivores and Rodents respectively). I think it is a stretch.
Have a great day.
Creature, I just saw your post and I am glad you are slowly getting back to your usual self and facing life again. I am not going to write any platitudes, but wish you continued courage and strength. Keep your chin up.
ReplyDeleteCreature: I am glad you stopped by, puzzle or no puzzle. Feel free to email me if you need someone to "talk" to.
ReplyDeleteThanks Argyle for a good write-up on a fun puzzle. It was so smooth, that is until aridness and testee appeared, and I really wanted Norma in place of Moira but there was a goog feeling of accomplishment when finished.
ReplyDeleteCreature. Nice to see you checked in with us. We are with you.
ReplyDeleteAbejo
@thehondohurricane -- Thank you, that was very helpful. I didn't have to time to read the comments that day, so it's nice to know I'm not the only one irked about the new format.
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteThis was faster than yesterday.
I am another one who has never heard of a AAAA battery.
I also wanted NORMA in 42A but don't know why, guess the name bubbled up from old crosswords.
Argyle, thanks for explaining 56A (IMS) - I never would have got that one! (have never sent a text)
Creature, so glad you felt up to commenting today! I cannot imagine what you have gone through, but please continue to reach out to all of us, we are always here to lend a shoulder or whatever else we can.
What a perfectly fine Tuesday puzzle Kelly and, Argyle, this visual learner appreciates your images and videos in your always good write-ups!
ReplyDeleteMusings
-I am old enough to remember watching my dad bowl where pin boys set the pins and bowling alleys were heavily laden with cigarette smoke.
-It’s getting harder to beat my grandchildren at this game.
-Quadruple A batteries?
-I jog in a pool where the water only hits this non-swimmer at mid-chest
-I too put in NORMA for Shearer. MOIRA?
-Soapers for one group and Oaters for another
-A PEDI seems (sounds) somewhat unmanly but I’d like to try one
-I sub but am RET.
-Mrs. O’Malley did not own that dang cow. Why can I not remember that?
-Bowls love Huskers. No team has more peeps that travel with them
Hi gang -
ReplyDeleteWas BOWLed OVER by STRIKE OVER, which sent me off the ally and down a wrong path. CHANGE BOWL? No, we keep ours in a Mason jar.
ERNO - ENZO? NEAL - NEIL? MOIRA -MOLLY - NORMA - SALLY? MONUMENT - MAUSOLEUM? (Too many letters, but I spelt it rong.) Had all sorts of problems in the SE, but finally sussed it all. Nothing to STEW OVER!
How can there not be an ANNETTE link?
Here's the Tiger of SAN PEDRO.
Cheers!
JzB does not sound like Bill Watrous
Husker, I am old enough to have been one of those pin boys. I would handle two lanes during league play and four during "open" bowling.
ReplyDeleteYou learn to pick up two pins by the neck with each hand and sling them into the proper slots in the basket (not into the slots where a pin is still standing on the lane). That way if the bowler misses on his second throw all you need to do is lower the basket.
I could sometimes make $5 a night. That was good money! I only made 85 cents per hour at my other job, clerking at the local drug store. Alas, AMF automatic pinspotters ended my budding career.
All-female edition today...
ReplyDeleteWe just had DREADLOCKS, and now SHELL. Here's Me'SHELL NdegéOcello with DREADLOCKS (3:58) Warning: you might be looking for some snuggle time with your DH/DW after this video...
"I fell in love with SAN PEDRO"
Another romantic romp, this time with Madonna - La Isla Bonita (4:01)
Kate Bush wrote a whole album based on The Red Shoes, as well as making her own movie. Here is a remake of the title track (4:53), with MOIRA Shearer.
Hello.
ReplyDeleteAnyone remember the little duck pins? They had a thick rubber band around the middle. We had a little lever on the floor that we pushed and spikes would come up to set the pins.
5 cents per line for ducks and 7.5cents for 10 pins.
Foggy again this morning. Never saw the sun yesterday.
eddy
Creature, nice to see you drop in for a quick visit. Continued good wishes going your way from Manhattan Beach.
ReplyDeleteI agreed from the first day; that new online crossword format is a mess. You would think they would have asked some people like us to give it a test run. I have sent them my negative feedback with the link underneath the puzzle. I hope you will too. I have been using C.C.'s link which still works fine. If that gets screwed up too, there's still AcrossLite on Cruciverb. I don't like it as well but it is sure better than the new LA Times format.
Yes, growing up in Virginia, all of the bowling alleys had only duckpins. No rubber band though. You rolled three balls. Knocking down all the pins on the third ball scored a 10. A good average was anything over 100.
An easy Tuesday for me, much appreciated--thanks, Kelly and Argyle!
ReplyDeleteLoved the trips down memory lane this provided. Joined a bowling team at my first teaching job--the first woman to join the team. I was a pretty bad bowler, but wanted to contribute. So I suggested we call ourselves the 'Aardvarks' since when teams tied, they were listed in alphabetical order. This paid off a number of times.
Also, loved the ballet clip of Annette Funicello--thanks, Jazzbumpa. Am not sure she'd make it on 'Dancing with the Stars,' but she sure was charming. How is she doing? I seem to remember hearing she was ailing, some time ago.
Finally, I'm so relieved that we've heard from you, Creature. My thoughts have been with you.
Link Use of TESTEE
ReplyDeleteLink ARIDNESS example
IMHO a word that a constructor cobbled together for the sake of fitting the grid might be ugly. New and different forms of usual words are fascinating to me. I don't even notice their strangeness most of the time. I read a lot and have seem most of these words in print. However, they become a part of me and I don't remeber whether I have heard them or just read them. To each his own feelings on this.I guess I am the "odd man (woman) out" on this.
odd man out n. pl. odd men out One who, because of strangeness of behavior or belief, stands alone in or out from a group.
Creature,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you. My thoughts have been with you during your difficult time.
Late to the party today, but got 'er done, despite many unknowns. Like Argyle, missed seeing many across clues that found their own way in via perps. Busy week with our son here. Also tried NORMA before MOIRA arrived.
ReplyDeleteWent shopping all day yesterday, so despite getting the puzzle finished early, there was no time to visit here.
Creature,
Great to see you back and contemplating further travels. Take your time and be well!
Hope you are all having as much fun as I am this week.
For BarryG:
ReplyDeleteHere is how I access it online when I do not have my local Paper available:
http://games.latimes.com/index_crossword.html?uc_feature_code=tmcal
Trying my link again. Sorry for the error.
ReplyDeleteLink testee
Again! Some letter combinations "cobble" them selves together (and some combinations show up too often as in "Lennon`s love")...and rather than chuck the whole puzzle, you google the word and 99% of the time, there is such a word with a definition. It`s a necessary evil at times for most constructors. You will hardly ever see/hear a constructor go "Meh" over one or two "unusual" fills...they/we`ve been there, done that, hated it but the alternative was to waste an otherwise, good (and often, clever) puzzle...not to mention the $1.98 we EARN! :)
ReplyDeleteGood day, Argyle, C.C. and all.
ReplyDeleteNANA checking in here.
I really liked this lovely puzzle from Kelly Clark. Thank you, Kelly.
BOWL and TOPPS came easily as TOPPS is the only card name I know.
thehondahurricane:
You might know my nephew-in-law who also works with them on weekends, Chris Marks.
Hand up for NORMA before MOIRA and knowing ENZO only because of having read The Art of Racing in the Rain.
I also winced at ARIDNESS but like Yellowrocks, I see so many unusual words when reading that I took it in stride. And believe me, just as the Inuit have many words for "snow" we in the desert have as many for dryness.
Creature:
It is heartening to see you here today and to know that you are picking up your life. We, your friends, are here for you.
Have a beautiful Tuesday, everyone!
FUN Tuesday offering.
ReplyDeleteOnly knew LANE BRYANT due to their excessive number (IMHO) of TV-ADs last Friday.
I'm with you Yellowrocks on ARIDNESS & TESTEE.
If I were to raise a flag on an answer it would have been "Well, lookee here!" being O'HO ...
(Is that a shout to a girl on the streets?)
Creature: Great to see you.
You get the first "toast" at Sunset.
Cheers !!!
Creature, wonderful to see you; you've always appeared to have a great deal of resilience and I think we're seeing proof of that now. You know you're surrounded by friends when you're here.
ReplyDeleteOf course 'aridness' and 'testee' are real words, otherwise they wouldn't be in the puzzle. Learning new words is always a good thing, even ones I'd never, ever use.
desper-otto, I too was a pin boy. Well, technically, an assistant pin boy. For a stretch back in the early '50s, we'd go to Cape May for vacation and stayed at a hotel (the Admiral) that had bowling alleys in its basement. For that week, my stepfather had me helping down there in the early evenings. Usually made a dollar or two.
Growing up in Milwaukee, we loved to BOWL - I was quite good in my day. Was in a league for years. Now cannot do it because my back could not handle it - so sad. But loved the puzzle to bring me back.
ReplyDeleteRemember when my Dad bowled a 290 once. The entire alley stopped to watch him he said. I was just a wee thing (probably about 10 at the time) and remember him coming home pretty drunk and excited. Fun stuff.
I was just a little too young to be a pin boy, but my 3 older brothers had the job. I was friends with the bowling alley owner 8-10 years later and had the task of oiling the lanes and doing light maintenance on the automatic pinsetters after school. Never was paid a dime, but I bowled quite a few free lines.
ReplyDeleteCreature, it's wonderful to see you back.
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteGreat speed run puzzle! Good write-up, Argyle!
If you watched Argyle's bowling videos, there is a girl who bowled like me: flung the ball behind her. I only bowled once in my life when our college daughter took us, trying to liven us up. I also flung the ball in an adjacent gutter. After several near mishaps, they "allowed" me to retire to the bench. Which caused nearby bowlers to cheer.
Didn't actually injure anyone but myself. My chiropractor said, "How on earth did you manage to put both elbows out of place?" Well, I was no good right handed, so I tried it left handed.
Athlete? Not I. Could jitterbug with the best though.
- PK
Good morning Argyle, C.C. et al,
ReplyDeleteanother foggy day in CA,perfect weather to make turkey soup...
All the trees are in full color, but we're expecting high winds tonight, so they won't last long.
Enjoyed today's offering.Hadn't heard guttersnipe for eons.My 3 sisters and I were constantly being admonished about using bad language because it made us sound like guttersnipes.Had no clue what they were, but it worked. Also, we were only allowed to chew gum in the privacy of our bathroom..since we resembled cows.
Loved "also ran" = loser. Moira and the NESS (thought soil or land) came with perps.
Fable and myths are 2 different types of folktales...not synonymous, although the thesaurus might say otherwise.
anony-Mouse- interesting Scaglietti info.a-ha...red hair
Dear Creature, my heart rejoiced when I saw your post. We are all relieved that you are doing well enough to write to us.hugs...
A great Tuesday puzzle! A nice speed run though the grid, with only one small pause ("Ottoman governor: Oy, BEY!).
ReplyDeleteNice one, Kelly Clark.
Off to save the world
WW:
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as a citizen of a world that surely needs saving, Good Luck with that. It appears from your avatar that you possess the tools for the task.
I'm talking about the rope, dammit. :)
Hello everybody. Enjoyed the puzzle today, and had pretty much the same experiences and feelings about it as most of you have already expressed.
ReplyDeleteExcellent to see you, creature; thanks for writing.
Dennis, I am not a long-time solver, but I sure don't remember seeing the reveal at 1A. It was interesting, though, and led me to believe, as it did Hahtool, that this was going to be a football puzzle.
I did some pin setting in my insouciant (to use kazie's lovely expression) youth and hated it. I guess I was too slow for most of the players because they kept glaring at me and tapping their feet. Some of the mean ones actually propelled another ball down the lane at me when I was too slow to pick theirs up and heave it into the return thingy. The job required more upper body strength than I had.
ReplyDeleteHated having a paper route, too.
GUTTERSNIPE is awesome fill. MONUMENT and PINTSIZE are too.
So THAT'S where the name Testarossa came from. Very cool. Thanks for that info, Anony-Mouse.
Three cheers for Mari the Gutter Queen!
Know what, Grumpy 1? You don't seem grumpy at all to me.
Best wishes to you all.
WH: of course you are ;) ;)
ReplyDeleteYou could bring your 'rope' too and Dennis could bring his 'wind gauge'. What hero's you would be!
Good afternoon to all,Running late today due to M.D. appt.this morning. Healing is going very well according to doctor. Very nice puzzle thanks to Kelly Clark,and to Argyle for a great write-up. Aridness should be used to describe certain anti-perspirant users. My wife sometimes goes for a pedi and she won't let me ask for a half price discount being that I only have 5 toes. I was a scratch bowler for quite a few years before my foot problem. Once I get my prosthesis maybe I will take it up again. Have a great day to all especialy to you creature things will get better with each day. RJW
ReplyDeleteGood Afternoon All, I had the puzzle finished earlier today, but was bombarded with phone calls and sidetracked with emails. I'm finally caught up.
ReplyDeletePost-puzzle, the first person I thought of was Boomer. Talk about a shout-out!
This one was so much fun for me I didn't even mind ARIDNESS. I liked all the triple eights on either side of the grid.
I'm with Marti on the cross of PINT-SIZE and GUTTERSNIPE. That's got to be the Artful Dodger.
I know I've mentioned before that MOIRA Shearer in The Red Shoes was my first real crush. I was only six years old when I first saw the movie (in one of those fantastic Los Angeles movie palaces). I loved her before (and more than) I loved Roy Rogers.
creature, how gracious of you to take the time to post at the blog. It is much appreciated by all of us who have come to know you.
You do know those aren't real, right windhover?
ReplyDeleteRon Worden:
ReplyDeleteyour cheerful spirit and positive attitude are quite inspiring. I admire that about you.
For Clear Ayes, Roy Rogers. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ron Worden, let me add my admiration for your spirit!!
Shouldn't it be "pintsizeD"? Sort of like iceD tea?
ReplyDeleteHi All ~ ~
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed today's puzzle ... what fun to have Boomer and C.C. right across the top with BOWL and TOPPS! For me this was easier than yesterday ... I zipped right through. For some reason when I saw 42A - Shearer of 'The Red Shoes' I immediately thought MOIRA, but I have absolutely no idea why! Since so many people mentioned thinking 'Norma,' I looked it up to see what I was missing. I can't say that I'm familiar with either of these ladies, though. Funny what words or names are retained for really no reason!
~~ P.K. I enjoyed your bowling story! :-)
~~ So good to have you checking in today, Creature. I've thought of you often.
~~ My best to you, Ron Worden. What a wonderful outlook. You and Clear Ayes are inspirations!
I'll preface this limerick by explaining to the newer members of the blog that our Dennis has had a brief flirtation with wind in that he tried a rather personal approach as a directional guide for it.
ReplyDeleteOnce when the storm was a rage,
a guy thought he'd be a wind gauge
so he stepped out on his lawn
without his pants on,
and guess who was on the front page?
Carol:
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that snow depth gauge thing, too.
What a guy!
I too must weigh in on this crappy new format. It does suck, and if I weren't so determined, I would have walked away from these puzzles when this started. PLEEZE bring back the old format.
ReplyDeleteRight now, on the LA Times cover page, on the left hand side if you scroll down mid-way, there are four links to CW, Sudoku, Horoscopes and Comics. I can still get the old format this way, but am worried that this too shall pass. Such a shame that everything always has to change, just when one starts to look forward to something. I am glad that I am not the only one who hates this. Lets put the pressure on folks! Maybe somebody will listen.
Puzzle was delightful and I enjoyed Argyle's review, especially the part about a scapegoat starting the Chicago fire!
Carol:
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that snow depth gauge thing, too.
What a guy!
My personal crush was on Gene Autry who didn't have Dale Evans tagging along. Wasn't Gene the one who sang, "Back in the saddle again. Out where a friend is a friend..."? Oh, to have such a friend again! Can't remember his horse's name though.
ReplyDeleteFinished "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet". Left me wanting more of Keiko's missing years. Good read!
- PK
Hola Everyone, The puzzle was quick and easy with a fun theme. I was able to finish while having my lunch. I experienced the same glitches that others mentioned, so won't expound again.
ReplyDeleteIt has been lovely seeing Dennis at the top of the comments lately.
Also, it was good to read your post, Creature. Thank you for posting and keeping us informed about how things are going. You know that we are here for you.
JD, that turkey soup sounds just right for our very foggy, damp weather. I did some baking today and the house was warm and cosy with the oven going and the good smells filling up the air.
Carol,
ReplyDeleteDownright Funny poem!
WH: I thought YOU were the 'snow gauge" ;0
ReplyDeleteHi everybody!
ReplyDeleteWe are back after a white-knuckle drive through the rain yesterday. Tennessee was slammed with water all the way to NC.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We certainly did!
Creature, I too wish you well, but what has happened since I last stopped by?
Please let me know. I will pray for you in my general daily prayers.
Carol:
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't snow that much here.
Mom:
Creature's husband passed away last week after a bad fall at home.
Carol, terrific limerick!
ReplyDeleteWH@7:11 is that a brag about the snow depth or a complaint?
Dadgummit, Avg Joe, after E.J.'s song I don't know who I loved most! Roy really was pretty cute with his crinkly-eyed grin. OTOH, Moira's red hair and tutus were very eye-catching to me and, Oh...the ballet!!
PK, Gene Autry just didn't have that special "oomph" for my six-year-old heart....however, his horse "Champion" was a real beauty!
Thanks, LaLaLinda....one day at a time :o)
In Lancaster, Kentucky a 6-in. snowfall is huge.
ReplyDeleteWithout resorting to the Internet, can you remember the names of other cowboys' horses? (I remembered them all except the last one.)
ReplyDeleteThe Lone Ranger?
Tonto?
Hopalong Cassidy?
Dale Evans?
Tom Mix?
The Cisco Kid?
Pancho?
Silver
ReplyDeleteScout
Topper
Buttermilk
Tony
Diablo
Loco
There has to be a story behind a horse named Tony!
ReplyDeleteWell, my ear's weren't burning, but something else was.....you can get shots for that, right? Carol, too funny.
ReplyDeleteChickie, thanks.
Ron Worden, my compliments on your attitude - I had to go back and catch up on what you've been through and I know that's not an easy road. I know a couple guys that have been through it and the one who stayed positive throughout is now a senior executive, as well as an outstanding skier. Best of everything to you.
The name was Tony Testee cus, I read about it
ReplyDeletecwg...can I give you a test tickle?
ReplyDeleteThe horse was born in Italy, but when he immigrated to the States, they stamped "To: NY" on his transit papers. You can read all about it here.
Anon @ 7:42
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, and even then it only comes every few years, and even then we have to guess at the depth.
CA:
You guessed it, I was bragging, and then that pesky Anon put me in my place.
Five and out.
Thank you for the concern, Hahtool. I'm fine. I just get to the blog so late that there isn't much to say.
ReplyDeleteI was up in Houma this past weekend, and thought of you while I enjoyed my begniet and coffee at Cafe Du Monde! :-)
I was working on a Chronicle of Higher Education CW puzzle by reliable Patrick Berry. The clue was "Rolling while grounded" and the expected answer was TAXING. That can't be right, can it? Shouldn't it be reclued to something like, "Really tough, as a job"?
ReplyDeleteProbably should've been taxiing.
ReplyDeleteBill...look again, especially at the publication date. Dennis might be on to something (hehehe).
ReplyDeleteWell, Bill?
ReplyDeleteReally great to see you here Creature; keep going. When my brother died suddenly on his birthday a few years ago, the blog and the people helped.
ReplyDeletenite thanks again Kelly and Scott
Nigel and Dennis, aha! You and Patrick Berry were too clever for me. The title of the puzzle was "I for one" dated November 11. The first answer should have been the convenience store, Seven 11 but was just SEVENI. He's leaving out the second I as he did in TAXING instead of Taxiing. (I knew ala Dennis that the answer should have been Taxiing but it wouldn't fit.) I should know better than to think Patrick Berry made such an obvious mistake. I've been outclevered again!
ReplyDeleteI just finish the puzzle. If you like tough puzzles with clever themes, I highly recommend it.
I just finished the puzzle which is why I didn't answer right away. I didn't realize I'd gotten the reputation of not answering you. If so, it certainly isn't intended and I'll try to do better.
ReplyDeleteI see I accidentally posted twice. Blogger won't let me delete it.
Hey friends,
ReplyDeleteI haven't disappeared permanently, just having a hard time getting my act together to gry hee befor curfew, whenever that is! I have been doing the puzzles faithfully but I never seem to get here untile late.
I liked this puzzle a lot, Kelly Clark. Thak you. I guess if I have a nit to pick it would be myth/fable. I'm not sure I like that defination. I suppose some fables could be true as opposed to myths, which are more or less imaginary, as we now know. And I don';t believe myths necessarily have a lesson, where that is the purpoe of fables.. Any other opinions about that? I haven't read the comments yet. Otherwise, I can find no real fault with this submission and I enjoyed solving it.
con'd.
ReplyDeleteI have been in contact with Creature and she seems to be copind pretty well. She said there will be a memorial on December 4, so that will give her a bit of closure. She asks to be remembered to all of you and thanks you for your concern.
Nice to be back.
creature dropped in at 8:05 AM.
ReplyDeleteYeah, hand up for "Norma"Shearer, but I thought she was way too old, even that long ago for that part. Then I got it: i'd seen that movie mamy years ago and remember that Moira Shearer was a highly touted ingenue before that movie came out. I remember I was disappointed. BTW Annette really spent a lot of time 'sur la pointe' in that little vignette. Didn't she end up with MS? I still agrue with my kids about her name; I'm sure she was originally 'Antoinette". Anybody know?
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved 'guttersnipe' but not 'aridness' Wanted 'aridity'.
Creature, You're back! Good for you! You've been through so much!
If there's still anybody here I want to apologize for my awful typing! I must proofread better.
ReplyDeleteAbout the earlier talk about words, I was just reading before I came here about a new book just out, American Heritage Dictionary. It claims 10,000 new words and sounds like a real winner. The article was in the New York Review for Nov. 24, if you have access to it. It refers to 'sniglets', remember them?
My delinquency has caused me to miss your story, Ron Wordon. I'm interested since my late husband had a very bad time with gangrenous toes, due to poor circulation, I suppose. You can email me if you would rather not repost. Thanks.
ReplyDelete