google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014 Allen E. Parrish

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Oct 29, 2014

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014 Allen E. Parrish

Theme: RHYMES WITH BOOZE:  Four chosen theme entries in pinwheel array all rhyme with CHOOSE, and all are spelt differently.  Not much more to say about it.  Let's round them up.

20 A. Classic country song with the lyric "I've lived my life in vain" : BORN TO LOSE.  Here's a more urban version of the saddest song ever.




58 A. Writer/director known for his coming-of-age films : JOHN HUGHES.  The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, etc.   I guess he liked Molly Ringwald.  Here he is [center] with Molly and Matthew Broderick.


39A. Manners expressed in letters : P'S AND Q'S.  I don't think this is quite right, and it took me a long time and lots of perps to suss.  Per the Urban Dictionary, the expression comes from the days of printing presses, when type was set one letter at a time.  Since the the press letters were reverse images, it was easy to confuse the mirror image lower case letters p and q.  So, mind your p's and q's means pay attention to details. Also, this just sounds better than saying, "Mind your b's and d's.

11 D. Deduction on many paychecks : UNION DUES.   Contrast 1 D.

34 D. 24/7 information provider : CABLE NEWS.   Whether this is news or infotainment is open to interpretation.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here, your tour guide for today.  Straightforward theme.  The cleverness is in finding alternative ways of representing the sound of OOZE.  And then fitting them into the grid, of course.  Rather an unusual grid, too, with two theme entries in the vertical.

Across

1. Part of 10/29/14 : SLASH.  The slanted line separating the numbers in the clue.  Starting with a self-referential clue.  How nice.

6. With the bow, to a violist : ARCO   As distinguished from pizzicato, or plucked.

10. "The Godfather" novelist : PUZO.  Mario. 

14. Its strings are tuned in perfect fifths : CELLO.  A perfect fifth is an interval such as A to E. Cello strings are tuned to C, G, D, and A.  The vibrational frequencies are in the ratio of 3:2.  Other perfect fifths: Pinch, Johnnie Walker, Talisker, Lagavulin.





15. Gulp (down) : WOLF.  Here, unlike in Winterfell, WOLF is a verb.

16. Alternative to Windows : UNIX.  Computer operating systems.

17. Geometric products : AREAS.  Regions enclosed by shapes.

18. Patron saint of Norway : OLAF.   Ólafr Haraldsson, (995 – 29 July 1030.)   Not the most saintly saint ever.

19. Evening, informally : NITE

22. Pass the welcome mat : GO IN.  Enter and sign in, please.

23. Gambler's method : SYSTEM.  An attempt to outsmart the random arrangement of the cards, and overcome the statistical advantage enjoyed by the house.  Good luck with that.

24. Image handlers, for short : PR MENPublic Relations, aka spin.

26. "Clueless" actress Donovan : ELISA.  Not as clueless as I am on this clue.  But I see she played Amber in both the movie and TV series.


29. Ice cream treat : SUNDAE.  A scoop or two, covered with flavored syrup and/other other optional toppings, limited only by your imagination.  Suitable for any day of the week.

 Yum


32. L x XLVIII : MMCD.  Roman Numeral math.  How nice.  50 x 48 = 2400. 

35. Support for a weak joint : TAPE.


37. Deforestation remnant : STUMP.  Bottom part of a tree trunk.

38. __-Locka, Florida : OPA.   Per Wikipedia, Opa-locka is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 15,219. The city was developed by Glenn Curtiss and was based on a One Thousand and One Nights theme. Opa-locka has the largest collection of Moorish Revival architecture in the Western hemisphere. Its streets have names like Sabur Lane, Sultan Avenue, Ali Baba Avenue, Perviz Avenue and Sesame Street. Opa-locka has an area of 4.2 square miles (11 km2) and is located in the northwestern area of Miami-Dade County, Florida.




41. Queen Victoria's realm, e.g.: Abbr. : EMPire

42. Kibbutz teacher : RABBI

44. Steady fellow : BEAU.  As in courtship.

45. U.K. mil. awards : DSOsDistinguished Service Order, generally presented to officers ranking Major and above..

46. Buzzard's grippers : TALONS.  Bird claws

48. Big name in appliances : AMANA

50. Les __-Unis : ETATS.  United States in French.  How nice.

52. California wine region : SONOMA.

56. Newsletter choice : FONT.  A selected type face and size.

61. Genesis son : ABEL.  Brother and murder victim of Cain. 

62. Golden rule word : UNTO.  More Bible

63. Showy flowers, for short : GLADs.  Gladiolus.


64. "Deadliest Catch" narrator Mike : ROWE.   This is another TV show I've never seen, or even knew about.

65. Not quite dry : DAMP.  Not quite wet, either.

66. Eagle's hideaway : AERIE.  In Old Latin, a level piece of ground, but in English, probably via medieval French, an eagle's [or other raptor's] nest high in a tree or on a cliff.  Funny how that works.  Or for American Eagle, this.

67. Place for private dining? : MESS.  Military jargon, and a clever misdirection.  Privates are low ranking, and eat in the mess hall.  Is cleaning up the mess corporal punishment?

68. First name in mysteries : ERLE Stanley Gardner, American lawyer and author, of Perry Mason fame.

69. Political essay : TRACT, aka monograph, a short treatise on a single topic, often political, or religious. 

Down

1. Picket line crossers : SCABS.  Union busting.

2. "Bad, Bad" Brown of song : LEROY.




3. A's and Jays : ALERsAmerican League baseball teams, the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays.

4. Not on the level : SLANTED.   Literal.

5. Inexpensive lodging : HOSTEL

6. Missing reveille, perhaps : AWOL Absent Without Official Leave.

7. Chewy candy brand : ROLO.



8. Purse fastener : CLASP.

9. Bids : OFFERS.

10. Strong-smelling : PUNGENT.  A fellow with stinky word plays is a PUN GENT.

12. Rigatoni alternative : ZITI.  Pasta by any other name.

13. Field team : OXEN.  Former bulls.

21. Drops : OMITS.  Leaves out.

25. Rumple, with "up" : MUSS.  The other kind of mess.

27. "Born From Jets" automaker : SAAB.  Per Wikipedia: "Svenska Aeroplan AB (aktiebolag)" (Swedish for "Swedish Aeroplane Company Limited") (SAAB) was founded in 1937 in Trollhättan, with the merger of Svenska Aero AB (SAAB) and Linköping based VASJA the headquarters moved to Linköping. The style "Saab" replaced "SAAB" around 1950.

Originally manufacturing aircraft, the company sought ways in which to diversify its business. In the late 1940s the company began manufacturing cars at its Saab Automobile division was based in Trollhättan. The first car was the Saab 92; full-scale production started December 12, 1949, based on the prototype Ursaab.

Probably more than you wanted to know.

28. Sleep __ : APNEA.  Suspension of breathing.

30. Arsenal supply : AMMO.  Bullets, frex.

31. "Love & Basketball" actor Omar : EPPS.


32. Media mogul Zuckerman : MORT.  U.S. News and World Report, among many other things.

33. Film-rating org. : MPAAMotion Picture Association of America.

36. Mild cheese : EDAM.   I keep waiting for Stilton or Jarlsberg.

39. Colada fruit : PINA.  Actually, Piña, Spanish for pineapple.    The piña colada, made with rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream is the national drink of Puerto Rico.

40. Suppress : QUASH.  Stifle.

43. Pop holders : BOTTLES.  Here in the Midwest, carbonated soft drinks, known as sodas in other places, are called pop.

45. Pendant earring, say : DANGLER.  It hangs and swings.

47. Children's hosp. co-founded by Danny Thomas : ST JUDE.  The patron saint of hopeless cases.

49. Chewy candy : NOUGAT.  A confection of honey or sugar with roasted nuts and whipped egg whites.

51. Sub tracker : SONAR SOund Navigation And Ranging, a system for detecting underwater objects by  emitting a sound and tracking the echo.

53. "BUtterfield 8" novelist : O'HARA.  John.  His 1934 novel was made into a movie in 1960.  Elizabeth Taylor won her first Academy Award for her leading role as Gloria Wandrous.

54. Physician at the front : MEDIC.  Military Dr.

55. It's a good thing : ASSET.

56. Growing concern? : FARM.  Clever clue.  Concern, as in business, growing as in vegetables.

57. Double-reed woodwind : OBOE.  Here they are, along with a couple of cor anglais, playing Swan Lake.  In less capable hands, the oboe sounds more like a duck.


59. Standard Web page code : HTML. Hyper Text Markup Language.

60. "You wish" : NOPE.  Slangy denials.

There you have it.  Rather a nice romp with a musical sub-theme and some tasty treats along the way.  Hope it was satisfying.

Cool regards!
JzB


Note from C.C.:

Happy 89th Birthday to dear Dodo, a very active member of our blog a few years ago. Our Californian Coven (Chickie, JD and Garlic Gal) visit Dodo every year when Lucina alights on CA. We miss you, Dodo!

Left to right: Chickie, Lucina, Garlic Gal, JD, and Dodo, June 4, 2014


53 comments:

Barry G. said...

Morning, all (and Happy Birthday, Dodo, wherever you are)!

This one was definitely on the "meh" side for me (or, to use Argyles term from yesterday, a "tad flat"). The theme was basically non-existent as far as I was concerned (I briefly wondered whether it was going to be "clues that have a / in them"). Never heard of BORN TO LOSE, but then again I'm not into country music at all. I didn't bother trying to convert and calculate the random roman numeral clue/answer, and just waited for the perps to take care of it. Didn't know/remember ELISA or OHARA, but the perps took care of them as well.

Everything else was smooth and uneventful.

Big Easy said...

Well, Jazz you have obviously never watched Dirty Jobs either, Mike ROWE's show that ran for years before he left the Discover Network for CNN. He is also the voice for Ford Commercials and other TV shows.

LEROY Brown-twice in one week. The clue for 27D should have been 'Died From Lack of Sales', SAAB.

39A What the hell is a PINA? My Pina Coladas are made with pineapple juice and creme de Coco ( Coco Lopez) and rum. Baccardi makes a good frozen mix that just requires rum, ice, and a blender. No umbrellas.

This puzzle was fairly straight forward and filled so fast that I never noticed the rhyming scheme. I am unfamiliar with BORN TO LOSE. Other unknowns were ELISA EPPS OHARA and JOHN HUGHES.

Abejo said...

Good morning, folks. Thank you, Allan Parrish, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, Jazzbumpa, for a fine review.

Well, I went to bed at 10:00 last night and, therefore, got up at 4:45 AM. Jumped into the puzzle after a couple Words With Friends bouts (that's my new thing via Facebook).

I started with MONTH for 1A. Quickly that was changed to SLASH. Since I beat the newspaper this morning I used the IPad and changing a word is not an inkblot.

BORN TO LOSE was easy. My first theme answer. I have enjoyed Country Music for most of my life.

Pretty much worked my way down the puzzle. PS AND QS took me a while, but then it hit me.

Perps helped me with a few like, MPAA, MORT, ARCO, and OHARA.

EPPS was easy. He is on "House."

Off to my day. Heading to the church to finish cutting up an ash tree I took down on Sunday. then a ride to the Knights Templar Home in Paxton, IL, for our October Banquet that we sponsor.

Happy birthday, Dodo, and many more!

See you tomorrow.

Abejo

(3296)



Randy said...

I read years ago that since beer and ale in old England was served in Pints and Quarts, whoever was keeping tabs of what the customers were drinking was "minding their Ps and Qs."

desper-otto said...

Good morning!

Hand up for MONTH at 1a. Otherwise, it was a blot-less solve this morning. And 63a provides a good excuse to link Joplin's Gladiolus Rag 4:24.

Jzb, I grew up calling it pop, also. But down here it's called a coke (uncapitalized), even when it isn't a Coke. There's another word for suspension of breathing -- death.

Happy birthday, Dodo. Hope you're doing well.

Montana said...

Happy Birthday, Dodo. I remember you from when I first read the Corner blog.

I enjoyed this puzzle. Sped through it to near bottom. Had two WAGs correctly and was done.

Montana

Yellowrocks said...

Happy Birthday DODO.
Typical Wednesday fare. The few unknowns were gotten by perps and wags. I didn't get the theme, but seeing it, I think it's fine.
I learned Omar EPPS from crosswords.
My ex and I read many of OHARA'S interesting stories.
I knew BORN TO LOSE.
We never call carbonated drinks POP in NJ. It's always SODA, even on menus. My southern college roommate called all of it co'cola, Coke or not.
JzB, I love your expos, commenting on every line. However I beg to differ on Stilton being a possibility for mild cheese. The most common, blue Stilton, is PUNGENT, and white STILTON is tangy. I love blue Stilton.
Mom always said "Mind your P's and Q's" for "Mind your manners."
Link P's and Q's

Dudley said...

Hello Puzzlers -

I've generally figured that minding your p's and q's meant paying attention to details, but I suppose that could include minding your manners too.

Morning JzB, really enjoyed the NYOboes! I once played clarinet in a youth ensemble that included two bassoons. One of the bassoonists was really top notch, but the other was useless - her bassoon sounded more like a fart. Yuck.

I'd still like to have few beers with Yo-Yo Ma.

Avg Joe said...

OK, looks like they got Wednesday and Tuesday mixed up this week. No speed run, but no major stumbling blocks. Actually had to the the Roman math to get the 2nd M since I didn't feel sure about the rating org. And the theme? They rhyme? That's it? OK then.

Happy Birthday Dodo. Hope you are still solving and following along.

Looks like the weather liars were right. Lowest temp I saw was 29.5, so our streak of the first frost being prior to Halloween remains intact.

Husker Gary said...

Any day that starts with Ray Charles can’t be all bad

Musings
-GO IN – putter’s cry
-The Husker head trainer once told our class that if TAPE were flesh-colored they’d use much less of it
- Once a nickname for Portland, OR, STUMPTOWN is now this
-We can’t decide whether to do anything about these “TALONS”
-Our tour guide at the AMANA colonies said this communal way of life ended because some members disliked getting the same rewards as those who worked less diligently
-This UNTO stuff works in all religions
-Erle’s plotline – A is murdered, B is the logical but innocent suspect and C and D also have a motive. At trial Perry Mason dramatically gets E to confess in open court for reasons we never suspected.
-The KC ALERS looked great last night and could close it out tonight
-Something is only worth what somebody OFFERS you for it
-The site of America’s most famous ARSENAL
-The 20 best Single “F-bombs” in MPAA PG-13 rated movies
-HBD Dodo!

Irish Miss said...

Good Morning:

Not a very exciting theme, but a satisfying solve, nonetheless. Fav clue was growing concern=farm. Had mess before muss and, if I live to be 100, Roman numerals will still give me fits.

Thanks to Mr. Parrish and thanks to our musical maestro for the informative and witty write-up. JazB, have you ever considered doing stand-up comedy? I think you'd be a natural! :-)

Happy Birthday, Dodo; hope you have a lovely day.

Have a great day.

Husker Gary said...

Addendum: Was anyone else surprised to find ST JUDE’S Hospital and the burial place of Danny Thomas and his wife Rose Marie in Memphis, TN and not California nor New York? The ALSAC on the Pavilion building stands for American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities which is the fund-raising of St. Jude’s.

Ergo said...



Thank you Jazz and Allen.

As others have mentioned, a pretty nimble offering today. Had to laugh at myself when I originally wrote in XSANDOS instead of PSANDQS. My manners must lean toward the romantic side.

Took me awhile to get JOHNHUGHES. I kept running the movies, "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" through my brain. A quick prayer to STJUDE, the patron saint of lost causes, resolved the problem.

thehondohurricane said...


Happy hump day to all,

I finished it up, but it "wren;t" right.

Messed up 39A. 58A & 40D. Not going to go into details, lets just say it was a lack of attention.

Lucy leaves in a couple of hours for a vacation in
Gay Paree. Going with some gal pals.. I'll try to behave, but it will be difficult!

Giants pitching is in deep weeds. Was hoping for three days of rain so Bungarner could return. He still may.

Happy birthday Dodo.

Dudley said...

I was sent a link to a British a capella group named Voces8. They are simply fabulous. This link will take you to a stirring Rachmaninov piece which just might make you weep.

kazie said...

I think I almost took longer reading the blog than doing the puzz today--thanks Jazz, for all the musical interludes!

My only knowledge of OPA is the same as OMA--it's what Lea calls us. Also didn't know UNIX, but perps fixed that.

I stayed in many a youth HOSTEL during my 6 months traveling throughout western Europe in 1970, many for only about 50 cents per night. Couldn't have done it without them, and they are mostly about $20 a night now. Good explanation of PS AND QS, something I'd never thought about.

I did know MIKE ROWE, but never really watched the two shows mentioned. He's good at advertising Fords, and rather interesting in a n interview I saw once.

I never stopped to figure out the theme--which is often the case for me.

Bill G. said...

I liked the puzzle OK but never even noticed the theme. Unusual for me. PSANDQS filled in with crossing letters and I was sure there was a mistake since the 'word' didn't make any sense to me at first.

Happy birthday Dodo for sure!

D-O, I love Joplin rags, your link was a good one. Do you know Elite Syncopations? Another good one.

I like Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs reruns. He's funny and smart.

Tinbeni said...

Jazz: WOW!!! Thank you for an excellent write-up with wonderful musical links!

OPA-Locka was a gimmie ... but the "Florida area" did me in. Another DNF / FIW.

Looking forward to a Game 7, World Series finish.
Sooooooooooo ...
Husker: Good Luck to your KC Royals.
Hondo: Good Luck to your SF Giants.
I'm just glad I get a game 7 to watch and enjoy (without a favorite to root for!).

Fave today, of course, was PINA Colada ,,, the closest thing to booze.
Here's my solving ear-worm Escape (The Pina Colada song) (3:48)

Cheers (To the World Series Winner!!!)

Misty said...


This was a lot of fun for a Wednesday puzzle and I got the theme right away. Many thanks, Allan! Only one tiny goof up--had OPEN instead of OXEN thinking it had to do with sports and forgot to check the across. But otherwise, a delight. And JazzB, this had to be one of the best write-ups ever! Now I finally understand PS AND QS, and I loved the history and photo of OPA LOCA. Also those GLADS were beautiful! Many thanks!

Have a great Wednesday, everybody!

Lucina said...

Hello, puzzlers.

Happy birthday, Dodo! I'll have to call her. And Jzb, Chickie will be surprised to learn she's now a chicken in your caption to the picture. LOL

Thanks to Allan Parrish for today's romp which filled faster than I could ever cry WOLF!

Some clever word play brought a smile:

growing concern, FARM
place for private dining, MESS

Loved Ray Charles' BORN TO LOSE and of course had no idea about the theme. Thanks for 'splainin it, Jazz.

I'm glad someone noticed Matthew Broderick was not in that photograph and I believe that is not OMAR EPPS either.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!

PK said...

Hi Y'all! Great one, Allen! Great expo, Jazz! I got the theme when I happened to read the long phrases out loud and noticed they rhymed. Yay, me! For once.

I managed to stay awake to watch those ALERS last night. Well, part of it. I was in and out. Saw some of the best parts. Missed the end which wrapped up more quickly than expected.

Mike ROWE's face flashed before me. Had no idea what his name was. Didn't know the other given names either.

If Ray Charles is singing "BORN TO LOSE", it really isn't classed as country music, is it?

I knew where St. Jude's was located because I helped sponsor a show once with players whose share went to that hospital.

Lime Rickey said...

That's Michael Schoeffling with Molly Ringwald and John Hughes on the set of Sixteen Candles in 1984 (source).

And that is Omar Epps.

Lucina said...

I just spoke to Dodo and she thanks everyone for the birthday wishes and especiall C.C. for remembering. She doesn't use her unreliable computer or she would do it herself.

She is a hoot to visit with and I wish you all could speak with her.

Lucina said...

Oops. I'm sorry. I had a completely different image of Omar Epps.

Dudley said...

Hondo 10:11 - so you're a bachelor for a while? Usually, that translates to a big, noisy, disrespectful party....

Spitzboov said...

Good afternoon everyone.

Happy Birthday Dodo! Drei Mal hoch!

Nice tour guiding today JzB. Thanks.
Enjoyed the puzzle a lot but didn't focus on the theme until coming here. Some great cluing which JzB mentioned. Only problem occurred at ROLO/ARCO cross. Basically a Natick for me but a very lucky WAG gave all the right letters. Liked the P'S AND Q'S clue and fill.
ST OLAF - We were privileged to tour the Nidaros Cathedral and spend a week in Trondheim in 1994. I believe the Norwegian crown jewels and accoutrements are in Nidaros as well. A section of one wall dates from the 12th century and is alleged to contain relics of the Saint.

Jazzbumpa said...

Hi gang -

HBD Dodo. We miss you.

Thanks for the nice comments, folks.

Lime - thanks for the correction on Michael Schoeffling. I make more blunders than any of you will ever know.

Really.

Rachmaninoff could write heart breakingly beautiful melodies. [sniff]

Elite sycopations

Had lunch with a bunch of retired former colleagues today. What a great time.

Cool regards!
JzB

fermatprime said...

Greetings!

Thanks, Allen and Jazz! Great work!

No problems with puzzle. ROWE was all perps.

Note: 50*48 = 50(50 - 2) = 2500 - 100 = 2400, so no calc. necessary.

Happy Birthday to Dodo! Miss you!

Off to dentist again. Yecch!

Cheers!

Irish Miss said...

JzB - Thank you for linking that Rachmaninoff excerpt. Coincidentally, I listened to the entire symphony earlier when I was peeling and mandoline-ing the onions for my French Onion Soup. I'm not sure which prompted more tears: the onions or the music. And, of course, masochist that I must be, I followed that up with Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony. They both have composed some of the most hauntingly beautiful music and, as you said, heartbreaking, as well.

Avg Joe said...

Irish Miss, your post yesterday motivated me to cook French Onion Soup this weekend. I've got the ingredients (well most,,,still need gruyere and bread), but have only made it a couple of times. Care to share your recipe? I've used the Joy recipe in the past with good results, but am always looking for ideas.

Lemonade714 said...

Very happy birthday dear Dodo, you share this date with my sweet Charlotte who turned two today.

I am so glad someone located and linked the caption to the John Hughes pic, as I had no idea who the third person was. I still never heard of Michael Schoeffling, but at least now I do not feel bad not recognizing him.

Loved Ray Charles, had the pleasure of having him perform in Gainesville at a small music hall in the late 70s.

Blue Iris said...

I ended across with not much fill. After going down, everything came together with a few wags. I couldn't sleep last night so finished puzzle about 3AM.

Mike ROWE seems very rugged and tough. He has started on a campaign to get young people interested in jobs that are being left unfilled since most motivated young adults go to college presently. Google Mike ROWE's job program if interested.

JzB, LOL- I still picture you in deer antlers to this day.

Happy Birthday, Dodo!
I miss many birthdays by not logging in everyday, i.e. Happy Birthday Boomer and very belated HBTY to CED.

We will be sitting on the edge of our seats tonight hoping the Royals can pull through in a pinch, as has been their habit this season. We will be communicating with our daughter, in Iowa, throughout the game.

Anonymous said...

This was pretty easy. Had a couple problem areas, but that's what the perps are for. Thanks Allen and JzB.

Having played CELLO for 9 years in school, ARCO was a gimme. Haven't touched a cello since I graduated.

Happy Birthday, Dodo! Miss your posts!

French Onion soup: I read somewhere to slice up your onions, put them in the crock-pot with some butter and let them cook on low all day. Then continue as directed.

If DH is agreeable I'm going to make some Ham and bean soup. He usually doesn't care for bean or lentil soup but this sounds really good. Thanks for the idea, Avg Joe

Have a nice evening.

Pat

Blue Iris said...

Well,well, HBD to Charlotte who's pictures brighten the blog!

Did anyone here ever watch "The Locator" in the past? We found a series called, "Long Lost Family" on You-Tube. Full episodes about British families, if anyone is interested.

thehondohurricane said...

Dudley @ 2:13 PM

Mope, translates into BORING. Escort service said I was over their max ageiimit.

Steve said...

Thanks for the expo JzB - I completely forgot to look for the theme. Happy Birthday Dodo!

In flight back to LA from Dearborn and over Ohio at the moment. I was able to finish up business early and instead of going via Chicago and arriving back in LA at midnight, United were able to re-route me via DC and I'll be home in time for dinner (albeit a late one) Woo hoo!

HeartRx said...

Happy Birthday, Dodo!!
¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫¸¸¸.•*¨*♫♥♫

JazzB, agree with you about Ps & Qs. As for the theme? I'm whelmed.

OwenKL said...

The ordeal is over, and the doc gave my "plumbing" a clean bill of health. But not without incident. I reported a couple months back about my LW getting me a wheelchair. It's just been sitting in the living room gathering dust. I decided today was the occasion to finally inaugurate it. The law of unintended consequences kicked in. She had difficulty getting it into our car, and fell in the endoscopy center parking lot trying to get it out again. Finally though she got it set up, but underestimated a ramp as she pushed me toward the building, and over I went! Had to call 911 and get some brawn to help me back into the chair! After that, everything was anti-climax. I wasn't hurt, but she's complaining no about a sore gluteus where she fell on it.

Oh, the puzzle. I thought just rhyming was a pretty trivial theme until Jazz pointed out that all 5 rhyming syllables are spelt differently.

Chickie said...

Hola Everyone, I'll have to confess that I used Mr. G. to help with a director, an actress and a novelist. After those three were in the rest fell into place.

I loved the clues for mess/Private dining, field team/Oxen, and slash for today's date, 10/29/14.

Happy Birthday, Dodo. I'll have an easy time remembering your birthday from here on in as it is also my daughter's birthday. Enjoy your day!

I've read the blog, but haven't commented much these past couple of weeks. I've been super busy with our thrift shop activities--our Christmas boutique is coming up and with two other organization's meetings.

I hope to find more time to myself in the next few days.

Have a great rest of the day, everyone.

Spitzboov said...

Highlights from the Budapest Airshow 2014 featuring planes flying through the beautiful city and taking off from and flying under the bridges of the Danube river.

Irish Miss said...

Lemony - Happy 2nd Birthday to Miss Charlotte. She gets cuter by the day.

Owen - Glad to hear your good news but sorry to hear of your misfortune. Hope you wife is okay.

Spitz @ 7:17 - One word reactions: WOW!

Anonymous T said...

Hi All!

Fun offering from Allan, but better write-up from JzB. It was good to have a musician expo 14a. 15a could have been a cleo w/ Peter and the_. Thanks Jazz!

HBD Dodo! Visit soon.

BORN TO LOvE kept me from closing the CLASP for some time. Once I got that I thought I was going to win -- but, no. A DNF. Florida did me in - DANGLEs did't help. Oh well, a fun diversion.

I came of age during JOHN HUGHES's movies. The fun bit is that thanks to the MPAA F-bomb limit then, I can enjoy 'em w/ my kids.

UNIX - yeah, I have >3 boxen.*

HG - I drove by ST JUDE a few times when we visited Memphis on the way back from IL. It's not far from the glass pyramid which I find more appropriate there than the one in Vegas.

Favs: OXEN mirrors FARMS and PUZO x-ing ZITI is priceless.

Ave Joe / IM - More soup?!? Yum.

Cheers, -T
*plural of box - see 13d :-)

Avg Joe said...

T, in our house there are 2 seasons. Summer and soup season. I know you folks that live in warm climates don't get it. But I'd die without cold weather.

Anonymous T said...

Ave Joe - I grew up in IL and sometime miss the cold. I'll be "home" for Christmas to see my brother who's finally state-side after 16 years.

Here the season SYSTEM is: Grill, Thanksgiving, soup, Christmas, chili, grill, and for the for the love of all that's good, don't go outside (and $700 AC bills) :-)

Looking forward to an Onion Soup posting.

Cheers, -T

Bill G. said...

As I've said before, I'm a big fan of Costco steaks, especially their prime rib eyes. Today I was picking up a few quick things at the local supermarket and I came across a few good-looking steaks. I was in the mood so I got one. I just took it off the grill. I snuck a taste. Delicious!

Good game so far!

JD said...

Good evening all,

Wonderful Wed. puzzle, and write up, Bumpa. I especially liked "Born to Lose".. lots of goodies today.

Mike Rowe has always been a favorite. Before he was on "Dirty Jobs", he was on a local program,"Evening Magazine" back in 2001 ... love his wit.

Did anybody mention that the guy in the picture with Molly Ringwald wasn't Matthew Broderick? It is that guy in 16 Candles that she went off with at the very end of the movie. I think he was Michael Schoeffling.

Dodo, you KNOW I am thinking about you today. Hope you had a great celebration.

JD said...


♪♩♬♫•*¨*•.❤.•*¨*•♫♪•.¸¸.•´♫♪♩♬*¨*`•.♥.•´*♫♪♩♬ bringing back my notes just for Charlotte.Happy 2nd birthday!

Dudley said...

Hondo 5:23 - y'mean they have standards? Blimey!

Spitz - that's some fancy aviating there. I presume that was the opening ceremony of a Red Bull race series. The takeoff from the bridge looked like fun.

JzB - you're right. That Rach guy has a knack...

Irish Miss said...

Anon T @ 8:07 - I emailed the recipe to Avg Joe due to length. If you, or anyone else, would like a copy, I'd be glad to send it to you.

Lucina said...

AnonT:
$700 A/C bills? How big is your house?

Soupy Sales said...



Irish Miss, Thanks for sparing the rest of us. ;-)

Bill G. said...

I enjoyed the ballet interpretation of Elite Syncopations.

Quite a game. I wanted the Dodgers in the World Series but both of those teams seem better than the Dodgers.

Anonymous T said...

IM - I received your email and look forward to the soup.

Lucina - I don't really know, but in the summer the AC almost never kicks off (the upstairs AC is running right now!)

I wish I could come up w/ links for today (BORN TO Run was in the queue until LOve/LOSE), but really the words I liked best are the ones you don't see often like MUSS. SLASH x-ing SLANTED was a nice touch too. It's like Allan minded his Ps & Qs* :-)

Cheers, -T
*I've always understood that as detail and not manners.