Theme - HOMOPHONIA. Silly three-word phrases starting with the letter A, and having the indefinite article A in the middle constitute internal echoes. Actually, the clues themselves are also quite silly. Call me crazy, but I love the word play in this theme.
17 A. Fall in love with something at the home improvement center? : ADORE A DOOR. Furniture and appliances are OK, but seldom give you this kind of an opening.
25 A. Bring Bugs into harmony? : ATTUNE A TOON. TOONS, of course, are cartoon characters. Bugs is one of the truly great TOONs, and great TOON singers. And how could he be more ATTUNED than this?
37 A. Get voices in all ranges? : ACQUIRE A CHOIR. Sopranos, altos, tenors and basses [not to be confused with 61A.] Anyway, there are no bugs here.
52 A. Severely criticize the store special? : ASSAIL A SALE. This is a correct usage for ASSAIL - I checked. Any time you come to The Corner, you get your money's worth
61 A. Criticize the stringed instrument? : ABASE A BASS. More like degrade than criticize. But bassist Christian McBride, who I had the great pleasure of preforming with a couple years ago, is above reproach.
Hi, Gang. JazzBumpa on duty. Let's see what else Bruce has in store for us.
Across
1. Got taller : GREW. Use gruesome in a sentence. OK. I visited my grandchildren in PA last week. Since the last time I saw them, they gruesome.
1. Got taller : GREW. Use gruesome in a sentence. OK. I visited my grandchildren in PA last week. Since the last time I saw them, they gruesome.
5. Etching supplies : ACIDS. A mask is used to protect the rest of the surface, and ACID etches into the exposed area to create an image.
10. Ski area in Utah's Wasatch Mountains : ALTA.
14. See 66-Across : RACE. Here it is --
66. With 14-Across, event with batons : RELAY. A track and field event of a set distance in which each team has several runners [usually 4.] At the end of a runner's turn, the baton is handed off to the next runner.
66. With 14-Across, event with batons : RELAY. A track and field event of a set distance in which each team has several runners [usually 4.] At the end of a runner's turn, the baton is handed off to the next runner.
15. Bad news for the waiter : NO TIP. Rude, too. We give a minimum 20%, and usually in cash.
16. Classic cars : REOS. Ransom E. Olds started the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. This later became Oldsmobile, a division of General Motors. He left the company on 1905 and started the REO Motor Car Company in 1905. It remained in operation until 1975, when assets were liquidated in a bankruptcy proceeding.
19. "Pretty please?" : MAY I. Childish begging.
20. "Frasier" role : NILES. Brother of the eponym, Frasier Crane, played by David Hyde Pierce and Kelsey Grammer, respectively.
21. Debuting on screen : NEW.
23. iPhone, e.g., briefly : PDA. Personal Data Assistant. Anyone still have a Blackberry?
24. Scooby-__ : DOO. Toon dog. I was never a fan.
30. Golf tee, e.g. : PEG.
31. "Flashdance...What a Feeling" singer Cara : IRENE.
32. Barbecue pair : TONGS. A device with two movable arms, either joined at one end or in the middle, used to pick up and hold things.
33. Solo in a spotlight : ARIA. This is the Italian word for air [not to be confused with Ned Stark's younger daughter.] An air is simply a song, but an ARIA is a dramatic solo in a opera. I'm not a fan.
35. Smallish batteries : AAs.
36. Med. condition with repetitive behavior : OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Behavior. Every time I type that, I have to go wash my hands.
42. Colony resident : ANT. Usually under ground.
43. Gallery filler : ART.
44. Went like crazy : SPED.
46. Second thought : DOUBT.
49. Get fuzzy, as vision : BLEAR.
51. Grand __ Opry : OLE. A weekly country music concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1925. Not a fan of this either.
54. "Breaking Bad" org. : DEA. Drug Enforcement Agency.
55. Org. offering written and road tests : DMV. Department of Motor Vehicles.
56. Mason jar attachment : LID. That tops it off.
57. Humdrum : BANAL. Vapid, insipid, old-hat.
59. Start bubbling : BOIL. No toil, no trouble, just turn on the heat.
65. Greek peak : OSSA. Because Etna is in Sicily.
67. Site with tech reviews : c|net. Technology oriented website
68. __ end : DEAD. The termination of a road or passage with no exit. Figuratively, any kind of impasse.
69. Wild West transport : STAGE. A stagecoach was a closed, horse-drawn vehicle used to carry passengers and mail along regular routes
70. Run-of-the-mill : SO-SO. Mediocre.
Down
1. __ Joe, Charlie's companion on his tour of Wonka's chocolate factory : GRANDPA.
2. Time before TV : RADIO ERA. Back in the day.
3. Environment-related : ECOLOGIC.
4. "Where __ you?" : WERE. Time for excuses.
5. Actress Ortiz of "Ugly Betty" : ANA. [b 1971] Singer, actress, and domestic abuse advocate.
6. Fish sticks fish : COD.
7. Midori on the ice : ITO. Olympic skater. Many videos of various length here.
8. Pop singer Warwick : DIONNE.
9. Binge : SPREE.
10. Reliever's asset : ARM. Baseball relief pitcher.
11. Seize, as an opportunity : LEAP ON.
12. Pooch in your lap, maybe : TOY DOG. A breed of dog that has been bred to a reduced size.
13. Most people : ASIANS. Asia is by far the largest continent, and has by far the highest population density.
18. Actor Morales : ESAI. Frequent crossword visitor.
22. Keep an eye on : WATCH. Would you keep an eye on my WATCH, please?
26. Personal attribute : TRAIT. A genetically determined characteristic.
27. Rip (up) : TEAR. Forcefully pull apart
28. Opens, as an official document : UNSEALS. Without TEARING it, one would hope.
29. Commotions : TO-DOS. Disturbances, fracases, brouhahas.
34. Jordan's only port : AQABA. Located at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba, which extends N-N-E from the Red Sea.
36. In base eight : OCTAL. My eyes glazed over pretty quickly, but if you're interested in base 8, you can read about it here.
38. No later than : UNTIL.
39. Space : AREA.
40. Tiny tunes player : IPOD NANO. A portable media player, now in it's 7th generation.
41. Big events for film studios : RELEASES.
45. Gives a hand : DEALS TO. Aha - cards, not a helping hand.
46. Somewhat flabby male physique, informally : DAD-BOD. Never heard this term before, but I guess I have one.
47. Diffuse slowly through a membrane : OSMOSE. Moving from the side of the barrier with greater concentration to the side with lesser concentration.
48. Permit to enter the States : U.S. VISA. Allows the visitor to enter, leave or stay for a specified period.
49. Unwise wager : BAD BET.
50. Country's McEntire : REBA. [b 1955] Singer, song writer, actress, record producer, and eponym for a TV show.
53. Whopper creators : LIARS. Prevaricators, not burger flippers.
58. Basics : ABCs. Early steps.
60. Young chap : LAD.
62. According to : A LA. Common in English, adopted from French. (Cf. 46 D)
63. Give in to gravity : SAG. As telephone wires, or protruding body parts.
64. Word after eagle or hawk : EYE. Either way, sharp vision.
That wraps it up. Hope you had fun with it.
Cool regards!
JzB
Hi everyone!
ReplyDeleteThanks to Bruce and Bumpa!
Really enjoyed the theme!
Right off the bat, did not know GRANDPA, ANA and DADBOD. However they filled themselves in nicely!
Have a great day!
FIW¡ For the second time this week, and it's only Wednesday¡¡ Aaiiy¡ I had ACcUIRE + AcABA¡
ReplyDeleteA Love Song With A Twist At The End!
- ---- ---- ---- - ----- -- --- ---
I first saw that face at Ace!
From the beginning I loved every TRAIT!
Although there was hard wear,
There was nowhere a BAD TEAR,
When I first saw that face at Ace!
I fell in love at Lowe's!
How does love happen, who knows?
The attraction GREW
As I searched for a screw!
I fell in love at Lowe's!
The LEAP was a go at Home Depot!
No longer could DOUBT interpose!
Right by the commodes,
It was there I proposed!
The leap was a go at Home Depot!
Who can say what's the course of amour?
At our threshold we'll meet evermore!
Twist the handle to swing
On the PEG in the hinge,
My ART-crafted NEW DOOR I ADORE!
{A+! Any tune suggestions?}
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteI was not as enamored of the theme as JzB, but it was OK. YEAR end morphed into DEAD end when LAD became apparent. DADBOY/DADBOD -- both seemed plausible. My first computer, a mighty HeathKit H-8, was an OCTAL box, thus the 8. I first learned of AQABA in Lawrence of Arabia (article). Thanx, Bruce and JzB.
Good morning everyone.
ReplyDeleteSend back a wayward gull - Return a tern.
Aeronautical class action - Explain a plane.
Curate a petrified forest relic - Catalogue a log.
There are probably hundreds of these that could be contrived in English.
Kind-of-a-fun theme today. The fill was all gotten without mishap. No issues.
AQABA - The assault on Aqaba was highlighted in the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" with Peter O'toole (1962)
Super easy (for a Wednesday) and after ADORE A DOOR was filled I almost quit because I knew what the other theme fills would contain. A-A-A, but I wouldn't give the puzzle an A++ (I had to throw that in; I'm not criticizing the constructor).
ReplyDeleteHow about the clue "kick a bag"- ABASE A BASE
or "rip into a genoa"- ASSAIL A SAIL
Going straight down the left side, I've never heard of GRANDPA Joe or the term DADBOD. ANA Ortiz was also an unknown.
SAG? refer to the term DADBOD or just look in the mirror. Gravity always wins.
RADIO ERA? when did it end? I know there's a limit to the number of stations that can operate in the kilohertz or megahertz spectrums, and locally I think it must be filled because there are stations broadcasting that I've never heard before. Pop, rap, soul, new country, country, smooth, talk, religious, blind, public- you name it, it's there. And then there's satellite radio- Sirius XM- with over 200 channels.
I really liked the puzzle. And JazzB's write-up was even funnier. Thanks to both constructors.
ReplyDeleteI had to learn to OCTAL-dabble (and double-dabble) when learning the new, computer-controlled telephone switching system circa 1978. Abejo and machine-language programmers probably used it more than I did after the class (16 weeks, 40 hours per week, one instructor).
Didn't we have a discussion a few months ago about whether smart phones were PDAs? Who won?
I've never seen Breaking Bad, and I'm the one person who still hasn't seen Willie Wonka. I would have known Grandpa Al Lewis, though.
I erased RADIO age and DIaNNE Warwick, but got RELAY RACE right off the bat.
Off to do more exploring around the historic Colonial Beach, VA area. James Monroe and George Washington were both born within a few miles of where we're camping.
Good morning all!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bruce for a fun Wednesday with a cute theme which I did ADORE. So call me crazy too, JzB :)
Thanks, JzB for another delightful write up. I truly enjoyed listening to the Christian McBride trio. Very cool that you got to perform with him!
The only unknown was AQABA and I had Bad/DAD BOD but that was easily fixed with the perps.
I had to lol at the "say no to GRANDPA Joe" site. I never put that much thought into his misogyny. I just always wondered how he was able to leap out of bed, singing and dancing after many years of being bedridden, I guess that Golden Ticket had some real magical powers.
There has only been one instance when we never left a tip. I, along with DH, brother and SIL went to eat breakfast in the wee hours after seeing a friend's band at a bar. The place was super crowded and when our waitress finally came to our table her greeting was "Don't expect no good service" as she threw the menus at us. At least she was honest, as it was the worst service and experience we've ever had. We should have left the moment she said that but we were hungry and options were limited at 2 A.M. Part of me felt bad that she was overwhelmed but her attitude was appalling throughout our entire time there. I've never experienced anything like it in my life! (And try eating pancakes with not even as much as a glass of water to wash them down after you've been imbibing all night)
Any other time, we always tip at least 20% and try to do so in cash if possible. Some places don't give servers their tips charged to a CC when they close out for the day- one I know of releases their tips the following paycheck.
IM- glad to see you're a fellow fan of "This Is Us"!
After seeing your comments, as well as others about "Young Sheldon", I may give it a pass. It's on the DVR but doesn't sound enticing.
Off to pick up Albus from the groomer. Or as I call it- his "spa day". He loves getting pampered and often falls asleep, snoring loudly while being groomed. Our regular groomer is on vacation, so hopefully he's as comfortable with her associate and his enjoying his "me time" ;)
Then more cleaning and then dinner with DD#1 and the fireman. We're trying a new place- should be fun!
Wishing everyone a wonderful day :)
35A: Naturally I went with AAA. WRONG!!!👺
ReplyDeleteI loved the homophones and puns. I enjoyed the puzzle, Bruce, and the blog, JzB.
ReplyDeleteGood ones, Big Easy, with the pattern, A----(verb) a a----(noun) using homophones.
Assign a a parcel of land - ALLOT A LOT.
Arrange a second row of chairs - ALIGN A LINE.
Sit next to - ABUT A BUTT. LOL
Very easy, but FIW with one bad cell. I filled in a temporary answer and when I got the down perps I did not check that there was no across fit. Drat!
It's been three weeks since bringing Alan home from the shore a day early. We have been doctoring and testing the whole time with no answers, just ruling everything out. It is sad to see him feeling so bad and frustrating not to be able to help, just chasing my tail.
Hi Y'all! Caught onto the theme with the first one which helped with the others. Fun time, Bruce! More fun with JzB. Especially liked the CHOIR, but never heard of their U.
ReplyDeleteI read an article that DADBODs are "back in style". So many men have them, I didn't realize they ever went "out of style". I personally think a little extra padding makes a DADBOD nicer to cuddle with. Hug your DADBOD today, I say!
NE was the last to fill. Never can remember ALTA -- see it only in cws. Reliever's asset, I read as "reliever of assets" and Repo Man didn't fit. I tried "grab ON" before a LEAP ON. TOp DOG before TOY. Never remember that "most people" = ASIANS.
Couldn't remember GRANDPA in the play -- just the scene with four old people in a bed. Perped in okay.
I was reluctant to get up today. Yesterday was a bummer. While I was fixing breakfast, I dropped a full glass of milk on the counter top which shattered with glass shards & milk flying everywhere. Milk soaked the front of all the clean clothes I just put on. Good news was that I wasn't barefoot and not a drop got on my new sneakers. Took an hour to clean it all up. Later in the day I had a gusher nose bleed, the third in as many days. (Don't know what to make of that, probably allergy-related.) More clothes changed. Decided to go to the store for more milk and allergy meds. My new car (bought last mid-Oct. with only now 372 miles on it) had a dead battery. The service department of the dealership where I bought the car would be glad to call a roadside assistance company for me? Hunh? All that money I spent, they aren't LEAPing to my aid? I decided to call my mechanic son. Forgot he is in Wisconsin this week. Emailed my daughter who usually helps me. Got a return email from her that she is in Colorado this week. I decided the best thing to do was kick back in the recliner and take a nap. So today on my agenda is what I should have done yesterday. Or maybe another nap until all the bad words in my vocabulary are back under control.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteNothing like Bruce Haight's humorous word play to jumpstart my day. Filling in Adore A Door may have signaled what was coming, but in no way did it lessen my interest, it actually piqued it because I knew I was in for some fun. In my mind, it was going to be Assault a Salt (Assail A Sale) and Carp A Harp (Abase A Base). I missed that there were all A word beginnings until Jazz enlightened me. BTW, BE, your examples don't fit the pattern because your noun's spelling doesn't change. Also, Radio Era is used in the sense of pre TV, i.e., when there was only radio. The only unknowns were Grandpa Joe and the "Ugly Betty" actress. Jinx, you have company as I have never seen Willy Wonka or "Breaking Bad." Or Ugly Betty, for that matter.
Thank you, Bruce, for never disappointing and always delighting and thanks, JazB, for being our entertaining, diligent docent.
YR, hang in there.
Have a great day.
I love puns! Thank you, Bruce Haight, this was really amusing.
ReplyDeleteHand up for not remembering ALTA; I had ALMA first but it soon disappeared. I loved Flash Dancing so IRENE Cara surfaced quickly. TOYDOG reminds me of my papillon; she was my baby for 17 years.
My OCD tends toward ensuring that everything is uniform, that is, neatly arranged in an orderly fashion. That REOS lasted until 1975 is remarkable. Osmosis is commonly used but OSMOSE seems unusual though I'm sure it's right. DADBOD? That's a new one for me.
PK:
Your experience sounds awful and I'm so sorry. Hopefully things will improve for you.
YR:
I'm sorry to hear about Alan's relapse. Does he also suffer from depression?
Have a better day, everyone!
JazzB:
ReplyDeleteThank you for leading us through the mists today and for the enjoyable videos.
PK, what a horrible day you had. My mom would say, "Some days it doesn't pay to get out of bed," but of course, she soldiered on with 6 kids. For the milk spill and the nose bleed you could say this stuff happens sometimes, however inconvenient it may be. The dead battery in the new car I would find very upsetting, especially after such a bad day. It and the lack of service seems uncalled for. It's too bad your son and daughter were not available.
ReplyDeleteI am not turned on by 6-packs abs. IMO a somewhat dad bod is preferable. With women having a more realistic expectation for men, when will men reciprocate?
I enjoyed Ugly Betty. I saw Willie Wonka several times with the kids. Enough already.
Jinx, enjoy your camp out. Those were the days. I used to love camping.
Hand up for not having seen Willy Wonka or Ugly Betty. Until this summer, I could have added Baking Bread, but over the summer I managed to pseudo-binge-watch all five seasons on NetFLix. Bryan Cranston made a great non-hero. Now I'm slowing working my way through the early NCIS seasons with Kate and Ziva.
ReplyDeleteMusings
ReplyDelete-Fun, helpful gimmick. Loved your wit and the musical links, Jazz!
-I am blessed/cursed with the ability to ATTUNE to adolescents better than adults
-I used cheaper, non-ETCHED, plastic graduated cylinders in my lab
-We had a wonderful waitress and burger Sunday. I complimented her and tipped 25%
-Did you ever play “Mother May I” growing up?
-Moviedom’s most famous OCD sufferer?
-Calling an iPhone a PDA is like calling a Swiss Army Knife a can opener
-Eventual frustration - Untouchables/alcohol and DEA agents/Marijuana
-A RADIO ERA show (choose an episode) that came to TV
-MLB clubs often go on a spending SPREE to find a good ARM
-After 5 minutes in a classroom, I know who I will have to WATCH closely
-Will these be UNSEALED soon?
-My goodness, PK, you had Joe Btfsplk day!
Fun puzzle, Bruce. Thank you for a pick-us-up Wednesday offering.
ReplyDeleteThanks, also to JzB for another great write-up.
I also ADORE puns so this was right up my alley. Thanks for the fun, Bruce . JAzzB, the musical tour was wonderful, as was the silliness.
ReplyDeleteHG, I'm with you on calling an IPad an PDA. I got the fill but it didn't sit well. I also had trouble digesting BLEAR. But there were many more good clues.
Owen, A++++++++
Jzb outdid himself today!
ReplyDeleteAlways leave a tip!
PK, I was going to send this to my Daughter the next time she had a bad day.
Of course, if you prefer silliness to brighten your day, go with Niles...
Hmm, now, how to find something sillier that "What's Opera Doc..."
(did the "kill the rabbit" aria come before, or after Jzb's link?)
I loved this puzzle and the clever theme. Like Irish Miss, my getting ADORE A DOOR piqued my interest. We used to watch Ugly Betty (interesting show, stupid title) so I remember ANA Ortiz, but we never watched Breaking Bad or Willy Wonka. Wanted WEST End or EAST End, but didn't think of DEAD end UNTIL getting --VISA and LAD. I should have noticed that "end" was not capitalized. Never heard of DADBOD, but now I probably will remember it. I think I have a Grampa bod.
ReplyDeleteJazzbumpa, thanks for a terrific write-up.
Sorry you had such a bad day, PK, and I hope you have hundreds of good days ahead.
A big branch from the pine tree in front of our house came crashing down last night, with a big whump sound. It fell onto the street instead of onto our house, thank goodness. This morning LW and I cut it up into manageable-sized logs and called the city who will send out a crew to pick up the pieces.
Best wishes to you all.
HG, fortunately it takes all kinds. It's good you "ATTUNE to adolescents better than adults." They need a mentor like you. I attune to kindergarten and primary school children better than adolescents.
ReplyDeleteBleared eyes and bleary eyes are quite common usages, especially bleary eyed.The root is blear, which is legitimate, but not as widely used. Don't sit on the downwind side of the campfire. The smoke will blear your eyes.
Cute, Mr. Haight, very cute!
ReplyDeleteTa- DA!
It took me until 61A (ABASE A BASS) to figure it out. (Although I really wanted it to be ABUSE A BASS.) Then I could go back and fill in the rest of the homophonic answers.
JzB provided the technical word, but are we really sure it doesn't refer to the long distance courting of gay pals? Maybe that's a secondary def.? Is there a heterophonic companion term?
OwenKL: Thanks for your very fine song today! Loved that 3rd stanza especially! The rhyming of "commodes" with "proposed" may be a bit of a risk, but one well worth taking!
(Your second stanza - whew! right there in the aisles? - may be slightly more graphic than a family rating would allow.)
BunnyM, your NO TIP experience actually sounds entertaining. The honesty of it reminds me of a place I went to with friends outside San Francisco, where the theme of the joint was customer abuse. (!!)
There was an occasion once in France when I did not tip appropriately. Europeans generally want to linger and linger over meals, but that did not excuse a time in Avignon when our waiter just disappeared. We couldn't flag anyone down and, because of this missed our no-late-seating festival concert for that evening.
Naturally, our tip consisted of two unused concert tix.
Al Lewis was Granpa in the Munsters, Jack Albertson was Grandpa In Willie Wonka.
ReplyDeleteI found this puzzle 57A despite the solve.
Yes, I have been known to adore a door...
ReplyDeleteAttune a tune?
Acquiring a Choir problems.
Being a Musician, I have tried to abase the Bass, but it still sounded pretty good...
ReplyDeleteMore operatic excerpts.
Hi everybody. That was another enjoyable puzzle but then, most (all) of of those that emerge from Rich's editorial guidance seem to be. Thanks Bruce, Rich, CC and JzB.
ReplyDelete* I want to grow my own food but I can't find bacon seeds.
* What if there were no hypothetical questions?
* What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
Pooch in your lap,dadbod, sag.
ReplyDeleteOwen:
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I loved your whimsical poem.
Thanks for allowing me to vent this morning, and kind words from YR, Gary, Jayce & CED, loved the bad day videos. Just getting it off my chest helped, knowing it was heard is priceless. My yard man came today and picked up a bunch of branches that were down and unplugged my downspout. He's a sweet guy and made me feel better also. My car battery is still dead but I think I know what to ask for after letting my thoughts solidify. I expect to get better service if I am past the desperate, whiny
ReplyDeletestage.
That's a fabulous fen (Admire a mire)
ReplyDeleteSimpson was guilty (Abjure a jury)
Let me at that windmill! (Acquiesce to a quest)
Had to get those out before I forgot them. Thanks to GRANDPA JOE I now know "Misogynist" is a hater of women (not everyone).
Owen, quartrains is a great style for you. The only tune I could think of was "That's amore".
JazzB thanks for the excellent write-up of Bruce's excellent Thursday offering on a Wednesday. I was stuck but the themes pulled me out of the MIRE.
Digital Eq.(DEC) had a search engine called ALTA Vista which helped on that Ski resort.
I never got to Tuesday. I will.
WC
PK, yikes, 372 miles in 11 months? Don't blame you, I dread driving here in now-wacko Houston. I hope you've been able to speak to your mechanic son. I have absolutely no knowledge about car mechanics, other than one puts the key in the ignition to make it start, press on the accelerator to go, etc., so I always read Click N Clack columns (miss that duo, since John died) and other mechanics' columns. IIRC, short drives drain the battery whereas longer driving times recharge the battery to full capacity. Although I'm not commuting to work anymore, I (sub)consciously try to drive my car at least once a week on 25+-mile jaunts, errands, sister visits, etc. I'm counting on our mechanical-minded bloggers to correct this info. I hope your nose-bleeds have cleared up; I, not being able to stand the sight of blood, surely would fainted if I ever had one.
ReplyDeleteI love TBBT (nerds finally getting revenge on jeering HS/college jocks), and so I just consider "Young Sheldon" another, earlier version of the same. Guess ya have to be in a goofy state of mind to enjoy it - my PhD brother found absolutely zero, zilch, nada, humor in TBBT.
Thanks, JzB, et al for the great links! Enjoyed them all, especially the ketchup-"inked" message. CED, I'm going to email your "bad day" YouTube video to my niece - she had a four-day business trip from hell, first to Philly and then Atlanta, all due to flights taking off way earlier than the ETD. Both legs of the trip. Delta did text her about the "earlier" departure time, but THREE hours after it departed. Finally, she returned to Houston and then went "full-octane," as she calls it, with some wine.
This was a fun Wednesday speed run! Thanks, Bruce! I got the theme with the first one. Enjoyed the expo, JzB!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Ugly Betty or Breaking Bad so perps helped there.
56a Mason jar attachment/lid: in the early 70's, DH and I were canning veggies. We needed more lids so he went to a small local grocery store and asked if they had any lids. The cashier said no, only nickel bags. (Amounts of marijuana). It was funny at the time.
PK, I hope that was a one-time-only awful day. Best wishes for superb days to come.
YR, bless you for your care of Alan. He is lucky to have you for his Mom.
Good Wednesday evening!
Pat, good story. My son will appreciate it. He sure did appreciate a good lid in his day.
ReplyDeleteI got onto Fraser and Niles from the links and had laugh spasms. So, Young Sheldon has started. I'm a TBBR fan but mostly of the earlier episodes.
WC
PS. I just ran off Tuesday. Fastest ever.
TBBT of course.
DeleteThe one about the fake Rehab, Season I was my favorite.
WC
JzB: Blackberry no, Palm Pilot yes. Don't use it any more but can't bring myself to get rid of it. Loved your write up. Also loved the puzzle.
ReplyDeleteTX Ms - You are doing the right thing by your car, but the battery isn't the issue. It is good to keep fresh gas in the fuel system, especially some squirting devices called "fuel injectors". Old timers like me think of them as carburetor replacers. Driving a 25 mile trip weekly is also good for your tires and exhaust system. BTW, you need to replace the tires when they are 7ish years old, even if the tread looks brand-new.
ReplyDeletePK - Your car slowly drains the battery when turned off, plus it will discharge itself over time. If you don't want to take a 25 mile trip every week, you can find a small battery charger that will plug into your cigarette lighter and a wall socket and will keep the battery fully charged. It won't help if you leave the lights on and the battery is flat, but it will keep it charged from those "normal" drains I mentioned.
Without bad days we wouldn't know how wonderful the good days are. Hang in there.
I have a 150cc scooter that I use maybe 3 times a year.
ReplyDeleteI thought removing the battery would be enough, (it wasn't)
I bought a battery charger that worked once or twice, then the battery would not charge.
I learned from the battery store that it was the Florida heat that was
killing the battery when it was idle. The answer is a float charger.
The battery store wants $60- for this little gizmo that plugs in the wall
and attaches to your battery while it is still connected and in the car.
I found one at Harbor Freight for $9.99
Note that they have coupons in their catalog,
my final price was $4.99
P.S.
ReplyDeleteRe: float charger
below the picture of the item are more pics showing hookup.
The video at the end right is very helpful in explaining it.
Note that it only works on lead acid batteries,
there are new fangled batteries out there that use a different technology.
read the instructions carefully, and use a surge protected outlet.
P.P.S.
ReplyDeleteIt's not over until the fat lady sings...
PK, regarding the nose bleed; By any chance are you taking a blood thinner like Ibuprofen?
ReplyDeleteCassini's last portrait of Saturn. The sun is behind and above Saturn casting a shadow on the rings. Last photo of Saturn
Jinx, thanks for the heads-up re tires - will check with my local Firestone (I comment to service reps there that I deserve my own personalized coffee cup ala Tim The Tool Man - yeah, my Blazer's coming up on its 20th BD, but it still runs great.) Thirty years ago(?) I read a mechanic's column about never letting the gas gauge get below one-quarter because of those sticky fuel injectors (gas tank gunk) which, because of my auto-hypochondria, I watch closely. Also, religiously changing oil every three months. Know about air filters, belts, but that's all I want to know about "auto maintenance." Firestone's telephone number is....
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys, for the encouragement and tips. My last car, a 2003 Buick Century model, I had a five-year battery that lasted seven years before dying. I'm thinking all the electronics lights that come on and the headlights which don't turn off right away may have drained the battery. This is a Buick Encore which was built in S. Korea so I have no idea what kind of a battery is in it. I'll have to do a little research. I think I'll request that they put it on a charger overnight and see what happens then. I'm just a mile or two from a Harbor Freight so I may go talk to them, Dave.
ReplyDeleteMY old car I drove so seldom that the gasoline varnished over the fuel injectors. I had to have them cleaned and then use the high octane gas. No more than I drive, the added cost wasn't prohibitive.
My biggest problem is finding the wellness and energy to drive around and deal with all this stuff. I have had nosebleeds in the past from using too much aspirin. But that isn't the case this time. However, after the last rains, I was smelling mold every time the a/c kicked on. I've had nosebleeds when I was cleaning up moldy leaves from yard work in the past. I think my eaves troughs were full of moldy leaves and water may have leaked up under the eaves into the attic. I'm very allergic to this. No nose bleed today and no a/c running because it is cooler. Not smelling any mold. Yard man cleaned the eaves troughs. Hope this will end it. Leaves beginning to fall so no guarantees. I can't figure out how my a/c ducts would have been breeched to suck this in.
Glad that everyone seemed to enjoy this fun ride and there were no nasty comments!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about Ugly Betty. I am assuming ANA is not her as she is obviously not ugly! Or am I misunderstanding the point of the show?
Hand up GRANDPA unknown. Only know OSSA from these puzzles. ALTA was a WAG.
We were at AQABA two years ago on our way to Petra in Jordan. Petra is one of the most beautiful places I have seen:
http://swt.org/events/israel2015/jigrobert/20150721-0515B.JPG
AQABA is near the junction of Israel, Jordan and Egypt. We considered going snorkeling in the Red Sea in Egypt. Good thing we decided against it; a plane was shot down there at about that time. Snorkeling in the Red Sea in Israel was not quite as spectacular, but it was safer.