Theme: "Two for One"- The first word in each original theme entry is split into homophonic two parts, changing spelling as needed.
23A. Athlete Jackson discusses immunization options? : BO TALKS INJECTIONS. Botox injections. Bo Jackson.
36A. Spring spelling event could face cancellation? : MAY BEE MAYBE NOT. Maybe maybe not.
71A. Seaman's complete canvas expense? : WHOLE SAIL COST. Wholesale cost.
103A. "2 + 2 = 5" problem? : SUM THINGS WRONG. Something's wrong.
122A. Writer anticipates a vacation? : AUTHOR EYES TIME OFF. Authorized time off.
16D. Situation when a frat room is empty? : NO BUDDY HOME. Nobody home.
70D. Average salary on a Detroit team? : PAY PER TIGER. Paper tiger.
Did you all grok the theme immediately? I need Santa's help to fully understand the gimmick.
This is the type of theme only a master wordsmith can dream of and execute. I'm in awe.
Across:
1. "Don't panic" : BE CALM!
7. Lincoln who was the first screen adult Tarzan : ELMO. Silent movies. We also have 75. Tarzan player Ron : ELY. This ELMO is a stranger to me.
11. Adlai's 1956 running mate : ESTES (Kefauver)
16. Japanese theater form : NOH
19. Astronomy Muse : URANIA
20. "King __" : LEAR
21. Lacking company : ALONE
22. "What have we here?!" : OHO
26. Put an end to : BAN
27. Bit of porch furniture, perhaps : SETTEE. TTP/D-Otto/Splynter could build this screened-in porch. Who else are carpenters on our blog?
28. Beauty pageant band : SASH
29. Cruise purpose : PLEASURE. Never been on a cruise. You?
31. Seville : Sra. :: Seattle : __ : MRS. Alliteration in the clues.
33. Wee amount : TAD
35. Quick, as service : SAME DAY
44. __ Sea : DEAD. Not our regular ARAL.
45. Rotting results : ODORS
46. General Bradley : OMAR
47. Writer Bagnold : ENID
49. Places with courts : GYMS. Not judicial.
52. NBA nickname since the '70s : MAGIC. Oh, Magic Johnson.
53. Actress Gaye of "Ali" : NONA. No idea. Daughter of Marvin Gaye.
54. Former Renault : LE CAR
56. "Could be trouble" : UH OH
57. Forgers of a sort : SMITHS. Not art forgers.
59. Roof rack items : SKIS
61. Basic French infinitive : ETRE
62. Greiner of "Shark Tank" : LORI. Another stranger to me.
63. Brief moments : SECs
65. Denver-to-Omaha dir. : ENE
66. What "it takes," at the start of many macho mantras : A REAL MAN. The A makes it a long partial to me.
68. Nile biter : ASP
76. How rural areas are populated : SPARSELY
78. "More than I wanted to know" : TMI
79. Garden invader : WEED
81. Actor Diggs : TAYE. He was married to Idina Menzel for a long time.
82. Rover's turf : MARS
84. Chooses : OPTS
86. Checked (out) : SCOPED
90. Dadaist collection : ARPS. Not ARTS.
91. Clapton et al. : ERICs
93. Offer of help : I CAN
95. Rodeo accessory : REATA
96. Borscht veggie : BEET. In the huge basket of goodies Agnes sent to me, there's a bag of Veggie Chips. They're actually potato flour with spinach and beet powder. So good.
97. Phobia beginning : ACRO. Acrophobia.
98. Islamic branch : SHIA
99. Bean in Hollywood : ORSON
100. "Friends" friend : ROSS (Geller). Monica's goofy brother.
106. Draw : ATTRACT
109. CEO's credential : MBA
110. LAX inspection org. : TSA
111. Like serious errors : GRIEVOUS
113. Pizazz : ELAN
116. Slowly : ADAGIO
121. Tease : RAG
23A. Athlete Jackson discusses immunization options? : BO TALKS INJECTIONS. Botox injections. Bo Jackson.
36A. Spring spelling event could face cancellation? : MAY BEE MAYBE NOT. Maybe maybe not.
71A. Seaman's complete canvas expense? : WHOLE SAIL COST. Wholesale cost.
103A. "2 + 2 = 5" problem? : SUM THINGS WRONG. Something's wrong.
122A. Writer anticipates a vacation? : AUTHOR EYES TIME OFF. Authorized time off.
16D. Situation when a frat room is empty? : NO BUDDY HOME. Nobody home.
70D. Average salary on a Detroit team? : PAY PER TIGER. Paper tiger.
Did you all grok the theme immediately? I need Santa's help to fully understand the gimmick.
This is the type of theme only a master wordsmith can dream of and execute. I'm in awe.
Across:
1. "Don't panic" : BE CALM!
7. Lincoln who was the first screen adult Tarzan : ELMO. Silent movies. We also have 75. Tarzan player Ron : ELY. This ELMO is a stranger to me.
11. Adlai's 1956 running mate : ESTES (Kefauver)
16. Japanese theater form : NOH
19. Astronomy Muse : URANIA
20. "King __" : LEAR
21. Lacking company : ALONE
22. "What have we here?!" : OHO
26. Put an end to : BAN
27. Bit of porch furniture, perhaps : SETTEE. TTP/D-Otto/Splynter could build this screened-in porch. Who else are carpenters on our blog?
28. Beauty pageant band : SASH
29. Cruise purpose : PLEASURE. Never been on a cruise. You?
31. Seville : Sra. :: Seattle : __ : MRS. Alliteration in the clues.
33. Wee amount : TAD
35. Quick, as service : SAME DAY
44. __ Sea : DEAD. Not our regular ARAL.
45. Rotting results : ODORS
46. General Bradley : OMAR
47. Writer Bagnold : ENID
49. Places with courts : GYMS. Not judicial.
52. NBA nickname since the '70s : MAGIC. Oh, Magic Johnson.
53. Actress Gaye of "Ali" : NONA. No idea. Daughter of Marvin Gaye.
54. Former Renault : LE CAR
56. "Could be trouble" : UH OH
57. Forgers of a sort : SMITHS. Not art forgers.
59. Roof rack items : SKIS
61. Basic French infinitive : ETRE
62. Greiner of "Shark Tank" : LORI. Another stranger to me.
63. Brief moments : SECs
65. Denver-to-Omaha dir. : ENE
66. What "it takes," at the start of many macho mantras : A REAL MAN. The A makes it a long partial to me.
68. Nile biter : ASP
76. How rural areas are populated : SPARSELY
78. "More than I wanted to know" : TMI
79. Garden invader : WEED
81. Actor Diggs : TAYE. He was married to Idina Menzel for a long time.
82. Rover's turf : MARS
84. Chooses : OPTS
86. Checked (out) : SCOPED
90. Dadaist collection : ARPS. Not ARTS.
91. Clapton et al. : ERICs
93. Offer of help : I CAN
95. Rodeo accessory : REATA
96. Borscht veggie : BEET. In the huge basket of goodies Agnes sent to me, there's a bag of Veggie Chips. They're actually potato flour with spinach and beet powder. So good.
97. Phobia beginning : ACRO. Acrophobia.
98. Islamic branch : SHIA
99. Bean in Hollywood : ORSON
100. "Friends" friend : ROSS (Geller). Monica's goofy brother.
106. Draw : ATTRACT
109. CEO's credential : MBA
110. LAX inspection org. : TSA
111. Like serious errors : GRIEVOUS
113. Pizazz : ELAN
116. Slowly : ADAGIO
121. Tease : RAG
126. Key for Debussy? : ILE. Last time is "Key for Ravel?".
127. Thin porridge : GRUEL. My grandma always prepared us millet or cornmeal gruel for breakfast. We had it with steamed bread, leftover veggies or pickled veggies. No eggs.
128. Approval indicator : SEAL
129. Aerial mission : SORTIE
130. Two above an eagle : PAR
131. Lamb piece : ESSAY. Nailed it. Charles Lamb.
132. Spot : ESPY
133. Fighting ender : TREATY
Down:
1. Pal : BUB
2. Cupid, to Plato : EROS. And 117. 2-Down, to Cato : AMOR
3. Actress Blanchett : CATE
4. Med school subj. : ANAT
5. Easy rhythm : LILT
6. Arms-folded response : MAKE ME
7. Brother of Peyton : ELI
8. Camera component : LENS
9. Subject of clothed and nude Goya portraits : MAJA
10. Handel opera written in Italian : ORESTE. I only know Orestes.
11. Absorb, as a loss : EAT
12. Unintended revelation : SLIP
13. Kit set : TOOLS
14. Set of nine : ENNEAD
15. Bun choice : SESAME. Always have toasted sesame in our cupboard.
17. Tara surname : O'HARA
18. Darling : HONEY
24. Weekly inspiration for many : SERMON. Nice clue.
25. No. 5 maker : CHANEL
30. Shore squawker : SEAGULL
32. Island birthplace of Pythagoras : SAMOS. See this map. Off the coast of Turkey.
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34. Gift recipient : DONEE. Do you actually use this word?
36. Grandmas, earlier : MOMs. OK, earlier.
37. Podcaster Carolla : ADAM. Know him, though I'm not subscribed to his podcast.
38. "Pic-a-nic" basket-seeking toon, familiarly : YOGI
39. The Beatles, e.g. : BRITS
40. Avoids like the plague : ESCHEWS
41. Pinstripes wearer : YANKEE
42. Smarts : BRAINS
43. Certs competitor : TIC TAC
48. 1925 Bryan foe : DARROW (Clarence). Got me. William Jennings Bryan, who was opposed to opposed Darwinism, according to Wiki.
50. Aesopian ending : MORAL
51. Reflective : SHINY
55. Big name in candy : REESE'S. Boomer went to a big Christmas party two weeks ago. He said the beef melted in his mouth, the dessert table was amazing and "I only took a piece of cake and two cookies"
58. Plot : SCHEME
60. Defense gp. dissolved in 1977 : SEATO
64. Toyota Camry model : SOLARA
67. Was humbled : ATE CROW
68. Take __ at : A STAB
69. Success on the second roll : SPARE. Bowling.
72. Ira Gershwin's forte : LYRICS
73. Mischievous : IMPISH. Hi there Spitzboov.
74. Chinese evergreen : LITCHI. My favorite fruit ever. In Guangzhou, you can find them cheap at the fruit stands in June/July.
77. Bring back to a former state : RESTORE
80. Anthony __, Pulitzer winner for "All the Light We Cannot See" : DOERR. Never heard of the author or the book.
83. Rugby action : SCRUM. Like this.
85. Leslie Charteris hero, with "The" : SAINT. Also an unknown to me.
87. El __, Texas : PASO
88. Harrow competitor : ETON
89. Mild oath : DANG
92. Gloomy : SOMBER
94. Bugs : NAGS AT
101. Brutal : SAVAGE
102. Searches all over : SCOURS
104. "Unto the Sons" memoirist : TALESE (Gay)
105. Word derived from a marquis : SADIST. Marquis de Sade.
106. "Get __!": "Control yourself!" : A GRIP
107. Refrain syllables : TRA LA
108. Ballet outfits : TUTUS
112. Where the Mets played : SHEA. Before Citi Field.
114. Motion passers : AYES
115. Tide type : NEAP
118. "Chicago" star : GERE
119. Meager amount : IOTA
120. "What __?" : OF IT
123. Beer originally brewed near a Northwest capital, briefly : OLY. Googled afterwards: Olympia Beer.
124. Foxy : SLY
125. Poehler "Weekend Update" co-host on "SNL" : FEY
46 comments:
FIW¡ A true natick at ADAnIO + nERE, and a partial one at DOiRR + RIATA using an alternate spelling from the one we usually see in puzzles. Tho the link here seems to say REATA is preferred, and RIATA has a, ahem, specialized connotation.
The CANVAS EXPENSE before the seaman could sail
Was almost enough to cause the SORTIE to fail!
The PLEASURE CRUISE was becalmed,
But the tar said, "BE CALM.
I know where to get a WHOLE SAIL wholesale!"
ELMO was a robot, and not A REAL MAN.
But he did things well, with a touch of ELAN!
His manner was hip,
And he showed A GRIP
Of layouts: "You'll find that in AREA 'L', MAN!"
{A-, B+.}
Greetings!
Thanks to Jim and C.C.!
Had the same antic with REATA. Could not grok theme, either!
Still sick, but a bit better.
Hope to see you all tomorrow!
NO TALKS was awesome. I also liked AUTHOR EYES.I did not care for MAY BEE used with maybe.
The SCOPES TRIAL was a landmark case as the ongoing struggle of religion vs. freedom of religion was fought between two of the great speakers of the time. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN who ran for president and lost three times and CLARENCE DARROW who defended many unpopular causes.
I thought the puzzle was hard for a Sunday but a worthy battle.
I do hate incorrect. BO TALKS!
Good morning!
Lots of hacking, sneezing and nose-blowing chez D-O this weekend. I'm holding DW responsible; she got it first. She's winding up week #2, while I'm only 6 days in. This croup has got a mighty hold on us.
Once I got the theme on this one, I was able to go back and change DO TALKS to BO TALKS. BUD looked like a "pal" to me. BE CALM might be comforting, so long as you're not a sailing man like Jinx. SPARE was a nice CSO to Boomer. In the end, I racked up another DNF, tricked up by the aforementioned RIATA/REATA natick. Thanx, Jim and C.C.
I couldn't build that porch, C.C. That's TTP's forte. I like to build stuff, but I'm no framing carpenter. I stick to small stuff like cabinets and tables.
Good Morning:
I did catch the theme very early but the solve was challenging all the same. Didn't know Elmo (Lincoln), Lori (Griener), Nona (Gaye) Litchi, Ennead, Oreste, or Oly (Beer). But I surely do know Taye Diggs, that handsome Devil! I had Darwin before Darrow and knew it was wrong but, for the life of me, I couldn't think of Darrow's name. Also wanted Adante (sic) before Adagio showed up. Ely/ Eli was cute. Anyway, I had a big, fat FIW thanks to Reata/Doerr crossing. I have never seen "Riata" spelled with an E, except in crosswords, despite what Owen quoted, although Doirr did look odd, so it's my own fault for not catching the error. My favorite themer was Pay Per Tiger.
Thanks, Jim, for a clever and fun Sunday offering and thanks, CC, for giving us such a clear-cut analysis and summary. I've been on several cruises but don't have strong feelings either way about them; some were fine, others, not so much.
Wilbur, I hope that foot injury isn't causing too much discomfort. I thought of you when filling in Acro (phobia) because that's what I think of every time you mention the Skyway Bridge!
Ferm, hope you are on the mend soon.
My sister's 90th birthday party is later today. Looking forward to seeing many family members. I'll have to bundle up as our temps are in the 20's.
Have a great day.
Way over my head today, but a fun challenge. Thanks, Jim, for the learning moments.
CC, your explanations made sense of my ignorance. One question I had was SOLARA as a type of Camry. I thought they were different models of Toyota. The irony is that I got it right, even though I questioned it. Same for REATA. Huh?? But it filled itself in so I yielded .
I loved both EROS and AMOR in the puzzle. Is it Valentine's Day? And also YEAS crossing AYES. We're so agreeable!
Anthony DOERR's All the Light We Cannot See is a fascinating book about a blind girl trying to escape the Nazis in WWII. No, it's not light summer reading, but interesting.
Our last sailboat was a heavy, ocean racer meant more for howling winds and raging seas than for the zephyrs of Lake Pontchartrain. In the dead of August, "becalmed" meant forget the race and go swimming overboard!
Owen, A+ for both today and yesterday.
All The Light We Cannot See is one of the best books I've read. And I've read a lot of books!!
I had the hardest time figuring out what this puzzle was about until MAY BEE MAYBE NOT was filled after I changed BANKER to YANKEE for the pinstriped wearer. My last 'tada' was understanding the BO TALKS for BOTOX. I had to change BUD to BUB and KATE to CATE. I never did understand the AUTHOR EYES for authorize until CC explained it.
Many unknown proper names today filled by perps. LORI Greiner, TAYE Diggs, ROSS, MAJA, SAMOS, Anthony DOERR, Leslie Charteris hero, The SAINT, ORESTE, LITCHI, OLY, NONA Gaye ( obviously a product of Marvin's "Sexual Healing").
ADAM Carolla & Jimmy Kimmel from the REAL "MAN Show"
ORSON Bean- I love his life insurance philosophy. "Why finance something you hope is not going to happen. The odds are against you" or "Why spend money on something just so my widow can remarry and another man can spend my money"
D-O, I also had DO TALKS for the longest with my BUD. My WAG for REATA over RIATA for the unknown DOERR was my last fill. There's a DOERR's furniture in NOLA so I went with the E instead of I for the LASSO.
Swamp Cat- I had to cross the 'raging seas' of Pontchartrain on Wednesday. I've never seen it so calm. Coulda played marbles on the surface. Not a ripple all the way to Mandeville at noon and none on the way back five hours later. My last sailboat was a 33' Morgan OutIslander, a slow boat with a full lead keel, designed for rougher waters.
Musings
-A proud HUSKER reference
-Jim’s puzzle was challenging fun with two bad proper noun cells. PAY PER TIGER was fabulous!
-C.C.’s elegant, even-handed reviews are always great
-A Tarzan named ELMO?
-Lori liked this product and started pitching it (:30)
-There are three lunar rovers still parked on the MOON (M _ _ _)
-CATE reminds me of all the kids I encounter that bristle when I don’t know the unique spelling of their name
-Gotta run to hear a very uninspiring Theology 101 SERMON. Read y’all later.
Good Morning, CC and friends. I enjoyed this puzzle and found it a tad easier that most Sunday fare. I got the theme early with BO TALKS INJECTIONS. The WHOLE SAIL COST was the last theme answer to fall.
I am probably one of the few people who didn't much care for Anthony DOERR's book, All the Light You Cannot See. I found the short chapters to be too disruptive.
Fun seeing both EROS and AMOR on opposite ends of puzzle.
Places with Courts = GYMS was a fun clue.
I confused ENID Bagnold, a real life person, with Edna Bagnold, a fictional character from Are You Being Served.
Rainy but warm here today.
QOD: For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, “It might have been.” ~ John Greenleaf Whittier (Dec. 17, 1807 ~ Sept. 7, 1892)
Good morning everyone.
Fermat - Glad to see your smiling face this morning. Hang in there.
Liked the homophonic theme today. Cool. Solved on-line with a modicum of red-letter support.
IMP - Yo.
TREATY - Treaties have many raisons d'ÊTRE of which to stop the fighting is just one. Words like surrender, armistice or truce are more direct IMO. Trade and hegemony are much more common reasons to me.
Wonderful Sunday puzzle, Jim--many thanks! I almost, almost got the whole thing, but like Irish Miss, I put RIATA since I didn't know DOERR. And like Desper-otto, I had BUD before I thankfully changed it to BUB. Got the theme then, and laughed out loud at BOTALKSINJECTION. That helped with all the other funny, delightful theme answers--a real hoot. And fun write-up, C.C.--thank you too.
Glad to see you back, Fermatprime--take good care of yourself.
I'm hosting my annual Christmas party this evening. Getting it catered, but just hope I ordered enough items. I always worry that the food will run out before all the guests get there, and I don't really have any back-ups in the fridge. Will just have to hope for the best. At least there will be plenty of booze.
Have a wonderful Sunday, everybody!
Hi everybody. I got the puzzle and the theme finally (with a couple of red letters) but like CC, I could never have put the concept of the theme into words.
~ Fermatprime, I hope you continue to feel better.
~ Lemon, what's wrong with BO TALKS?
~ From late last night, are any of you fans of Huell Howser's California's Gold?
Fun,but difficult. It took me a long time to get the theme answers and thus was late to suss the homophonic theme. Loved it in retrospect. In the SW I red lettered to find RENE was wrong. Zellweger spells it RENEE. Next I guessed GERE and was able to complete that corner w/o further help. I also had DO TALKS, not BO, and didn't change BUD to BUB. It never occurred to me because I do not pronounce TOX and TALKS alike.
Fermatprime, I'm glad to see you are beginning to improve.
DO and DW, I wish you speedy recovery from those nasty colds.
WC, I seem to have missed reading about your foot problem. What day was that posted? How bad is it?
Oh my aching ut puffer. Like Irish Miss I blew the intersection of RiATA x DOiRR for my only bad cell. But I also looked up NOH, TALESE and SAINT. I had PBR before OLY; (I only drank either if they were free and cold), cAN became BAN, deco became ARPS, in e became ILE, and eatS AT became NAGS AT.
Irish Miss, happy birthday to your sister! She must need a fire permit for her cake.
Swamp and BE - In most races boats that are feather-light, especially in in the bow and stern, have a big advantage. But I have a friend who won his class in the Newport to Ensenada race in a big, heavy cruising boat. There was very little wind and a lot of chop, so the racing boats couldn't maintain a laminar flow across the sails while the "tub" wasn't affected by the wavelets at all, and it slowly but surely got to the finish line. Every dog has its day. Big Easy, Charlie Morgan designed and built a lot of fine boats.
Thanks, Jim, for a fine puzzle even though it was too hard for me. I think I would have done much better if I weren't so ignorant about Asian culture. And thanks, CC, for the tour. No ignorance of any kind have I ever detected in you.
From last night - W.C. you DO have to be a PGA member to compete for the Fedex Cup. Form the Fexex web site: "Only players who are regular [PGA] members as defined by PGA TOUR tournament regulations will be eligible to earn points." It goes on to describe what they do when a nonmember is in position to earn points. Not as exciting as the Ryder cup, but close.
Dear Cornerites,
I have notes for today's puzzle, but I'm not ready to compose. I do want to comment on Michael FLN 1131P
I support your views on politics, and news. let us have fun which everyone is doing today.
Dave 2
Sorry for being dense, but I am still not getting how the theme is "Two for One"? I am just seeing humorous variations on familiar phrases.
Hand up FIW because of two unfair Natick crossings:
RIATA/DOIRR
NINA/SAMIS
ELMO/MAJA/ORESTE seems unfair, too
I enjoy challenges, but not if there is no way to figure it out.
Too bad, because otherwise I enjoyed the theme and the puzzle.
TAYE seemed wrong, but I was wrong. Other unknowns: OLY, NOH, URANIA, ROSS, ENNEAD
Thanks OwenKL for the interesting learning moment about RIATA.
I don't know ADAM CAROLLA. But this is the windshield of our COROLLA from the horrific Thomas Fire.
Currently a record 8529 fire personnel are assigned to the fire with no end in site. I was supposed to be performing in a concert last week. It was rescheduled for tonight. That was cancelled, too, along with every other public event in the region. It is only possible to go out wearing a respirator mask now for almost two weeks. But it could be much worse. At least our place has not burned.
I was very privileged to see this MARS ROVER at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab in 2005.
It is an exact copy of the ones on the surface of MARS. At the time, one of them was stuck and they were duplicating the conditions to figure out how to free it. They succeeded! Notice the bags of sand they bought to replicate MARS soil!
On our way to Oregon this summer we stopped at WEED.
A very popular photo spot now. Also famous for the views of Mount Shasta.
PS: LITCHI is also my very favorite fruit, CC! We are fortunate to get it fresh sometimes at the local Asian market. Otherwise, in cans.
Hi Y'all! Fun, interesting, humorous, but hard, thanks, Jim. Very good, thanks, C.C.!
Got the change in spelling with same sounds with BO TALK, added an "S" and kept perping and WAGing along. Knew ADAM Corolla from DWTS. (He didn't last long) I had to get my Kindle and look up DOERR, TALESE, SAINT, ENID. Had trouble with about half the proper names. WEES.
TIC TAC was the last to fill. I had a diagonal strip from CHANEL down to WEED that I couldn't fill for a long time. "No. 5 maker" clue: I looked at #5down & couldn't figure that out. Oh, perfume! Duh! In the same strip, ATE CROW was slow coming too. Tried "eat" first.
Some real doozies to dredge up. Set of nine = ENNEAD? Really? ADAGIO was not my first guess. Away from music terms too long.
Fermatprime: glad to see your post. We were worried about you last night. Well, all the time really. Thinking a big hug for you.
Picard: hope your fire problems continue to be nothing but ash & cancellations. Thank you for sharing your pictures with us. Hope all those pictures are in a secure place in case of fire.
Husker: Just watched the last half of the second half of the Kansas-Nebraska game. Such a close & exciting game with KS winning by one point. WOW! They've kept Bill Self more nervous this year than I've ever seen him.
No unwanted emissions today so am feeling better. Hope I get to the grocery store today.
An enjoyable Sunday puzzle.
I was delighted to see Orson Bean. The tree stand-up is a classic. I couldn't find a tape/kine/16mm/8mm/33/45/78 of him talking while tearing up a newspaper which would at the end of the routine emerge as a fir tree. Still working at 87!
Thank you for the kind wishes, PK. Yes, things could be much worse. Many of my friends have been evacuated and many others have left voluntarily. It is a ghost town now, with most things closed tight.
Here are a few photos of what it looks like from where we live
Yes, photos are the main thing I worry about. Many of them have been digitized and I carry those with me on several thumb drives. But there are thousands more from my father and from my youth that I have not yet digitized.
Thank you again for your concern and good wishes.
Picard: Yikes! Don't wait too long to evacuate! So scary!
I was happy to see EAT CROW instead of Eat Dirt that has shown up often before.
Late last night I posted something about Huell Howser and his episode about big trees including the huge fig tree in Santa Barbara and the massive General Grant sequoia tree. Here is the song that closed the show. Tree by Joyce Kilmer/Interpreted by Paul Robeson It's bring tears to my eyes all over again...
WEES. This was long and hard but with a happy conclusion for me. I read All the Light You Cannot See so DOERR was no problem. I love CHANEL #5 and receive it often as a gift.
NOH was also no problem and MAJA has become familiar, either nude or clothed. Picard, once you solve more of these puzzles many of these names and terms will be familiar to you. Also, being from the West I'm surprised you found RIATA difficult. It has variations in spelling, reata is another.
Thank you, Jim Holland and C.C.!
I'm off to a Christmas ornament exchange with my book club.
Have a magnificent day, everyone!
Is Ennead such a common word or title that it deserves no explanation ? it appeared from the crosses but still looks wrong. Missed my TADA on crossing proper nouns of Operas and Authors. Oh Well
After 2 days off winds are back today. Last I saw Montecito would be next to fall which is where Oprah lives. Huge estate with wilderness like areas leading up two a few acres of Mown lawns and structures. My guess is if you have enough money you can hire fire protection. Heck just changing my rentals to an "S" corp will save me enough for a new Tesla...and not the cheap one !! YUM !
Thank you Jim Holland and thank you CC.
Did I mention that I don't care for these types of puzzles ? I felt so much better about them after solving John Lampkin's the other day, which was so fun and playful, but just could not get it done today. Not close. Four unfilled squares and three wrong letters when I finally caved to red letters. That was after three separate attempts.
How come Bo didn't talk infections ? Remember the "Bo knows" Nike commercials ? Anyway, didn't know MAJA and guessed f instead of j.
Liked "Grandmas earlier" for MOMS. "Rover's turf" for MARS.
Changed Brachs to REESES.
Political comments on the blog ATTRACTS troll responses. Please don't encourage or feed them. Get A GRIP. Some of us just want a break from all of the vitriol, past or present.
REATA variant of RIATA. One of my misses. DOiRR was acceptable to me.
CC, thanks for the compliment. Yes, I could build that sunroom, no problem. I enjoy working with wood, but I wouldn't call myself a carpenter. I'd be much too slow to ever make a living at it.
Big E, I love the image of playing marbles on the water's surface!
Love California's Gold, watch the reruns regularly
Sunday Lurk Say...
{B+, B+}
C.C. Thanks for exposing me to the Sunday pzl and the fruit LITCHI. I'm sure my kids know about the treat -- the Girls get all kinds of stuff from the "international aisle" that they partake with their friends but dumbfound me.
Fermat - Good to see you today... Get well soon.
Picard - I hope you already have those photos packed for a quick get-a-way. And, when you return, remember where you un-pack them. I still can't find my title-paperwork after Harvey [I know they're somewhere about in a "safe-place."]. Stay safe, Bro.
TTP - Funny! not making money constructing 'cuz you're too careful.
//story:
Pop (a handyman) was redoing a room w/ my Uncle (a professional Unioncard-carrying carpenter). Unc would do quick measurements, scores, and hang sheet-rock in no time; took him about 25 minutes, with outlet holes and all, to rock the room.
Pop, a measure 3x-cut-once kinda guy, said: "Carl! Look at all those GAPs; what the hell?"
"That's the taper's job."
Pop was OK with that response until realizing he was the taper :-).
Like D-O, I'm good at woodworking (not Splynter good, mind you) but stick to small projects. Anything involving framing requires adult-supervision. Before I moved into current home, I hired a guy to help me put in a window and back-door for the garage. I'd have never plunged a skill-saw into the side of a structure w/o someone else to blame :-)
Lem - Thanks, you. I've never noticed the word Maccabee before you posted re: Bruce's Tue. Pzl. However, this week I saw it twice in the paper and heard it today on NPR's Hanukkah Lights special. And! I knew what it meant / to whom refers. I gots smart ;-). I love the Corner.
Cheers, -T
122A. Writer anticipates a vacation? : AUTHOR EYES TIME OFF. Authorized time off. It should be "authorizes time off."
So kind of you to pick that nit. Really.
Hand up for putting in BUD and then having to change it to BUB. I struggled with this puzzle and finally had to turn on red letters to see CAN was wrong, which was preventing me from figuring out the whole NE area. The first theme answer I solved was MAY BEE MAYBE NOT, so I thought the "Two for One" had something to do with the two E's in MAY BEE or the MAYBEE and MAYBE being "two for one." And that's one more reason I couldn't get BO TALKS. Not until much later when I got PAY PER TIGER did I grok it. By then I had already gotten red letter help. This was a toughie for me. I did notice ELY, ELI, and ILE, and A STAB and A GRIP. Mis-read the clue for the SNL host; saw "Poehler" and immediately entered AMY. That's my own fault. My foot now has a figurative bullet hole in it.
Never been on a cruise. Never have said "donee" except in jokes. I confess I have drunk Olympia beer. That's long before I knew better. Wife and I still sometimes say "It's Miller time" when we open a new bottle of wine.
Actually it should be authorize time off.
Anon @ 1542 - The authorizer(s) could also be anybody except 3rd person singular, in which case " authorize time off" would be the correct homonym as Jayce pointed out @ 1617. Since C.C. is pretty good at English, I'm guessing that was a typo which we are all capable of doing and it's the kind of thing spell checkers don't handle well. Hardly worth a discussion, but hey, I'm practicing my typing. I don't see any underling red wavy lines so I guess, we're good to go.,
Today's puzzle was a bit faster than some - but still lots of crunch! I enjoyed all the theme answers and word plays. I'm in the camp of those who really liked "All the light we cannot see"- one of my book club's favorites of a few years ago. Interesting to learn about the development of radio during WWII as well.
I always think of the Lychee spelling instead of LITCHI - but perps took care of that.
I have never been on a cruise - I deal with motion sickness and though I have taken meds in the past they don't always work - so I have been wary of spending a lot of money on a cruise and then risking just wanting it to be over the whole time. I have considered it for Alaska - as my sister fared okay when she did that. Alaska and North Dakota are the only states I have yet to visit!
Thanks CC and Jim!
Plus one "harrumph" for Doerr/Doirr Reata/Riata.
But if that's the worst thing that happens to me today I can't really complain!
I could review the CW which I FIR in three settings with no BAVs, but you are probably getting the idea in the previous 40 comments so I will bring you a link inspired by 87D EL PASO. In this song, Marty Robbins portrays a story so vividly that I am in Rose's Cantina with him.
El Paso
Lyrics:
Marty Robbins Lyrics
"El Paso"
Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's cantina
Music would play and Felina would whirl
Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina
Wicked and evil while casting a spell
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden
I was in love but in vain, I could tell
One night a wild young cowboy came in
Wild as the West Texas wind
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
With wicked Felina, the girl that I loved
So in anger I
Challenged his right for the love of this maiden
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor
Just for a moment I stood there in silence
Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there
I had but one chance and that was to run
Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran
Out where the horses were tied
I caught a good one, it looked like it could run
Up on its back and away I did ride
Just as fast as I
Could from the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the badlands of New Mexico
Back in El Paso my life would be worthless
Everything's gone in life; nothing is left
It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death
I saddled up and away I did go
Riding alone in the dark
Maybe tomorrow, a bullet may find me
Tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my heart
And at last here I
Am on the hill overlooking El Paso
I can see Rosa's cantina below
My love is strong and it pushes me onward
Down off the hill to Felina I go
Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys
Off to my left ride a dozen or more
Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me
I have to make it to Rosa's back door
Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying to stay in the saddle
I'm getting weary, unable to ride
But my love for
Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen
Though I am weary I can't stop to rest
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest
From out of nowhere Felina has found me
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for
One little kiss and Felina, goodbye
Goodbye from me also.
Dave 2
Now that I have whetted your Marty Robbins appetite, here is the video that agrees with the lyrics.
Full Version
Dave 2
Bobby DOERR was a Redsox Hof 2nd baseman. A future CC Saturday clue. Misty pointed out InJections. Then again I did work today so I finished the xword late and I'm watching Pat's on tape. No spoilers plz.
Yes. I worked - actually foot wasn't bad but now the throbbing is back. I hope gout med and Advil will CALM it.
YR, I broke a glass and dropped a shard on my foot. Lots of blood, stitches. Thanks everyone for the concern.
Yes, lots of Naticks and tricky clueing. I had trouble coming up with SCRUM, and I had SONIC before MAGIC.
Pat's will need some of that magic in the fourth quarter.
WC
PS. Jinx, you're right about the PGA membership. I think a qualifier, perhaps RORY, needed an extra tournament to get into the Cup tournament.
What did Cain say to his brother when the spelling contest was called off?
UN BEE. LEAVE ABEL*
Btw. I liked all your l'ick lately Owen. You never run out of imagination and clever word plays.
WC
* I guess you Steeler fans know of what I gloat
Oh dear, Wilbur--hope your foot is better soon.
Thanks for the assurance, Lucina.
Sorry if I was not clear: My problem is it has always been spelled RIATA in these puzzles. I entered that and it was wrong. No way to know since it crossed a Natick name.
Never saw REATA before. I have never actually heard it used in real life.
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