Theme: Yes, you can .. Of course you can - do all these things that the theme suggests:
17A. Step on it : WELCOME MAT. Mine reads "Hello!" when you walk in, "Goodbye!" when you leave.
39A. Sleep on it : BUNK BED
62A. Count on it : TALLY SHEET. This one looks serious:
11D. Bet on it : HORSE RACE
35D. Bank on it : POOL TABLE. Bank shot. Satisfying if you pull it off.
Very nice theme from C.C. - the theme is in the clues rather than the solutions, and both across and down. They both play their part in a fun puzzle. I liked TALLY SHEET particularly
Across:
1. Splendor : POMP
5. Lara Croft targets : TOMBS. Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. I had a maquette of her on my desk when I worked at Warner Bros. Of course, it was all in the cause of accuracy with merchandise product development.
10. In that case : THEN
14. Jamba Juice berry : ACAI. This, or Goji. Wait for the crosses.
15. "Tommy" is one : OPERA. The first "rock opera". Here's Elton John as the Pinball Wizard.
16. Chewy Hershey candy : ROLO
19. Activates, as a security system : ARMS
20. Tossed course : SALAD
21. Company that introduced Styrofoam : DOW. Really? That's a new one. I'd have guessed 3M if someone held my feet to the fire.
22. Spacek of "Bloodline" : SISSY. Ha! I had you at "Spacek".
23. Things to avoid : NO-NOS
25. Foamy pick-me-up : LATTE
27. Defeat decisively : TROMP. There's something very satisfying about this word, especially the past tense "trompled".
30. Tied in the harbor : MOORED
33. Flowing garment : CAPE
36. __ Paulo, Brazil : SÃO. The first time I flew into here I was stunned by how large the city is. I had no idea.
37. Roman poet who coined "carpe diem" : HORACE
38. Creator of Iceland's Imagine Peace Tower : ONO
41. "SNL" writer/actor Michael : CHE
42. "Becket" star : O'TOOLE
44. Auction ending? : -EER
45. Inert gas : NEON
46. Not very often : SELDOM
47. Like some poll questions : YES/NO
49. Youngsters : TYKES
51. Hamlet cousins : TOWNS. Very nice. First I had my mind running down the Shakespeare track, then the stogie (Hamlet was a brand of cheap cigar in the UK.) The commercials were fun. Here's a 1977 example.
54. Put down : ABASE
56. Crone : HAG
59. Knuckleheads : TWITS
61. Wild bunches : MOBS. Mobs of twits? That would be scary.
64. Lawn pest : MOLE
65. "That's too bad" : AW, GEE!
66. It might be a whole lot : ACRE. That's a good-sized lot in my part of town: 6,000 square feet is normal. An acre is 43,460 - quite some difference.
67. Follow instructions : OBEY.
68. Covert agent : PLANT
69. Safari shelter : TENT
Down:
1. Bear feet : PAWS
2. Aquaman's realm : OCEAN
3. __ Cup: classic candy in a yellow wrapper : MALLO. Thank you, crosses.
4. Hot and spicy : PICANTE. My first thought with the "P" in place was PIQUANT. French comes before Portuguese in my mind.
5. Young Spider-Man portrayer Holland : TOM. Merci, les croix.
6. Pundit's piece : OP-ED
7. Short note : MEMO. Because "Grace" didn't fit.
8. Wild fight : BRAWL
9. Suppressed, with "on" : SAT
10. False friend : TRAITOR
12. Shade trees : ELMS
13. Way too interested : NOSY
18. Dumpster output : ODOR
22. Put up with : STOOD
24. "Well, sorrrr-ry!" : SO SUE ME!
26. Massachusetts college or its town : AMHERST. I had AMHURST at first, which made BUNK BED a little troublesome. Bunk Bud?
28. "Holy smokes!" : MAN!
29. Stir : POKEY. Slangy "Jail". Good Thursday-level clue.
31. Letter between Delta and Foxtrot : ECHO. At Atlanta-Hartsfield airport, the "D" stop on the tram is announced as "D-David" as too many passengers were alighting thinking they were at the Delta Airlines terminal. There, you get Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, David and Echo.
32. "It Ain't All About the Cookin'" memoirist Paula : DEEN. She is a true culinary colossus. Here's her recipe for "English Peas" from her Food Network website:
Ingredients
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 cans (14 1/2-ounces) English peas, drained
Directions
Melt the butter in small pot and add the peas. Cook over medium heat until peas are warm.
Wow. Genius.
33. Pigeon calls : COOS
34. Poker stake : ANTE
39. Chap : BLOKE
40. Cause of a buzz : BEE
43. Adventurous trip : ODYSSEY
45. "Another problem?" : NOW WHAT? Welcome to my world.
48. Forget-me-__: flowers : NOTS
50. Shoulder warmer : SHAWL
52. Jenna, to Jeb : NIECE.When I see "Jeb", I immediately think "Clampett", which is hopeless because he was a "Jed". These two are members of the Bush clan.
53. Unsmiling : STERN
54. Firing range supply : AMMO
55. Doofus : BOOB. Stop snickering at the back.
57. Pond plant : ALGA
58. Small valley : GLEN
60. Editor's mark : STET. As you were!
62. You may feel one on your shoulder : TAP
63. Even so : YET
I'm heading back from the frozen East Coast to unpack the scarf and gloves and pack for warmer Delhi tomorrow. However, the weather summary, usually "cloudy", "sunny", "rain" or similar shows "smoke". That's a first! If all goes well, next week's blog will be from the Taj Mahal, and that's not the Indian restaurant in Westwood.
As much flying as I do, I never fail to be in awe of nature. Here are the Rocky Mountains last Monday from 38,000 feet on my flight from LA to New York. I love the window seat.
Keep well, everybody! Get a flu shot if you've not had one yet. This winter's strain is a nasty one.
Steve
17A. Step on it : WELCOME MAT. Mine reads "Hello!" when you walk in, "Goodbye!" when you leave.
39A. Sleep on it : BUNK BED
62A. Count on it : TALLY SHEET. This one looks serious:
11D. Bet on it : HORSE RACE
35D. Bank on it : POOL TABLE. Bank shot. Satisfying if you pull it off.
Very nice theme from C.C. - the theme is in the clues rather than the solutions, and both across and down. They both play their part in a fun puzzle. I liked TALLY SHEET particularly
Across:
1. Splendor : POMP
5. Lara Croft targets : TOMBS. Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. I had a maquette of her on my desk when I worked at Warner Bros. Of course, it was all in the cause of accuracy with merchandise product development.
10. In that case : THEN
14. Jamba Juice berry : ACAI. This, or Goji. Wait for the crosses.
15. "Tommy" is one : OPERA. The first "rock opera". Here's Elton John as the Pinball Wizard.
16. Chewy Hershey candy : ROLO
19. Activates, as a security system : ARMS
20. Tossed course : SALAD
21. Company that introduced Styrofoam : DOW. Really? That's a new one. I'd have guessed 3M if someone held my feet to the fire.
22. Spacek of "Bloodline" : SISSY. Ha! I had you at "Spacek".
23. Things to avoid : NO-NOS
25. Foamy pick-me-up : LATTE
27. Defeat decisively : TROMP. There's something very satisfying about this word, especially the past tense "trompled".
30. Tied in the harbor : MOORED
33. Flowing garment : CAPE
36. __ Paulo, Brazil : SÃO. The first time I flew into here I was stunned by how large the city is. I had no idea.
37. Roman poet who coined "carpe diem" : HORACE
Be wise, strain the wine; and since life is brief, prune back far-reaching hopes!
Even while we speak, envious time has passed:
seize the day, putting as little trust as possible in tomorrow!
38. Creator of Iceland's Imagine Peace Tower : ONO
41. "SNL" writer/actor Michael : CHE
42. "Becket" star : O'TOOLE
44. Auction ending? : -EER
45. Inert gas : NEON
46. Not very often : SELDOM
47. Like some poll questions : YES/NO
49. Youngsters : TYKES
51. Hamlet cousins : TOWNS. Very nice. First I had my mind running down the Shakespeare track, then the stogie (Hamlet was a brand of cheap cigar in the UK.) The commercials were fun. Here's a 1977 example.
54. Put down : ABASE
56. Crone : HAG
59. Knuckleheads : TWITS
61. Wild bunches : MOBS. Mobs of twits? That would be scary.
64. Lawn pest : MOLE
65. "That's too bad" : AW, GEE!
66. It might be a whole lot : ACRE. That's a good-sized lot in my part of town: 6,000 square feet is normal. An acre is 43,460 - quite some difference.
67. Follow instructions : OBEY.
68. Covert agent : PLANT
69. Safari shelter : TENT
Down:
1. Bear feet : PAWS
2. Aquaman's realm : OCEAN
3. __ Cup: classic candy in a yellow wrapper : MALLO. Thank you, crosses.
4. Hot and spicy : PICANTE. My first thought with the "P" in place was PIQUANT. French comes before Portuguese in my mind.
5. Young Spider-Man portrayer Holland : TOM. Merci, les croix.
6. Pundit's piece : OP-ED
7. Short note : MEMO. Because "Grace" didn't fit.
8. Wild fight : BRAWL
9. Suppressed, with "on" : SAT
10. False friend : TRAITOR
12. Shade trees : ELMS
13. Way too interested : NOSY
18. Dumpster output : ODOR
22. Put up with : STOOD
24. "Well, sorrrr-ry!" : SO SUE ME!
26. Massachusetts college or its town : AMHERST. I had AMHURST at first, which made BUNK BED a little troublesome. Bunk Bud?
28. "Holy smokes!" : MAN!
29. Stir : POKEY. Slangy "Jail". Good Thursday-level clue.
31. Letter between Delta and Foxtrot : ECHO. At Atlanta-Hartsfield airport, the "D" stop on the tram is announced as "D-David" as too many passengers were alighting thinking they were at the Delta Airlines terminal. There, you get Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, David and Echo.
32. "It Ain't All About the Cookin'" memoirist Paula : DEEN. She is a true culinary colossus. Here's her recipe for "English Peas" from her Food Network website:
Ingredients
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 cans (14 1/2-ounces) English peas, drained
Directions
Melt the butter in small pot and add the peas. Cook over medium heat until peas are warm.
Wow. Genius.
33. Pigeon calls : COOS
34. Poker stake : ANTE
39. Chap : BLOKE
40. Cause of a buzz : BEE
43. Adventurous trip : ODYSSEY
45. "Another problem?" : NOW WHAT? Welcome to my world.
48. Forget-me-__: flowers : NOTS
50. Shoulder warmer : SHAWL
52. Jenna, to Jeb : NIECE.When I see "Jeb", I immediately think "Clampett", which is hopeless because he was a "Jed". These two are members of the Bush clan.
53. Unsmiling : STERN
54. Firing range supply : AMMO
55. Doofus : BOOB. Stop snickering at the back.
57. Pond plant : ALGA
58. Small valley : GLEN
60. Editor's mark : STET. As you were!
62. You may feel one on your shoulder : TAP
63. Even so : YET
I'm heading back from the frozen East Coast to unpack the scarf and gloves and pack for warmer Delhi tomorrow. However, the weather summary, usually "cloudy", "sunny", "rain" or similar shows "smoke". That's a first! If all goes well, next week's blog will be from the Taj Mahal, and that's not the Indian restaurant in Westwood.
As much flying as I do, I never fail to be in awe of nature. Here are the Rocky Mountains last Monday from 38,000 feet on my flight from LA to New York. I love the window seat.
Keep well, everybody! Get a flu shot if you've not had one yet. This winter's strain is a nasty one.
Steve
59 comments:
Hi Y'all! This puzzle was PICANTE enough not to appeal to a SISSY. As for me, I SELDOM see a C.C. puzzle that isn't intriguing and fun. Thank you for this CAN DO classic.
Great expo, Steve. I love a window seat too, especially over the Painted Desert, Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons, and even the corduroy mountains in Pennsylvania. On the other hand, concerning MOBS of TWITS. Aren't you following the news? It IS SCARY!
Tried POsh before POMP, got red letters and waited for perps.
W central was last to fill: OTOOLE/SELDOM/TYKES/BLOKE/SO SUE ME/& BUNK BED were snowed in. Finally, did a red-letter run on the 2nd "O" which triggered memory of O'TOOLE. WAGd POOL & TABLE and filled the rest easily.
Did not know ONO did the Peace Tower in Iceland. Actually didn't know Iceland had a Peace Tower. Yoko ONO, I presume.
My lot around my farm house was 15 acres. Mowed four of those.
Paula DEEN's cooking is delicious, but became too unhealthy for her to eat. A bitter jolt for a butter fanatic.
Man will act like a doofus over a BOOB. Facts of life 101.
Hand up for PIQUANT (and other w/os).
I wonder if the old Roman poet, HORACE,
Was ever in Egypt at a temple of Horus?
Did he seize the day,
Ask the god what to play?
Then blow his drachmas on a POKEY RACE HORSE?
{A-.}
Good morning!
Got the theme at WELCOME MAT, and thought it was cute. (I always like it when I get the theme...it happens so seldom.) Tried CRUSH before TROMP became obvious. I, too, pondered if it was AMHURST or AMHERST and waited for the perps to decide. TOM is a CSO to TTP and moi. I enjoy watching Michael CHE on Weekend Update. Can't stay up that late, so I catch it online on Sunday morning. Thanx, C.C. and Steve.
ACRE is the size of my lot. Half of it is my woodlot, though.
Steve, why do I think you're not impressed with Paula DEEN?
PK, sage comment this morning.
I feel it my duty to share today's Word of the Day with you: floccinaucinihilipilification: Estimating as worthless.
This week's theme -- words that are longer than their definitions. Okay, everybody, let's all say it together three times fast...
Lovely theme from C.C., as is nearly always the case. Owen, I missed your comment yesterday, but this morning, I went back and found the poem you did for LABOR PAINS. You're right - it was a gem. For those who found yesterday's puzzle easy for a Wednesday, I should point out it was originally scheduled for Tuesday. On the passing of Justin Hayward - back in the day, the Moody Blues were my sister's favorite band, and I liked them a lot, too.
Oops, I meant Ray Thomas of the Moody Blues, of course.
Thank u C C for a really fun puzzle. So much fun don't know where to start.Latte gave me brawl, tromp gave me pokey. One of my favs was stir. When some friends got in trouble they were said to be in stir or in the pokey or hoosgow. Looked for pat on the shoulder but when plant showed up , puzzled over pap on the shoulder . So then Tap gave tally sheet. Another good clue was Bank on it . Played a lot of pool in my teens and bank shots were my favorite . Of course when55 down showed up chuckled over my first thought on62 down
Hello Puzzlers -
Zoomed right through, except at Pokey: I recognize that as slang for jail, but not “stir”. Can anyone clarify?
While we’re at it, jail does seem to have a lot of nicknames, such as klink, slammer, big house, lockup, can...my personal favorite is hoosegow.
Amherst came easily enough...it’s nearby, and a regular destination for us. We particularly enjoy the non-profit Amherst Cinema. We plan to see “The Shape of Water” next.
Morning, Steve! I’m glad I no longer travel for business. How you manage all those time zones is a mystery.
Good Morning, Steve and friends. The puzzle was fun and easy, but I didn't get the theme. Still don't really catch it, although did find the theme answers amusing.
Lots of clever puns. My favorite was Short Note = MEMO(randum).
Hamlet Cousins = TOWNS was another clever twist.
I tried Thus before THEN.
I gave up on SNL years ago, so Michael CHE was an unknown, until introduced by Paula DEEN.
I learned of ACAI berries from doing the crossword puzzle. ROLO is another crossword staple.
We'll hit the 70F today, but a cold front is coming tomorrow.
QOD: Man is a messenger who forgot the message. ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel (Jan. 11, 1907 ~ Dec. 23, 1972)
G Day Mates,
I'm working thru Sun, 1-7.
Tawnya 1-7, 125P
Included a video of Willie Nelson. He was so young, and Trigger looked brand new. He bought Trigger in 1969. See how Important Trigger is.
Dave 2 many days behind
Fun puzzle today! Much better than yesterday.
Good Morning:
It took a few minutes for me to realize what was going on but, then, the penny dropped and, as usual, I smiled at CC's simple, yet oh-so clever theme. My w/os were If so/Then, Cho/Che, Pei/Ono, Sets/Arms, and Ah Gee/Aw Gee. I thought of Mr. Meow at Paws and Dudley at Amherst, as I knew he lived near there. CSO to both Toms but no Dick and Harry! 😈 I also noticed the many "O" sounds: Rolo/Ammo/Ono/Nonos/Yes/No.
Thanks, CC, for a just-right Friday challenge and thanks, Steve, for a grand tour, as always. I can't wait to try Paula's "recipe!"
Paul C, thanks for dropping by two days in a row.
Swampcat, glad your iPad is working again; what was the problem with it?
Have a great day.
Thank you, C. C. and Steve. Please explain short note: GRACE. Where did you hide the grid?
I too did not know of the tower in Iceland or Michael CHE, loved the Hamletcousins: TOWNS; think of PICANTE as Spanish, not Portuguese and grew up eating MALLO products. We could not get Reese's so ate many Mallo peanut butter cups. They included a card in each candy and if you saved enough you could get free candy. We got six boxes free.
However by true unknown was MAQUETTE. Live and larn.
Who is the IDIOT,BIG "A"HOLE, SCUMBAG @#$%^<RAT,...that tried to be"CUTE" and "WITTY"and make something out of the word TROMP ,that hasn't anything to do with the puzzle?.....Leave politics out of this!!!! religion and no personal attacks...well be fair about it and chastise the person who is commenting on today's puzzle..........
Loved the clever word play, CC. Always interesting blog, Steve. My, you travel so much in your work.
PK and Steve, I agree that the mobs of twits in the news are scary. Most mobs have twits. Often normally sane people in a mob can pick up the insane mob mentality and become twits. When I was in college after a big football win I joined a large group of fans that went to tear down the goal posts in celebration. Seemly innocent fun, it was a very rare occasion. I was amazed how normal people seemed to change in character and adopt anything goes attitudes. Mob mentality.
We often buy or order salsa PICANTE.
Weekend Update is my favorite sketch on SNL with Michael Che and Colin Jost. I liked Seth Meyers in that role, too. I have my Kindle available and read through some of the other SNL songs and sketches that don't interest me.
Stir is another slang word for jail.
ANON @ 8:22, no personal attacks? Do you follow that rule?
I didn't know that Yoko Ono had a memorial to John in Iceland. I didn't know Lara Croft. TOMBS seemed weird, but the crosses were good. FIR.
Good morning everyone.
Solved it clean without searches. OPERA was a WAG but perps were firm. Agree with Steve about considering 'piquante' but held off because the across did not entertain a 'qu' word. Plethora of shorter fill seemed to make for an easier Thursday.
DEEN - We have dined at her Savannah location.
TOWNS - Agree if used informally and in a "community" sense. In NYS, TOWNS are legal subdivisions of counties; not including cities, but can include villages or portions of villages and 'hamlets'. A hamlet is not a legal subdivision in that sense.
ECHO - Thought C.C. might have picked Bravo or Zulu since she has earned so many. :-)
Dudley, STIR was a common expression in B movies of my ute. He's in stir [prison].
Lemonade, Steve is referring to the musical grace note, a note that's barely played while sliding into the main note. Floyd Cramer had lot's of 'em in his piano arrangements.
Anon@8:22 -- What the heck are you talking about?
Stir as prison has bee English slang since 1850’s. Urban Dict says it comes from Romani “staripen”, a place you can’t get out of, and ultimately Latin “stasis”. Also the expression stir-crazy. Maybe because in a prison cell all you can do is walk in a tight circle like a spoon in a pot
Greetings!
A very enjoyable "Theme in the Clues" puzzle. TOM Holland was unknown, and I needed 66% perps before I remembered HORACE. Thanks for a great puzzle, C.C., and thanks for the expo, Steve. I, too, used to prefer the window seat on a plane, but now opt for the aisle seat so I can move about and keep the old joints oiled.
Best wishes to all!
Fun times with C.C., quickly becoming the Construction Queen!
Thank you, C.C. For me the puzzles seem reversed in difficulty from beginning of the week to now.
MALLO is new for me as is STIR as clued. Thank you for explaining, everyone.
And thank you, Steve. I appreciated the quote from HORACE.
Have a glorious day, everyone! Hair cutting day for me.
Musings
-COUNT ON IT! A C.C. puzzle will be fun, clever and challenging
-Steve’s always engaging write-up taught me maquette, croix and goji today as well
-Doctor, doctor it hurts when I do this, THEN…
-An unintentional styrofoam consumer
-My foamy pick-me-up was first LAGER with LA_ _ _
-A MOLE can also be a PLANT can also be a TRAITOR
-ACRE plots high up on river bluffs are very common here
-Do couples still use OBEY in their vows?
-The Kenyan safari shelter for Queen Elizabeth where she was staying when she heard her father had just died in The Crown
-I really recommend a STERN face for beginning teachers. Those kids are not your friends
-Every school in this area got called off yesterday afternoon for today because the forecasters predicted they kids would have to TROMP through many inches of snow. It didn’t even cover the ground.
POMP always brings top mind Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance," used as a graduation march and this Rudyard Kipling poem, "Recessional."
God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle-line—
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies—
The captains and the kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget!
Far-call’d our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our POMP of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boasting as the Gentiles use
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard—
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!
I didn't get the theme until I saw Steve's explanation. Then the V-8 can head-slap occurred. Good Thursday level puzzle from CC. Steve's explanation was enjoyable also.
I had CRUSH then STOMP before TROMP. It took a little while for the perps to fill in the STomp with TRomp. I also didn't know ONO and I had TRASH before ABASE.
Like Lemon I grew up eating MALLO cups. They are made nearby in Altoona, PA by the Boyer Candy Company. They also made peanut butter cups, but the piece de resistance that they made for a short time was a combined peanut butter and mallo cup with the peanut butter on the bottom and marshmallow layered on top of it that I think they called a FlufferNutter. A really good candy bar (cup). They don't make them any more, so if you want the effect just take a Mallo Cup and Peanut Butter Cup and mash them together. As they used to say in an old commercial "Try it, you'll like it." Of course you'll probably get a sugar rush and a spike in your insulin.
Get ready for the next storm working it's way across the country.
We used to eat fluffer nutter sandwiches, peanut butter on one slice of bread and marshmallow fluff on the other. See wiki. We never had the fluffer nutter cups.
We are expecting a high of 49 degrees today and 58 on Friday. Then there will be a 40 degree drop from 49 on Saturday to 9 degrees overnight. That's a 50 degree drop from Friday in just 36 hours. Absolutely crazy weather.
I enjoy a normal winter and look forward to it, but I think that is gone forever.
"Puzzling Thoughts":
Finished it correctly, with zero write overs, cheats, or errors. Never really understood the theme, but then again, solving without hints sometimes feels better. Nice job, CC, and Steve, enjoyed your recap. Steve, as a former "road warrior", I too echo your love for window seats on planes. I will occasionally look out, but usually use the window and airplane frame as a support to rest my head. I have a couple of good pillows I travel with, and have no problem sleeping on my flights. I visited São Paulo in 2006 and was equally amazed by its hugeness. I think it's still among the top 3 cities in the world in population.
ATL was a common connection point for me when I traveled ... amused that the terminal train used all of the other "airplane lingo" to identify the stop but not DELTA.
My creative "juices" - if indeed I have any - are all dried up. No Moe-kus or limericks. Maybe soon if I get into the spirit. Been a rough start to 2018. But I'll survive ...
Thanks, C.C., for an enjoyable Thursday outing! Nice theme, fill, and cluing.
Thanks also to Steve for your guidance throughout our Thursdays!
Woohoo! Woohoo! I got a Thursday C.C. puzzle without a single cheat or look-up! Yay! Mind you, it started out a bit tough with pretty much of a blank at the top at first. But the bottom filled in and as I moved back upwards, so did the top in time. Lots of fun misleading clues. The "Hamlet cousins" cracked me up--'Hamlet had cousins, really?' I might not have gotten TOMBS since I don't know Lara Croft, but it had to be TOM, not BOM. Anyway, a total delight--you've made my week, C.C., many thanks! And thank you too for your always interesting expo, Steve. Loved your Peas recipe. And I just can't believe your travels!
Fun HORACE poem, Owen.
Have a great day, everybody!
Another late start. But, this puzzle was the easiest of the week. What gives?
Thank you C.C. and Steve (I envy his travels) on Thursday. Exceptional commentary, wonderful puzzle. What more can we ask? Ditto on Hamlet cousins and Towns (probably tie-in with niece). My monthly story is below... With a tip of the hat to Owen.
Tom O’Toole sat under the neon sign that read, “Odyssey,” his stern face studying a tally sheet with an occasional tap of his pencil on the lined grid. He poured Picante sauce on a salad, sipped a latte then looked up and saw me. I knew Tom from our time at Amherst and he was a regular bloke, far removed from the ocean of twits that moored themselves to him back then.
He sent a memo to me about a mole in his business at the Cape. An ocean-side plant making ammo and arms for the government, it stood on an acre plot and paid millions to the mobs who worked for him and the towns that fed off it.
He stood to shake my hand.
“Glen,” he said. “Thanks for making down here. I had trouble myself, getting away from Sissy and the tykes in their bunkbed but I’ve got a traitor in my mitts. You’ve handled this type of case before.”
“Yes-no, actually seldom do I go into industrial spy cases. Sounds more exciting than the soap opera I just handled, but tell me what you know.”
He pulled up the spreadsheet and showed me the financial side of it.
“A man by the name Horace Dean came in. His hands were like paws and he wore a shirt that looked like a tent, there was an odor about him like the tombs.”
Just then a boob at the pool table made a crack about a girl near him wearing a shawl – called her a hag and then a brawl broke out.
“What now!” Said Tom.
“Aw gee,” I said. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Fine – my niece is in the car out front. She’s the accountant.”
We made a beeline to the car under the elms.
On our way to the Cape I used my connections with the police department to look up Horace Dean. He was arrested this year on rigging a horse race. Spent time in the pokey. There were a bunch of other charges. Tom said he’d better call the cops on him.
They took Horace in and booked him for suspicion and when confronted by Tom he said, “So sue me!”
Snowing here. Not much accumulation but earlier rain froze as the temperature plummeted from 46* to 29*. No school here either, Gary. Probably a good idea. There have been a scandalous number of school bus crashes here the past few months with untrained bus drivers. Very little traffic on slick streets. However, I heard doors slamming and looked out. My neighbor two doors down had a fire truck and ambulance in the middle of the street. She hasn't been well for years, so I'm wondering what's going on. I think the fire truck is the regular first responder unit. Glad I did the grocery store yesterday and don't have to get out. May be STIR crazy before the day is over tho. If I can go out, I don't want to. If I can't, I get antsy.
I'm surprised people don't know Lara Croft. Action movie starring Angelina Jolie as an archaeologist, I think. I didn't see it but it was hyped several years ago.
@D-O - re 8:22 - I think a village somewhere is missing its idiot.
Thanks also for clarifying the GRACE note, I should have explained!
We own a furniture store. Small one. Nothing like the big box stores. Personal service and tailoring the customer's needs, it seems, are things of decades past.
Bunk beds. We never did sell a lot of them. Been here for 44 years and most people don't need them. Delivering and assembling them are time consuming. But we do it. The number one request is, "We don't want to spend a lot of money, but want something study." Oxymoronic.
Great puzzle C.C. Keep 'em coming! Warner Brothers? What kind of work is that?
A smooth CC ride, mostly! TOMBS/TOM a bit of a Natick without knowing about Lara Croft targets. Learning moment.
TROMP/POKEY last to fall. Hand up "STIR" quite cryptic. Learning moment. Never heard of TROMP.
I would think if you followed Ms DEEN's recipes you would become a colossus, too! Her recipes are guaranteed to be full of sugar, salt and fat.
In our part of the world we are grateful to have the word PICANTE and I use it often. It is helpful to have a word to distinguish that the food is not thermally "hot". And "spicy" can just mean flavorful.
Yoko ONO is a frequent puzzle visitor. I thought I would share this art reception I attended with her and her son Sean Lennon.
I found her art very creative. The genre was called "Fluxus". Notice the long table of chess boards... where all the pieces and squares are white! Sean Lennon (long hair and glasses) was very friendly and we talked for awhile. He told me that his mother Yoko ONO actually designed rules for the unusual chess board and that he learned to play that version of the game.
Here Dr Jeremy Hillary BOOB first appears in the Beatles wonderful film Yellow Submarine.
Dr BOOB is "Nowhere Man" in their song. A nice transition from Sean Lennon to his father.
Thank you for your concern yesterday, MJ, about our mud slides. It is really quite horrific. We are very fortunate to be safe in our home. But many of our beloved places have been destroyed. And we are stuck as the freeway will be closed for a week. There is no other way out.
Our concert has already been scheduled three times due to the fires. I am hoping the fourth time will be the charm...
Thanks, C.C. fo a perfect Thursday puzzle. Lots of unknowns, but it all came together at last.
Steve, what a fun write up! Loved your pictures, and I even understood "grace note." Yay for me.
Owen. I'd call you our resident Horace, but you are much more fun. Loved this one.
IM, thanks for the welcome. My iPad had a doohickey in its whatchmacallit and needed a new whoosis. In real words, I have no idea. Took it to the shop, and they finally figured out what was wrong and fixed it. Whew!
Hope everyone has a good day.
Oh, me! I rely on the daily crossword puzzle to keep my aging brain flexible, and just when I pride myself on my success in that regard, I totally missed the theme being in the clues, NOT in the answers! Lesson learned, hopefully. Points for me for immediately hitting on "pokey" for "stir".
Glad tidings to all. Be well.
Welcome mat?
Bunk bed...
Tally sheet?
Horse race?
Pool table?
Yes you can???
How Poetry Saved My Life
--- ------ ----- -- ----
Brenda had a very bad day yesterday. She broke her little finger. We had our second (very light) snowfall of the year, so it was bitterly cold. And worst of all, her husband (me) forgot it was her birthday! She was in a murderous mood! I felt terrible when she finally reminded me of it late in the day! But no mea culpa or apologizing could suffice. It was going to be as cold inside as out that night¡
After she had stalked out of the room and I had a chance to think about it, I hoped maybe a poem could help a little bit. So I wrote a short little verse. Poetic quality I'd rate only a C at best, but sincerity at A+. I posted it to her Facebook account, but wasn't sure when she might read it, so googled how to e-mail it to her smart-phone as well. I had to break it into 4 parts to fit the SMS limits, so set them up and then sent them each off a few seconds apart so they'd get there in order but all together. It seemed to work. She came in with tears in her eyes from laughing and gave me a hug! If it was that good, I guess she won't mind my sharing it with you.
I forgot, I forgot, Oh, lord, I forgot
The day they tied your umbilical knot!
I hope it was happy, I wish it was joyous!
I pray you won't let my failing annoy us!
My dearest, my darling, I must be demented
To ever forget the day you were invented!
You never look older, you still turn me on,
So how can I tell you've another year gone?
I'm sorry I'm just human, I should have fur
Then I'd tell you I love you with just a purr!
Thank you, C.C., for following up yesterday's diagonal masterpiece with another 3-way wide diagonal opening today!
I thought maybe this would be another first, with perhaps a hidden message in the relevant letters. But no! After checking all three slanted columns w/o success, it occurred to me that the constructors of Xwds probably have no say in choosing the dates of publication. That would preclude a chance of timing a special follow-up pzl.
Anyway, let me crow a bit: Ta- DA! This was a fairly easy Thursday pzl with some clever cluing. It was the kind where you had to be careful not to overthink it - such as when I stalled over 44A trying for too long to think of a word for the gavel banging to announce an "Auction ending."
There were a few "gimmes" in this one, and it struck me how we responders come from different kinds of expertise - and may be differentiated by our gimmes.
Some will be able to fill athletes' names instantly. Others may be up on scientists. HORACE was a gimme for some of us - including me - today. In my branch of the arts, HORACE is known for more than "carpe diem"; in his Ars poetica he established the metric for poetry, and by extension all the arts.
His claim that poetry provides utile et dulce - the useful and the sweet - has been accepted for millennia as a standard by which we render artistic judgment.
Man oh man, what an ingenious puzzle! I loved it. Missed some of the down clues-answers as I filled the acrosses. I must have been on the right wavelength today. Thank you, C.C.
Steve, a terrific write-up. Thank you.
As kids, we used to TROMP in the mud. Then we always got scolded by our parents for getting so dirty. At least our immune systems grew strong. I'm thankful for that.
The MOLE (and the gopher) used to be a problem for our earthquake monitoring equipment, as they would chew through the buried cables. We quickly learned to string all cables through conduit pipes to thwart them.
Best wishes to you all.
Great story followed by an amazing poem, Owen.
Terrific fun story, Rick.
Owen:
What a sweet and delightful poem! I'd like to hug you right now.
Rick:
Great story. Have you written or are you writing a book?
Oh dear, Owen,,,
Well, you can try my line when I forget...
And also, ouch!
Hmm,
You better get her a real cake,
and some flowers,
Jewelry couldn't hurt...
Owen, I think your poem is a perfect example of Horace's claim, utile et dulce, per Keith's translation. Thank you both for sharing the beauty and power of poetry. Happy Belated Birthday wishes to Brenda. 🎂🎁🎈🍾🎉
Owen, beautiful.
Owen, Happy Birthday to Brenda. Her poem is probably the best work you've done. Hope she doesn't mind you sharing your most private feelings about her. Her applause should have been enough for you, man.
Picard: which person is Sean Lennon? What is he wearing? I really don't understand Yoko Ono's art at all. i can appreciate the symbolism of the white chess sets, but the practicality is nil.
Well, whatever intelligence I had exited with 2017! I've had a run of DNF/FIW ever since. Today was my best work with only 2 write-overs. Thanks, C.C. for my first doable puzzle of the year. Great expo, Steve. Thanks for explaining the theme, it flew past me.
POsh/POMP, STanD/STOOD. Correcting those opened up the rest of the puzzle and let me finish.
We've gone from single digit lows to 60* highs, tomorrow dropping temps and heavy snow, then back to the deep freeze. Mother Nature, are you off your meds again?
Have a nice evening.
Interesting, Owen, that your HORACE poem makes use of 3 near-homophones. In standard English, it runs a syllable short. But it really depends on the speaker's dialect.
Any speech that uses a medial flapped "R," as highland Scottish, can make it work.
Just give it a shot!
Owen , what an ingenious way to sweeten up your honey. Spouse and I really loved it . I've written a few nice lines on special occasions . For me its hard work, for you it seems to come naturally. I envy you that gift I'm sure you bring smiles to many .
I reread Steve's TROMP comment and can't decipher any political commentary. Unless we need to remove the word from the dictionary all together. Another attention getting device from old faithful
Oops gotta go
WC
Just a little crunch today but it is a Thursday. Thanks for the fun C.C. and Steve.
I was here this morning but was scared off by Anon@8:22 LOL.
Pretty much WEES by this hour of the day.
I Set(s) my security alarm before ARM(S).
My flowing garment was a Toga (as I smiled that it was not Tunic like the other day) but a CAPE was needed.
I also smiled at the cluing for TOWNS and ACRE.
Steve said "TROMP. There's something very satisfying about this word, especially the past tense "trompled"." I thought the past tense was Tromped. Were you thinking of Trampled?
Learning moments- PICANTE, STIR and maquette.
Picard, are you going Stir-crazy? Stay safe.
OwenKL - loved the poem. Happy Birthday to Brenda.
Enjoy the rest of the day.
Good evening all,
Always enjoy C.C.’s clever creations, but they are so much more fun when I can complete one. I had several write overs which wouldn’t happen if I stuck to one area. Changed shawl to stole because I assumed glen was correct, but changed to glen and back to shawl. Luckily I never time myself.
Thanx Dudley for asking about stir. Not only was I confused, but wondering why Steve gave no explanation....which meant it’s something EVERYONE should know. Steve , You are like reading an easy to read, fun encyclopedia...always a pleasure.
Yellow rocks, I had never heard of fluff until we visited my sister in Hanover. My girls have never forgotten those sandwiches, but I don’t see them making them for their boys.LOL
Owen, I was blown away by your sweet poem to your wife. WAY TO GO!!
Rick, loved your story! Years ago I wrote a few stories using the new vocabulary I was learning each day doing crosswords. I started with the A Words, and they were so ridiculous that I stopped doing them. I am always amazed at how many words I am unfamiliar with, but then I was not an avid reader as a teen, or even in college. I am trying to catch up.
Gary, loved your comment about having a stern face. It is so true when teaching the older kids. Field trips were always my favorite because we could relax and get to know our students.
Ack! What a dope I am!
Owen, I just reread your poem,
and I think it is purrfect!
I must have been rushing the 1st time I read it...
I am glad I took the time to slow down and enjoy it.
PK: Thank you for taking the time to look at my photos with Yoko ONO and Sean Lennon.
Sean Lennon is in the middle of this photo, smiling and looking straight at me. With the long hair and glasses.
I was surprised that it is possible to play a game with those all white pieces and white board. He claims it is possible and I just took his word for it.
I don't like modern art when I feel I could have done it myself. When I was six years old. But the chess set showed real creativity and artistic skill.
CanadianEh: Not going stir crazy yet. Plenty to do in our neighborhood as my work is fortunately in my neighborhood. But it is frustrating to feel we can't leave town. And frustrating that our performance has been cancelled so many times.
Someone is repairing a piece of equipment for me. I was supposed to meet him today to get it. He had to decline because a friend of his was killed in the mudslide. That makes me feel quite fortunate.
Owen: Your wife is very lucky to have you!
Hi All!
Whoot! Finally a FIR this week! There was only one Natick @ TOMBS xing (No PK, we don't all know Laura Croft* :-)) TOM but that was easy enough to guess. Thanks C.C. for for a swell puzzle with, as Rick showed, fun words.
Thanks Steve for the expo - the learning continued at maquette [had to right-click to Google meaning, that]. I loved the Pinball Wizard link from my favorite OPERA. //for those who've not seen Tommy, it's quite dark and Keith Moon's Uncle character is frighteningly mad.
WO: wHE b/f CHE. I could see him on WeekendUpdate and his name in print - almost.
ESP: OTOOLE as clued, TOM/TOM B'S
Fav: Stir = POKEY
Runner-up: TWITS [Python 4.5m]
{A, A+ & nice save! Extend my birthday wishes to Brenda} {Nice Rick... I was on the edge of my seat}
Picard - glad to know you're out of harm's way. Cool pix. I liked the all-white chess board too; the end-game would get confusing (No! That's my Bishop :-))
Swamp - your grasp of technical jargon is impressive :-). Glad your iPad is back in working order.
I donno why, but when I got 7d I remembered the tune that starts "MEMO to a higher office..."[RUSH w/ lyrics]. The song really came into focus @8:22a's left-field post.
Cheers, -T
*OK, her name was familiar but I was thinking 'author' with a TOMe @1st
Unlike many others, I found the puzzle to be quite boring.
An acre actually is 43,560 square feet, not 43,460.
Ah, for some, picking nits is paradise....
Anonymous must not: be old, have arthritis, have poorer vision, or any other defect that affects merely mortal crossworders.
JD
Re: Stern Face
I always told my student teachers that the first day can make or break you. You'd better be prepared and get/keep kids on track. If you're looking for 23 new best friends or to be Mr. Kotter immediately, you'd better have a Plan B. It's much easier to let up on discipline than to try and get it back.
Glad to see you post again!
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