Theme: "It's Time" - Spring months go forward & fall months go backward in each theme entry.
22A. Swindler: SCAM ARTIST.
24A. "It's hopeless": NOT A PRAYER.
43A. Meat brand spelled out by a four-year-old in ads: OSCAR MAYER.
48A. C-SPAN addict, say: NEWS JUNKIE. Just could not find good phrases to span MAY and JUN.
93A. Some Nehi drinks: GRAPE SODAS.
96A. It may be cracked with a key: SECRET CODE.
119A. Cable company offering: TV ON DEMAND.
121A. Fugitive trackers, at times: POLICE DOGS.
Reveal:
68A. Timely mnemonic, or what the circled letters depict: SPRING FORWARD FALL BACK.
I originally sent in this puzzle to Rich for a weekday puzzle. The spring month months (Mar/Apr/May) go forward and the fall months (Sep/Oct/Nov) go backwards. Rich noticed the flaw as "Each season covers parts of four months, so it is hard to justify leaving two of them out, especially since June and December are mostly spring and fall months, respectively".
I then sent in a revision for a Sunday puzzle. So
happy that the reveal has a convenient 21-letter count. As always, lots
of clues are Rich's.
Across:
1. Not yet bought: LEFT. Rich's clue. I had to ask D-Otto. "If it hasn't been bought, it's been LEFT on the shelf." V8 moment!
5. Kvetch: GRIPE.
10. Mushroom sought by mushroom hunters: MOREL. TTP's morels. He hunts them in spring.
15. Econ. barometer: GDP.
18. Bar on a truck: AXLE.
19. Swiss luxury brand: ROLEX.
20. Butler's love: OHARA.
21. Provider of expert advice: GURU. So lucky to have a few on our blog. You're my virtual 84. Closest peeps: FAM.
26. Subs: TEMPS.
27. __ fly: run-scoring out: SAC.
28. World's largest tennis stadium: ASHE.
29. Social media profile picture, often: SELFIE.
30. Clue follower: SLEUTH.
32. Muralist Rivera: DIEGO. Here he is with wife Frida Kahlo.
34. Cybertruck maker: TESLA.
35. Rod's partner: REEL.
37. "Over here!": YOO HOO.
40. Hoods at a monastery: COWLS.
50. Miley Cyrus label: RCA.
51. Noisy bunkmate: SNORER.
53. Prepare for another drive: RE-TEE. Sorry, gluey fill.
54. Holiday lead-in: EVE.
55. Conspiring faction: CABAL.
58. Italy's cont.: EUR.
59. "Look before you leap," e.g.: OLD SAW. And 103. "Look before you leap," e.g.: ADAGE.
61. Advanced teaching deg.: MSED.
62. 2009 aviation biopic: AMELIA. Starring Hilary Swank.
64. Authoritative code: DOGMA.
66. Art __: DECO.
75. Arcade giant: SEGA.
76. Rear-__: ENDER.
77. Hand at sea: SAILOR.
78. Improv bit: SKIT.
81. Coordinated: IN SYNC.
86. Texas site of Pizza Hut headquarters: PLANO. Yum! owns Pizza Hut. Also KFC. Boomer and I visited the first KFC ages ago.
87. Helen Reddy's "__ Woman": I AM.
88. Flood control: LEVEE.
89. Big name in bowling shoes: ETONIC. Golf shoes also.
92. Dudes: MEN.
99. Suite spot: HOTEL.
100. Mount Rainier's Native American name ... and a Microsoft typeface: TAHOMA. First part is also Rich's clue. Learning moment for me. Thanks, Rich!
102. Soothing succulent: ALOE.
105. Ethereal glows: AURAS.
108. Whitman's dooryard bloomers: LILACS.
112. Pelican State campus: TULANE.
114. Backfire sound: BANG.
116. Co-star with Chevy and Gilda: DAN. Dan Aykroyd.
118. Open veranda: LANAI. Stunning.
123. Big party: FEST.
124. Caffeine-rich nuts: KOLAS.
125. Curling venue: ARENA.
126. Vending machine inserts: ONES.
127. Rapper Lil __ X: NAS.
128. Look after: SEE TO.
129. Exorcist's target: DEMON.
130. Overly curious: NOSY.
Down:
1. Has staying power: LASTS.
2. Stand out: EXCEL.
3. Heartthrob: FLAME.
4. Deep-fried Japanese dish: TEMPURA. I love tempura seafood or veggies. The white slice with holes is lotus root.
5. Boxer's warning: GRR.
6. Turns: ROTS.
7. Trojan War saga: ILIAD.
8. Joe who played the thief Harry in "Home Alone": PESCI.
9. Phone routing no.: EXT.
10. Rainy season: MONSOON. I miss a Guangzhou a lot, but not the monsoon season. So humid. Rains every day.
11. "I know! Pick me!": OH OH.
12. Utility bill figure: RATE.
13. Jazz or swing: ERA.
14. Time-__: LAPSE.
15. Gunpowder Plot participant of 1605: GUY FAWKES. The mask guy.
16. Hamburger's three: DREI.
17. Free of contaminants: PURE.
21. Pump measure: GALLON.
23. Autumn blossom: ASTER.
25. Coast Guard mission: RESCUE.
28. Before now: AGO.
31. Sewer's bottoms: HEMS. Sew-er. Rich's creation.
33. "Reader, I married him" governess: EYRE.
34. Taco truck fare: TOSTADA. Never had it. Most Mexican food seem to have cheese or sour cream. Most Asians are lactose-intolerant.
36. The Beatles' Penny, e.g.: LANE.
38. It's driven on a trail: HERD. Rich's creation as well. He's a wordsmith.
39. Has a balance due: OWES.
41. In real time: LIVE.
42. Piece inside a pumpkin: SEED. Also called Pepita.
43. Seal-hunting swimmers: ORCAS.
44. Whippersnapper: SCAMP.
45. Pole thrown by Scots: CABER. Hard work.
46. "Seriously?": YOU DO.
47. Wild throw, usually: ERROR.
49. Crown collection: JEWELS.
52. Wine and dine: ROMANCE.
56. Elite guests: A LIST.
57. Airport screening likelihood: LINE. Probably not too long now. We also have 72. National rival: ALAMO.
60. Pie crust ingredient: LARD.
61. Gas brand with a red "o" in its logo: MOBIL.
63. Team from College Station, Texas: AGGIES.
65. Stefani of No Doubt: GWEN. Cool girl.
67. Show appreciation: CLAP.
69. Selection process for MLB All-Stars: FAN VOTE.
70. Crusoe creator: DEFOE.
71. Swiss coin: FRANC.
73. Shaped like a megaphone: CONED.
74. Danish coin: KRONE.
78. Sound of resignation: SIGH.
79. Syrup used in pecan pies: KARO. Graybar canceled their annual
retiree Christmas luncheon. But everyone gets a special Thanksgiving
package. Turkey, pumpkin pie, stuffings, and a bottle of wine.
80. "It puzzles me": I'M AT A LOSS.
82. Jon of "Chicago P.D.": SEDA.
83. "You betcha!": YEAH.
85. "Look, señorita!": MIRA. Spanish for "look".
88. Stanford who co-founded Stanford University: LELAND. Learned from doing crosswords.
90. Winter Palace monarch: TSAR.
91. Prison division: CELL.
94. Intellectual nitpicker: PEDANT.
95. Scoundrel: SO-AND- SO.
97. Sheer linen fabric: TOILE.
98. Grayish-yellow green: CELADON. I love this color.
101. Clown for the camera: MUG.
104. Tech whizzes: GEEKS.
106. Put on a pedestal: ADORE.
107. Capital SSW of Portland: SALEM.
109. Not allowed: A NO NO.
110. Batting practice sites: CAGES.
111. Spacek of "The River": SISSY.
112. Texter's parting: TTFN.
113. Where the iris is: UVEA.
114. Farm bundle: BALE.
115. Med school subj.: ANAT.
117. Barcelona boy: NINO.
120. "The Simpsons" bartender: MOE.
121. Launch site: PAD.
122. Spam holder: CAN.
C.C.
35 comments:
Good morning!
Managed to stay abed an extra 45 minutes...couldn't stretch it to the full hour. Does that count for "falling back?" Never would have noticed the spring/fall months without the circles. it's cute that the fall months are backward. Are there LANAIs anywhere other than Hawaii? Didn't care for CONED -- needed Wite-Out to fix my CONic. Then it was Wite-Out again, changing TTYL to TTFN. Got 'er done in good time, so all is good. Nice job, C.C.
Husker, B-E, how'd the candy go?
Good Morning, C.C. and friends. I just loved this timely theme, but do we really need an extra hour this year!!!
White Rabbit! We are entering the last month of hurricane season and there is another named storm in the Carribean. This year there have been 28 named storms.
QOD: Life is fragile. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow so give it everything you’ve got. ~ Tim Cook (né Timothy Donald Cook; b. Nov. 1, 1960), American CEO of Apple, Inc.
Really enjoyed this puzzle; thanks CC!
Theme was pretty easy after getting an extra hour of sleep. Then the circles helped with newsJUNkie. Added the backward fall months to help the lower half before reading clues.
Good Morning:
The title and the first two themer’s circles told me where this “timely” puzzle was headed, and oh what a fun journey it was. I already knew that CC is a creative and talented constructor, but puzzles like this one continue to charm and impress me. In addition to the significance of the theme and its perfect revealer, I thought the grid and fill were a large cut above the usual Sunday offerings and, a bonus feature, to me, was the very small number of three letter words. In other words, the puzzle was as close to perfect as one can get, IMVHO. I particularly liked the clecho clues for Old Saw and Adage, the crossing anagram of Oscar and Orcas, and the crossing of Cabal and Caber. I also liked So and So and A No No, which kinda describes Retee! I needed perps for Tahoma and Seda, even though I’m a big Chicago PD fan. CSOs to our own resident Moe, Misty and Moi at RCA, and Boomer at Etonic bowling shoes.
Thank you, CC, for a gem of a puzzle and for the honest and entertaining critique. Did I mention how much I enjoyed solving this puzzle? 🥰
Have a great day.
I forgot to say that I enjoyed seeing that picture of Moe and Lemony, et al, again.
What's a good score?
Good morning everyone.
Got my puzzle fix in for the day. Nice one from C. C. Timely theme. GUY FAWKES fit nicely. Wonder if it was a SEED word.
PEDANT - Glad we have none on this blog.
YOU BETCHA! - Sounds very Minnesotan.
CELADON was a learning moment.
125a - Curling venue. As a former curler, I've never heard ARENA used, but I suppose it's possible, say, for an Olympics.. Curlers curl in clubs usually. Utica's club has 6 sheets (lanes:-)), one of the largest in the NE. What are curling venues called in Canada?
LEVEE - They only control certain ranges of floods. Typically, benefit/cost ratios only make them (design level) viable for mid-range frequency exceedance floods.
DREI : three - - French trois, L. Ger. dree (pronounced 'dray'), Dutch drie (long E sound). Seems like they're all related.
KRONE - means 'crown' in Danish.
When someone hands me a flyer on the street, it's like they're saying, "Here, you throw this away". - - Mitch Hedberg
Musings, D-O, et al
-Our usual count of 230 trick-or-treaters was down to about 130. I’d say only about 30% of the houses participated in our neighborhood. The kids were all so polite and fun to interact with (at a distance) and even the parents thanked us for being “open”.
-Here is a picture of my process: 1. Plastic gloves, 2. Face mask, 3. Candy in individual baggies, 4. The kids picked out their own bag.
Musings
-The months appeared, then the grid-spanning reveal and then BOOM the realization of what an remarkable thing C.C. had done!
-The American who broke the Japanese SECRET CODE before Midway
-This sub/TEMP is going back to work in 10 days
-In this state, SAC means Strategic Air Command
-I once hit a golf ball 50 yards out of bounds. I then RETEED and got a hole-in-one (for a 3)!
-PEDANTS can be very DOGMATIC
-I have been a REARENDER and a REARENDEE
-Who would C.C. know that has bowling and/or golf shoes? Hmmm…
-Omaha’s Baxter ARENA will host this event
-Long ago, the ONES I used to put into gumball vending machines were pennies
-For long missions, NASA can generate PURE water out of urine and sweat
-“Papa, you still have a land line?” “Uh, yes.” “YOU DO, seriously? I’M AT A LOSS!”
-Nice pic of four of our friends!
Very nice puzzle CC, though I FIW - didn't realize that "peeps" was short for "people" and my Spanish is weak (most acquired from CWs, so I learned a new word today!).
98D Celadon is one of my favorite colors too. The word is derived from the color of the garb of a shepherd in a French romance, but was used by the French to name a coveted glaze invented by the Chinese in the 9th century Sung Dynasty. Due to their invention of high-fire kilns the Chinese were able to invent stoneware and its refined version known as porcelain. They cloaked their porcelains in a variety of subtle glazes, Celadon being one the hardest to create. Believe it or not the colorant used to produce it is red iron oxide, which when fired in a low oxygen environment will be "reduced" to a subtle green or even blue gray. The firing conditions must be precisely controlled and I was only able to obtain the classic green Celadon in my gas-fired kiln once or twice in twelve years.
Addendum
-I had three JH boys get their candy and then ask if I wanted to hear them sing and I said, "Go ahead!" and they went into We Wish You A Merry Christmas. I laughed really hard and then asked them if they knew The Monster Mash. They then laughed, realized they did know it and left rehearsing it.
I'm glad 1A was Rich's clue because it was my LAST(S) fill. The NW was driving my crazy because I had HEROS instead of TEMPS and A CON ARTIST instead of SCAM ARTIST. And the NE wasn't much easier until NOT A CHANCE became PRAYER and it came to my RESCUE. But I FIR. Noticed the circled answers F to B and B to F after completion. Not wanting to GRIPE, that's A NO NO in these parts, especially for a C.C. puzzle, but the unknown fills SEDA, MIRA, CELADON & TAHOMA (close to Tacoma in both spelling and locality) had me stumped. But CELADON fell after changing TABOO to A NO NO.
TULANE has usually been the losing football team that other schools schedule for a sure win but about 100 years ago TULANE beat LSU twice in one year- LSU and LELAND Stanford University (the 2nd LSU).
TV ON DEMAND- you don't need cable for that. Just turn it on.
GUY FAWKES- know the name but the Gunpowder Plot was unknown
ASHE Stadium- been there a few times. Unless you are in the lower tier of reserved seats it is not a good place to watch tennis. And you usually cannot buy one of those seats because they tickets FOR THE ENTIRE US OPEN are sold to corporations that purchase the entire section to give out to their clients. But watching Pete Sampras play while sitting in the USTA President's box was a once in a lifetime chance.
ETONIC- about 40 years ago I bought some of their Fred Perry tennis shoes.
No extra zzz's here in Arizona since we don't change time. Today's puzzle doesn't get much easier for a Sunday. Like IM, I also enjoyed the crossing of cabal and caber. Needed perps for Seda and mira. Changed conic to coned as well. Tahoma was unknown and doesn't look right, but what the hay? A FIR is a FIR. Now on to the NYT.
Hola!
Sunday fun day! Thank you, C.C. You still amaze me. This was entertaining and LEFT me with a good impression. MOREL reminds me of some good times in the past.
No one writes better than Ken Follett about GUY FAWKES and the Gunpowder Plot.
I also changed CONIC to CONED.
Here we had a non-soon and for the past two years have not had either rain or a storm in the form of a MONSOON.
My favorite clue was suite spot, HOTEL. And I have such good memories of time spent in the LANAI of many in Hawaii. Probably other places have one but perhaps call them by a different name.
Now I must go as I managed to score a ticket for Mass today.
Have an EXCELlent day, everyone!
Fine puzzle. I missed the neat forward and backward theme in the circle letters.
An hour time change does not bother me, but I hate the dark late afternoons.
Guy Fawkes Day is Nov.5, how timely.
I know celandon mostly as a glaze, but also as a paint color, not my favorite. My David did not like the shade of green I painted my new bathroom, but one of the realtors praised it. Tastes vary.
A landline connected to their phone system is required at the retirement community as it facilitates contact with the management in case of emergency. I will mostly use my cell for personal calls.
My DIL used to get great comps, good seats, for the US Open when she worked full time.
So and so seems much milder than scoundrel.
I think quite a few Floridians have lanais.
I am a fan of Helen Reddy and especially, I Am Woman.
I still think of vending machines taking coins, but so many do take dollar bills.
Yesterday I wore my winter coat for the first time this fall and turned up the heat in the house for an hour this AM just to take the chill off.
Valerie did not let me see very much of the puzzle this morning. She completed about 90% of it on her own and enjoyed it quite a bit. I did not even know that it was a CCB puzzle until after it had been solved. Weren't we discussing META just the other day? How about C.C. blogging her own puzzle?!
I really enjoyed today’s puzzle. The theme couldn’t have been better!
I’ve never heard of CABER so I made it kABER since a 4-year old might spell Oscar with a K...
Did not know TAHOMA, but in retrospect it’s perfectly reasonable.
Unknown @ 8:56, just use the time to measure yourself. Some people here mention they take over an hour. My time today was 22 minutes, fast for a Sunday. Professional xword contestants are much faster.
Last was the Northeast, backing in from SCAM ARTIST. Didn't care for the clue for LEFT.
In "FOXTROT" in today's comics, Peter opens "Rabbit, rabbit", his brother enters in a frog costume saying "ribbit, ribbit'
Really really liked this CC crossword today and FIR! Thanks CC for a timely and clever puzzle. It was interesting to hear which clues Rich changed. I too didn't see LEFT until the perps revealed it must be the answer. Thanks D Otto, for the context.
My main WOs were caused by rushing to fill in the fall months before the reveal and not reversing the letter order. Another was the NE corner where I slipped into Spanish putting tREs before GDP and SELFIE reminded me Hamburg is a German city. Oh, DREI, of course. CABAL and CABER were fun, though I started with CApER, not remembering the word's spelling. My Scottish ancestors would be disappointed.
White rabbit, white rabbit, we're into another month and the year is flying by. Hope you all have a good day!
Hmm,
I wanted to post,
But that was an hour ago...
Just returned from early voting in one of three available poll stations. Stood in line in 45 degrees plus windchill for an hour plus another half hour inside.
Up to now there was no early voting availble. At our single poll station on election day I was usually in and out in 15 minutes.
But on election day proper there will be only one place to vote. A small church parish hall. Should be chaos.
Have fun with the puzzle.
Snow tonight ❄❄❄
See you tomorrow
Wonderful to see a Sunday C.C. puzzle, and this one was especially fun because of having the time change theme come on the day of a time change. Surprisingly, though, my computer is still showing yesterday's time even though it should be an hour earlier. Anyone else having this problem?
Many cool names in the puzzle, like Jane EYRE and Scarlett O'HARA and DIEGO Rivera and Daniel DEFOE. Oh, and AMELIA Earhart. But there were unknowns too. I've never heard of PLANO, for example. But it always makes me happy to see RCA in a puzzle--my 91 year old Dad worked for them for decades.
Have a wonderful Sunday, and a wonderful November, everybody!
Rabbit, rabbit
CC, thanks for the shout out, but I must ask you to "86" that picture or photo shop it, as the woman who is standing next to me is an "ex". Don't really want to be reminded of her. Check your email and I will send you a photo you may use in the future. Thanks!
Puzzling thoughts:
Didn't have too much trouble with this one, as I got the 21 letter mnemonic, and then saw how the abbr's for the months went forward and back
Regarding the "time change", as many of you are aware, we don't observe DST here in AZ. Which of course prompted a limerick:
Daylight Savings Time? Some ask me, “why?”
So I’ll answer; (I’m that kinda guy)
In Mesa we’ve chosen
To keep our clocks frozen.
Do you think time will just pass me by?
Super Sunday. Thanks for the fun, C.C. and for double-hitting today.
I FIRed in good Sunday time, saw the theme midway and filled in the remaining months. (I had enough perps to see that the fall ones were BACKwards.)
The spring LILACS and autumn ASTERS (fall in the clue would be A NO NO) were Easter Eggs added to the theme (although they were located in the wrong season).
I did have an online inkblot (LOL!); I had Spam ARTIST/Expel until I realized that "standout"= EXCEL, and C.C. would never have A NO NO like Spam in the answer and Spam in the CAN.
(At least she admits that RETEE is gluey!)
Pop fly changed to SAC fly, Ghost changed to DEMON, Bash to FEST (I had the S; did some of you have the F and enter Fete?)
Unknowns or barely known included PLANO, TAHOMA, TULANE, LELAND,S EDA, MIRA, but perps were friendly. CELEDON required a mental kick; thanks for the interesting info waseeley.
I noted YOOHOO, OHOH, and YEAH; CAGES and CELLS; GRAPE SODAS and KOLAS; FRANC and KRONE.
We had TOSTADA and TEMPURA, KARO and LARD for our pecan pie.
You all know that Canadian pump measure is Litre not GALLON.
This Canadian is confused by MSED. We have MEd (Master of Education) and MSc (Master of Science). Daughter studied in a concurrent education program and received BSc and BEd degrees, not a BsEd.
I unknowingly tried to help you all out with CABER the other day when I linked the Fergus Scottish Festival (and even mentioned the CABER toss). (Prescience of the blog?)
Spitzboov - Canadian curlers play the game on an ice rink which presumes an ARENA. But Canadians would never play baseball or football in an ARENA; the venue would be called a Stadium. However, the Raptors play (normally) at Scotia Bank ARENA because it is the home of the Maple Leafs firstly and usually has ice. In fact, the ice is just covered up for the Raptors games.
Yes, tis the day that we whine about the time change. This year, Yukon Territory decided to stay with Pacific Daylight Saving Time. The time change offers no benefits in the "Land of the Midnight Sun". (Most of Saskatchewan has never changed time) I think it is just a matter of time before the rest of the country follows suit.
FLN, thanks d'o for correcting me re Rheas (endangered but not extinct). That will help to limit my choices in future CWs.
We had a beautiful clear night with few trick-or-treaters. But that rare Halloween Blue Hunter Micro Moon was glowing.
Wishing you all a great day.
How great! The write-up was as much fun as the solve! C.C., it's always nice to read the anecdotes about the trail from constructor to print. Thanks for sharing.
Late day today: 7 mile run/walk, NYT SB, NYT Mini, NYT, then LAT. FIR, but didn’t know TAHOMA; it was a bit of a guess. I was definitely thinking about TAcOMA due to the geography, but YEAc didn’t seem like an affirmative.
I enjoyed this puzzle, especially the theme. Had to do two alphabet runs to get the A in TAHOMA/SEDA and the M in FAM/MIRA.
Irish Miss, you said, "a bonus feature, to me, was the very small number of three letter words." I count 18 of them. I make no claim as to whether this is a small number of them, a large number of them, or neither.
Husker Gary, I also have been a REARENDER and a REARENDEE.
Waseeley, very interesting about CELADON.
Chairman Moe, now I know why there was no photo of you that Irish Miss and Husker Gary referred to.
The full name of Stanford University is Leland Stanford Junior University. The "Junior" refers to Leland, not the University.
So, CED, you are DECember backwards!
Misty, at the risk of sounding like a GEEK, I suggest you try rebooting your computer to see if that updates the clock.
I really really dislike these time changes.
Good wishes to you all.
Sunday Lurk Say:
LOL @11:29a CED.
Cute DST C.Moe. I didn't see the pic if that a relief :-)
waseeley - Liked learning that you do pottery and the nuances of (and that it's a thing!) CELADON.
Neat-O puzzle C.C.. I didn't play but I like the gimmick.
That Graybar is doing that for retirees(?)... Shows character in a company. Enjoy the wine.
Loved the Mitch Spitz!
HG, et.al. - 1) I enjoyed the caroling for candy story.
Last night was such a disappointment (but I guess a good thing that kids weren't out spreading(?)). We only had 3 groups of kids dig candy out of the skull at the end of our chute.
Whelp, Frankie the Red-Ear'd Turtle just got a new, bigger, $300(?!? -- for a found-in-the-backyard reptile?) tank.
Anyone need a used 10gal aquarium?
Cheers, -T
Really creative theme for this puzzle - and with GUY FAWKES thrown in there for good measure!
TAHOMA the mountain and TACOMA the nearest large city are variants of the same Puyallup tribes word meaning "Mother of Waters" or "that frozen water" as the mountain was a source of water for many of the surrounding areas. Soon they will likely rename Rainier back to TAHOMA - as Rainier the person has no link to the area and never even visited. George Vancouver named it after a friend.
Jayce is correct that the full name of Stanford U. is Leland Stanford Junior University, it wasn't named after the industrialist, but after his only child who died at age 15 of typhoid. Leland and his wife Jane then decided that the children of California would be their children and donated their fortune to start the university.
The marching band is quite a humorous motley bunch and when they take the field for their satirical half time shows - the announcer always introduces "The Leland Stanford JUNIOR University Marching Band" - but everyone on campus calls them LSJUMB (pronounced Les-JUM)
One of my on campus jobs was tour guide - so told the founding story many times
Thanks CC for double duty today and lots of fun!
What a nice puzzle, C.C. I really enjoyed it. I think it was OSCARMAYER and NEWSJUNKIE that tipped me off to the theme, which immediately gave me SPRINGFORWARDFALLBACK. I was then able to fill the remaining circles, noting the reversal of the fall months. It really helped getting through the rest of the puzzle.
Oh, did I mention I FIW? Had MAED, instead of MSED, and didn’t notice the error in GUYFAWKES. Also, flunked TTFN and NAS. I wanted FEST, but I couldn't make it fit. I had a few unknowns, but I was able to get them with perps.
C.C., most of the Mexican food places down here have no problem leaving off the cheese and sour cream, if requested. In fact, at the taco truck that I visit about once a week, we must specify exactly what we want on our tacos.
Unknown, all I care about is whether I get a FIR, FIW or DNF. Time is irrelevant to me, except that I like to get finished and post my comments BEFORE everyone else has gone to bed.
PLANO is one of the northern suburbs of Dallas. Here is the Niche site, for what it’s worth:
Plano, TX
I, and all my aviation photography buddies seem to be the only people who prefer DST, because we can stay at the planespotting areas longer in the summer. The Dark Ages begin tonight! I’m sure one of these days DST will go away, and I’m sure the powers that be will not give us permanent DST. If I were in charge….
inanehiker, very interesting about TAHOMA. Also interesting to know you were a campus tour guide. I wonder if we were there at the same time. I was there from 1969 to 1976. And well I remember the LSJUMB.
I can't remember the last time I had this much fun with a Sunday. Sometimes they can be such a slog that you just wish it was over. I thought this was a nicely made puzzle.You can tear apart any puzzle on the fill but this fill was AOK. Alot better than some. Nicely done theme also. Thanks C.C.
Peeps I knew as slang and I expected the answer to be slang. FAs was unknown , I never thought of family. But…. As Jayce pointed out an alpha run would've got FAM.
This was enjoyable. As soon as I saw CC, I knew it'd be doable and I wasn't anxious for a Sunday slog. The theme helped fill in boxes(3 at a time once I realized "back")
TAHOMA was a lucky WAG. SEDA was unknown.
LANAIs are popular in Florida, some containing swimming pools)as YR points out)
Speaking of comics Argyle struck my funny bone this morning.
I not only never remembered FALL BACK but only reading this blog did I grok that the mnemonic indicates the direction and the SEASON. I even inked rollBACK
Somebody mentioned solving while watching football. They work well; run a play, solve, back to tv. Worst case, watch the plays in the replay.
Talk about slogs, I'm watching Bears-Saints. What happened to Jameis Winston who signed with Saints? Bucs don't miss him, new QB is working out.
WC
Jayce @ 2:47 ~ I didn’t count the three letter words, I just knew instinctively that the count was low for a 21x 21 grid. There have been many 15 x 15 daily grids that have had 22-24 three letter words, so that may give you some perspective for my comment. I have no idea if there is any official rule limiting the number of these short words in any given puzzle, but it’s a personal pet peeve of mine when there are an inordinate number of them, especially when they are abbreviations, rather than words.
Just as an aside, SEDA means silk in Spanish and describes this puzzle, smooth as silk.
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