Theme: "Plush" (Plus -H) - H is added to each common phrase.
23A. Dormitory where honor roll students sleep?: HALL FOR THE BEST. All for the best.
46A. Ingredient for discerning brew masters?: SPECIAL HOPS. Special ops.
71A. Take care of eggs by sitting on them?: HEAT LIKE A BIRD. Eat like a bird.
92A. Learns about crops like maize?: HEARS OF CORN. Ears of corn.
117A. Cheap toupee?: BUDGET HAIRLINE. Budget airline.
15D. Light-up pumps?: ELECTRIC HEELS. Electrical eels.
57D. Weekly night for leftovers?: HASH WEDNESDAY. Ash Wednesday.
I linked this this interview about Gary Larson last time. Amy is his wife.
Gary is probably the most prolific LAT Sunday puzzle-maker the past few years. He's very fond of letter addition/deletion theme.
Across:
6. Crunchy brownie piece: EDGE.
10. Natural bandage: SCAB. If your white blood count is low, your wound won't heal quickly.
14. Storm relief org.: FEMA.
18. Sierra Nevada lake: TAHOE.
19. Connections: TIES.
20. Skyline obscurer: HAZE. Xi'an is pretty polluted.
21. Ruck of "Spin City": ALAN.
22. Semis followers: FINALS.
26. Name of Davy Crockett's rifle: OLD BETSY. Unknown to me.
28. Enjoy again, as a favorite book: RE-READ.
29. Cubbies home: CHI. And 45. Cub's home: DEN.
30. __ carte: ALA.
31. "Fun Factory" clay: PLAY-DOH.
35. Tuft of feathers: CREST.
37. Name of B.B. King's guitar: LUCILLE. Also unknown to me.
41. Actor Mulroney: DERMOT.
43. Santa-tracking org.: NORAD.
48. Jazz lick: RIFF.
51. Sudoku digit: NINE.
52. Birdie topper: EAGLE.
53. Historical record: ANNAL.
54. App symbol: ICON.
55. Suzuki with 10 MLB Gold Gloves: ICHIRO. See what comes up when you google "August in Kansas City ..."
58. "Yosemite Valley Winter" photographer: ADAMS.
62. Do needlework: STITCH.
64. Dietary fiber: BRAN.
65. Forecast: PREDICT.
67. Charge for using, as an apartment: LEASE TO.
70. Apple platform: IOS.
74. New __: cap brand: ERA.
75. Cream cheese serving: SCHMEAR.
77. Genre revitalized by Britney Spears: TEEN POP. Christina Aguilera as well.
78. Thicken, as cream: CLOT.
79. Some year-end lists: WORSTS. Ken Tucker's year-end interviews with Terry Gross are always so good.
81. Calf's suckling spot: UDDER.
82. Turns way up: BLASTS.
84. Stadium level: TIER.
86. Rivendell inhabitants: ELVES. "The Lord of the Rings".
88. __ Island: ELLIS.
90. Tacks on: ADDS.
91. Went platinum?: DYED. Ha.
98. Lost cause: GONER.
100. Words on an orange juice container: NO PULP.
102. "Way to go, fella!": ATTA BOY.
103. Dodge: ELUDE.
106. Edible part of a pistachio: NUTMEAT.
108. Mystery writer Grafton: SUE.
109. Many pop-ups: ADS.
111. Refuse: LITTER. Noun "refuse".
113. Baggage handler?: TSA AGENT. Another great clue.
122. Duel choices: SWORDS.
123. Morales of "Ozark": ESAI.
124. With 112-Down, fish story: TALL. And 112. See 124-Across: TALE.
125. Song that might prompt a "Brava!": ARIA.
126. Cast: HEAVE.
127. Texter's "until next time": TTYL.
128. Turow book set at Harvard: ONE L. Just had this fill last Monday.
129. Burt's Bees product: BALM.
130. Fragrant compound: ESTER.
Down:
2. Parker who was the 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year: CANDACE. I bet this is Patti's clue.
3. "Pequod" captain: AHAB.
4. Mexican sauce flavored with chocolate: MOLE.
5. Fly, e.g.: PEST.
6. __ alcohol: ETHYL.
7. Jueves, por ejemplo: DIA. Thursday.
8. Salon goop: GEL.
9. Subj. for some citizenship applicants: ESL. Some of the questions on the citizenship test are pretty tough.
10. Help for a tight fit: SHOEHORN.
11. "Virgin River" novelist Robyn: CARR.
12. Tenochtitlan native: AZTEC.
13. "Joy Shtick" writer/comedian: BEHAR.
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14. Terrif: FAB.
16. Classic TV series set in Korea: M*A*S*H.
17. Averse to: ANTI.
22. Farm young: FOALS.
24. Gift tag word: FROM.
25. Genesis plot: EDEN. D-Otto has mentioned Eden Prairie a few times. His sister and niece live here.
27. Be in a bee: SPELL.
32. Bustle: ADO.
33. "Okey-doke": YEP.
34. OB-GYNs, e.g.: DRS.
36. Former Seattle team, familiarly: SONICS.
38. Trap during a winter storm, say: ICE IN.
39. False witness: LIAR.
40. Spanish lake: LAGO.
42. Sardine cans: TINS.
44. "I'll take that as __": A NO.
47. Ticker: HEART.
49. Fistfight souvenir: FAT LIP.
50. Circular: FLIER.
53. Go up: ASCEND.
55. Sacred Nile bird: IBIS. The African sacred ibis.
56. Colorful clog: CROC.
59. Shoulder muscle, for short: DELT.
60. Parting words: ADIEUS.
61. Ready to be recorded: MIKED.
63. Bit: TAD.
65. To some degree: PARTLY.
66. Sealing stuff: TAPE.
68. Home run run: TROT. All Rise!
69. Stallion feed: OATS.
71. HRH part: HER.
72. Lightened (up): EASED.
73. Drill, e.g.: BORER.
76. Bite: MORSEL.
78. "Julius Caesar" role: CASCA.
80. Kristoff's reindeer in "Frozen": SVEN.
82. Dab at, as lipstick: BLOT.
83. British elevator: LIFT.
84. Graffiti signature: TAG.
85. Rite answer?: I DO. Good old clue.
87. Three-time "Modern Family" Emmy nominee: ED O'NEILL.
89. Future JDs' exams: LSATS.
92. Simple shelter: HUT.
93. Furniture wood: ELM.
94. Animal that beats its chest: APE.
95. Witness: OBSERVE.
96. Not as flat: ROUNDER.
97. Russian rejections: NYETS.
99. Govern: RULE.
101. Smooth engine sound: PURR.
104. "Likewise": DITTO.
105. One of the filmmaking Coen brothers: ETHAN. Both are working on their own projects now.
107. Crack squad: A TEAM.
109. Turn off the security cameras for, maybe: ABET.
110. Roomba target: DUST.
114. Queens, New York, stadium namesake: ASHE.
115. Dazzles: AWES.
116. Capricorn critter: GOAT.
118. Hodges who managed the Miracle Mets: GIL.
119. Chemist's workplace: LAB.
120. 401(k) kin: IRA.
121. Not a thing: NIL.
Boomer
got his blood infusion last Monday. He has not perked up yet. The
nurses said it might take up 5 to 7 days for him to feel better.
It
was another challenging week, but it would be unimaginable without the
generous help of Tom Pepper, who came to our house immediately after I
called, drove us to the VA, spent a few hours with us at the VA and
drove us back. He's been amazing, all these years.
Tom Pepper, the 3rd MN Crossword Tournament, 6/23/2014
I thought some of the themed answers were very clever, such as “electric heels “ and “Hash Wednesday.” And, in spite of several unknown proper names, I didn’t have too much trouble with this puzzle. FIR, so I’m happy.
ReplyDeleteGreat puzzle. Got it al!
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
ReplyDeleteThis one came together well within my self-imposed time limit. No Wite-Out required, despite several unknowns. The perps were very kind. The blog typeface caused me to read "Semis" as "Serris," so FINALS was slow to appear. Didn't know that BB King's guitar was named LUCILLE, but I do recall that Willie Nelson's holey guitar is Trigger. Good job, Gary and Amy. Enjoyed the tour, C.C. ("Pretty polluted" sounds like an oxymoron. Hope that transfusion "kicks in" soon, and Boomer starts feeling better.)
FIW, missing my WAG @ YuP/YEP x DuRMOT. Other unknowns: ALAN, ICHIRO, Rivendell, CARR, CASCA, SVEN, and that Al Bundy was in Modern Family. I may have to dig up some reruns.
ReplyDeleteI was going to link Benny and the Jets because "she's got ELECTRIC boots, a mohair suit...", but I gotta get going. We're starting a camping trip today in Advance, NC and it's time to get started.
Thanks to Gary for another fun puzzle, and to CC for another fine review.
Al Bundy is a fictional character and the protagonist of the American television series Married... with Children. ... Played by Ed O'Neill,
ReplyDeleteI loved all the long answers, and especially enjoyed guessing them with partial letters filled in.
ReplyDeleteI had to guess OLD BETSY and LUCILLE, but, LOL for the latter all I kept thinking of was that's the name of Negan's barbed-wire covered baseball bat in The Walking Dead.
"...Rifles can have names?"
ReplyDelete"...GUITARS can have names?"
"NUTs have MEAT?" (that's my favorite non-theme answer, I also liked SHOEHORN and the full ATTABOY)
Not a fan of the YEP/DERMOT crossing, I entered YUP at first but luckily everything else in the grid was right.
Musings
ReplyDelete-A lovely walk in the literal park on a beautiful fall day here on the Great Plains
-FEMA has told flood-prone people here that they will get no more money if the Platte floods
-OLD BETSY pictured with Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen and a person I don't know
-Joann’s sister’s family had a “pop-up” RV
-Miss BEHAR’s job today is to be controversial and outspoken on TV
-I see so many medical workers in CROCS. They don’t look comfy to me.
I rejoice when I see Gary Larsen’s name as our constructor and now the added bonus of his wife. What a great Sunday puzzle.
ReplyDeleteHow refreshing. A clever, sussable, and helpful theme. Minimal use of obscure proper nouns. It leaves me wondering if I am in the right place.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update on Boomer. Here's hoping he perks up in those five to seven days or even sooner.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the solve and saw the theme immediately but didn’t understand the title until reading CC’s expo. I’ll blame this lapse on post-Covid and flu shots mental and physical side effects. My biggest trouble spot was entering Ansel instead of Adams and being convinced it was correct. Once that was resolved, I was home free. Earlier, I also had the same issue with Shea instead of Ashe. I liked the Alan/Mash crossing even though the Alan wasn’t Alda. As DO noted, all the perps were kind, so unknowns like Old Betsy and Lucille, etc. were easily filled in.
Thanks, Gary, for a satisfying and smooth Sunday solve and thanks, CC, for an informative review and for sharing the very interesting and enlightening interview with Gary. I hope Boomer feels better soon. Kudos to Tom Pepper for being there for you both.
Have a great day.
I worked this puzzle around the edges and finished in the center. I noticed the Plus-H at HEARS OF CORN. Not too many unknown proper names today filled by perps-CANDACE, CARR, BEHAR, ALAN, DERMOT, and ESAI. agree with MM.
ReplyDeleteTEEN POP- in my day we called it 'bubblegum music'.
MIKED- I wonder why it's spelled that way. MICROPHONE with MIC as the abbr.
ELECTRIC HEELS- lots of little kids have them on their sneakers
OLD BETSY- the photo has Jed Clampett and Davy Crockett.
I didn't know Candace Parker of the WNBA but my neighbor, THERESA PLAISANCE, has bounced around various WNBA teams over the years. She's played in China in 2019 and earlier this year she was playing in the Canary Islands. A few months ago she signed with the Las Vegas Aces and they just won the title.
Hola!
ReplyDeleteWhat a surprise to finish this puzzle so quickly! As others have said, nothing was too obscure or too difficult. My only w/o was ANSEL before ADAMS. My daughter is a big fan. She has some of his prints.
STITCH reminds me that I was once an avid seamstress who made my own clothes.
HASH WEDNESDAY is really funny.
I'll take a CSO at ESL which I taught for many years.
CSO also to the late Sister LUCILLE who loved cats.
CROCS, IMO, are the ugliest shoes in existence. But that's just me. Sometimes, I believe, people are persuaded that because something is "in fashion" they look good when the opposite is true. Another example is the jeans with knees torn out. Ugly! It's too bad people don't have more pride in what they wear. End of rant.
C.C., I shall continue to pray for Boomer and for you, his dedicated caregiver.
Have a lovely Sunday, everyone! Lunch for this month's birthday ladies. Yesterday we had the Book Club meeting.
Anon-T:
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'm sorry you can't celebrate but your care for her while she is sick is a loving display of your dedicated marriage.
Anon T ~ Congratulations to you and DW on your 34th! When she is Covid-free, I hope you get to celebrate in style! 💞
ReplyDeleteFIR, nice theme, no problems
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary Anon-T!
ReplyDeletedid you say 37, or 34?
Plush, or plus-H?
either way, you don't want to get these mixed up...
Sunday Lurk say...
ReplyDeleteFLN - Never did finish the NW until cheating off of HG's paper. I read y'all but it was well after midnight when I wanted to add to OMK's Nun story...
Sister Mary-something and grade-6's Religion class: Kevin wouldn't sit still and she came up right behind him and whack'd him good. "What AILs you Boy?" is all she hollered.
That was our catch-phrase for the rest of the school-year.
BB King tells Lucille's Story[1:04]
A longer version on David Letterman [6:34]
SHOEHORN. The kind with teeth[TMBG - 1:34]
I discovered The Maker's Channel yesterday. It's ASMR with tools!
I watched for hours hoping Splynter had a segment.
//and I felt a sudden need for an arc-welder & a forge
Boomer & C.C. - More love your way. Boomer, you must eat!
Cheers, -T
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary to Mr and Mrs Dash T. (Too late, bro. The cat's already out of the bag)
65A Forecast: PREDICT.
MLB Network host Greg Amsinger had this to say on April 13th, 2022:
"He's going to hit his 700th career home run on the road. Friday night in Los Angeles in September..."
Unbelievably, Albert Pujols did just that, hitting his 699th and 700th home runs on Friday night, September 23rd, 2022.
One of the all time best sluggers in baseball, he is only the 4th player in the history of MLB to have hit 700 dingers.
Continuing our weekend long celebration of Teri's BDay (won't say how old, but it's a biggie and it doesn't end in 0) with the grandkids, so I'll keep it short (please hold your applause!).
ReplyDeleteThanx to the Larson menage. Thanx C.C.
FIR; Got the gun; Got the guitar.
See ya tomorrow.
Cheers,
Bill
Super Sunday. Thanks for the fun, Gary and Amy, and C.C. ( hope Boomer feels stronger soon, kudos to Tom Pepper).
ReplyDeleteI was solving online and couldn’t get a tada. Ida instead of SUE was my error. But I saw the Plus H theme.
Hand up for Ansel before ADAMS. LUCILLE and OLD BETSEY filled with just a few perps.
Happy Anniversary AnonT and DW. Hope you can celebrate soon.
Happy Birthday weekend to Teri.
Wishing you all a great day.
Happy anniversary to A-T, 🎉 and many more years of happiness🦋. How did everyone find out? Did I miss something?
ReplyDeleteFIR. Thanks for the Sunday fun, Gary & Amy! You make a great team!
ReplyDeleteFAVs: Be in a bee, crunchy brownie piece, went platinum?, semis followers, TALL & TALE
In 2019 I volunteered to answer phones for NORAD on Christmas Eve. Children from around the world call in to ask where Santa currently is and when he will be at their houses. Of course we helped their parents out by saying Santa cannot come until they are asleep. The phones rang non-stop and we were busy! Even the children who were starting to wonder whether or not Santa is real believed because they were on the phone talking to an official-sounding NORAD representative. That was probably my best Christmas Eve ever!
I just realized that I was remiss in not thanking Amy, coauthor with Gary. Well done, Amy.
ReplyDeleteI liked this puzzle. What Tante Nique said. I laughed out loud at HEAT LIKE A BIRD and HASH WEDNESDAY. As for that reindeer in "Frozen," I already had -V-N so overconfidently filled in IVAN, which played hob with that whole area until I finally realized its name had to be SVEN in order to make the perps work. I see we have ADIEUS and NYETS today. (How many nyets can a nyetmaker make ...) UDDER dan dat glitch, all solved smoothly with just the right amount of head scratching. Goldilocks would be proud.
ReplyDeleteContinued hopes and prayers for Boomer and good wishes to you all.
Hi Y'all! Thanks, Gary & Amy, for an amusing theme & doable puzzle. I Enjoy your works!
ReplyDeleteThank you, C.C., for continuing to provide a great blog. Still praying for your strength & Boomer's rejuvenation. Bless Tom Pepper for helping you both.
Happy Anniversary, Tony & DW!
Happy Birthday, Teri Seeley!
TanteN - yes.
ReplyDeleteYou missed how many years DW & I have been Dorian Gray'n together.
I think posing the number of years... Well, never mind.
//We're still 18yro kids at heart.
Sumdaze - I gotta hear about more of your time at Crystal Palace. #WarGames
//Santa is dressed in all Red! :-)
Thanks everyone for the HA wishes. We'll do it up next weekend at our new favorite Mexican (not TexMex) restaurant. 1/2-price Apps and her fav Margarita every Sunday night.
Cheers, T
AH! Good old Gary Larson -Master of Misdirections! SW did me in .. especially SCHMEAR ...thought that went bye-bye with B&W TV! Got the theme even before I started the solve, but my brain died, a GONER as I sank to the leeward side of today's entry.
ReplyDelete