Merry Christmas, everyone!
sumdaze here. I wish you all joy, peace, & love today and always -- but especially today! 
I was hoping for a holiday-themed puzzle. My thanks to constructor Barbara Lin and the LA Times Crossword Puzzle editorial staff. You did not disappoint!
Today's puzzle has five themers, including a fun grid-spanner across the equator. Each is an in-the-language phrase that is repurposed to complete a sentence telling the story of Santa's activities on Christmas Eve. I like that the activities appear in chronological order -- not an easy feat. Well done!
Let's take a look:
17 Across. Santa and his reindeer landed __: ON THE HOUSE. the customer does not have to pay for the goods/services
We've recently had this idiomatic phrase last Monday at 61-Across and the Friday before last at 5-Across.
27 Across. Before heading down the chimney, Santa __: GOT THE SACK. to be fired from a job
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| It's OK kiddos. Santa was not fired. |
33 Across. Stepping out of the fireplace, Santa left a __: CARBON FOOTPRINT. a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.
(This one was my favorite because Santa's boots get ash (a carbon compound) on them when he comes down the chimney. Very clever!)
42 Across. After filling the last one, Santa hung the __: STOCKING UP. to amass extra amounts of something for future use 
58 Across. All in all, Santa had a very busy __!: PRESENT DAY. current
Let's see what else Barbara left under the tree for us:
1. Saudi Arabia neighbor: OMAN.
5. Protractor's measure: ANGLE.
 |
| Gotta love an clue with a math ANGLE to it! 😜 |
10. Caustic chemical: ACID.
14. Forbidding word: DON'T. OK, I won't.
15. President between Harrison and Polk: TYLER. John Tyler was the 10th president of the U.S. What I remember from 10th grade U.S. History class is that President Harrison wanted everyone to see his fancy clothes at his inauguration so he refused to wear a coat even though Washington, D.C. is cold in January on a normal year -- and that was a really cold year. So #9 got sick and died just 31 days after his swearing in and TYLER took over as #10...or something like that.
 |
| Click to expand. |
16. Writer Jaffe: RONA. (1931-2005) bio
19. Territory near the Mariana Trench: GUAM. (Hi D-Otto!)
20. Actress/writer Issa: RAE.
21. Many Christmas trees: PINES. 🎄 and 53 Across. Editorialize: OPINE.
So when we sing O Christmas Tree around a PINE tree, do we O PINE?
22. Oklahoma city on the Arkansas River: TULSA.
23. Correcting myopia, maybe: LASING. LASIK eye surgery
25. Stockholm citizens: SWEDES.
26. Small snack: BITE.
30. App reviewers: USERS.
32. Length of TV's "60 Minutes": HOUR. I hesitated, asking myself, "Is this a trick question?"
40. Quarter or pound: COIN.
41. Like some garden lights: SOLAR. CSO to unclefred!
48. "Children of Blood and Bone" writer Adeyemi: TOMI. Goodreads link
49. On the up and up: KOSHER. This adjective has a specific definition in Jewish law but is often used informally to mean "genuine and legitimate".
50. Homegrown: NATIVE. This word comes to us from the Latin word nativus, as does another word often heard this time of year -- nativity.
52. Broad necktie: ASCOT.
55. Flight takeoff approximation: Abbr.: ETD. Estimated Time of Departure
57. Old Russian leader: TSAR.
60. French 101 verb: ETRE. to be
61. __ tot: TATER.
62. Like a red Red Delicious: RIPE.
63. Diana of the Supremes: ROSS.
Aretha Franklin sings O Christmas Tree (1992)
22. Oklahoma city on the Arkansas River: TULSA.
23. Correcting myopia, maybe: LASING. LASIK eye surgery
25. Stockholm citizens: SWEDES.
26. Small snack: BITE.
32. Length of TV's "60 Minutes": HOUR. I hesitated, asking myself, "Is this a trick question?"
40. Quarter or pound: COIN.
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| As of this writing, one U.S. quarter equals about 0.20 Pound sterling. |
41. Like some garden lights: SOLAR. CSO to unclefred!
48. "Children of Blood and Bone" writer Adeyemi: TOMI. Goodreads link
49. On the up and up: KOSHER. This adjective has a specific definition in Jewish law but is often used informally to mean "genuine and legitimate".
50. Homegrown: NATIVE. This word comes to us from the Latin word nativus, as does another word often heard this time of year -- nativity.
52. Broad necktie: ASCOT.
55. Flight takeoff approximation: Abbr.: ETD. Estimated Time of Departure
57. Old Russian leader: TSAR.
60. French 101 verb: ETRE. to be
61. __ tot: TATER.
62. Like a red Red Delicious: RIPE.
63. Diana of the Supremes: ROSS.
Diana Ross sings The Christmas Song (1994)
64. Speaker of the house?: ALEXA. Fun clue! ALEXA is Amazon's virtual assistant technology accessed through a Wi-Fi bug, erm, I mean "speaker" in your house.
65. Beehive State people: UTES.
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| If you've driven through Utah, you've seen their beehive signs. |
1. Fragrance: ODOR.
2. Da Vinci portrait in the Louvre: MONA LISA.
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| This famous painting is smaller than you might think. It is 30 in. x 21 in. (77 cm. x 53 cm.) |
3. Long-tongued insectivore: ANTEATER. Did you know that a baby ANTEATER is called a pup? Check out this 1 min. video of an ANTEATER pup at the Nyíregyháza Zoo in Hungary.
4. Utmost degree: NTH. Basically, the nth term is a mathematical expression that enables us to find the value of any term in a sequence. The 'n' stands for the term number. So if I have 5+n and if n=1 then it would be 5+1 = 6. Likewise, if n=2, it would be 5+2=7. And so on. Since there are an infinite amount of values we can give to n, the sequence can go on to infinity. That idea of "going to infinity" has given us the idiom "nth degree", meaning "as much as possible" or "extremely".
6. "Black Panther" star Lupita: NYONG'O. Lupita is a Mexican-Kenyan actress born March 1, 1983 in Mexico City. In 2014 she won an Oscar for her work in 12 Years a Slave. Here she is in her Nakia role from Black Panther.
7. Sticky stuff: GLUE.
4. Utmost degree: NTH. Basically, the nth term is a mathematical expression that enables us to find the value of any term in a sequence. The 'n' stands for the term number. So if I have 5+n and if n=1 then it would be 5+1 = 6. Likewise, if n=2, it would be 5+2=7. And so on. Since there are an infinite amount of values we can give to n, the sequence can go on to infinity. That idea of "going to infinity" has given us the idiom "nth degree", meaning "as much as possible" or "extremely".
5. "I haven't __ to wear!": A THING. I knew this one right away but I am not sure why.
6. "Black Panther" star Lupita: NYONG'O. Lupita is a Mexican-Kenyan actress born March 1, 1983 in Mexico City. In 2014 she won an Oscar for her work in 12 Years a Slave. Here she is in her Nakia role from Black Panther.
7. Sticky stuff: GLUE.
8. More or __: LESS.
This famous poem, originally titled A Visit or A Visit From St. Nicholas, was first published anonymously on December 23, 1823, in a Troy, New York (another Cornerite CSO!) newspaper called The Sentinel. article from "The Parade"
10. Bickers: ARGUES.
11. May've: COULDA. Woulda, coulda, shoulda -- all three are colloquialisms that replace the verb "have" with "a". Likewise, the clue replaces "have" via the use of an apostrophe.
12. "Almost ready!": IN A SEC.
13. Fabric named for Syria's capital: DAMASK. This fabric is named for Damascus, which is where this textile product originated. Known for its intricate and reversible patterns, DAMASK fabric is prized for its ornateness. These days, however, it is easy to make incredibly complex damask patterns with modern textile machines. Read more here.
18. Prefix with center: EPI-. Earthquakes come to mind. (Hi Jayce!)
22. Whippersnappers: TWERPS.
24. Croat's neighbor: SERB.
25. Tightly closed: SHUT.
26. Tampa Bay NFLer: BUC.
28. Havaianas shoe, e.g.: THONG.
Speaking of Hawaii, here is Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters with a Hawaiian Christmas song:
29. Additionally: TOO.
31. Lightbulb's place: SOCKET. Did someone say that it's Sock It To Me Time?
35. Classic Cadillac feature: FIN.
36. Round flatbread: ROTI.
37. "Five stars!": I LOVED IT. Answer to, "What did I think of today's puzzle?"
38. Personalized iron-on: NAME TAPE. The "NAME" part filled quickly. Some solvers might not be familiar with the "TAPE" part. In the military, a NAME TAPE is a rectangle-shaped piece of fabric with one's surname stitched into it then permanently sewn onto one's uniform. It stays on through the laundry and the life of that uniform; whereas, a name tag is a metal pin that is attached when wearing the uniform and removed when laundering the uniform. Do other professions share this lexicon? Perhaps some of those professions use an iron-on variety.
39. Bi- plus one: TRI.
42. Adam Rippon, for one: SKATER.
43. Play catch with: TOSS TO.
44. Hollywood awards: OSCARS.
45. Washing dishes, doing laundry, etc.: CHORES.
46. Not gender-specific: UNISEX.
47. Bacon Turkey Bravo sandwich chain: PANERA.
51. Number of digits in a billion: TEN. 1,000,000,000
53. __ hygiene: ORAL.
54. Folk icon Seeger: PETE.
56. Changes color, perhaps: DYES.
58. Org. that may support a school board: PTA. "Organization" is abbreviated, so is Parent Teacher Association.
59. Hilton brand: TRU. TRU by Hilton is an American chain of hotels owned by Hilton Worldwide.
I hope you enjoyed today's puzzle, the CSO's, and the holiday music. I'm going to leave you with one more tune. It's an extraordinary version of The 12 Day of Christmas by the acapella group Straight No Chaser. It might not be what you are expecting so don't give up on it too early.
Notes from C.C.:
10. Bickers: ARGUES.
11. May've: COULDA. Woulda, coulda, shoulda -- all three are colloquialisms that replace the verb "have" with "a". Likewise, the clue replaces "have" via the use of an apostrophe.
 |
| another CSO |
12. "Almost ready!": IN A SEC.
13. Fabric named for Syria's capital: DAMASK. This fabric is named for Damascus, which is where this textile product originated. Known for its intricate and reversible patterns, DAMASK fabric is prized for its ornateness. These days, however, it is easy to make incredibly complex damask patterns with modern textile machines. Read more here.
18. Prefix with center: EPI-. Earthquakes come to mind. (Hi Jayce!)
22. Whippersnappers: TWERPS.
24. Croat's neighbor: SERB.
25. Tightly closed: SHUT.
26. Tampa Bay NFLer: BUC.
28. Havaianas shoe, e.g.: THONG.
 |
| Click to expand. |
Mele Kalikimaka (1950)
29. Additionally: TOO.
31. Lightbulb's place: SOCKET. Did someone say that it's Sock It To Me Time?
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967-73)
How many faces do you recognize?
34. Gritty film genre: NOIR.35. Classic Cadillac feature: FIN.
36. Round flatbread: ROTI.
37. "Five stars!": I LOVED IT. Answer to, "What did I think of today's puzzle?"
38. Personalized iron-on: NAME TAPE. The "NAME" part filled quickly. Some solvers might not be familiar with the "TAPE" part. In the military, a NAME TAPE is a rectangle-shaped piece of fabric with one's surname stitched into it then permanently sewn onto one's uniform. It stays on through the laundry and the life of that uniform; whereas, a name tag is a metal pin that is attached when wearing the uniform and removed when laundering the uniform. Do other professions share this lexicon? Perhaps some of those professions use an iron-on variety.
42. Adam Rippon, for one: SKATER.
43. Play catch with: TOSS TO.
44. Hollywood awards: OSCARS.
45. Washing dishes, doing laundry, etc.: CHORES.
46. Not gender-specific: UNISEX.
51. Number of digits in a billion: TEN. 1,000,000,000
53. __ hygiene: ORAL.
54. Folk icon Seeger: PETE.
Pete Seeger (1919-2014) sings The First Noel (1967)
58. Org. that may support a school board: PTA. "Organization" is abbreviated, so is Parent Teacher Association.
59. Hilton brand: TRU. TRU by Hilton is an American chain of hotels owned by Hilton Worldwide.
Time to wrap things up. Here's the grid:
Notes from C.C.:
1) Happy birthday to dear Kathy
(Yellowrocks). So glad you're back on the blog again.
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| Kathy (Yellowrocks), Dec 10, 2020 |
2) Happy Birthday to Lorraine (Fermatprime) also. Her good friend Malcolm reads our blog regularly and emailed me this: "She is still living in her house in the San Fernando Valley, playing a Word Solitaire game, which she consistently gets the highest score of all other players, but every so often she gets an even higher score before any other player. Her feistiness and the peculiar rules of the game allow her to get the extra two points before any other player of the game does."
28 comments:
A couple of fairly obscure names were the only things that added any “crunch” at all to this fun, seasonal puzzle. Otherwise, it was the usual Monday “walk in the park,” albeit a Christmas themed one. And speaking of that, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to my fellow Cornerites! Oh, and I almost forgot to say, FIR, so I’m happy!
FIR, but erased sweeds for SWEDES (UNTIE!)
Today is:
CHRISTMAS DAY (it is? guess I'd better go to the store and get something for the DW)
A'PHABET DAY (OR NO "L" DAY)
NATIONAL PUMPKIN PIE DAY (not in chez Jinx - we're trying Dutch apple pie for the first time today)
Merry Christmas to all!
Never heard of TRU, I was guessing it was a perfume brand peddled by Paris. OYOs seem to be cropping up everywhere, but they aren't Conrad's caliber of lodging.
I think UNISEX was COINed before we recognized the 22.4 genders (at standard temperature and pressure) that everyone must know and honor. Seems to me that "Men's" and "Women's" are literally UNISEX. It was probably intended to mean "one of the ilk for everyone." Kinda like BOGO doesn't mean BOGO, it means BOGOF(ree).
I always associate "I haven't A THING to wear" with a woman in a walk-in closet flipping through dozens of outfits. That, and a clothing-optional beach.
Thanks to Barbara Lin for the delightful puzzle to start Christmas day. And thanks to sumdaze for guiding the sleigh through it.
Good morning, and Merry Christmas!
Not even 6AM, and d-o is already in the doghouse. That must be some sort of record.
Went wrong with NAOH before ACID, but that was the only detour on this drive through the grid. I squinted at the Tyler timeline and even changed my glasses before I noticed the "Click to expand" -- d'oh. Thanx for the CSO at Guam, sumdaze. There was no such thing as NAME TAPE back in the olden days when I was in the Navy. We were issued an indelible marker. Enjoyed your Christmas-themed puzzle, Barbara, and your expo, sumdaze. The 12 days were very cute.
Happy birthday to YR and Fermat. Hope you both have a great one.
FIR. And a Merry Christmas to all.
I, too, was hoping for a Christmas themed puzzle, so I am pleased. And being Monday, also an easy puzzle.
Didn't know Tru, and was unfamiliar with name tape, but the theme was clever and the puzzle very enjoyable!
I have a niece named ALEXA. When she walks into the office and people greet her, half a dozen iPhones wake up
Good Morning:
A very nice Christmas present from Barbara. I didn't notice (no surprise) the correct sequence of Santa's movements, so that was an added layer of enjoyment. No unknowns, well there was Tomi and Tru, as clued, plus I needed perps to spell Ms. Nyongo's name correctly. I also was convinced that Adam Rippon was a Swimmer until space dictated Skater.
Thanks, Barbara, for a lovely start to the day's festivities and thanks, sumdaze, for the extensive and detailed review. Favorite comics were the Stuffed Stocking Sufferer and the Less/Fewer Checkout Lady. Time constraints mean a return trip later to check out the numerous videos. Thanks for the CSO!
Happy Birthday, Kathy, glad you're back with us! 🎂🎁🎊🎈🎉
Happy Birthday, Lorraine, glad to hear you're still a whiz at Word Solitaire. 🎂🎉🎈🎊🎁
Merry Christmas to everyone! 🎄
I counted 24 proper nouns, alot for a Monday.
Fun Christmas puzzle - with all the in the language phrases
Thanks SD for the fun blog - I'm a big fan of acapella groups like "Straight, No Chaser" and "Pentatonix" and thanks to Barbara for the amusing puzzle
I'm the only one up as we drove to KC for the late service at my mom's church after my DH led the service at our church in JC which was at 5 and then drove the 2.5 hrs to KC . Afterward we talked and had a BITE so hit the hay about 1 am.
Happy birthday Kathy and Lorraine! and Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
A shining star to Barbara for her fine Christmas gift to us and a pat on the back to Sumdaze for the fine review, especially for their dedication to our enjoyment.
Spending my Christmas morning listening to my favorite music from the Transiberian Orchestra. Their unique sounds capture the greatest feelings for me.
Soon time to help prepare part of the meal for today at my youngest daughter's house. We are making the scalloped potatoes. My daughter and son-in-law are providing the ham and others the veggies, rolls and dessert.
Joyeux Noel, all
Slumber
Musings
-No joy here today. Snow, ice and wind will keep us from driving to Lincoln. :-(
-Puzzle was fun and Irish said it all.
Good Morning! The West and Central (down) started me off on today’s puzzle. The East was full of empty spaces and eventually here and there it all filled in. Perps were very helpful, and I guessed correctly with a “T” to finish at ROTI crossing the other unknown TOMI. Thanks, Barbara, for your Christmas-themed gift to us today.
Sumdaze, another of your warm and lighthearted recaps. Thanks. Loved the stocking and the pinata, 😂 and the musical fun of the 12 Days.
Birthday best wishes to Yellowrocks and Lorraine.
Merry Christmas to the Cornerites, 🎄 and thanks for all your wit and wisdom you gift to me.
🎅
Thought Santa was about to leave some coal when he put my STOCKING UP. …I easily raced thru the puzzle laughing all the way only to come to a screeching halt in the SE corner. Nothing particularly RIPE about a “Red Delicious” so was going to try tart which wouldn’t perp. Then the TOMI - ROTI Natick: a WAG. Finally Popeye GOT THE SACK replaced by PANERA for a FIR�� (or are they PINES 🌲🌲?)
Seems I recall from chemistry class the term “caustic” technically refers to bases not ACIDs. Think of KOSHER as meaning “fit or proper” (not genuine) “it’s not KOSHER not to respond to an invitation” and always figured “whippersnappers” were wise ass kids, not TWERPS
Guess the use of an 8 (if it’s foggy then 9) reindeerpower sleigh instead of fossil fuel means Santa really does leave a smaller CARBON FOOTPRINT (hoofprint?)
Are “Havaianas” worn in Vaikiki?
TRU? (A Monday clue woulda, coulda, shoulda, been the usual “Capote’s nickname) NAME TAPE sounds more like an iron-on thing
BTW: Where we come from “Mary” and “Merry” are pronounced the same. Roommates from NYC at University used to argue otherwise.
So
Murry Christmas Maery and to all the rest of our invisible friends 🎄
Ray-o, methinks you tried the NYT dialect quiz this morning. No? I agree that "caustic" refers to bases rather than acids.
Almost time to start grating those potatoes...all 10 lbs of 'em.
A fun FIR, and a Merry Christmas to all!
A fun Christmas themed puzzle, except for the Roti/Tomi cross. Never heard of either one. But it was fun. Many thanks and to all a Merry Christmas. GC
Puzzling thoughts:
Frühlichte Weinachten, meinen Freunden!
Happy birthday to the two Cornerites as well as that baby from the New Testament
Thanks Barbara Lin and Reneé (sumdaze) for the delightful Xmas Day crossword and recap!
Edward in Los Angeles here. I am a civil engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration, I was resident engineer for a year in Guam. I designed and installed a radar facility for Anderson AFB .
Guam was a great adventure.
Buon Natale a tutti!
Nitpicking, I know, but: Presidential inaugurations, including that of Harrison, were held in March until FDR's second one, in 1937. Although not all sources will blame Inauguration Day for the pneumonia WHH developed that month, it was cold and rainy, and he delivered the longest inauguration speech ever, 8,445 words.
Merry Christmas to all.
DO actually just looked it up but don’t have access to the NYT but sounds like a fun quiz
Merry Christmas to all!
Happy birthday to Kathy and Lorraine!
Merry Christmas to my Christian friends here. We went out for a traditional Chinese lunch today.
sumdaze Thank you for the many amusing illustrations. Hand up the piñata vs stocking was a favorite. Sorry we missed seeing you in Monterey. We had a good time at the Aquarium. We got there when it opened and still barely made it to San Francisco in time for dinner. Just got back last night.
Here DW got a nice photo of me last year with the MONA LISA.
Yes, she is quite small. I am sorry to see she is covered in glass now. Creates glare.
ERRATUM
PLEASE IGNORE my posting above at 6:09.
It was published in a rush, without my checking the letter count in claiming a "Jackpot" of the chosen anagram.
In working with a flanking diagonal, there can only be 14 letters in all. In any case, today's Christmas anagram, while good sized, is only 13 letters.
My sincere apologies to readers...
Here is the proper posting, revised for accuracy:
______________
Our Monday leader, sumdaze, had an enviable job unpacking the Lin XWD for Christmas Day.
And indeed it was a fine job, both in what he found and in his performance of it. Using references to The Night Before Christmas to good ends, we have been given a fine extra present.
I found today's PZL a joy to work, with the Corner's revelations adding exponentially to its pleasures
~ OMK
____________
DR: This Christmas Day brings us a rare collection of three diagonals on the far side. I say "rare" because, while there are too many vowels in the central diag to provide a decent anagram, the flanking diagonals offer a fair distribution of letters.
In picking the lower flanker for today's specimen I can emphasize the unusual quality of this consonant/vowel sprawl by asking you to imagine our anagram (a good sized display--13-of-the 14 available letters) in which we mentally post the letters for
" M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S!"
high above the iconic sign in the Hollywood Hils in letters composed of...
""ULTRA RARE NEON"!
Took 5:21 for me today ... to wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas all!
I enjoyed this CW, sumdaze’s expo, and all your comments.
Happy Birthday Yellowrocks and Fermatprime.
Thank You Ms. Barbara Lin, for a very nice MOnday and Xmas CW that I enjoyed very much !!
Thank You Renee' Sumdaze for your charming commentary, and the funny cartoons that really brightened up my day. I really did not have any problems with the CW, except for TRU and a couple of answers ....
Today was a fun morning with my grandkids opening up their presents, without too much bickering or arguments... We took lots of pictures ...
I finished the puzzle at half past one last night, when I couldn't sleep...
RayO Sunshine, ... it takes a dedicated student of chemistry to decipher that 'caustic' refers to bases ( alkalis -) rather than acids... but the constructor is always (?) right. (?) ... hence Acid, it was...
But philosophically you're far more correct !!!
I also put in NaOH but it wouldn't fit right, so I put in Acid.
'Caustic' does not always translate to 'corrosive' ... which should have perhaps, been the right term...
Quarter or Pound .... In 1900, a US DOllar was worth, 0.20 Pounds ... or 5.00 USD to a Pound.
In 1940, cuz of the WW II , the Pound was fixed to the Dollar, at $ 4.03 to Pound...
Now, its $ 1.27 to a Pound, and may reach par in another 5 years...
**************
Picard, I'm surprised you were able to take a pic, in front of the Mona Lisa,
... when we went, the buzz and the crowds prevented us from even approaching more than 3 rows deep,
... in front of the portrait,
which is obviously oversold, overhyped and 'over there' ....
Merry Christmas to all ... and,
... hopefully peace to all men (mankind -) ...
... and Joy and Happiness around the World.
( We can only hope ...)
Hi All and Merry Christmas!
Thank you Barbara for the timely themed grid and thank you sumdaze for all the perfect Christmas songs.
WOs: N/A
ESPs: NYONGO, TONA, RAE, TOMI, TRU
Fav: COIN's clue was cute.
Happy Birthday YR! Hope you had a lovely Christmas with Alan.
And Happy Birthday to Fermatprime - we miss you at The Corner.
Our Christmas was a small affair as the inlaws all came down with something nasty. Just the four of us and the all the food I built for seven folks. Oh well, lots a leftovers ;-)
I hope everyone (bummer, HG!) had a wonderful day surrounded by those you love and who love you.
Cheers, -T
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