Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with our theme:
Today we are back in the garden. (You might recall a tomato-themed puzzle from three weeks ago.) It is July now so more vegetables are ready for harvesting. Let's look for these plants in the four themers:
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| PEAs, YAMs, CORN, and KALE |
17 Across. Anti-war demonstration: PEACE MARCH.
25 Across. Talks incessantly: YAMMERS ON. To YAMMER is to talk in an exhausting, tedious, and lengthy manner, especially about something trite or meaningless. 
51 Across. Local watering hole: CORNER BAR.
62 Across. "The Big Bang Theory" actress who voices Harley Quinn: KALEY CUOCO.
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| Kaley played Penny on TBBT (2007-2019). (Apparently her character did not have a last name until she married Leonard Hofstadter.) Harley Quinn is a DC Comics character. |
The reveal is found center-grid:
38 Across. Person who doesn't eat meat, informally, and a feature of 17-, 25-, 51-, and 62-Across: VEGHEAD (sometimes spelled VEG-HEAD or VEG HEAD).
While I cannot say I have never heard VEGHEAD, it is not a term either I or my friends use. YMMV (your mileage may vary). Nevertheless, I like Brian and Amie's clever idea of finding VEGetables hidden at the HEAD (at the front of) common, two-word phrases.
They get 5 carrots! 🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕
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| VEGEGHEADs (lt. to rt.) Too creepy?, Too cutesy?, Too much?, a classic! |
Lettuce now move along to the other clues:
Across:
1. "Marriage Story" actor Alan: ALDA. How fun would it be to be Alan Alda, always seeing your name in XWDs!
5. Indian flatbread: ROTI.
9. Lhasa __: APSO.
13. Tournament rank: SEED.
14. Makes level: EVENS.
16. Sty supper: SLOP.
19. Didn't discard: KEPT.
20. Ejectable part of a computer tower: CD TRAY.
21. Rove: ROAM.
23. Tuna type: AHI.
24. Phoenix's birthplace: ASHES.
27. James of jazz: ETTA.
29. Respect: ESTEEM.
30. "Hold your horses!": STOP. Whoa seemed a better fit for horses but did not perp.
33. Abbr. on a business card: INC. INCorporated
35. __ salts: EPSOM.
37. Carpool lane initials: HOV. High Occupancy Vehicle
1. "Marriage Story" actor Alan: ALDA. How fun would it be to be Alan Alda, always seeing your name in XWDs!
5. Indian flatbread: ROTI.
9. Lhasa __: APSO.
13. Tournament rank: SEED.
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| Jannik Sinner is the #1 SEED for Men's Singles at Wimbledon this year. June 24 - July 14 |
16. Sty supper: SLOP.
19. Didn't discard: KEPT.
20. Ejectable part of a computer tower: CD TRAY.
21. Rove: ROAM.
23. Tuna type: AHI.
24. Phoenix's birthplace: ASHES.
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| Hand up if this is your tattoo. (just kidding!) |
27. James of jazz: ETTA.
29. Respect: ESTEEM.
30. "Hold your horses!": STOP. Whoa seemed a better fit for horses but did not perp.
33. Abbr. on a business card: INC. INCorporated
35. __ salts: EPSOM.
37. Carpool lane initials: HOV. High Occupancy Vehicle
Do you remember the TV show Carpoolers (2007-08)? Here is a 30 sec. clip. Watch closely right at the beginning to see how they are speeding through the HOV lane while the other lanes are at a standstill. You can sort of see it through the car's windows, too. It was a running gag throughout the show. California's commuter traffic was a snarl but the HOV lanes were wide open.
the Phil Collins clip
41. 401(k) kin: IRA.
42. Doglike scavenger in Africa: HYENA.
44. Old AOL exchanges: IMS. Instant MessageS
45. Steep, as tea: BREW.
46. "Now!": PRONTO.
49. "Ah, gotcha": I SEE. This is not the "tricked ya" gotcha. It is more like, "I understand what you are trying to say."
53. British strollers: PRAMS.
57. "Rugrats" grandpa: LOU. Rugrats is a children's animated TV show that first aired 33 years ago. David F. Doyle (1929-1997) originally voiced Grandpa Lou. You might remember him as Bosley from Charlie's Angels.
58. Vend: SELL.
59. Cocktail with lime juice: GIMLET.
60. Not busy: IDLE.
64. Pest on a pet: FLEA. cute
65. Marvel superhero who can control the weather: STORM. She is a member of the X-Men. It is a gimme for X-Men fans but still sussable (weather) even if you do not have specific knowledge of the reference. Props to the clue's writer!
66. Art __: DECO. This architectural style emerged around 1920. The video below is a song called Art Deco, co-written and performed by crossword puzzle personality, Lana Del Rey. It was featured on the soundtrack for the 2013 movie, The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The video includes Art Deco elements from the movie.
67. Suffix with love or nerd: -FEST.
68. Emoji that may mean "Don't miss this": EYES.
69. "Don't delay" letters: ASAP.
Down:
1. Pet rescue org.: ASPCA. I was surprised to learn that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not an umbrella organization for the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). They are not affiliated with each other. Your local SPCA relies on local donations.
2. West Yorkshire city: LEEDS.
3. "Till __ do us part": DEATH.
4. Spread of commercial marketing into new spaces: ADCREEP. In Mark Bartholomew's book about ADCREEP, he posits that the average American is exposed to over 3,000 advertisements each day. That seems high, but I probably easily hit that number just watching 30 min. of Tour de France highlights.
5. __ Martin cognac: REMY. Cognac is a variety of brandy named after the commune of Cognac, France. It is a bit too strong for me but I do love a sweeter pear cognac.
6. Lab eggs: OVA.
7. __ cotta: TERRA. Terra-cotta is a type of ceramic made from fired clay that is usually porous. These pots are terrific in my neck of the woods because they absorb water then release it back into the soil during dry spells.
8. Wages: INCOME.
9. Inquire: ASK.
10. Start of Oliver Twist's request: PLEASE SIR.
11. 10th grader: SOPHOMORE. Most U.S. SOPHOMOREs are 15-turning-16-years old.
42. Doglike scavenger in Africa: HYENA.
44. Old AOL exchanges: IMS. Instant MessageS
45. Steep, as tea: BREW.
46. "Now!": PRONTO.
49. "Ah, gotcha": I SEE. This is not the "tricked ya" gotcha. It is more like, "I understand what you are trying to say."
53. British strollers: PRAMS.
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| Catherine, Princess of Wales, looking natty with her PRAM |
57. "Rugrats" grandpa: LOU. Rugrats is a children's animated TV show that first aired 33 years ago. David F. Doyle (1929-1997) originally voiced Grandpa Lou. You might remember him as Bosley from Charlie's Angels.
58. Vend: SELL.
59. Cocktail with lime juice: GIMLET.
60. Not busy: IDLE.
64. Pest on a pet: FLEA. cute
65. Marvel superhero who can control the weather: STORM. She is a member of the X-Men. It is a gimme for X-Men fans but still sussable (weather) even if you do not have specific knowledge of the reference. Props to the clue's writer!
66. Art __: DECO. This architectural style emerged around 1920. The video below is a song called Art Deco, co-written and performed by crossword puzzle personality, Lana Del Rey. It was featured on the soundtrack for the 2013 movie, The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The video includes Art Deco elements from the movie.
67. Suffix with love or nerd: -FEST.
68. Emoji that may mean "Don't miss this": EYES.
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| emoji that may mean "I don't know" |
69. "Don't delay" letters: ASAP.
Down:
1. Pet rescue org.: ASPCA. I was surprised to learn that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not an umbrella organization for the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). They are not affiliated with each other. Your local SPCA relies on local donations.
2. West Yorkshire city: LEEDS.
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| I visited Leeds, England in 2012. This indoor market was filled with small stalls selling everything from A to Zed. |
3. "Till __ do us part": DEATH.
4. Spread of commercial marketing into new spaces: ADCREEP. In Mark Bartholomew's book about ADCREEP, he posits that the average American is exposed to over 3,000 advertisements each day. That seems high, but I probably easily hit that number just watching 30 min. of Tour de France highlights.
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| 1 out of 3,000 |
5. __ Martin cognac: REMY. Cognac is a variety of brandy named after the commune of Cognac, France. It is a bit too strong for me but I do love a sweeter pear cognac.
7. __ cotta: TERRA. Terra-cotta is a type of ceramic made from fired clay that is usually porous. These pots are terrific in my neck of the woods because they absorb water then release it back into the soil during dry spells.
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| my ALOE plant in a TERRA-cotta planter (I think I might have shared this picture in a previous blog.) |
8. Wages: INCOME.
9. Inquire: ASK.
10. Start of Oliver Twist's request: PLEASE SIR.
11. 10th grader: SOPHOMORE. Most U.S. SOPHOMOREs are 15-turning-16-years old.
SOPHOMORE can also be an adjective. In that case, it means being or associated with the second in a series. Example: Let's Go is the lead-off track on The Cars' SOPHOMORE album, Candy-O (1979).
12. Sign up for newsletters, perhaps: OPT IN.
15. Fancy pillow covers: SHAMS.
18. West's opposite: EAST. It does not get any more Monday than this, folks.
22. Doled (out): METED.
25. Bowen of "SNL": YANG. Bowen was born in 1990 in Brisbane, Australia. He became a writer for SNL in 2018 and a cast member the following year. Here's a sample:
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| Waldo chooses to OPT out. |
15. Fancy pillow covers: SHAMS.
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| I know that you are not supposed to use them when you sleep, but I do not know what you are supposed to do with them while you sleep. |
18. West's opposite: EAST. It does not get any more Monday than this, folks.
22. Doled (out): METED.
25. Bowen of "SNL": YANG. Bowen was born in 1990 in Brisbane, Australia. He became a writer for SNL in 2018 and a cast member the following year. Here's a sample:
Warning: He says the A-word and the B-word.
26. Sales agt.: REP. Agent and REPresentative
28. Link (to): TIE.
30. "Quiet you!": SHH.
31. Curly-haired dog that fits in a purse: TOY POODLE.
28. Link (to): TIE.
30. "Quiet you!": SHH.
31. Curly-haired dog that fits in a purse: TOY POODLE.
The term “TOY” simply pertains to the size of the dog, but this classification can span a variety of different breeds, each with its unique attributes and histories.
32. Uses veto power: OVERRULES. This puzzle had four 9-letter bonus words. (See 10-, 11, 31-, and 32-Down.)
34. The WNBA's Sky, on scoreboards: CHI. CHIcago
32. Uses veto power: OVERRULES. This puzzle had four 9-letter bonus words. (See 10-, 11, 31-, and 32-Down.)
34. The WNBA's Sky, on scoreboards: CHI. CHIcago
I recently heard an interview on WWDTM with Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child. She is a native of Rockford, IL and a minority owner of the Chicago Sky. Very cool!
Michelle Williams
Sun Will Shine Again (2002)
36. Gaping mouth: MAW.
38. Rooftop spinners: VANES. Last month I was relaxing in a plaza in Spain when I looked up to see this VANE depicting Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. ¡Perfecto!
39. Gulf States ruler: EMIR.
40. Stubborn animal: ASS.
43. Opposite of "oui": NON. French
45. Island with a namesake Triangle: BERMUDA. The BERMUDA Triangle is a region in the western part of the N. Atlantic Ocean in which ships, planes, and people are alleged to have mysteriously vanished. Read more here.
47. Expeditions: TREKS.
48. Not perfectly round: OBLATE. Def.: (adj.) flattened or depressed at the poles.
50. Massive in scale: EPIC.
51. Steep drop-off: CLIFF.
52. Stainless steel, e.g.: ALLOY.
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| This image is from a comic book series. |
38. Rooftop spinners: VANES. Last month I was relaxing in a plaza in Spain when I looked up to see this VANE depicting Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. ¡Perfecto!
40. Stubborn animal: ASS.
43. Opposite of "oui": NON. French
45. Island with a namesake Triangle: BERMUDA. The BERMUDA Triangle is a region in the western part of the N. Atlantic Ocean in which ships, planes, and people are alleged to have mysteriously vanished. Read more here.
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| My neighbor had this board game when we were growing up. |
47. Expeditions: TREKS.
48. Not perfectly round: OBLATE. Def.: (adj.) flattened or depressed at the poles.
50. Massive in scale: EPIC.
51. Steep drop-off: CLIFF.
52. Stainless steel, e.g.: ALLOY.
A metallic solid or liquid that is composed of a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or of metals and nonmetal or metalloid elements, usually for the purpose of imparting or increasing specific characteristics or properties: Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper.
54. Houseplants with healing properties: ALOES. See 7-Down.
55. Muslim pilgrim's destination: MECCA.
56. Entrance porch: STOOP. Here is the STOOP scene from When Harry Met Sally (1989).
54. Houseplants with healing properties: ALOES. See 7-Down.
55. Muslim pilgrim's destination: MECCA.
56. Entrance porch: STOOP. Here is the STOOP scene from When Harry Met Sally (1989).
Warning: Meg throws out an F-bomb.
59. Fitness centers: GYMS.
61. "I could __": "I'm not not hungry": EAT.
63. Before, in verse: ERE.
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| Sonnet 73 |
Time for the grid:
In a number of ways, this puzzle was not the typical Monday “walk in the park.” There was a good amount of obscure names and terms. But I persevered, and got the win. FIR, so I’m happy.
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
ReplyDeleteTried NAAN before ROTI, mais NON. Our grade school teacher asked us to describe the shape of the earth. She was hoping for "round" or "ball," but nerd Gary told her it was an OBLATE spheroid. [We all hated Gary.] This was a very quick solve -- too quick to even notice the veggies in the themers. Thanx, Brian, Amie, and sumdaze.
Beryl is making its way from the coast in our direction. Rains have already begun. It should pass a few miles to the west of us. For Dash-T it'll probably be head-on. Fortunately, it's not a strong hurricane. Up here, away from the coast, it should primarily be a rain event. We haven't gotten a decent soaking since mid-June, so a little rain will be welcome. But we may get a lot.
FIR, but hand up for naan->ROTI, oblong->OBLATE, and sophamore->SOPHOMORE (bad spelars of the world UNTIE!)
ReplyDelete"Ektorp ALDA" has a ring to it.
CD trays in PCs are going the way of tape backup drives. But then again, so are tower cases. Nice matching obsolescence in clue and fill. (If you have a CD drive, be careful about using the TRAY as a coffee holder. Some automatically retract if not used for a while.)
Except in movies, I've never seen a VANE spin. They often have anemometers attached, and those do spin. Didn't we have this convo a few years ago? Seems that many Cornerites disagreed with this assessment. (I have seen a VANE spin on a becalmed sailboat. The rocking of the boat causes apparent wind at the masthead, and without a true wind to steady it, it spins. No one aboard is having fun at this point.)
Thanks to Brian and Amie for the fun, easy Monday puzzle, and to sumdaze for another great review. My favorite was the iceberg clip.
I've got an early meeting before work this morning so...
ReplyDeleteThanks SD for the blog and hilarious cartoons/pics - and Brian & Amie for the puzzle!
Took 4:42 today for me to pour a glass of CHARDonnay.
ReplyDeleteNice themeless Monday, or so it seemed.
I didn't know today's French lesson, Remy, the Rugrats grandpa, or "veghead."
SubG for the W!
Have a good week, everyone.
FIW. I threw down "jammers on" and the only name I could think of going down was Jane. I'm not a fan of SNL anymore so Yang would never have registered with me . And veehead made no sense and I failed to see the veggies in the long answers. Even if I had, I've never heard the phrase veg head before.
ReplyDeleteSo on a Monday I've gone down in flames. It's just not my day.
Musings
ReplyDelete-I like an occasional VEG but we and our kitty are definitely carnivores
-I had to put NAAN back on the shelf
-My DW thinks it’s not fair that the last SEED has to play the first SEED in the opening round
-Our computers and cars all used to have CD trays.
-I’m sure there is a nanny nearby to give the princess a break from her photo op
-SOPHOMORE is as mispronounced as dentist and February
-FORE!
A little crunchy for a Monday.
ReplyDeleteVEG HEAD was new to me, but easily perped and wagged. That led me to find the veggies.
ASHES was all perps. V8 can, please. I thought of the city not the bird, which is reborn from the ashes of its predecessor. Tsk! I knew that.
The U perp let me wag LOU.
This part time waitress knew Remy Martin. Cocktails and other booze led to bigger tips, especially from men when no women were present.
Most shams are not comfortable to sleep on. Also they must be dry cleaned. When visiting I put the shams on the floor while sleeping. I have colorful ruffled shams made from the same fabric as sheets, washable and comfortable to sleep on.
KALEY CUOCO was new to me, all perps. It crossed oblate. The A made KALE, so a good guess.
I think of oblate as "a person who is connected to a religious order or institution and lives by its rules, but is not a professed monk or nun." Live and learn. Oblate applies, to geometry too.
Some dictionaries, including Vocabulay.com, pronounce sophomore with only two syllables, the second O being silent. Others use three syllables. Sophomore literally means wise fool. A sophomoric person pretends to be wise while actually being foolish. This usually is pronounced with four syllables. Sophomoric can also mean immature. I see the first definition used more often.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it’s awfully hot to take one today , this was the usual walk in the park Monday. Nuthin I didn’t know.
Theme: at first I overthought it…“they offer veggies at a PEACEMARCH , CORNER BAR and KALEY cooks them (CUOCO = cook)???. huh 🤔..Then took a proverbial step back and saw the veggie at the head of each clue.
Remember LEEDS from a older CW with a couple perp letters.
Inkovers: naan/ROTI, remi/REMY,
Are all 10th graders sophomoric?
“Don’t delay” ASAP? meh. Better’n the usual STAT clue
Don Draper “Madmen” co-worker: ADCREEP
Varicose (“very close”)____…. VANES
If “The Rifleman’s” wife had been alive his son Mark would have called her “___”…. MAW
Telephone “hello” in Naples: “___” PRONTO
A “not perfectly round” figured lay person who follows the Benedictine rule….OBLATE
Happy top of the week to all.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteA Monday puzzle that hides the theme until the reveal is my cup of tea. My only disappointment is when the reveal placement precedes the last two themers, thereby lessening the suspense factor. Chi and Lou were unknown as were the terms Ad Creep and Veg Head, but all were easily perped. Cute theme with my favorite veg, corn! Peas are so-so but Yams and Kale are a no no.
Thanks, Brian and Amie, for a nice start to the week and thanks, sumdaze, for the top-notch review and all of the embedded visuals and clips. When Harry Met Sally never gets old in my book, and photos of adorable Poodles and Lhasa Apsos are always welcome. The Hyena comic was my favorite.
Have a great day.
DNF. I left the Y of YAMMERS blank. In retrospect I realize it would have been easy to guess, but moved on.
ReplyDeleteA few other hurdles in this CW: coming up with VEG HEAD, a term I’ve never heard, how to spell CUOCO, and erasing naan for ROTI.
I too associate OBLATE with a religious order.
Otherwise, all good.
Sumdaze, thanks for the recap and I loved the HYENA joke.
Good Morning! A pretty straightforward puzzle to start the week. I was surprised the name of the puzzle related only to 1A and not the theme. It wasn’t until after I finished that I went back to find my VEGetables. Nicely done, Brian and Amie. I can say I’ve never had a YAM. Sweet potatoes, yes, and often; candied, never! Only baked and topped with butter. Kale, nope. I never got on the KALE bandwagon.
ReplyDeleteAD CREEP – that’s an astounding quantity of ads – 3,000 average per day! I record most of my TV shows for viewing at my convenience and FF through the commercials.. For those few shows I watch as they are scheduled, I mute the ads. I particularly dislike what I consider the “selling” of medical and health disorders and their related products.
BERMUDA Triangle. The History Channel had an interesting series about all the mysterious disappearances in this area.
WO: naan -> ROTI.
Perps for the unknown YANG, LOU and STORM.
Thanks, sumdaze. Always a pleasure to read your review.
This morning we spoke to my dear SIL who lives in Houston was surprised she still had electricity. After the previous storm, the HOA had cut down a few trees that could have been a problem since she says Beryl’s winds are the big problem right now.
ReplyDeleteI hope A-t is safe. Good luck to d-o. Béryl is not nice.
A fairly soft opening to the CW week, not familiar with ADCREEP, YANG and LOU as clued, but they easily perped. FIR in a little over 10 minutes. Indian breads are on the puzzle menu quite often, I never guess without at least one perped letter. Thanks Brian and Amie for your fine collaboration!
ReplyDeletesumdaze ~ another sparkling illustrative review which I always enjoy on Monday’s! I agree, it doesn’t get any easier than the clue for EAST, although cluing ROAM with “rove” comes close, and eliminates a guess. I too always thought the ASPCA and SPCA were the same 🤷♂️.
IM ☘️ ~ no kale or yams for me either.
FLN ~ Picard, my take on naming a child - never give a kid a name that can’t be found on a gift shop key ring or other personalized souvenir 😂.
FIR and enjoyed it, but thought it got a little harder as it went along. DNK LOU, KALEY or YANG. I've been vegetarian for 3 decades +, and have never heard VEG HEAD. I do eat PEAs, YAMs, CORN, and KALE.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brian and Amie, for a nifty puzzle, and thank you sumdaze for a marvelous review. Love the cartoons!
Marvellous Monday. Thanks for the fun, Brian and Amie, and sumdaze.
ReplyDeleteI FIRed in very good time and saw the VEG HEAD theme. (In fact, going back to find the veggies corrected jAMMERS to YAMMERS. (Hi KS) (Jam is not a veggie!)
I have lettuce and radish to pick in my garden. The first beans will pick tomorrow, and a cucumber might be ready by the end of the week. Tomatoes and PEAs may be another week or more. Yummers. (No CORN in my garden, but local corn is ready (the earliest picking on record!).
We even had an Easter Egg with SEED to grow those veggies.
ASAP clue was more appropriate than usual, but the clue for EAT was unnecessarily complicated.
Unknown names (YANG, LOU, KALEY CUOCO) perped.
CHI was unknown to me as clued, but perps were fair.
I did get ROTI as I had filled some of the Downs.
OBLong changed to OBLATE. I LIUed to find out the difference. Dictionary.com says “ Oblate, is the reverse of oblong, and means shorter in one direction, than in another.” Our clue could have gone either way IMO.
Wishing you all a great day. Stay safe if in the line of Beryl.
A fast FIR to kick off the week. Nice to see ASAP used at least a little more correctly! Shouldn't it be REBIRTH place for the Phoenix? (David and the Phoenix was one of my favorite books as a kid in the 50's) Loved the hyena and Epsom salt cartoons, SD! Never heard the term VEGHEAD. (Everyone knows that vegetables are what food eats while it is becoming food!)
ReplyDeleteYooper Phil @ 9:54 ~ I wish my parents had shared your take on naming a child! 🤣
ReplyDeleteAll good until the end. If you don’t use emojis, or watch Big Bang Theory and Marvel Movies you’re out of luck
ReplyDeleteI guess I am a VEG HEAD, but I also enjoy eating things from the animal kingdom. Especially seafood. But we must remember that KALE is not food.
ReplyDeleteHand up stuck with OBLONG before OBLATE. We do indeed live on an OBLATE spheroid. Never heard of the religious meaning. Learning moment. Never heard of KALEY CUOCO and it looked wrong. FIR.
Here we were at the Golden Temple in Kyoto. Notice the PHOENIX on top!
YooperPhil I love your naming rule!
Also from yesterday, I actually reached out to the constructor Will Pfadenhauer and he kindly gave me an explanation about the theme. Apparently he did not know about Crossword Corner and he thanked me for the link.
ReplyDeleteHere was his first answer:
"The second words in each of the theme entries is made only using letters that appear in the first words, so the letters in the second words are ???recycled???. Hope this helps!"
I followed up for further clarification. I wrote:
"I guess it works if you ignore that a letter might appear more times in the second word than in the first word? For example, there are three S's in DRESSES, but only one in BRIDESMAID."
He said that indeed is the case. I also asked about the crosses of proper names SEG??/?LLEN/?ASSO to see if he was to blame. Indeed he took the blame. Below was his full reply:
===
Yes, the "rules" (if you can call them that) of this particular theme allow for a letter to be used more than once in the second word. The original version of this puzzle that I submitted had WORK WITH WHAT YOUVE GOT as the revealer in the grid (clued as "'Be resourceful!' ... or a hint to the second words in the starred entries vis-Ã -vis the first words"). Perhaps that helps to describe the situation a little bit better? Almost as if you were trying to come up with a name for each of these things, and someone provided you with the first word and said that you could only use those letters when coming up with the second word.
As for the clues for SEGEL, ELLEN, and LASSO - the final clues were not exactly the ones I submitted, but I did specifically reference "Shrinking," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Ted Lasso" in the three clues that I submitted. I suspect the changes were mainly to reduce the length of the clues, while retaining the original references. I know pop culture can be polarizing - I take full responsibility for any grumbles coming from that corner!
Hola!
ReplyDeleteALDA was an immediate fill but would have been even easier had MASH been in the clue. ROTI did not fare as well; I had NAAN but scanning the down fill told me it was wrong. And San REMY was completely unknown so, again, thanks to perps.
Surprising to me, I've seen TOY POODLES and other TOY species in women's purses while I was shopping. In fact, one woman looked at me and motioned to her dog indicating (I believe) that she expected me to acknowledge or perhaps compliment her dog. I did not. I was too shocked at seeing it.
What YR said about SHAMS. Usually there are other pillows behind the decorative ones and those are for sleeping.
Hand up for OBLONG before OBLATE which to me is more familiar in the religious context.
Thanks t Brian and Amie and sumdaze for the Monday merriment. Have a good day, everyone and stay clear of Beryl.
Puzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteFIR with a few corrections here and there. NAAN before ROTI; OBLONG/OBLATE; MIMOSA/GIMLET
Speaking of GIMLETs, I recall once (early in my days as a sales rep with a large mfr) having a drink at the end of the workday at a BAR (not a CORNER BAR) in a hotel in downtown Cincinnati. It was during that first phase of "happy hour" cocktails, where I think if you ordered the cocktail du jour it cost a $1, maybe. Anywho, that day's happy hour drink was a GIMLET. Knowing that they wouldn't substitute lime juice for another additive, I just ordered one without the lime juice; on the rocks; with a side of tonic water. My boss did the same only he drank his gin sans tonic
SHAMS brought back an old Moe-ku:
New “My Pillow” ad
Promised free pillow cases.
I hear it’s a SHAM ...
I'll take a CSO to SOPHOMORE/SOPHOMORIC - as defined by Yellowrocks - "appears to be wise while actually being foolish". That's me!
Fun puzzle; great recap, Renee; hand up for not one to eat KALE or YAMs. CORN is not a staple VEG for this carnivore either; that leaves the PEA as the sole one of the quartet that sees itself as a side dish for C-Moe's meals
Delightful Monday puzzle, many thanks, Brian and Amie--I very much enjoyed it. And I always appreciate your commentary, Sumdaze, thanks for that too.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing ALAN ALDA in puzzles, and that got me hooked on all the A words: APSO, AHI, ASHES, ASAP. Wait, is that all? No, there's still the down ones: ASPCA, AD CREEP, ASK, ASS, and finally ALLOY and ALOES. Hey, that's a good lot of As, isn't it! Thanks, AMIE, I'm sure you helped out with this.
Well, it's almost noon, and if I got out more, I'd head to the CORNER BAR and get myself a GIMLET. But a cup of coffee and a bowl of Raisin Bran will have to do the job.
Have a lovely week coming up, everybody.
I liked your write-up, sumdaze, and laughed my a$$ off at the Bowen YANG video.
ReplyDeleteI have always heard "I could eat" from people indicating that they are hungry.
Good reading you all.
After I retired, my very first trip abroad was to the U.K, and of course, LEEDS was one of the stops. We stayed at an elegant INN that had once been a MANOR or so we were told and also warned not to go outdoors without accompaniment. It seems that tourists were being targeted and robbed. That was in 1995 but maybe things are better now.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of tourists, most of them are gone now that the temperatures have climbed, 118 today.
FIR, but thought this was a bit more than a Monday level. Too many obscure names for a Monday. I filled the CW on paper, which I usually do, and make notes on the side about what I want to mention here at the blog. Today, before coming to the blog I decided to get rid of some clutter, and managed to toss today's CW in the mess. Dang. I do recall W/Os NAAN:ROTI, OBLONG:OBLATE. And the unknown names. Did not see the veggies, but didn't look, and suspect I would have seen them had I taken the time to look. Anyway, thanx BC&AW for the entertaining CW. Thanx, Sumdaze, for the outstanding write-up.
ReplyDeletePicard @1:05. Thank you for taking the initiative to contact the constructor from yesterday.
ReplyDelete