Theme: Try 4-7-8 breathing.
Today we have a clever and unusually constructed puzzle by our own dear C.C., with a split unifier, and vertical theme entries. This suggests the likelihood of a certain kind of gimmick, in which a target word is contained in the theme fill, and oriented as the unifier indicated. Let's check it out.
The unifier -- 9A. With 64-Across, "Chill!," or what can be found four times in this puzzle: CALM.
64A. See 9-Across: DOWN. Together these words form an exhortation spoken to someone in an angry or agitated state. It is well known that reciting this magic formula will immediately cause that person to become placid and serene. In the theme fill, the hidden word CALM is spelt in the DOWN orientation. Nice.
3 D. Neighborhood spot for fresh produce: LOCAL MARKET. It centers on local production, immediate demand, and community-focused marketing strategies aimed at customers living or working nearby.
8 D. Make-or-break point: CRITICAL MOMENT. A pivotal, high-stakes juncture in a conversation, project, or life event that determines future outcomes, often acting as a turning point.
14 D. Genre with symphonies and sonatas: CLASSICAL MUSIC. A broad, formal tradition of Western art music spanning roughly the 11th century to the present, rooted in written notation, complex structures, and lasting value. Often this phrase refers to a more narrow time slice containing the 17th to 19th centuries.
25 D. Accessories favored by serious gamers: OPTICAL MICE. Computer pointing devices that use a light source—typically a light-emitting diode (LED)—and a photodiode sensor to detect movement relative to a surface.
Construction details -- Perfect rotational symmetry is maintained in the grid with the positions of the unifier fragments and the themers. For an extra, elegant touch, the CAL M is split between the L and M in each two-word theme entry.
Also note that this theme is like a soft pillow.
It's down filled.
Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here, feeling very mellow, and hoping we all get through this puzzle peacefully and untroubled.
Here is today's theme song.
1. Embrace: HOLD. Put your arms around someone. Huge hug.
5. Voting alliance: BLOC. A combination of people or groups sharing a common purpose.
13. "Hi there, matey!": AHOY. A nautical interjection used to hail a ship, attract attention, or greet others,
14. Like the top coat of nail polish: CLEAR. A transparent, durable paint layer applied as the final step over colored (basecoat) paint on vehicles, or, in this case, toenails.
15. Toll unit: AXLE. A central shaft or rod that connects a pair of wheels to a vehicle, rotating with them or allowing them to rotate around it. Axles support the vehicle's weight, manage braking and acceleration forces, and in powered vehicles, transmit torque from the transmission to the wheels. Tolls can be based on the number of them.
16. Sprint or marathon: RACE. A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.
17. Green bug named for its camouflaging ability: LEAF INSECT. A large slow-moving tropical insect related to the stick insects, with a flattened body that resembles a leaf in shape and color.
13. "Hi there, matey!": AHOY. A nautical interjection used to hail a ship, attract attention, or greet others,
14. Like the top coat of nail polish: CLEAR. A transparent, durable paint layer applied as the final step over colored (basecoat) paint on vehicles, or, in this case, toenails.
15. Toll unit: AXLE. A central shaft or rod that connects a pair of wheels to a vehicle, rotating with them or allowing them to rotate around it. Axles support the vehicle's weight, manage braking and acceleration forces, and in powered vehicles, transmit torque from the transmission to the wheels. Tolls can be based on the number of them.
16. Sprint or marathon: RACE. A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.
17. Green bug named for its camouflaging ability: LEAF INSECT. A large slow-moving tropical insect related to the stick insects, with a flattened body that resembles a leaf in shape and color.
19. Mrs. in Mallorca: SRA. Señora, a married woman.
20. First light: DAWN. Day break.
21. Tip of a sock: TOE. Where the human toes reside.
22. "We need assistance!": HELP US.
24. Go kaput: DIE. Pass away, get used up.
25. Aveeno grain: OAT. A highly nutritious whole grain, specifically Avena sativa, packed with fiber (beta-glucan) that aids heart health, reduces cholesterol, and promotes fullness for weight management.
Aveeno is an American brand of skin care and hair care products owned by American consumer health company Kenvue.
28. Largest deer species: MOOSE. The moose or elk is the world's tallest, largest and heaviest extant species of deer and the only extant species in the genus Alces. It is also the tallest, and the second-largest, land animal in North America, falling short only to the American bison in body mass.
30. Solar event: ECLIPSE. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth and fully or partially obscuring the Sun.
32. Wild guess: STAB. Aka, swag.
34. "Broad City" star Glazer: ILANA. Ilana Glazer (b. 1987) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, and activist.
36. "C u l8r": TTFN. An acronym for "Ta-ta for now," a playful, informal British phrase meaning "goodbye for now".
37. Sub in a deli: HERO. A New York-origin, large submarine-style sandwich made on a long, crusty Italian roll, filled with layers of Italian cold cuts (salami, pepperoni, capicola), provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and oil/vinegar.
38. Part of ACLU: CIVIL. The American Civil Liberties Union.
39. "About the Author" sections: BIOS. Short biographies (personal profiles or sketches of a person's life.)
40. Like some bourbons: OAKY. Aged in oak barrels. I prefer rye or a single malt scotch.
41. Starting squad: A-TEAM. An elite or expert group comprising those who are most pre-eminent in an organization, profession, or activity.
42. Decent size for a meadow: ACRE. A unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards (0.405 hectare).
43. Grapple in a ring: WRESTLE. Engage in close, hand-to-hand combat by gripping an opponent to throw or immobilize them, often as a sport.
45. Stage presence?: LONG A. The letter "A" present in the word "stage" is of the long variety. In "stag' it is of the short variety.
47. Big Apple newspaper, for short: NYT. The New York Times.
48. Meditation chants: OMS. In the singular, a sacred syllable and the primordial sound of the universe, often chanted to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and connect with spiritual consciousness. Might even help one to calm down.
49. Took for a ride: MISLED. Engaged in cheating or deceiving someone.
52. Shiba __: INU. The Shiba Inu is a breed of hunting dog from Japan. A small-to-medium breed, it is the smallest of the six original dog breeds native to Japan. The Shiba Inu was originally bred for hunting. Its name literally translates to "brushwood dog", as it is used to flush game.
53. Partner in crime?: ABET. Here, "partner" is used as a verb, meaning to act along with someone in an activity - in this case of the nefarious variety.
55. NCAA sch. with the mascot Sparty: MSU. Michigan State University, located in East Lansing, with The Spartans as their nick-name. My Michigan-educated grands went to Eastern, Western, Central, and Wayne State.
56. Gives only perfunctory effort: PHONES IT IN. As in the Red Wings last sorry game of this dismal season.
60. Is just the right size for: FITS. Having the proper size and shape.
61. Nerf darts, e.g.: AMMO. Short for ammunition, generally combat supplies. Nerf darts are for less serious combat, I assume. The come in a surprisingly large variety of shapes and sizes.
62. Shocking response at the altar: I DON'T. That could ruin somebody's whole day.
63. Rapper born Tracy Marrow: ICE T. Tracy Lauren Marrow (b.1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip-hop and heavy metal.
65. Tube tops: CAPS. The tops of, frex., tooth paste tubes. Clever.
66. Flower-visiting buzzers: BEES. Oh, honey.
Down:
1. Tough to endure: HARSH. Severely unpleasant, rough, cruel, or strident to the senses.
2. Busiest airport in the Midwest: O'HARE. In Chicago.
4. Turn red, perhaps: DYE. You can change the color of something without being enbarassed.
5. Made bubbles, say: BLEW. Expelled air, in this case through a soapy loop.
6. Tilt: LEAN. Be slanted in a certain direction.
7. Galoot: OAF. A clumsy, stupid, or awkward person, typically a man. Not all men.
9. Violin carrier: CASE. A box for holding something, in this case [so to speak] a padded, form-fitting protective box.
10. Log chopper: AXE. A cutting tool with a heavy-bladed head attached to a handle, used for thousands of years to chop, split, and harvest wood.
11. Inc. alternative: LLC. A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a flexible, hybrid business structure combining the personal liability protection of a corporation with the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship.
12. Crossed paths: MET. Encountered someone.
18. French holiday: NOËL. Christmas. Joyeux Noël.
20. Key and Peele, e.g.: DUO. Two people doing something together. K and P were a sketch comedy DOU with a self-named TV show that ran from 2012 to 2015 on Comedy Central.
23. N'awlins sandwiches: PO'BOYS. Traditional Louisiana sandwiches served on crispy, flaky French bread, often filled with fried seafood (shrimp, oysters, catfish) or roast beef with gravy.
24. "Wasn't me," e.g.: DENIAL. The refusal to accept truth, reality, an accusation, or a request,
26. Regarding: AS FOR. Concerning a certain topic.
27. On pins and needles: TENSE. Nervous and worried and unable to relax: needing to calm down.
29. Privileged groups: ELITES. Small, privileged groups of people who are superior in ability, wealth, or social status within societies or organizations.
31. Must-have purses: IT BAGS. High-priced, luxury designer handbags that becomes a season's must-have item, defined by immense popularity, celebrity endorsement, and high demand.
32. Aired: SHOWN. Broadcast on TV, or another visual medium
33. All choked up: TEARY. Almost crying. Pass me a Kleenex.
35. Blvd. kin: AVE. Boulevard and Avenue - streets by any other name, often wide, tree lined, and possibly divided..
44. Mood: TONE. A temporary, subjective emotional state or frame of mind, often lasting hours or days, which influences how a person perceives the world. Leave me alone. I'm in a bad tone today. A mood is how one feels. The tone is how it may be expressed through voice, writing or art.
46. Trivial complaint: NIT. Relating to some small or insignificant detail. Did I pick one in 44 A?
50. Lauder of cosmetics: ESTĖE. Estée Lauder (nee Josephine Esther Mentzer, 1908 –2004) was an American businesswoman. She co-founded her eponymous cosmetics company with her husband, Joseph Lauter (later Lauder). She was the only woman on Time magazine's 1998 list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century.
51. Uses a Swiffer: DUSTS. Swiffer is an American brand of cleaning products, manufactured by Procter & Gamble. Since its launch in 1999, Swiffer has achieved widespread popularity and become one of Procter & Gamble's most successful brands in the household cleaning products market, with its core product line centered around disposable towels and cleaning parts.
53. Perched upon: ATOP. "On top of," "at the top," or "situated on the summit" of something.
54. Storage boxes: BINS. Containers or enclosed spaces used for storing, holding, or collecting items.
56. Writer's block?: PAD. A writing tablet or note pad. Calling it a block is a stretch too far, IMHO.
57. Med. insurance option: HMO. Health Maintenance Organization, a type of health insurance plan that limits coverage to doctors or facilities within a specific network. It offers lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs but requires selecting a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and obtaining referrals to see specialists.
58. Texter's "Be there soon": OMW. On My Way.
59. St. known for spuds: IDA. Here, "St." indicates state, not street, and IDAHO is known for it's potatoes.
60. Lie to spare someone's feelings, perhaps: FIB. Also known as a white lie.
C.C. served us up a fine puzzle today, and I had fun blogging it. Would I fib to you?
Chill regards!
JzB
Hmmm…what
ReplyDeleteuniversity was I going to pick? LSU? MSU? Or what? But “ optical lice” couldn’t be a thing , whereas “ optical mice” could.
So I made the right choice.
Otherwise, C.C’s puzzle wasn’t terribly difficult.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteApparently d-o was too TENSE to notice all the CALMs in this one. "Green bug named..." seems to call for a specific answer; LEAF INSECT is generic. AS FOR seems forced. I use an OPTICAL Mouse, but do serious gamers use MICE at all? These are all examples of a NIT. My final fill was that first T in TTFN -- d-o tried IN BAGS first. Still, this one came together faster than yesterday. Thanx C.C. and JzB. (You have to be of a "certain age" to remember Lily Tomlin's Edith Ann.)
I also thought the green bug was looking for a name like a "walking leaf" or something.
DeleteI thought so too but there doesn’t seem to be a particular moniker just a lot of different Latin family names.
DeleteI believe the green bug’s name is actually leaf insect, not generic.
DeleteLeaf Insect was a learning moment for me today. Like Anon@12:04, I see from JazzB’s comments and photo that there is an actual Leaf Insect, so named because of its resemblance to a leaf. Great camouflage!
DeleteFIR, but calif->CIVIL (my dyslexic side read UCLA, not ACLU,) usc->MSU (Spartans are first cousins to Trojans, no?) and alit->ATOP.
ReplyDeletePreferred by serious gamers? Compared to what? Track pads? I remember the days when users - serious or not - had to clean their mouse balls every few days, and mouse pads were nearly essential. But I can't remember the last time I saw a mouse for sale that wasn't of the OPTICAL variety. Good fill, obsolete clue. Except that I thought that in the computer world, the plural of "mouse" is "mouses."
So, we take another crack at BINS today. I have a lot of cardboard storage boxes ready to go to Florida, but no bins.
Thanks to CC for the fun humpday challenge, and to JzB for another amusing review.
“Clean their mouse balls every few days” Like in experimental laboratories ?
DeleteYeah, sometimes the researchers grow fond of their subjects...
DeleteGood Morning:
ReplyDeleteCC has a talent for constructing vertical-themed puzzles which, to me, are always clever and fun to solve. While this one was easier to recognize as a vertical design, I still missed the C A L M in each of the themers. My favorite fill was Phone It In, a truly evocative phrase.
Thanks, CC, for a mid-week fun exercise and thanks, JazzB, for the always entertaining and educational review. You give us a lot of learning moments which are greatly appreciated.
Have a great day
“phones”
Deletephone(s) it in
DeleteFIR. My only difficulty was the SW. I just couldn't figure out Nerf darts until "phone it in" appeared, and then it all made sense.
ReplyDeleteVery clever theme which I got early on. I loved the clue for tube tops being caps. I also wasn't sure about the school, but when I saw mice, I had my aha moment.
Overall a very enjoyable puzzle.
Musings
ReplyDelete-A humpday delight.
-Finding those gimmicks looks daunting to me
-Obscure names, dogs and abbr barely qualify as a NIT with all the great crosses
-Girl’s H.S. WRESTLING has become a big deal in our school
-PHONES IT IN: One thing C.C. is incapable of (one thing of which she is incapable?):-)
-FORE!
A moment of zen from CC, a welcome respite in my chaotic schedule. I thought CALM alone was cute, but when I got to the bottom and found DOWN, that was the icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteI briefly wondered which saint was known for spuds. St. Tubert?
As always, JZB, your review was a pleasant read.
For a Wednesday puzzle, C.C. made it harder than normal. I noticed the CAL endings after CLASSICAL and CRITICAL. A few new terms for me that were easy were LEAF INSECT, OPTICAL MOUSE, and IT BAGS. I've seen them but didn't know they had those names. Years ago, I bought some fresh broccoli and as I was cutting it up there was a large insect on one of the stalks that looked exactly like a broccoli stalk. I think it was a tomato bug. I guess some women want an expensive purse with the name brand showing on the outside. Gucci, Birkin, Prada. My mouse, printers, and keyboard are wireless.
ReplyDeleteIn a 15X15 puzzle with 6 long fills, the amount of 3-letter fills is unavoidable and this puzzle had quite a few.
The puzzle had the ELITE crossing the A-TEAM and a HERO chomping on a POBOY.
abbrs. NYT, BIO, HMO, OMW, MSU, TTFN, LLC, SRA.
DNK the text abbr. OMW, comedy DUO of Key and Peele or ILANA's show "Glazer". Perps..
Broccoli are notorious for those green cabbageworms ( larvae of grey/white moths). Commercial growers spray to prevent them. Otherwise you need to soak the broccoli in salt water and the worms will float to the top. Ew!
DeleteC.C. provided us today with a straightforward and enjoyable midweek challenge. I liked the theme--as well as the theme answers--two of which were near-grid spanners.
ReplyDeleteC.C. didn't overuse clue misdirections, so when misdirections did appear, they jolted me awake. My favorite was probably the delightful "Tube tops" (Toothpaste tube CAPS, of course).
As JzB mentioned in her recap, the Classic period is just one of the many eras that constitute Classical Music. Slightly confusing terminology. The Classic period was brief, pretty much confined to the late 18th cenrury, led by Haydn, Boccherini, and Mozart. Beethoven too, but he and Schubert then became the bridge between the Classic and the Romantic eras.
Thanks, C.C. and JzB, for a pleasant Wednesday morning excursion.
Rats...SCADS of rats. A beautiful CW with my very favorite thing in a CW: very few names. I count 9, DNK 3. AND our favorite CW genius is the creator.
ReplyDeleteYet I managed to get one cell wrong. I had two cells I had to WAG: where "TOnE" crosses "InU", which I got correct with the "N", although TONE is a weak answer for MOOD. I DNK "SHIBA INU". Then I had to WAG "tTFN" and "ItBAGS". Guessed wrong, and inserted an "N". "INBAGS" sounded good, and I had no idea about "TTFN". I've never seen it, even with my British friends. I use "TTYL" often. Never TTFN. Thus the "N" made as much sense to my as a "T". My sole bad cell.
AND I forgot to look for the theme. I'm so disappointed in myself to not FIR this absolutely TERRIFIC CW. As I said...RATS for managing to FIW!!
Thanx CC for the great CW. A special thanx for the very few names. I only got one cell wrong, and had fun.
Thanx too to JzB for the terrific write-up. All your time and effort is appreciated. That picture of a leaf insect: amazing!
Should read "as much sense to me" not "my".
ReplyDeleteC rossed the finish line in 6:53 today.
ReplyDeleteA ctress of the Day was the unknown "Ilana."
L ooked hopeless at the French clue (noel), but I got the Spanish (sra.).
M idweek appropriate difficulty.
Oh nice, I just figger’d it out; the word CALM hidden in vertical answers. Except for ILANA a fun Humpday challenge from C C , LONGA? (Scratches head 🤔) Ah. LONG “A” cute.
ReplyDeleteInkovers: fête/NÖEL, soft/AMMO
Phyllis Diller hated housework. “I call
the police and say my house was robbed. They send a team that DUSTS for prints”
I took a STAB at MICE (considered DICE for a sec). “Shiba” INU? (LIU: A dog breed but also a cryptocurrency).
LEAFINSECT: while googling their fascinating pictures I came across this unrelated startling fact : FDA regulations allow peanut butter to contain up to 50 insect fragments per 100 grams 😳😝
“So the CASE didn’t contain a violin and they got “took for a ride” 😏
BINS again. “Partner” used as a verb. “Writers block” a PAD? … “tube tops”: CAPS on the bicycle tube valve stem? Nope, silly, toothpaste “tube”🙄
NYT, I’ve heard that newspaper may have a crossword puzzle too. 😉
JB you are a wealth of information
Thank you Jzb for the write up! I don't have the technical expertise to describe construction details, (hence the "CrossEyedDave" moniker.) but I am surprised no one thanked CC for omitting the unnecessary circles that everyone here seems to dread.
ReplyDeleteLike nerf e.g. had me fill foam b/4 ammo appeared, other than that, the puzzle started off like a Monday, until I got near the bottom... On My Way=OMW? Has anyone used this? Last to fill was mood=tone crossing INU, I thought it was going to be a Natick until the alphabet run got to N, and the V8 can came whistling in....
I noticed both "hero" and po'boy in the puzzle, CC, were you hungry while constructing? But it made me wonder how many names there were for long sandwiches, so I looked it up, and was surprised there were some I never heard of... The A.I. overview...
Optical game accessories = mice, I am always surprised to find other people playing my Flight Simulator game looking around with a mouse. I guess you work with what you have, but it is a whole different experience using Track IR when you don't need 3 hands... (except some versions make you look like a teletubby, with the head extensions...). They say the next thing will be Virtual Reality Goggles, which will probably make us all look like zombies!
Violin case! I had to go looking for a silly gangster reference cartoon, but when this Gilda Radner look alike popped up, I thought it funnier...
For those not familiar with Key and Peele, here is an old classic short that describes their humor...
CED => I really don't think that this puzzle required circles in the grid, on any level. Once 9 and 64 Across were solved the letters C A L M were in clear view, or could be filled into the missing spots on 3, 8, 14, and 25 down
DeleteBTW, great puzzle, CC and Ron, thanks for the informative recap
Absolutely delightful offering today -- thank you, C.C.! (I want to be like her when I grow up!) No circles needed and the theme entries -- along with the fill -- are fantastic. Thanks again and thanks to JazzB for a terrific and fun review!
ReplyDeleteNot surprising a fun puzzle today from CC. I have to agree with JazzB that a pad is not a "writers block". Was that a change by Patti? I did not know that a "leaf insect" was the name of a bug. Well done CC and well done JazzB on the recap.
ReplyDeleteHola! This was fun! Thank you, C.C. I like a vertical challenge for a change.
ReplyDeleteI still remember the movie, "Up the Down Staircase." It gave me an appreciation for that kind of word play and was funny, besides.
ILANA is new for me as I'm not familiar with "Broad City." The same with IT BAGS. Never heard of them.
i was not MISLED by this puzzle and its clues and I thank JazzBumpa for an illuminating interpretation. Someone needs to tell TKen that JazzB is male.
Have a good day, everyone!
Fun puzzle! Why is Subgenius anonymous this morning? Don’t confuse me! I am of that certain age that remembers Lily Tomlin as Edith Ann!
ReplyDeleteThanks CC for this clever puzzle and to JzB for a fun review!
Here's the Wikipedia link to the leaf insect:
ReplyDeleteThe family Phylliidae (often misspelled Phyllidae) contains the extant true leaf insects or walking leaves.
I get YouTube “Never Gonna Give You Up”?????
DeleteShould be https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylliidae
😊
DeleteWonderful Wednesday. Thanks for the fun, C.C. and JazzB (thanks for explaining LONG A).
ReplyDeleteI FIRed in good time and saw the CALM DOWN theme (I saw the CALs first).
No inkblots, but a few pauses to let perps decide the unknown-to-me ILANA, INU, M or D SU.
This Canadian always has to use perps for LLC. We use LTD. But I am more familiar with TTFN than TTYL.
PHONES IT IN is not an expression I have heard.
We had DIE and DYE.
A Team, LONG A, O HARE and ICE T.
Should we have a NIT or FITS over IT BAG and PHONE IT IN dupe? Or is IT not crITical?
Wishing you all a great day.
Always exciting to see a C.C. puzzle, and this one was clever and interesting and a treat--many thanks, C.C.! And JazzB your commentaries are also always a helpful pleasure so thanks for this one too.
ReplyDeleteWell, this puzzle seemed to be set in a LOCAL MARKET, but still had a lot of stuff going on so it wasn't totally easy to stay CALM, especially when the first word was HARSH. We were warned to expect a CRITICAL MOMENT, but thankfully we first got some CLASSICAL MUSIC which did a lot to CLEAR the air, and CALM us DOWN to HELP US. Some of our group were ELITES, but they were still a bit in DENIAL and it was going to require an A TEAM to help us WRESTLE all the issues that were making some of us TEARY in fear of being MISLED. But in the end everything did CALM DOWN and we got to enjoy playing with some sweet critters like that LEAF INSECT and those flower-visiting BEES.
A lovely ending to our busy morning.
Have a peaceful and happy rest of the day, everybody.
Thanks to C.C. and JzB for an enjoyable solve and tour!
ReplyDeleteSussing the theme gave me the "M" in MSU.
When I see a Shiba Inu out for a walk with it's owner, I great it (the dog) in Japanese.
FAVs were the clue for CAPS and the pic of the LEAF INSECT. Which reminds me, Happy Earth Day!
There's also a silent e “present” in “stage.” And but FOR IT the LONG A would not have been.
ReplyDeleteOjai Guy. Pretty chewy for a Wednesday but got it done until I hit the IT/TT crosser. I rarely text and never heard of an It purse. So an almost FIR is not grounds for shedding my Luddite creds.
ReplyDeleteOjai Guy, Pretty chewy for a Wednesday but got it done until I hit the IT/TT crosser. I rarely text, and never heard of an it purse. Had to google it so FIR with help which is not enough of a penalty to make me shed my Luddite jacket.
ReplyDeleteI'm out visiting grandkids and DIL while son is mobilized, so just now getting to the puzzle - was going to miss out as they wore me out, but then I saw CC was constructor and figured I could stay up a few more minutes before I recharged for more fun tomorrow
ReplyDeleteI enjoy vertical theme puzzles and CC is great at them. Just squeaked in at 7 secs under SS somehow - maybe profound fatigue makes the brain sharper!
Thanks to CC for the puzzle and JazzB for the informative blog