I had the "up" words Z-D-L puzzle in January and RB handled his last crossword back at the start of May. Today our consistent constructor gives us a "redefinition" of what one's career might entail, but with a humorous twist (~?) - I have mixed feelings about this one; I found it Friday challenging, and therefore enjoyable, but as it's been said at The Corner in the past, the juice maybe not be worth the squeeze; YMMV. Another over-sized 15 x 16 grid, chunky 9-letter corners, several, and some obscure, names, twenty-two 3LWs, and ALOT of Twurds. The themers, followed by the centrally located reveal;
18. Photographer?: CHEESEMONGER - a one-word professional who selects, cares for, cuts and sells cheese; I linked a "How It's Made" episode on cheese making back in March
26. Police officer?: TICKET AGENT - I've never gotten a speeding ticket; I have, however, had two DUI arrests, one arrest & ticket for lapse of insurance, and two for operating a commercial vehicle in the HOV lane & illegally crossing the HOV buffer "line". Sheesh. This is what drinking cost me; once I stopped, so did the tickets - go figure . . .
I was never THAT drunk . . .
52. Carpenter?: FLOOR TRADER - in my carpentry work days of yore, I have done several ceramic tile floors, and a couple of Pergo ones - one could argue I "traded" the old linoleum for something better
Floor Cheese
63. Realtor?: STREET VENDOR - It's true, in a sense - David Cook, my Realtor here in CT, sold me a house while we were on the "street" I now call home . . .
The cheese on the street . . .
38. "That's someone else's problem," or an apt title for this puzzle - NOT MY JOB - As a retail manager in the home improvement industry, I heard employees say the reveal far too many times. For those who read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the clue is a different "thing" altogether . . .
But Wait - There's More Cheese~?
ACROSS:
1. Like some temples: MASONIC - Dah~! I wanted to fill this in, hesitated
8. Epiphany trio: MAGI - I do the Downs first, already had the "G" in place
12. Maker of Sticking Point press-on nails: OPI - Nailed it, but this is a crossword staple
15. Tennis period since 1968: OPEN ERA - my one mistake; I had openerS at first
16. Make smooth: IRON - ah, the verb - good one
17. NFL Hall of Famer Dawson: LEN - name #1, which I did actually know
20. Pester: IRK
21. Bandleader's command: HIT IT - It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses . . .
"Hit it."
22. Hosp. areas: ERs - Not ORs - that was yesterday
23. Dry Italian whites: SOAVES - filled via perps
Swah-vay
25. Object of adoration: IDOL - this one's protected by the Hovitos . . . if only you could speak Hovitos
31. Roasted entree that may be served with mint jelly: LEG OF LAMB - I knew this; once I had some crossings, the V-8 can flew
Leg of LamP
32. Kotero of "Purple Rain": APOLLONIA - I vaguely remember the movie, released in 1984 - before my HS days, and did not see - not a Prince fan back then - name #12, and a unique fill. The IMDb
nylons don't do well with those shoes
33. Letting off the hook: PARDONING - $2 word
34. SHO subsidiary: TMC - no clue, knew we needed a TV abbr - SHOwtime, The Movie Channel
35. __ contact: EYE - I am getting much better at this as I "mature"
39. Level: TIER
40. Fragrance: ODOR - IMHO, I don't think of a fragrance as an "odor"
41. Email covertly: BCC - Blind Carbon Copy
44. Collar named for an elite school: ETON - learned by doing crosswords
47. Erode: EAT INTO - Twurd #7
50. Active volcano in Eur.: Mt. ETNA - Iv'e had this "abbr full fill" once before
51. Warren who played Dick Tracy: BEATTY - knew it, still name #13
Perps came to the rescue everywhere on this one. The Wite-Out got a rest. Didn't notice the reveal, but did sense the theme. Does that count? Thanx, ZDL and Splynter.
CHEESEMONGER: There was a cheese factory in our little town (plus six more within a 3-mile radius). We'd visit between Noon and One when the whey had been drained and the fresh curd had been salted and sliced and was still warm. Delicious, like squeaky popcorn. Dw claims it's an acquired taste that she's never acquired.
LONNIE DONEGAN: I remember when his chewing gum song made it into the Top Ten back in '61.
FIR, missing my WAG @ APOLLOrIA x ArI. But I got my WAG @ APOLLOrIA x LONNIE, so I've got that goin' for me. Which is nice.
I honeymooned at the BOCA Beach Club. AT&T picked up the tab.
The only TWEEDY I know of is Penny, who owned Secretariat - probably the best thoroughbred racehorse ever.
Thanks to ZDL for the Friday challenge. Too much A&E, and the crosses of APOLLOrIA x ArI and LONNIE were fun sinks, but overall a Friday-worthy workout. And thanks to Splynter for another fun review. (I'm pretty sure I finish my 10th year of sobriety on Sunday. It may be 11, I don't exactly remember - I was drinking in those days.)
I didn't know the Actress of the Day (Apollonia), nor did I know the food writer Molly (Oneill), the Italian wines (soaves), "Lonnie" or his/her song, Jeff Tweedy or his band (Wilco), or the vegan body care brand (Aveda).
FIR. Quite a doable puzzle for a Friday. I was not happy with the crossing of two proper names, Apollonia and Lonnie, but a WAG did the trick. The theme was fun. It definitely helped with the solve. Overall a very enjoyable puzzle.
Splynter's "How It's Made" is what I watch when I want to take a nap in my recliner. DW hates the music that plays along. ROKU has it.
NOT MY JOB is something said to co-workers but not to the boss if you work at a private company.
ZDL always comes up with good puzzles and this one didn't disappoint. It came down to the cross of two unknowns- APOLLONIA & LONNIE. I've never heard of either of them, Kotero, or Skiffle. LEnnie or LOnnie. I left it blank. A DNF. Like Splynt, I knew of Ed by not Molly; O'NEILLS was an easy fil.
MOCHI, WILCO and Jeff Tweedy, INK STAND (not WELL or POT), OLIVE ROLL (not LOAF), IAN, TMC- those came VIA perps and guesses.
Ah, the great Scotsman Lonnie Donegan: "Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?" And don't forget a later line in that song, "If tin whistles are made of tin, what do they make fog horns out of?" True poetry.
Hola! For a Friday I thought this was fairly easy though I needed ALEXA's help for APOLLONIA of whom I've never heard. And, horrors, I could not recall GORE until LEG OF LAMB emerged. LONNIE is also unknown and filled completely with perps. Throughout my many cross-country trips I never did visit ENID, OK. We drove highway 40 all the way. My IRISES from Mothers' Day still look fresh. I hope all is well with everyone! Thanks to ZDL and Splynter for the entertainment today.
I liked the theme but thought the job connections and clues were tenuous, at best. The difficulty level was certainly a Friday and without so many generous perps, I’m not sure I’d FIR. Molly O’Neill is the sister of Paul O’Neill, former Yankee first baseman, and was a food writer for the NY Times. Overall, a tough but doable and enjoyable solve.
Thanks, ZDL, and thanks, Splynter, for a fun and informative review. Your personal asides are always interesting and candid and, IMO, relatable to many readers.
Forgot to thank Anon T for his contributions in making life easier for the bloggers and for making our mornings brighter with his humorous and heartfelt posts about friends, co-workers and, most of all, family., Pops, Bros, DW, and his precious girls. You’re a treasure, Tony, much appreciated.
I did not know Apollonia, Soave, Wilco, or Mochi but thanks to the perps being fair I FIR. Opi and Aveda have made crossword cameo appearances often. So they were an auto fill.
I knew Len Dawson had to be correct so I avoided writing in “onion roll” in 12D.
Thanks Splynter for your informative, candid, and honest recap. I always enjoy that you share a lil bit about yourself.
Musings -My knowledge of skiffle singers and Purple Rain made for one bad cell -I better remember Michael Corleone’s wife APOLLONIA who died in a bombing meant for Michael -I didn’t realize there 42 years between LEN Dawson and Patrick Mahomes at QB for the Chiefs -The original face of the Sphinx? -In a famous VP candidate debate in Omaha, Lloyd Bensten famously told Dan Quayle, “You’re no Jack Kennedy!” -Paper BAG and plastic sack -DW’s mother raised chickens and so my first brooding place was a COOP -I’m always impressed by kids who make good EYE CONTACT
I didn't struggle much with this one and neither liked nor disliked the theme. Helps that I knew MOCHI immediately. I kicked myself for not getting APOLLONIA without perps.
I did notice the high number of twurds, but I must point out to Splynter that "a lot," being two words rather than one, is also a twurd.
To the Seeker of Deeper Meaning, I'm not sure how deep you hope to go, but if I am a photographer, then CHEESE MONGER is NOT MY JOB! But it sounds like it might be. And a police officer is not a TICKET AGENT, but the job title does sound like it could be a police officer. It's cute, and it's clever, but not too deep.
FWH....LOTS of help. Red-letter help plus I looked up some of the DNK names. 22 names, 11 DNKs among them.
21 minutes to cheat my way to a fill. MOCHI also a DNK, and MOSONIC took a long time to get enough perps for the V-8 can to smack me on the forehead. So NW was last to fill. SOAVES yet another DNK that took all perps.
49D IRISES clue "Purple 13 downs" and I looked at 14D fill and couldn't see a connection when IRISES filled via perps. Doh!
Thanx ZDL. Tough CW, but it is Friday.
Splynter never disappoints with the write-ups, and comes through once again. Thanx Splynter for the great write-up and beautiful legs. The story about those pipe organs you referenced was incredible! Rebuilding those pipe organs must have cost fortunes.
In the southwest corner, for 31-Down, I wanted lamb-something -- lamb roast, perhaps -- and that kept me stuck. I finally Googled the Energy Star Label to be reminded of EPA, which cured me of starting 31-Down with lamb, and I was able to finish, but it's a Finished With Help. Long time since I resorted to that. Good puzzle. Thanks, ZDL and Splynter. I liked your links.
When I started hitting all the twurds, I knew Splynter would be all over it, and he was. Here's to keepin' it real!
And I'm on his side that fragrance and ODOR aren't interchangeable. If I told RightBrain that I loved her ODOR as we stepped out, I don't think I'd live to see the morning.
OPEN ERA was a gimme as she plays on two women's leagues, sometimes in BOCA. If anyone has a use for used tennis balls, let me know. It's amazing how many accumulate.
Finally, I agree with Irish Miss that the job descriptions felt forced, i.e. the majority of people who do flooring are not carpenters.
Well, this Friday puzzle sure was a toughie, but weekend puzzles are supposed to be a bit tough, so this one still made sense. Many thanks for this challenge, Zachary, and thanks for your helpful explanations and suggestions, Splynter--a really important help.
I had to laugh at finding 'NOT MY JOB' in the middle, since that's pretty much how I felt at that point. I guess I'm a bit RETRO or OLD TIME when it comes to toughies, like this one, but that crazy CHEESE-MONGER also made me laugh at the question mark after 'Photographer?'. I guess our constructor figured a lot of folks might be IRKED by the toughness of this puzzle so he put IRE in the first item to warn us and prepare us for the challenges we'd be dealing with. But hey, I got that 'TEA' and that 'LAD' and that 'ICE' and that an hour division might be a 'MINute', and that things that dampen things are likely to WET them. So I'm glad I did my best to VIE (or try) for resolutions and it worked at least a little for me, if not a lot. I can live with that on a weekend.
Like Naomi, I tried to work around LAMB ROAST and then ROAST LAMB
Serendipity - while solving earlier this morning, I heard the entertainment reporter on the news say that Jeff Tweedy, frontman for WILCO is playing at The Vic tonight and tomorrow night.
Lucina, here is a a closeup of one of our new PERENNIALS this year. This a 49D Purple IRIS. It's a bearded IRIS. It's a bicolor with dark royal purple falls and upright lilac white standards.
Thanks to ZDL! I'm always happy to see your byline. It was a Friday tough FIR for me. FAV themers were CHEESE MONGER and STREET VENDOR. We have a CHEESE shop here where you can do tastings. A couple of weeks ago I bought an AGED Gouda that had a hint of butterscotch in the flavor. Incredible! One of my Japanese friends named her dog MOCHI, after the treat. Cute. Thanks to Splynter for another enlightening write-up. I also thought with 27D, "I know where the M goes." Funny. PS. I'm glad you sorted out the drinking thing. Keep up the good work~!
I loved this puzzle. I had to work at it and getting it all right was sweet! Thanks to Anonymous at 11:09 and NaomiZ for adding more to my understanding of how the jobs matched the clues. Thanks ZDL and Splynter! Loved the “immature cheese”!
TTP Thanks for posting your IRISES. They are gorgeous flowers; my sister in Charlotte grows them in her back yard. I tired them here, but the summer heat cooked them. Only the morning glory vine has survived but with very few blossoms.
I had a work buddy who proclaimed that when he retired, he would move to rural Pennsylvania and open a shop called Cheeses of Nazareth. He was kidding. I think.
43 comments:
Pretty tough.
But that’s pretty standard for a Friday.
I did pretty well anyway.
FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Perps came to the rescue everywhere on this one. The Wite-Out got a rest. Didn't notice the reveal, but did sense the theme. Does that count? Thanx, ZDL and Splynter.
CHEESEMONGER: There was a cheese factory in our little town (plus six more within a 3-mile radius). We'd visit between Noon and One when the whey had been drained and the fresh curd had been salted and sliced and was still warm. Delicious, like squeaky popcorn. Dw claims it's an acquired taste that she's never acquired.
LONNIE DONEGAN: I remember when his chewing gum song made it into the Top Ten back in '61.
FIR, missing my WAG @ APOLLOrIA x ArI. But I got my WAG @ APOLLOrIA x LONNIE, so I've got that goin' for me. Which is nice.
I honeymooned at the BOCA Beach Club. AT&T picked up the tab.
The only TWEEDY I know of is Penny, who owned Secretariat - probably the best thoroughbred racehorse ever.
Thanks to ZDL for the Friday challenge. Too much A&E, and the crosses of APOLLOrIA x ArI and LONNIE were fun sinks, but overall a Friday-worthy workout. And thanks to Splynter for another fun review. (I'm pretty sure I finish my 10th year of sobriety on Sunday. It may be 11, I don't exactly remember - I was drinking in those days.)
Should say "FIW," not FIR.
Took 8:17 today to finish the job.
I didn't know the Actress of the Day (Apollonia), nor did I know the food writer Molly (Oneill), the Italian wines (soaves), "Lonnie" or his/her song, Jeff Tweedy or his band (Wilco), or the vegan body care brand (Aveda).
FIR. Quite a doable puzzle for a Friday. I was not happy with the crossing of two proper names, Apollonia and Lonnie, but a WAG did the trick.
The theme was fun. It definitely helped with the solve.
Overall a very enjoyable puzzle.
Splynter's "How It's Made" is what I watch when I want to take a nap in my recliner. DW hates the music that plays along. ROKU has it.
NOT MY JOB is something said to co-workers but not to the boss if you work at a private company.
ZDL always comes up with good puzzles and this one didn't disappoint. It came down to the cross of two unknowns- APOLLONIA & LONNIE. I've never heard of either of them, Kotero, or Skiffle. LEnnie or LOnnie. I left it blank. A DNF.
Like Splynt, I knew of Ed by not Molly; O'NEILLS was an easy fil.
MOCHI, WILCO and Jeff Tweedy, INK STAND (not WELL or POT), OLIVE ROLL (not LOAF), IAN, TMC- those came VIA perps and guesses.
Ah, the great Scotsman Lonnie Donegan: "Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?" And don't forget a later line in that song, "If tin whistles are made of tin, what do they make fog horns out of?" True poetry.
In spite of the many unknowns like LEN, LONNIE, ONEILS, APOLLONIA, BEATTY, as clued, and unfamiliar foods, OLIVE ROLLS, MOCHI, I FIR.
I caught on to the theme pretty quickly, and had fun with it, so to quote Sub-genius, I’m happy.
Why this sudden interest in old fashioned INK containers?
Thank you Splynter. I appreciated your cute cartoons and opinion.
Hola! For a Friday I thought this was fairly easy though I needed ALEXA's help for APOLLONIA of whom I've never heard. And, horrors, I could not recall GORE until LEG OF LAMB emerged. LONNIE is also unknown and filled completely with perps. Throughout my many cross-country trips I never did visit ENID, OK. We drove highway 40 all the way.
My IRISES from Mothers' Day still look fresh.
I hope all is well with everyone! Thanks to ZDL and Splynter for the entertainment today.
Good Morning:
I liked the theme but thought the job connections and clues were tenuous, at best. The difficulty level was certainly a Friday and without so many generous perps, I’m not sure I’d FIR. Molly O’Neill is the sister of Paul O’Neill, former Yankee first baseman, and was a food writer for the NY Times. Overall, a tough but doable and enjoyable solve.
Thanks, ZDL, and thanks, Splynter, for a fun and informative review. Your personal asides are always interesting and candid and, IMO, relatable to many readers.
Have a great day.
Forgot to thank Anon T for his contributions in making life easier for the bloggers and for making our mornings brighter with his humorous and heartfelt posts about friends, co-workers and, most of all, family., Pops, Bros, DW, and his precious girls. You’re a treasure, Tony, much appreciated.
Another clever ZDL offering today.
I did not know Apollonia, Soave, Wilco, or Mochi but thanks to the perps being fair I FIR.
Opi and Aveda have made crossword cameo appearances often. So they were an auto fill.
I knew Len Dawson had to be correct so I avoided writing in “onion roll” in 12D.
Thanks Splynter for your informative, candid, and honest recap. I always enjoy that you share a lil bit about yourself.
Musings
-My knowledge of skiffle singers and Purple Rain made for one bad cell
-I better remember Michael Corleone’s wife APOLLONIA who died in a bombing meant for Michael
-I didn’t realize there 42 years between LEN Dawson and Patrick Mahomes at QB for the Chiefs
-The original face of the Sphinx?
-In a famous VP candidate debate in Omaha, Lloyd Bensten famously told Dan Quayle, “You’re no Jack Kennedy!”
-Paper BAG and plastic sack
-DW’s mother raised chickens and so my first brooding place was a COOP
-I’m always impressed by kids who make good EYE CONTACT
I didn't struggle much with this one and neither liked nor disliked the theme. Helps that I knew MOCHI immediately. I kicked myself for not getting APOLLONIA without perps.
I did notice the high number of twurds, but I must point out to Splynter that "a lot," being two words rather than one, is also a twurd.
Is there a deeper meaning of the theme that we are all missing? I hope so, because I don't really get it.
To the Seeker of Deeper Meaning, I'm not sure how deep you hope to go, but if I am a photographer, then CHEESE MONGER is NOT MY JOB! But it sounds like it might be. And a police officer is not a TICKET AGENT, but the job title does sound like it could be a police officer. It's cute, and it's clever, but not too deep.
FWH....LOTS of help. Red-letter help plus I looked up some of the DNK names. 22 names, 11 DNKs among them.
21 minutes to cheat my way to a fill. MOCHI also a DNK, and MOSONIC took a long time to get enough perps for the V-8 can to smack me on the forehead. So NW was last to fill. SOAVES yet another DNK that took all perps.
49D IRISES clue "Purple 13 downs" and I looked at 14D fill and couldn't see a connection when IRISES filled via perps. Doh!
Thanx ZDL. Tough CW, but it is Friday.
Splynter never disappoints with the write-ups, and comes through once again. Thanx Splynter for the great write-up and beautiful legs. The story about those pipe organs you referenced was incredible! Rebuilding those pipe organs must have cost fortunes.
In the southwest corner, for 31-Down, I wanted lamb-something -- lamb roast, perhaps -- and that kept me stuck. I finally Googled the Energy Star Label to be reminded of EPA, which cured me of starting 31-Down with lamb, and I was able to finish, but it's a Finished With Help. Long time since I resorted to that. Good puzzle. Thanks, ZDL and Splynter. I liked your links.
A photographer says, "Say cheese," a policeman issues tickets, a carpenter lays floors, a realtor sells houses on streets. None do the clued jobs.
What's a "Twurd"?
When I started hitting all the twurds, I knew Splynter would be all over it, and he was. Here's to keepin' it real!
And I'm on his side that fragrance and ODOR aren't interchangeable. If I told RightBrain that I loved her ODOR as we stepped out, I don't think I'd live to see the morning.
OPEN ERA was a gimme as she plays on two women's leagues, sometimes in BOCA. If anyone has a use for used tennis balls, let me know. It's amazing how many accumulate.
Finally, I agree with Irish Miss that the job descriptions felt forced, i.e. the majority of people who do flooring are not carpenters.
Well, this Friday puzzle sure was a toughie, but weekend puzzles are supposed to be a bit tough, so this one still made sense. Many thanks for this challenge, Zachary, and thanks for your helpful explanations and suggestions, Splynter--a really important help.
I had to laugh at finding 'NOT MY JOB' in the middle, since that's pretty much how I felt at that point. I guess I'm a bit RETRO or OLD TIME when it comes to toughies, like this one, but that crazy CHEESE-MONGER also made me laugh at the question mark after 'Photographer?'. I guess our constructor figured a lot of folks might be IRKED by the toughness of this puzzle so he put IRE in the first item to warn us and prepare us for the challenges we'd be dealing with. But hey, I got that 'TEA' and that 'LAD' and that 'ICE' and that an hour division might be a 'MINute', and that things that dampen things are likely to WET them. So I'm glad I did my best to VIE (or try) for resolutions and it worked at least a little for me, if not a lot. I can live with that on a weekend.
Have a delightful and enjoyable one, everybody.
Edward in Los Angeles:easy-peasy, lemon Tweedy
Not too tough for a Friday.
Like Naomi, I tried to work around LAMB ROAST and then ROAST LAMB
Serendipity - while solving earlier this morning, I heard the entertainment reporter on the news say that Jeff Tweedy, frontman for WILCO is playing at The Vic tonight and tomorrow night.
Lucina, here is a a closeup of one of our new PERENNIALS this year. This a 49D Purple
IRIS. It's a bearded IRIS. It's a bicolor with dark royal purple falls and upright lilac white standards.
I forgot to say the when the image loads, click on it for a better view. I think it is spectacular.
My dogs MONGER thru tennis balls like CHEESE, but I’m in SoCal. I’d rather pay you shipping $$ than Amazon for lousy balls.
info@porkchophi.com
NaomiZ@11:06. Same, same. I had that first L so I wanted Lamb-something. Then I got the B in BAG and I shifted my LAMB south.
That IRIS is gorgeous, TTP !
Thanks to ZDL! I'm always happy to see your byline. It was a Friday tough FIR for me. FAV themers were CHEESE MONGER and STREET VENDOR.
We have a CHEESE shop here where you can do tastings. A couple of weeks ago I bought an AGED Gouda that had a hint of butterscotch in the flavor. Incredible!
One of my Japanese friends named her dog MOCHI, after the treat. Cute.
Thanks to Splynter for another enlightening write-up. I also thought with 27D, "I know where the M goes." Funny.
PS. I'm glad you sorted out the drinking thing. Keep up the good work~!
I loved this puzzle. I had to work at it and getting it all right was sweet! Thanks to Anonymous at 11:09 and NaomiZ for adding more to my understanding of how the jobs matched the clues. Thanks ZDL and Splynter! Loved the “immature cheese”!
Loved your comment about Odor and Fragrance!đŸ¤£đŸ¤£đŸ¤£Totally agree!
Congratulations on your sobriety.
I liked this puzzle.
Wow! That IRIS is indeed gorgeous.
Had _A_ _NIC at 1A and filled it with sAtaNIC before MASONIC. “The devil made me do it.” Had lOaf before ROLL with OLIVE.
Yes, TTP, it is spectacular. You have some green thumb, sir!
TTP
Thanks for posting your IRISES. They are gorgeous flowers; my sister in Charlotte grows them in her back yard. I tired them here, but the summer heat cooked them. Only the morning glory vine has survived but with very few blossoms.
NaomiZ and Anon at 11:09AM Thank you for explaining the theme. I kind of got it, but now I kind of get it a bit more.
ProfM: I also had SATANIC before MASONIC. Glad to know I wasn't the only one.
"Paper BAG and plastic sack." Maybe, but my dad always called them "pokes."
I had a work buddy who proclaimed that when he retired, he would move to rural Pennsylvania and open a shop called Cheeses of Nazareth. He was kidding. I think.
Kind of a CSO to the Corner's late pal Argyle (Brad,) who was active in his MASONIC Lodge.
Hand up for hanging onto Lamb Shank for far too long before I moved south. LEG OF LAMB is more tender.
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