Monday May 24, 2021 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: BACKSPACE (36. PC key with a left-pointing arrow ... and hint to the last words of the answers to starred clues) - The last word can precede "space".

18. *Major tennis tournament played on clay: FRENCH OPEN. Open space.

23. *Vegas vacation valuables holder: HOTEL SAFE. Safe space.

 52. *TV headline ticker: NEWS CRAWL. Crawl space.

 58. *99-year-old Emmy-winning actress with eight-plus decades in show business: BETTY WHITE. White space.

Boomer here again, blogging one more master grid from the two masters in crossword construction. 

Gail and Bruce

Most times I am not able to follow up on news from this blog.  I just want to wish heartfelt condolences to Jayce on the loss of his daughter-in-law.

Confidential to TTP.  I have been trying to follow the bowling playoffs which air inconsistency on FS1.  I'm afraid I missed the Sam Couley vs. Kyle Troup match.  Maybe Kyle got his pick comb caught in his eyebrow.

Across:

1. Winans of gospel: CECE.  When one of my cousins from Wisconsin sends a card, it may be addressed to "Doug and Cece."

5. Nebula Award genre: SCI-FI. The Twilight Zone.

10. Like deserts: ARID.

14. Oohs and __: AAHS.  Miguel Sano hit a grand slam last Thursday.  Maybe I'll stop picking on him for awhile.

15. Like wine barrels: OAKEN.  Do they still make barrels out of wood?

16. "Suits" actress Torres: GINA.

17. Catch in a web: TRAP.  "Sand"ones are called Bunkers' 

20. Letter after phi: CHI.  I only know the first five Greek letters. This looks like a box score heading for the White Sox or Cubs.

21. Field with cases and briefs: LAW.  There is usually a "Law & Order" rerun somewhere on a cable channel.  I am pretty sure I have seen them all, but I pass on "SVU" and "Criminal Intent".

22. Boring tools: AUGERS.  Now our fishing season is open in Minnesota.  You need not bring your ice AUGER.

27. Lone Ranger's pal: TONTO.  The Lone Ranger's horse was "SILVER'".  How many remember "SCOUT".

28. Justice Kagan: ELENA.

29. ER pictures: X-RAYS.  I've had a few X-RAYS in the past.  Now it seems I only need those scans where you have to drink something and then roll into a machine that costs more than my house. 

31. A, in German: EIN.  I think that's the first word I learned when I rolled into a camp in Hardheim.

32. Software help file: READ ME.

34. Dublin's land: Abbr.: IRE.

35. Govt. Rx watchdog: FDA.  Lots of food and drugs in our house.  No dog watching them.

39. Shed tears: CRY.

41. Lang. of the Torah: HEB. Hebrew.

42. Fuselage fasteners: RIVETS.

46. Group of two: DUO.

47. Skin openings: PORES.

49. Swab again: RE-MOP.  Sometimes we were ordered to do the barracks several times.

50. Canadian skater Brian: ORSER.

54. Early Web forum: USENET.

56. Didn't fast: ATE.  Something missing in the Puzz because seven ATE nine.

57. Land in the Seine: ILE.  The Seine, The Seine, when will I again, meet her there, Greet her there, on the moonlit banks of the Seine. 

61. Romance novelist Hilderbrand: ELIN.

62. Any of four British art galleries: TATE.  I remember Sharon TATE.  I do not remember here roles but I remember she was killed by Charles Manson.

63. Music rights org.: ASCAP.

64. What libraries do: LEND.  I've heard that banks and credit cards also do this.

65. Have the lead (in): STAR.

66. Undoes a dele: STETS.

67. Think tank tidbit: IDEA.

Down:

1. Mask wearer at home: CATCHER.  We only wear ours when we go out.  Minnesota governor has relaxed the mandate, and we both have the two shots but we have yet to trust others.  Minnesota is now around 60% vaccinated.

Boomer, Twins

2. Football helmet opening: EAR HOLE.  What??  Could you repeat that?

3. Indian spiced drink: CHAI TEA.  There is always TEA in our home.  I drink coffee.

4. Debatable ability, briefly: ESP.  Start of the Sports Network.

5. Sectionals and sleepers: SOFAS.  We have a couple, but they do not pull out.

6. Auto body coat: CAR WAX.  I don't use this.  Does it really help?

7. Clanton gang leader: IKE.  Also the nickname of our 34th President.  Speaking of nicknames President Eisenhower changed the name of the presidential retreat to Camp David after his Grandson.  A trivia question that is frequently missed on trivia game shows.

8. Boggy lowland: FEN.

9. Ancient Peruvian: INCA.  "Inca Dinka Do".  Jimmy Durante.

10. Galore, in disco lingo: A GOGO.

11. Matured on the vine: RIPENED.  Best to pick ripe grapes.

12. Subject of Newton's first law: INERTIA.

13. Ted of "Cheers": DANSON.  Also of many boring commercials on TV.

19. Makeshift shelters: HUTS.

21. Andean wool source: LLAMA.

24. Be over no later than: END BY. 9:00 PM, No extra innings please.

25. Flying Wham-O toy: FRISBEE.  I am sure most of us remember our first Wham-O toy.

26. O.K. Corral lawman: EARP.  Of course I do not remember Wyatt, he passed away in 1929.  I do remember Hugh O'Brien who played Wyatt in the TV show.

30. Common subscription period: YEAR.

33. Rebounding sound: ECHO.  HELLO, hello hello 

35. Above-normal body temperature: FEVER.

37. "Show Boat" composer Jerome: KERN.

38. Greek sorceress: CIRCE.

39. Attack with profanity: CURSE AT.  Yes, I have been there, mostly at the ten pin.

40. British Museum's __ Stone: ROSETTA.

43. Clicked "send": EMAILED.  I've been there too.

44. Rope for a tugboat: TOW LINE.

45. Low-calorie sweetener: SPLENDA.  I buy big bags of fake sugar at Aldi.  Tastes like real sugar!

46. Uncertainties: DOUBTS.

47. Hunter's quarry: PREY.  Hunting season is over in MN.  Now those large walleye are in the hunt. 

48. Try to hit, as a fly: SWAT AT.  Flies are tough to hit.  Mosquitos are easier.

51. Go into: ENTER.

53. Fitbit units: STEPS.  We have had a few of these walk counters but they don't work very well.

55. "__ the night before ... ": 'TWAS.

59. DDE's predecessor: HST.  Of course the President when I was born

60. Highway hazard: ICE.  Especially in Minnesota but it will not be hazardous again until about November.

61. Yale student: ELI.  I think he invented the cotton gin.  I did not know you could make GIN out of cotton.

Boomer

Monday May 3, 2021 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: R AND B (69. Ray Charles' genre, and a hint to the answers to starred clues) - Each theme entry is in the patter of R* B*.

 17. *Dilapidated car: RUST BUCKET.

 27. *Bowling alley's "start over" device: RESET BUTTON.

 46. *Unscrupulous 19th-century tycoon: ROBBER BARON.

 62. *High-fiber cereal with dried fruit: RAISIN BRAN.

Boomer here. This  is probably the last grid Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke (GAB) created together. May she rest in peace.

Gail and Bruce

I certainly can relate to RUST BUCKET as I was the proud owner of a 1953 Dodge that could not make a trip over 20 miles without overheating.  I junked it and bought a 1955 Oldsmobile which served me a bit better.  This was in 1964 because you needed to be 16 to get a driver's license in MN. 

I have not changed my attitude of the Twins, although they did have a 5 or 6 home run game against Cleveland.  I thought Cleveland was going to change their nickname out of respect for Native Americans   How about the GROVERS? 

 Across:

1. Quench, as thirst: SLAKE.  In our 10,000 lakes, I am sure you might find in an "S" shape.

6. Musical pause: REST.  Who said anything about MUSICAL?  C.C. and I planted some flowers in our front garden which required a lot of REST.

10. Osbourne of heavy metal: OZZY.  Reminded me of OZZIE and Harriet Nelson. I'm old.

14. Item sold in reams: PAPER.  Our stores seem to be well stocked with Toilet PAPER again.  One year ago was a different story.

15. Nevada city: ELKO.  Traveled through several times on I-80 on my way to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.

16. London lavs: LOOS.

19. Cooked just right: DONE.

20. __-Z: classic Camaro: IROC.  As I mentioned my 1955 Olds, I could only drool when passed by an IROC.  However I assume that I received less speeding tickets.

21. Lively Irish dance: REEL.  It can hold your fishing line in the land of 10,000 lakes.

22. Discourage: DETER.

23. Fuel-eating cars: GAS HOGS.  Speaking of IROCs, I think the Z-28 had a 350 cubic inch engine with a four barrel carb.  Can you say "Oink, Oink"?

25. Listening organ: EAR.  Yup, I listen to the organ at church over the weekend.

33. Irregularly sharp-edged: JAGGED.  "On top of Old Smokey".

37. Fiber source: ROUGHAGE.  PIZZA did not have enough letters.

38. Man's name that's a green fruit spelled backwards: EMIL. Lime.

39. Persistent noise: DIN.  What? I cannot hear you.

40. Assures, as a win: ICES.  Or knocks the puck down to the other end of the hockey rink.

41. Personifies: EMBODIES.

44. Butts, in slang: TUSHES.

48. Early Olds auto: REO.  A lot earlier than my 1955 4-door sedan.

49. Very excited: AROUSED.  When I get out of bed in the morning, I would not call it "very excited".

54. Anglo-__: SAXON.

58. Mark Harmon CBS series: NCIS.

60. Bull or ram: MALE.  Okay guys, which one are you??  I decided that I am a Bull because I am full of it.

61. Tree branch: LIMB.

64. Jai __: court game: ALAI.  I think that this is only popular in Florida.

65. Late evening, informally: NITE.  I'm Hairy noon and NITEY, NITE,NITE. The Cowsills.

66. "Whooping" bird: CRANE.

67. Attention-getting whisper: PSST.

68. Bellicose Greek god: ARES.

Down:

1. Parsley or sage piece: SPRIG.  I thought Sage was a black powder.

2. With 42-Down, Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner in "Marriage Story": LAURA. 42. See 2-Down: DERN.

3. Lhasa __: Tibetan dogs: APSOS.

4. Two-masted vessel: KETCH.  A two-masted sailboat that they would pull UP from the sea and put it on hamburgers.

5. "Tarzan" creator's monogram: ERB. Edgar Rice Burroughs.

6. Students' play period: RECESS.  Those were the days.  We would have a softball game every day, weather permitting.

7. Sommer of "A Shot in the Dark": ELKE.  Some times I would pull over in ELKO on my way to Reno and take "a shot in the" casino.

8. Bony-looking Halloween costume: SKELETON.  Trick or Treat.

9. Tyke on a trike: TOT.

10. Word often seen before "shoppe": OLDE. Some people just have trouble with spelling.

11. __ suit: '40s apparel: ZOOT.  I am way too young to wear one of these.

12. The "Z" in ZIP Code: ZONE.  I heard on the news that the Postal service is a bit screwed up, so we are no longer to expect ZIPpy service.

13. Belgian river: YSER.

18. More than suggested: URGED.

22. The "D" in FDA: DRUG.  Also a big part of my lunch.

24. Lode load: ORE.  These loads of lode are mainly loaded in Oregon.

26. __ Dhabi: ABU.

28. 1974 pension plan legislation: ERISA.  Employment Retiree Income Security Act.  Graybar has treated me well.  Have you seen the sign in the left center outfield at Bush Stadium, St. Louis ??

29. "What's __ about?": THIS.  It's about advertising on a major league baseball fence.  I was there once for Game 5 of the 1987 World Series - Twins vs. Cardinals.  We lost that game but went home and took two games for the title.

30. It measures rpm: TACH.  Have they designed one yet to measure R.P.M.s of  a golf ball?? 

31. Curved molding: OGEE.  O GEE, I suppose I have to hit it first.

32. Monster's loch: NESS.

33. Taunting cry: JEER.  I suppose most non-Yankee fans might JEER JETER..

34. Rifle range rounds: AMMO.

35. Bee Gees surname: GIBB. "Ooh it's a HOLIDAY" The Bee Gees.

36. Lump of clay, say: GLOB.

39. Sophisticated and charming: DEBONAIR.

43. Angry feeling: IRE.  I'm sure people from Ireland and Notre Dame must hate this word.

44. Body trunks: TORSI. Torso plural.

45. Crazy Eights cousin: UNO.  I never liked this game.

47. Poker strategies: RAISES.  Not too happy about poker RAISES either.

50. Planetary shadow: UMBRA.

51. Cling wrap brand: SARAN.  Drives me nuts.  I cannot reel off a piece without it sticking to itself.

52. African antelope: ELAND.

53. Huge star in Cygnus: DENEB.

54. Open-handed hit: SLAP.  Really hard and fast hockey shot.

55. Is hurting: AILS.

56. Dec. 25: XMAS.

57. Closing words?: OBIT.

59. Formally commend, as for bravery: CITE.

62. Cellular messenger: RNA.

63. ATM maker: NCR.  Another black man was shot in Minnesota, and protesters ripped off the ATM at our Wells Fargo bank.  The bank was boarded up for over two weeks, but now protests have subsided.

Boomer

Monday January 4, 2020 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: C AND W (67. Grand Ole Opry genre, briefly, that's also a hint to 21-, 33-, 41- and 51-Across) - Each theme entry is in the pattern of C* W*.

21. Comfy clothing: CASUAL WEAR. 32. T-__: 21-Across item: SHIRT.

33. Fowl fencing material: CHICKEN WIRE.

41. Forecast that calls for a scarf and gloves: COLD WEATHER. 49. Like extreme 41-Across: HARSH.

51. Circle with primary and secondary hues: COLOR WHEEL.

Boomer here. I am familiar with all of these entries, especially COLD WEATHER!

For those readers who were not here last week, our beloved constructor Gail Grabowski passed away on Christmas eve. 

C.C. said that this theme idea was Gail's, since her name comes first in the byline. Bruce filled the grid and Gail clued the whole thing. This is how the legendary constructing team GAB (Gail and Bruce) collaborated.

Gail and Bruce

Across: 

1. Play for time: STALL.  Also a horse's bedroom.

6. Soup aisle array: CANS.  We have a cupboard full of  soup, vegetables, and other stuff that C.C. does not eat.  I think she is afraid of our electric can opener.

10. Murder mystery staple: BODY.  Of course, "Mr. Boddy" was the victim in the game of Clue.  "I think it was done by Professor Plum, in the kitchen, with the knife." 

14. Apex predators of the sea: ORCAS.

15. "I __ my wit's end!": AM AT. 

16. Sacred Nile bird: IBIS.

17. Many a Mumbai resident: HINDU.

18. Triangle ratio: SINE.  "About binomial theorem I am teeming with a lot 'O' news with  many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse," (Gilbert & Sullivan.)  

19. Hand over: GIVE.  "GIVE me a break for a Kit Kat bar."  Not me, too much sugar.

20. Do as told: OBEY.

23. Dog walker's need: LEASH.  We do not have a dog.  We had to catch a mouse with one of those glue traps.  He deserved to be caught, he started to think that he lived with us. 

25. "Little ol' me?": MOI.

26. Supernatural: OCCULT.

29. Appetizer platter items: VEGGIES.  Yup, gotta eat those green things every day..

36. Morse "T": DAH.

37. Gas container: TANK.  Ours stays pretty full.  We do not travel much in the pandemic, and the grocery store is about one mile from home.  Maybe I can use a bit more gas when golf season opens.

38. Abu Dhabi's fed.: UAE.  I guess Emirate is just another word for state. 

39. Nativity scene threesome: MAGI.  I believe the three Kings visit to the manger is celebrated on January 6.  They brought gold, frankincense. and myrrh.  Now guys just bring cigars.

40. Red Cross offering: AID.

45. Plasterboard: DRYWALL.  We had some water damage to our garage ceiling.  We hired a DRYWALL handyman last fall and he fixed it up very well.

47. Separate by type: ASSORT.

48. LAX : Los Angeles :: __ : Chicago: ORD.  Funny name for an airport.

55. Variety show lineup: ACTS.

59. Apple gadget with playlists: IPOD.  C.C. had one.  I don't know how it works.

60. Sinuous swimmers: EELS.

61. Letter-shaped opening: T SLOT.  I struggle to fasten my seat belt in the Santa Fe.  It's not a T slot but it sure seems like one.

62. Column before ones: TENS.  "If you bought a premier seat to "'Hamilton" for $850.00 cash, how many Hamiltons would you need to pay the bill.  They asked this on "Common Knowledge" and none of the six players had the correct answer.

63. Pudding starch: SAGO.

64. Prefix for Rome's country: ITALO.

65. Jittery: EDGY.

66. Spiderweb, e.g.: TRAP.

Down:

1. Artsy Manhattan area: SOHO.  North Pole area - "HO HO".

2. Chicago daily, for short: TRIB.  Our Minneapolis daily is StarTRIB.  We used to have a morning Tribune and an evening STAR.  They combined many years ago. 

3. Proactiv+ target: ACNE.

4. Female symbol of good fortune: LADY LUCK.  A fun Casino in down town Las Vegas.  I went to see Melinda's magic act there years ago.

5. The SEC's Tigers: LSU.

6. Acapulco abodes: CASAS.

7. Pennsylvania sect: AMISH.

8. Half a Mork-to-Orson farewell: NANU.  Robin Williams aka Mork from Ork left us in 2014.

9. Soft-shell clam: STEAMER.  Stanley's last name.

10. Kingpin: BIGWIG.  In the movie "Kingpin" Bill Murray was a lousy bowler.  They should have cast Pete Weber or maybe Parker Bohn.

11. NYC drama award: OBIE.

12. Female opera star: DIVA.

13. Belgian river: YSER.

21. Blanchett of "Ocean's 8": CATE.  Probably the only actress who ever cut herself with a chain saw.

22. Theater tier: LOGE.  This is where the cigarette smokers used to sit.  Not any more.

24. Deer in a lodge logo: ELK.  I joined a lodge many years ago.  They sponsored a Little League team that I coached.  However it seemed that in the lodge they just sold low-priced drinks and pull tabs.

26. Set of eight: OCTAD.  Years ago I had an OCTAD of teeth.  Now I have a set of two dentures.

27. Committee head: CHAIR.

28. Williams of "Laverne & Shirley": CINDY.  Lots of reruns on cable TV now.  Years ago, at the Graybar City Desk we used to have two customers I called Lenny and Squiggy.  Cracked everybody up. 

29. Beach house selling point: VIEW.  Minnesota has miles and miles of lake shoreline, but not too many beach houses.  The ones that exist are way overpriced. 

30. Boise's state: IDAHO.  I have two cousins that live in Twin Falls of the potato state.

31. All fired up: EAGER.

34. Void partner: NULL.

35. Fistful of dollars: WAD.  Does anyone use dollars anymore??

39. Calif. Cascades peak: MT SHASTA.

41. Author Caleb: CARR.

42. OK Corral setting: OLD WEST.  Three deaths in October, 1881, and Wyatt Earp got his own TV show in the sixties.

43. British noble: EARL.

44. Donkey: ASS.  Very impolite answer to the clue, I would say.

46. Like a forest: WOODSY.

49. Hägar's comics wife: HELGA.

50. Writer of tales with talking animals: AESOP.  A famous Greek who told a lot more stories than me.

51. Name in a footnote: CITE.

52. Page with opinions: OP-ED.  I usually skip this page in the StarTrib..  Most Opinions usually do not match with mine.

53. Time-consuming: LONG.

54. Catch wind of: HEAR.

56. Tartan-sporting family: CLAN.

57. Broke the news to: TOLD.  "Though it never made the New York Times, in the Daily News the caption read - Save the life of my child."  (Simon and Garfunkel).

58. Store securely: STOW.

61. Personal quirk: TIC.

Boomer

Monday September 28, 2020 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: BREAK IT UP (60. Stop a fight ... and a hint to a literal feature of the answers to starred clues) IT spans across each theme entry.

17A. *Half of a two-piece suit: BIKINI TOP.

31A. *Indian spiced drink: CHAI TEA.

44A. *Winter Olympics squad: SKI TEAM.

10D. *Miniature garden grower: BONSAI TREE.

30D. *"American Crime" actress: LILI TAYLOR.

Boomer here. 

IT's Monday and you know what IT means. Time to go to the golf course and play IT. IT looks like IT's going to be a pleasant day.  The weatherman says IT's going to be around 60 with no rain.  Of course he lies a lot.

Across:

1. Sampras of tennis: PETE.  Also Mr. PETE Weber who is a decent bowler on the senior PBA tour.

5. Biological pouches: SACS.  Is this on 5th Avenue ??

9. Monastery leader: ABBOT.  I believe I saw him doing "Who's on First" with Lou Costello.

14. Door-to-door cosmetics company: AVON.  I think it was door-to-door before computers, or at least before the nasty virus.  I seem to remember cologne for men.  I bought once or twice but it was kind of spendy.

15. Folksy Guthrie: ARLO.  "You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant".

16. Lose one's cool completely: GO APE.  Maybe when I miss a two-foot putt?

19. Tossed in a chip: ANTED.  I've done it.         

20. Devious sort: SLY DOG.  "You ain't nothin' but a sly dog."  Elvis got the words wrong. 

21. "__ the matter?": WHAT'S.  "Up Doc?"

23. General with a Chinese dish named for him: TSO.  I thought it was spelled "Chew".

24. Village cousin: TOWN.  "It's not that the colors aren't there, it's just imagination they lack.  Everything's the same back in my little TOWN."  Simon and Garfunkel.

26. Beer after a shot: CHASER.  I used to like a Manhattan but I cannot imagine following that with beer.

30. Actress Anderson: LONI.  Born in St. Paul, MN in 1945, she is two years older than I.  She is also still better looking than me.

 

 
32. Mental giant: BRAIN.  If only the scarecrow had one.

35. Like gloomy skies: GRAY.

37. Garr of "Tootsie": TERI.

38. Cotton thread: LISLE.

39. In need of a towel: WET.  I believe someone may have tossed a WET TOWEL over my Vikings to start the season.

40. Blue eyes, e.g.: TRAIT.

41. Italian sparkling wine: ASTI.  Martini and Rossi, I am not a fan of wine.

42. Dolts: OAFS.  Minnesota Vikings??    

43. Get a new tenant for: RE-LET.  Sadly, many are facing homelessness at this time.

46. "So that's it!": I SEE.  "I SEE," said the blind man, but he really didn't.

48. Oppressive ruler: TYRANT.

49. Grab with a toothpick: STAB.

50. Old ultrafast plane, briefly: SST.  Super Sonic Transport.  I guess the Concorde is no longer making the trip.

53. Popular search engine: YAHOO.

55. Light humor: LEVITY.  I always try on this blog.

57. Colgate rival: ORAL-B.

62. Burnett with a namesake Golden Globe: CAROL.  Born in 1933 and still kicking.  My favorite was when Tim Conway called her Mrs. Wiggins.

 

 

63. Checklist component: ITEM.

64. Barn topper: VANE.  Do farmers really need to know which way the wind is blowing?

65. At that place: THERE.  "Hey THERE Georgy Girl". The Seekers.

66. Anklebones: TALI.  "Connected to the shin bones"

67. Cogito-sum link: ERGO.

Down:
 

1. Blue Ribbon brewer: PABST.  What'll you have ??

2. Lesser of two __: EVILS.  ELVIS spelled wrong.

3. Planned 2020 Olympics city: TOKYO.  Not any more, maybe 2021?

4. Oklahoma city NNW of Oklahoma City: ENID.

5. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly: SAIGON.  Never been there, thankfully.

6. Museum display: ART.  Or ART Carney of Jackie Gleason Fame.

 

 
7. Class cutup: CLOWN.  I was accused of that, now I am just a blog CLOWN.

8. Last year's frosh: SOPH.  Always disliked being called frosh.  Junior and Senior was better.

9. Mystery award named for a British writer: AGATHA.  Famous for Miss Marple.

11. Flier that sleeps upside-down: BAT.  "Take me out to the Ballgame."

12. Reveal, to a poet: OPE.

13. Danson of TV: TED.  Two months younger than I but he looks a lot older.  "Where everybody knows your name."  Cheers !!

18. Nary a soul: NOT ONE.

22. Needing a rubdown: ACHY.  I have lots of over- the- counter rubs on my dresser.  Nothing seems to work.

25. Domed Native American dwelling: WIGWAM.  This is very sad,  We have many Native Americans in Minneapolis who have lost their homes.  They pitch their tents in a field just South of downtown Minneapolis.  They are not WIGWAMS.

27. Make off with: STEAL.

28. Like a wolf's howl: EERIE.  Remember Matt Wolfe in the U.S. Open?  When he hit a great shot or made a long putt, the very small group of spectators would holler WOOO.  I am not looking forward to watching him when crowds are admitted.

29. Singer Bonnie: RAITT.

31. Keep tabs on a tabby: CAT-SIT.  Does it pay more than .35 per hour?

32. Leave the launching pad, with "off": BLAST.

33. Foolhardy: RISKY.  It's a bit RISKY to play golf with some of the guys in my league.  But no one hollers WOOO.

34. Up and about: ASTIR.  "Not a creature was A STIRring, not even a mouse.  Christmas is coming.

36. Slo-mo reviewer: REF.  Otherwise known as UMP.

40. "Jeopardy!" host: TREBEK. I watch frequently. I usually manage to get a few right.  TREBEK is a hero continuing to put in his time while battling cancer. 

42. Sworn statement: OATH.  "I cannot tell a lie".

45. Make possible: ENABLE.  Eve's two kids - CAIN EN ABLE.

47. Italian sub meat: SALAMI.  SALAMI, SALAMI, Baloney.

49. Not exactly, informally: SORTA.

50. Shankar's strings: SITAR.

51. Bitten by bees: STUNG.  When I was a kid, I got STUNG several times.  It really hurt me, but not as much as the bee got hurt when I took care of business.

52. Versatile blood donor: TYPE O.  That would be me.  I have donated a few times.  When I was in the Army I got two days off for every pint.

54. "In memoriam" bio: OBIT.

56. "__ le roi!": VIVE.

57. Costume-buying mo.: OCT.  Also a birthday month for Boomer.

58. Cheer word: RAH.

59. "All bets __ off": ARE.

61. Fish that swims backwards: EEL.  How does one know it is swimming backwards.  I cannot tell front from back on an eel.

 

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Abejo's wife Linda informed me that he was taken off the ventilator last night. She said he was shutting down and most likely not make it through the night even with support. 

As we've learned from his regular posts over the years, he had a very active life. Always on the move. Always volunteering and giving. He donated blood for many years until cancer hit him. He actually had two donor cards. One for Chicago. One for Pennsylvania. That's how dedicated he was about whatever he did.

He also had such childlike curiosity. He noticed a MME DFRG license plate outside a restaurant on his way to the post office. He asked the driver what it meant and was told "Madame DeFarge". He then went inside the restaurant and located our own Madame DeFarge (Janice). Then we had this precious picture. 

 

Brad, I'll miss your daily presence and fine reviews about our blogging team's "fine reviews".

 

Monday August 3, 2020 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: BUSINESS LETTERS (40. Company correspondence ... and a hint to the abbreviation hidden in 17-, 24-, 52- and 66-Across) - INC is hidden in each theme entry.

17. High-intensity indoor cycling group: SPIN CLASS.

24. Cinderella's ride: PUMPKIN COACH.

52. Pipe unclogger: DRAIN CLEANER.

 

66. Feature of New York-style pizza: THIN CRUST.

Boomer here.  

I suppose most of you use a pencil when completing a puzzle, but today you might want to use pen and INC.  

Major League Baseball is finally on TV but no fans in the stands. It just doesn't seem right.  However the Miami Marlins lead the league in positive tests, followed by the St. Louis Cardinals.  C.C. and I are still virus-free, but I have to scratch my head and wonder how these organizations of millionaires cannot stay healthy.

Across:

1. Like "le" in Fr. or "el" in Sp.: MASC. Masculine. Maybe they should wear a MASC?  Okay, bad joke.  Minnesota passed a mandate last week. 

5. Scissors sound: SNIP.  Spell it backwards and knock them down.  When we get a vaccine?

9. Stuffed shirts: SNOBS. I don't stuff shirts any more. I lost a few pounds but kept the same wardrobe.

14. Utah ski resort that means "high": ALTA.  I don't ski but I heard it's a nice place if you do.

15. Statistician Silver: NATE.  He wrote a book about "Why so many predictions fail, ...but some don't."

16. __ buddy: BOSOM.

19. Video game name for nearly 50 years: ATARI.  We had a new garage door installed last week so C.C. and  I had to move some stuff (baseball cards) out of the installer's way.  Holy cow!!  I was surprised to find my ATARI games in the garage, and the black and white TV that I used to play them on.  We have a nice two car garage but I can barely fit my van into it.

20. Bar mitzvah scroll: TORAH.

21. __-Cola: COCA.  I prefer Diet Pepsi.

23. Variety show bit: SKIT.

27. Barrio grocery: BODEGA.  You know, I hear this word on "Law & Order" reruns and in Minnesota we certainly have a bunch of corner grocery. Pop, and cigarettes stores, but I have never heard a Minnesotan call them a BODEGA.

30. "Nope": NAH.  Sounds like a Discover Card commercial.

31. Many a Monopoly prop.: AVE.  They also have "Place, Company, Works, Gardens," but none of those words fit.

32. Microwaves: ZAPS.

36. "Agree totally!": SO DO I. -- And I DO TOO !

44. Protein-building acid: AMINO. I watch too much PGA golf but I am no fan of Bryson DeChambeau.  I don't know if he uses amino acid, but it is told that he drinks six or seven protein shakes each day.  He sort of has the body of Hulk Hogan and hits a golf ball over 350 yards, but it is seldom straight.  Plus he wears one of those flat sports car hats which I consider to be an insult to Payne Stewart and especially Ben Hogan.

 

45. Settles a bill: PAYS.  We use our computer to take care of  bills.  Saves on those 55 cent stamps.

46. Epitome of slipperiness: EEL.  Slipperiness??  Describes the lane conditions at the Peterson Classic bowling tournament in Chicago.

47. Bath fixture with claw feet, perhaps: TUB.  Have you seen the walk-in tub advertised on TV.  They tout that the tub empties quickly so you don't have to sit there in the cold.  I wonder what it's like sitting while the tub fills.

49. __ Vision: eye care chain: PEARLE.  They are pretty good.  We have one near our home.

58. 500 sheets of paper: REAM.

59. Scratching post users: CATS. "Oh the CATS in the cradle with a silver spoon." Harry Chapin.

60. Duo Hall & __: OATES.  Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy. Bing Crosby and others.

64. Gillette razors: ATRAS.

68. Jotted (down): WROTE.

69. Lamarr of old films: HEDY.  Born in Austria and became famous in the U.S.

70. Mandatory bet: ANTE.

71. Nine-player chamber group: NONET.

72. Part of GE: Abbr.: ELEC.  Also part of Graybar.

73. Overflow (with): TEEM.

Down:

1. Sail holder: MAST.  And maybe you can make many MASKS out of the sail when you're done with it.

2. Friskies sister brand: ALPO.  I am seeing a lot of ads about "Farmers Dog" food.  I don't have a dog.  I wonder if it's any good on pizza.

3. Pudding recipe direction: STIR.  STIR ?? Nope, toss it in the blender and use #4.

4. Cocktail party nibble: CANAPE.  I wonder if they use CANned APE in Farmer's Dog food.

5. NBC skit show: SNL.

6. Rights org. since 1909: NAACP.  I have mentioned that I was in Fort Campbell on the evening that Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered.  The memory came back as I watched some of the memories on John Lewis last week.

7. "Not to worry": IT'S OK.

8. Joe of "Home Alone": PESCI.  My favorite was Nicky in Casino.

9. Agcy. that helps startups: SBA.  Small Business Assn.  Not so sure about startups these days.  They may be trying to help small businesses stay afloat.

10. Just fair: NOT SO HOT.  My bowling is still pretty good, if we ever get a vaccine.  My golf is "NOT SO HOT", but I get by and stay healthy.

11. Japanese port: OSAKA.

12. Antiseptic acid type: BORIC.  BORIC acid comes in powder or tablet form.  I have never used it so I am not sure for what it is used.

13. Worker suffix with black or silver: SMITH.  Paul Revere was a famous silversmith.  I wish I still had all of the silver money I spent as a kid.  It's probably worth as much as the baseball cards I bought.

18. Drink all at once: CHUG.

22. Gothic novelist Radcliffe: ANN.

25. Puzzle with paths: MAZE.  Or at least the silver ball that I needed to guide through the wooden MAZE with two knobs on the sides.

26. Group bowing to a curtain call: CAST.  Been there, done that.  I was Noah.  Benjamin Britten spelled it Noye's Fludde.

27. Ali __: BABA.  And the Forty Thieves.

28. Egg cell: OVUM.

29. Arnaz of early TV: DESI.  Ricky Ricardo.

33. Deadly viper: ASP.  Cleopatra had one.

34. Awareness-raising TV ad: Abbr.: PSA.  I don't know about TV ads.  I get the test in my blood for Prostrate Specific Antigen.  For my age a PSA reading of 1 - 4 is normal.  My last one was 0.89.  Seems okay but previously I was 0.23.  My oncologist checks my blood every 6 weeks to 2 months.  He keeps telling me that my PSA is okay, but C.C. is not too convinced.

35. Devious: SLY.  And the Family Stone.

37. Leaper in a tractor company logo: DEER.  Doe, a DEER, a female DEER.  Ray, a drop of golden sun.  "The hills are alive, with the Sound of Music".

38. Hershiser of baseball: OREL.  Great Dodger pitcher who won over 200 games in about 18 years.

39. Land in the ocean: ISLE.  We have a city of ISLE, in Northern Minnesota.  Sorry, no where near an ocean.

41. Very personal: INTIMATE.

42. Part of speech after "the," often: NOUN.

43. Sports bar channel: ESPN.  They had a lot of reruns there for about 5 months.  Now maybe they have a game to show once in awhile.

48. Discreetly send a dupe email to: BCC.

50. Fair-hiring agcy.: EEOC.

51. Noah's landfall: ARARAT.  Did he really take two mosquitoes on the boat??

52. Sketched: DRAWN.

53. In style again: RETRO.  Maybe bowling will become RETRO next year.

54. Composer Copland: AARON.  Of course - thoughts follow to Hammerin' Hank or maybe even "ALL RISE" Mr. Judge of the Yankees who may be chasing some of Hank's records.

55. Wood shop tool: LATHE.

56. "I Love Lucy" role: ETHEL.  I always wondered how the writers chose the last name of "Mertz".

57. Actor-to-audience remark: ASIDE.

61. Bring into pitch: TUNE.  Or Maybe send the message to the bullpen,

62. 90° from norte: ESTE.

63. Wineglass support: STEM.  Also supporting our cucumber plant crawling up our home.

65. Good to go: SET.

67. Five-bor. city: NYC.  Yup, "ALL RISE" hits HRs there.

Notes from C.C.:

Happy birthday to dear Melissa, who gave up her job and everything to fight for her brother and criminal justice. Melissa founded Adopt an Inmate project and has successfully facilitated over 1,200 adoptions.

Here is a podcast Melissa did with Plague Talk. I teared up listening to some of the ordeals she went through. What a beautiful, compassionate and courageous soul!

I hope you can support Melissa and her mission. Anyone who donated to Adopt an Inmate will receive a never-published puzzle I made with Melissa's talented brother Rick Fisk. We spent lots of time on the puzzle finessing the theme set and clues. It has a fresh & playful theme. You will receive the puzzle and answer grid in puz or pdf format.

Thank you!

Monday June 29, 2020 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: KEEPS AN EYE ON (55. Looks after, as suggested by the last word of 20-, 29- and 46-Across) - Synonym theme.

20. Protection for extremities during slicing and dicing: FINGER GUARDS.

29. Old-style timepieces attached to vests: POCKET WATCHES.

46. 15-season CBS drama about the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit: CRIMINAL MINDS.

Boomer here.  

I have a pocket WATCH which I never use.  I do have a wristwatch but I only wear it in Las Vegas so I can make sure when it's time to take C.C. to the buffet.  It GUARDS against losing too much $$ or my MIND. 

Across:

1. Evidence of fire: SMOKE.  My last one was a menthol, sometime around 2001.

6. Phone call enders: BYES.  "Bye, bye Miss American Pie"  (Don McClean).

10. Recedes to the sea: EBBS.  Flows the wrong way.

14. Piglike rhino relative: TAPIR.

15. Move like The Blob: OOZE.

16. Strong wind: GALE.  As in Gale Storm??

17. "__ you clever!": AREN'T.  I try to be clever, I Ain't sure.

18. Folklore meanie: OGRE.

19. Stan on the sax: GETZ.  Well known but a little before my time.

23. Long-standing dispute: FEUD.  I used to watch "Family Feud".  I liked Richard Dawson and John O'Hurley, but I am not a big fan of Steve Harvey.

24. Go public with: AIR.  I have been going a few yards AIRing out a Titleist.

25. Brewery kilns: OASTS.

33. GI chow: MRE.  Well, I used to have adjectives for GI food but MRE was not one of them.

34. Many a retired racehorse: SIRE.  I am still wondering if the Kentucky Derby will take place.

35. The "O" in OAS: Abbr.: ORG.

36. Least distant: CLOSEST.  A few holes in our golf league are marked with a prize for CLOSEST to the hole.  So far I have not cashed.

40. Coming into being: NASCENT.

42. Rude dude: CAD.  Kind of made me think of CADDIES.  I spent some time watching the Travelers tournament this past weekend.

43. Travel document: VISA.  Also a card that can get people in trouble.

45. Tropical "constrictor": BOA.  Bank Of America will issue the above mentioned cards.

50. Become frantic: PANIC.  Just push the PANIC button and all will settle down.

51. Meadowland: LEA.  "LEAn on me, when you're not strong"

52. Uses a shovel: DIGS.

59. "The Thin Man" dog: ASTA.  I don't have too say "I'm too young" very often but I never saw the movie.  I did see the TV episodes. I think Peter Lawford was "The Thin Man" in the late fifties and I remember ASTA.

62. Lacrosse targets: NETS.  Also hockey pucks and basketballs.

63. Specialized vocab: LINGO.

64. Null and __: VOID.  You may want to AVOID being VOID.

65. Like much testimony: ORAL.

66. Word with circle or city: INNER.  Don't forget tube.

67. Kibbles 'n Bits competitor: ALPO.  No dogs in our home.  No ALPO Either.

68. Agile: SPRY.

69. Colorful marble: AGATE.  Also had steelies, shooters, and peeries in the bag.

Down:

1. Employee group: STAFF.

2. Curie with two Nobels: MARIE.

3. Speak candidly: OPEN UP.  "Not by the hair on my Chinny Chinny Chin."

4. Regal realms: KINGDOMS.

5. Art Deco master: ERTE.

6. __-woogie: BOOGIE.  "He's the BOOGIE, Woogie bugle boy of company B"

7. Dannon products: YOGURTS.  I cannot remember if I ever tried it.

8. Pound who was a friend of T.S. Eliot: EZRA.  He's was a poet, but if you don't know it, maybe his feet show it.  They're Long Fellows.

9. Tea leaves reader: SEER. C.C. enjoys a cup of tea, but she never reads the leaves.  Too depressing.

10. Spider's hatching pouch: EGG SAC.

11. Main squeeze, in slang: BAE.

12. Lunch menu letters: BLT.  Very delicious and wholesome food.  Just fry the fat out of the bacon.

13. Utters, in slang: SEZ.

21. Earns lots of, as dough: RAKES IN.  I don't know about the dough. We just use the rake on garden weeds, and leaves in the fall.

22. Spoils, as a grandchild: DOTES ON.

26. Clog or loafer: SHOE.  Golf shoes are great.  They used to have metal spikes but now mine have plastic grippers on the soles.

27. Fork-tailed shorebird: TERN.

28. Army NCO: SSGT.  This is G.I. pay Grade E-6.  I only made it to E-5.  I think you need to serve longer than two years to get to E-6.

30. Narrow opening in a cliff: CREVICE.

31. Take the title: WIN.  The only current pro sport to watch now is golf.  Seems every week a different player WINs the title.

32. High-spirited horse: ARABIAN.

36. Sputnik letters: CCCP.  Speaking of  which, I have heard that the U.S. Air Force is detecting Russian planes near Alaska recently.

37. "__ Croft: Tomb Raider": LARA.

38. Top Norse god: ODIN.  If you are a SON of ODIN you probably have no problem with this puzzle.

39. Flight safety org.: TSA.  These guys (and ladies) are mostly standing around in the airport these days.  Last February, it took C.C. and I nearly an hour to get to the gate.

41. Toting clubs for a golfer: CADDYING.  This was my employment from age 14 to about 17.  It was a great job and I got to play a nice golf course every Monday.

44. MLB's Hank Aaron, e.g., in 21 seasons: ALL-STAR.  Hammerin' Hank was incredible!!

47. Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, with "The": MIKADO.  HMS Pinafore, Pirates on Penzance.  I used to be able to sing some of their stuff.

48. Pitifully small: MEASLY.

49. "Burnt" crayon color: SIENNA.  I am not sure if CRAYOLA makes this color anymore.

53. "__ it, Rover!": "Fetch!": GO GET.

54. Keep a mate awake, perhaps: SNORE.  I stayed awake all last night and I did not SNORE at all.

56. Grandson of Adam: ENOS.  A biblical name.  I am old enough to remember Enos "Country" Slaughter who played for several MLB teams.  I only remember the St. Louis Cardinals.

57. One in handcuffs, for short: PERP.

58. Kazan with an honorary Oscar: ELIA.

59. Actress Gardner: AVA.  She was one of Frank Sinatra's 30 wives.

60. Sun, in Sonora: SOL.

61. Bit of advice: TIP.  My advice is you may want to stay out of restaurants for awhile, but if you cannot resist, leave a TIP.

Boomer

Note from C.C.:

Big milestone for Barry G, who turns 50 years old today.  Barry used to be very active on our blog. Hope all's well with you and your family, Barry! Hope the in-laws are all safe and sound.

July 2, 2016