Sunday July 6, 2025 Gary Larson & Katie Hale

Theme: "Make a Long Story Short" - The last letter of each movie title is cut.  

23. Proposed network television schedule?: AIRPLANE.

25. Title for a tell-all about Cinderella's early social life?: OF MICE AND MEN.

39. Wise men bearing gifts of formula, onesies, and diapers?: PRACTICAL MAGIC.

71. "That guy prefers more formal greetings"?: HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU.

103. Horse-drawn carriages delivering Christmas trees?: CHARIOTS OF FIRE.

119. Norm for the dinosaur era?: JURASSIC PARK.

123. Edited version seen in theaters, and what six long answers in this puzzle need to match their clues?: FINAL CUT.

Super tight set. All well-known movies with the last letters deleted. Love the title.

I think this is first Sunday collab between Gary and Katie. Or maybe the very first between them. I've shown Gary's photo before. Below is a picture of Katie from Xword Info. She's based in London. 

Across:

1. Parking spot: LOT.

4. Curved paths: ARCS.

8. Visual multiplication tool: ARRAY.

13. Finishing touches on a letter?: SERIFS. The alphabet character. Not your sign-off.

19. Be in arrears: OWE.

20. Biblical sister of Rachel: LEAH.

21. Pinkish-purple: MAUVE. So many shades of mauve. We also have 111. Brownish-purple: PUCE.

22. Sweet liqueurs: CREMES.

27. Moore of "The Substance": DEMI.

28. Actor Michael: CERA.

30. Taj __: MAHAL.

31. Strong attraction, with "the": HOTS.

32. Wetland layer: PEAT.

34. Not so good in: POOR AT.

37. Genghis Khan follower: TATAR. Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire are romanticized in this popular TV series.  

43. "Something To Talk About" singer: RAITT.

45. Want: HOPE FOR.

46. Align properly: EVEN UP.

48. Beach, in Portuguese: PRAIA. I only know PLAYA.

50. Project ending?: ILE. Projectile. 

51. Hershey rival: NESTLE.

54. Gaggle members: GEESE.

56. Filmmaker Spike: LEE.

57. Some nobles: LORDS.

60. Blunted blade: EPEE.

61. RR connection: STA.

62. Skirt that shows off ankle boots: MIDI.

63. Draft choice: IPA.

65. Monkeyshines: ANTICS.

69. Dish made with Arborio rice: RISOTTO. Creamy seafood risotto. 

76. Ships abroad: EXPORTS.

77. Hit the hay: RETIRE.

78. Office no.: TEL.

79. Front or spot: LOAN. Verb "Front".

80. Estadio "Rah!": OLE.

82. Lass: MISS.

84. Argentine prairie: PAMPA.

88. Succinct "I could go on": ETC.

89. Saw logs: SNORE.

91. Chaste: VESTAL. Learning moment for me.

93. Bit of static buildup: ION.

94. Sister's daughter: NIECE. And 117. Grandma's daughter: AUNT.

96. Gave faithfully?: TITHED. From the faithful.

98. Oil used in some hair products: COCONUT. And 109. Like butter ready for whipping: SOFT.

101. Actor Haim: COREY.

106. Metamorphosis stage: PUPAL.

108. More ridiculous: INANER.

110. Impersonates: APES.

112. River near Roswell: PECOS. 

114. Agitate: RILE.

116. Inserts for some noisy toys: AAAS.

125. National park in Maine: ACADIA. We have Voyageurs National Park. We also have 64 state parks.

126. Madeline Miller novel featuring Odysseus: CIRCE. 

127. Member of the onion family: LEEK.

128. Artist Yoko: ONO.

129. Begrudge: RESENT.

130. Custard apple kin: PAPAW. The big seeds have medicinal benefits.

131. Icelandic epic: EDDA.

132. Racing initials: STP.

Down:

1. Cargo: LOAD.

2. Toddler's scrape: OWIE.

3. Major essay: TERM PAPER.

4. __ in a day's work: ALL.

5. Spit take, e.g.: REACTION.

6. Riddler accessory: CANE.

7. Tenzing Norgay, for one: SHERPA. For Edmund Hillary. Sherpa Tenzing was born in Tibet.

8. Latin lover's verb: AMO.

9. WWII fliers: RAF.

10. Search haphazardly (through): RUMMAGE.

11. Taking to the skies: AVIATING.

12. "Blech": YECH.

13. Graduated, in math: SCALAR. Not SCALED. 

14. Directional ending: ERN.

15. Poison Ivy feature: RED HAIR. Capitalized Ivy. DC Comics character.

16. Vampire's power: IMMORTALITY. How can you kill it with a stake then?

17. Stocking stuffers: FEET.

18. Tax form IDs: SSNS.

24. Jigsaw unit: PIECE.

26. "Mangia!": EAT.

29. Letters in "You've Got Mail": AOL.

33. DOJ branch: ATF.

35. Brunch staple: OMELETTE. And 85. Bite-size Tex-Mex snacks: MINI TACOS.

36. Party with glow sticks: RAVE.

38. Gift wrapper's need: TAPE.

39. Punxsutawney weather forecaster: PHIL.

40. Foil-wrapped candy: ROLO.

41. Manitoba people: CREE.

42. Prompts to act now?: CUES. On a stage.

44. Connected with: TIED TO.

47. __ dish: PETRI.

49. Vowel quintet: A E I O U.

52. Attention __: SPAN.

53. Gist: TENOR.

55. Goody-goody: SAINT.

58. Pastrami on rye spread, perhaps: DIJON.

59. Goad: SPUR.

62. Simoleons: MOOLA.

64. __ Martin: British automaker: ASTON.

66. Wednesday's kin: ITT. Wednesday Addams. 

67. Added one's two cents: CHIMED IN.

68. Attire at Hindi weddings: SARIS.

70. Dance instruction: STEP.

71. Honorary Oscar winner Keller: HELEN. Didn't known this. Google shows that Helen Keller was given an honorary Oscar as inspiration for the movie "Helen Keller in Her Story",  a documentary about her life.

72. "The Best __ Marigold Hotel": EXOTIC.

73. Films like "Star Wars": SPACE OPERAS.

74. Letter-shaped track: T SLOT.

75. __ drive: TEST.

81. Actor Stonestreet: ERIC.

83. Biodegradable egg containers: SACS.

86. Do a sommelier's job: POUR.

87. Upfront stake: ANTE.

89. Ooze: SEEP.

90. Horn of Africa nation: ETHIOPIA.

91. Aloe __: VERA.

92. Turned left, maybe: LOOSENED. Love the clue. 

95. Tireless campaign: CRUSADE.

97. Dada pioneer: HANS ARP.

99. Fiscal VIP: CFO.

100. Ingredient in some raw dog food: OFFAL.

102. Tries to intimidate, as a Chihuahua might: YAPS AT.

104. Poetic preposition: O'ER.

105. Rum-soaked British dessert: TRIFLE.

107. Lahaina loop: LEI. Maui town. 

110. Open a bit: AJAR.

113. USSR, in Russia: CCCP. 

115. Committed perjury: LIED.

118. "Halt!": STOP.

120. __ bin: penalty box: SIN.

121. Classic TV brand: RCA.

122. London's __ Gardens: KEW.

124. Letters between names: AKA.

Happy 78th birthday to dear waseeley (Bill), our faithful Thursday Sherpa for many years.  So happy to see both him and Lemonade on the blog these days. 

 

 

 

Thank you for the sweet birthday messages and cards. I had a lovely day. I've been making progress. The swollen right ankle continues to bother me though. Will see the doctor in 2 weeks. Hope there's a solution to it.  

C.C.

Sunday June 15, 2025 Gary Larson & Amy Ensz

Theme: - "Living in the Past" - One word in each common phrase is replaced its past tense. 

22. Totally wild bibliography text?: LIT SOURCE. Light source. 

24. Number jammed in an adding machine printout?: STUCK FIGURE. Stick figure.

45. Drink to toast the Apollo 11 landing?: SHOT FOR THE MOON. Shoot for the moon.

66. Cowardly FBI agent?: CHICKEN FED. Chicken feed.

70. Indictment based on falsified evidence? : MADE-UP CASE. Makeup case. 

91. Skirmish at sea?: SPAT IN THE OCEAN. Spit in the ocean.

115. Ballroom pro who spent all of their cash on costumes?: BROKE DANCER. Break dancer.

119. Tossed some hairpieces?: THREW RUGS. Throw rugs.

66A is the only entry where the last word has the tense change. Fun entry/clue though. I did a similar theme ages ago for the WSJ. Used CHICKEN FED also. 

Gary and Amy's set is quite focused. They avoided bear/bore, see/saw where the nouns & verbs share no roots.

Across:

1. Guitar clamps: CAPOS. So happy for Splynter's new lifestyle.

6. Special __: OPS.

9. Jewish scholar: RABBI.

14. Omar of "House": EPPS.

18. Ticket category: ADULT.

19. Hard swing, in baseball slang: RIP.

20. Agree to take part: OPT IN.

21. French Revolution journalist: MARAT. Jean-Paul Marat, who's killed in his bathtub. 

26. Hidden: LATENT.

27. Nutrient-rich berry: ACAI.

29. Cornmeal dish: POLENTA. I grew up eating plain steamed corn buns. 

30. Former Nair competitor: NEET.

32. Laugh behind one's hand: SNICKER.

36. Paper purchase: REAM.

37. German pronoun: ICH. Wo in Chinese. Wo ai ni.

40. Swelter: ROAST.

43. Hillary Rodham __: CLINTON.

49. Sage and dill: HERBS.

53. Hard work: LABOR.

54. Jewelry for a piggie: TOE RING.

55. Private eye: GUMSHOE.

57. God, in the Torah: ADONAI. Hebrew for "My Lord".

59. Movie lines?: PLOTS. Oh story lines. 

60. "Not long now!": VERY SOON.

61. Machu Picchu builder: INCA.

63. "I have read and agree to the above terms and conditions," often: LIE. Chuckled at the clue. Yes.

64. Sardine containers: TINS.

65. In-app convos: DMS.

73. Hee-__: HAW.

74. Housekeeping staffer: MAID.

75. Place for pennies: JAR.

76. Do well in a comedy club: SLAY.

77. Longtime "Masterpiece Theatre" host Cooke: ALISTAIR. Feels like he should have been a Sir.

80. Sealy rival: SERTA.

82. Chronicles: ANNALS.

86. Some deodorants: ROLL-ONS.

87. Draw in: ATTRACT.

89. Metric weights: KILOS. Infusion again next Tuesday. The total dosage is based on my weight. 

90. Letter-shaped opening: T SLOT.

93. Tires out: WEARIES.

96. Indian tea region: ASSAM.

97. S&L investments: CDS.

98. "Right now!": ASAP.

101. Big squeeze: BEAR HUG.

103. __ bene: NOTA.

106. Totally committed: DEVOTED.

108. Three-piece suit garment: VEST.

111. Removable locks?: TOUPEE. Locks?= hair. Always.

121. Like plant-covered walls: IVIED.

122. "Arsenic and Old Lace" director: CAPRA (Frank)

123. Pro vote: YEA.

124. Some iPods: NANOS.

125. British puzzle pieces?: ZEDS. Just the letter Z.

126. About to cry: TEARY.

127. Final chapter: END.

128. Brief scrap: SET-TO.

Down:

1. Phone: CALL.

2. Sarah McLachlan hit: ADIA.

3. Stroke to hit par, often: PUTT. Putt for par. 

4. Pro Football Hall of Famer Merlin: OLSEN.

5. Avocado center: STONE.

6. Winner of eight consecutive Norris Trophies: ORR (Bobby). That's a record. Norris Trophy is awarded to the top defensive player. 

7. Typesetting unit: PICA.

8. Design detail, for short: SPEC.

9. Violin bow need: ROSIN.

10. Fitting: APT.

11. HVAC meas.: BTU.

12. Brand of 13-Down: BIC. 13. Writing implement: INK PEN.

14. "I can't wait!" feeling: EAGERNESS.

15. Cut back: PRUNE.

16. Medicare section: PART A.

17. Mirror fogger: STEAM.

21. Thousand thou: MIL.

23. In __: before birth: UTERO.

25. Military stronghold: FORT.

28. "Armageddon" threat: ASTEROID. An asteroid heading for Earth,

31. Material for a suit: TORT.

33. Toolbar symbols: ICONS.

34. Flow stopper: CLOG.

35. Close relations: KIN.

37. "Marge in Charge" writer Fisher: ISLA.

38. Neighbor of Sudan: CHAD.

39. __ bag: slouchy purse: HOBO.

41. Crowning: ATOP.

42. Ready to eat, as pistachios: SHELLED.

44. "Good heavens!": OH MY. Our whole neighborhood was super quiet yesterday. I live 2.2 miles miles away from the lawmaker's house. 

46. Drink with quinine: TONIC.

47. Open and honest: FRANK.

48. Tiny pest: MITE.

50. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff: RHODA.

51. Prosperous periods: BOOMS.

52. Perceive: SENSE.

55. Pool contents: GENES.

56. Disney's "Poor Unfortunate Souls" singer: URSULA. "The Little Mermaid". Learning moment for me.

58. Who "cometh" in a Eugene O'Neill play: ICEMAN.

60. Reels post, for short: VID.

62. Diarist Nin: ANAIS.

64. Highlands designs: TARTANS. And 116. Edinburgh no: NAE.

66. Data display: CHART.

67. Angels' crowns: HALOS.

68. "Let me do it": I WILL.

69. Tree at a Christmas tree farm: FIR.

70. Suited king and queen, in pinochle: MARRIAGE.

71. Tonkatsu ingredient: PANKO.  Tonkatsu is pork cutlet. Often paired with shredded cabbage.

72. Sour sort: CYNIC.

75. Rocker Joan: JETT.

78. Sidewalk impediments: SLOWPOKES.

79. Gift bag, often: TOTE.

80. Hiding place: STASH.

81. Is theatrical: ACTS.

83. "Lawrence of Arabia" co-star Guinness: ALEC.

84. "Get a __ of this!": LOAD.

85. Tax prep figs.: SSNS.

87. Parrot: APER.

88. Holier-__-thou: THAN.

91. "Gimme Love" singer: SIA.

92. Be theatrical: EMOTE.

94. Still not ready to get up: ABED.

95. Hide text in a document: REDACT.

98. Commercial trade, briefly: AD BIZ.

99. Wait tables: SERVE.

100. Sidestep: AVOID.

102. Vitamin D source: UV RAY. I probably do not need to take vitamin D supplement during summer months. 

104. Dots on a map: TOWNS.

105. Surrounding glows: AURAE.

107. Danson of "A Man on the Inside": TED.

109. Eyelid problem: STYE.

110. Consequently: THEN.

112. Special teams responsibility: PUNT.

113. Awards acronym: EGOT.

114. Canadian gas company: ESSO.

117. Tax return pro: CPA.

118. Botch: ERR.

120. "So cool!": RAD.

C.C.

Sunday April 13, 2025 Gary Larson & Amy Ensz

Theme:"Made to Measure" - Common phrases are reinterpreted as if they're units of measurement.

23. Increments of time spent on an assembly line?: FACTORY SECONDS.

28. Units of weight equivalent to roughly seven times that of a human?: DOG POUNDS.

43. Percentages of alcohol in shipboard grog?: GALLEY PROOFS.

65. Units of force required to bite into a Mediterranean fruit?: FIG NEWTONS.

72. Volumes of topping poured over movie theater popcorn?: BUTTER CUPS.

93. Lengths to which some teenagers will go to procure fake IDs?: MINOR LEAGUES.

109. Areas of land bought and sold by savvy real estate investors?: WISE ACRES.

118. Thermometer readings at a major golf tournament? : MASTER'S DEGREES.

Chuckled at a few clues. Definitely some grin-worthy moments. The units of measurement are, of course, playfully repurposed from phrases that originally had nothing to do with actual measuring.

Gary Larson & Amy Ensz are a husband-and-wife team.  Can you imagine the wordplay flying around their home?

Across:

1. Limp Bizkit genre: RAP METAL. Nu metal band.

9. "Welcome to Hawaii!": ALOHA.

14. Without bias: JUSTLY.

20. "Maybe it's true": I GUESS SO.

21. Pitney's partner: BOWES.

22. Course absent at a dim sum or tapas restaurant: ENTREE. Generous portions at the dim sum place. We normally ordered 3 or 4 baskets then yakked for hours.

 

25. "Seinfeld" role for Julia: ELAINE.

26. Priceless?: FREE. Nice clue also.

27. Slightest: LEAST.

30. Get a bunch of: AMASS.

32. Viscount's superior: EARL.

33. Discombobulate: ABASH.

34. Capital that replaced Istanbul: ANKARA.

38. Paddock pace: TROT.

41. Spilled the beans: TOLD.

46. Washstand toppers: BASINS. 86. Wash up: LAVE.

50. Stunt performer Knievel: EVEL.

51. Swiss chocolate brand: LINDT.

52. Three-spot in a hand: TREY.

54. WWE wrestler __ "Freakin" Rollins: SETH. Unknown to me.

56. Went back and forth: SEESAWED.

59. Transitions: SEGUES.

61. "Whoopee!": YAHOO.

62. Feathery wrap: BOA.

63. D.C. baseball team: NATS.

64. "Heavens to Betsy": DEAR ME.

74. Divvies up: ALLOTS.

75. Like a phone in need of a charge: DEAD.

77. Fly catcher: WEB.

78. Pride members: LIONS.

79. Sent an emoji: TEXTED.

81. Italian dessert: TIRAMISU. Want some?

87. Tick off: LIST.

88. Bishop's agent: VICAR.

90. Seemingly forever: EONS. Been over 8 weeks since I took Methotrexate. Alas, no improvement yet. Sure hope there's some alternative when I see the RA doctor again on 4/23.

91. Hold back: DETAIN.

96. Origin: SEED.

98. World Cup cheers: OLES.

99. Chalkboard accessory: ERASER.

100. Persian potentates: SHAHS. Followed by 104. Many a Riyadh resident: ARAB.

106. Diving positions: TUCKS. Pike and tuck.

111. Condition: SHAPE.

113. Some PC ports: USBS.

117. Figure skating biopic: I TONYA. Played by Margot Robbie.

122. Chops finely: MINCES.

123. Mystery prize?: EDGAR. The Edgar Awards.

124. Eroding: EATING AT.

125. Knights' mounts: STEEDS.

126. Coffee order: LATTE.

127. Some sporty Pontiacs: TRANS AMS.

Down:

1. Song opening, often: RIFF.

2. Biology lab supply: AGAR.

3. Purple shade: PUCE.

4. Ration (out): METE.

5. Spanish "that": ESO.

6. Original Dungeons & Dragons co.: TSR. Short for Tactical Studies Rules.

7. Safe places: ASYLA. I dreamed of ICE agents visiting my house one night. 

8. Takes the count: LOSES.

9. Primer material: ABCS.

10. Spoils: LOOT.

11. Have possession of: OWN.

12. "__ Gabler": Ibsen play: HEDDA.

13. Classify: ASSORT.

14. Military vehicle: JEEP.

15. Vents: UNLOADS. Guess how much does it cost to change a Federal Pacific panel these days? $5K at least. I have to replace it if I want to sell the house, as it's regarded as a fire hazard. But I don't need to if I continue to live here. 

16. French cookware brand: STAUB. Pricey.

 

17. "Still da Baddest" artist: TRINA.

18. Advances: LENDS.

19. "Good grief": YEESH. 30. "__ you joking?": ARE. The panel!

24. Singer Sheena: EASTON.

29. Geography class spheres: GLOBES.

31. Kentucky Derby month: MAY.

32. Dark forest hypothesis subjs.: ETS.

34. Keeps in a cellar, perhaps: AGES.

35. Pews locale: NAVE.

36. "Castle and Sun" painter Paul: KLEE.

37. "__ Well That Ends Well": ALL'S.

39. Engine parts: RODS.

40. As a rule: OFTEN.

42. Nonprofessional: LAY.

44. Tennis skirt fold: PLEAT.

45. Clear (of): RID.

47. Oscar of "Dune": ISAAC.

48. Jacket named for an Indian prime minister: NEHRU.

49. Walk noisily: STOMP.

52. Ballet attire: TUTU.

53. Sabbath activity: REST.

55. Tilling tools: HOES.

57. Helps run a scam: ABETS.

58. Blows away: WOWS.

60. Make small talk: GAB.

61. __ Buena Island, California: YERBA.

64. Bambi, e.g.: DEER.

65. Pumpkin spice season: FALL. Lately I've been loving pumpkin millet congee. It soothes my stomach and brings me back to my childhood.

66. Trojan War saga: ILIAD.

67. Part of a fitting simile?: GLOVE. Fit like a glove.

68. Nine-piece band: NONET.

69. Poetic exaltations: ODES.

70. Call from a till: NEXT.

71. Did nothing: SAT.

73. Flower girl's dance move, perhaps: TWIRL.

76. Pitchfork wielder: DEVIL.

79. Quality of one who can't sing on pitch: TIN EAR.

80. Chow down: DINE.

81. 2022 Cate Blanchett drama: TAR. It's heavy.

82. Ginormous: MEGA.

83. Letters of debt: IOUS.

84. Old-fashioned blade: SNEE.

85. Space race initials: USSR.

87. Golf ball position: LIE.

89. One who shares the bill: CO-STAR.

92. Evaluated: ASSAYED.

93. Unruly group: MOB.

94. Sound of surprise: EEK.

95. Horace's "__ Poetica": ARS.

97. Multitool maker: DREMEL. We had this before.

100. Stays afloat: SWIMS. Been taking a break. Sure hope the ankle swelling goes away soon.

101. Water-skier's "Go!": HIT IT.

102. Collectively: AS ONE.

103. Thus: HENCE.

105. Carne __: ASADA. This looks delicious.

107. Unexpected sports outcome: UPSET.

108. Chest material: CEDAR.

110. Pop's Mama: CASS.

111. On the double: STAT.

112. "Take this!": HERE.

113. Banquet coffeepots: URNS.

114. Genesis creator: SEGA.

115. Skyscraper support: BEAM.

116. Fast fliers no longer flying, briefly: SSTS.

119. Title of a Beatles song?: SGT. Pepper!

120. Pilot's approx.: ETA.

121. __ rummy: GIN.

C.C.

Sunday March 23, 2025 Gary Larson & Doug Peterson

Theme: "World Series" - Each theme entry contains a popular TV series and the show is re-imagined at a different setting.

23. A spunky teenage girl works as an intern in Silicon Valley?: APPLE BLOSSOM.

29. A forensic anthropologist investigates crime at a topless beach on the French Riviera?: BARE BONES.

42. Hugh Laurie's character practices medicine in Tokyo?: HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN.

68. The bar where "everybody knows your name" opens a franchise in a New York borough?: BRONX CHEERS.

93. Rachel, Ross, and the gang climb the Himalayas?: FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES.

109. A navy lawyer visits the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem?: CRYING JAG.

116. High-powered attorneys vacation at the Yellowstone Hot Springs?: BATHING SUITS.

The new settings are all over the place, hence "World Series".

Gary and Doug have collaborated quite a few Sunday puzzles. From the byline we can see that this is Gary's initial idea. Doug helped him find more theme entries.

Across:

1. Fashion brand that makes Luna Rossa Ocean fragrances: PRADA. For man. This is Jake Gyllenhaal.

6. Web crawler?: SPIDER. Not the website.

12. "The Big Bang Theory" character: RAJ.

15. Sale caveat: AS IS.

19. Narrow: TAPER.

20. "Sweet": OH NICE.

21. Big bird: EMU.

22. Fill a hold: LADE.

25. Home of the Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden: HONOLULU. Streams and waterfalls. I want to be there.

27. "Goosebumps" series writer: STINE (R.L.)

28. Bard's nightfall: EEN.

30. Bach work: CANTATA.

33. Center of activity: HUB.

34. Blue-white twinklers: B STARS.

35. Actress Gilbert: SARA.

38. Tic-__-toe: TAC.

39. Shadowbox: SPAR.

41. Basketball great Bird: SUE.

48. Yosemite photographer Adams: ANSEL.

49. Tabasco kin: TIO.

50. Arabian Peninsula citizen: OMANI.

51. Sugar __ peas: SNAP. You can just pop them into your mouth.

53. [Yawn]: MEH.

54. Tasteless: INSIPID. My taste buds have changed. The COVID I got last spring changed everything.

57. "Sick!": RAD.

58. Saint __ fire: ELMO'S.

60. Actress Rae: ISSA.

62. Major obligation: ONUS.

64. Most in need of a trim: WEEDIEST.

66. Is not misused?: AIN'T.

72. "California Gurls" singer Perry: KATY. I like her "Teenage Dream".

73. Plan for: FIGURE ON.

75. Gobsmack: STUN.

76. Get ready: PREP.

78. Familiar theme: TROPE.

79. Wearable souvenir: TEE.

81. Resembling the king of the jungle: LEONINE.

84. Crater's edge: RIM.

87. Budget execs: CFOS.

88. Eel, to a sushi chef: UNAGI. Mouth-watering. Eels boost your stamina.

90. "Lost" actor Daniel Dae __: KIM.

91. Stand for: ABIDE.

97. Pops: DAD. Ba ba.

98. Nodder's phrase: I SEE.

99. Shake a leg, quaintly: HIE.

100. Salty expanses: SEAS.

101. More glum: SADDER.

105. Explosive block in Minecraft: TNT.

106. Nursery noisemakers: RATTLES.

111. Former Interior Secretary Haaland: DEB. Not many way to clue this word.

112. Wonderland cake words: EAT ME.

115. Spot of Texas tea: OIL STAIN.

120. Not very convincing: WEAK.

121. Wily: SLY.

122. Camden Yards player: ORIOLE.

123. "Sneak Previews" co-host Roger: EBERT.

124. HR dept. data: SSNS.

125. NYC subway org.: MTA.

126. Formal announcement: DECREE.

127. Bowling alley lineup: LANES. Just had this last week. 

Down:

1. Fundraising org.: PTA.

2. Knocks: RAPS.

3. Calendar entry: Abbr.: APPT.

4. One might be full of baloney: DELI CASE. Fun clue.

5. Big game venue: ARENA.

6. Fa follower: SOL.

7. Vietnamese soup: PHO. They use thin rice noodles. I like wide noodles.

8. Map feature: INSET.

9. Pathologists' focus: DISEASE.

10. Sci. of money: ECON.

11. Sleep acronym: REM.

12. Post-surgery therapy, for short: REHAB.

13. Spanish "love": AMOR.

14. Insect similar to a figeater beetle: JUNE BUG.  Not familiar with the figeater beetle. But I like fresh figs also.

  

15. Parcel out: ALLOT.

16. Hot spot: SAUNA.

17. One whiling away the time: IDLER.

18. Sam-I-am's creator: SEUSS.

24. Square meal?: BENTO. Some squares inside, but bento boxes are often rectangular.

26. Preoccupied (with): OBSESSED.

29. Tuition collector: BURSAR. Learning moment for me.

31. White House family of the early 1910s: TAFTS.

32. Popcorn brand: ACT II.

33. One of "The Two Coreys": HAIM. Corey Haim and Corey Feldman.

35. Bogus: SHAM.

36. First-class: A ONE.

37. Heading out in a hurry: RUSHING OFF.

40. Collection of a brand's goods: PRODUCT LINE. Aritzia stopped their Go-to T-shirts. Drive me crazy.

41. Dee of heavy metal: SNIDER. Lead singer of Twisted Sister.

43. Yale grads: ELIS.

44. "I'll give you a lift!": HOP ON.

45. Not just impressed: IN AWE.

46. Not similar to: UNLIKE.

47. Prepare to haggle, perhaps: NAME A PRICE. I'm not good at haggling. You?

52. Fence upright: POST.

55. Part of town, for short: NABE.

56. "Devil Inside" band: INXS.

59. Pen for a pig: STY.

61. Daze: STUPOR.

63. Elisabeth of "The Boys": SHUE.

65. "NBA Today" airer: ESPN.

66. Toward the stern: AFT.

67. Texter's "Unless my memory deceives me": IIRC. If I Recall Correctly.

69. Portly: ROTUND.

70. Upright: ON END.

71. Long, thin mushroom: ENOKI. Essential in hot pot dishes.

74. Junk mail addressee: RESIDENT.

77. Not made up: REAL.

80. Softening: EASING.

82. __-light: NIGHT.

83. Battle cry: I'M HIT.

85. Notion: IDEA.

86. Total jumble: MESS. I'm slowly starting to understand this medical insurance thing. Scary.

89. Point: GIST.

92. Low-pitched wind in a marching band: BASS TUBA.

94. Auditory ecstasy: EARGASM.

95. Religious dissident: HERETIC.

96. "Moby-Dick" figure: PELEG.

101. Freight tubs: SCOWS.

102. Sign of spring: ARIES. Can't wait for dandelions to pop up everywhere.

103. "The Practice" actor McDermott: DYLAN.

104. Floppy __: DISKS.

105. Tucker of country: TANYA.

107. Detest: ABHOR.

108. Meeting room stand: EASEL.

110. Stand up: JILT.

111. "I double-dog __ you!": DARE.

113. Personal bearing: MIEN.

114. Basic French verb: ETRE.  And 117. __ de la Cité: Notre-Dame locale: ILE.

116. Physique, for short: BOD.

118. Once called: NEE.

119. Ave. crossers: STS.

Dear Irish Miss (Agnes) shared with me this sweet picture of her and her siblings at the first Christmas cocktail party in her new home in 2004. She and Eileen hardly aged.

Left to Right: 

 

Seated: Bud, Agnes, Anne, Mary and Eileen

 

Standing: Jack, Peggy, Bill

Anne, Bud, Mary, and Jack now deceased.