Theme: Want fries with that? - There are four types orders to be found in the circles and the circles are on each side of the theme entries.
18. Paper or plastic choice: GROCERY BAG. Gag order; no discussing the current case to the press.
24. Waitstaff boss: MAÎTRE D'HÔTEL. Mail order.
40. Misfortune: BAD LUCK. Back order; what happened to your mail order.
51. Popular climb from Lone Pine, California: MOUNT WHITNEY. Money order, to pay for your mail order that has been back ordered.
62. Fries, slaw, etc. ... and what this puzzle's circles represent: SIDE ORDERS
Argyle here. C.C. has her latest protégé in tow and provided us with a doable Monday but with circles. Lack of circles shouldn't have slowed things up very much, I would imagine. Still, it's more fun with them.
Author:
1. D.C. fundraisers: PACS. (political action committee)
5. Throat-clearing word: [AHEM!]
9. Square root of 64: EIGHT
14. Marathon aftermath: ACHE
15. Singer Horne: LENA
16. Versailles send-off: ADIEU
17. Moscow: nyet :: Berlin: __: NEIN
20. Detective Pinkerton: ALLAN. C.C. worked for Pinkerton's at one time. The founder(Allan) of the Detective Agency was long gone by then.
22. Protest singer Phil: OCHS. He died in 1976 at the age of 35.
23. "Okay, __ do it!": LET'S
27. Gravy container: BOAT
28. Cocktail: DRINK
31. Online company with many drivers: UBER. Now they want to do away with the drivers.
33. Tot's piggies: TOES
37. Religious symbols: ICONS
39. "__ culpa": MEA
42. Tales of __: misfortunes: WOE
43. Bamboo eater: PANDA
45. Watson of "Harry Potter" films: EMMA. She looks different now.
46. Learning by memorization: ROTE
47. Carrier that added "ways" to its name in 1997: USAir
49. Butter toffee bar: SKOR. Still chewing on this one.
57. Car rental giant: AVIS
60. Most of the Jolly Green Giant's laugh: HO HO
61. "Done!": "THERE!"
65. "Terrible" tsar: IVAN
66. Coral island: ATOLL
67. West Point initials: USMA. (United States Military Academy)
68. Take a break: REST
69. Oater law group: POSSE
70. Gas company with toy trucks: HESS. They got rid of their gas stations but still sell the toy trucks.
71. Neighborhood: AREA
Down:
1. Old TWA rival: PAN AM
2. High-speed Amtrak service: ACELA. A made-up name.
3. Legumes used in cook-offs: CHILI BEANS
4. McCain or McConnell: SENATOR
5. Math subj.: ALG. (algebra)
6. King of Judea: HEROD
7. Firstborn son of Cain: ENOCH. Bible study: quiz later.
8. Ultra-manly: MACHO
9. Corn piece: EAR
10. Peaceful: IDYLLIC. In my local area, the corn is idyllic; grown up tall and the ears are filling out but beware, the choppers are coming.
11. Barb: GIBE
12. Furnace output: HEAT
13. Harbor craft: TUGS
19. Cornerstone abbr.: ESTD. (Established)
21. Gun lobby org.: NRA. (National Rifle Association)
25. Kett of old comics: ETTA
26. Christine's lover in "The Phantom of the Opera": ERIK
29. Ultimatum words: NOW OR NEVER
30. Tie the __: marry: KNOT
31. Strike caller: UMP
32. Older brother of Jeff Bridges: BEAU
34. "__ to Billie Joe": ODE
35. Large shade tree: ELM
36. Total in math: SUM
38. "Understand?": "SEE?"
40. Scott of "Happy Days": BAIO. "Chachi" Arcola is the younger cousin of Fonzie.
41. Flea market payment: CASH
44. Ones "in distress" in old films: DAMSELS
46. Tax-sheltered nest egg: ROTH IRA
48. German coal valley: RUHR. Haven't seen the valley in awhile.
50. Modeler's buy: KIT
52. "Obviously, Einstein!": "NO DUH!"
53. "__ are the times that try men's souls": Paine: THESE
These are the times that try men's souls. In the course of our nation's history, the people of Boston have rallied
Bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened. Today, a new crisis has arisen. The Metropolitan
Transit Authority, better known as the M. T. A., is attempting to levy a burdensome tax on the population in the
Form of a subway fare increase. Citizens, hear me out! This could happen to you!
54. Early-bird catches: WORMS. Did you catch an ear worm from the above intro?
55. Rub out: ERASE
56. Gossipy sort: YENTA
57. Without delay, in memos: ASAP. (as soon as possible)
58. Don Corleone's first name: VITO
59. Nuptial vows: I DO's
63. Barcelona cheer: ¡Olé!
64. Carrier to Copenhagen: SAS. Scandinavian Airlines
Argyle
Note from C,C.:
John Doering Sr. is our own witty Jayce, who speaks fluent Chinese and understands every quirky thing I say. Jayce also learns super fast and is lots of fun to work with.
Congratulations on your LAT debut, dear Jayce!
Jayce
Picture was taken in June 2013 in a hotel in Santa Barbara where Jayce and his wife were enjoying a week of vacation with his son and his family.
Picture was taken in June 2013 in a hotel in Santa Barbara where Jayce and his wife were enjoying a week of vacation with his son and his family.