Sunday May 1, 2016 Kathleen Fay O'Brien

 Theme:  "Floss" (F-loss). F sound is dropped from the start of one word in each theme entry.

 

23A. Perfect apartment deal? : GOLDEN LEASE. Golden Fleece.  For Jason and the Argonauts.

25A. Saying "Break a leg," say? : STAGE RITE. Stage fright.

46A. Plumbing school basic? : WRENCH LESSON. French lesson for Splynter.

71A. Traditional wisdom about hustlers? : DANCE LORE. Dance floor.

95A. Astronomers' monthly reading? : ORBS MAGAZINE. Forbes magazine.

119A. Song about a yellow ribbon? : OAK BALLAD. Folk ballad.

123A. Hooting, mostly? : OWL LANGUAGE. Foul language.

  

35D. Supply at the thermometer factory? : READY MERCURY. Freddie Mercury.

40D. Beet-flavored drink? : ROOT COCKTAIL. Fruit cocktail.

What a great title. I recall kicking around  a "Drop the f-bomb" idea with Don G ages ago.

All theme entries go through spelling changes. Very consistent. Kathleen dropped three F sound from the last word, 6 from the first word. No odd man out.

Across:    

1. Some "No Passing" road sections : ESSES

6. Journalist Roberts : COKIE

11. Tests with printed patterns, briefly : ECGs. Had to wait for the C as I just could not nail CATTY (12D. Showing one's claws, so to speak).

 

15. "Phooey!" : DANG. And 34. "Phooey!" : NERTS

19. 1814 treaty site : GHENT. Treaty of Ghent.

20. Dadaism pioneer : ERNST (Max)

21. Worn item that actually originated in Ecuador : PANAMA HAT. I'd have chickened out and broke this answer and LIE AROUND (125A. Relax) into two entries.

26. "TMI!" : SPARE ME

27. __ Authority : PORT

29. Minor adjustment : TWEAK. Rich often tweaks 50% of the clues. I fare slightly better on Sundays. But totally suck on Mondays/Tuesdays.

30. Descendant of Sperry Rand : UNISYS. Unknown trivia to me.

32. Likely to pry : NOSY

38. Traditionally red structure : BARN

41. Roller with leaves : TEA CART. Tea leaves.

43. Situation of intense scrutiny : HOT SEAT

45. Preview to a view, for short : IMO. Tricky clue.

 

49. Islands staple : TARO

50. "__ here!" : LOOKEE

52. Glide on powder : SKI. Did not think of snow.

53. Portent : OMEN

55. N.L. lineup absentees : DHs.  Also 74A. Ernie Banks epithet : MR. CUB And 17D. 2015 N.L. MVP Bryce Harper, e.g. : NAT

56. Highly values : ESTEEMS

58. The 114th began in 2015 : CONGRESS. So the Supreme Court is older than Congress?

62. "Roundabout" rockers : YES. Unfamiliar with the band or the song.

63. Flip over : CAPSIZE

66. It has all five black keys in its scale : D FLAT. Got via crosses.

67. Singer Mann : AIMEE

69. Black, in verse : EBON

73. Go like hotcakes : SELL

76. Karnak's country : EGYPT

77. "Please help me out" : BE A DEAR

80. Sound of fear : EEK

81. Sunday dinner entrée : RIB ROAST. We don't have a traditional Sunday dinner. How about your family?

84. Little shooter : MINICAM. Great clue.

87. Traitor : RAT

88. Scottish hillside : BRAE

89. Lager alternative : ALE

92. Working : ON DUTY

93. Top-billed : STAR

 

100. CD-__ : ROM

101. Canton natives : OHIOANS. I always think of Guangzhou when I see "Canton".

 

103. Key part of Bruce Wayne's wardrobe : BATSUIT

104. 10001 letters : NY NY. Zip code.

105. "M.O." rapper : NELLY

106. Many a reception : GALA

107. Emulate Cher in the '70s : GO SOLO. Also 130. Cher's former partner : SONNY

110. __ law : LEASH

113. Valley where David fought Goliath : ELAH. Valley of Elah.

115. Came out : EMERGED

 

126. Backs (away) : SHIES

127. Ottoman Empire founder : OSMAN

128. Banned apple spray : ALAR. And 122D. Banned bug spray : DDT

 129. Part of Q.E.D. : ERAT

131. Storage facilities : SHEDS

Down:

1. They're usually broken before use : EGGS. Also got via crosses. D'oh!

2. Mom-and-pop enterprise : SHOP

3. Ward of Hollywood : SELA

4. Evasive strategy : END RUN

5. Dutchman who painted "The Surprise" : STEEN. Can you link "The Surprise" painting for me?

6. Frozen pizza brand : CELESTE

7. Rock to refine : ORE

8. Hiker's burden : KNAPSACK

9. Schoolyard retort : IS SO

10. Infinite : ETERNAL

11. Some 45-rpm records : EPs

13. Nibble : GNAW

14. Wise one : SAGE

15. Most gloomy : DARKEST. Don't lose hope.

16. Sushi fish : AHI. Not our regular EEL.

18. Old AT&T rival : GTE

22. Was serious about : MEANT

24. Abbr. for people with only two names : NMI. I don't have middle name.

 

28. Raced : TORE

31. Desires : YENS

33. Rd. atlas listings : STS

36. Chapel Hill athlete : TAR HEEL

37. Eponymous Fox weekly news show : STOSSEL (John). Never watched his show.

38. Anger : BILE

39. Biblical prophet : AMOS

42. Stylish : CHIC

43. Betting favorite, often : HOME TEAM

44. People : ONES

46. Cry : WEEP

47. Radiation units : REMs. Learned from doing xwords. Never know what it stands for.

48. Like a June day, to Lowell : SO RARE

51. Reeves of "John Wick" : KEANU

 

54. Codebreaker's org. : NSA

57. "May I approach" court conferences : SIDEBARS. Tiny BAR dupe with ROLLBAR (94. Racecar safety feature) 

 

59. "Awake and Sing!" dramatist : ODETS (Clifford)

60. Patriots' org. : NFL

61. Goo amount : GLOB

64. Croatian capital : ZAGREB. Tinbeni's old haunt.

65. Companion of Ares : ENYO. I forgot. We had this sometime ago.

68. "Again ... " : I SAID

69. "Nature" author : EMERSON

70. Live partner : BREATHE. Live and breathe.

72. Tax season VIP : CPA

75. "I need a short break" : BRB (Be Right Back)

78. Belmonts frontman : DION

79. Kin of -trix : ENNE. Or ETTE.

82. Golfer's choice : IRON

83. Luggage danglers : TAGS

 

85. Loads : A TON. Not A LOT.

86. "Goodness!" : MY MY. And 117. "Goodness!" : EGAD

90. Texas Air Force base : LAUGHLIN. Well, gimme for D-Otto and Anon-T. Unknown to me.

91. He played Emile in Broadway's "South Pacific" : EZIO (Pinza). I only watched the movie "South Pacific". I talk like Bloody Mary.

 

96. Agcy. that aids start-ups : SBA

97. Guy : MALE

98. Stumped : AT A LOSS

99. "Piece of cake" : IT'S EASY

102. Annually : A YEAR. A partial.

104. "I have time" : NO RUSH

106. Togo neighbor : GHANA

108. Every, in an Rx : OMN. I won't dare to put this or TER in a grid. Rich just told me he would not allow DAMN any more.

109. The 5,922 of a Taj Mahal model : LEGOS

111. Natural balm : ALOE

112. Mark indicating a musical phrase : SLUR

114. Dr. Seuss's "Horton Hears __" : A WHO

116. Phone download : GAME

118. TV sites : DENS

119. Ipanema greeting : OLA

120. Confine to bed, maybe : AIL. Boomer had to take a cane when we walked yesterday. His right hip gave him so much pain. He normally toughs it out the elbow and shoulder pain. This hip pain is something else.

121. Mauna __ : KEA

124. Novelist Deighton : LEN

C.C.

Sunday, Oct 18, 2015 Kathleen Fay O'Brien

Theme: "Ch-Ching!" - CH is added to the start of each theme answer. All entries go through a spelling change.

23A. Part of a dairy's financial statement? : CHURNINGS REPORT. Earnings report.

46A. Doesn't eat with one's mouth closed? : CHEWS AND AAHS. Oohs and aahs.

71A. Vacant seat you only thought you saw? : CHAIR APPARENT. Heir apparent.

95A. Spread for Sunday morning coffee hour? : CHAPEL BUTTER. Apple butter.

122A. Glance at the blackboard? : CHALKWARD MOMENT. Awkward moment.

16D. What Alice's adventures began with? : CHASE IN THE HOLE. Ace in the hole.

52D. Pizza scraps? : CHEESY PICKINGS. Easy pickings.

Much easier than last Sunday's puzzle.  I caught onto the theme immediately and filled in all the free CH's.

It's a great follow up to Donna Levin/Bruce Venzke's "Th-, Th-, That's All, Folks" puzzle we had in July. I think I've seen SH addition also.

This type of spelling change theme is more challenging than the simple letter addition gimmick. You really need to be creative in coming up with a workable set.

Across:

  

1. Old story : MYTH. I had LORE first.

5. They're often exposed in ski lodges : BEAMS. Never been to a ski lodge, this looks lovely.

10. Radio option : AM FM

14. Religious factions : SECTS

19. River in the Bernese Alps : AARE. Easy crosses, even if you don't know the river.

20. Started anew at the campsite : RE-LIT

21. Pump, for one : SHOE

22. Summer gripe : I'M HOT

26. Tropical vine : LIANA. Or Liane. Like this.

27. Truckers' competition : ROADEO

28. 2013 Masters champ Scott : ADAM. I met him and Justin Rose long time ago.

29. Whom Dennis often menaced : MR. WILSON. Nailed it.

31. Bass ending : OON

32. __ factor : ICK

34. Paper punditry : OP-EDS

37. Common Market letters : EEC

38. Slim fish : EEL. Hmm, roasted eel, the best food ever. Then fresh Lychee.

39. Retired boomer : SST

40. Karmann __: sports car : GHIA. Got via crosses.

42. Hardly handy : INEPT

44. Dry-eyes solution : SALINE

49. German finale : ENDE. German for "End".

50. Dash devices : TACHS

53. Doctrinal suffix : ISM

54. Strings for Orpheus : LYRE

55. Wash. setting : PST. I noticed the . mark.

56. Onetime Ritz competitor : HI HO

57. Smidge : IOTA

60. "That's what they tell me" : SO I GATHER. I wanted So I'VE HEARD. Not enough space.

64. Double Stuf treats : OREOS

66. Astronauts' gear : G-SUITS

68. Cab cousin : ZIN. Cabernet. 

69. Running bird : EMU

70. Take advantage of : USE

75. Right-to-left lang. : HEB (Hebrew). Chinese newspapers in Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan are written from right-to-left also. Hard to read, esp since they still use traditional Chinese characters, while mainland China use simplified version. Can you tell the differences?

76. Some light bulbs : GEs

77. Capek's robot play : R.U.R.

78. Competed in a regatta, perhaps : SAILED

79. Future moss : SPORE

81. Settings for Monet : HAYFIELDS. I thought of gardens and water lilies when I think of Monet.

85. Genetic chains : RNAS. Plural again.

86. Actor Ken : OLIN

87. Spot on a card : PIP

88. City east of Wichita : IOLA. No idea. This crosses another unknown SLADE (84D. "Same Time, Next Year" playwright Bernard) and stumped me. My last-to-fill area.

90. Former telecom company : MCI

92. Seasonal tunes : NOELS

93. Gung-ho : AVID

99. Louis XV furniture style : ROCOCO. Nailed it.

102. Hacienda brick : ADOBE

103. Bounce in a cave : ECHO

104. Passenger vehicle : CAR. Thought of CAB first.

107. Antlered animal : ELK

108. The law has a long one : ARM

110. Horace poem : EPODE

112. "__ So Shy": Pointer Sisters hit : HE'S

113. Suffix with lact- : OSE

114. Jefferson Airplane genre : ACID ROCK. Easy crosses as well.

117. Dinghy movers : OARS

119. Put sows below cows? : RHYMED. The answer presented itself.

121. Like horses : MANED

126. Journalistic slant : ANGLE

127. Twelve __: neighbor of Tara : OAKS

128. Houston athlete : ASTRO. Do you believe in jinks?

129. Thing south of the border : COSA. Just Spanish for "Thing", right?

130. Asked : POSED

131. Like some audiobooks : ON CD

132. Dublin-born poet : YEATS

133. Uncommon blood type: Abbr. : A NEG

  

Down:

1. Users' shortcuts : MACROS. Can you give me an example, TTP/D-Otto?

2. Bumpkins : YAHOOS

3. One forging a doctor's note, maybe : TRUANT

4. Driven drove : HERD. Nice clue.

5. Eggy pastry : BRIOCHE. Are you a good baker, Steve?

6. Dusk, to Donne : EEN

7. Minuscule lake plant : ALGA

8. Make a mess of : MISDO

9. Secure for the trip : STRAP IN

10. Poisonous slitherer : ASP

11. Old reciprocal electrical unit : MHO

12. Thing to fill out : FORM

13. Dover distance : METRE

14. Mineral used in glassmaking : SILICA

15. Mickey Mouse enemy __ Eagle : EMIL. Never heard of it.

17. Constantly : TO NO END

18. Marvel Comics superhero? : STAN LEE. Wow, he's still alive. 

24. Stable sounds : NEIGHS

25. Fix text : EMEND

30. "Scream" director Craven : WES. Passed away a few weeks ago.

33. New Zealand bird : KIWI

35. Agreement : DEAL

36. Fixes : SPAYS

41. St. Francis' home : ASSISI

43. Via, à la Burns : THRO

45. "__ we forget" : LEST

46. Polite sneeze : CHOO. Why is it "Polite"?

47. Pepé Le Pew's pursuit : AMOUR

48. Appropriated : SEIZED

50. "His house is in the village __": Frost : THOUGH

51. With 74-Down, dramatic Navy mission : AIR SEA. And 74. See 51-Down : RESCUE

55. Slacks : PANTS

58. Reunión attendees : TIAs

59. How some stock is sold : AT PAR

61. Sling spirits : GIN. Oh, Singapore Sling.

62. "Kicked-Up Sandwiches" author : EMERIL. Obtainable if you know Emeril and his signature "kick up a notch".

63. Knighted Flemish painter : RUBENS

65. Rx : SCRIP. Not a word I use.

66. Spaghetti sauce staple : GARLIC

67. Quick ride : SPIN

72. Nuanced color : HUE

73. "Democracy is two wolves and __ voting on what to have for lunch": Franklin : A LAMB. Nice clue for a partial.

80. In need : POOR

82. Stereotypical pooch : FIDO

83. Qatar's capital : DOHA

89. Each : A POP

91. Rash symptom : ITCH

92. Arkansas River tributary : NEOSHO. Another unknown. Wiki says "The name "Neosho" is generally accepted to be of Native American (most likely Osage) derivation, meaning "clear, cold water", referring to local freshwater springs."

93. Visitors center handout : AREA MAP

94. Mount Rainier, e.g. : VOLCANO

96. You don't have to turn its pages : E-BOOK. We just had "Real page-turner?" for AVID READER yesterday.

97. Took out in cuffs, say : LED AWAY. We also have 111. Take out : ERASE. And 115. Take out : DELE

98. Hot drink holder : THERMOS

100. Checked the ID of : CARDED

101. Guatemala gold : ORO

104. Singles bar lure : COME ON. All's quiet in Splyner's "Blue-eyed Girl" front.

105. Sort of, with "in" : A SENSE. A rare 6-letter partial.

106. Sale indicator : RED TAG

109. "Wedding Bell Blues" soloist Marilyn : MCCOO. Got via crosses.

116. "Star Trek" villain : KHAN

118. Monterrey miss: Abbr. : SRTA

120. Song with arm motions : YMCA

123. "Best in Show" org. : AKC

124. '60s hallucinogen : LSD

125. Gere title gynecologist : DR. T. Guilty of putting it in my own puzzle.

Montana updates:

She has settled down her son's estate and has been volunteering to help local senior citizens review their Part D plans. She drives a long way to the office most of the days and enjoys her work.

C.C.

Sunday Dec 2, 2012 Kathleen Fay O'Brien

Theme: "Heard Down Under" -Long A sound is replaced by Long I sound, the Aussie way.

 23A. Arranged pickling solutions on the shelf? : RACKED ONE'S BRINES. Racked one's brains. I use singular "brain".

 40A. Funhouse admission fee? : FRIGHT CHARGE. Freight charge.

 73A. "Your shingle work stinks!" e.g.? : ROOFING SLIGHT. Roofing slate. I can picture PK shouted at those roof workers: "Your shingle work stinks!"

 105A. "Don't take candy from strangers," say? : GUILE WARNING. Gale warning.

 123A. Empty church basket? : COLLECTION PLIGHT. Collection plate.

 16D. Landing with just a toothbrush? : LIGHT ARRIVAL. Late arrival.

 67D. Indian chef's series of adventures? : SPICE ODYSSEY. Space Odyssey. I think Indians even use spices in their breakfast.

Three sound changes occur in the back, the rest front. You don't want an odd man out.

Hope Kazie finds time solve this puzzle today, right up her alley. Dave moved back to the States when he was 6 years old (?), he might not have an Aussie accent.

Another grid with only 68 black squares and no cheater squares. Lovely.

 Across:

1. Not as risky : SAFER

6. Influential collegian, briefly : BMOC (Big Man On Campus)

10. Mus. direction in a dramatic passage : CRESC

15. Dalmatian, e.g. : SLAV. People of Dalmatia, rather than the dog.

19. Where surfers shop : E-MALL. Nice clue.

20. Sphere opening : IONO. Ionosphere.

21. Romney foe : OBAMA. Waiting for gift, Mr. President.

22. __ colada : PINA

26. Breakfast fare : EGGS

27. Name on sweet pieces : REESE

28. Deceptive handle : ALIAS. Deceptive clue.

29. Memorable Shakespearean trio : WITCHES

31. Solstice mo. : DEC

32. "Ghostbusters" goo : SLIME

34. Like blue cheese : RICH

37. Cosa __ : NOSTRA

38. Virginie, e.g. : ETAT

43. Syst. with gestures : ASL. This is in sign language. The title is "Start All Over Again". My go-to song when I'm feeling blue.

44. Furrowed : STRIATE. Gimme, Spitzboov? I'm more familiar with STRIA.

46. Patriotic chant : USA USA

47. Island S. of 10-Down : SAR (Sardinia) 10. Napoleon I's birthplace : CORSICA

49. Program writer : CODER

50. Pre-coll. exams : SATs

53. Place setting items : MATS

55. __ flakes : BRAN

58. ACLU concerns : RTs

60. Like leaves : LOBED

63. Drug in Shatner novels : TEK

64. Roller coaster, e.g. : RIDE

65. Tough call : TOSS UP

68. Firenze's land : ITALIA. Florence.

70. Verb in the classic "Mission: Impossible" opening scene : DISAVOW. No idea. Did you all get this easily?

72. One in a military march? : HUP.  "___, two, three, four..."

76. Litigator's org. : ABA

77. Outfit for an outfit : UNIFORM

79. Official commands : EDICTS

80. Biceps band : ARMLET

82. 13th-century date : MCCI. 1201.

83. President pro __ : TEM

85. Uppity sort : SNOOT

86. Beach shirt : TEE

87. "Fawlty Towers" producer, with "the" : BEEB. BBC.

88. Old dagger : SNEE

90. Cognac grade, initially : VSOP (Very Special Old Pale). I dated a guy who drank Cognac & tonic water every night. 

92. Reuben need : SWISS

96. Spanish she-bear : OSA

98. Not really, with "only" : IN NAME

101. Quiet : EASEFUL. This is a word? OK, then.

103. Goal for a H.S. dropout : GED

109. Urgent : DIRE

110. Beefeater product : DRY GIN. Beefeater is a gin brand. New to me.

112. Algerian port : ORAN

113. Oct. 24, 1947 declaration : UN DAY

115. __ school : MED

116. Abby and Martha's poison of choice, in a 1939 play : ARSENIC. "Arsenic and Old Lace".

118. Types : KINDs

120. Asian wraps : SARIS

122. Democratic donkey designer : NAST (Thomas)

128. Wineglass feature : STEM

129. Water from France : EVIAN

130. City west of Caen : ST LO

131. Reverberations in une grotte : ÉCHOS. French plural.

132. Mitty portrayer : KAYE (Danny). Walter Mitty.

133. Data update mechanisms : FEEDS

134. Partings : BYES

135. Venezia casino winner : SETTE (Seven). Venezia, Venice.

Down:

1. Sun. speech : SER (Sermon)

2. Disaronno Originale product : AMARETTO. Italian for "a little bitter". Argyle might know the brand.

3. King or queen : FACE CARD

4. Sommer of film : ELKE

5. Like May through August, in a way : R-LESS

6. Book flap feature : BIO

7. My friend abroad : MON AMI. Literally "My friend".

8. Long John Silver feature : ONE LEG

9. "__ fan tutte": Mozart opera : COSI

11. Sac fly result : RBI

12. Suffix with Jacob : EAN. Jacobean.

13. Diving duck : SMEW

14. Sausage skin : CASING. I like Cantonese sausage. They are sweet. 

15. Short details? : SPECS

17. Infuriates : ANGERS

18. Feudal servant : VASSAL

24. Dutch pottery city : DELFT. Vermeer's hometown.

25. St. __: Caribbean island : BARTS. Never heard of it.

30. Little piggies : TOES

31. Invoice column hdg. : DESC. Description, I suppose.

33. Infuriates : IRES

35. Pal : CHUM

36. Goes after : HAS AT

39. Theater sections : TIERS

41. Conserves : HUSBANDS. Boomer does not know the "Conserve" meaning of HUSBAND. I learned from doing Xword.

42. Like "Mary Poppins" : RATED G

45. Maestro Toscanini : ARTURO

48. Magician's opening : ABRA

51. Arabic alphabet opener : ALIF

52. Funny Fields : TOTIE. No memory of this lady.

54. Topper seen on a mogul : SKI HAT. Marti style clue. Alas, I was picturing Donald Trump's "real hair" toupee.

56. Hacienda brick : ADOBE

57. A beginner in : NEW AT

59. Man cave topic : SPORTS

61. Onetime Rolex rival : ELGIN. I wanted OMEGA.

62. Find : DISCOVER

65. Opposable digit : THUMB

66. Prevention measure? : OUNCE.  "An ounce of prevention..."

69. Choir section : ALTOS

71. Put in bold type, say : STRESS

74. Subtitle of the sequel "Damien" : OMEN II. Looks disturbing.

75. Analogy words : IS TO

78. Trivial lies : FIBS

81. Spoke Siamese? : MEWED

84. __ Park: Edison lab site : MENLO

89. Nuke-testing dept. : ENER

91. Remain undecided : PEND

93. "Allow me ..." : IF I MIGHT. I say "If I may".

94. Deadeye : SURE SHOT

95. Arctic carrier : SLED

97. Rube's "anti" : AGIN'

99. Opens one's eyes : AWAKENS

100. Crazed : MANIC

102. Audibly awed : AGASP

103. Southern Baltic Sea port : GDANSK. Wiki said it's the birth place of Lech Walesa's Solidarity movement.

104. List of typos and such : ERRATA

106. Worldwide relief org. : UNICEF

107. It's common in some camps : NUDITY. Never been to one. You?

108. Boot part : INSOLE

111. "Capisce?" : GET ME?

114. Many pin tumbler locks : YALES

117. Shelter from a storm, perhaps : COVE

119. Airline investigative org. : NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board)

121. Fried __ : RICE. Have some!

124. Golfer's concern : LIE. Downhill lie is hard to work with.

125. Chap : LAD

126. Stats, e.g. : NO.s

127. "Cats" poet's monogram : T.S.E.

C.C.

Sunday December 26, 2010 Kathleen Fay O'Brien

Theme: Many Happy Returns - The last word of each common phrase is spelled backward. The resulted phrases are then humorously clued.

23A. "Honest, Professor, I studied very hard for this test"? : ALLEGED PREP. Alleged perp.

25A. Visibly shaken king? : PALE REGAL. Pale lager.

37A. Rejection at McDonald's? : HAMBURGER SNUB. Hamburger buns.

64A. Error that just got bigger? : DILATED SLIP-UP. Dilated pupils.

91A. What Red Riding Hood wisely didn't do? : GO WITH THE WOLF. Go with the flow.

109A. Green poet? : OLIVE BARD. Olive drab.

112A. Effect of Pepé Le Pew battling a romantic rival? : DOUBLE STINK. Double knits.

40D. Quick look across the moat? : CASTLE PEEK. What is "Castle keep"?

45D. Fowl injustice? : TURKEY TORT. Turkey Trot.

I initially thought the last word is only an anagram and couldn't quite grok the "Many Happy Returns" title.

Neat theme. Must have taken the constructor lots of time to find phrases ending in "returnable" words. I like the grid design too. All theme entries (9) are spread out.

Across:

1. Hussein : Obama :: __ : Garfield : ABRAM. Both middle names.

6. Comforter : DUVET

11. Taking badly? : ABDUCTION. Nice clue.

20. Dunces : BOOBS

21. Informal bid : ONE NO. Bridge bid.

22. Zap : MICROWAVE

26. Circus leaper : FLEA. Not real fleas, right?

27. Ad gp. : AGCY

28. U.S. tender : DOLs.

30. Oddly amusing : DROLL

31. It affects your take-home pay : TAX RATE

33. Civil War authority Shelby : FOOTE. Not familiar with this Civil War historian.

35. Per : A POP

40. Things used in semi circles? : CBs. "Semi circles" = Those who drive semis.

43. Bucky, in "Get Fuzzy" : PET CAT. What's your favorite comic strip?

47. Concludes : ENDS

48. Photographing giraffes, perhaps : ON SAFARI

50. Reunion attendees : ALUMS

51. Technology prefix : NANO. Nanotechnology

52. Pico de gallo holders : TACOS. Is pico de gallo similar to salsa?

54. Pronto, to execs : ASAP

55. Scarlett's refuge : TARA. "Gone With the Wind".

56. Like granola : OATY

57. Deck out : ARRAY

58. Bar orders for the calorie-conscious : LITES

59. Laser alternatives : INKJETS.

61. Expected to land : DUE IN

62. Gloomy atmosphere : PALL

63. Dedicated verse : ODE

68. PC panic button : ESC. I wonder if Al uses this button often.

71. The "Y" in YSL : YVES

73. Wise guys : SAGES

74. Detailed : IN DEPTH

76. Unlock the door for : LET IN

78. House reporter? : C-SPAN. House of Representatives.

79. Harlem sch. : CCNY (City College of New York)

81. Princess born on Polis Massa : LEIA. "Star Wars".

82. Love, to Caesar : AMOR. Then we also have 116. All, to Caesar : OMNIA. "Omnia vincit amor" = "Love conquers all".

83. Acts skittish : SHIES

84. Vidal's Breckinridge : MYRA. Second encounter with the book.

85. Lurches : REELS

86. Fighting practice : WAR GAMES. Nice entry.

88. Kemo __ : SABE

89. Like the Finger of Fate on "Laugh-In" : FICKLE. "The flying, fickle finger of fate". Unfamiliar reference to me.

90. Friday, e.g.: Abbr. : SGT. Sgt Joe Friday."Dragnet".

95. Betty Grable's were insured : LEGS. How tall is Grable?

96. Show again : RE-AIR

97. Source of inside info? : CAT SCAN. Saw similar clue before.

102. Suite spot : HOTEL

105. "Mr. Mom" actress : GARR (Teri)

106. Do some bartending : POUR. Hey, Jerome!

108. Wrist-to-elbow bone : ULNA

115. Pretends to be what one isn't : LIVES A LIE. Funny, I couldn't parse my answer earlier.

117. Els on the links : ERNIE

118. Backyard buildings : TOOL SHEDS

119. One you might not want to meet? : MAKER. Meet one's maker = Die.

120. Carried on : WAGED

Down:

1. Sternward : ABAFT

2. Italian vintner : BOLLA. Got me last time with the "125-year-old wine company" clue.

3. Subject of the book "The Best of Time" : ROLEX. Intuitable

4. Tough test metaphor : A BEAR

5. Stir-fry additive : MSG. No one uses it any more.

6. Former bumper car trademark : DODGEM. Learning moment to me.

7. Like "waitress," e.g. : UN-PC

8. "Ha ha" : VERY FUNNY

9. L.A.-to-N.Y. dir. : ENE

10. Champs : TOP DOGS. I always associate this phrase with big potato/cheese, not champ.

11. More copious : AMPLER

12. Preconception : BIAS

13. MCCC halved : DCL. Half of 1,300= 650

14. Cult following? : URE. Culture. Awesome clue.

15. City on the Guadalquivir River : CORDOBA. Capital of Spain under the Moors. South of Madrid. Another learning moment for me.

16. Insignificant one : TWERP

17. Othello's betrayer : IAGO

18. Like many a palette : OVAL

19. "Little" Dickens girl : NELL. Is this from the book "The Old Curiosity Shop"?

24. Bother : EAT AT

29. Suffix with Capri : OTE. Capriote.

32. Cries of clarity : AHAs

34. Novus __ seclorum: Great Seal motto : ORDO. We just had this a few weeks ago. Ordo = Order.

35. Bother : ANNOY

36. Kisser : PUSS

38. Lick : BEAT. Are you familiar with "smear" meaning "decidedly defeat"?

39. "Me too!" : SO CAN I

41. Bluff in Banff : BRAE. Scottish hillside. Banff is a town in SE Scotland. I always connect it with Canada.

42. Small samplings : SIPS

43. House party setting : PATIO

44. Serengeti grazer : ELAND

46. Key of Bizet's most popular sym. : C-MAJ. No idea.

49. Bomb : FAIL

51. Chicago Sting org. : NASL (North American Soccer League, 1968-1984). Chicago Sting was its last champion in 1984. Complete unknown to me.

52. Hair piece : TRESS

53. Seed covering : ARIL. Classic crosswordese.

56. Publisher Chandler : OTIS. Of LA Times.

57. "September 1, 1939" poet : AUDEN. W. H. Auden. Hahtool might have quoted him before.

58. Lt. Columbo's employer : LAPD. Have never seen "Columbo".

60. Starting place? : EDEN

61. Painter of ballerinas : DEGAS

62. Small and weak : PUNY

65. St. Clare's town : ASSISI. St Clare was a follower of St. Francis (of Assisi).

66. Word with deck or drive : TAPE. Got the answer via crosses.

67. __ colada : PINA

69. Unmoving : STILL

70. Scene with stuntmen : CHASE

72. Shenandoah Natl. Park site : VIRG. Was ignorant of the park, Lois!

75. Wire service?: Abbr. : ELEC (Electricity)

76. Code contents, maybe : LAWS

77. Webzine : E-MAG

78. Scolds, with "out" : CHEWS

79. High tech/lowlife sci-fi genre : CYBERPUNK. Just learned this term not long ago.

80. Hands across the water? : CREW. Oh, sailors.

83. Skyline obscurer : SMOG

84. Half a fish : MAHI. Mahi-mahi.

85. Falling-out : RIFT

87. Eternal : AGELESS

88. "Overnight" surprise for some : STARDOM. Overnight success.

89. Turnpike alert : FLARE

92. Sports page deals : TRADES. Shaq seems to have fun in Boston.

93. Ship designation : HER

94. Eye-related : OCULAR

95. Flatten : LEVEL

98. Kama __ : SUTRA. Then you can't kiss in public in India. What a complicated culture!

99. Stick : CLING

100. "Tomorrow" musical : ANNIE

101. Starkers, across the pond : NAKED. Starkers look like a plural noun rather than an adjective, isn't it, Nice Cuppa?

102. Romance novelist Victoria : HOLT. Alien to me. Man, she had so many pen names.

103. Eclectic assortment : OLIO

104. Show recorder : TiVO

105. Crisscross pattern : GRID. Like crossword.

107. Tony's cousin : OBIE. Tony: Broadway award. Obie is for off-Broadway shows.

110. Dissatisfied cry : BAH

111. Bar quaff : ALE

113. Medical suffix : OMA. "Tumor", like lymphoma.

114. Alter, perhaps : SEW

Answer grid.

C.C.

Sunday April 18, 2010 Kathleen Fay O'Brien

Theme: T for Two - Second letter T in each double T containing common phrase is dropped, changing mostly short vowel sound into long vowel sound.

23A. Outwitting a Plymouth parent?: MIND OVER MAT(T)ER. Mind Over Matter. Mater is British for "mother". Plymouth is a seaport in England. Short A to long A sound shift.

29A. Loony misanthrope?: MAD HAT(T)ER. Mad Hatter, the character from "Alice in Wonderland". Short A to long A.

44A. Japanese sleuth who always follows you around?: PERSONAL MOT(T)O. Personal Motto. Moto = Japanese sleuth. Short O to long O.

67A. Farm child of destiny?: FAT(T)ED CALF. Fatted Calf. Killing the fatted calf to celebrate something. Calf = Farm child. Short A to long A.

88A. Reservation about smoking?: CIGARETTE BUT(T). Cigarette Butt. No sound change.

103A. Like an Idaho farmer?: IN TAT(T)ERS. In Tatters. Taters = Idaho potatoes. Short A to long A.

113A. Recollections of an aggressive dog?: BIT(T)ER MEMORIES. Bitter Memories. Short I to long I.

37D. Bulletin board hardware blueprint?: PLAN OF A T(T)ACK. Plan of Attack. Tack = Bulletin board hardware. No sound change.

42D. Muppet monster quote about a more adorable snack?: COOKIE CUT(T)ER. Cookie Cutter. Have never seen "Sesame Street" and don't know Cookie Monster. Short U to long U.

No double T containing phrase with possible short E to long E sound shift, Al/Argyle?

I liked the title. Nice play on "Tea for Two". Neat theme concept too. Also liked the consecutive clues for ALIAS (71A. Perp's red herring) and ALIBIS (72A. Perps need good ones). Wish LATINA (95D. Selena, for one) is clued as "Sonia Sotomayor, for one". J.Lo played Selena in the movie.

Quite a challenging puzzle to me. So many unknown names. I definitely need a partner to solve a Sunday crossword. Anyone? Anyone?

Across:

1. Hides with evil intent: SKULKS. Nice string of consonants.

7. Take by force: HIJACK

13. "Grease" doo-wop group: SHA NA NA. Easy guess.

20. Surfing at one's desk: ON LINE

21. Singer Ray with the Glenn Miller Orchestra: EBERLE. Total stranger.

22. Eastern Mediterranean city: TEL AVIV. Must be an instinctive fill for Haltool.

25. Go in for: REPLACE

26. Pilot's announcement, briefly: ETA

27. Fuse: WELD

28. Boundary: Abbr.: LIM (Limit). Meh on the abbr.

30. Abbr. on a store door: HRS

31. Rots: GOES BAD

33. Farm crawler: ANT. Ant farm.

34. Pre-knotted tie: CLIP-ON

38. 19th Greek letter: TAU. Cross shaped. Greek has 24 letters.

39. "Do it, __ will!": OR I

40. Abalone products: NACRES

43. AA co-founder: BILL W. Bill Wilson. Got me again.

47. Lanchester of "Bride of Frankenstein": ELSA. Just the clue Lemonade wanted last time.

48. Source of "Once more unto the breach": HENRY V. Not familiar with the line. Only know "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers ...".

49. Relevant: ON TOPIC

53. Clancy hero: RYAN

54. Daisy lead-in: UPSY. Upsy-Daisy.

55. Man with a respected thumb: EBERT (Roger). Film critic.

59. Cub Scout leader: AKELA

60. Online "Jeepers!": OMG

62. Borneo sultanate: BRUNEI. I like this map. It's on the South China Sea.

63. Drink from a press: CIDER. Thought of JUICE first.

64. "Mazes and Monsters" novelist: JAFFE (Rona). No idea. See the book cover.

70. "Steppenwolf" writer: HESSE (Hermann)

73. Present mo.: DEC. I wanted APR, our current "present" month, not the gift "present".

74. Fountain treats: MALTS

75. Made higher: UPPED. As an ante.

76. Pre-1917 Russian ruler: TSAR

79. Native Americans with a Sundance ceremony: UTES. I thought many Native Indian tribes have this ceremony.

83. Pick a lock, say: BREAK IN

85. "Does no one else think this way?": IS IT ME

87. Anklebones: TALI. Plural of talus. We also have ULNA (3D. Forearm bone).

92. H.S. health class: SEX ED

93. Chat with: TALK TO

96. Hard lumber: ASH

97. Son of, in Arabic names: IBN. Like Scottish Mac or Mc.

98. Flourish: THRIVE

99. Transfer __: RNA

100. Menu listing: OPTIONS. Computer menu.

102. Detective's cry: AHA

107. Bounced check letters: NSF (Not Sufficient Funds)

108. Gazed at: EYED

109. Electronic surveillance gp.: NSA (National Security Agency)

112. Lands: ALIGHTS

116. Having teeth: DENTATE. New word to me.

117. Spotted wildcat: OCELOT. Hi, there!

118. "Dallas" dynasty: EWINGS

119. Mussel eater: SEA STAR

120. Crystal-lined stones: GEODES

121. Magnate: TYCOON

Down:

2. Sweater choice: KNIT

4. Flipped top?: LID. Oh, flipped coffee top.

5. Expertise: KNOW-HOW

6. Shropshire's river: SEVERN. Got from crosses.

7. Roundup group: HERD

8. Apple alternative: IBM. Not MAC?

9. "All the fun you think they had": Erica Jong: JEALOUSY. No idea. I bet Lois was thinking of something else. What does "Jealousy is all the fun you think they had" mean?

10. Clarinetist Shaw: ARTIE

11. South Carolina university: CLEMSON

12. Plunk opener: KER. Kerplunk.

13. Pricey strings: STRAD. AMATI too.

14. Listen to: HEED

15. Coleridge's "sacred river": ALPH. Barry just clued it as "River of Xanadu" yesterday.
.
16. Simba's mate: NALA. In "The Lion King".

17. Rama, to Vishnu: AVATAR. Hindu incarnation.

18. __ Creed: NICENE

19. Wards off: AVERTS

24. Ernie of the PGA: ELS

29. Post office sackful: MAIL. Mostly ad now.

31. Comic Shandling: GARRY. First encounter with this guy.

32. Victoria's Secret buy: BRA. What's your favorite bra color?

34. Trucker with a handle: CB'ER

35. Flower with a pad: LILY. And SEGO (110. Type of 35-Down).

36. "You used to be a much better liar, Sam" speaker: ILSA. In "Casablanca".

38. Addition column: TENS

40. Start to stop?: NON. Nonstop.

41. Diplomatic specialist: ATTACHE. My ex-boss the Marine worked in American Embassy in Taiwan for some time.

44. Energy: PEP

45. Went too far: OVER DID IT

46. Central theme: MOTIF

48. Show of affection: HUG

50. Brand of women's socks: PEDS. Have never heard of this brand.

51. Guadeloupe has cinq: ILES. Guadeloupe is an island in the eastern portion of the West Indies; an overseas territory of France. Cinq = Five in French.

52. Give a hoot: CARE

56. Florida pros: BUCS. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

57. Bambi's aunt: ENA

58. Cath. or Luth.: REL (Religion)

61. Portable utensils set: MESS KIT. Military utensils.

62. Loyal Nixon friend Rebozo: BEBE. Gimme for Melissa.

64. Door feature: JAMB

65. Banned fruit spray: ALAR

66. Manicurist's need: FILE

67. Flora's partner: FAUNA. Flora and Fauna.

68. Mont Blanc, e.g.: ALP. Did you think of PEN also?

69. Helpful hint: TIP

73. Rap's Dr. __: DRE

76. 1970 Poitier title role: TIBBS (Virgil). From "In the Heat of the Night". My favorite Poitier movie.

77. Wow: STUN

78. Qty.: AMT

80. Shout to a driver: TAXI

81. Contour map no.: ELEV (Elevation)

82. Potato salad, say: SIDE

84. "__ Crazy": Paul Davis hit: I GO

86. Self-named sitcom: SEINFELD

89. Chats: RAPS

90. Body shop fig.: EST

91. Precarious place, metaphorically: THIN ICE. Nice entry.

92. Like late-afternoon castings: SHADOWY

93. Basic chords: TRIADS

94. Mother of the Shakers: ANN LEE

98. Lincoln Center landmark: THE MET

100. Skater Brian: ORSER. His name escape me again.

101. Bony prefix: OSTEO

102. Sailor's okay: AYE. Aye, Aye, Sir.

104. FBI personnel: AGT

106. James of jazz: ETTA. Etta James.

108. CPR pros: EMTS

109. Bolivian boy: NINO. Alliteration.

111. Part of AMA: Abbr.: ASSN

113. Cranberry source: BOG. Nice play on "Cranberry sauce".

114. Shad delicacy: ROE

115. Rocker Ocasek: RIC

Answer grid.

C.C.