Wednesday, August 16, 2023 MaryEllen Luthlaut

Theme: Right on time.  In-the-language phrases are repurposed to describe arrivals in a way that relates to the thing that is arriving.   Let's have a look.

20 A. The ice cream truck arrived __: LICKETY SPLIT.  This phrase is of uncertain origin, but its meaning is clear - to achieve something very rapidly.  I'm guessing the relevant ice cream treat is a banana SPLIT. I would more likely LICK a cone, but OK.

33 A. The food truck arrived __: IN SHORT ORDER.  Another phrase that means to do something quickly. In a culinary sense, a SHORT ORDER is a dish which can be prepared and served quickly. So it fits.

42 A. The newspaper delivery van arrived __: WITH DISPATCH.  This phrase means quickly and efficiently.  A DISPATCH is a news report sent by a correspondent, often from a foreign land.  So the connection is perfect.

58 A. The race car arrived __: STRAIGHT AWAY.  This phrase means immediately.  A STRAIGHTAWAY is a straight section of a road or race track.  Another solid connection.

Hi, Gang, JazzBumpa here to register all these timely arrivals.  The levels of meaning here are impressive. Let's see what it takes to arrive at the end of this puzzle.

Across:

1. Pub hardware: TAPS.  A device to control the flow of liquid from a container.

5. Rotisserie rods: SPITS.  Thin pointed rods for holding meat over a fire. 

10. Peace and quiet: CALM.  A placid state, not showing anxiety or strong emotion.

14. Gaelic tongue: ERSE.  The Scottish or Irish Gaelic language.

15. Forearm bones: ULNAE.   The thinner and longer of the two bones in the human forearm, on the side opposite to the thumb.

16. Little of this, little of that: OLIO.   A miscellaneous collection of things.

17. Eyelid affliction: STYE.   An inflamed swelling on the edge of an eyelid, caused by bacterial infection of the gland at the base of an eyelash.

18. Former first lady Bush: LAURA.  Laura Lane Bush [b. 1946] is the wife of former President George W. Bush and was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Bush previously served as the first lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000. She is also the daughter-in-law of former president George H. W. Bush.

19. Voice above tenor: ALTO.  In typical 4 voice harmony, the alto is the voice pitched below soprano, and above tenor and bass

23. Firepit residue: ASH. The solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly burned 

24. Stop on the way home?: BASE.  In the game of baseball, a run is scored by progression from home plate, though 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base, and back to home late again.  I love this clever clue.

25. State strongly: ASSERT. State a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.  See my previous sentence.

29. Squish: STEP ON.  Specifically on something soft and -- well - squishy, so as to make a soft, squelching sound.

31. Echidna snack: ANT.   Echidnas, sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are quill-covered monotremes (egg-laying mammals) belonging to the family Tachyglossidae. The four extant species of echidnas and the platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs and the only surviving members of the order Monotremata. The diet of some species consists of ants and termites, but they are not closely related to the true anteaters of the Americas, which (along with sloths and armadillos) are xenarthrans. Echidnas live in Australia and New Guinea.

32. Cultural org. with annual Jazz Master Fellowships: NEA.  The National Education Association is the largest labor union in the United States. It represents public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become teachers.

37. Not ajar: SHUT.   Closed tight, as a door.

40. Chest-beating beast: APE.  Old World simians native to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.  Unlike. monkeys, Apes do not have tails due to a mutation of the TBXT gene. 

41. Meat inspector's org.: USDA.   The United States Department of Agriculture is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food

47. Part of IPA: ALE.   Ale is a type of beer brewed using a warm fermentation method, resulting in a sweet, full-bodied and fruity taste. Historically, the term referred to a drink brewed without hops. As with most beers, ale typically has a bittering agent to balance the malt and act as a preservative.

48. Baseball official: UMP.  Short for umpire.

49. Listening aid: EAR BUD.   A very small headphone, worn inside the ear.

53. Girl with a missing flock: BO PEEP.   The original story is about a little shepherdess who loses her sheep. Her name may have come from a 16th-century children's peek-a-boo game in England known as “Bo-Peep.” 

55. Alternative to fries: TOTS.  Potato products. 

57. Make a mistake: ERR.  Be mistaken or incorrect; make a mistake.  Hey - it's only human.

61. Seats for the congregation: PEWS.   A long bench with a back, placed in rows in the main part of some churches to seat the congregation.

64. Get around: EVADE.  Escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery.

65. Round of applause: HAND.  Informal usage of the word.

66. Diva's solo: ARIA.   A self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompaniment, normally part of a larger work. 

67. More resentful: SORER.  Angrier.  A clumsy word that you're unlikely to encounter in conversation.

68. Lakefront city between Cleveland and Buffalo: ERIE.  Erie [population ca. 94000] is a city in Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie. Presque Isle State Park, a peninsula with beaches and trails, curves around Presque Isle Bay. Nearby, Waldameer Park & Water World has roller coasters and waterslides. The Erie Maritime Museum traces the history of Lake Erie and is the home port of the US Brig Niagara, an updated 19th-century ship. 

69. Oodles: MANY.  A whole big bunch.

70. Slim-necked swimmers: SWANS.   Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus Cygnus. The swans' closest relatives include the geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. 

Wikipedia

71. Cruel: MEAN.  Unkind, spiteful or aggressive in behavior.

Down:

1. Some electric cars: TESLAS.   Tesla, Inc. is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles, stationary battery energy storage devices from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, and related products and services.

2. Skillful one: ARTIST.   A person skilled at a particular task or occupation.

3. Maiden loved by Cupid: PSYCHE.   the Greek goddess of the soul and often represented as a beautiful woman with butterfly wings. The name Psyche means "soul" in Greek.   She was born a mortal woman eventually granted immortality, with beauty that rivaled even Aphrodite, goddess of love.

4. Aim (to): SEEK.   Attempt or desire to obtain or achieve something.

5. Ottoman rulers: SULTANS.   A position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun sulṭah, meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who claimed almost full sovereignty (i.e., not having dependence on any higher ruler) without claiming the overall caliphate, or to refer to a powerful governor of a province within the caliphate.

6. Stage performances: PLAYS.   Examples of a type of literary work that is designed for performance in a theater in front of an audience. A play is composed of dialogue between various characters and divided into acts and scenes to increase the dramatic effect. 

7. Not vacant: IN USE.  As, for example, a public rest room.

8. Weatherproof canvas: TARP.    A large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with polyurethane, or made of plastics such as polyethylene.

9. Weatherproofing application: SEALANT.  Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through openings in materials, a type of mechanical seal. In building construction sealant is sometimes synonymous with caulk and also serve the purposes of blocking dust, sound and heat transmission. 

10. Layers: COATS.  Plies or applications of material to cover an object.

11. 100%: ALL.  Completely.

12. On: LIT.   Powered, as a light bulb.

13. Cow sound: MOO.  The deep vocal utterance of a bovine.

21. Jet, in poems: EBON.  Deep black.

22. Analogy phrase: IS TO.  A way of indicating a relational comparison.   A is to B as X is to Y 

26. Halts: ENDS.  Comes to a conclusion.

27. Marsh plant: REED.  Any of the tall, grass-like plants of wet places. They occur in reed beds. Reeds are many polyphyletic species, which have all adapted to this wet habitat by convergent evolution. It is a "form" name, not a technical botanical term.

28. Voice actress Strong: TARA.  Tara Lyn Strong [b. 1973] is a Canadian-American actress. She is known for her voice work in animation, websites, and video games.

30. __ helmet: safari accessory: PITH.  A lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of sholapith. The pith helmet originates from the Spanish military adaptation of the native salakot headgear of the Philippines.  Sholapith is dried milky-white spongey plant matter from Aeschynomene species.

31. Sphere: AREA.  An area of activity, interest, or expertise; a section of society or an aspect of life distinguished and unified by a particular characteristic.

34. Trunk hardware: HASP.  A slotted hinged metal plate that forms part of a fastening for a door or lid and is fitted over a metal loop and secured by a pin or padlock.

35. Like up and down: Abbr.: OPP.  Opposites.  

36. German mining region: RUHR.   A polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population density of 2,800/km² and a population of over 5 million, it is the largest urban area in Germany.

37. Forensic evidence collector: SWAB.   An absorbent pad or piece of material, often on a stick or rod, used in surgery and medicine for cleaning wounds and skin, applying medication, or taking specimens.

38. Largest city on Hawaii's largest island: HILO.  Hilo is on the Island of Hawaii.  The devastating wild fires on on the Island of Maui, to the north-west.   [Map]

39. Sch. near the Rio Grande: UTEP.   University of Texas at El Paso.

43. Composition for two: DUET.  A piece of music performed by two singers or instrumentalists.

44. Dazzle: IMPRESS.  Baffle them with your awesomeness.  

45. Ties in place: TETHERS.  Physically connects something to something. 

46. Slight coloring: CAST.   Tint, hue.

50. Ides of March word: BEWARE.   A cautionary admonition.  From an old PLAY.
  
51. Muse of astronomy: URANIA.   Meaning "heavenly" or "of heaven," she was, in Greek mythology, the muse of astronomy and astrology. Urania is the goddess of astronomy and stars, her attributes being the globe and compass.

52. England's first poet laureate: DRYDEN.  John Dryden [1631 - 1700] was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.

54. Composition: ESSAY.   An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. 

55. Headpiece worn by kid-lit's Fancy Nancy: TIARA.  Fancy Nancy is a 2005 children's picture book series written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Its first book entry spent nearly 100 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list, resulting in the launch of a series that now spawns over 100 titles, with sales of more than 50 million volumes.   A tiara (from Latin: tiara, from Ancient Greek: τιάρα) is a jeweled head ornament. Its origins date back to ancient Greece and Rome. In the late 18th century, the tiara came into fashion in Europe as a prestigious piece of jewelry to be worn by women at formal occasions. 

Wikipedia

56. City near the Great Salt Lake: OGDEN.   Ogden [population 87000] is a city north of Salt Lake City, in Utah. It’s a gateway to ski resorts like Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley. George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park features life-size models and a paleontology lab. Historic 25th Street, once home to Prohibition-era speakeasies, is now a shopping and dining hub. 

59. Admit frankly: AVOW.   Assert, declare, affirm, protest, avow mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection

60. "Can I get a word in?": AHEM.  Used to represent the noise made when clearing the throat, typically to attract attention or express disapproval or embarrassment.  "Ahem, excuse me . . ."

61. "The Office" role for Jenna: PAM.   Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer [b. 1974] is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Pam Beesly on the NBC sitcom The Office, for which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007. She was also a producer for the show's final season.

62. Notable period: ERA.  A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic.

63. Finish first: WIN.   Be victorious at the end of a contest or campaign.

OK, Gang.  We made to the end.  Hope you all got a win.  Happy Wednesday.

Cool regards!

JzB

Notes from C.C.:

Happy 73rd birthday to Joseph (MM), our witty and fun Friday Sherpa. He and his girlfriend Valerie met with Picard (Robert) and his wife Merlie on Sept 14, 202 in Santa Barbara. Here's the amazing picture.

Left to Right: Valerie, MM, Merlie & Picard 9/14/2021

 

Monday July 24, 2023 MaryEllen Uthlaut

  

Hello Cornerites!

Today's theme is                 Ziploc-ed!

Constructor MaryEllen Uthlaut has locked in a fun take on the expression, ZIP IT!

Dr. Evil can elaborate...  

Austin Powers:  The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

starring Mike Meyers as Dr. Evil (50 sec.)

The four themers are all items that can have ZIPpers:

18 Across. Change holder: COIN PURSE.

25 Across. Decorative sham, for one: PILLOW COVER.

43 Across. Camper's bedding: SLEEPING BAG.

57 Across. Outerwear for hitting the slopes: SKI JACKET.

They are ZIP-tied together by the reveal:

59 Across. "Pipe down!," and an instruction for 18-, 25-, 43-, and 57-Across: ZIP IT.

The Smithsonian website has an article entitled, The Up and Down History of the Zipper. It credits Elias Howe with inventing the zipper in 1851. The zipper's next big milestone was its debut at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair as a "clasp locker". Gideon Sundback developed our modern version of the zipper in 1913. He called it a "separate fastener" and filed a patent in 1917. The B.F. Goodrich company gets the credit for calling it a "zipper" on their boots and tobacco pouches. French designers did not find a use for zippers in their garment designs until the late 1930s. In 2017, Talon International (a zipper supplier) unveiled a 3.1 mile (~5 km.) long, world record zipper as part of L.A.'s Fashion Week. National Zipper Day is on April 29.

Shall we ZIP ahead to the rest of the clues?

Across:
1. Double-deckers in checkers: KINGS. Great start!

6. RPM gauge: TACH. A TACHometer measures the Rotations Per Minute of a moving object.

10. Brand name on some blue jeans: GAP.  GAP Jeans website

Seinfeld "So, do you wanna go to the GAP?"

13. Be very fond of: ADORE.

14. Bit of fish tank gunk: ALGA.  ALGA is singular. ALGAE is plural.

Def. (noun): a simple, nonflowering, and typically aquatic plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Algae contain chlorophyll but lack true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue.

15. "I hope you saved __ for dessert!": ROOM. 

Japanese people have a similar expression, which I like and have adopted. The word betsubara (別腹), composed of betsu (separate) and bara (stomach), literally says that your body has a second stomach for sweets. This way, you can be full from dinner but still have ROOM for dessert!

17. Any "Breaking Bad" episode, now: RERUN.  Breaking Bad originally aired from 2008 to 2013, so if you are watching an episode now, you are watching a RERUN.

20. Scold harshly: LAMBASTE.  Also, a marinade brand from New Zealand. 😜

22. More preposterous: DAFTER.  "DAFT" is a Briticism that means "silly" or "foolish".

23. Mai __: tropical cocktail: TAI.  A Mai TAI at Duke's Barefoot Bar on Waikiki Beach will run you $16 + tip.

24. Cost to travel by plane: AIR FARE.  

30. More dangerous for winter driving: ICIER.

31. Hi-__ monitor: RES.

32. Cry of disbelief: WHAT.  

36. Easy throw: TOSS.  Hand up for not being able to catch a set of keys when someone TOSSes them directly at me.

37. No longer together: APART.  According to this Jack Johnson song, we're Better Together (2005).  

39. Queen of Mount Olympus: HERA.  HERA was the goddess of women, marriage, and childbirth. The Romans called her Juno. She was Zeus' sister and wife. Together they reined on Mt. Olympus.  

Juno-Hera Campana (Lourve, Paris) more details

40. Tunneling insects with two sets of jaws: ANTS.  I like clues that add knowledge. "Tunneling insects, four letters...we know it's ANTS but now we also know they have two sets of jaws. The outer pair is used for carrying objects such as food and for digging. The inner pair is used for chewing. Both pairs seem to love my dog's food.

41. Switched on: LIT.  This works if they are both adjectives or verbs.

42. Warning wail: SIREN.  

46. Transgression: MISDEED.  an act that is criminal or bad

50. Mined matter: ORE.  

51. National Guard building: ARMORY.  

I visited he DC Armory to pick up my race packet when it used to be the location for the Marine Corps Marathon Expo. It is huge! This Joint Force Headquarters of both the Air and Army National Guard was built in 1941. It was designed by noted New York architect Electus D. Litchfield. Today the building serves as a sports and entertainment complex. more 

52. Friendly store employees by the front door: GREETERS.  Lately (post-COVID) I have noticed that employees say, "Welcome in," when I enter a store. They say it at my gym, too. It seems to be the younger employees saying it.  Has anyone else noticed this? At first it sounded odd but I am getting used to it.

60. High-fat, low-carb diet: KETO.  This is what the Nutrition Diva said about the KETO diet.

61. First-rate: A-ONE.  

Due to his impressive lead, it is pretty safe for me to say today (Friday) that A-ONE cyclist
Jonas Vingegaard won the 2023 Tour de France yesterday (Sunday).

62. Writer Jong: ERICA.  her website

63. __ Plaines, Illinois: DES.  Mo Willems was born Feb. 11, 1968 in DES Plaines. He is a prolific author and illustrator of children's books. He became a favorite after publishing Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in 2003. My local library has a whole shelf dedicated to his books.  

64. Wedding cake layer: TIER.  This cake has four ... um ... make that two tiers.

65. Hunter's plastic duck, e.g.: DECOY.  

Down:
1. Auto pioneer Benz: KARL.  I wonder why the Mercedes-Benz website spells his name with a "C".

2. "I had no __!": IDEA.  This is quite often the case.

3. Standard: NORM.  

4. Pub __: casual fare: GRUB.  I heard on the Good Job, Brain! podcast (the source of most of my trivia knowledge) that the microwave can be credited for 'elevating' pub GRUB from a bowl of nuts to mozzarella sticks.

5. Elizabeth Warren, for one: SENATOR.  She was first elected as a U.S. SENATOR from Massachusetts on Nov. 6, 2012.

6. Element of a battle plan: TACTIC.  Also, a mint marketed toward dyslexics.  😜

7. Spiky succulent: ALOE.  Here is an idea for making ALOE vera ice cubes to help soothe sunburns.  

8. Movie SFX: CGI.  Special FX (effects) are often created by Computer-Generated Imagery.

9. Most easily reached: HANDIEST.

10. Brusque: GRUFF.

11. Primary artery: AORTA.

12. Puzzling problem: POSER.

16. __ mortals: MERE.  MERE mortals are ordinary human beings -- not gods. The term is often used tongue in cheek.  

for Better Call Saul fans

19. "The Incredibles" family name: PARR.  We've had this a few times but, being the MERE mortal that I am, I keep forgetting it.

Holly Hunter voices the mom.

21. Carpentry tool with teeth: SAW.

24. Declare with confidence: AVER.  I looked up the difference between AVER and avow. This is what I learned:

To aver is to affirm and to avow is to openly declare. There's some overlap with these words because when people want to aver something — state a truth — they probably also want to avow it — say it publicly. So remember, to aver is to verify, and to avow is to tell the whole world.

25. Falafel wrapper: PITA.  

Yes, please!

26. Object of devotion: ICON.

27. Lean to one side: LIST.  This definition is more often used when talking about a boat or a ship.

28. Justin Bieber's "One __ Lonely Girl": LESS.  unfamiliar but easily sussed

29. Deliver an impassioned speech: ORATE.

32. Political party founded by Henry Clay in the 1830s: WHIG.  History.com link

33. Sage, e.g.: HERB.  Did anyone first think of "sage" as an adjective (wise through reflection or experience)?  

34. Region: AREA.

35. Orange drink made from a powder: TANG.  Have you every tried Hot TANG, made with boiling water?

37. Street-smart stray: ALLEY CAT.  

Disney's Aristocats (1970) "Thomas O'Malley Cat"

featuring Phil Harris and Eva Gabor

38. Spotted with color: PIED.  When I Googled images for PIED, it gave me a lot of pictures of unattractive feet. I do not recommend you try it. #HazzardsOfTheJob

42. Reacted to pollen, say: SNEEZED.

43. Blood bank fluids: SERA.  Today I learned that "SERA" is the plural of "serum".

44. "Kinky Boots" Tony winner Billy: PORTER.  Here he reflects on playing the role of Lola.  

45. Fury: IRE.  and  47 Down. Quite irritated: IRKED.

46. Catcher's protection: MASK.  

Buster Posey spent his entire 12-year MLB career with the SF Giants.

48. Strike, quaintly: SMITE.

49. Feuding schools on "Cobra Kai": DOJOS.  Cobra Kai is a TV series sequel to The Karate Kid. In June they announced that next season (its 6th season) will be its last.

52. Gift from one's parents?: GENE.  cute

53. One of three on a tricycle: TIRE.

54. Long heroic tale: EPIC.

55. Puerto __: RICO.

I took this photo of a Tree Fern in Puerto RICO's El Yunque National Forest.
It is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S.'s national forest system.

56. "Don't leave": STAY.  

58. Colorful pond fish: KOI.

Today's Zen moment.

Here's the grid:

That's all for today. I'm headed out now to take a ZIP drive. Have a good week!

Sunday May 21, 2023 MaryEllen Uthlaut

Theme: "Performance Reviews" - Each common phrase was humorously rephrased as if it's action fitting the professional in each clue.

23A. The lazy housekeeper ...: LET THE DUST SETTLE.

43A. The disruptive hairstylist ...: MADE WAVES.

72A. The fashionable archaeologist ...: DUG IN HER HEELS.

98A. The overzealous electrician ...: BLEW A FUSE.

123A. The absent-minded dentist ...: LEFT AN IMPRESSION.

16D. The psychic bartender ...: CALLED THE SHOTS.

50D. The fearless trapeze artist ...: GOT THE HANG OF IT.

This puzzle is similar to MaryEllen's "Caution: People Overworking" theme. The mechanic BLEW A GASKET in that puzzle, which is tighter with the "overworking" layer.

Across:

1. Chow __: noodle dish: MEIN. Literally "fried noodles". Chow = Fried. Mein = Noodles. Both Cantonese.

5. Sp. girls: SRTAS.

10. USDA Choice, e.g.: GRADE.

15. Vinegar, chemically: ACID.

19. Peak near Catania: ETNA. Catania is a Sicilian port city.

20. Economical with words: TERSE.

21. Collar extension: LAPEL.

22. Support staff?: CANE.  BEAM is another 4-letter option.

26. Rootless water plant: ALGA.

27. "Lost in transit" inquiry: TRACER.

28. Natural gas component: ETHANE. Sometimes it's ETHENE.

29. Sent through a network: EMAILED.

31. Charm: ENCHANT.

33. Like some inscriptions: UNDATED. Mount Huashan was not that popular when we climbed. "Zhouqin Was Here" was probably gone.

35. WSW reversal: ENE.

36. Police dept. title: DET. Detective. Also 113. Behind, in a way: TAILING.

37. John Bunyan, notably: PURITAN.

41. Await decision: PEND.

42. Dull brown: DUN. New meaning to me. This horse showed up when I googled.

46. Leaning: TILTED.

48. Hoops player: CAGER.

53. First name in Renaissance painting: MONA.

54. Singles: ONES.

56. "Can't help ya": NAH.

57. Breakdown of social norms: ANOMIE. We've had this fill before.

59. Former capital of Japan: KYOTO.

61. Big cat voiced by Angelina Jolie in "Kung Fu Panda": TIGRESS.

65. Domed halls: ROTUNDAS.

68. Nibbled (at): PECKED.

70. Rush-order letters: ASAP.

71. Scrap: ORT.

76. Color gradation: HUE.

77. "The Wizard of Oz" actor: LAHR (Bert)

79. New __, Connecticut: CANAAN.

80. Part of a wedding toast, maybe: ANECDOTE. Boomer and I would have been married for 22 years next Thursday.

82. Summer pest, informally: SKEETER. Also 128. Burrowing bug: BORER.

84. Workbench grips: VISES.

87. Moved suddenly: DARTED.

88. "His Dark Materials" cable network: HBO.

89. Arctic native: SEAL.

91. Math points: LOCI.

94. "One Minute Man" rapper Elliott: MISSY.

95. Salt, say: SEASON.

101. System of connected PCs, for short: LAN. Local Area Network.

102. Fast-food option: TO GO.

104. For all __ and purposes: INTENTS.

106. Air traffic org.: FAA.

109. Unit of energy: ERG.

110. Showed plainly: EVINCED. Also 58. Draw forth: EDUCE.

115. Lumbered: PLODDED.

117. Playing fields: ARENAS.

121. Farm: GRANGE.

122. Vegan protein: TOFU. My favorite: stir-fried tofu.

126. Footnote note: IBID.

127. "100 years of improvement" retailer: LOWE'S. Named after the founder Lowe.

129. Mineral no longer used in baby powder: TALC.

130. Woven fish traps: NETS.

131. Fashion journalist __ Leon Talley: ANDRE. Here with Anna Wintour.

132. FaceTime alternative: SKYPE.

133. Smite, as a dragon: SLAY.

Down:

1. Like cheese in a fondue pot: MELTED.

2. Timeless, poetically: ETERNE.

3. Still together: INTACT.

4. Super casual "Sure!": NATCH. Naturally.

5. Breastbone: STERNUM.

6. Wine choice: RED.

7. Factual: TRUE.

8. Support staff member: Abbr.: ASST.

9. "The Orville" star MacFarlane: SETH.

10. Mercury Seven astronaut John: GLENN.

11. Had status: RATED.

12. Fitting: APT.

13. Take out: DELETE.

14. Periodic-table entry: ELEMENT.

15. Berry native to the Amazon rainforest: ACAI. You can get this puree at Trader Joe's.

17. Unworldly young woman: INGENUE.

18. Maze setback: DEAD END.

24. Messy stack: HEAP.

25. Steam room: SAUNA.

30. Calculating, in a way: ADDING. Not the adjective.

32. Theme park shuttle: TRAM.

34. Sanctuary section: APSE. And 38. Words from a promising couple?: I DO.

39. 6.2 miles, roughly: TEN K.

40. Like the White Sox at Fenway Park: AWAY. Hi there, Bill G, our Steve was at the NBCU box last Tuesday for the Twins vs. Dodgers game. Twins won.

44. Election Day figure: VOTER.

45. Patriarch who "walked with God": ENOCH.

47. Spencer of "Good Morning America": LARA. She used to host "Antiques Roadshow".

48. Holiday songs: CAROLS.

49. Iditarod wear: ANORAK.

51. Bird that can run 30 mph: EMU.

52. Outer layer: RIND. Have you tried sumo oranges? So good.

55. Dutch painter Jan: STEEN.

60. Starts operating, as a store: OPENS.

62. Sat in traffic, e.g.: IDLED.

63. Fries in a little butter: SAUTES.

64. Quick: SPEEDY.

66. Lab gelatins: AGARS. Did not know it's plurable.

67. Wrongdoing: SIN.

69. Hawaii's Mauna __: KEA.

73. __ academy: NAVAL.

74. Selassie of Ethiopia: HAILE.

75. Fast one: SCAM.

78. WNBA stat: REBS. Rebounds.

81. Nike's __-fit fabric: DRI. It draws the sweat from the surface.

83. Honked: TOOTED.

85. Flair: ELAN.

86. Like fluffy towels: SOFT.

90. Deep black: EBON.

92. Prompt: CUE.

93. Stevie Wonder's "__ She Lovely": ISN'T.

95. Skipped an early appointment, maybe: SLEPT IN.

96. Piercing place: EARLOBE.

97. Short work of fiction: NOVELLA.

99. Broaden: WIDEN.

100. Curio stand: ETAGERE.

103. Name seen in many hotels: GIDEON. Bible distributor. 

105. Gentlemen: SIRS.

106. Curtain rod decoration: FINIAL. Learning moment for me.

107. Zambia neighbor: ANGOLA.

108. Bureau: AGENCY.

111. Do lunch?: CATER. Nice clue.

112. Wipe clean: ERASE.

114. Has legs, so to speak: LASTS.

116. Clothing: DUDS.

118. Pen points: NIBS.

119. Every which way: AMOK.

120. Moving with ease: SPRY.

124. Start of some subj. lines: FWD.

125. N.Y.'s AOC, e.g.: REP.

Excited to have received the author's copies of my book: Sip & Solve Easy Mini Crosswords, which will be officially released on May 30, 2023 Tuesday. It's edited by the talented Francis Heaney. 

You can order on Amazon now. Should be delivered to you on June 1.

C.C.

Monday November 7, 2022 MaryEllen Uthlaut

Theme: OOHS (67. Cries of delight, and what each of the answers to the starred clues literally are?)

17. *"Drinks are on the house!": FREE BOOZE.

25. *"Just what I wanted to hear!": GREAT NEWS.

36. *"Eyes like Paul Newman!": BABY BLUES.

51. *"Check out those Outback hoppers!": KANGAROOS.

60. *"There's the star of 'Top Gun'!": TOM CRUISE.

Boomer here.  

Make a CHOOSE -You'll never LOSE. I usually stop for a SNOOZE after I watch the NEWS.  

Happy November one and all.  Of course Thanksgiving is on the calendar and coming soon.  

Across:

1. "At __, soldier!": EASE. "Ten Hut"

5. Taj Mahal city: AGRA.  Farming business is AGRI.

9. Burdened (with): LADEN.  Potatoes LADEN with turkey gravy.

14. Horn-shaped flower: LILY.

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

16. Large stadium: ARENA.  They keep getting bigger and bigger.  And the NFL football seems to be sold out every game.

19. A- or B+: GRADE.  Sometimes mine was a 75.

20. "Beauty and the Beast" heroine: BELLE.

21. Out of style: OLD.  That's me at 75.

23. Big fuss: ADO.

24. Outdoor dining area: PATIO.  We had a deck, but we never eat out there.

28. Autotrader offering: USED CAR.  Our Santa Fe turned two years old last month.

30. Refrigerator art holder: MAGNET.

31. Place for pillow talk: BED. 

32. __ and carrots: PEAS.  Not my favorite.

35. Toy bear: TEDDY.  Mr. Roosevelt.

39. Fall-blooming plant: ASTER.

42. Glasgow resident: SCOT.

43. To the __ degree: NTH.

46. Cheap cigar: STOGIE.  I cannot remember smoking a cigar.  I think I received one when someone had a baby,

48. Fist pump or fist bump: GESTURE.  Fist bumps are frequent in bowling.

54. Actor Capaldi: PETER.  Pumpkin eater.  Many of Halloween pumpkins were fed to animals.

55. Genetic letters: RNA.  Some kind of acid that I can't spell.

56. NATO HQ locale: EUR.

57. Mom's sisters: AUNTS.  I had 6 nice ladies.

58. Unblinking look: STARE.

63. Racing sleds: LUGES.  Popular when the snow falls here.

64. Pesky insect: GNAT.

65. Really stink: REEK.  Take the garbage out every week. 

66. Opinion pieces: OP-EDS.  I seldom read them. Just someone else's opinion.

68. Gaelic language: ERSE.

Down:

1. Figure on the shelf, in Christmas decor: ELF.  Santa's helper.

2. Post for military pilots: AIRBASE.  We had a huge one at Fort Campbell, KY.

3. Rained ice: SLEETED.  Nope, we get the real snow - coming soon to a state near you.

4. Body part with lashes: EYELID.

5. __ vera: ALOE.  Never used it.

6. Sticky substance: GOO.  Never used this either.

7. Stubble remover: RAZOR.  I've used this now and then.

8. "Someone Like You" singer: ADELE. Not ah-dell, but uh-dale.

9. Internet connectivity annoyance: LAG.

10. Sets up, as flowers in a vase: ARRANGES.  I could not believe when I was told how much funeral flowers cost!!

11. Like many paths in a maze: DEAD END.

12. Funded on an ongoing basis: ENDOWED.  Like Social Security - going up next year.

13. "Sorry, laddie": NAE.

18. Voting alliance: BLOC.

22. Flood-control structure: DAM.  We have a huge one on the Mississippi.  That's where we get our electricity 

24. Tavern: PUB.  There is one in your town.

25. "__ Anatomy": Ellen Pompeo series: GREY'S.

26. London art gallery: TATE.

27. Spot that's rarely spotless: STY.  A home for your pigs.

29. PD alert: APB.  All Points Bulletin

33. Kindergarten letters: ABC.  A TV station as well.

34. Plods (through): SLOGS.

36. Defied, as belief: BEGGARED. ??

37. Opera solo: ARIA.

38. Beehive State native: UTE.

39. "__ me no questions ... ": ASK.  I'll tell you no lies.

40. Fledgling company: STARTUP.

41. Shipping weight allowance: TONNAGE.  I think the US raised the limit on highways.

43. Like Almond Joy, compared to Mounds: NUTTIER.  Than a fruitcake.

44. Long locks of hair: TRESSES.

45. That girl: HER.

47. "... __ he drove out of sight": ERE.  And all a good night.

49. San Antonio NBAer: SPUR.  Also a place to buy gas.

50. Academic security: TENURE.

52. Expenditure: OUTGO.  Everything is UP.  Thanks to inflation.

53. Maine college town: ORONO.  Also a Minnesota city

57. Plays a part: ACTS.

58. __-mo video: SLO.

59. Sinuous letter: ESS.

61. __-jongg: MAH.  Never played it.

62. Scratch (out), as a living: EKE.  Yikes!

Boomer