Tuesday July 23, 2019 Bruce Haight

 Theme: MADE R E PAIRS (61A. Fixed things ... or, in four parts, what you've done when filling in 18-, 26-, 37- and 52-Across?) - Each theme entry is in the pattern of R* E*.

18. Realm first led by Augustus: ROMAN EMPIRE.

26. Result named for expanding circles from a rock tossed into a pond: RIPPLE EFFECT.

37. Did something a bit shocking: RAISED EYEBROWS. This is a 16*15 grid.

52. Hobnobbed (with): RUBBED ELBOWS.

Boomer here, filling in for Hahtoolah, who's traveling.

If you find you are having trouble with this puzzle just RE do it. Great to be back again. Church is having a garage sale and I was happy to donate some stuff.  Now I can park in my garage without having to worry about whether I can get the van doors open.

Across:

1. Losing streaks: SLUMPS.  Twins have a guy named Sano who is a slump engineer.

7. Payroll dept. IDs: SSNS. I would not give this to anyone.  Last 4 is okay, but now the VA asks once in awhile for the whole thing.  I don't refuse because I need whatever I went there for.  But don't give it to Equifax.

11. "Jay Leno's Garage" airer: CNBC.  I used to like Leno on the Tonight show, but this effort is so so.

15. "Rock the __": hit song for The Clash: CASBAH.

16. "All right, sure": OH OK.

17. Like some company softball teams: CO-ED.

20. Fibber: LIAR.  Pants on fire

21. "How sweet __!": IT IS.  Jackie Gleason made it famous.  He was a terrible bowler though.

22. Carry with effort: HAUL.  Or if you have to do it yourself, rent a U-HAUL. 

23. Take forcibly (from): WREST.  You may end up wrestling.

25. ISP that includes Bing: MSN.  We have MSN but I never saw Mr. Crosby.

29. Litter box visitors: PET CATS.  We have no pets, but judging by TV and Internet ads, selling pet food must be a billion dollar industry.

31. Biblical boat: ARK.  I once played Noah in a play at an all girls school, Regina H.S. in Minneapolis.  There were only two guys in the play. God was from De La Salle.  The play was Noye's Fludde by Benjamin Britten.  Guess he never took spelling.

32. Head across the Atlantic?: LOO.  Skip to my ____.

33. "I wonder ... ": HMM. "And I can't help but wonder where I'm bound, where I'm bound..."  Here is my rendition.

34. Mos. and mos.: YRS.

36. Carton sealer: TAPE. A famous product from 3M in my home state.

42. Price to pay: COST.

43. Put to good __: USE.  Lately, due to lack of strikes, I need to put my plastic spare ball to good USE.

44. Tractor-trailer: RIG.  Careful where you park it in Florida.  Alligators may get you.

45. "Eww!": UGH.

46. Nourished: FED.  Sure is a lot of three letter answers.

48. "Can't argue with that!": NO DOUBT.

56. St. Patrick's Day mo.: MAR.  March 17 to be exact.  Many Irish in St. Paul hit the famous Irish pubs and lift a glass to good old St. Pat.  I was in Chicago once on March 17 and the festivities seemed to equal that of Minnesota.

57. "My Fair Lady" lady: ELIZA. Ms. Doolittle.

58. God with a bow: EROS.  I don't think he was from De La Salle.

59. Nimble: SPRY.

60. "Check it out!": LOOK. Also a famous magazine.  I have not seen one for awhile.

64. Youngest Brontë sibling: ANNE.  Charlotte was the oldest and lived the longest.  Anne died at age 29.

65. Rim: EDGE.  Ford's smaller SUV.  I once had an Explorer, but now it seems that model is trying to compete with a Navigator.  I have been searching the web, but all I get now is a ton of car dealer ads while I play Solitaire.

66. Rue: REGRET.  For a few days we regretted having CenturyLink as our ISP provider.  Things are okay for now.  We are just wondering if we might get a credit on our bill.  Or at least a "WE'RE SORRY"!

67. Garden planting areas: BEDS.  Ours are doing fine in the summer heat.  But the weeds seem to be doing as well as the flowers.

68. Watermelon bit: SEED.  We get seedless from Aldi.  But they do have little tiny seeds that tend to get caught in my dentures.  (Dentures is a new name for false teeth, for those of you who remember years gone by.)

69. Goes over the posted limit: SPEEDS.  Not me!!  It will raise hell with your insurance rates.

Down:

1. Keep to a tight budget: SCRIMP.  Always.  I never pay over $35.00 for a round of golf.

2. Taoism founder: LAO TSE.

3. Govt. moneymaker: US MINT.  I used to love the statehood quarters but now they seem to overwhelm the market with clever coins. I have a few Westward Journey nickels, and some Sacagawea golden dollars.  I also collected silver proof sets from 1999-2008 (Statehood Quarters) but I don't chase coins anymore.  Too Many.   

4. CFOs' degrees: MBAS.  Twins have Max Kepler - Master Batting Average Slugger.

5. Sautéing vessel: PAN.  Also, Peter's last name.

6. Complaint to Mom after a sister's slap: SHE HIT ME.  Then Hit her back !!

7. Absorb: SOP UP.

8. Swindle decoy: SHILL.  Minnesota State Fair Midway is coming soon.  Maybe they are not all shills, but there are some questionable games.

9. Neighbor of Den.: NOR. I have no Danish ancestors, but a few Norwegian, Yah sure.

10. Barbecue rod: SKEWER.

11. Staff symbol in viola music: C CLEF.

12. Ordinance that sets quiet hours: NOISE LAW. We REALLY need this on the 4th of July.  Some people are still setting off noisy stuff.  (I'd like to use a different word, but C.C. won't let me.)

13. Police who may enforce a 12-Down: BEAT COPS.  Interesting.  We live in a suburb of around 80,000 people, but I have not seen a beat cop. They prowl in squad cars.

14. USN officer: CDR.  That's big time I believe, just under Admiral.

19. Travel aids: MAPS.  I used to have a drawer full but now just use Google. 

24. Nats' former stadium, briefly: RFK.  I was serving in Fort Campbell when we heard that Robert Kennedy was shot.  1968 was a terrible year to remember.  First MLK and then RFK.  Recently we celebrated events in July of 1969.  I was in Germany then.  Better times.  Jackie Gleason's wish come true.

26. He sheep: RAMS.  Los Angeles had a great NFL team last season. We have the Vikings. You never know.

27. Make simpler: EASE.

28. Tip of a wing tip: TOE.  A popular dress shoe, years ago.  Have not seen any lately, but I don't look down often.

30. Gambler's IOU: CHIT.  A form of CHAT.

34. "Definitely!": YES.

35. Deli bread: RYE.  Generally have corned beef and sauerkraut on rye around March 17.

36. Deli order: TO GO.  Definitely Pizza.

37. 2016 "Star Wars" prequel: ROGUE ONE.  Enough Star Wars.  Nissan has a small SUV called a ROGUE.

38. Light hair color: ASH BLOND.

39. "My man!": DUDE.  Big Lebowski.  A real DUDE but a lousy bowler. 

40. Web access programs: BROWSERS.  If you wear ugly pants, you may have a browser on your trousers.

41. Frees (of): RIDS.

42. Tough mutt: CUR.

46. Tasseled hat: FEZ.  Zuhrah in Minneapolis.  Shriners do many good things for the community.

47. Mingo portrayer on "Daniel Boone": ED AMES.

48. American-born Jordanian queen: NOOR.

49. Tennis official: UMPIRE. They have a lot hanging around the court.  The one in the chair is the umpire.

50. Like jail cells: BARRED.

51. Steamy get-togethers: TRYSTS.

53. Triathlon rides: BIKES.  Swim about 2 miles, then ride a BIKE 25 miles, then get off and run ten miles.  Big deal - I play 18 holes of golf on a cart.

54. Flowerpot spot: LEDGE.  Our home has no LEDGES large enough to hold a flowerpot.

55. Kennel club classification: BREED.

59. Fragrant herb: SAGE.  Thanksgiving is coming. Load up on SAGE for the stuffing.

60. Science class: LAB.

62. Beverage suffix: ADE.  Lemonade in the Shade, served by an Old Maid.

63. __ Boys: auto parts chain: PEP.  Kellogg's used to sell a PEP cereal, but I have not seen it for a long time.  I get my PEP from Grape-Nuts.

Boomer

Monday, Jul 22, 2019 Mark McClain

Theme: ON END (53. Without a break ... or what each word in 18-, 28-, 46- and 62-Across has) - Each theme entry is in the pattern of *ON *ON.

18. __ line: 18th-century dispute-resolving state border: MASON DIXON.

 

28. Fluffy, citrusy pie: LEMON CHIFFON.

46. Family car largely replaced by the minivan and SUV: STATION WAGON.

 

62. Ordinary-sounding state bird of Minnesota: COMMON LOON.

Boomer here.  

Hello Everyone. We had a glitch in our internet service on Wednesday. C.C. contacted our provider CenturyLink and they went on and on and on regarding the time the internet service would be restored. Finally we got back on and on and on line on Sunday. Happy to be back!!

Across:

1. Like some hygiene: ORAL.  Something you can get your teeth into.

5. Casual greeting: HI YA. Hi back atcha

9. House level accessed with pull-down stairs: ATTIC.  We have an attic but no pull down stairs.  We need to get a ladder but it is not worth going up there.  Just dust and insulation.

14. Folk singer Seeger: PETE.

15. Assist with a heist: ABET.  Casino dealer spins that roulette wheel and you need to make A BET before the little ball hits the middle.

16. Harry Potter nemesis __ Malfoy: DRACO.

17. "Around the Horn" channel: ESPN.  A favorite of many but we now have about 15 sports channels.  (MLB, NBA, NFL, FSN, FS1, GOLF and more.) 

20. "Awesome!": NEATO.  I think Maynard G. Krebs started this.

22. NFL analyst Tony: ROMO.  Used to be a darn good quarterback.

23. German "a": EINE.  We would go downtown to the Gasthaus and EINE BIER was the favorite request.

24. Kite-flying need: STRING.  You also need wind.

26. Puts on the line, as money: RISKS.  I remember when Kramer played RISK with Newman.

33. Lousy grade: DEE.  Better than EFF.

36. USN noncom: CPO.  Mr. Sharkey.

37. Devon delivery vehicle: LORRY.

38. "My mom and dad will kill me!": I'M TOAST.  Generally happens in the tenth frame when my opponent strikes out.

41. '90s prime-time soap "__ Place": MELROSE.  I am more familiar with Melrose Park, a suburb of Chicago.  Graybar had a large sales office there.

43. Less: MINUS.

44. License plate: TAG.  Many of my neighbors and I played this in the yard.

45. Acquired: GOT.

51. Brief movie role: CAMEO.  I liked Donald Sutherland in JFK

52. Sure winner: SHOO IN.  I always thought it was SHOE IN.

56. Too: ALSO.

59. Voices below soprani: ALTI.  Gimme a "D" !  ALDI is a great grocery store.  Really good watermelon.

61. __ Carlo: MONTE.  I never owned one, but I used to like the looks of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which hit the streets around 1970.

65. Pols from blue states, usually: DEMS.  Minnesota has been blue for quite some time.

66. Pecans and pistachios: TREES.  Are you sure these are not NUTS.

67. Overnight lodgings: INNS.  Not too fond of the current Trivago commercials.  Maybe I watch too much TV.

68. Tiny biting insect: GNAT.

69. Latin "that is": ID EST.

70. Fair-hiring agcy.: EEOC.

71. Slow Churned ice cream brand: EDY'S.

Down:

1. Bids first: OPENS.  Or bets first.

2. Go back to zero: RESET.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200

3. For the stock issue price: AT PAR.  At Par did not do it in this years British open.  I think Shane Lowry beat par by 15 shots.  I think it would take me 15 shots of something to play a course like that.

Shane Lowry

4. Soup legume: LENTIL.

5. Radio hobbyist: HAM.  One of Noah's sons.

6. Letter-shaped beam: I BAR.  That's where I could go to get those 15 shots.

7. "Decide now!": YES OR NO.  Okay, I pick YES.

8. Word with power or energy: ATOMIC.

9. Toss in: ADD.

10. Attempts to get: TRIES FOR.

11. Roll to a terminal: TAXI.  Danny DeVito was a great dispatcher.  I never watch that Philadelphia show he does now.

12. Clickable image: ICON.

13. Ice cream holder: CONE.  Mets pitcher David.  He was pretty darn good.

19. On-the-run snack: NOSH.

21. Number that's a square of itself: ONE.  Also a good score on any hole.  I know there was at least ONE ONE in the OPEN

25. Acadia and Yukon: GMCS.  We maybe look at an SUV soon, but not these monsters of the midway.

27. Pass idly, as time: KILL.  We had a Gopher Football coach named Jerry Kill.  I think he is on the west coast now.

29. Decide (to): OPT.

30. Kermit, for one: FROG.  Miss Piggy's best friend.

31. Estimate words: OR SO.  Reminds me of the restoration time given us by CenturyLink.

32. Dimitri's denial: NYET.  If they want to emphasize it do they say "NYET WAY !"

33. Switches to low beams: DIMS.

34. Send forth: EMIT.

35. Sicilian volcano: ETNA.

39. Results: OUTCOMES.  I miss the green frequently and OUT COMES the wedge.

40. Himalayan continent: ASIA. Sometimes it's called the Far East, but it's a few thousand miles West of Hawaii.

41. Nanny's bleat: MAA.  I thought it was BAA

42. They're laid in 55-Down: EGGS.  Visited my great uncle Bill's (no longer with us) farm last week on Burnikel Road in Siren Wisconsin. The barn and chicken coop were still there, but not in very good shape.  I did not see any animals but they had corn growing in the field.

Boomer, Burnikel Road, Siren, Wisconsin.

44. Black-and-white, say: TWO-TONE. 

47. Mideast sultanate: OMAN.

48. Journalist Bly: NELLIE.  The scene was in the jailhouse and if curfew rang that night.  Nell's dad in number 13 cell would go out like a light.  She knew her dad was innocent, so plucky little Nell.  She tied her tender torso to the Clapper of the bell.  Hang on the Bell Nellie.  (Chad Mitchell Trio.)

49. Resistance unit: OHM.

50. Annoying person: NOODGE.  I can think of a better name.

54. "__ come as no surprise ... ": IT MAY.

55. 42-Down holders: NESTS.  I remember Bill's hens would lay about 20 eggs per month.  It just happens, they don't even look pregnant.

56. Drama opening: ACT I.

57. Title for an earl: LORD.

58. Hook's cohort: SMEE.  I Haven't seen this name since Peter Pan.

60. Prefix with sphere: IONO.

63. East, in Essen: OST.

64. White House advisory gp.: NSC.  No Stupid Comments???

 

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Just want to thank Husker Gary and TTP for saving me again. Gary put up with my numerous calls on Thursday and TTP quickly converted the puzzles and sent the grids to our team members. Thank you so much, guys!

Monday July 15th, 2019 Gary Larson

Theme: COLD FRONT (56A. Harbinger of lower temperatures, and a hint to the answers to starred clues)

16A. *Metaphorical tablet for the overly nervous: CHILL PILL.

37A. *Flattering deception: SNOW JOB.

10D. *2005 Disney figure-skating film: ICE PRINCESS.

 24D. *Stop-action effect: FREEZE FRAME.

Boomer here. 

Yes indeed a chilly theme. Reminds me of about 4 months of Minnesota weather.  We have two seasons in Minnesota - bowling season and golf season. Sometimes they overlap. However I want to send sympathy and good wishes to those in the gulf coast states who once again are ravaged by hurricanes and tropical storms. We may freeze here in the north, and have occasional tornadoes, but we are never ravaged by hurricanes or earthquakes.  Wishing the best to those down south.

Across:

1. Chums: PALS.  We have a baseball card shop in Andover MN named Pals.

5. Lacks the ability to: CAN'T. No spot for apostrophe in a crossword grid.

9. Not spicy, as wings: MILD.  The weather we are having up north right now.

13. On the Pacific: ASEA.

14. China's continent: ASIA.

15. Potato-prep kitchen tool: RICER.

18. Ancient Greek theater: ODEON.

19. Sailors' yeses: AYES.  I think you need two of these for one yes.

20. Trinidadian music genre: CALYPSO.

22. Batman's butler: ALFRED.  Played by Michael Gough.  His surname in the Batman shows was Pennyworth.

25. Buyer's opposite: SELLER.  We hear these two terms about now in the Major League baseball season as the trade deadline approaches. Teams at the top become "Buyers" from lower teams with star players who want to "Sell".

26. Fishing boat: DORY.

27. Actress Pinkett Smith: JADA.  I have enjoyed Will Smith movies.  I hope they are doing well.

28. Troubles: AILS.  Buy a boat and SAIL away what AILS you.

31. Trouble: WOE.

32. Sacred: HOLY.  "And the three Men I admire the most, the Father, Son, and HOLY Ghost, - They caught the last train for the coast, the day - the music … died.  (Don McClean, Miss American Pie.)

34. C.S. Lewis' fantasy world: NARNIA. - The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Oh my!

36. Mimic: APE.

39. Disney collectible: CEL.  Okay but if it is a phone, don't use it while driving.

40. Do a city planner's job: RE-ZONE.

42. Farm cluckers: HENS.  Reminds me of my great uncle Bill's farm in Siren, Wisconsin.  He had crops but also had a building of hens.  Each one would lay about 20 eggs per month.

43. "Bambi" doe: ENA.  Doe, a deer, a female deer.  (Sound of Music)

44. Biblical garden site: EDEN.  The bible says it was a great place to live, except for that darn apple tree.  Many cities have adopted the name.  We have an Eden Prairie in Minnesota.  A nice place to visit, but we can't afford to live there.

45. Riyadh resident: ARAB.

47. Played for a sap: USED.  Interesting lot at most car dealers.

48. Influential moneybags: FAT CAT.  Most of these rich "Cats" are not really fat.

50. Tousles, as hair: MUSSES.

52. Old-fashioned, close-fitting undergarments: CORSETS.  When my back was under repair, I had to wear a hard plastic one.  Very uncomfortable.

54. Diamond Head's island: OAHU. Gesundheit!  Hawaiian God bless you.

55. Let up: ABATE.

61. Nero or Claudius: ROMAN.  First date rebuke.  No ROMAN hands or Russian fingers.

62. Running shoe brand: AVIA.

63. __ Lackawanna Railway: ERIE.  Silly me.  I thought it was a Great Lake.

64. Look intently (at): PEER.  I always thought Peer Gynt was a third base coach for the Boston Red Sox.  Turns out it was a play.

65. Come dramatically into view: LOOM.  Summer activities.  We would string loops onto a LOOM and make a potholder for Mom.

66. __ between the lines: READ.

Down:

1. Lobbying gp.: PAC.

2. Tapped-off cigarette part: ASH. Believe it or not, there was a tobacco store in a mall called "Ashes".  The fellow who owned it was George Ash who also happened to be a little league umpire.

3. Luau garland: LEI.

4. Weekly pay, say: SALARY.  Of course if you're hungry, you may use your SALARY to buy CELERY.

5. Dressed like many a superhero: CAPED.  We heard about the butler, now we see the CAPED Crusader.  Keep your eye open for the Bat phone or that fancy car.

6. Without warranty: AS IS.  See the USED car lot mentioned above.

7. No goals, in soccer: NIL.

8. Sprinkled with baby powder: TALCED.

9. Halfway-through-the-term exam: MIDYEAR. Maybe in high school.  In college we had mid terms about every 4-5 weeks.  Maybe that's why I only lasted a year.

11. Some July babies: LEOS.  Interesting sign of the Zodiac, but also the name of a Lion - (Not Burt Lahr).  Could be a man's name.  In fact I bowled with a great bowler named Leo Mann.  So that would make it a Mann's name also.

12. Bond villain who attended med school: DR NO.  It sounds like you show up for a scheduled surgery and the doctor talks you out of it.

15. Sushi __: ROLL.

17. Corrosive chemical: LYE.

21. Support group for families of drinkers: AL-ANON.  I used to enjoy a cocktail now and then but it never hooked me.  I feel sorry for those fighting this disease.  I was told "NO BOOZE" because it does not agree with the cancer meds.  I donated the full bottles as door prizes to my bowling league and gave the open bottles to friends.

22. Pop-up-producing program: ADWARE.  This pops up everywhere all the time.  Welcome to the 21st century.

23. Like a lasso's business end: LOOPED.

25. "Come again?": SAY WHAT.  I don't know who started this response but I wanted to tar and feather him.

27. Former "Idol" judge, familiarly: J-LO.  The big stars all have abbreviated handles.  If you don't believe me, you can ask Tony O about Puck, and Killer.

29. One with a collateral loan: LIENEE.

30. Caesar and Cobb: SALADS.  Julius and Ty.

32. TV shopper's channel: HSN.  Why watch this if you have Amazon.com??

33. Type of short play: ONE-ACT.

35. Tummy muscles: ABS.  We all have them.  Short for abdominal.

38. Ex-Florida governor Bush: JEB.  I heard his Dad and brother did pretty well

41. Astronomical way to wish: ON A STAR.  When you wish on one, it makes no difference who you are.  - Jiminy Cricket.

46. Imp: RASCAL.  Spanky, Alfalfa, Darla, etc.  Also known as Our Gang.

47. Loan shark: USURER.  I have lost count of the number of emails I get with an offer to lend money.

49. High-schooler, typically: TEEN.  She was just seventeen, You know what I mean - (I saw her standing there.)

50. Palindromic title: MADAM.  "She took me in a washed away my childhood" - Statler Brothers.

51. Old TV dial letters: UHF.

52. Kvetch like a fish?: CARP.  I guess it means complaining,  But we have many Carp in our 10,000 lakes, and if you catch one you are not allowed to throw it back.

53. Bassoon kin: OBOE.

54. Varied mixture: OLIO.  Food sharing, however people in Wisconsin's dairyland will not share their OLEO

57. Ab __: from the beginning: OVO.

58. Salem is its cap.: ORE.  I have never been to Oregon.  Seems like a nice place to visit.  I am sure they have bowling centers and golf courses.  Rumor has it that it may have D.B. Cooper's body also.

59. Actress Long: NIA.

60. Texas senator Cruz: TED.  A narrow victory over Beto in 2018.

 Boomer

Monday July 8th, 2019 Jennifer Marra

Theme: TV investigators

20A. Investigating team in "Sherlock": HOLMES AND WATSON.

39A. Investigating team in "Dragnet": FRIDAY AND GANNON.

56A. Investigating team in "The X-Files": MULDER  AND SCULLY.

Boomer here.  C.C. said this might be Jennifer's LA Times debut. Congratulations!

I spent considerable time this weekend watching the 3M Open PGA golf tournament on TV.  I mentioned in the past the C.C. and I attended the Champions tour event at the TPC in Blaine but we did not visit this year's tourney.  The field was a bit weak however the play was very good on a tough course. I noticed many Canadians in the field but most of the upper level Europeans were across the pond getting ready for the Open.

I had to chuckle when one of the announcers identified Adam Hadwin as being from Manitoba, British Columbia.  He later corrected himself, but I think he said Adam was from Moose Jaw, Manitoba.  Well, since I have shirttail relatives in Saskatoon, I knew that Moose Jaw is in Saskatchewan.  The 3M tournament was happy to welcome Canadians and I think they probably felt at home in Minnesota.  We did not have any earthquakes this weekend. It's difficult to putt when the ground is shaking.  Exciting finish.  Funny hat Bryson knocked in an eagle putt on 18 but then congrats to Matt Wolfe who nailed an eagle of his own to win ! 

Across:

1. Head honcho: BOSS.  Bruce Springsteen

5. Bird's crop: CRAW.

9. Fare in a pigsty: SLOP.  There was a little rain at the 3M Open and a few sloppy shots.

13. Canal about which the 1905 song "Low Bridge, Everybody Down" was written: ERIE.

14. Subs from delis: HEROS.  I think Heroes is spelled with another "e".

16. One can be painted or papered: WALL.  OR you can make or lose paper money on this Street.

17. Tattle: TELL.  Have an apple William.

18. Now, in Nicaragua: AHORA. Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann would know this.  I didn't.

19. On the ocean: ASEA.  He joined the Navy to see the world, but what did he see, he saw a sea.

23. Limbs in sleeves: ARMS.  "Babes in Arms" was a musical from the thirties that has been performed in many high schools over the years.

24. "__ woods these are I think I know": Frost: WHOSE.

25. Black __ : covert missions: OPS.  Remember Donald Sutherland's Black Ops revelation in the movie "JFK" ?

28. "Moby-Dick" narrator: ISHMAEL.

32. Archaeologist's find: RELIC.

34. Ventilation: AIR.  Basketball star Michael Jordan.

35. Turkey meat choice: DARK.  We used to have a local racing fan and journalist who called himself "Dark Star".  He stopped at "Boomer's Ballcards" once or twice and made purchases of baseball cards.  He was a member of Interlachen Country Club where Bobbie Jones won the US Open in 1930 for his third leg of the grand slam.  C.C. and I visited the course for the 2002 Solheim Cup and again in 2008 for the LPGA U.S. Open.  Not to play, just to watch.

43. Is the right size: FITS. It the shoe fits, wear it. 

44. Eisenhower nickname: IKE.  I will always remember when he visited Minneapolis in a bubble top convertible parade, around 1956. I always wondered why JFK did not use the same type of transportation.

45. Jack of "Twin Peaks": NANCE.

46. Losing weight: ON A DIET.  I did not need a diet.  The pills took my weight off.  Now I am a fighting 180 LBs.  C.C. can maybe convert that to KGs.

49. __ out: just manage: EKE.  Didn't take long to get from IKE to EKE. 

50. Sugar substitute brand: EQUAL.  A little spendy.  I buy the same stuff with the name "Stevia" in a bag from Aldi.  Of course I refill my empty "Equal" jars with the product.

54. "The Andy Griffith Show" tyke: OPIE.  I wonder if Ronnie Howard ever thought that his screen name would be used in over 1000 crossword puzzles.

63. Tight connection, as between mother and baby: BOND.  "Bond, James Bond."

64. "... had a farm, __": E I E I O.  Mr. McDonald's sneaky way to get 5 vowels into a puzzle.  By the way.  Old McDonald grew potatoes and livestock on his farm, and eventually opened a fast food restaurant.  Some people say that story is a Kroc.

65. In __ of: replacing: LIEU.

66. Bibliography space saver: ET AL.  How many eggs did you have for Breakfast Caesar ?  Et tu Brute.

67. "The Wife" actress Close: GLENN.  Famous astronaut John.  We have his autograph.

68. Unceasingly: EVER.  "If you're EVER in a jam, here I am.

69. Steak order: RARE.  Retired NL Umpire Dutch Rennert was said that his strike call sounded like STEAK RARE.

70. Fr. holy women: STES.

71. Part that's left: REST.  Did you ever notice that highway rest area bathrooms are not too restful?

Down:

1. Second Hebrew letter: BETH.

2. Three-ply snack: OREO.  I think OPIE used to ask Aunt Bea for an OREO.

3. Window ledge: SILL.  "High upon a Windowsill, I couldn't hardly reach it," (Our Gang) 

4. 1965 Alabama march site: SELMA. "And you tell me over and over and over again, that you don't believe, we're on the eve of destruction."

5. Deep fissures: CHASMS.

6. Discuss to death: REHASH.  Sounds like an afternoon meal in the U.S. Army.

7. Elvis __ Presley: ARON.

8. Scrabble play: WORD.  C.C. and I used to play frequently.  She beat me all the time but now we are donating the big Scrabble game to the church garage sale this month.

9. Lawn mower's trail: SWATH.

10. Roundup rope: LASSO.

11. Spreads on breads: OLEOS.  I wonder if Aunt Bea spread OLEO on OPIE's OREO.

12. Piper Cub, e.g.: PLANE.  Tattoo on Fantasy Island.  De Plane, De Plane !!

15. Observed: SAW.  Tweety - I taught I taw a puddy cat.

21. Author Jong: ERICA.

22. Shoemaker's tool: AWL.

25. "Carmina Burana" composer: ORFF.  Sounds like a dog bark during July 4 LOUD fireworks.

26. Prefix with scope or meter: PERI.

27. Use a box cutter on: SLIT. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit.  Upon the slitted sheet I sit.  (say that carefully)

29. Like horses' necks: MANED.

30. Help: AID.

31. Work unit: ERG.

33. Cards shown to get past bouncers: IDS.  We have an IDS Tower in Minneapolis.  I believe it was an acronym for Investors Diversified Services. That company has been swallowed up, but the building remains with the same name.

35. Some trial evidence: DNA.  The "A" stands for acid.  The DN stands for something I cannot spell.

36. Diarist Frank: ANNE.

37. __ the boat: make waves: ROCK.  "I am a ROCK, I am an ISLAND" Simon and Art.

38. Leg joint: KNEE.  Quarterbacks take them at the end of a game.

40. Yang partner: YIN.

41. Alias letters: AKA.

42. Caper: ANTIC.

46. Corrida cheer: OLE.  Ole and Sven were installing new shingles on the roof.  But Sven was only using half the nails and tossing the others away.  Ole said, "Hey Sven, why are you throwing half the nails off the roof??"  Sven "Can't you see those nails are pointed on the wrong end." Ole - "Stupid!!  Those nails are for the other side of the roof!" 

47. "I" on the periodic table: IODINE.

48. Many office printers: EPSONS.  With apologies to any one who owns one.  I think they are a thing of the past. HP stands for Horsepower.

50. Live coal fragment: EMBER.  We used to have a restaurant chain in the Twin Cities.  Their slogan was "Remember the Embers."  Not many left. Needless to say they were predicting actuality.

51. Marketing target: QUOTA.

52. Of an arm bone: ULNAR.

53. Bewilder: ADDLE.  Adjective for BRAIN.

55. Swiss calculus pioneer: EULER.

57. Rule, for short: REG.

58. Isn't feeling up to par: AILS.

59. Bygone Nair rival: NEET.  I remember this.  Haven't seen it for a long time.  I never used it.  I never had hair on my legs.

60. Being broadcast as it happens: LIVE.

61. Wranglers alternative: LEES.  Levi's alternative also.

62. Asian tent: YURT.

Boomer

Monday July 1, 2019 Brock Wilson

Theme: CHECKLIST (62. To-do items to tick off ... and what the starts of the answers to starred clues comprise) - The first word means "check" in a different way.

17A. *Cold one from a tap: DRAFT BEER.

38A. *Nuclear restraint pact: TEST BAN.

11D. *"Ghostbusters" co-star: BILL MURRAY.

28D. *Attractiveness when viewed from the street, to a Realtor: CURB APPEAL.

Boomer here.

Can anyone explain how "Draft" belongs to a "checklist"?  My guess is that if you write a check I suppose it could be called a bank draft.  However when I see draft, I think of closing a window,  We FINALLY are realizing summer in Minnesota. After a long cool spring, weather forecasters are issuing heat warnings and keeping me off the golf course.

Speaking of golf, The 3M Open is at the TPC Blaine this week. The Senior PGA used to have a tournament there ((3M Championship) about this time of year. C.C. and I attended many days. However, they have shunned the seniors and now the regular PGA Tour has the first stop in Minnesota in 50 years.  The Champions Tour stop was no charge.  Now there are pricey tickets.

Boomer, 3M, 2016

Across:

1. Six-legged picnic invaders: ANTS.  I never counted the legs on an ant.

5. Nasty film: SCUM.

9. Like a mad dog: RABID.  You don't want to mess with any animal with rabies.

14. Bossa __: dance: NOVA.  Blame it on the Bossa Nova.

15. Really bugs: IRKS.  I have to listen to Bert Blyleven's comments on Twins telecasts for about 50 of them.

16. Fail to pronounce, as the "g" in an "-ing" word: ELIDE.

19. Room in le chalet: SALLE. De La Salle High School was our arch rival in High School.

20. Disdainful glance: SIDE-EYE.  If you got that from a teacher, you knew you were in trouble.

21. "Something wrong?": PROBLEM.  No problem here.

23. Hesitates: BALKS.  Sometimes a pitcher will fake home and throw to first.

25. Economist Smith: ADAM.  Thinking more of Adam Sandler, "Happy Gilmore" !

26. Playground time at school: RECESS.  Yup, I remember in grade school they would send us out in freezing cold weather.

29. __ Beta Kappa: PHI.

31. Call to the sled dogs: MUSH.  Remember Cream of Wheat or Malt-O- Meal ?

34. Like two right-triangle angles: ACUTE.  This does not seem to be A CUTE clue.

35. Poker pot promises: IOUS.  I would not play poker with anyone who has no money.

36. __-Navy game: annual football rivalry: ARMY.  Many of these players become Generals or Admirals.

37. Road surface goo: TAR.

41. Fabric flaw: RIP.  Mr. Van Winkle fell asleep for 20 years.  They did not have alarm clocks in the early 1800's.  Only roosters.

42. Sun circlers: ORBS.

44. Dieter's count: FATS.  "I found my thrill, on blueberry hill." His real name was Antoine Domino.  I don't think it's kosher to call anyone "Fats" anymore.

45. Make deliveries to large groups?: ORATE.

47. Bismarck's st.: N DAK.  One of my favorite movies was "FARGO".  Probably because of the local flavor.

48. Whiskey sour whiskey: RYE.  I am not a whiskey expert.  I think I remember that a whiskey sour was any kind of whiskey with a lemon sour mixer.

49. Game competitor: PLAYER. "The Black Knight"  Mr. Gary Player.

50. Flammable pile: PYRE.

52. Show shown over: RE-RUN.  Like "Law and Order" on about three cable channels.

54. Oft-framed college memento: DIPLOMA.  If you have one, does that make you a diplomat ??

57. Alan who played Snape: RICKMAN.

61. Fitness motto opening: USE IT.

64. Large Dallas suburb: PLANO.  I think the Southfork Ranch is near Plano, making TV's "Dallas" location famous.

65. "Have a __ day": NICE.  A bit overused, but still pleasant. 

66. Yale students: ELIS.

67. Pursuer of snakelike fish: EELER.  If you catch one, you will need a feeler for your peeler. 

68. Ambulance staffers, for short: EMTS.

69. Hunk of beef: SLAB.  Beef is something to eat, but I have heard of a slab of concrete.

Down:

1. "No ifs, __ or buts": ANDS.

2. Sushi seaweed: NORI.

3. Prime-time spot: TV AD.  Doesn't matter if it's prime time or not.  I think I sit through 100 or more every day.

4. Sure thing: SAFE BET.  There's really no such thing, unless you cheat.

5. Old Greek prophets: SIBYLS.

6. Small stream: CREEK.  Lots of creeks in Minnesota,  They name golf courses after them.  C.C. and I used to play at "Cedar Creek".

7. Luau strings: UKE.  I am so old that I remember Arthur Godfrey playing his on TV. (black and white of course).

8. Car sticker no.: MSRP.  I wonder who makes these up.  Every new car has one, and no one pays that price.

9. Fill in, as a lawn bare spot: RE-SOD.  Normally I just use seed.  Sod is heavy and dirty. 

10. Gulf of Mexico state: ALABAMA. A red state with a blue senator.  But I don't think we have heard the last of Roy Moore.
 

12. Not working: IDLE.  "An idle brain is the devil's workshop."  Professor Harold Hill.

13. Regard: DEEM.

18. Service with cups and saucers: TEA SET.  I think all three of my sisters had one when we were kids.  Or maybe they shared the same one.

22. Gorbachev's wife: RAISA.

24. Helper during gym practice: SPOTTER.

26. Boca __, Florida: RATON.  Looks inviting, on the eastern beach on the Atlantic.

27. Online b'day wish: E-CARD.

30. Central airports: HUBS.  Still have not heard much about the 737 MAX.  I saw that Dallas has a new Airbus 220.  Take a ride?

32. Whack, biblically: SMITE.

33. Bursting with energy: HYPER.

35. Dr. Watson exclamation: I SAY. Elementary.

39. Violinist Zimbalist: EFREM.  Interesting name.  I used to think he played the cymbals.

40. Frustrated searcher's news: NO LUCK.  Should have made a SAFE BET.

43. City panorama: SKYLINE.  Used to be one of my favorite JIGSAW puzzle themes.

46. Irritates: RANKLES.

49. What shoppers compare: PRICES.  Maybe - but sometimes the better watermelons cost a little more.

51. Copter blade: ROTOR.

53. Standing upright: ERECT.  I used to have an Erector set that came in a red metal case.  Are they still on the market??

54. Put one over on: DUPE.

55. Site in shipwreck cartoons: ISLE.  The skipper, the movie star, the Billionaire and his wife.  The professor and Mary Ann here on Gilligan's Island.

56. Clearasil target: ACNE.

58. Pepper grinder: MILL. The ONLY way to add pepper to your food!

59. One side of the Urals: ASIA.

60. Govt. crash investigator: NTSB.  These are always sad.  Last week we had a medical helicopter go down in bad weather and we lost a nurse and the pilot.

63. That guy: HIM.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone. Boomer prepared our special occasion meal: baked Canadian walleye and wild rice (perfectly cooked: chewy and tender). I also had a plate of mini cucumber salad topped with the additive Target Crazy Fresh Pico de Gallo. And some fresh lychees, which Boomer declined to taste. He's not an adventurous eater. He had some fruit salad and a few slices of the sweet watermelon. Just a perfect meal on a very hot humid day.

Monday June 24, 2019 Gail Grabowski & Bruce Venzke

Theme: B AND E. (38A. Burglary, for short ... and a hint to this puzzle's four longest answers) - Each theme entry is in the pattern of B* E*:

 

 17A. Medical licensing test: BOARD EXAM.

 59A. Online mass marketing message: BULK EMAIL.

 10D. Wearing away of a riverside slope: BANK EROSION.

 23D. Torso-twisting "spin" that has no effect on the ball: BODY ENGLISH.

Boomer here.

"BE - All that you can -BE". I remember that BEing a commercial to join the Army.  It didn't work for me.  I could not find a bowling center or a golf course in Hardheim, Germany. Spring Bowling League ends tonight.  I will try to keep my golf clubs busy until Labor Day.

Across:

1. Esau's twin: JACOB.  Some of these old biblical stories live on and on.

6. Wee bit: TAD.

9. Cause to blush: ABASH.  Also a big hit by Albert Pujols.

14. Love, in Milan: AMORE.  "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie !"

15. Hoopla: ADO.  What is the next note on the scale after a Ti ?

16. 1945 "Big Three" summit site: YALTA.  The "Big Three" were Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. They agreed to demand that Germany surrender and end WWII, probably because Germany had no golf courses or bowling centers. 

20. "Pull up a chair": SIT.

21. "Ghostbusters" goo: SLIME. "Who ya gonna call ??

22. Sport with rifles and disks: SKEET.  I don't know about rifles. We used to shoot skeet with shotguns.

23. Tot's mealtime chest protector: BIB.  I sometime eat meals in a reclining chair.  I could use a bib.

24. Cardin of design: PIERRE.  The capital city of South Dakota.  C.C. and I visited there once.

25. Translates, as a cipher: DECODES.  Got the sniffles ? Dayquil may DECODE you.

29. Deborah of "The King and I": KERR.

30. Get away from: EVADE.  In Pac-Man you may need to EVADE Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde.

31. Rain really hard: POUR. When it rains, it pours.  A slogan for Morton Salt.  Maybe, but when humidity gums it up in its box, sometimes it does NOT pour.

33. Smell: ODOR.  Would you like a picture of Rougned?  Or will you be happy this time to fill in an easy answer to an easy clue.

37. Group of quail: BEVY.  Quail is common, but I played golf lst week on a hole with a BEVY of ducks.

39. Pen name that sounds like a drink: SAKI. Never heard of these pens.

40. Maple or sycamore: TREE.

41. 1998 film with talking bugz?: ANTZ.

42. Longed (for): PINED.  Add an "N" in the middle and you've added a tail to a donkey.

43. State between Mont. and Minn.: N DAK.  Been there many times.  You may have seen us at Teddy Roosevelt's state park last week.

45. Transfers from computer to cloud, say: UPLOADS.

47. Theater platforms: STAGES.

50. Actor McKellen: IAN.

51. Instruments for Yo-Yo Ma: CELLI.  If that's the plural for cello, I'll take your word for it.

52. Flinch or blink: REACT.

55. "Hulk" director Lee: ANG.

58. Thing of the past: RELIC.  Many churches named after saints may have a relic of that saint somewhere.

61. Won by __: squeaked out the victory: A NOSE.  I'll bet Jimmy Durante won a lot.

62. Wrath: IRE.

63. Artery in an angiogram: AORTA. This is very special, you cannot live without it.

64. Unverified stories: MYTHS.

65. Mariner's "Help!": SOS.  I heard that when Samuel Morse built his code, he made the "S" and "O" short clicks so that a danger could be clicked conveniently and quickly.

66. Called the game: UMPED.  I know many people who have Umpired games. 

Down:

1. Short punches: JABS.

2. Mine, in Metz: A MOI. - Where is METZ? And do they have land mines there ?

3. Paint layer: COAT.

4. Hockey immortal: ORR.  Bruin Bobby.  Defenseman scored more goals than Miguel Sano strikeouts.

5. Place for reading a nighttime story to a tot: BEDSIDE.

6. Ride with a meter: TAXI.  Great sitcom, where Judd Hirsch and Danny DeVito became famous. 

7. Actor Sandler: ADAM. He was great in "The Longest Yard" but of course my favorite was "Happy Gilmore".

8. Rotunda topper: DOME.  Also a stadium topper in Minneapolis from 1982 - to about 2010.

9. Sailor's assent: AYE SIR. I think there are two AYEs in that

11. Change: ALTER.

12. Rodeo bovine: STEER.  I have a wheel coming out of dashboard for this.

13. Poker Flat chronicler Bret: HARTE.

18. North Sea feeder: ELBE. This river runs through Germany Northwest to Southeast. Quite a bit east of Hardheim.

24. Dijon dad: PERE.

25. Credit report item: DEBT. FICO score should be good enough.  It rhymes with  GEICO. Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike -- What day is it ???  Whatever happened to the cavemen anyway??

26. At any time: EVER.  "If you're ever in a jam, here I am".

27. Home to Alley Oop: CAVE.  The man in the funny papers we all know?  Not in our paper.

28. Hit on the tush: SPANK.  And Darla's forget me not "ALFAL"

29. Invasive Asian vine: KUDZU.

32. Toronto's prov.: ONT.  I am  little more familiar with Manitoba just North of MN.  They play hockey there too.

34. Delany of "Desperate Housewives": DANA.

35. Approved: OKED. Stuck in a panhandle.

36. Frees (of): RIDS.

38. Sounds at shearings: BAAS.  Sounds at a Brewers Cubs game - BOOS

42. Kin of a mesa: PLATEAU.

44. Gets the frost off, as plane wings: DEICES.  Yeah, were two hours late in Feb on a flight MSP to LAS.  

46. Prospector's tool: PICK.  I use one to get little bits of food out of my teeth.

47. "Get lost!": SCRAM.

48. So, so small: TEENY. Weeny itsy bitsy yellow polka dot bikini.

49. Portion out: ALLOT. When I portion out my dinner, I always go with A LOT.

52. Sluggers' stats: RBIS.  Sometimes you need to be lucky to have teammates on base when you get your hits.

53. Milan money: EURO.

54. Taproom orders: ALES.  I expect it may normally be BEER.

55. Strong lobby for seniors: AARP.  Not me.  I canceled  membership after one year.  All I got was a lot of junk mail disguised as good deals if I spent my money. 

56. Late time, in ads: NITE.

57. Delighted: GLAD.  Plastic bag or wrap.  Do not throw it in the ocean!

60. Judy, to Liza: MOM.  We used to have a boss named Marvin O. Mechelke.  When you got a memo signed MOM, you knew who it came from.

Boomer