Sunday February 3, 2019 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme:"Retirement" - Five different beds make a downturn in the grid.

 

26A. Royal title: HIS MAJESTY THE KING. Turns down to 28D. ---: KING.

40A. First hit, perhaps: DEBUT SINGLE. Turns down 43D. ---: SINGLE.

59A. Fred or George Weasley: IDENTICAL TWIN. Turns down to  62D. ---: TWIN.

83A. Kids' summer fun spot: SLEEPAWAY CAMP. Turns down to 87D. ---: CAMP.

104. War hero/actor who played himself in "To Hell and Back": AUDIE MURPHY. Turns down to  106D. ---: MURPHY.

 

Reveal:

118. Item on the housekeeping checklist, or a hint to completing five puzzle answers: TURN DOWN THE BED.

As I mentioned before, Across Lite can't handle blank clues. If you leave the down theme entry blank, Across Lite will show NO CLUE in the puzzle. So Rich normally just uses " ---". They should be blank in the newspaper format.

On the surface, not a ton of themage. But in reality, this type of turning theme is tricky to executive. Often you can't start with Row 3 due to turning action.

Across:

1. Baroque music family name: BACH.

5. Busy months for CPAs: APRILS. Taxing months For D-Otto too.

11. Lays into: ASSAILS.

18. AAA part: Abbr.: ASSOC.

20. Head huggers: BEANIES.

22. Obeyed a triangular sign: YIELDED.

23. Mountain dew source: STILL. Is this short for distillery?

24. Reaches via plane: LANDS AT.

25. Salad greens: ENDIVES. Which one do you like better: Curly endive or Belgian endive?

29. Toyland notables: BABES.

30. Poet's palindrome: ERE.

31. Common Market letters: EEC. European Economic Community.

32. "__ shall live your epitaph to make": Shak.: OR I

33. One-time filler: AT A.

34. First-ranked competitor: TOP SEED.

38. Polyester fabric: DACRON

44. Org. concerned with brownfields: EPA.

45. Class with angles: TRIG.

47. Step down: RESIGN.

49. Longfellow's bell town: ATRI. "The Bell of Atri".

50. Eye care brand: RENU.

52. Pampering spot: SPA.

54. Was in front: LED.

55. Painful sequence: OWS.

58. Suffix with ball: OON.

63. Brush fire op: EVAC.

64. NBA scoring stat: PPG. Points Per Game.

65. Corn holders: COBS.

66. Minimally adjusts: TWEAKS.

70. Aden Young's "Rectify" role: DANIEL. Not familiar with the TV drama.

72. It's fixed by a bank: CD RATE.

75. Milk sources: DAIRIES.

76. Tabloid material: SLEAZE.

77. Lord in a Christmas song, e.g.: LEAPER. I had to ask Boomer. "... ten lords a leaping" from "The 12 Days of Christmas".

78. Busy, as decor: ORNATE.

79. Casual Friday surprise: SUIT.

80. Pack animal: ASS.

81. Parasite in the dust: MITE.

88. Bit of broth: SIP. Classic Cantonese soup: pork ribs with corn, dates and carrots. Cantonese have a small bowl of soup with their dinner every day.

89. Do some carpentry: SAW.

90. Symbolic uncle: SAM.

93. Maple-syrup-to-be: SAP.

94. Words with bow or scarf: TIE A. Tiny partial.

95. Winter glider: SLED.

97. Amphibious assault troop carrier: AMTRAC. Dictionary says is stands for Am(phibious) + Trac(tor). Learning moment for me.

100. __ bar: TIKI.

103. Flow blocker: DAM.

107. Menu listing: OPTION.

109. Belgian diamond center: ANTWERP.

111. The Mustangs of Dallas coll. football: SMU. Bush 43 library is there.

112. When doubled, a hip-hop dance: NAE. Wiki shows me this GIF. Alright, we all can nae nae. 

113. Friend of Pooh: ROO.

115. Kinda-sorta cousin: ISH.

116. Dark side Darth: VADER.

124. Steep slopes: ESCARPS. Not a word I use. 

126. Gather dust: LIE IDLE.

127. Give one's address, maybe: ORATE. Nice clue.

128. Spot-on: SO RIGHT.

129. Took the deal: SETTLED.

130. Western Wyoming county: TETON.

131. Sign of alertness: OPEN EYE.

132. Hard rain metaphor: SHEETS.

133. Email folder: SENT.

Down:

1. Big do: BASH.

2. Spumante source: ASTI.

3. Forensic detectives, briefly: CSIs. OK, Crime Scene Investigators.

4. "A Study in Scarlet" detective: HOLMES.

5. Competent: ABLE.

6. Porridge veggies, old-style: PEASE.

7. Went off on Twitter: RANTED.

8. Racing series including the "500": INDYCAR.

9. Agenda, e.g.: LIST.

10. Upright swimmer: SEAHORSE. Oh, hello!

11. Floor support?: AYE. House/Senate floor.

12. Mythical voyager: SINBAD.

13. Composed: SEDATE.

14. "Arabian Nights" character: ALI BABA.

15. Contraction with two apostrophes: I'D'VE.

16. Denim purchase: LEES. Here are the trends of 2019. I like decorated jeans. But wide jeans, no!

17. '60s antiwar gp.: SDS. Students for a Democratic Society.

19. Red wine choice: CLARET.

21. With 67-Down, controversial MLB period: STEROID. And 67. See 21-Down: ERA. Boomer has to take steroid every day, otherwise, he might have adrenal crisis. His body just does not produce enough adrenaline due to Zytiga.

27. Heckler's input: JEER.

34. Garr on screen: TERI.

35. Slanted column: OPED.

36. It's usually easy to see through: PANE.

37. DJ's collection: DISCS.

39. Cartoon frame: CEL.

41. Perfect spot: UTOPIA.

42. Saint-__: Riviera resort: TROPEZ.

46. Transcript no.: GPA.

48. Besides Jan., only month with two federal holidays: NOV. Here is a list of Chinese national holidays. Nothing in Nov. and Dec.

51. Open, in a way: UNCAP.

53. Union setting: ALTAR.

56. Rolls into a ball: WADS UP.

57. Gorsuch predecessor: SCALIA.

60. Pole emblems: TOTEMS.

61. Two-nation peninsula: IBERIA.

63. Shapely leader?: ESS. Just the letter S in Shapely.

68. Specks in a river: AITS.

69. Topples (over): KEELS.

71. Packaging abbr.: NET WT.

72. Minor league baseball level: CLASS A.

73. "The Untouchables" studio (1959-'63): DESILU. Desi & Lu(cille). I've only seen Kevin Costner's "The Untouchables".

74. Croaked: RASPED.

75. John in court: DOE.

79. Photo tint: SEPIA.

82. Defunct carrier: TWA.

84. Opposite of fast: EAT. Nice clue also.

85. Hill staffer: AIDE.

86. Senior __: YEAR.

90. Seat of the Bishop of London: ST PAUL'S.

91. Vital vessels: ARTERIES.

92. Juin preceder: MAI. French June/May. We also have 98. Peak in France: MONT.

96. Contempt: DISDAIN.

99. Propellant developed to replace gunpowder: CORDITE. Another learning moment.

101. Do some craftwork: KNIT.

102. Sweater's comment: IT'S HOT. Sweat-er.

105. Come out: EMERGE.

108. Pool toy: NOODLE. Wish I knew how to swim.

110. Start of the fire?: WHERE'S.

114. Big-eyed baby: OWLET.

116. Brandy bottle letters: VSOP.

117. Crop unit: ACRE.

119. The Hague's home: Abbr.: NETH.

120. Beatty and Kelly: NEDS.

121. Restrain: BATE.

122. Thames campus: ETON.

123. Wreck reminder: DENT.

124. That, in Tijuana: ESO.

125. Abbr. on some business cards: STE.

Agnes emailed me this gorgeous dining table centerpiece. She said she had it custom-designed by her local florist. So pretty! Dear Santa used to visit Agnes when he went to the big VA hospital. He would then tell me how neat Agnes' house was.

Belated Happy Birthday to Dear Bill G, who's been with this blog for over 10 years. So sorry I forgot your important milestone last Thursday, Bill! Did Barbara take you to a special restaurant to celebrate? What did you have?

Bill and his wife Barbara

C.C.

Monday November 26, 2018 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: FORTISSIMO (63. Very loud, musically ... its symbol hints at four puzzle answers) - Each theme entry is in the pattern of F* F*.

17A. Concern after heavy rain: FLASH FLOOD.

 

23A. Like G-rated movies: FAMILY-FRIENDLY.

39A. Shore dinner: FISH FRY.

52A. American Revolution leader: FOUNDING FATHER.

   

Boomer here. 

Yabba Dabba Dooo!  Fred Flintstone would love this puzzle!  And I have to tip my hat to the Minnesota Gophers on Saturday. They played 60 minutes of Fantastic Football at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison Wisconsin and brought Paul Bunyan's Axe home Finally after Fifteen years of Frustration.

Across:

1. Identical: SAME.

5. "Mountain" soft drinks: DEWS.  Diet Pepsi is my favorite.  Dew is too tart.

9. Burn the midnight oil at college: CRAM.  Did you see the Rams vs. Chiefs last week ?

13. Urgent request: PLEA.  Not Guilty

14. Forgo the church ceremony: ELOPE.  Go to Nevada, they have the weakest laws.

16. Lo-cal: LITE.  Diet Pepsi

19. Inflated ones often clash: EGOS.  Lego my EGO,

20. Kinda: SORTA.  This is Sorta Notta Word.

21. Airport near Tel Aviv: LOD.

22. Isn't feeling up to par: AILS.  FRED FUNK has not been up to par for a few years.

27. Natural soother: ALOE.  Aloe, Aloe, Would you like some of my tangerine ?

28. Salon jobs: SETS.  Tennis matches.

29. Singer Jimmy or actor James: DEAN.  I was only 8 years old when James died in a car wreck.  I remember Jimmy selling sausage,  I didn't know he could sing.

32. Litter member or user: CAT.  In the cradle.

34. Sewn connections: SEAMS. 

38. Bruins legend: ORR.  The greatest offensive defenseman who ever played the game.

42. "Not happenin'": NAH.

43. Pace for Paganini: TEMPO.  A Ford in the 1990's.  Never was a popular as the Mustang,

45. Noon on a garden dial: XII.

46. Like Godiva: BARE. Seventeen, a beauty queen, she made a ride, that caused a scene.

47. Choir voice: ALTO.  A bit lower than soprano.

50. Tool for a duel: EPEE.

58. Woman's name often spelled without its "e": ANNE.

59. Progressive spokeswoman: FLO.  There were FLO FLASHBACKS on the final "Alice" episode.

60. Airport concern: DELAY.  George said "Answer the phone 'Van Delay Industries'"

62. Multi-platinum Diamond: NEIL. "Sweet Caroline" was my favorite.  Later in life he said it was about Caroline Kennedy.  I have my doubts.

66. Boarding site: GATE.

67. Cosmologist Carl: SAGAN.

68. Chicago commuter system, familiarly: THE L.  I have not spent a lot of time in Chicago, but I always thought it was called the "EL"  Short for Elevated Railway.  Maybe TTP will know for sure.

69. Snow conveyance: SLED. With a little old driver so lively and quick.  I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.

70. Earns after taxes: NETS.

71. Doomed: SUNK.  LeBron has SUNK many rubber balls into those NETS

Down:

1. Sun protection nos.: SPFS.

2. __ a sudden: ALL OF.

3. Stiller's partner: MEARA.  Tiger's buddy MARK O'

4. __ Kodak: EASTMAN.  "I've got a Nikon Camera, Gonna take a photograph, mama don't take my Kodachrome away."

5. Bit of OED info: DEF.

6. Building add-on: ELL.  What might you call the add-on if it is round ??

7. Literary Virginia: WOOLF.  Who's afraid of her?

8. Clues for a bloodhound: SPOORS.

9. Detox diet: CLEANSE.

10. Unbending: RIGID.

11. Coral island: ATOLL.  Price for driving on a busy highway

12. Having lots of loose ends: MESSY.

15. Vedder of Pearl Jam: EDDIE.

18. Flag down, as a cab: HAIL.

24. Focuses of activity: LOCI.

25. Passing words?: YEAS.

26. Website for handmade art: ETSY.  Possible Mississippi Senator?  Find out tomorrow.

29. Morse code unit: DOT.  Hi and Lois' twin daughter.  (Ditto's sister)

30. Palindromic "before": ERE.  And I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of site.

31. Drew Brees' asset: ARM. The LAW has a long one.

33. Texter's gratitude: THX. "Thanks for the Memories"  Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, you pick.

35. Gasteyer of "SNL": ANA.

36. Draw graffiti on, say: MAR.

37. Noted seashell seller: SHE.  I wonder how many she sold.  You can pick them up for free.

39. Decide not to call, in poker: FOLD.  Aces and Eights are not enough.

40. Feudal holding: FIEF.

41. Seacrest morning co-host: RIPA.  Kelly jumped from "All my Children" soap to morning show host.

44. Like some den walls: PANELED.

46. Directives: BEHESTS.

48. Spats: TIFFS.

49. Borrowed, as a library book: ON LOAN.

51. Predicted takeoff hrs.: ETDS.

52. Dracula's canines: FANGS.

53. Tatum or Ryan: ONEAL.  "Paper Moon."  Tatum was great but is Tatum really a girl's name?

54. Bring together: UNITE.

55. New York's Ausable Chasm, e.g.: GORGE.  I am thinking Colorado has better ones.

56. Yale founder Yale: ELIHU.

57. Budget noodle dish: RAMEN.

61. Egg-white omelet's lack: YOLK.  What did the farmer say when he dropped an egg on a hen.  "That's a yolk on you".

64. Bit of body ink: TAT.  You get these free before your radiation treatment.

65. Shoo-__: easy winners: INS.

Boomer

Note from C.C.:

Belated "Happy Birthday" to Picard (Robert)! I hope it was a day of fun and adventure, Robert.

Picard and Ed Asner

Sunday May 6, 2018 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: "Where Have You Gone?" - U is removed from each theme entry.

27A. Soil expert's observations?: CLOD FORMATIONS. Cloud formation.

44A. Contest where anglers compete while jogging on the shore?: TROT FISHING. Trout fishing.

 

68A. Where all the Aberdeen lads get together?: BOY SCOT JAMBOREE. Boy scout jamboree.

93A. Knee-socks, essentially: HALFWAY HOSE. Halfway house.

113A. Adventurous Centennial State motto?: BOLDER COLORADO. Boulder, Colorado.

14D. Like the studio forced to quit making 007 movies?: OUT OF BONDS. Out of bounds.

73D. How some insects get their news?: WORD OF MOTH. Word of mouth.

We have 7 themers today, totally 85 theme squares. Relatively light. Rich's minim requirement is 84 squares.

Classical pinwheel design. Two themers in the Down slots. Would be wonderful if there were no straying U's in the grid. But sometimes grid does not allow it. The fill is so clean.

In case you missed last time, read this article about Pam.

Across:

1. Hogwarts' Mrs. Norris is one: CAT. Here she is.

The Real Mrs. and Mr. Norris

4. Long-dist. threat: ICBM. InterContinental Ballistic Missile.

8. Night vision?: DREAM. Sweet clue.

13. Bed covering: SOIL. Nice too.

17. Wearer of hot pants?: LIAR.

19. Milhous : Nixon :: __ : Garfield: ABRAM.

21. Goosebump-inducing: EERIE.

22. Big wind: TUBA. Also 60. Penetrating wind: OBOE. Wind instrument.

23. One of the British?: ISLE. British Isles.

24. Progressive rival: GEICO. We're using Progressive.

25. Common sights on Roman roads: FIATS. Hilly Rome. 

26. Louisiane, par exemple: ETAT.

30. Fully enjoys: SAVORS. Picard, egg rolls (spring rolls) are popular in Guangzhou, but not in other parts of China.

32. Alaska's __ Peninsula: KENAI.

33. Kid's backyard apparatus: SWING SET. There's an Amish carpenter in our flea market. He makes rustic swing sets.

35. "What's the __?": DIF.

36. Pixar clownfish: NEMO. Ellen voiced Dory, that's all I recall.

39. Grafton's "__ for Outlaw": O IS.

40. Tiny shape-shifters: AMOEBAS. Not E-ending.

49. Musical array: TONES.

51. Tokyo sash: OBI. Theses are called Yukata. Casual Kimonos.

52. Debtor's list: IOUS.

53. Highlands group: CLAN.

54. Sumatran swingers: ORANGS. I use the full name Orangutans.

56. It might be square: KNOT.

57. Sudoku box fillers: Abbr.: NOS.

58. Tennis garb: SKORTS. Followed by 61. Steffi's tennis-playing spouse: ANDRE. Also 55. Aviator __ Garros, French Open stadium namesake: ROLAND

62. In the know: ASTUTE.

64. Show eager anticipation: DROOL.

66. In vogue, with "the": LATEST.

72. Logo on many sneakers: SWOOSH. This pair looks nice.

74. __ roll: HONOR.

75. Prepare to ride, in a way: SADDLE.

79. Coral Sea sight: ATOLL.

80. She plays Hermione in "Harry Potter" films: EMMA. Watson.

83. Big-headed club: DRIVER.

85. Rocket end?: EER. Rocketeer. Similar clues in 47. Basic finish?: HARD C. The last letter in Basic. 56. Knock follower?: KNEED. Knock-kneed. Also 82. Start to print?: MIS.

86. Spanish muralist: SERT. Jose Maria Sert.

87. Vegas table postings: LIMITS.

89. It feels like forever: AEON.

90. IRS enforcers: T MEN.

91. "Mansplain" was added to it in Jan. 2018: OED. Here is Wiki's explanation of Mansplaining (a blend of the word man and the informal form splaining of the verb explaining) means "(of a man) to comment on or explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner".

92. Reward units: MILES.

96. Jupiter's locale: FLORIDA. Not the planet.

98. Bad in Barcelona: MAL. I thought it's only French for "bad".

99. Boring: SLOW.

100. Wide companion: FAR. Far and wide.

101. Cafés and such: EATERIES.

106. K, to Kay: KARAT. Kay Jewelers.

110. Tried to sink, maybe: RAMMED.

116. Greek love god: EROS. AMOR in Latin.

117. All together: AS ONE.

119. "That's really spiffy!": NEATO.

120. Long journey: TREK.

121. __ noire: BETE.

122. Barbie's original bestie: MIDGE.

123. Rx: SCRIP.

124. Ward of "Sisters": SELA.

125. Spa sounds: AAHS.

126. __ corps: PRESS.

127. Detective Dick's love: TESS.

128. King of Spain: REY. The REY and his wife.

Down:

1. Select from a menu, with "on": CLICK.

2. Divider of rows: AISLE.

3. Prey grabber: TALON. Also 78. Seaside glider: ERNE. Spitzboov once linked a fantastic video.

4. Scheming Shakespearean soldier: IAGO.

5. Trucker, often: CBER.

6. Overflows (with): BRIMS.

7. Rain forest parrot: MACAW.

8. Clears of condensation: DEFOGS.

9. Bit attachments: REINS.

10. Clean the slate: ERASE.

11. Island in the stream: AIT. Sometimes it's CAY.

12. Barracks break: MESS.

13. Paul's "Ebony and Ivory" partner: STEVIE. Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.

15. Strong support: I BAR.

16. Bodybuilder's pride: LATS.

18. Tiny stingers: RED ANTS.

20. Formal proposal: MOTION.

28. Feudal land: FIEF.

29. Architect Jones: INIGO.  No idea. I do know the "The Princess Bride" INIGO though.

31. Bothersome goings-on: ADOS.

34. Ugli, for one: TANGELO. Oo seems to be fond of tangelos.

37. Doctored drinks: MICKEYS.

38. Nobel Institute city: OSLO. What a mess.

41. TV Drs. Isles and Quincy: MES. Medical Examiners. Did not know former. Dr. Maura Isles of Rizzoli & Isles.

42. Pull the plug: ABORT.

43. Web destination: SITE.

44. Barrett of S Club 7: TINA. Unfamiliar with  S Club 7 or the singer.

45. Outback bounders: ROOS.

46. Force out of office: OUST.

48. Singer's cue: INTRO.

49. You might pick one up in a bar: TAB.

50. See 95-Down: ONO. 95. With 50-Down, "Double Fantasy" artist: YOKO.

58. Diner perch: STOOL.

59. To make sure: SO THAT.

61. Shed __: A TEAR.

63. Pipe fastener: U BOLT.

65. Eduardo's eye: OJO.

67. Storehouse: ARSENAL.

69. Percussionist who worked with Prince: SHEILA E. Her surname is Escovedo.

70. Fable lesson: MORAL.

71. Terse: BRIEF. Like Santa's emails.

72. "__ Magnolias": 1989 film: STEEL.

76. Floor model: DEMO.

77. Popular jeans: LEES. I like Kohl's Mudd.

79. Beginning: AS OF.

81. Fr. title: MME.

84. Altar exchange: VOWS.

87. Top at Starbucks: LID.

88. Glass fragment: SHARD.

90. Stymies: THWARTS. Consonants-rich.

92. Muck partner: MIRE. Muck and mire is a new expression to me.

94. "War of the Worlds" invaders: ALIENS.

97. Big name in pharaohs: RAMSES.

98. Wild fights: MELEES. Been a long winter, but nice and quiet in our neighborhood. I dread the noisy summer MELEES, esp when gun is involved.

102. Residence: ABODE.

103. Ice bucket accessory: TONGS.

104. Walking tall: ERECT.

105. __ tactic: SCARE.

107. More valuable, in some cases: RARER.

108. One-named singer: ADELE.

109. Wine from Hungary: TOKAY.

110. Portrayer of the first female Colonel Sanders, familiarly: REBA.

111. Geometry figure: AREA.

112. Needing a little more drying time: DAMP.

114. Publisher Chandler: OTIS.

115. Prunes: LOPS.

118. Title for Elton: SIR.

Here is a picture of Dave2 holding a special birthday cake pie baked by his friend and caretaker Lynn. He said "Start with a pecan pie made with honey. Add chocolate bits, and place ingredients in a graham cracker crust. While baking the crust migrates into the liquid, et voila, a delicious cake pie."

Thanks again for your kind words and sweet memories of Santa. They're comforting and heart-warming to Jennifer, Klista, all Santa's close friends and his family. It's great seeing our old regulars back. The power of Santa!

From now on, Boomer and TTP will blog our Monday and Tuesday puzzles, as they did the past two months. Like Argyle, both of them served in the military. Both love golf, bowling and other sports. Both have been quietly helping me for a long time.

C.C.

Sunday April 1, 2018 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: "Now That's a Workout!"- Each theme entry is punnily re-phrased as if it's a workout term fitting the person in the clue.

27A. Mediators burn calories by __ : RUNNING INTERFERENCE

45A. Employees burn calories by __ : PUNCHING THE CLOCK. Four of the theme clues have a specific profession. This one and 108A are a bit general.

64A. Researchers burn calories by __ : SURFING THE WEB. Look at this cool art.

72A. Forensic investigators burn calories by __ : LIFTING PRINTS

93A. Campaigners burn calories by __ : PRESSING THE FLESH

108A. Toadies burn calories by __ : JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS. I don't quite get this clue. Why "Toadies"?

Anon-T just asked me the other day whether he can use two "THEs" in the theme entries. This puzzle should alleviate his worries.

Yes, you can use two THEs and ANDs in theme entries. Rich also will not object if you use two UPs, TOs and INs as fill. But don't over-do it.

I'm always excited to see Pam back. She's an very creative constructor. Read this article.

Across:
     
1. Shopper, at times : TOTER. I've never used those big in-store tote bags. You?

6. Driving hazard : SKID

10. The last game there was played 9/28/2008 : SHEA. Mets vs. Marlins.

14. Olive Garden staple : PASTA. Here is pasta Xi'an style. Look at the hot peppers.

19. __ cuisine : HAUTE

20. Newcastle's river : TYNE

21. Changes lanes on? : TARS. Nice clue.

22. One way to think : ALOUD

23. Laura's classic "Dick Van Dyke Show" wail : OH ROB

24. Baseball family name : ALOU. More baseball references: 26. Hit-by-pitch reminders : WELTS. And 51. 2018 "Sunday Night Baseball" addition : A-ROD

25. Got off the horse : ALIT

31. Increased : ROSE

32. Short relative? : SIB. "Short" hints at a shortened answer.

33. __ spot : SORE

34. March family creator : ALCOTT

38. Cancel at NASA : SCRUB

40. Brainstorm : IDEATE. Imagine my surprise when I heard this word used in a podcast.

50. Those, in Tijuana : ESOS
  
52. Org. with specialists : AMA

53. Bust unit : KILO. Drug bust.

54. Carve up : ALLOT

55. Like many an AARP mem. : RET (Retired)

56. Got glasses on credit? : RAN A TAB. Liked the clue/entry.

60. Trent Reznor's band, initially : NIN. Nine Inch Nails.

61. College near Albany : SIENA. Gimme for Agnes/Santa/Spitzboov.
 
62. Earthshaking event : TREMOR. Hi there Jayce!

67. High winds : OBOES

70. Monterrey day : DIA

71. Blackens, as a flue : SOOTS

77. Clan symbols : TOTEMS

81. Bountiful native : UTAHN. Bountiful, Utah.

82. Carides of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" : GIA. No idea. Did like the movie though.

83. "Inside the NFL" analyst : ESIASON. Boomer.

86. Place to go in Gloucester : LOO

87. Collapses : GIVES

88. La Scala strain : ARIA. I like this Aria, where our Steve stays when he visits Vegas.

90. High degree : NTH

91. Buy and sell quickly : FLIP

92. Cabinet dept. with an atom on its seal : ENER

98. Fight in the boonies : RASSLE

100. Offshore : AT SEA

101. Picks on : TAUNTS. The big bully in our neighborhood was later bullied on in high school. 

102. First name in folk : ARLO

105. Broadway's Hagen : UTA

106. Pouches : SACS

116. Getting warm : CLOSE

118. Unadorned : BARE

119. Logical word from Descartes : ERGO. Jayce again!

120. Positive words from one in a slump : I'M DUE

121. Puts an edge on : HONES

122. Omani money : RIAL

123. Roger succeeded him in Bond films : SEAN (Connery). To me, Bond is always Daniel Craig. Very Bond-y.

124. Chilling : ON ICE

125. In-crowd : A-LIST

126. Word with ant or brat : ARMY

127. Churchill, for one : TORY

128. Chips : NICKS

Down:

1. God with a hammer : THOR

2. Iolani Palace island : OAHU

3. Chance to play : TURN. At Boomer's Friday morning pot games, there's a guy who wins money (quarters) from the other old guys, all the time. Last week Boomer beat the guy and was happy the whole day. Little joys of life.

4. Berkshire boarding school : ETON

5. Renaissance : REBIRTH

6. Big bucks : STAGS

7. One of the Jenners : KYLIE. She has built up a cosmetic empire.

8. Part of : IN ON

9. German, in Germany : DEUTSCH. TTP stationed there in his Army days. So many regulars on our blog served in the military: Argyle, Spitzboov, D-Otto, TTP, Boomer, Anon-T. Who else?

10. Pequod's chief mate : STARBUCK. Moby-Dick

11. __ Moon: Henry Hudson's ship : HALF. Guessed.

12. Cat Nation people : ERIES

13. Toon dog sharing a name with an MLB player : ASTRO

14. Used as security, in a way : PAWNED

15. One of the Baldwins : ALEC

16. Lonesome fish? : SOLE

17. Son of Akhenaten : TUT

18. "Mad Men" creations : ADs

28. Words of denial : NOT I

29. Blarney Stone home : EIRE

30. The Phantom of the Opera : ERIK. Here is Erik Agard, the new American Crossword Puzzle Tournament champion. He probably finished today's LAT in 6 minutes.

34. In pieces : APART

35. Attractive one? : LURER

36. Benjamin's bill : C NOTE

37. Anxious med. condition : OCD

38. ESPN figures : STATS

39. Russian crepes : BLINI. Never had Blini.

41. Hardest to hang on to : EELIEST

42. More than enough, usually : A SLEW

43. Odds end? : TO ONE. Like million TO ONE odds.

44. Cornerstone abbr. : ESTAB

46. Tandoori bread : NAN

47. "Today" rival, for short : GMA

48. Hollywood's Ken and Lena : OLINS

49. Where Kinshasa is : CONGO

54. Kutcher of "The Ranch" : ASHTON

56. Birds in Kilmer's "Trees" : ROBINS

57. Memphis middle name : ARON. Elvis' middle name.

58. Quattro maker : AUDI

59. Salty solution : BRINE

63. Goose and hen? : MOTHERS. Mother Goose. Mother hen.

65. __ Domino : FATS

66. Wizard revealer : TOTO

68. "Walk, Don't Run" actress Samantha : EGGAR

69. Skyline standout : SPIRE

72. German pistol : LUGER

73. Rock music memoir : I TINA

74. Strong preferences, casually : FAVES

75. Mikhail's wife : RAISA

76. __ different tune: change one's mind : SING A

78. Self-named sitcom : ELLEN

79. Word in Duncan Hines ads : MOIST

80. Former frosh : SOPHs

84. Co. that spawned Baby Bells : ATT

85. Theater warning : SHH

89. In an insightful manner : ASTUTELY. Thought of PK, who's very observant.

91. Shot target : FLU. Will definitely get flue shot this year. 

93. Witness' lineup choice, ideally : PERP

94. Map strip: Abbr. : ISTH. Isthmus.

95. Least distant : NEAREST

96. Inscribe : ETCH

97. Runway display : FASHION

99. Like the worst excuse : LAMEST

103. Sign of balance? : LIBRA
 
104. Ecstatic way to walk : ON AIR. Also 107. Ecstasy's opposite : AGONY

106. Domino product : SUGAR

 108. Multiple Grammy winner Mitchell : JONI

109. Purposes : USES

110. Weight unit : GRAM

111. Stale cookie in crosswords? : OREO. Quite popular in China now.

112. Ritz-Carlton rival : OMNI

113. Lyrical : ODIC

114. It's stopped during a save : PUCK. Hockey.

115. Gets : SEES

116. All the tea in China? : CHA. Just Chinese for "tea".

117. Facebook chuckle : LOL