Sunday April 21, 2013 Robin Stears

Theme: Herbal Tease - One word in each theme entry is replaced by a sound-alike herb.

23A. Observation about sprouting aromatic plants? : SOMETHINGS ARE MINT-TO-BE. Somethings are meant to be.

36A. "Yes, I'm positive this seed is in five-spice powder"? : THAT'S MY FENNEL ANSWER. That's my final answer. Not fond of fennel or the Five-spice powder. My dad used star anise in meat dishes.

55A. "We should whip up some pickle flavoring"? : LET'S MAKE A DILL. Let's Make a Deal.

80A. Like something even better than a pungent herb? : BEYOND BAY LEAF. Beyond belief.

 

96A. Incense hung in two places? : MYRRH MYRRH ON THE WALL. Mirror Mirror on the Wall. Never thought of Myrrh as herb.

117A. Getting by with a loaner herb? : LIVING ON BORROWED THYME. Living on borrowed time. Pure homophone.

Very nice puzzle title!

Grid spanners can make things easier on a week day puzzle, but they're tricky to grid for a 21*21. Plus, Robin has a couple long 19's to deal with. Hence, 6 theme entries today. An extra 7th in the very middle row would make this extra tough, even if it's short.

Across:

 

1. Pricey sweaters : MOHAIRS. Angora goats.

8. They remove bad marks : ERASERS

15. Vertebral bones : SACRA

20. "__ Flame": Bangles ballad : ETERNAL

21. One in the running : NOMINEE

22. Blood of the gods : ICHOR. Learned from doing Xword.

26. Elementary fivesome : A E I O U. And 49. Alphabet trio : BCD

27. Roo's refuge : POUCH

28. Soul-searching events? : SEANCES. I love "Ghost". So good.

29. XIII x IV : LII

31. __-mo replay : SLO

32. "Washboard" muscles : ABS. Which angel do you like the best?

35. __ y Plata: Montana motto : ORO

43. Period relative : ERA

44. Trifle : SOU

45. Ultimate goal : END ALL

46. Easy target : SAP

48. Where It.'s at : EUR. Pay attention to the . in It.

51. Chinese tea : CHA. Literally "tea". Yum Cha ("Drink tea") is a daily activity for retired people in Guangzhou/Hong Kong. Dim sum & Cha & lots of idle gossip. It often takes 2-3 hours. Young people usually "Yum Cha" on weekends.

52. "Sideways" co-star Paul : GIAMATTI

60. Proceed (from) : EMANATE

61. Mythical sea nymphs : NEREIDS. This word reminds me of RESTAURANT in my early days of English learning. Hard to spell. Now looking back, nothing complicated in RESTAURANT.

62. Yield to gravity : SAG

64. 2005 Nobel-winning dramatist : PINTER (Harold). He wrote "The French Lieutenant's Woman".

65. Tears down, in Dover : RASES. Our Razes.

68. Broadband letters : DSL

69. Hägar creator Browne : DIK

71. Can't forgo : NEEDS

72. Bear witness : ATTEST

74. "My country, __ ..." : TIS

76. Every garçon has one : CEDILLA. The mark under that c. I bet this clue will stump some garçons. "I have a what?"

78. Pasture critters : GRAZERS

85. Black-and-tan terrier : AIREDALE

87. Center of gravity? : VEE

88. "__ rang?" : YOU

89. Aladdin's monkey : ABU

90. California's Big __ : SUR

91. Patio-brewed beverage : SUN TEA

93. Many IRA payees : SRS

95. Stimpy's sidekick : REN. "Ren & Stimpy".

103. Sushi tuna : AHI

104. Part of MYOB : OWN

105. "Nerts!" : BAH

106. Poetry Out Loud org. : NEA

107. Working like a dog : SLAVING

111. Prevent : DEBAR

113. Razzle-dazzle : ECLAT

122. __ acid : AMINO

123. Groundbreaking Reagan appointee : O'CONNOR. First woman on the Supreme Court. Tough lady. I think she intimidated even Terry Gross.

124. Showed disdain : SNEERED

125. Forms : MODES

 
126. Positively charged particles : PROTONS

127. Leather treaters : TANNERS

Down:

1. Cactus League spring training city : MESA. Cactus League is in Arizona. Grapefruit League is in Florida.

2. Native Oklahoman : OTOE

3. Half up front? : HEMI. As in, Hemisphere. Tricky, as DEMI, SEMI fit too.

4. Biological ring : AREOLA

5. Goes with one's gut : INTUITS

6. "Yay, team!" : RAH

7. Maidenform buy : SLIP

8. Swamp : ENGULF

9. The "R" in Edward R. Murrow : ROSCOE. Never knew this.

10. Eastern nursemaid : AMAH. Lots of Filipino AMAHS in Hong Kong. Cheap labor. Plus, they speak English.

11. McCartney title : SIR

12. San Diego-to-Albuquerque dir. : ENE

13. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" band : REM

14. Jorge's half-dozen : SEIS

15. Bollywood strings : SITARS. 65. Music for 15-Down : RAGAS

16. Urgent come-on : ACT NOW

17. Prefix with -aholic : CHOC

18. Boxer's attire : ROBE

19. Olympian warrior : ARES. 86. Warrior companion of 19-Down : ENYO. Learning moment for me.

24. Always butting in : NOSY

25. Old electronic display source : NEON LAMP

30. Weatherman's line : ISOBAR

32. They're history : ANNALS

33. Murphy __ : BED. Never saw one in person.

34. Blast furnace refuse : SLAG

36. Honest : TRUE

37. "The Wizard of Id" co-creator Johnny : HART. The "B.C." cartoonist.

38. Tossed in, as a losing poker hand : MUCKED. Don't know this term.

39. Radar's soda brand : NEHI

40. Byron's words before "'Tis but the truth in masquerade" : A LIE. "And, after all, what is a lie? 'Tis but the truth in masquerade." Don Juan.

41. Probate concern : ESTATE

42. Snitched : RATTED

43. Flotsam or Jetsam in "The Little Mermaid" : EEL. Nice new clue!

47. Beach resort strolling spots : PIERS

50. Jefferson, for one : DEIST

51. MP3 holders : CDS

53. As a rule : MAINLY

54. Temper : ANNEAL

56. Earn a blessing? : SNEEZE. Not sure what Boomer is sensitive to. He sneezes a lot. Probably some kind of scents. Going to Kohl's or some other department stores can set him off.

57. __ around: wasted time : MESSED
 

58. Wing it : AD LIB

59. Weighed down : LADEN

63. Euphoric : GIDDY

66. Lobby brightener : ATRIUM

67. Characterized by twinkling : STARRY

70. Put the __ on: quash : KIBOSH

73. Criticizing harshly : TRASHING

75. U.K.'s longest river : SEVERN

76. Country singer David Allan __ : COE. Never heard of him. Not a country music fan. Wow, look at his hair!

77. Polo VIP : LAUREN. Ralph Lauren. Polo shirt.

79. Gentrification target : SLUM

81. "You betcha!" : YEAH

82. Viscount's superior : EARL

83. Third man? : ABEL

84. Kicks : FUN

92. Credit checker Experian, pre-1996 : TRW

94. Equal-ize? : SWEETEN. Equal sweetener.

97. Gorge : RAVINE

98. Safari sights : RHINOS. JD had a few Safari trips.

99. Moon of Uranus : OBERON. Named after the king in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". 

100. Pyle portrayer : NABORS (Jim)

101. Leave out of the freezer : THAW

102. City SW of Essen : AACHEN. See Essen a bit to the east?

 

107. Bridge feat : SLAM. Hi there Spitzboov!

108. Chauffeured car : LIMO

109. Voracious : AVID. Anyone noticed the similarities between Clear Ayes & Yellowrocks? Both knowledgeable, curious & voracious readers.

110. Gunk : GOOP

111. Villain on Crab Key : DR NO. Thanks for the "Villain" hint.

112. Symbol on a staff : REST

114. Ancient harplike instrument : LYRE

115. AKC part: Abbr. : AMER

116. Nugent and Turner : TEDS

118. ATM maker : NCR

119. Heckle : BOO

120. Fort Erie's prov. : ONT. China uses provinces too. 23 provinces. Lu Lingzi is from Shenyang Province. Due to China's One-Child policy, she was her parents' only kid.

121. Letters from your parents? : DNA. Nice clue.

C.C.

Wednesday, Mar 6 2013, Robin Stears

theme: what a DODO!

17A. __ Sam: 49ers mascot : SOURDOUGH. san francisco.

24A. Lake Geneva water fountain : JET D'EAU. famous landmark, french for 'water jet.'

34A. Fun Factory clay : PLAY-DOH

51A. Mystery man : JOHN DOE. name used to refer to a male whose identity is unknown, or being withheld.

58A. Olympic sport since 2000 : TAE KWON DO. korean martial art.

melissa here. pretty straightforward today, raced right through with few sticky spots. it did make me wonder where our DODO is - anyone know?

across:

1. __ polloi : HOI

4. Prom gown material : SATIN

9. Jitter-free java : DECAF. shortened form of decaffeinated is routinely used.

14. ShopNBC competitor : QVC.  televised home shopping.

15. Gulf State native : OMANI. one from oman.

16. Start of a historic B-29 name : ENOLA. enola gay. 

19. Obie contender : ACTOR. annual off-broadway theater awards.

20. It comes straight from the heart : AORTA. fresh clue.

21. Fate who spins the thread of life : CLOTHO. youngest of the three fates in greek mythology.

22. Of main importance : PRIMAL

25. Some Korean imports : KIAS. cars.

26. Maker of Touch of Foam hand wash : LYSOL. had never heard of it.

28. Old-style "once" : ERST

29. Hipbone-related : ILIAC. seemed like it should be iliaL.

31. Ape who rescues baby Tarzan : KALA. as johnny used to say, i did not know that.

33. Filled (in), as a questionnaire box : XED. 

37. Back (out) : OPT. doesn't seem quite right - assuming we're talking contract talk - you can back out - but you can opt in or out.

40. Unsteady gait : LIMP

41. Debate : ARGUE

43. Caesar's "Behold!" : ECCE. needed perps here.

47. Appearances : MIENS. here, too.

50. Napoleon's exile isle : ELBA

53. Jigger's  1½€ : OUNCES. a jigger is 1.5 ounces.

55. High society types : ELITES

56. Firth or fjord : INLET

57. Infant ailment : COLIC. and parent's nightmare.

62. Fool : TRICK

63. S-shaped moldings : OGEES

64. Slice of history : EON

65. Boneheads : ASSES

66. Hot, spicy drink : TODDY. don't really think of a hot toddy as spicy.

67. Where the wild things are : ZOO

down:

1. Command ctrs. : HQS. headquarters.

2. Egg head? : OVO. prefix meaning egg.

3. Post-op setting : ICU. intensive care unit.

4. Doomed city in Genesis : SODOM

5. Indifferent to right and wrong : AMORAL

6. How tense words are spoken : TAUTLY

7. "Young Frankenstein" seductress : INGA. played by teri garr in the film. 

8. Govt. medical research org. : NIH. national institutes of health.

9. Handed out hands : DEALT. cards.

10. Protect from a cyberattack, say : ENCODE

11. Fastening pin : COTTER

12. Lei Day greetings : ALOHAS. we got lei'd again.

13. "Like, wow, man!" : FAR OUT. i'm hearing this expression again.

18. __ Gorbachev, last first lady of the USSR : RAISA

21. String quintet instrument : CELLO

22. Stack : PILE

23. "Kills bugs dead!" spray : RAID

24. Family name in "The Grapes of Wrath" : JOAD

25. Brooks of country music's Brooks & Dunn : KIX

27. Video chat choice : SKYPE. so popular.

30. Sgt.'s subordinate : CPL

32. Sound of a light bulb going on? : AHA. nice.

35. Long rides? : LIMOS

36. Jacques's significant other : AMIE. female friend.

37. Look like a creep : OGLE. great clue.

38. Guinness servers : PUBS

39. Darjeeling, e.g. : TEA

42. Right-hand page : RECTO

43. Volcanic spewings : EJECTA. perps please.

44. Black and tan : COLORS. 

45. Restaurant chain with a hot pepper in its logo : CHILI'S

46. Inveigle : ENTICE. what a great word.

48. "Thanks, already did it" : NO NEED

49. Stewed : SULKED

52. Cruise ship levels : DECKS

54. Like long emails from old friends : NEWSY

56. "I hate the Moor" speaker : IAGO. from othello.

58. Playpen player : TOT

59. Pince-__ : NEZ. style of glasses that pinch the nose, like this:

60. Scrappy-__ : DOO. scooby's nephew.

61. Beatle wife : ONO. yoko.

melissa

Wednesday, Dec 5 2012, Robin Stears

theme: I'M DOWN

this seemed more like a thursday level to me, a bit of a workout. an unusual looking grid, too, fitting the COLUMNS theme. i like puzzles that have down theme answers, i guess just because it's unusual.

5d. *"Break Like the Wind" band : SPINAL (COLUMN) TAP. 

10d. *TV drama narrated by a teen blogger : GOSSIP (COLUMN) GIRL. does anyone watch gossip girl?

26d. *Double-date extra : FIFTH (COLUMN) WHEEL. "third wheel" is the more common phrase. fifth column definition.

34d. *Chemical connection that involves a transfer of electrons : IONIC (COLUMN) BOND. an ionic column is a greek architectural feature.

22. The answers to starred clues start with kinds of them, and are arranged in them : COLUMNS

across

1. Unapproachable : OFFISH. a stretch-ish.

7. Heavy shoe : BROGAN. wikipedia: "a term generally applied to any heavy, ankle-high shoe or boot …". 

13. Like Steven Wright's delivery : DEADPAN. "I went for a walk last night and she asked me how long I was going to be gone. I said, "The whole time."

15. Fragrant hybrid bloom : TEA ROSE. created by cross-breeding two types of roses. so pretty.

16. Unusually large : OUTSIZE

17. They enjoy being cruel : SADISTS

18. GPS display : RDS. global positioning system / roads.

19. Scottish refusal : NAE

20. Melodic passages : ARIOSOS. new to me.

21. Cabbage head? : HARD C. can't fool me with that any more.

23. E. __ bacteria : COLI

24. Hug : ENFOLD. enfolds and kisses.

27. Buckeyes' sch. : OSU. ohio state university.

29. Blunt blade : EPEE

32. Main idea : POINT

33. Defensive story : ALIBI

35. "I hate when you do that!" : GRR

36. Balkan Peninsula capital : SOFIA

37. Profit share : CUT

38. Heavenly hunter : ORION. constellation.

40. Prov. on Lake Superior : ONT. ontario, canada.

41. Tottenham tot toters : PRAMS. tottenham is an area in london, and pram is a british word for a baby carriage.

43. Squares : NERDS

44. Grape soda brand : NEHI

46. A in German class : EIN

47. Light spectrum extreme : VIOLET

48. L.A. Sparks' org. : WNBA

50. Contractor's details : SPECS

52. Ones with a common heritage : ETHNICS

55. Eyeball : ORB

56. "Grimm" network : NBC. no idea. looks interesting.

59. Put away, as a hunting knife : SHEATHE

60. More apt to pout : MOODIER

62. Many a Nickelodeon watcher : PRETEEN

63. Exalt : ENNOBLE

64. Astonishingly enough : NO LESS

65. Carol opener : ADESTE. christmas carol, adeste fideles, aka o come all ye faithful. it's that time again already. here's BNL's version of a different classic carol:

down

1. Air Wick target : ODOR

2. It can go on for years : FEUD

3. Dieter's count : FATS

4. Picks from a lineup : ID'S. identifies - no indication of abbreviation, i suppose ID is common enough.

6. Thin ice, say : HAZARD

7. Berenstain youngster, e.g. : BEAR CUB. children's book series, the berenstain bears.

8. Active beginning? : RADIO. radioactive.

9. Maryland state bird, for one : ORIOLE. why 'for one'?

11. Apropos of : AS TO

12. Storied loch : NESS

14. Can't be without : NEED

15. Bag-checking agcy. : TSA. the butt of so many jokes.

21. Hägar's daughter : HONI. never remember this.

24. Canon rival : EPSON. printer makers.

25. Worst possible turnout : NO ONE. aw.

28. Tries to please a master, perhaps : SITS. "if you can sit quietly after difficult news, if in financial downturns you remain perfectly calm, if you can see your neighbors travel to fantastic places without a twinge of jealousy, if you can happily eat whatever is on your plate, if you can love those around you unconditionally and fall asleep after a day of running around without a drink or a pill, if you can always find contentment just where you are … you're probably a dog."

30. Diminish by degrees : ERODE

31. Arp contemporary : ERNST. jean arp (1886-1966) and max ernst (1891-1976) - both german painters, sculptors and poets.

33. Trendy healthful berry : ACAI

39. Classic autos : REO'S

42. Is guilty of a dinner table no-no : REACHES

45. Congenital : INNATE

47. Shakespearean setting : VERONA. romeo and juliet, and the two gentleman of verona.

49. Falls for a joke : BITES

51. Fleshy fruit : POME

52. "Mike and Mike in the Morning" broadcaster : ESPN

53. Via, briefly : THRO

54. China's Sun Yat-__ : SEN. did not know this.

56. Calligrapher's points : NIBS

57. Seat restraint : BELT

58. Hudson Bay native : CREE

61. Forest female : DOE

melissa

 

Sunday Nov 4, 2012 Robin Stears

 Theme: "All Fired Up" - Fire can precede both words in each two-word theme entry.

 23A. Extra-strength panic button? : POWER ALARM. Fire power. Fire alarm.

29A. "No hitting below the belt" et al.? : FIGHTER CODE. Fire fighter. Fire code.

49A. Saltine special? : CRACKER SALE. Firecracker. Fire sale.

71A. Subdivision at the mannequin factory? : ARM DEPARTMENT. Fire arm. Fire department.

95A. First critters on a farm? : STARTER ANTS. Fire starter. Fire ants.

113A. Legion of ventriloquist dummies? : WOOD BRIGADE. Firewood. Fire brigade.

124A. Sharon's home? : STONE PLACE. Firestone. Fireplace. Sharon Stone.

43D. Hard-to-read preliminary print? : LIGHT PROOF. Firelight. Fireproof.

48D. Head judge on "Top Chef"? : CHIEF EATER. Fire chief. Fire-eater.

Robin is back! Remember her "Front money" puzzle a while ago? With a dollar sign in the grid. Simply amazing.

Today's theme is also intricate. You need the new phrases to have surface sense and pair up symmetrically.

 Across:

1. Weathered the storm : COPED. Timely clue. Sorry about your lost cottage, Linda. Will you build another one?

6. Crocodile's greeting? : G-DAY. "Crocodile" Dundee then.

10. Turquoise relative : AQUA

14. Comment to the audience : ASIDE. Dodo told me Bill G also called her about her computer problem. Thanks for caring, Bill!

19. Fade away : ABATE

20. Dramatic solo, often : ARIA

21. Abridges : CUTS

22. Host at a communion : WAFER. I don't get this clue.

25. Lukas of "Witness" : HAAS

26. Photographer Adams : ANSEL

27. Kevin's "Footloose" role : REN. Kevin Bacon. I don't know any REN other than "Stimpy's pal".

28. Spin doctor's concern : IMAGE

31. St. Clare's town : ASSISI

33. Kingdom : REALM

35. "Silent Spring" subj. : DDT

36. "I __ mean it" : DIDN'T

39. Orbital shape : ELLIPSE

42. Detrained, say : ALIT

46. Acronymic candy company : NECCO (New England Confectionery Company)

52. Grammar best-seller "Woe __" : IS I. Guessed.

53. Filmmaker who alternates top billing with his brother : ETHAN COEN. And Joel Coen. The pride of Minnesota.

55. SeaWorld barker : SEAL

56. Babydoll : SUGAR

58. Hidden retreat : LAIR. CrossEyedDave must be going crazy without internet. Pas de chat, remember the "Puff, the Magic Dragon" verses you & AriadneArts wrote a few weeks ago? Dave was so impressed that he sent the blog discussion to the Peter, Paul & Mary fan club.

59. Savory gelatin : ASPIC. Sure miss my grandma's aspic and dumplings.

61. Tap type : SOFT SHOE

63. Schumann songs : LIEDER. Plural of lied.

65. "Magic Hour" author Susan : ISAACs. Never heard of the book.

69. Destined : MEANT

70. Mischievous sort : ELF

74. La Jolla winter hrs. : PST

77. Willies-inducing : EERIE

79. World's largest desert : SAHARA

80. More beloved : DEARER.  

82. Pots-and-pans noises : CLATTERS

85. "Fiddler" meddler : YENTE

87. Oak trunk : BOLE

88. Gate fastener : LATCH

89. Yom Kippur War prime minister : MEIR (Golda)

92. Ho-hum : WEARISOME

94. "You __ My Sunshine" : ARE

99. Upholstery jobs : SOFAS

100. Curiosity destination : MARS

102. Notable 1968 groom : ONASSIS (Ari). He actully loved Maria Callas.

103. Hombre's title : SENOR

105. Time's 2006 Person of the Year : YOU. Cop-out choice.

107. Joint at the corner : MITER

109. Turns to swing : AT BATS

118. Texas attraction : ALAMO

121. __ kwon do : TAE

122. Product suffix suggesting noodles : A-RONI

123. Theater level : LOGE

126. Zellweger of "Chicago" : RENEE

127. The Auld Sod : ERIN

128. "Shucks" : HECK

129. Flop or lop follower : EARED

130. Gets in the game : PLAYS

131. Faction : SECT

132. Silk Road locale : ASIA

133. "NYPD Blue" actor : SMITS (Jimmy). He played the cool Bobby Simone.

Down:

1. "Lost Horizon" director : CAPRA (Frank)

2. Bright-toned winds : OBOES

3. Little men : PAWNS

4. When Nancy bakes? : ETE. Nancy the French city.

5. Mockery : DERISION

6. Jamboree : GALA

7. Big snooze : DRAG

8. ABC or BET, e.g. : AIRER

9. Versatile veggie : YAM. Not versatile to me.

10. Paris was too much for him : ACHILLES. Paris killed Achilles, who had killed his brother Hector. But, "We'll always have Paris".

11. Serious predicament : QUAGMIRE

12. Its motto is "Industry" : UTAH

13. Busy ed.'s request : ASST.  Has to be Rich's clue. He's one busy "editor".

14. Cy Young, e.g. : AWARD. No one will top his 511 career wins.

15. Safe places : SANCTA

16. In that case : IF SO

17. Transfer document : DEED

18. Della's creator : ERLE. Della Street.

24. In the center of : AMID

29. Columbo portrayer : FALK (Peter)

30. Biographer Leon : EDEL. Henry James biographer. I learned from doing Xwords.

32. Wallet item : ID CARD. 104. 32-Down datum : NAME

34. Common Market inits. : EEC

37. Some PX patrons : NCOs

38. Apprehensive : TREPID. I've only used Intrepid.

40. Antidrug commercials, e.g., briefly : PSAs

41. Seven-veil dancer : SALOME

44. Golfer Aoki : ISAO. Literally "achievement". Aoki = "Green tree".

45. Freeway roller : TIRE

46. Harper Lee's first name : NELLE.  Did not know this. She's as reclusive as J.D. Salinger.

47. Online commerce : E-TAIL

50. Ouzo flavorings : ANISES

51. Big spread : ESTATE

54. "Sex and the City" role : CARRIE

57. Adm.'s milieu : USN

60. Bit of bullring gear : CAPA. "Cape" in Spanish.

62. Dent site : FENDER

64. "At the __ Core": Burroughs novel : EARTH'S. Never developed an interest for science fiction.

66. Reclining chair user's sigh : AAH

67. Supercomputer name : CRAY

68. Scattered : STREWN

72. Broadway's first Oakley : MERMAN (Ethel). New trivia to me.

73. "The Luncheon on the Grass" and "Olympia," e.g. : MANETs. Both are at Musée d'Orsay. Very daring eyes.

"The Luncheon on the Grass"

"Olympia"

75. Alabama march city : SELMA

76. Maple and pine : TREES

78. Inclusive abbr. : ETC

81. Soak up : ABSORB

82. Chowder tidbit : CLAM

83. Zhivago's love : LARA. Also love Julie Christie in "Away from Her".

84. Antitoxin sources : SERA

86. Put a charge into? : TASE

90. "I can't explain how I did that" : IT'S MAGIC. No one with a K in their first name has lost a presidential re-election! It's magic.

91. Junk mail addressee : RESIDENT

93. Chemical variants : ISOTOPES

96. __ de force : TOUR

97. Baptism, for one : RITE

98. Polymer ending : ASE

101. Bondi Beach city : SYDNEY. I associate Bondi Beach with Kazie & Jessica Hart.

106. Stage prizes : OBIEs

108. Motel posting : RATES

110. Asteroids creator : ATARI

111. "Don't play," on a score : TACET. Must have the same root as Tacit.

112. Origins : SEEDS

113. Bend : WARP

114. Hershiser of ESPN : OREL

115. Chaplin's fourth wife : OONA. Long time no see.

116. French cruise stops : ILES

117. Bush fighter : GORE. I'm excited about next Tuesday. First time to cast a vote for a US president.

119. Centers of activity : LOCI

120. "My Way" lyricist : ANKA (Paul)

124. '50s song syllable : SHA

125. Hasty escape : LAM

C.C.