Thursday, November 6, 2025, Ilana Levene, Scott Hogan

Theme:  Not the real thing, but an amazing FACSIMILE!

Ilana Levene is a British neonatal intensive care physician who started working on US crossword puzzles as a distraction, and has now published several, including one previous puzzle in these pages.  Scott Hogan is a patent attorney in Michigan who has collaborated with others to construct crosswords -- often Katie Hale -- and published one in the NYT with Ilana Levene.  Today Ilana and Scott treat us to some close copies or spitting images, and they manage to cross them in the grid.

Ilana Levene        and        Scott Hogan

The big reveal is:

55-Across. Betray, or what can be found three times in this puzzle: DOUBLE CROSS.  

      All of the words for which "copycat" is the clue are a kind of "double."

25-Across. Copycat: REPLICA.  A close reproduction of an original item.

27-Across. Copycat: STAND-IN.  A person who substitutes for another.

5-Down. Copycat: FACSIMILE.  An exact copy.

9-Down. Copycat: LOOK-ALIKE.  A person who greatly resembles someone else.

40-Down. Copycat: CLONE.  A genetically identical copy.

Those are the DOUBLEs.  How do they CROSS?  Here's the grid:

We have six words for "double" (including DOUBLE), and they CROSS in three places.  It's a nifty structure, with lots of lovely words and phrases.  Let's take a DEEPer look.

Across:

1. Bundle of wheat: SHEAF.

6. Social media annoyance: BOT.  A bot is an automated program designed to simulate human interaction on social media platforms.  Some are malicious.

9. Endures: LASTS.

14. Accord, for one: HONDA.

15. Dazzle: AWE.

16. Earthy colour: OCHRE.  DH and I were sitting in a cafe in Pernes-les-Fontaines in Provence, when a local couple told us we should see the village of Roussillon.  I understood them to say it was very colorful.  So a day or two later, there we were, and completely astonished by the ochre cliffs and quarries.  I grew up knowing OCHRE as a crayon color, and had no idea that it was a natural clay pigment, mined in Roussillon from the late 18th century until 1930.

I took this photograph of the OCHRE cliffs of Roussillon in 2019.

17. Urgent care specialist, briefly: ER DOC.

18. Work of fiction?: LIE.

19. Was part of a row: OARED.

20. End of an academic address: EDU.  Website or email address.

21. Start to knock?: SILENT K.

24. Actress Noblezada: EVA.  Eva Noblezada is an American theatre actress and singer. Her accolades include a Grammy Award and two Tony Award nominations.  Besides roles in stage productios of Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, The Great Gatsby, and Cabaret, she has earned some film and television credits.  News to me, but good for her.

Eva Noblezada

25. [Theme clue]

27. [Theme clue]

29. Pinged online: IM'ED.  Instant Messaged.  To ping a device is to send a quick signal and then measure the response time as a way of assessing network performance.  But for the average person, "ping" has come to mean sending a quick message to get someone's attention or to see if they are available.

30. "Carpe diem" hashtag: YOLO.  "Carpe diem" is Latin for "seize the day."  YOLO is an acronym for "you only live once."  Both suggest you should do something impulsive.

31. Like streets in Dickens novels: GASLIT.  Streets were lit by gas lamps before electric lighting. 

gaslit street

34. Lobster claw: PINCER.

A lobster's front pincers are considered to be legs.
They are used for self-defense and for grabbing and tearing prey animals.

38. "__ we meet again": UNTIL.

39. German pronoun: ICH.  In 1963, President John F. Kennedy gave a speech in West Berlin, in which he spoke the famous words, "Ich bin ein Berliner" or "I am a Berliner."  It was an anti-communist speech delivered at the height of the Cold War.

42. Arboreal marsupial: KOALA.

43. Kin of equi-: ISO.  Equi- and iso- are prefixes meaning equal or same.

44. Oft-pierced body part: EARLOBE.

47. __-fi: SCI.

48. "The Idol" star Lily-Rose: DEPP.  Lily-Rose Depp is the daughter of American actor Johnny Depp and French singer/model/actress Vanessa Paradis.  She starred in the HBO television drama series The Idol and in the 2024 film Nosferatu.  If you solved Marc Goldstein's puzzle in the LA Times this past Sunday, you've met her already.

Lily-Rose Depp

50. Bread: MOOLA.  Both are slang for money.

51. Comics icon Lee: STAN.  Stan Lee wrote and published comic books, and helped create Spider Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, and others.

52. "What __ can I do?": ELSE.

53. Like some monologues: INNER.

54. Pom sounds: YAPS.  Pomeranian dog -- a miniaturized German Spitz.

Pomeranian

55. [Theme clue -- the big reveal.]

58. Home for lanternfish: DEEP SEA.  Lanternfish may account for 65% of all deep-sea fish biomass.  They use bioluminescence to emit pale blue, green, or yellow light.  Most are less than 6 inches long.

Lanternfish

60. Broadcast hour: AIR TIME.

63. How a detective might work: ON A LEAD.

64. Drew back: RECEDED.

65. Motive for a cover-up?: MODESTY.  A bathing suit cover-up will get a woman from the hotel room to the beach or pool without feeling like she is walking around in her underwear.  Depending on the style, it may also offer some protection from sunburn.

Cover-up at the shore

66. Genre portmanteau: DRAMEDY.  A portmanteau blends the sounds and meanings of two words.  In this case, two entertainment genres are blended:  drama and comedy.

Down:

1. Like chiffon: SHEER.  Originally a French fabric made of silk, chiffon is now mass produced with synthetic fibers.

2. Swarm: HORDE.

3. Land: END UP.  "Land" can be a verb meaning "end up" or "arrive at a final place or situation."  For instance, they landed in a real mess -- or better -- they landed in paradise.

4. Hustle and bustle: ADO.

5. [Theme clue]

6. "The Hunger Games: The __ of Songbirds & Snakes": BALLAD.  If you know, you know -- or you make a good guess based on perpendicular entries.

7. Scrape covered by a Welly Bravery Bandage, e.g.: OWIE.

8. Itty-bitty: TEENSY.

9. [Theme clue]

10. Spanish "here": ACÁ.  The Spanish words "aquí" and "acá" have almost the same meaning.  Aqui is right here, next to me, and acá is in my general vicinity.  Lucina, any additional notes?

11. Create ribbons: SHRED.

12. Rome's __ Fountain: TREVI.

13. Accord, for one: SEDAN.  Same clue as for 14-Across, but with a different answer.  That makes this a clecho, or clue echo.

22. "Gangsta Rap" rapper: ICE T.  Yes, the same Ice T you know and love as NYPD detective/sergeant Odafin Tutuola on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

23. Partly removable roof: T-TOP.

26. Reinhart of "Riverdale": LILI.  Lili Reinhart is an up and coming actress known for her roles in the teen drama series Riverdale, the crime film Hustlers, and the romantic drama Chemical Hearts.  Look for her in next year's horror film, Forbidden Fruits.  Or so I read.

28. Taboo: NO NO.

31. Manual: GUIDE.

32. Adams who photographed 36-Down: ANSEL.  Ansel Adams (1902-1984) was a landscape photographer and environmentalist known for his black-and-white images of the American West.

Ansel Adams circa 1950

33. Freezes: STOPS DEAD.

35. Put out of one's mind: CAST ASIDE.

36. Yosemite summit, informally: EL CAP.  An Ansel Adams photograph of El Capitan:

El Capitan, Sunrise, Yosemite National Park

37. Falls from the sky: RAINS.

39. Thatcherism creator, familiarly: IRON LADY.  Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.  She was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century and the first woman to hold the position.  As prime minister, she implemented economic reforms that came to be known as Thatcherism.  A Soviet journalist dubbed her the "Iron Lady," a reference to her leadership style.

Margaret Thatcher

40. [Theme clue]

41. Undisclosed advantage: HOLE CARD.  Per Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, a HOLE CARD is:

1 : a card in stud poker that is properly dealt facedown and that the holder need not expose before the showdown

2 : something (such as a reliable advantage) that is held in reserve especially for use at a strategic moment

45. "Stick a fork in me!": AM I BEAT.  The saying goes, "Stick a fork in me, I'm done!"  It means that the speaker is exhausted.  I imagine this comes from cooking, where we stick a fork into a potato or other food item to test for doneness.

46. Obstacle: BARRIER.

49. Third word of the Constitution: PEOPLE.  "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

51. Buddy __: SYSTEM.

56. Exploits: USES.

57. Largest member of the dolphin family: ORCA.

58. __ Pérignon: DOM.

59. Musician Brian who used a Mac to compose "The Microsoft Sound": ENO.  Brian ENO and Yoko ONO are our favorite musicians in the Crossword Corner.  

61. Rx order: MED.  Prescription order : medication.

62. Big name in ice cream: EDY.

The grid again, because I'm used to putting it here:

Solvers, did you END UP with the correct entries in the grid?

Or did you encounter a TEENSY problem along the way?

Inquiring minds want to know.  Please comment!

-- NaomiZ

Sunday September 1, 2024 Scott Hogan & Katie Hale

Theme: "Better With Age" - AGE is added to each common phrase.

22. Ancestors infamous for tasteless jokes?: OFFENSIVE LINEAGE. Offensive line.

32. Instruction from the Juicy Juice shipping supervisor?: PACKAGE A PUNCH. Pack a punch.

49. Videobomb in an otherwise Pulitzer-worthy newscast?: FOOTAGE FAULT. Foot fault.

68. Chaos at the spa?: MASSAGE HYSTERIA. Mass hysteria.

89. Evidence of vacuum misuse?: HOOVER DAMAGE. Hoover Dam.

106. Political strategy that relies on folksy sayings?: ADAGE CAMPAIGN. Ad campaign.

120. Neosporin motto?: I'M WITH THE BANDAGE. I'm with band.

I had difficulty parsing PACKAGE A PUNCH. Others are all solid. 

Scott Hogan and Katie Hale are a dynamic duo. They've made quite a few Sunday LAT and NYT puzzles.

Great follow-up to the last "Getting Old" puzzle we had a long while ago. Been ages since we last solved a James Sajdak puzzle.

Across:

1. Semaphore gear: FLAGS.

6. Studio output: ART.

9. Baby bird: CHICK.

14. Make a scene: ACT.

17. British semi: LORRY.

18. Gymnast Suni: LEE. Pride of Minnesota. She grew up in St. Paul.

19. Hallowed: SACRED.

21. Composer Stravinsky: IGOR.

25. Org. with a "meatball" insignia: NASA. From their website: In the "meatball" design, the sphere represents a planet, the stars represent space, the red chevron is a wing representing aeronautics. No meatball though.

26. Not fooled by: WISE TO.

27. Bring a suit: SUE.

28. Skyscraper locales: BIG CITIES.

30. Graham who co-founded The Hollies: NASH.

35. Some hip muscles: FLEXORS.

38. "King __": KONG.

39. "Star Trek: Picard" actress Jeri: RYAN.

40. Mars, to the Greeks: ARES.

41. Engage in a linguistic battle, maybe: RAP.

43. "Careful what you __ for": WISH.

45. Manchester United mascot: DEVIL. Fred the Red Devil. The club's nickname is the Red Devils. Learning moment for me.

53. Pacers and Hornets: AMCS.

56. College email ending: EDU.

57. Author Rand: AYN.

58. Everett of "An Ideal Husband": RUPERT.

59. Scratching post fiber: SISAL.

61. Shorten, in a way: CROP. Do I look good in this pair of sunglasses? Tom Pepper's.

62. Tour employee: ROADIE.

64. "So?": AND.

66. Airport screening?: TIMETABLE. Fun clue.

72. Goes it alone: FLIES SOLO.

75. Cyberyuk: LOL.

76. "Dust in the Wind" band: KANSAS.

80. Starring role: LEAD.

81. Arm rest?: SLING. And 83. Overnighter: LODGER. My friend Carmen is finally off her sling. She was in Shenzhen ten days ago.

Carmen 8/21/2024

86. Half of deux: UNE.

87. Purpose: AIM.

88. TV host Kotb: HODA. I think Big Easy knows her first husband.

92. Forbidden: TABOO.

94. Do the hustle?: SCAM. Amazing clue!

96. Fair-hiring letters: EEO.

97. Enthusiastic: AVID.

98. Climate control syst.: HVAC.

101. Brontë sister: ANNE.

103. Can't miss: MUST SEE.

111. Perfectly: TO A T.

112. So very much: A WHOLE LOT.

113. Coconut __: OIL. Have any of you tried coconut sugar?

115. Savanna, taiga, etc.: BIOMES.

119. Brief note: MEMO.

124. Garbed: CLAD.

125. Remote target: TEE VEE. And 126. Remote insert: AAA.

127. Polynesian kingdom: TONGA. East of Fiji. Vanuatu is to the west.

128. Passe: OLD.

129. Atlanta WNBA team: DREAM.

130. Lode load: ORE.

131. "Lah-di-dah" type: SNOOT.

Down:

1. Word with work or cash: FLOW.

2. Like a stripped-back recording, briefly: LO-FI.

3. Dog sounds: ARFS.

4. Least experienced: GREENEST.

5. Grammar subject: SYNTAX.

6. Mahershala who was the first Muslim performer to win an Oscar: ALI. For "Moonlight". Won another for "Green Book".

7. Checks an engine, perhaps: REVS.

8. Elevate a golf ball: TEE UP.

9. Forensics drama franchise: CSI.

10. "To All the Boys" novelist Jenny: HAN. Korean-American.

11. Some anti-inflammatories: ICE BAGS.

12. Pitcher Kimbrel with more than 400 career saves: CRAIG. See here. Top 5.

13. Many a frat party: KEGGER.

14. Over bidding?: AGAIN. Not auction bid.

15. Sine's reciprocal, in trig: COSEC.

16. Dis: TRASH.

20. Radioisotope activity: DECAY.

21. On the same wavelength: IN TUNE.

23. Underwhelming: SO SO.

24. Water bottle problem: LEAK.

29. Sleeping tablets, at times: IPADS. OK, the screen goes to sleep.

31. Onboarding official, for short: HR REP.

33. Loose hood: COWL.

34. Crafts with yarn: KNITS.

35. Cold treat, casually: FROYO. Never had frozen yogurt, but I'm the best soy yogurt maker in Minnesota. 

36. British singer Lewis: LEONA.

37. Ump's call: SAFE.

40. Way over yonder: AFAR.

42. Exemplar: PARAGON.

44. Knows the answer: HAS IT.

46. Conjugated word: VERB.

47. Pedestal dweller: IDOL.

48. Hip-hop's __ Fiasco: LUPE.

50. Diva's big moments: ARIAS. Oh, I don't think I ever mentioned Qinqiang opera before. It's sung in Xi'an dialect. 

51. "Seems that way": GUESS SO.

52. Online periodical with the slogan "Cure Ignorance": UTNE.

54. Angela Lansbury role: MAME.

55. Worked for a judge: CLERKED.

60. [Heart eyes emoji]: IT'S LOVE.

61. "Misery" co-star James: CAAN.

63. Sent a private message, briefly: DM'ED.

65. Shipping option: DHL.

67. Prom crown: TIARA.

69. Auction cry: SOLD.

70. Aka follower: ALIAS.

71. "No regrets" hashtag: YOLO.

72. Lacking pop: FLAT.

73. Skywalker twin: LEIA.

74. Poetic measure: IAMB.

77. Elegantly charming: SUAVE. I associate this word with Agnes's Gary Grant.

78. Harmon of "Rizzoli & Isles": ANGIE. Boomer loved her in "Law & Order".

79. Pomegranate bit: SEED.

82. World's second-largest cocoa producer: GHANA. The largest is the Ivory Coast. Also learning moment for me.

84. Judge to be: DEEM.

85. Tiler's supply: GROUT.

88. Ramshackle residence: HOVEL.

90. Potent prefix: OMNI.

91. Mammoth's older relative: MASTODON.

93. "Thank heavens!": OH GOOD.

95. Locked up: CAPTIVE.

99. Nail the final: ACE IT.

100. Settled (down): CALMED.

102. John Legend achievement, briefly: EGOT.

104. Japanese bowlful: SOBA.

105. Corrupts: TAINTS.

106. Repair chain with classic "beep beep" commercials: AAMCO.

107. Reside (in): DWELL.

108. Sports commentator Rashad: AHMAD.

109. Blade shortener: MOWER.

110. Chinese greeting: NI HAO. Ni = You. Hao = Good.

114. "Oh, that way madness lies" king: LEAR.

116. Honduran hand: MANO.

117. Waffle brand: EGGO.

118. Ticket line?: SEAT. Another creative clue.

121. Lapsang souchong, e.g.: TEA.

122. __ and haw: HEM.

123. Boo: BAE.

Sunday July 14, 2024 Scott Hogan & Katie Hale

Theme:  "It's a Sign" - Each traffic sign is rephrased as non-traffic.

23. "Put that Sandra Bullock bomb-on-a-bus DVD in the clearance bin!": REDUCE SPEED. "Speed" the movie.

33. "Keep it clean! This is a family musical!": CHILDREN AT PLAY.

51. "Base jumping is awesome!": FALLING ROCKS.

67. "Play every song the whole way through!": DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS.

85. "Don't you dare throw another interception!": PASS WITH CARE.

99. "Our new corporate partners are almost here!": PREPARE TO MERGE.

117. "Can we please banish traveling salespeople already!?": END ROADWORK.

Fun theme. I'm very fond of this type of re-phrasing approach. I think the END ROADWORK is purposely placed as the last theme entry.

Textbook LAT Sunday grid. Super smooth. Low number 3-letter fill. Katie is a pro at making Sunday grids.

Across:

1. "Kung Fu __": Jack Black film franchise: PANDA. Master Po.

6. Italian "Enough!": BASTA.

11. Seat on a hayride: BALE.

15. Kiss, in Camden: SNOG. London. I only know Camden Yards.

19. Phone setting: ALARM.

20. "Bunnicula" voice actor Sean: ASTIN.  Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit.

21. "You haven't changed __": A BIT.

22. Cod, for one: CAPE.

25. Reasons not to: CONS. Pros and cons.

26. Say, say: AVER.

27. Molding, e.g.: TRIM.

28. Sends: SHIPS.

29. Common nest spot: EAVE.

30. False flattery: SMARM.

31. Fruity baked treats: TARTS. No ovens in most Chinese kitchens. Our treats are just steamed or fried.

36. "Fine, I guess": OH OK.

38. More than want: NEED.

39. Letters on a face: XII. Clock face.

40. Tierra en el océano: ISLA.

42. Sup: EAT.

45. "The Morning Show" star: ANISTON. Jennifer.

48. Blow in the ring: JAB. Boxing ring.

54. Porcelain treasure: MING VASE.

56. Before now: AGO.

57. Spanish 101 verb: ESTAR. To be.

58. Breathes on glass, say: FOGS.

59. Sharqiya Sands country: OMAN.

60. Real drag: DOWNER.

63. Tart pub quaff: SOUR ALE.

66. Very good (at): ADEPT.

71. Late-night host Ferguson: CRAIG. He was succeeded by James Corden.

73. Gives off strongly: REEKS OF.

74. Boss: LEADER.

77. Sunscreen metal: ZINC.

78. Brought a case: SUED.

79. Word on a Paris map: METRO. And 82. Evian or Perrier: EAU.

83. Student's hoped-for university response: ACCEPTED.

89. Tuna tartare topper: ROE.

90. Conference unit: SESSION.

92. Cargo weight: TON.

93. Writers McEwan and Fleming: IANS.

94. Pronoun option: SHE. I used to confuse Boomer with my " ... then she/he said ..." It's all Ta in Chinese, whether she, he or it.

95. Small change: CENT.

97. Artful: DEFT.

106. October birth sign: LIBRA.

109. Extend a subscription: RENEW.

110. Biscuit containers: TINS.

111. Pulls down: EARNS.

113. State with a triangular swallowtail flag: OHIO. Hi there, Janice!

115. Utah ski resort: ALTA.

116. Subj. for which trig is a prereq: CALC.

119. Like some humor: DARK.

120. "Mon __!": DIEU.

121. Bar perch: STOOL.

122. Respected villager: ELDER.

123. Choppers: AXES.

124. "Make it shorter," made shorter: TL;DR. Too Long; Didn't Read.
 
125. Fish with neon stripes: TETRA.

126. Carne __: grilled meat: ASADA.

Down: 

1. Pigtails separation: PART.

2. Phone setting: ALERT.

3. Gymnast Comaneci: NADIA.

4. Announcement build-up, maybe: DRUM ROLL. Partnered with 88. Places where things may seem fishy: CAT BOWLS. Both great entries.

5. "Dark Winds" network: AMC.

6. Ram: BASH.

7. Molded jelly made with meat stock: ASPIC. Chinese aspic.

8. 2022 NBA Finals MVP Curry: STEPH.

9. Aptly links (with): TIES IN.

10. "Do go on ... ": AND.

11. Rum brand with a bat logo: BACARDI.

12. __ and beyond: ABOVE.

13. Summer fabric: LINEN.

14. "3 Body Problem" antagonists, briefly: ETS. Based on the novel of Liu Cixin.

15. Garlicky dish: SCAMPI.

16. Like a sub: NAVAL.

17. Glass production?: OPERA. Philip Glass.

18. In need of an antibacterial wipe: GERMY. My sister-in-law Connie is still in the hospital. Still not sure what caused her faint. Probably the pneumonia. She can walk a short distance with a walker now.

24. Petrol pump brand: ESSO.

29. Paradises: EDENS.

30. Undercover operation: STING.

32. Massaman curry cuisine: THAI. We seem to encounter Thai food reference every Sunday.

34. Cause of a drip: LEAK.

35. Neural transmitters: AXONS.

37. Some barrels: KEGS.

40. Othello manipulator: IAGO.

41. Potentially awkward time at a middle school party: SLOW DANCE. No parties in our middle school. Lovers did not even hold hands then.

43. Wall display: ART.

44. Said "Cheers!": TOASTED.

46. Young salmon: SMOLT. Learned from doing crosswords.

47. Big cat: TIGER.

48. "East of Eden" co-star: JAMES DEAN.

49. "Make haste!" abbr.: ASAP.

50. Elbowed: BENT.

51. Craze: FAD.

52. Roman emperor after Claudius: NERO.

53. Swindler: CROOK.

55. Screwdriver need: VODKA. The cocktail.

58. Event for the faithful: FAN FEST. Attended quite a few TwinsFest over the years.

61. Neat: NO ICE.

62. London lang.: ENG.

64. eBayer's option: UPS.

65. Inn requests: ROOMS.

66. Deck one?: ACE. OK, deck of cards.

68. Sets to right: TRUES.

69. Root origins: SEEDS.

70. Oh so much: A LOT. I love this picture.

Andrea Carla Michaels, C.C. and Tom Pepper, 7/8/2024

71. Policy honcho: CZAR.

72. Puerto __: RICO.

75. Some audio receivers: EARS.

76. Word on a Paris map: RUE.

78. Longhorn, e.g.: STEER.

80. Even prime: TWO.

81. Zest source: RIND.

84. "Phooey!": PSHAW.

85. Some wedding readings: POEMS.

86. "The Crown" role for Erin Doherty: ANNE. Princess Anne.

87. Many an audio receiver: HI-FI.

91. "No argument here": I CONCUR.

94. __ volumes: SPEAKS.

96. Dix x trois: TRENTE.

98. To whom Anna sings "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?": ELSA.

99. Italian fashion house: PRADA. And 102. ASOS biz: E TAIL.

100. Chill: RELAX.

101. __ nous: ENTRE.

103. Like a Scrabble board, in a way: TILED.

104. Gal of "Death on the Nile": GADOT.

105. Overthrow in the infield, say: ERROR.

107. Valerie Harper sitcom of the 1970s: RHODA.

108. Ran a program: AIRED.

112. Saints city, informally: NOLA. New Orleans Saints.

114. Stew pod: OKRA.

116. Summer hrs. in Houston: CDT.

117. Not just -er: EST.

118. Anti-trafficking feds: DEA.

C.C.

Sunday November 6, 2022 Scott Hogan & Katie Hale

Theme: "Scale It Back" - Do, Re, Me, Fa, Sol, La, Ti are orderly removed from the theme entries

23. Chant that could start any minute in a yoga class?: IMPENDING (DO)OM.

31. Beaver structure that defies all laws of physics?: THE IMPOSSIBLE D(RE)AM.

40. Result of a cracked Kindle?: BROKEN PRO(ME)SE.

61. Lingering resentment between rival 16th century Italian painters?: RENAISSANCE (FA)IRE.

72. Obstacles in a Grand Theft Auto construction zone?: VIDEO GAME CON(SOL)ES.

96. Rate at which romaine salads come out of the kitchen?: CAESARS PA(LA)CE.

103. Put up with my shenanigans?: STAND THE TEST OF (TI)ME.

Reveal:

118. Creating study aids during a classroom lecture, and how seven long answers in this puzzle were created?: TAKING NOTES.

Our second Sunday puzzle from Scott Hogan. His last is a collaboration with Christina Iverson. Who else can say that they've collaborated with two assistant editors of the L.A. Times crosswords?

Like the theme. Reminds me of the Opening Notes I did for the Universal back in 2020.

Across:

1. Improvises with nonsense syllables while singing: SCATS.

6. Hosp. area: PRE-OP. Extensive prep, as I've learned from Boomer's second surgery.

11. "Frozen" snowman: OLAF.

15. Go the distance: LAST.

19. Old Turkish title: PASHA. Wikipedia says this rank "is similar to a British peerage or knighthood".

20. Body art medium: HENNA.

21. Roam: ROVE.

22. Glom __: take hold of: ONTO.

25. Bibliography abbr.: ET AL.

26. Playing a fifth qtr., say: IN OT.

27. Vegan pizza order, perhaps: NO CHEESE. My first pizza is Hawaiian pizza from Pizza Hut in Guangzhou.

28. Speak without thinking: BLURT.

29. Thick book: TOME.

30. Biblical twin: ESAU.

36. Soap chemical: LYE.

38. Singer Lena: HORNE.

39. African capital: CAIRO. Has anyone read "Midnight in Cairo" by Raphael Cormack?

45. Uses, as a coupon: REDEEMS.

47. Paddle kin: OAR.

48. Brownstone porch: STOOP.

49. Family man: PAPA.

52. Telly watchers: BRITS.

54. Sitcom fixture: TV CAMERA.

56. 11th Greek letter: LAMBDA. Also 118. 19th Greek letter: TAU.

59. Casual refusal: NAH.

60. Messy pile: HEAP.

66. Con: SCAM.

70. Gimlet garnishes: LIMES.

71. Like some Chardonnay: OAKY.

77. AnnaSophia of "Bridge to Terabithia": ROBB. Unfamiliar to me.

81. NAACP co-founder __ B. Wells: IDA.

82. E-signature alternative: WET INK.  91. Problem with 82-Across: SMEAR.

83. Celebrity mag since 1977: US WEEKLY.

87. Transform (into): MORPH.

89. Drops from above: RAIN.

92. Biodegrade: ROT.

93. Resort with moguls: SKI AREA. Bumpy moguls on the slope.

99. Impressionist Claude: MONET.

100. Beekeeping hazard: STING.

102. Irish actor Stephen: REA. Unforgettable performance in "The Crying Game".

 

108. Sleeveless garment: VEST.

112. Twee: CUTE.

113. Competitor: RIVAL.

114. Goes long?: RUNS LATE. Nice clue/fill.

116. Poker stake: ANTE.

117. Scored 100 on: ACED.

121. Look intently (at): PEER.

122. "How __ refuse?": CAN I.

123. Garlicky sauce: AIOLI.

124. Cornell, Penn, etc.: IVIES.

125. Flubs: ERRS.

126. Jewelry designer Peretti: ELSA.

127. Eurasian border mountains: URALS.

128. Black-and-white vegetarian: PANDA.

Down:

1. Book part: SPINE.

2. Patterns meant to blend in, briefly: CAMOS. This really stands out.

3. Org. providing creature comfort?: ASPCA.

4. One who has an impressive green thumb?: THE HULK. Another great clue.

5. With it: SANE.

6. Trey Anastasio's jam band: PHISH. Amazing fan base.

7. Actress Zellweger: RENEE.

8. Pt. of OED: ENG.

9. Singer Yoko: ONO.

10. Hulu's "__ & Tommy": PAM.

11. Vague warning: OR ELSE.

12. Seated yoga pose: LOTUS.

13. Greed: AVARICE.

14. Had regrets: FELT BAD.

15. One who lingers: LOITERER.

16. Latin phrase in some dates: ANNO DOMINI. The hospice sent chaplain John Curran to our house last week. John is an ex-priest. He left the church and got married. He could deliver a mass in Latin.

17. Leaf pore: STOMA.

18. __ pole: TOTEM.

24. Political thaw: DETENTE.

28. "__ appétit!": BON.

32. Breakfast chain: IHOP.

33. Calendar pgs.: MOS. Months.

34. Get set: PREP.

35. Recline: LIE BACK.

37. Polite contraction: YES M.

40. All of two: BOTH.

41. Talk wildly: RAVE.

42. Killer whale: ORCA.

43. __ favor: POR.

44. Crowd sound: ROAR.

45. Crashes (into): RAMS.

46. Constellation part: STAR.

50. Strange: ALIEN.

51. Behind the times: PASSE.

53. __/her pronouns: SHE.

55. Abbey area: APSE.

57. Bun cooked in a bamboo steamer: BAO. We can Baozi in China.

58. Genetic letters: DNA.

62. Justice Kagan: ELENA.

63. "The Pinkprint" rapper Minaj: NICKI.

64. Latin I verb: AMO.

65. Brontë governess: EYRE.

67. Buckaroo: COWHAND.

68. Mature: AGE. We received 81 cards from you guys for Boomer's birthday. Thank you! Amazing English muffins from Ray - O - Sunshine!

69. Pilates surface: MAT.

72. Pep: VIM.

73. Rite words: I DOS.

74. Hypothetical stuff in space: DARK MATTER. Another great fill.

75. Oscar winner Sorvino: MIRA. She speaks Chinese.

76. Totals: SUMS.

78. Sticky pod: OKRA.

79. Political coalition: BLOC.

80. Computer memory unit: BYTE.

84. __ salt: SEA.

85. Nate Dogg's "Regulate" collaborator: WARREN G. Another learning moment.

86. Scots Gaelic: ERSE.

88. Leads the way: PIONEERS.

90. CBS military drama: NCIS.

91. __ lily: Utah state flower: SEGO.

94. Go over again: RETRACE.

95. Virtuous: ETHICAL.

97. Social insect: ANT.

98. Meringue dessert named for a ballerina: PAVLOVA. Looks good on top. Anna.

100. Bowl game venues: STADIA. I just use stadiums.

101. __ Aviv: TEL.

103. Land's end?: SCAPE.

104. Pitching aid?: TUNER. Fun clue.

105. Levels (out): EVENS.

106. Flounce: FRILL.

107. Some tax-free bonds: MUNIS.

109. Stay home for supper: EAT IN.

110. Knight's mount: STEED.

111. Thompson of "Creed": TESSA.

115. Scissors sound: SNIP.

119. Beach ball inflater: AIR.

120. RV park chain: KOA.

Our week started well. On Monday, the great Tom Pepper came to our house and moved the TV upstairs. Now we only have to struggle with one set of stairs. Thanks again, D-Otto and Tom!

 

On Tuesday we had a routine meeting with the VA nurse Amanda. Then Boomer started to develop serious stomachache and constipation on Wednesday & Thursday. By Friday morning, he could not poop or pee. The hospice nurse was ready to do an enema. Thankfully Senna & MiraLax combo worked before the nurse came. 

 

Unfortunately he continues to have stomach upset, even with the daily help of Pepcid. He also had a few throw-up episodes on Friday and Saturday (he ate hardly anything). He gets breathless just walking from our bedroom to the toilet.

 

Here is a picture of him watching "Seinfeld" at our living room last Tuesday. Calm and content. Things have been tough since.