Sunday December 22, 2024 Alan Massengill

Theme: "Wheeling and Dealing" - Each common phrase is reinterpreted as if it's a car model.

23A. Shopping for a Kia subcompact SUV?: SOUL SEARCHING.

33A. No longer keen on that Ford crossover SUV?: OVER THE EDGE.

56A. Choosing the Nissan with the all-wheel drive?: GOING ROGUE.

60A. "Love the new Ford crossover"?: GREAT ESCAPE.

89A. Expert in hard-to-find Rolls-Royces?: GHOST HUNTER.

92A. Deep dive into the three-row Honda?: PILOT STUDY.

112A. Leaning toward the Honda sedan?: CIVIC MINDED.

128A. Last Nissan truck off the assembly line?: FINAL FRONTIER.

No Hyundai, their models are place names. Not good for wordplay. Eight theme entries, four in front, four in the back. Very consistent. 

Alan has collabrated a few times with Andrea Carla Michales and Doug Peterson. This is his first solo LAT Sunday. Congrats, Alan!

Across:

1. Pilates roll up targets: ABS.

4. Return advice pro: CPA. Tax return.

7. Emmy winner Uzo: ADUBA. Gained fame for her role in "Orange Is the New Black".

12. States with authority: SAYS SO.

18. Public notice: PLACARD.

20. Use a zoom: PAN IN. And 109. Zoom events: Abbr.: MTGS. Meetings.

21. Go over exam notes, e.g.: PREPARE.

25. Check one's math again: RE-TOTAL.

26. "I could go on": ETC ETC. Boomer's high school classmate Paul Newman visited me last Tuesday. He lives in a 16-acre farm. Has a story for everything.

27. Clay mineral: TALC.

28. French café partner?: LAIT. Cafe au lait.

30. Ryan Gosling and Kingsley Ben-Adir in "Barbie": KENS.

31. Coastal concern: SEA LEVEL.

36. 37-Across+Y: RE-DO & 37. PC shortcut key: CTRL.

39. Collaborators: TEAMS.

40. "Yikes!": EEK.

43. Figure on the shelf at Christmas: ELF.

45. Genesis figure: ENOS.

47. "Sorry, impossible": I CAN'T.

51. Flamenco star José: GRECO. Italian-born flamenco dancer. Learning moment for me.

54. "The Witch Elm" novelist French: TANA.

63. __ Rabbit: BR'ER.

64. Pans with patinas: WOKS.

65. Munich Olympics star Mark: SPITZ.

66. Asian mushroom: ENOKI. Common ingredient in Chinese, Japanese and Korean soup dishes and hot pots.

68. "Get Smart" crime org.: KAOS.

70. Bring home: NET.

71. NBA great Curry: STEPH. And 73. "Goosebumps" series writer: STINE. And 75. "Julie & Julia" actor Stanley: TUCCI. Three name in a row, but all well-known.

77. President's advisory gp.: NSC. National Security Council.

79. Skateboarding trick spot: RAIL.

81. Drum kit piece: SNARE.

83. Really irritated: CROSS.

85. Tiny amount: A TAD. Bill and Margaret loved my quinoa & sweet potato salad. I used a few drops of maple syrup in my dressing.

87. Commit a faux pas: SLIP.

95. Bone, in Bologna: OSSO.

96. Khaki kin: BEIGE.

97. Collection of plates?: ARMOR. Armor plates.

98. Farm baby: FOAL.

100. Hosp. theaters: ORS.

102. Limit: CAP.

103. Third-largest city in Israel: HAIFA.

107. Lego competitor: K'NEX.

116. Mooch: FREELOAD.

120. Guinness of "Smiley's People": ALEC.

121. Useful houseplant: ALOE.

122. Mindy, to Emily in "Emily in Paris": AMIE.

124. "Sit!": PARK IT.

126. Direct connection: LINKAGE.

131. Past-post wager: LATE BET.

132. Guitar-playing "Glee" kid: ARTIE. Played by Kevin McHale.

133. Disney film whose opening song is "The Family Madrigal": ENCANTO.

134. Fixers of fixer-uppers: DIYers.

135. Temps for bundling up: TEENS. You can still see guys in shorts in our grocery store. Crazy.

136. Low grade: DEE.

137. Retired jet, briefly: SST.

Down:

1. Semicircular recess in a cathedral: APSE.

2. Dabs at: BLOTS.

3. Béarnaise, e.g.: SAUCE.

4. Windsor __: CASTLE.

5. Lead: PRECEDE.

6. "__ Twist, Scientist": kid-lit bestseller: ADA.

7. Class for a mathlete, informally: AP CALC.

8. Arlene of the silver screen: DAHL.

9. Billion-dollar start-up: UNICORN.

10. British trash can: BIN.

11. Viewpoint: ANGLE.

12. 7UP competitor: SPRITE.

13. "Think" singer Franklin: ARETHA.

14. Up to this point: YET.

15. "Eat Mor Chikin" sloganeer, e.g.: SPOKESCOW.

16. Completely full: SATED.

17. Red-haired primate: ORANG.

19. Crystal __: CLEAR.

22. "What __ can I do?": ELSE.

24. GPS directive: RTE.

29. Class with smocks: ART.

32. Electric fence measures: VOLTS.

34. Daily Insta post: V-LOG.

35. Arab honorific: EMIR.

38. Steep places?: TEAPOTS. Steep tea.

40. Half a zygote: EGG.

41. Miscalculates: ERRS.

42. Stays cool: KEEPS CALM.

44. Turn toward: FACE.

46. Weep noisily: SOB.

48. Argumentative: AGONISTIC. New word to me.

49. Zap in the microwave: NUKE.

50. Doctor's order: TEST.

52. "I Am __": Jenner reality show: CAIT.

53. Kelp forest dweller: OTTER. From Google: One of the most important mammals in a kelp forest is the sea otter, who takes refuge from sharks and storms in these forests.

55. Mums' mums: NANS.

57. Rankle: IRK.

58. "How cool!": NEAT.

59. Curmudgeon: GROUCH.

61. Convenience that may take a toll?: E-ZPASS. Great clue.

62. Squeezing (by): EKING.

67. No longer even: IN A HOLE. Casino, right?

69. Benchwarmer: SCRUB. Scrub player.

72. Sword handle: HILT.

74. God with magical arrows: EROS.

76. Pet protector: CONE.

77. Good place to pick up a cab?: NAPA. Cabernet.

78. Commotion: STIR.

80. Lucy who played Watson: LIU. Wang, Li, Zhang, Liu and Chen are popular surnames in China. 

82. Petrol provider: ESSO.

84. Angry Birds owner: SEGA.

86. Thingamabob: DOOHICKEY.

88. "See attached" attachment: PDF.

90. Singer Mel: TORME.

91. Sales __: REP.

93. Gillette brand: TRAC.

94. Tie together: YOKE.

99. Slow and steady, musically: ANDANTE.

101. "First ... ": STEP ONE.

104. Radiologist: IMAGER.

105. Options at Ruth's Chris: FILETS. We have a Ruth's Chris in Minneapolis.

106. "So is that __?": A NO.

108. Cases for Mulder and Scully: X-FILES.

110. Hurried look: GLANCE.

111. "That's not totally wrong": SORTA.

112. Dial up: CALL.

113. "The Song of Achilles" inspiration: ILIAD.

114. Starbucks order: VENTI.

115. Skim, as homemade chicken stock: DE-FAT.

117. Zebra on a field: REF.

118. Claude of "B.J. and the Bear": AKINS. Unknown to me.

119. Pescatarian and vegetarian: DIETS. Connie is a pescatarian.

123. Course opener?: MAIN. Main course.

125. Bouncy gait: TROT.

127. Actor Vigoda: ABE.

129. Indignation: IRE.

130. __ velvet: RED.

C.C.

Sunday December 8, 2024 Ed Sessa

Theme: "Gee Whiz!" - Gee sound is added to the start of the first word, changing spellings as needed.

22A. IQ test?: GAUGE OF REASON. Age of Reason.

35A. Schlemiels on wheels?: GOOBER DRIVERS. Uber drivers.

53A. Million-dollar smile?: GLAM CHOPS. Lamb chops.

74A. Fully understand and appreciate a night at the Met?: GROK OPERA. Rock opera.

90A. Set where Geico commercials are shot?: GECKO LOCATION. Echolocation.

109A. Took on divine roles?: PLAYED THE GODS. Play the odds. (Error earlier)

16D. "Hollywood Squares"?: GAME FOR THE STARS. Aim for the stars.

42D. French connection?: GAUL IN THE FAMILY. All in the family. 

So happy to see Ed's byline. He's so original and innovative. 

All the words have spelling changes. This really needs creative thinking.

Across:

1. Tiny tot: MOPPET.

7. Snakes with hoods: COBRAS.

13. __ Empire: Genghis Khan's realm: MONGOL. "The Legend of the Condor" is my favorite TV series. The main character Guo Jing grows up in Mongolia under the care of the Genghis Khan. 

19. Get out of a bind?: UNLASH. Not a word I use.

20. Child's coveralls?: APRONS. Julia Child. 

21. Laments: BEMOANS. 

24. Fearing the worst: ALARMED.

25. __ Valley: Reagan Library site: SIMI.

26. Mara of "Women Talking": ROONEY.

27. Compadres: CRONIES.

28. Rock musical set in New York's East Village: RENT.

30. 74-Down suggestion: Abbr.: RTE. 74. Navigation tech: GPS.

31. Los Angeles mayor Bass: KAREN.

33. Shark's appendage: FIN. When I lived in Guangzhou, shark fin soup was often featured in our annual New Year's company dinner. 

39. Goo: OOZE.

40. Droop under pressure: SAG.

43. Lena of "Chocolat": OLIN.

44. Abated: WANED.

45. Like pastrami: CURED.

46. "I Will Never Let You Down" singer Rita: ORA.

47. Intro, in journalism jargon: LEDE.

48. Rowing machine, familiarly: ERG. Short for "ergometer".

49. Unstated: TACIT.

51. Gets more life out of: RE-USES.

56. Lid: HAT.

59. Bona fide: VALID.

60. __ du jour: bistro special: PLAT.

62. Give the slip: ELUDE.

63. None: ZERO.

64. "Let's do this!": I'M IN.

65. Spoken: ORAL.

66. "Such a pity!": ALAS.

67. Former name of Exxon: ESSO.

68. Prefix with gram or second: NANO.

69. Lena Dunham TV series: GIRLS.

71. Horse-pulled cart: DRAY.

72. Expedia search results: RATES.

73. Elect (to): OPT.

76. The "D" of FDR: DELANO.

77. Really wound up: HYPER.

79. Fertility clinic cells: OVA.

80. Balkan native: SLAV.

82. Copacabana setting: RIO.

83. Sets loose: FREES.

85. Sean of "The Lord of the Rings": ASTIN. Sam.

87. Towering: TALL. Here's a picture me and my brother Andy, who's 4 years younger than me. Taken in 2002, the last time I saw him.

88. Male offspring: SON.

89. Dexterous: DEFT.

94. Poet laureate Limón: ADA.

95. __ to go: fixin' for a fight: RARIN'.

96. Caustic chemical: LYE.

97. Gestures of recognition: NODS.

100. Dubai, for one: EMIRATE.

103. "... if you say so": I GUESS.

106. Part of a putter: GRIP.

108. Formed a union: SAID I DO.

112. Spilling salt, perhaps: ILL OMEN.

113. Salon creation: HAIRDO. 115. Worked in a salon: STYLED.

114. Dresses with a certain flare: A-LINES.

116. Partake of: DINE ON.

117. "You should believe me!": HONEST.

Down:

1. Clowns in front of a camera: MUGS.

2. "Don't interrupt!" studio sign: ON AIR.

3. Large feather: PLUME.

4. Summoning, in a way: PAGING.

5. Language suffix: ESE.

6. 2011 Marvel film directed by Kenneth Branagh: THOR.

7. Pumpkin pigment: CAROTENE. I tried Renee's stuffed acorn squash. So good.

 

 

8. Series starter: OPENER.

9. Highland hill: BRAE.

10. Flushed, as cheeks: ROSY.

11. "Yeah, that's __ from me": A NO.

12. ID with nine digits: SSN.

13. Fruit salad fruit: MELONS.

14. Muscat's country: OMAN.

15. Tuna roll seaweed: NORI.

17. Like adjustable hats and most scarves: ONE-SIZE.

18. Drug in Michael Pollan's "How to Change Your Mind": LSD.

21. Less covered: BARER.

23. Proscribe: FORBID.

27. Rep on the street: CRED.

29. Hand-__ leather: TOOLED.

31. Checkers demand: KING ME.

32. "__ Maria": AVE.

34. Actor Beatty: NED.

36. Estadio cheers: OLES.

37. Lived, to a Brit: DWELT.

38. __ avis: RARA.

39. "Sí," in Paree: OUI.

40. Mira of "Shining Vale": SORVINO. She speaks Chinese.

41. AAA offering: AREA MAP.

45. Includes in an email: CCS.

49. "No more putting this off!": TODAY.

50. Parrots: APES.

52. __-Tibetan languages: SINO. Prefix for China.

53. Big name in California viticulture: GALLO.

54. Santa __: Silicon Valley city: CLARA.

55. Luau performance: HULA.

57. Hall of TV fame: ARSENIO.

58. "Don't joke about that yet": TOO SOON.

60. Earlier: PRIOR.

61. Carefree adventure: LARK.

63. Ardor: ZEAL.

65. Shrek, for one: OGRE.

70. Absolutely correct: SPOT ON.

71. Pipe-clearing brand: DRANO.

72. Maker of ColorStay cosmetics: REVLON. Great foundation.

75. Bad to the bone: EVIL.

76. "Melting clocks" painter Salvador: DALI.

78. Nonetheless: YET.

80. Decided not to retire: STAYED ON.

81. Up-to-the-minute: LATEST. Poor Connie had her gallbladder removed last week. She also had pneumonia again. 

83. Rx overseer: FDA.

84. Corrected a distribution error: RE-DEALT.

85. Farm division: ACRE.

86. Master moguls: SKI. The ski bump "moguls".

90. Like students and sidewalks: GRADED.

91. Stationery brand: EATON.

92. British name for a murder mystery board game: CLUEDO.

93. Gourd: NOGGIN.

98. Source of some aerial photography: DRONE.

99. Fries, tots, slaw, etc.: SIDES.

101. Swift, to Swifties: IDOL.

102. Winter coat: RIME.

103. "Young Sheldon" actor Armitage: IAIN.

 

104. Circular current: GYRE. We had this fill before.

105. Former Iranian ruler: SHAH.

107. Attention-getting hiss: PSST.

108. Bro kin: SIS.

109. Prof's deg., often: PHD.

110. Poem of medieval France: LAI. Learning moment for me.

111. "Xanadu" rock gp.: ELO.

Happy 78th birthday to dear Jazzbumpa (Ron), who's been our Wednesday Sherpa since January 2011.

 

 

 

Sunday December 1, 2024 Gary Larson & Amy Ensz

Theme: "Rhyme Scheme" - Each common phrase is humorously rephrased fitting the nursery rhyme in the clue.

21A. Cleanup duty after Humpty Dumpty's accident?: FALL CLEARANCE.

37A. Rental stipulations for a large family's befuddled matriarch?: SHOESTRINGS.

58A. Vessel designed for row-row-rowing gently down the stream?: DREAM BOAT.

72A. Serving dish for Old Mother Hubbard's dog?: BONE CHINA.

90A. Telegram heralding Jack's candlestick feat?: JUMPER CABLE.

110A. Weasel's mindset after being chased by a monkey?: POP PSYCHOLOGY.

14D. Identifying marks for a horn-blowing little boy?: BLUEPRINTS.

70D. Strong flavor from that little Horner kid's Christmas pie?: CORNER KICK.

In case you're not aware of, Gary Larson and Amy Ensz are a couple. Here's an interesting article about Gary, the Bubble Man.

 Across:

 

1. Barrio grocery: BODEGA. Barrio is Spanish for "neighborhood".

7. Breakfast strip: BACON.

12. "I guess that's fine": SO BE IT.

18. Suggestive: EROTIC.

19. Love, in Roma: AMORE.

20. Actress Dahl who founded the Dahlia fragrance company: ARLENE.  Unfamiliar with the fragrance.

23. Crept around: SKULKED.

25. Intercontinental mountain range: URALS.

26. Pad: DIGS.

27. Mixes in: ADDS.

29. Nail polish brand in square bottles: ESSIE.

30. German 39-Down: EINS. 69. Spanish 39-Down: UNA. 39. Countdown end: ONE.

31. Color wheel display: TONES.

32. Bring in, as crops: REAP.

34. Place to stay: INN.

35. Mind-altering synthetic drug: LSD.

36. Puts a lid on: SHUTS.

41. Field event: SHOT PUT.

43. Singer Lewis who won "The X Factor": LEONA. British singer.

44. Boost: AID.

45. Crumple (up): WAD.

46. Ranted and raged: STORMED.

48. Poet's below: NEATH.

52. Big bullies: OGRES. And 55. Big bully: MEANIE.

56. Electron stream: BETA RAY.

60. Bogie toppers?: FEDORAS. Humphrey Bogart.

63. Word typically ignored when alphabetizing: THE.

64. Hog's grunt: OINK.

65. City with a van Gogh walking tour: ARLES. Starry, Starry Night.

67. Musical endings: CODAS.

68. Makeshift screwdriver, maybe: COIN.

70. Phylum units: CLASSES.

74. Kerosene: LAMP OIL.

76. Broadcasts again: RE-AIRS.

78. Retreat: OASIS.

79. Use a tiller: STEER.

80. Counsels: ADVISES.

82. ICU caregiver: LPN.

83. Tennis pair?: ENS. Letter N's in Tennis. We see this cluing misguide often.

85. Vegetarian chili bits: BEANS. Boomer loved beans in his chili. 

86. Make like new: RESTORE.

94. 100 smackers: C NOTE.

96. British granny: NAN.

97. Go gray, maybe: AGE.

98. Origin: ROOT.

99. Old cars from Sweden: SAABS. 101. Local language in Copenhagen: DANSK.

100. Take different routes: PART.

103. Happy __: MEAL.

106. Currency symbolized by € : EURO.

107. Apple gadget: CORER. Have you tried Cosmic Crisp apples?

108. Arranged like train cars: ENDWISE.

113. Cleared for takeoff, in a way: DE-ICED.

114. Batter's box neighbor: PLATE.

115. "Très chic!": OO LA LA.

116. Button in some shortcuts: ALT KEY.

117. Mélange: SALAD.

118. Elegant strand: PEARLS. Very pretty.

Down:

1. Like a pessimistic broker: BEARISH.

2. Bloom in Hollywood: ORLANDO.

3. Some "Coppélia" characters: DOLLS.  Not famliar with "Coppélia", a comic ballet. Coppélia is a mechanical doll.

4. List-ending abbrs.: ETCS.

5. Apt name for a pet fish: GIL.

6. Got the better of, in a contest: ACED OUT.

7. Canal craft: BARGES.

8. Gather: AMASS.

9. Hoodwink: CON.

10. Marine predator: ORCA.

11. __ for Speed: video game series: NEED.

12. Talks back: SASSES.

13. Mork's planet: ORK.

15. Pot-caught fish: EELS. You can find this in the Asian aisle in your grocery store.

16. Finishes, as a cartoon: INKS IN.

17. Driver's setting?: TEEING. Golfer's starting drive.

21. Energy sources: FUELS.

22. "It __ over till it's over": AIN'T.

24. Family rooms: DENS.

28. Emotion before starting an unpleasant task: DREAD.

31. Heavy clonk: THUD.

33. __ disadvantage: AT A.

36. Charley horse, e.g.: SPASM.

37. Typeface flourish: SERIF.

38. Practical HS course, once: HOME EC.

40. Lightbulb, in the comics: IDEA.

42. Fine-tune: TWEAK.

43. Silent film star Chaney: LON. He died in 1930 at age 47.

46. Puts a lid on: SEALS.

47. Cookie brand owned by Mondelez: TATE'S.

49. Stella __: Belgian beer: ARTOIS.

50. Sesame sauce: TAHINI. We have sesame paste in Chinese cooking. We use unhulled sesame seeds.

51. Serengeti scavengers: HYENAS.

52. Near beer brand: O'DOULS.

53. Direct a smile toward: GRIN AT.

54. Make a file more identifiable: RE-NAME.

55. Fable finale: MORAL.

56. Cereal grains: BRANS.

57. Simplify: EASE.

59. Indonesia's "Island of the Gods": BALI.

61. Gillis of old TV: DOBIE.

62. Nose wrinklers: ODORS.

66. African wildcat: SERVAL. Learning moment for me. Cute.

68. Gregorian __: CHANT.

71. Paris Olympics opening ceremony site: SEINE.

73. Thicket: COPSE.

75. Easter basket treat: PEEP.

77. Palm Sunday transport: ASS.

80. Lose power: ABATE.

81. Food blogger Perelman: DEB. Smitten Kitchen blog.

82. Permits: LETS.

84. Last-minute ticket caveat: SRO.

86. Cyberpunk franchise featuring a crime-fighting cyborg: ROBOCOP.

87. Hot: ON A ROLL.

88. Xenon, for one: RARE GAS.

89. Blog post: ENTRY.

90. Emerald alternative: JADE. Cantonese girls love jade bracelets. The real jade is quite pricey, like this one Carmen is wearing. Over $1,000.

 

91. Country with a border in Lake Victoria: UGANDA.

92. Genetics pioneer Gregor: MENDEL.

93. Spoof genre: COMEDY.

94. Brought about: CAUSED.

95. __ a soul: NARY.

99. Philly transit org.: SEPTA. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

100. Chris Van Allsburg's "The __ Express": POLAR.

102. Loretta of "M*A*S*H": SWIT.

104. Intro courses?: APPS. Appetizers. Nice clue.

105. Dancer Falana: LOLA.

107. Cuba libre mixer: COLA.

109. Picture: SEE. The land I showed last week belongs to the Chinese government. My mom and dad were buried there also. It's very remote, hilly, dense with bushes and tall plants. I'd walk for miles to visit my mom's tomb. The stubbornness in that little girl.

111. Mate: PAL.

112. Soil-turning tool: HOE.

Just got this sweet picture from JD, who joined our blog in 2009 when her oldest grandson Truman was not yet one, now Truman is a senior. The tallest boy is Grady, younger brother of Truman (most right). The youngest boy in the picture is Dylan, who plays the saxophone and is about to get his Black Belt in Taekwondo. The boy in white sweater is Cameron, Dylon's old brother.