Sunday March 17, 2019 Matt McKinley

Theme: "Going Green" - Each theme entry is a different definition of "green"

 23A. Green: GOLFER'S PUTTING SURFACE.

37A. Green: LOOKING SICKLY.

66A. Green: VILLAGE CENTER.

95A. Green: EASILY TRICKED.

113A. Green: COLOR FOR ST PATRICK'S DAY. Apt for today.

36D. Green: NEW ON THE JOB.

42D. Green: ECO-FRIENDLY. 

This type of theme is called Definition. You definite various meanings of a certain word or phrase.

The theme entries in this category are often made-up. In today's set, only 42D is a solid in the language phrase. 

    
Across:

1. Boxer who defeated Holyfield twice: BOWE. Riddick.

5. Contentious shoulder piece?: CHIP.  Chip on one's shoulder.

9. Equal-split offer: HALF. Half and half.

13. Rugby tussles: SCRUMS. Like this.

19. Lang. of Livorno: ITAL.

20. Border Patrol city of the Southwest: YUMA. Also 46. Southwest formation: MESA.

21. Three Rivers river: OHIO.

22. "That's enough!": QUIT IT.

27. Samson's betrayer: DELILAH. My luggage bag is Samsonite. Still sturdy. Been with me since 1995.

28. Pub bud: LAD.

29. Apostle also called Levi: MATTHEW.

30. Habit wearer: NUN.

31. Happy eating word: NOM.

33. Kewpie and kachina: DOLLS.

34. Kings, e.g.: MEN.

42. Not a Crimson fan: ELI. Harvard Crimson.

45. Break-in sound?: AHEM. Guttural break-in.

47. Hawaiian goose: NENE.

48. Prepare to take off, perhaps: UNTIE.

49. Printer function: SCAN.

50. Premier League soccer anchor Rebecca: LOWE. Learning moment for me.

51. Nissan model: SENTRA.

53. Ownership proof: DEED.

54. Suffragist Julia Ward __: HOWE. No idea.

55. Terrible year?: TWOS.

56. Metal containers: TINS.

57. Heart and soul, e.g.: NOUNS. Nice clue.

59. Slapped-on restraints: CUFFS.

60. Cremona Christmas: NATALE. Alliteration.

62. AEC successor: NRC.

63. Beast in a Beatles' title: WALRUS. "I am the Walrus."

64. Iowa summer hrs.: CDT.

71. Land in the Seine: ILE.

72. Try again: RE-HEAR. Try a case.

74. Really irritate: VEX.

75. Bully's words: OR ELSE.

77. Come to __: AN END.

78. Tenth of a grand: C NOTE.

80. Part of a cook's job: PREP. My friend Carmen had to prep a special meal last Thursday. Her step-daughter Xiao Pan got married the next day. Here is Xiao Pan observing some Cantonese ritual: burning incense, offering food to your departed ones, asking for their blessings, etc. Then you can eat the food.

Xiao Pan, 3/14/2019

Xiao Pan and her dad Lao Pan, 3/15/2019

81. Recognized: KNEW.

84. Pacific island nation: FIJI.

85. Winter truck attachment: PLOW.

86. Zoomed past: SPED BY.

88. Unproductive: IDLE.

89. Walked: TROD.

90. "Mean Girls" actress: LOHAN (Lindsay). Used to be a tabloid favorite.

92. Jim Davis canine: ODIE.

93. "The Nutcracker" dip: PLIE.

94. Sad sound: SOB.

99. Himalayan beast: YAK.

100. Until now: AS YET.

101. One of the 91-Down: MET. 91. Citi Field team, on scoreboards: NYM. Tiny dupe.

102. Moving wheels: VAN.

104. Needing bailing out, maybe: IN A SPOT.

107. 60 secs.: MIN.

109. Museum works: FINE ART.

118. Allowing for the possibility that: EVEN IF.

119. With 109-Down, obsession: IDEE. And 109. See 119-Across: FIXE.

120. Hot message: SEXT.

121. Against-the-wind sailing maneuver: TACK.

122. Handy reference: ROGET'S.

123. Springlike, as weather: MILD. Look forward to the spring. Such a long winter.

124. Skip-a-round privileges: BYES.

125. Barrie's bosun: SMEE.

Down:

1. Texas city nickname: BIG D. Dallas.

2. Siouan tribe: OTOE.

3. Interactive Facebook feature: WALL.

4. Diminutive: ELFIN.

5. Roxane's lover: CYRANO. Cyrano de Bergerac.

6. One may come over a crowd: HUSH.

7. Prankster: IMP. Dear Spitzboov!

8. Name of six popes: PAUL.

9. Ballpark staple: HOTDOG.

10. Yellowfin tuna: AHI. Our local Aldi carries Ahi tuna.

11. Three-time Tony winner __-Manuel Miranda: LIN.

12. Daze: FOG.

13. Blew big-time: SQUALLED.

14. In a snippy manner: CURTLY.

15. Falling-outs: RIFTS.

16. Bryce Canyon locale: UTAH.

17. Clock-climbing trio: MICE. Does the clue refer to this nursery rhyme? Never heard of it.

18. Slow cooker dish: STEW.

24. Jewish month after Av: ELUL. Final month of the Jewish calendar. Also 49. Synagogue: SHUL.

25. Hide seeker: TANNER.

26. Appalachian range: SMOKIES.

32. The NCAA's Spartans: MSU.

33. 1971 American Airlines debut: DC-TEN.

34. Ice cream treat: MALT.

35. Self-help website: EHOW.

38. 1936 Literature Nobelist: O'NEILL. Eugene.

39. Vacation home for dogs?: KENNEL. Great clue as well.

40. QBs' concerns: INTS.

41. Bring about: INDUCE.

43. Allowed: LAWFUL.

44. Actually existing: IN ESSE.

51. Word with way or case: STAIR.

52. Wings: ANNEXES.

58. Frodo pursuer: ORC.

59. Psychiatrist Jung: CARL.

61. Spot during a program: TV AD.

63. Reacting to a tearjerker: WEEPY.

64. Skillfully makes: CRAFTS.

65. 2003 AFI Life Achievement Award recipient: DE NIRO.

67. Promise: AVOWAL.

68. Acquire: GET.

69. Kind of skiing: NORDIC.

70. He has the answers: TREBEK. You can beat the odds.

73. Geraint's beloved: ENID.

76. Decide not to attend: SKIP.

78. Intimate with: CLOSE TO. I was very close to Carmen when I worked in Guangzhou. I often went to their home for dinners. Xiao Pan was a shy little girl then. Hope I can see them again someday.

Carmen, Lao Pan, Xiao Pan and Xiao Pan's new husband, 3/15/2019

79. Like seven Nolan Ryan games: NO HIT.

80. Mani mate: PEDI.

82. Lamb pen name: ELIA. Charles Lamb.

83. Common pay period: WEEK.

85. End-of-season games: PLAYOFFS.

87. Shylock's adversary: PORTIA.  "The Merchant of Venice".

95. __ de corps: ESPRIT. Also a big brand in Asia.

96. Filled in: TEMPED.

97. Throws out: EVICTS.

98. Like many basements: DANK.

100. Together: AS ONE.

103. Homes in the woods: NESTS. Birds' needs are so little.

104. Bakery specialist: ICER.

105. Porto-__: Benin's capital: NOVO.

106. Shake __: hurry: A LEG.

108. Accident investigation agcy.: NTSB.

110. Eliot's "__ Bede": ADAM.

111. Track event: RACE.

112. Youngster: TYKE.

114. Edge of a canyon: RIM.

115. Star Wars initials: SDI. Strategic Defense Initiative. Reagan's Star Wars.

116. Smartphone no.: TEL.

117. Ferdinand II of Aragón, por ejemplo: REY.

C.C.

Sunday March 10, 2019 Jim Holland

Theme: "EU Trade" - E sound is replaced by a short U sound, changing spelling as needed.

23. Red misplays?: CINCINNATI BUNGLES. Cincinnati Bengals. Red refers to the Cincinnati Red.

37. Golf pro's instructive stroke?: TEACHER'S PUTT. Teacher's pet.

  

52. Loser who finds a silver lining?: GRATEFUL DUD. Grateful Dead.

70. Mysteriously-appearing debris?: RUBBLE WITHOUT A CAUSE. Rebel Without a Cause.

95. Groans from a Russian egg producer?: FABERGE UGHS. Faberge eggs. Ah, "egg" should not be in the clue. 

104. Big Apple mongrels?: NEW YORK MUTTS. New York Mets.

127. Confusion about who really won an international competition?: OLYMPIC GOLD MUDDLE.

Olympic gold medal.

  

All the key words experienced spelling changes. Very consistent.

As I said before, this type of letter change theme requires skills and imagination. I sure can't do it. Jim is a skilled wordsmith.

 

Across:

1. Dutch actress Verbeek of "Outlander": LOTTE. Unknown to me.

6. Chews (on): GNAWS.

11. "Point Break" plot, e.g.: CAPER.

16. One coming out: DEB. Not GAY.

19. Type of eye layer: UVEAL.

20. 348-seat Parisian body: SENAT.

21. __ drab: OLIVE. Is this olive drab?

22. Talkative fighter: ALI.

26. Three sheets to the wind: LIT.

27. Completely: IN TOTO.

28. Lab do-over: RE-TEST. We also have 67. Follow again: RE-TRACK.

29. Gophers and gardeners, say: ENEMIES. They sure are.

31. Word from the French for "clear the table": DESSERT. Dictionary says it's "derivative of desservir to clear the table". Dis-serve. Good to know. 

33. It's usually the hit: SIDE A.

34. DDE's domain: ETO.

35. Cry during an argument between siblings: MOM.

43. Hard shoe: SABOT.

48. Inventory acronym: FIFO. First In, First Out.

50. Greek portico: STOA.

51. Slaughter of old baseball: ENOS.

55. Online marketplace: ETSY.

58. "__ Believer": '60s hit: I'M A.

59. Prius producer: TOYOTA.

60. Becoming an item, maybe: DATING.

63. Worrisome engine sound: SPUTTER.

65. __ Paulo: SAO.

66. Furious state: IRE.

68. Thieves' home?: DEN. Gimme for regulars.

69. Major Hindu deity: RAMA.

78. Mark not to play: REST.

79. Red or Black: SEA.

80. Red Baron's conflict, briefly: WWI.

81. Berlin article: EIN.

83. Like Earth: BIPOLAR.

86. Call for assistance: HELP ME.

89. Annoying type: NOODGE. Not a word I use. I'm a NOODGE to those who always answer my "Help Me" emails.

92. "__ du lieber!": ACH. Literally "Oh you dear", right, Spitzboov?

93. The littlest bit: A TAD.

97. Virginia __: REEL.

99. End notes: CODA.

102. Level-headed: SANE. What D-Otto is. Always so calm.

103. Takeoff times?: DIETS. Why "times?".

108. Easy mark: SAP.

110. Short brew?: IPA.

111. Indian wraps: SARIS.

113. Lowered in dignity: DEBASED.

119. Marshmallow-filled snack: MOON PIE. Never had it.

123. Medium condition?: TRANCE. Psychic "medium".

125. Looking up: ROSIER.

126. Many get snacks during them: ADS.

130. Med. lab letters: LDL.

131. "So long": SEE YA.

132. Small-truck company: TONKA.

133. Freshwater bulrushes: TULES. New word to me. We also have 76. Marsh plant: SEDGE.

134. Menu general: TSO. You won't find General Tso's chicken in China. Or Orange Chicken. Or Egg Foo Young. They were all created by early Chinese immigrants.

135. Pelé's first name: EDSON.

136. Snidely Whiplash look: SNEER.

137. Playoff rankings: SEEDS.

Down:

1. Clear: LUCID.

2. Sheepish?: OVINE.

3. Big tops, e.g.: TENTS.

4. Folded food: TACOS.

5. Upper crust: ELITE.

6. "Catch 21" airer, initially: GSN. Game Show Network.

7. Approaching: NEAR.

8. Starts a pot: ANTES.

9. Stay put until the storm ends: WAIT IT OUT. Sparkly fill.

10. "Venerable" Eng. monk: ST BEDE.

11. Something in your eye: CONTACT. Lens.

12. Mor. neighbor: ALG. OK, Morocco. Algeria.

13. Stack: PILE.

14. Score-tying shot: EVENER.

15. Starts over: RESETS.

16. "Lobster Telephone" artist: DALI.

17. Tahari of fashion: ELIE. Like his works?

18. Pieces' partners: BITS.

24. Regular at Sam's bar: NORM.

25. "__ directed": USE AS.

30. Gloomy Gus: MOPE.

32. Vegan staple: TOFU. When I was a kid, there was a marketplace closer to our home. We went there every day for fresh veggies and a block of Tofu.

36. Fungal plant coating: MILDEW.

38. Low-tech weed whacker: HOE.

39. Consumes without cooking: EATS RAW.

40. __ price: UNIT.

41. One in a researcher's stack: TOME.

42. Title derived from "Caesar": TSAR.

43. Some NCOs: SGTS.

44. Like a delirious crowd: AROAR.

45. Catfish habitat: BAYOU. I tried catfish once. Too fishy for me.

46. Nebraska native: OTO.

47. Saigon holiday: TET. Same day as Chinese Spring Festival.

49. OTC drug regulator: FDA.

53. Is unsuccessful in: FAILS AT.

54. Finished 50% (of): DID HALF.

56. Typographer's concern: SPACING.

57. Arizona county or its seat: YUMA.

61. Classical beginning: NEO. Neoclassical.

62. African antelope: GNU.

64. 19th Greek letter: TAU.

71. Frat guy: BRO.

72. Composer Bartók: BELA.

73. Language suffix: ISH.

74. Good place for driving: TEE. Tee pad.

75. Some junior high students: TWEENS.

77. Word before ball or after figure: EIGHT.

82. Untouchables leader: NESS.

83. Old MacDonald surely had one: BARN.

84. Big name in frozen treats: ICEE.

85. Sound of relief: PHEW.

87. Choosing to skip: PASSING ON.

88. Many a CEO's credential: MBA.

90. 20-volume ref.: OED.

91. Francine's "For sure": OUI.

94. __ Pérignon: DOM.

96. Part of CD-ROM: READ.

98. With 122-Down, Eagles classic: LYIN. 122. See 98-Down: EYES.

100. One involved in a sweeping gesture?: DUSTPAN. "One" made me think of a person.

101. Pong maker: ATARI.

105. Hinder: OPPOSE.

106. Complained: RAILED.

107. Expanses of land: TRACTS.

109. Salon offering: PERM.

112. Quick bread choice: SCONE. Have some sweet potato scones.

114. Ring features: BOUTS.

115. When required: AS DUE. Can you give me an example of how the clue matches the Answer?

116. Move like a crab: SIDLE. I've learned to move like a penguin on icy roads. We had a few more inches of snow yesterday. Will continue today. I told Brad (a solver based in Nebraska) that I looked forward to seeing patches of green on our lawn. He said "Mid-June!".

117. Fished with pots: EELED.

118. Scold, with "down": DRESS.

119. Parlor purchase: MALT.

120. What gamblers weigh: ODDS.

121. Scandinavian capital: OSLO.

124. Sommer of cinema: ELKE.

128. Prefix with cardial: MYO. Meaning "muscle".

129. Patriotic org.: DAR.

No more spots for the Cru Dinner. You can ask Mike to put you on the wait list, in case someone cancels at the last minute.

Below is a picture of the proud grandpa Mike and his cute grandson Luca, who is a little over 3-month old. Mike took these fantastic pictures of Marti and Rich a few years ago. 

If you attend the Cru Dinner, say "Hi" to Mike and take a picture to share with us. Our Jeffrey Wechsler will be the tournament judge again, though I'm not sure he'll swing by the Cru Dinner this year.

Mike and Luca

Sunday March 3, 2019 C.C. Burnikel

Title:  "Revisiting the Past" - ETAD (DATE backwards) spans across each theme entry.
 
23. Process that may transform a neutron into a proton: BETA DECAY.

28. Line on a package: STREET ADDRESS.
 
45. Navy bigwig: FLEET ADMIRAL.

53. Online pop-up, say: INTERNET AD.

69. Common animal welfare goal: PET ADOPTION.

90. Tip for a loser?: DIET ADVICE.

97. Barbershop standard: SWEET ADELINE.

114. Anonymous fan: SECRET ADMIRER.

Reveal:

122. Makes retroactive ... or what the eight other longest Across answers have: BACKDATES.

Very simple theme. Very Gail G, right? I just adore her.

I did make a big goof in my original grid. See 63-Across? METADATA, which has DATE goes backward as well. Totally escaped me. Thankfully Rich noticed it and redid that part himself.  Thanks, Rich!

Across: 
 
1. Island near Java: BALI.

5. At the drop of __: A HAT. As you can see from the grid, I have A RAT crossing ROC, the skincare brand. Rich probably does not think the brand is common enough.

9. Players with parts: CAST.

13. Like highways: LANED.

18. Apple variety: IMAC. Not the edible GALA.

19. Jay of "Jerry Maguire": MOHR.

20. Top story: ATTIC.

22. Post with a column: EMILY. Lovely clue. Rich's creation. I had "Blunt on screen".

25. Tree with edible nuts: BEECH.

26. "I swear!": NO LIE.

27. Man of La Mancha: SENOR.

31. Hefty closer: TWIST TIE.

34. Out before the term ends: PAROLED.

35. Sturdy trees: ELMS.

38. Cote call: COO.

39. Hectic hosp. areas: ERS. That fateful day in Sept.

41. "Iron Man" Ripken: CAL.

42. Ostrich relative: EMU.

48. School notebook decorations: DOODLES.

51. Sound mixing control: FADER.

52. Georgia, once: Abbr.: SSR.

56. Asia's __ Darya river: AMU. Learned from doing crosswords. Looks like it originates in the shrinking Aral Sea.

57. Expert: ACE.

60. Magazine since 1850: HARPER'S.

62. Princess in "The Princess and the Frog": TIANA. Wikis says she's "The ninth Disney Princess, Tiana is the first to be of African-American heritage."

63. Don Juan: CASANOVA.

66. One of Donald Duck's nephews: HUEY.

67. Google : Android :: Apple : __: IOS.

68. Isaac's eldest: ESAU.

73. Actor __ James of "Divergent" films: THEO.

77. It ends in Nov.: DST.

79. Like die-hard fans: AVID.

80. Hearty bowlful often topped with tortilla chips: TACO SOUP.

82. Skate park move: OLLIE.

85. Spice rack staple: OREGANO. I don't like the taste of oregano.

88. Like the Beatles?: FAB. Rich's clue.

89. __ Fridays: TGI.

92. Raised rumblers: ELS.

94. Every hour on the hour, say: OFTEN.

96. An official election ballot can't have one: ERASURE. Rich's clue as well. What if you make a mistake? Can you use Wite-Out? I have not screwed up yet, but I only focus on the races I care about and leave lots of stuff blank.

101. Bummed: SAD.

102. Clearance rack abbr.: IRR.

104. Danson of TV's "Fargo": TED.

105. Bus sched. item: ARR.

106. Tailless primates: APES.

107. Withdrawal charges: ATM FEES.

111. Longtime comic with a "Great Jewish Joke Book": ALAN KING. Also Rich's clue.

117. Singer Jones: NORAH.

120. Brown with a frying pan: ALTON. Here he is.

121. Permanent marks: SCARS.

126. Sun block?: CLOUD.

127. Mississippi's __ River: YAZOO.

128. Sandbox boo-boo: OWIE.

129. Sushi roll wrap: NORI. Some rolls have the nori wrapped inside.

130. Mini racers: KARTS.

131. The Ivy League's Quakers: PENN.

132. Caboose: REAR.

133. Agt. after tax evaders: T MAN.

Down:

1. Marathon runner's wear: BIB. These four are stealing others' bib numbers.

2. Iowa college town: AMES.

3. Past the deadline: LATE.

4. Complaint from the nosebleed section: I CAN'T SEE.

5. "West Side Story" number: AMERICA.

6. Ad __ committee: HOC.

7. "Gotcha!": AHA.

8. Clandestine arrangement: TRYST.

9. 11-time MLB All-Star Miguel: CABRERA. One of Boomer's favorite players.

10. Perfectly, with "to": A TEE. Partial.

11. Exorbitant: STEEP.

12. Altoids rival: TIC TAC.

13. Tennis great Ivan: LENDL.

14. Valentino's love: AMORE.

15. Rosetta Stone discovery area: NILE DELTA. Have any of you seen the Rosetta Stone in person?

16. Yale alumni: ELIS.

17. Turns red, perhaps: DYES.

21. Classic parlor game: CHARADES.

24. Investor's barometer, with "the": DOW.

29. __ del Fuego: TIERRA.

30. Melancholy: DOLOR.

32. Ground cover: SOD. Our townhouse association hired these guys to clean the snow and icicles on the roof last Wednesday. This year is extra tough because of the rain we got in January. It turned into ice and made walking dangerous. The heavy snow that followed after eased up the walking considerably, but the snow just won't stop.

33. Alley prowlers: TOMS. Oh hi, Texas "alley prowler"  and Chicago "alley prowler"!

35. Rub out: EFFACE.

36. Incan herd members: LLAMAS.

37. Gorgon slain by Perseus: MEDUSA.

40. Mistake: SLIP UP.

43. Like the Grinch: MEAN.

44. Org. that may request food recalls: USDA.

46. Air__: Southwest subsidiary: TRAN. Dave 2's nephew is a Southwest pilot.

47. "More or less" cousin: ISH.

49. "I'm __ you!": ONTO.

50. Franklin and Jefferson, religiously: DEISTS.

54. Nair rival, once: NEET.

55. "Taste this": TRY IT. Hmm, I'd like some chicken peanut butter stew on my rice.

58. Egyptian Christian: COPT.

59. Prior night: EVE.

61. Mary's best friend: RHODA. Mary Tyler Moore.

64. Accounting jobs: AUDITS.

65. Missile Command producer: ATARI.

67. Pizarro victim: INCA.

70. Con counterpart, across the Pyrenees: AVEC.  My sister-in-law Connie avec moi. I asked D-Otto what the color of my scarf is. He said tan, pink or gray. He settled on pink.

C.C. & Connie, Feb 11, 2019, The Orleans

71. Compendium: DIGEST.

72. Clumsy one: OAF.

74. Inside investment info: HOT TIP.

75. Oregon college town: EUGENE.

76. Offers a view: OPINES.

78. Hall of Fame linebacker Junior: SEAU.

81. English horn relative: OBOE.

82. Tributes in verse: ODES. I loved TTP's Neruda ODE observations. He was indeed getting hungry. 

83. Constantinople coin: LIRA.

84. Star: LEAD ACTOR. I love this performance so much. Just amazing.

85. Eggs order: OVER EASY.

86. Tattoo parlor sticker: NEEDLE.

87. Flamenco cheer: OLE.

91. Snowstorm consequence: DRIFT. We really don't have place for more snow.

93. Suffix meaning "country": STAN.

95. Egregious: FLAGRANT.

98. Becomes tiresome to: WEARS ON.

99. Vessel for couples: ARK.

100. Pub patron: DRINKER.

103. One with a lot of baggage: REDCAP.

108. Salmon cousin: TROUT.

109. Gives a darn?: MENDS.

110. Pollution portmanteau: SMAZE. Smoke and Haze.

112. Shady area: ARBOR.

113. Wordless agreement: NOD.

114. Quarterback's setback: SACK.

115. Jazz great Fitzgerald: ELLA.

116. Tofu nutrient: IRON. I pan-fry mine often.

118. Splittable bit: ATOM.

119. Eldest daughter of Cronus: HERA.

123. Wonder: AWE. Hi, JJM, it's TTP who posted last week's IRISH EYES pic. Not me. He is just amazing.

124. Its HQ is named for George H.W. Bush: CIA.

125. Sloth, e.g.: SIN.

Great to see both Dave 2 and Lorraine posting on the blog now. It's been tough for both of them. Thanks for the continued support and encouragement for them!

C.C.

Sunday February 24, 2019 Gail Grabowski

Theme: "Prep-positioning"-  Different prepositions are inserted into eight theme entries.
 
23A. Revenue for a monarchy?: KINGDOM INCOME. Kingdom come.

39A. Kids nagging parents about lack of air conditioning?: HOT OFFSPRING. Hot spring.

58A. Bungalow inundated with vacationing relatives?: OVERRUN HOME. Run home.

85A. Funny BBQ scene that got cut?: SPIT OUTTAKE. Spit take.

101A. Unlikely winner of a trite joke contest?: CORN UNDERDOG. Corn dog.
 
123A. Group unhappy with election results?: DOWNCAST PARTY. Cast party.

16D. Preview from St. Peter?: AFTERWORLD TOUR. World tour.

52D. "You're a big girl now"?: MATURITY UPDATE. Maturity date.

Such a simple but fresh theme. There's an art to Gail's simplicity, whether theme choice or grid design. She works hard to avoid uncommon abbreviations or strange names to make her entries easy.

I don't recall seeing 146-word Sunday grid. Looks like Rich allows it now. Great news.

Across:

1. Cheese companion: MAC.

4. Brewery fixtures: VATS.

8. Minute dispute: SPAT.  Small "minute".

12. Sandal features: T STRAPS.

19. "Barefoot Contessa" cook Garten: INA. An Instagrammer I know bumped into her in Paris a few months ago.

20. Journalist Larson: ERIK. Learning moment for me.

21. Pro shop purchase: POLO.

22. Group bar orders: CARAFES.

26. Crêpe cousin: BLINTZE. With blackberry sauce.

27. "My mom is gonna kill me!": I'M DEAD.

28. San Simeon family: HEARSTS. Hearst Castle.

30. Sleep __: MODE.

31. Running total: TALLY.

32. "The Hurt Locker" backdrop: WAR.

33. Upscale automaker: AUDI.

35. It might be generic: DRUG. When I was a kid, we paid about 0.15 cents for each doctor visit. Drugs were free. How China has changed!

38. Novelist Waugh: ALEC.

44. Which one: WHO.

45. Predator and Iconia computers: ACERS. My monitor is Acer.

47. Jack Reacher creator Child: LEE.

48. Dept. formed under Carter: ENER.

49. Bread grain: OAT.

50. Agassi rival: SAMPRAS (Pete)

53. Muses' domain: ARTS.

55. Massage offering: OIL RUB.

57. Important span: ERA.

63. __ column: concrete-filled steel support: LALLY. Another learning moment for me.

64. Rope in: ENTICE.

66. Quite a stretch: EONS.

67. Freshly stained: WET.

68. Dr. Leary's turn-on: LSD.

69. Sullen: DOUR.

70. Old Venetian coin: DUCAT.

72. Capital that's home to the Potala Palace: LHASA. Dalai Lama used to live in the Potala Palace.

74. "This is my __": STOP.

77. Dodge logo critter: RAM.

79. Poor, as excuses go: SAD.

80. Ghee-brushed bread: NAAN. Xi'an style Naan. The Muslim Quarters has the best food.

81. Unwitting victim: STOOGE.

83. Puts the worm on: BAITS.

88. It's often bookmarked: URL. This is what I love about Firefox. Very neat bookmarking system.

89. Be there: ATTEND.

91. Decorative jug: EWER.

92. It may be lit during the holidays: FIR TREE.

94. Withdrawn: SHY.

95. They may be wireless: BRAS.

98. Ristorante suffix: INI.

99. Links army leader: ARNIE. Arnie Palmer.

100. Loan letters: IOU.

104. Vicksburg soldiers: REBS.

108. One of Tom Brady's three: ESPY. Guess how many Tiger Woods has?

110. "JAG" spin-off: NCIS.

111. Has too much: ODS.

112. Piazza De Ferrari city: GENOA.

113. Humorist Barry: DAVE.

115. Takes care of a toy?: PET SITS. Nice fill/clue.

119. "To conclude ... ": LASTLY.

120. Govt. water-testing sites: EPA LABS.

125. SoCal daily: LA TIMES. Oh, hey, shout-out.

126. Pre-calc course: TRIG.

127. Rich deposit: LODE.

128. Job ad abbr.: EOE.

129. Pose a greater climbing challenge: STEEPEN.

130. "I'll get this one": ON ME.

131. Chuck: TOSS.

132. Chekov's orig. "Star Trek" rank: ENS.

Down:

1. NHL Hall of Famer Stan: MIKITA. Stranger to me.

2. Dog or dogie: ANIMAL.

3. It may be scented: CANDLE.

4. WWII surrender celebration: VE DAY. Victory in Europe Day.

5. 2016 MLB retiree: A-ROD.

6. Virginia senator Kaine: TIM. Clinton's running mate.

7. Vail toppers: SKI HATS.

8. Gp. advocating adoption: SPCA.

9. Substandard: POOR.

10. Charity: ALMS.

11. Line dance step: TOE TAP.

12. On the job, initially: TCB. Taking Care of Business.

13. "Rebel Without a Cause" actor: SAL MINEO. With James Dean and Natalie Wood.

14. The Bee Gees, e.g.: TRIO.

15. New-product div.: R AND D.

17. Candy invented in Austria: PEZ. There's a guy in our flea market who specialized in Pez dispensers.

18. Dallas-to-Houston dir.: SSE.

24. Easy pill to swallow: GEL CAP.

25. Pianist Peter: NERO.

29. Confident: SURE.

32. Less favorable: WORSE.

34. Unpleasant noise: DIN. I love the quietness in winter.

36. DIY mover: U HAUL.

37. Sidestepped: GOT BY.

39. Flung with force: HEAVED.

40. Put on conspicuous display: FLAUNT.

41. Seedless plants: FERNS.

42. Green of "Robot Chicken": SETH. Read more about it here.

43. Question doggedly: GRILL.

46. Shoe with lots of holes: CROC. Never tried Crocs.

50. Tourney ranking: SEED.

51. River of Pisa: ARNO.

54. "Who cares?": SO WHAT.

56. Roundup catcher: LASSO.

59. Postgame staple: RECAP.

60. Band aide: ROADIE.

61. Should have said: MEANT.

62. Area 51 creatures, it's said: ETS.

65. Doggone mad: IRATE.

71. Battleship letters: USS.

72. Hugh of "House": LAURIE. Also a novelist.

73. "Just __": ASKING.

75. Fiend of fantasy: OGRE.

76. Legendary soccer star: PELE.

78. "Morning Joe" network: MSNBC.

80. Ad infinitum: NO END. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

82. Hatcher of "Desperate Housewives": TERI.

83. Jazz count: BASIE.

84. Pal of Aramis: ATHOS.

86. Relative who shares your birthday, perhaps: TWIN. Our blog twins.

Joann's sister Joyce, their mother Martha and Joann

87. "Hair" styles: AFROS.

90. Queen's mate: DRONE BEE.

93. Mother canonized by Pope Francis: TERESA.

96. Hammer throw trajectory: ARC.

97. Impudent sort: SNIP.

99. Pasta water prep instruction: ADD SALT.

102. Did, but doesn't now: USED TO.

103. Campus recruiting gp.: ROTC.

105. Dining selection: ENTREE. Do you have Port of Subs in your area?

106. Balladeer Michael: BOLTON. "How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?"

107. Give the okay: SAY YES.

109. Bush or Clinton, once: YALIE.

112. Rubbernecks, with "at": GAPES.

114. Seductive sort: VAMP.

116. Struggling to decide: TORN.

117. Triathlon component: SWIM.

118. "Picnic" playwright: INGE (William)

119. Bygone Fords: LTDS.

120. 2015 Payne Stewart Award honoree Ernie: ELS.

121. Touch gently: PAT.

122. Return ID: SSN.

124. Great Lakes' __ Canals: SOO.

C.C.

I failed to reach Fermet Prime on Friday and Saturday. Her friend Malcolm said she might be released from the hospital next Monday February 25. He said "The hospital would like Lorraine to go to a rehab situation, they object to her going back to her house unless she has twenty-four hour help."  

In the meantime, we can send cards to:

Lorraine Foster

8735 White Oak Ave.

Northridge, CA 91325

C.C.