Tuesday, March 19, 2024 Adrian Johnson & Taylor Johnson

The Screaming Meemies!  The word Me is found at the end of one word, and then immediately Repeated again at the beginning of the next word.

17-Across. Permanent patrons: LIFETIME MEMBERS.

23-Across. Line at zero degrees longitude: PRIME MERIDIAN.

44-Across. Drastic actions: EXTREME MEASURES.

And the unifier:

51. "I'll say it again," and what 17-, 23-, and 44-Across literally do?: LET ME REPEAT.

Across:

1. Pose a question: ASK.

4. "__! Humbug!": BAH.

7. Word before brow or blow: LOW.

10. Cal. neighbor: ORE.  Oregon is just north of California.

13. 1950s prez: IKE.  [Name # 1.]  Dwight David Eisenhower (Oct. 14, 1890 ~ Mar. 28, 2969) served as the 34th President of the United States.  He served two terms from January 1953 until January 1961.

14. "My mind is blown!": I'M IN AWE.

16. Guinea pig or teacup pig: PET.

20. "Say cheese!": SMILE.

21. In vitro cells: OVA.  Today's Latin lesson.

22. Impressive spread: ARRAY.

An Impressive Array of Spices in the Old Market in Jerusalem.

26. Ray gun sound: ZAP.

27. Green vegetable in samosas: PEA.  Samosa are fried South Asian pastries with a savory filling, that often includes peas as well as other ingredients, such as spiced potatoes, onions, meat, or fish.

28. Nightclub: CABARET.

32. Uses a buddy system: PAIRS UP.

36. "Beef" Emmy winner Wong: ALI.  Ali Wong (née Alexandra Dawn Wong; b. Apr. 19, 1982) has recently become a frequent guest in the puzzles.  She is probably best known as being an X-rated stand-up comic.  [Name # 2.]

37. Florida home of the Ernest Hemingway House: KEY WEST.  You can visit Hemingway's home, complete with his six-toed cats, any day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.  [Name adjacent.]

39. Con's opposite: PRO.

40. Text status: READ.

42. Avocado center: PIT.

43. Iced dessert: CAKE.

49. Hummus ingredient: TAHINI.  Tahini is a Middle-Eastern condiment that is made from toasted ground sesame seeds.  

50. Entirely: PURELY.

55. Raised, as livestock: BRED.

57. Poker declaration: I CALL.

58. Bits of advice: TIPS.

61. Glissade garb: TUTU.

62. Valparaíso's country: CHILE.  Valparaíso is a port city on Chile’s coast. It's known for its steep funiculars and colorful, clifftop homes.  It's a 14.5 hour flight from my home.

63. Sandwich cookie: OREO.  A crossword staple.

64. Mourn, maybe: WEEP.

65. Shoe bottoms: SOLES.

66. Rip apart: REND.

Down:

1. Isn't 100%: AILS.

2. Pinch pennies: SKIMP.

3. Fermented milk drink: KEFIR.  Everything you wanted to know about kefir but didn't know to ask.

4. Evidence of a vampire attack: BITE MARK.

5. French friend: AMI.  A French boy friend.

6. Shoutout to a parent: HI, MOM!

7. Quarterback Jackson who was the NFL's MVP in 2019 and 2023: LAMAR.  Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. (b. January 7, 1997) plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. [Name # 3.]

8. Carry a balance: OWE.

9. Cry at the end of a long road trip: WE MADE IT!

10. "The Phantom of the __": OPERA.  The Phantom of the Opera is a 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux (né Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux; May 6, 1868 ~ Apr. 15, 1927).  It was later made into a musical.

11. Aired again: RERAN.

12. Crafts website: ETSY.

15. "Scream" star Campbell: NEVE.  Neve Adrianne Campbell (b. Oct. 3, 1973) is a Canadian actress best known for her portrayal in horror films.  [Name # 4.]

18. Schuyler sister who married Alexander Hamilton: ELIZA.  Eliza Schuyler (Aug. 9, 1757 ~ Nov. 9, 1854) married Alexander Hamilton (1750s ~ July 12, 1804) in 1780.  He was killed in a duel in his late 40s.  She never remarried and lived until age 97.  [Name # 5.]

19. Prickly shrub: BRIAR.

24. Fencing blade: ÉPÉE.  A crossword staple.

25. Some hoppy brews, briefly: IPAs.  This beverage appears often in the puzzles.  In fact, I provided the history of the brew just last week.

28. "Insert this" symbol: CARET.

29. Name often said in a smart home: ALEXA.  Everything you wanted to know about Amazon Alexa but didn't know to ask.  Alexa appeared in yesterday's puzzle, too.  [Name adjacent.]

30. Winter Olympian with a rifle: BIATHLETE.  A Biathlete competes in a biathlon, which is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

31. Do some screen writing?: TYPE.  Cute clue.

32. Tennis great Sampras: PETE.  Pete Sampras (b. Aug. 12, 1971) is an American is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.  [Name #6.]

33. Attachment on the back of a Jeep: SPARE TIRE.

34. "Did I do that?" TV nerd: URKEL.  A reference to a 1990s television sit-com.  [Name # 7, fictional.]

35. Sonnets, odes, and the like: POESY.   The difference between a poem and a poesy.

38. "Buena Vista Social Club" director Wenders: WIM.  Wim Wenders (né Ernst Wilhelm Wenders; b. Aug. 14, 1945) is a German filmmaker.  Some of his other films include Paris, Texas, which starred Harry Dean Stanton and Nastassja Kinski, and Wings of Desire.   [Name # 7.]

41. Evaporated: DRIED UP.

43. Art collection custodian: CURATOR.

45. Tonsillitis doc: ENT.  As in an Ear Nose Throat doctor.

46. Copies: MIMICS.

47. Genius Bar computers: APPLES.

48. Bring legal action against: SUE.

52. Sound that rebounds: ECHO.  Hi, Charlie!

53. Banister: RAIL.

54. French fashion magazine: ELLE.

November 1945 issue

55. "Just so you know" shorthand: BTW.  Textspeak for By The Way.

56. Deeply regret: RUE.  Also the French word for Street.

Street signs in Lafayette, Louisiana.

59. Bic product: PEN.  These were the pens of choice when I was in junior high school.

60. Landscaping roll: SOD.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Sunday January 21, 2024 Taylor Johnson & Chandi Deitmer

Theme: "Double Bill" - A musical is inserted into another musical.

23. *"This should be just right, my furry friends"?: AS YOU CATS LIKE IT. As You Like It.

32. *Peculiar pair at the office?: THE ODD COMPANY COUPLE. The Odd Couple.

53. *Things that make you go hmm ... ?: THE DOUBT PRODUCERS. The Producers.

69. *Salon pro who's a genius with AquaNet?: THE HAIRSPRAY WIZ. The Wiz.

92. *Lament from a Red Sox fan?: DAMN WICKED YANKEES. Damn Yankees.

109. *Eerie Midwestern downtown area?: A STRANGE CHICAGO LOOP. A Strange Loop.

Reveal:

123. Embedded narrative, and a description of the answer to each starred clue: PLAY WITHIN A PLAY.

I chuckled at the 92A clue and entry. Immediately thought of our LalaLinda, who's an avid Red Sox fan. 

Ideal Sunday grid. Great title. Great reveal. All the plays are all well-known.

Across:

1. Some small dogs: TOYS.

5. Musubi wrap: NORI. The Hawaiian Spam musubi. We also have 21. Russian crepes: BLINI. And 29. Indian flatbread: ROTI.

9. Intel research: RECON.

14. African capital where Akan is spoken: ACCRA. I did not know Akan, the largest ethnic group in Ghana.

19. "Scram!": SHOO.

20. Germ carrier?: BRAN. Also 100. Hill worker?: ANT. 106. Drink list?: BAR TAB. Fun clues.

22. Frasier's brother: NILES.

26. Liquid-Plumr rival: DRANO.

27. Origins: ROOTS.

28. Fair-hiring initials: EEO.

31. Color that is equal parts blue and green: CYAN.

38. Has motivation for: CARES TO.

40. Bout enders, briefly: TKOS.

41. "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody" director Lemmons: KASI. Did not know her.

42. Dwarf planet named for a goddess of discord: ERIS.

43. MYOB part: OWN.

45. Dam on the Nile: ASWAN.

49. Escher museum site, with "The": HAGUE. M. C. Escher was Dutch.

52. Sleepy pal: DOC. The Dwarfs.

57. Tour guide's badge words: ASK ME.

59. Baby sheep: LAMB.

60. ABC News anchor David: MUIR.

61. Duds: TOGS.

62. Push back, in a way: RESIST.

64. Reef-dwelling Pixar character: NEMO.

67. "Be prepared" org.: BSA.

68. New prefix: NEO.

75. Butterfield of "Sex Education": ASA. British actor.

78. Work on a lawn: MOW.

79. Old-timey dagger: SNEE.

80. Breathe Right user, maybe: SNORER. Nasal strips.

84. Mete (out): DOLE.

86. Substandard: POOR.

88. Wager: RISK.

91. Many Vegas lights: NEONS.

97. 1981 cable debut: MTV. CNN debuted in 1980.

98. Teeny bit: SKOSH.

99. Skating legend Sonja: HENIE.

101. Permeate: SEEP.

102. "If the __ fits ... ": SHOE.

104. Wild guess: STAB.

107. Sneaky coward: DASTARD.

115. "Grease" actress Conn: DIDI.

116. Sand hill: DUNE.

117. "__ you for real?": ARE.

118. Hasbro game that requires quick reflexes: BOP IT.

121. Make up (for): ATONE.

128. Switchboard section: PANEL.

129. Out: PASSE.

130. Not pizzicato: ARCO. Did not know the meaning of pizzicato. From Wikipedia: "On bowed string instruments it is a method of playing by plucking the strings with the fingers, rather than using the bow. This produces a very different sound from bowing, short and percussive rather than sustained."

131. No. in a forecast: TEMP.

132. Lock: TRESS.

133. Word on a triangular sign: YIELD.

134. Exemptions for top seeds: BYES.

135. __ buco: OSSO.

Down:

1. Former Eurasian leader: TSAR.

2. Rather: OH SO.

3. Rock the baby, around the world, etc.: YO-YO TRICKS.

4. Comforts: SOOTHES.

5. "Night Court" TV network: NBC.

6. British pop singer Rita: ORA. Here with her husband Taika Waititi, the director of "Thor: Ragnarok".

7. Made the grade: RATED.

8. Bee or butterfly: INSECT.

9. Sac fly result: RBI.

10. Antlered ruminant: ELK.

11. Olds of old: CIERA.

12. Shallot kin: ONION.

13. __ Gritty Dirt Band: NITTY.

14. "Your point is?": AND.

15. Big top performance: CIRCUS ACT. And 16. Skeet target: CLAY PIGEON. We don't often a 10 & 9 pair in a themed grid.

17. Kidney-related: RENAL.

18. With a single voice: AS ONE.

24. Takes advantage of: USES.

25. Gander: LOOK.

30. "Eww!": ICK.

33. Short "And yet ... ": OTOH.

34. Woodworking connector: DOWEL.

35. Utah city near two national parks: MOAB.

36. Soft summons: PSST.

37. Lanikai Beach's island: OAHU.

38. Like some grilling planks: CEDAR. This cedar plank salmon looks yummy.

39. Got up: AROSE. And 71. Got up: AWOKE.

44. Confidentiality doc: NDA. Non-Disclosure Agreement.

46. Typist's meas.: WPM.

47. Curaçao neighbor: ARUBA.

48. Hard on the ears: NOISY.

50. Goad: URGE.

51. Canadian gas brand: ESSO.

53. "Intelligence for Your Life" host John: TESH.

54. Hilton competitor: OMNI.

55. Some airport rides: UBERS.

56. Attracts: DRAWS.

58. Charles River sch.: MIT.

63. Andante and adagio: TEMPI.

65. Hotmail provider: MSN.

66. La Scala performance: OPERA.

70. Flask filler: HOOCH.

72. Harness strap: REIN.

73. Homey lodgings: INNS.

74. "Big Little Lies" actress Kravitz: ZOE. Star-studded cast.

75. Throws in: ADDS.

76. Time in the tub: SOAK.

77. "Nearly finished!": ALMOST DONE. And 81. Orchard fruit originally from Ohio: ROME APPLES. So many nice fill in this grid.

82. "Come on in!": ENTER.

83. Answered an invite: RSVP'D.

85. Puts in a Hall of Fame, say: ENSHRINES.

87. Kylo of the "Star Wars" sequels: REN.

89. Jamaican genre: SKA.

90. Sport with bamboo swords: KENDO.

93. "Hold it, horses!": WHOA.

94. Share hot goss: DISH. Hot gossip.

95. Himalayan recluse: YETI.

96. Citation abbr.: ET AL.

101. Degrade oneself by: STOOP TO.

103. Word with year or rear: END.

105. South American palm: ACAI.

108. Asian noodle: SOBA. I prefer it cold.

109. Get used (to): ADAPT.

110. Instrument in Hindi cinema: SITAR.

111. Pet in a tank: GUPPY.

112. Zhou who hosted Nixon: ENLAI.

113. Stop: CEASE.

114. Walt Disney Concert Hall architect Frank: GEHRY.

119. Alpo rival: IAMS.

120. Tit for tat, e.g.: TYPO.

122. Some city trains: ELS.

124. Luxury bag monogram: YSL.

125. Tied the knot: WED.

126. Broomball surface: ICE.

127. Denials: NOS.

 

A few extra notes: 

1) Happy 76th birthday to Madame DeFarge (Janice), who used to comment on our blog regularly. We miss you, Janice! 

 

From L To R: Abejo, WikWak and Madame DeFarge

 

 

2) Happy birthday to sumdaze, our creative Monday Sherpa. Who else can ride 65 miles in one day?  I'm so lucky to have you in my life, Renee! Feel better soon!

3) Happy 16th birthday to our blog! Thank you so much for visiting and commenting.

4) Have a go at this "Farm Girls" puzzle I made for Atlas Obscura last Monday. I wish someone would blog about their puzzles. 

5) My left arm still has slight twinge. I pull wide on that side and often do not pull through, but I'm so happy to be back to the pool again. I don't over-rotate anymore and my bilateral breathing continues to be good. Now I need to focus on kicking harder with my right leg. So odd since I'm right-handed. You'd think I have a dominant right leg also. 

 

 C.C.