Solving C.C.'s clever puzzle had me following a familiar pattern. I searched for a solid foothold which came up at the grid-spanning PLEASE BE PATIENT/AND YET HERE WE ARE and everything grew out from there. I had a very pleasant 29-minute exercise where C.C.'s construction skills always made me feel I would never COME UP DRY. Another lovely feature was that she only used six 3-letter words.
Across:
1. Early revolutions: WARM UP LAPS 😀 Tradition at the Indy 500 has a pace car leading the cars around for the last WARM UP LAP.
1964 Indy 500
11. Exam with a max score of 180: LSAT.
15. Only shopped at farmers markets, perhaps: ATE ORGANIC.
16. Set in stone: ETCH.
17. Help in obtaining top-shelf products: STEP LADDER 😀
18. "Educated: A Memoir" writer Westover: TARA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
19. Homes for some queens: HIVES. 😀
20. Instrument invented by Hermes: LYRE.
21. Bamia or sambar: STEW. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
22. Frosted: ICED.
23. "Fore!" site: TEE 😀
24. Bundles: WADS.
26. Earring parts: POSTS.
28. Ending of "Oedipus": SIGMA -Oedipus is spelled Οιδίπους in Greek. The last letter is the lower case Greek letter SIGMA
31. Put on a bashful front: ACT COY.
35. Overdrive: HIGH GEAR.
37. Line for waiters: PLEASE BE PATIENT - All these peeps are in line and waiting to get to the top of Mt. Everest
39. Cannes Film Festival prize: PALME D'OR - Golden Palm
40. Prankster with opposable thumbs: MONKEY.
41. Aisha of "Archer": TYLER.
42. Oman neighbor: YEMEN.
44. Go, to the dogs: MUSH - 😀 The comma in the clue made this my fav clue.
46. General concern: WAR.
47. Material for some biodegradable bags: HEMP.
51. Kitchen work: PREP.
53. St. __ Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub: IVES ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
55. "Brave" studio: PIXAR - It netted a $350 M profit at the box office
56. Zest source: RIND - I loved orange marmalade before I knew it was zest from the RIND that gave it such a distinctive flavor
57. "Great, now we're pouting": REAL MATURE.
59. Smell: ODOR.
60. Messages that something's gone wrong: ERROR CODES.
61. Word in skin care ads: DEWY.
62. One who has seen it all: EYEWITNESS.
Down:
1. Paper used in origami: WASHI ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
2. Unfinished story, perhaps: ATTIC 😀 Oh, the top story of a house
3. "Still Me" memoirist Christopher: REEVE - My favorite movie portrayer of Superman wrote this after his horse riding accident left him paralyzed.
4. Wore a long face: MOPED.
5. Addresses with dots: URLS. 😀
6. Org. with many excellent drivers: PGA - Fore!
7. Big scoops: LADLES.
8. "... somehow nothing has changed": AND YET HERE WE ARE.
9. Huntington Beach landmark: PIER.
10. Item that's often turned in: SCREW 😀
11. "Our food's getting cold!": LET'S DIG IN.
12. One who might crunch numbers for fun: STATS GEEK - Uh, I might be guilty
13. Orchard unit: ACRE.
14. Spring break?: THAW.
23. Trifled (with): TOYED.
25. Running back Jeanty who was runner-up for the 2024 Heisman Trophy: ASHTON.
26. Tough puzzles: POSERS.
27. Nurse: SIP.
29. Thick hair: MANE.
30. Like some indie movies: ARTY.
31. Cal. entry: APPT.
32. Roland Garros surface: CLAY - The CLAY court in Paris is named for WWI air hero Roland Garros who died in combat in 1918 but never played tennis.
33. "I can't wait for an answer!": TELL ME NOW.
34. Left empty-handed, in a way: CAME UP DRY - In this state that depends heavily on irrigation this can be a big problem
36. Fortnite streamer, e.g.: GAMER ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ An online streaming game
38. Little dude: BOY.
43. Psychologist who created a notable hierarchy: MASLOW - I'm sure I memorized this list when I got my M.A. in Counseling.
45. New team member: HIREE.
47. Suddenly come up with: HIT ON - Dick Fosbury HIT ON the idea of high jumping with his face up and completely changed the sport.
48. Radiate: EXUDE.
49. Some stable parents: MARES 😀
50. Iron: PRESS.
51. Nudge: PROD.
52. Wheels: RIDE.
54. VIP member?: VERY 😀
55. Formal agreement: PACT.
58. Scan that may diagnose a torn ACL: MRI - “An MRI has confirmed that Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes sustained a torn ACL in his left knee in today’s game. Patrick and the club are currently exploring surgical options.”
CrossEyedDave here, fresh off my bout with a Noro-Virus. Our own CC asked me to write up her Sunday Spectacular at the last minute, and while I am glad to do it, I am still under the weather, and cranky to boot. Let's hope it doesn't show...
I say this because, while a very enjoyable puzzle, there were a few places that had me stumpted. Here is the grid with all my mistakes:
The black chevrons in the upper right of certain grid squares, is where I fat fingered typo's, or chose the wrong letter outright. I didn't have time to do it ink on dead tree sadly.
The red chevrons indicate where I hit the reveal button...
Which leads me to ask you a question: I am not sure to call this a DNF, (Did Not Finish) or a FIW (Finished It Wrong) as I did neither. Can anyone out there come up with a suitable abbreviation for:
I hit the reveal button when I should have given it more thought!
Oh well, Onward!
22 Across. Trick question?: COULD IT BE MAGIC?
The remote does sorta seem like magic...
53 Across. Good question?: IS THAT CORRECT?
87 Across. Gotcha question?: AM I BEING CLEAR?
112 Across. Leading question?: WHO'S IN CHARGE?
119 Across. Quick question?: ARE YOU IN A HURRY?
31 Down. Burning question?: IS THE STOVE ON?
Yes.. but...
42 Down. First question?: WHERE TO START?
Is everybody here? Are you ready? Ok let's go!
As you can clearly see, CC has cleverly made each answer revert back to the question.
Ok! Now onward...
Across: 1. Fellow student: PEER. A peer is a person who belongs to the same group as you in terms of age, social standing, rank, or abilities. (So why do the people in my Jury look like people you couldn't pay me to hang out with...)
5. Inner ears?: COBS. (Cute.)
9. Wrap (up): SEW. Not end...
12. Braid: PLAIT. As a noun, it can also mean a fold or pleat in fabric. As a verb, it means to interweave or braid.
17. Crowning point: ACME.
Acme as in high point, the Coyotes source of paraphernalia is not one of them...
18. Critter who snoozed and lost: HARE.
19. Shared intimacies, briefly: PDAS. Public Displays of Affection.
21. Impressionist Monet: CLAUDE. (Name #1)
22. [Theme]
25. Take care of: HANDLE.
26. Forever and ever: EONS.
27. [Theme]
29. Cheese in some bagels: ASIAGO. Ew, scallion cream cheese for me please...
32. Catch: SPY. Or espy... (but that could be misinterpreted as an award...)
34. Don vestments: ENROBE. (How did my neighbors pajamas get in this puzzle?)
35. Fuzz on a rock: MOSS.
We guitarists could also misinterpret this...
36. Mountain climber: SKI LIFT. Some might say this is not a twurd, (2 word answer) but the only other way to write it is with a hyphen. Ski-lift.
40. Biggest holiday in Vietnam: TET. Lunar New Year! Celebrating the arrival of Spring!🎆
41. Quaint contraction: TWAS. Now that's how you avoid the dreaded "twurd..."
45. Started a fresh pot: ANTED. Poker, not coffee...
47. Get on in years: AGE.
48. Sleeve: ARM.
50. Bakery serving slices: PIE SHOP. Now this one almost had me asking CC if this was a typo! But just as I was about to email, the V8 can came whistling in! It's not the serving slice sizes, it's about the bakery!
52. "Pass": NAH. (I hit reveal one this one, because I thought, "Nah!" That can't be right...)
53. [Theme]
57. Historical period: ERA.
58. Bridal boutique array: DRESSES. This one flummoxed me, I was thinking flowers, like a corsage...
60. Group with Mind Games competitions: MENSA.
61. Needs some ice, perhaps: HURTS.
63. Corporate title abbr.: ASST. Assistant.
64. Take offense to: RESENT.
67. Put two and two together: ADD.
69. Late bedtime hr.: ONE AM.
70. Feline with a striped coat: TABBY CAT.
72. Watch a friend's monstera, say: PLANT SIT.
Doesn't seem monstrous to me...
74. Ring-shaped island: ATOLL.
76. Buy high and sell low, e.g.: ERR. This is another one that fooled me, because I didn't read it right. You might say I erred...
77. Double-cross: BETRAY.
78. Lady Justice's garb: TOGA. Not robe?
There have been many depictions, and many do not look like togas or robes.
So if this one fooled you, give yourself a break...
Even more miraculous was how they flew it off the levee again, when it was supposed to be too short to land on!
82. Take out of a sack: UNBAG.
84. Checks for fit: TRIES ON.
86. Intense anger: IRE.
87. (Theme]
92. Rummage sale label: TAG.
93. Picturesque caves: GROTTOS.
95. Julius Erving, to fans: DR J. (Basketball.) ( name #2)
96. Hi-__ photo: RES. High resolution.
97. Wee: SMALL.
99. Billionth: Pref.: NANO.
100. West of old Hollywood: MAE. (Name #3)
Are ya happy to see me? Or is that a gun in your pocket?
102. Museum guides: DOCENTS. A docent is a knowledgeable guide or lecturer, typically a trained volunteer in a museum, art gallery, or zoo, who explains exhibits and educates visitors. The term derives from the Latin docere, meaning "to teach".
105. "Songversation" singer India.__: ARIE. Name #4, and I overloaded my photo files. So now the Cloud is saying I have to pay money... you will have to look her up yourself, I'm broke...
106. Accordion features: PLEATS.
109. Replayed tennis serve: LET. I put Ace first, which would you rather rewatch...
110. Repeats verbatim: QUOTES.
112. [Theme]
117. Harbor fleet: TUGS.
This beloved story from my youth got me fascinated with tugboats for the rest of my life...
118. Dish with bubbling broth: HOT POT.
119. [Theme]
125. Vidalia bulbs: ONIONS.
126. Within reach: NEAR.
127. X-rated material: SMUT. (No photo...)
128. Clever notion: IDEA.
129. Crop threats: PESTS.
130. Cap'n Jazz genre: EMO. Sort of name #5?
131. Pointillism marks: DOTS.
132. Corkboard pin: TACK. All my cork boards have had pushpins. Thumbtacks are too dangerous...
2. __ mode: hybrid setting: ECO. Ah,! Economy mode, as in cars! I couldn't figure out the hybrid reference until now... gas/electric...
3. Ostrich's shorter cousin: EMU. Shorter than an Emu would be a Rhea...
4. Drop, as an album: RELEASE. (Music talk.)
5. Casual slacks: CHINOS. The Origin: Originally designed for military use in the 19th century, the pants are believed to take their name from the Spanish word for "Chinese" due to the fabric's origins in China.
6. Grains in a crumble: OATS.
7. Texter's "Gimme a sec": BRB. Be Right Back.
8. "Understand?": SEE.
9. Bridge distance: SPAN.
10. Provocative: EDGY.
11. Forgo: WAIVE.
12. Backup strategy: PLAN B.
13. Stickers in glucose monitoring kits: LANCETS. Ouch!
14. Automaker headquartered in Ingolstadt: AUDI.
15. Inactive: IDLE.
16. Shirts with slogans: TEES.
20. Barely sufficient: SCANT.
21. Like a kitchen during the dinner rush: CHAOTIC.
23. Obedience school attendee: DOG.
24. "Allow me": MAY I.
28. French kin of a dosa: CREPE.
29. "Mamma Mia!" star Seyfried: AMANDA. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Name #6
30. Submarine trackers: SONARS.
31. [Theme]
32. Weary sound: SIGH. Something I do every time I have to post a pic of a name I don't know...
33. Entreaty: PLEA. No more names, please?
37. "Gnarly" and "Gabriela" girl group: KATSEYE. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ name #7. (@##$&%) um, sorry, sigh...
55. Leonardo's group, for short: TMNT. This was below the belt. Who in their right mind would know that this name #9 refers to The Mutant Ninja Turtles! Read The Three Musketeers and get your mind out of the Sewer! (Um, i'm not feeling good, remember?)
56. Storm tracker: RADAR.
59. Like week-old mantou: STALE. Hmm, you can't make up for TMNJ with delicious looking food when I have a stomach bug! (And it's stale no Less!)
62. Join forces: UNITE.
65. Wash vigorously: SCRUB.
66. Merited: EARNED.
68. Genealogy research aid: DNA TEST.
71. Sound sheepish?: BLEAT.😀 ok, that's a good one...
72. Simon of "Hot Fuzz": PEGG. Name #10
You may know him as Scotty in later Star Trek movies.
I must ask DW what streaming service we are using this month, as it is not free on YouTube...
73. Banks on many covers: TYRA. Name #11
I'm not complaining mind you...
74. Make straight: ALIGN.
75. __ cotta: TERRA. You know, flower pot containers etc...
77. Bluegrass strings: BANJO.
79. Water polo shot stopper: GOALIE. Interesting choice of clue...
80. Right features of every square: ANGLES. Can't argue with that...
83. Frequent flier?: BIRD.😀
85. Org. with complex schedules: IRS. Infernal Revenuers...
88. Brief periods of time: MOMENTS.
89. Calculus pioneer Newton: ISAAC. Name #12, I'll post a pic when he gets a Sports Illustrated Cover...
