Sunday December 26 2021 Ed Sessa

Theme: "Going Green" - Different trees are hidden in 8 theme answers, plus a PLANT A TREE reveal.

3D. Round jewelry item: HOOP EARRING.

4D. Yuletide entrée: CHRISTMAS HAM.

13D. Solemn periodic Vatican event: PAPAL MASS.

16D. Sub fillers: DELI MEATS.

61D. Subject never quite resolved in "When Harry Met Sally...": PLATONIC LOVE.

68D. "Oh Happy Day" genre: GOSPEL MUSIC.

78D. Atlas feature: MAP LEGEND.

80D. Adidas Yeezy collaborator: KANYE WEST. Ye now.

Reveal:

54. Read: PERUSE.

59. Legal scholar Guinier: LANI.

63. Ease, as one's mind: SET AT REST.

73. __ Goose vodka: GREY.

We've seen a few hidden tree gimmicks (in the middle or TREETOP style), but never without the extra PLANT A TREE stand reveal.

Heavy themage, with 8 long entries and the extra layer in the middle.

Across:

1. [Yawn]: MEH.

4. "My __ Amour": Stevie Wonder hit: CHERIE.

10. Transition point: CUSP.

14. Old PC platform: MS-DOS. I probably won't upgrade to Windows 11 until the last minute.

19. Antacid brand since the 1800s: ENO. New to me. But Ed is a doctor.

20. Mark who plays Luke: HAMILL. This puzzle is a bit name-heavy.

21. Avalon contemporary in pop music: ANKA (Paul). Frankie Avalon.

22. "Einstein on the Beach," e.g.: OPERA.

23. Dove's call: COO.

24. Road safety feature: RUMBLE STRIP.

26. Eponymous engineer Ray: DOLBY.

27. Climactic Wembley Stadium event: CUP FINAL.

29. Big name in camping gear: COLEMAN.

31. Make up partner: KISS.

32. Like some illegal employment practices: AGEIST.

33. Lure into a lair: ENTRAP.

35. SoFi Stadium NFLer: LA RAM.

37. Mine feature: SHAFT.

38. Looked at too long: STARED.

39. Select members for, as a jury: IMPANEL. My sister-in-law Connie served on a jury earlier this month.

41. Swab over: RE-MOP.

43. Petting zoo animal: PONY.

44. Academic hiatuses: GAP YEARS.

46. Disconcert: JAR.

48. Sorkin of "Days of Our Lives": ARLEEN. Stranger to me.

50. Dinsmore of kid lit: ELSIE. Another new clue angle.

51. Inclusive word: TOO.

52. Form 1040 fig.: AGI. Adjusted Gross Income.

53. Circus barkers: SEALS.

56. "Well, __ that special!": "SNL" catchphrase: ISN'T.

57. Oater sound effects: GUNSHOTS.

60. Mole, maybe: SPY.

62. Aqua __: gold dissolver: REGIA. I think I learned this from a Jeffrey puzzle.

67. Nigerian seaport: LAGOS.

71. HBO rival: TMC.

74. Large green-winged flier: LUNA MOTH.

76. Open ones are welcoming: ARMS.

79. Honey-do-this response: OK DEAR. Boomer has been good, eating most of the veggies at the hospital. The nurses give him this Ensure drink every day. I probably should get some for him when he's back.

82. Baron Cohen's Kazakh journalist: BORAT.

83. Name in alphabetical order?: STU.

84. Intl. broadcasting initials: VOA. Voice of America.

85. Letter-shaped track segment: I RAIL.

86. Hope that one may: SEEK TO.

87. See 105-Across: POT. 105. Make more tempting, as the 87-Across: SWEETEN.

88. Swiss winds: ALPHORNS.

90. Maine, to Macron: ETAT. Also 100. The same, on the Seine: EGALE.

92. Start of a few choice words?: EENIE.

94. Bird migration routes: FLYWAYS.

95. Elegy for one voice: MONODY. Another new word for me.

97. Five Pillars faith: ISLAM.

101. Ivanhoe's love: ROWENA. Lady Rowena.

102. Trattoria entrée: SCAMPI.

103. Jellystone Park bear: YOGI.

107. Ad campaign components: MAIL-OUTS.

109. "Not __ out of you!": "Shh!": A PEEP.

111. Signed, as an agreement: ENTERED INTO.

113. Canine order: SIT.

114. Greek-American New Ager: YANNI.

115. Headliner: STAR.

116. One of three in "Macbeth": SCENE V.

117. "__ seen worse": I'VE.

118. Pilgrim John: ALDEN. First man to step off the Mayflower.

119. Kitchen amts.: TSPS.

120. "Forrest Gump" actor: SINISE (Gary)

121. Rogue: CAD.

Down:

1. Tourist draws: MECCAS. My hometown Xi'an (13 million people) is now under a strict lockdown. Andy has to have COVID test every day. They set up a testing center at the gate of every neighborhood. Every family can only have one person going out to buy food every two days. And you must show a negative result, otherwise, you can't get food.

 

2. "I've had it!": ENOUGH. Chinese are very cooperative people. Most Asians are.

5. Frequent: HAUNT.

6. Austen title heroine: EMMA.

7. Barbecued morsel: RIBLET.

8. Needing TLC, say: ILL.

9. Kind of microscope: ELECTRON.

10. Angela Martin, e.g., in "The Office": CATLADY.

11. Intl. delegate: UN REP.

12. Brush (over): SKIM.

14. '60s chic: MOD.

15. Gonzaga University city: SPOKANE.

17. Bubbles and blueberries: ORBS.

18. Comes out with: SAYS.

25. "Either/Or" author Kierkegaard: SOREN. Regulars in our Tribune Media Daily days.

28. Wind with a drum: FIFE.

30. Dover diapers: NAPPIES.

34. Shaving spots: NAPES.

36. Comical Martha: RAYE.

38. Evidence of egg toss errors: SPLATS.

39. House, in Inuit: IGLU. Igloo.

40. Dianetics creator Hubbard: L RON. Scientology founder.

42. Treat often eaten filling-first: OREO.

45. Lush: SOT.

46. 13-time NHL all-star Jaromir __: JAGR. From the Czech Republic.

47. Flu symptom: AGUE.

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

50. New York canal: ERIE.

54. British pop: PATER.

55. Eliza's 'elper 'iggins: ENRY.

56. Start of Popeye's credo: I YAM.

58. Is in session: SITS.

59. "__ Croft: Tomb Raider": LARA.

64. Neutrogena shampoo brand: T GEL. Anti-dandruff.

65. Gin flavor: SLOE.

66. Clunker: TURKEY.

69. Bart's bus driver: OTTO. Hi there D-!

70. Open-and-__ case: SHUT.

72. Rounds up: CORRALS.

75. Kid-lit's __ the Great: NATE.

76. "Selma" director DuVernay: AVA.

77. Massage deeply: ROLF. Our Melissa used to be a massage therapist. 

81. Talk trash about: DISS.

82. Back at Belmont: BET ON.

85. Sioux City state: IOWA.

86. Rationality: SANENESS.

89. Healthy routine: HYGIENE. I wonder why the VA hospital keeps the room temperature so low. With the thin gown, most patients will not be comfortable. Boomer does have an extra blanket, but he misses the warmth of our house.

91. Airport fixture: TOWER.

93. World Golf Hall of Famer Aoki: ISAO. Old regular.

96. "The Omen" child: DAMIEN.

98. '90s-00s IBM PC: APTIVA.  TTP's field. I have no idea.

99. Sprayed gently: MISTED.

101. Put another hole in, as a keg: RE-TAP.

102. Web or camp follower: SITES.

103. DaCosta of "Chicago Med": YAYA.

104. Iridescent gem: OPAL.

106. Rhinitis docs: ENTS.

108. Years in Caesar's time: ANNI.

110. Stick with it: PIN.

112. Rank of Brit. TV sleuth Morse: DCI. OK, Detective Chief Inspector.

Boomer is making progress. He still needs to press the button to call the nurse to go to the toilet. He's not allowed to go alone in his walker. His legs are still too weak. They're afraid he'll fall.

The neurosurgeon checks on him every day. The VA chaplain visited him yesterday. He gave Boomer a wafer and they shared a prayer. The VA nurses also gave him a nice Christmas card. He teared up reading the card to me.

Hopefully he'll start his PT today. If he's doing well, he might be out of the hospital next Thursday or Friday. 

Thanks again for keeping Boomer in your thoughts and prayers.

C.C.