Saturday Themeless by Jeff Chen and Christina Iverson
Jeff Chen, our frequent puzzle collaborator/constructor from Seattle co-authors a fun Saturday themeless with Christina Iverson who is the LA Times editor Patti Varol's assistant. Christina lives here in the heartland, 2 1/2 hours east of me in the familiar cwd town of Ames, Iowa. Here is her note to us:
Jeff forwarded me your email and here are a few notes on my themeless collaboration with him...
Jeff helped me get started in constructing a few years ago, and we made several themed puzzles together that have been in various outlets. This is our only themeless collaboration (so far!). I've been making quite a few themeless puzzles the last year and a half, but this is the first to see print. I have another coming out next week in AVCX as well, so it's fun to have two themeless puzzles that I made at very different times come out within a week.
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Thanks :)
Christina Iverson
Across:
1. Support that's often rigged: MAST - It's great to get 1 Across.
5. Role, metaphorically: HAT - Others wear mom's hats for a day
8. Pair sharing a <3 b="" necklace="" probably:="">BFFS - Here's a bunch more3>
12. Instruments in some Gershwin works: ALTO SAXES - Anyone else think of CLARINETS featured in Rhapsody In Blue?
15. "I don't mind __ / Except as meals. / And the way they feels": Nash: EELS - Ogden Nash
16. Tabula rasa: CLEAN SLATE - I first went BLANK for _ L _ _ _ SLATE
12. Instruments in some Gershwin works: ALTO SAXES - Anyone else think of CLARINETS featured in Rhapsody In Blue?
15. "I don't mind __ / Except as meals. / And the way they feels": Nash: EELS - Ogden Nash
16. Tabula rasa: CLEAN SLATE - I first went BLANK for _ L _ _ _ SLATE
18. Joie de vivre: ELAN - A familiar French phrase follows a familiar Latin one above
19. Susan who wrote, "The writer's first job is not to have opinions but to tell the truth": SONTAG - Susan's admonition is violated constantly today
20. Sources of fleeting joy?: YACHTS - Fun cluing! Here's a fleet of YACHTS
19. Susan who wrote, "The writer's first job is not to have opinions but to tell the truth": SONTAG - Susan's admonition is violated constantly today
20. Sources of fleeting joy?: YACHTS - Fun cluing! Here's a fleet of YACHTS
22. "Wrong hand, silly": YOUR OTHER RIGHT - See Christina's fun exchange with Jeff and her husband in her notes above
26. Active front?: RETRO. RETROACTIVE
27. Postulant: NOVICE - From Sisters Of Life
28. Grace period?: AMEN - What these novices proclaim after saying Grace. Fun clue!
31. "Toodles!": TATA.
33. Tree on the Lebanese flag: CEDAR - Fatima Dryad was the first Lebanese woman to scale Everest
34. Latin law: LEX - LEX Orandi, LEX Credendi (the law of prayer [is] the law of belief)
35. Place to get high and pass out?: TOP BUNK - Fun
37. Rx writers, often: DRS and 46. Line on a handwriting test: NEATNESS COUNTS - Digital prescription writing have significantly reduced errors
38. Device that requires spin control: LATHE.
40. Inoculation fluids: SERA.
41. Literary alter ego: HYDE - $9,000 will get you an 1886 first edition with the author's signature inside
50. One of two tarot card groups: ARCANA - There are 22 cards in the Major ARCANA group and 56 in the Minor ARCANA group
51. Went viral: BLEW UP - Will Smith's slapping of Chris Rock went viral on social media instantly
53. State whose road signs feature 8-Downs: UTAH and 8. Symbol of 53-Across: BEEHIVE - Why the BEEHIVE?
54. Academic term: SCHOOL YEAR - It's over. No subbing for three months.
57. Nice parent: MERE - Cwd peeps see the French city first and knew of a French mom!
58. Dessert with a high point: SOFT SERVE.
59. Son of Hera: ARES - Here ya go
60. GRE org.: ETS.
Down:
1. Safari runners: MACS - Can you see the word Safari in this screen shot of my MACBook doing this blog?
3. One working with a dictator: STENO.
4. Perfectly: TO A TURN - Getting a steak grilled TO A TURN takes some real monitoring.
5. Lacks options: HAS GOT TO - This golfer HAS GOT TO play the ball where it lies if he does not want to incur a penalty. He 9. Was awash in euphoria: FELT GIDDY if the ball went in the hole
6. Rose up on stage: AXL - AXL Rose of the band Guns 'N Roses. Cute clue!
7. Leaves in a pot: TEA.
10. Study aid: FLASHCARD - I generated a slew of them online
11. Three-part fig.: SSN.
13. Bag: SNARE and 23. Bags: TRAPS.
14. Eyelid issue: STYE.
17. Make dough or bread: EARN - 100 Slang words for money
21. Earthenware vessel: CROCK - My lovely wife remembers taking her turn going to the well to fill the water CROCK at her one-room school.
24. Breeding grounds: HOTBEDS - Boston in the 1770's was a HOTBED of revolution
25. Clipped: TERSE - THERE. SHOULD. BE. NO. POLITICS. HERE.
28. Wiped out: ALL IN.
29. One having a cow?: MEAT EATER and 30. Not well-done in the least: EXTRA RARE.
32. Derived from gold: AURIC - The latin word for gold is AURUM and its chemical symbol is Au, so...
35. Brandon __: Hilary Swank's "Boys Don't Cry" role: TEENA - Based on true events in Humboldt, NE
36. Tiny tech powering Iron Man and Black Panther's suits: NANOBOTS - Here ya go
39. Tours of duty: HITCHES.
41. Sweet: HONEYED.
43. Fox holes: DENS.
45. "Mine! Mine! Mine!" criers in "Finding Nemo": GULLS.
39. Tours of duty: HITCHES.
41. Sweet: HONEYED.
43. Fox holes: DENS.
45. "Mine! Mine! Mine!" criers in "Finding Nemo": GULLS.
49. Polished: SUAVE.
52. Get set: PREP.
53. Actress Thurman: UMA.
55. Rowing implement?: HOE - Oh that kind of row. Yeah right, I was the only one who put OAR! 😉
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More from Christina:
I was so lucky to get to be judging at the ACPT (American Crossword Puzzle Tournament). I was welcomed into the community with open arms by constructors, editors, and solvers alike. I got to watch 500 people solve a puzzle that I made, which was quite an experience... as WSJ editor and fellow constructor Mike Shenk said, it felt like spending hours and hours making a gourmet meal, and then watching people eat it in a speed-eating contest. Thank you to everyone who went out of their way to welcome me and make me feel at home! Already can't wait for ACPT 2023