Words: 70 (missing B,K,Q)
Blocks: 28
My last SJSJ puzzle was back in January
- and today's looked deceptively simple, starting with a 3-letter word,
which I got, but then I stared at a wash of white for the longest time;
I got a break "spang" in the center with 33A., and it all filled in
from there - save ONE letter. Oh well. We had crossing 10-letter
entries today:
31. Not likely to fall : SURE-FOOTED
8. Intensified : HEIGHTENED
35. Road hog? : GAS-GUZZLER
27. Ponder : PUZZLE OVER - so true~!
O N W A R D ~ !
ACROSS:
1. Bug spray target : ANT - I don't mind ants and spiders; every other insect and arachnid creeps me out
4. Hospital bug : STAPH - I had STREP, and I knew that wasn't quite right
9. They're usually password-protected: Abbr. : ACCTs
14. Where the buck stops? : DOE - I am still looking for the doe that stops me; I don't usually go for blondes, but....mini-story @ 11D.
15. Opening of a memorable walrus song : I AM HE - "I am the Walrus", The Beatles
16. F follower in vintage TV : TROOP - F-Troop, which I watched in re-runs as a kid
4. Hospital bug : STAPH - I had STREP, and I knew that wasn't quite right
9. They're usually password-protected: Abbr. : ACCTs
14. Where the buck stops? : DOE - I am still looking for the doe that stops me; I don't usually go for blondes, but....mini-story @ 11D.
15. Opening of a memorable walrus song : I AM HE - "I am the Walrus", The Beatles
16. F follower in vintage TV : TROOP - F-Troop, which I watched in re-runs as a kid
17. Pius XII's successor : JOHN XXIII - listed as "blessed", crossing; 4D. One of five popes, ironically : SIXTUS - #5 1585-90; here's the list of them all
19. Totaled : RAN TO
20. Trailer caution : UNRATED - Motion Picture trailers, that is
21. Breaks down slowly : GNAWS AT - meh, yeah, I guess
23. "Beowulf" translator Heaney : SEAMUS
24. John of "Harold & Kumar" movies : CHO
25. Confused : LOST - ah, not ASEA
26. Firms : TONES - as one's body
27. __ melt : PATTY - not BACON....
29. USPS assignment : RTE - U P S, too; I was out with my buddy Jim tonight - he has a postal route
30. Huff : SNIT
33. Mesa natives : ARIZONANS - I read this as "relatives" first, so I was thinking "BUTTE"
38. Magic power : MOJO - reminds me of Austin Powers - "yeah, baby, yeah~!"
42. Material flaw : RIP - Fabric
43. Laid the groundwork for? : TILED - I did some tiling in the rental apartment at mom's house; I really need to update my blog
44. Didn't quite expect : HOPED
45. God that leaves one smitten : EROS
47. Insurance salesman Ryerson in "Groundhog Day" : NED
48. Stephen King classic : MISERY - Not "CARRIE"
49. In a single effort : AT ONE GO - I had IN one go to start; missed the "in" in the clue
51. Lore components : SAYINGS
52. Capital near the Red Sea : SANA'A - map
53. Celebrity perks : V.I.P. PASSES - makes me think of another music link
55. Employ with vigor : EXERT
56. Dr. Dean __ of talk radio : EDELL
57. Somme one : UNE - Frawnch
58. They might be hitched : RIDES
59. Spur part : ROWEL - new word for me; I had RODEL; see 51D.
60. Humanities dept. : PSYchology
DOWN:
1. Fiddles with : ADJUSTS
2. Situation when the first pitch is thrown : NO ONE ON - Baseball for C.C.; I wanted "opening day", then I stared at NOON -ON for a long time
3. Like many "Argo" militants : TEHRANI - those in Tehran, Iran
5. Mortgage payment component : TAXES - not here on Long Island; the tax bill comes separately twice a year
6. "__ the Falling Snow": Enya song : AMID
7. Golden ratio symbol : PHI - I know what this means, but I have a hard time describing it to others; Wiki does a pretty good job
9. Blade brand : ATRA
10. __ space : CRAWL - NYS cashed my check for filing to be a Home Inspector; going to be seeing my share of crawl spaces soon, I hope
11. Hang out (with) : CONSORT - SO - I was consorting with George, Jim, Bob, Kev, Mark, Jack and Chris tonight, downtown Patchogue....
12. Cookbook phrase : TO TASTE - ...speaking of which, there were some ladies....
13. Laid eyes on : SPOTTED - I "laid eyes" on a cute blonde at the club tonight; reminded me of Taylor Swift....
18. Ice-breaking aid : NAME TAG - ...the blonde did not have one....
22. Over the hill, say : NOT FAR - distance, not age - which is how we felt in the club tonight....
24. Saw your breath while singing, maybe : CAROLED - ...her name could have been Carol....
28. Quaint pointing word : YON - ...YON blonde....
31. Giving a once-over, with "up" : SIZING - and yes, I was sizing her up~!
32. Subtle absorption : OSMOSIS
34. Symbol of tiredness : RUT - I tried ZZZ first, since I considered there may be "ZZ" with SiZing - I was one square off
35. Pompadour sporter : GREASER - This guy?
36. One way to Martha's Vineyard : AIR TAXI
37. Showed affection for, in a way : SPOONED
39. Begins to share : OPENS UP - in a counseling session
40. Maker of Natural Glow lotions : JERGENS - um, don't go there....
19. Totaled : RAN TO
20. Trailer caution : UNRATED - Motion Picture trailers, that is
21. Breaks down slowly : GNAWS AT - meh, yeah, I guess
23. "Beowulf" translator Heaney : SEAMUS
24. John of "Harold & Kumar" movies : CHO
25. Confused : LOST - ah, not ASEA
26. Firms : TONES - as one's body
27. __ melt : PATTY - not BACON....
29. USPS assignment : RTE - U P S, too; I was out with my buddy Jim tonight - he has a postal route
30. Huff : SNIT
33. Mesa natives : ARIZONANS - I read this as "relatives" first, so I was thinking "BUTTE"
38. Magic power : MOJO - reminds me of Austin Powers - "yeah, baby, yeah~!"
42. Material flaw : RIP - Fabric
43. Laid the groundwork for? : TILED - I did some tiling in the rental apartment at mom's house; I really need to update my blog
44. Didn't quite expect : HOPED
45. God that leaves one smitten : EROS
47. Insurance salesman Ryerson in "Groundhog Day" : NED
48. Stephen King classic : MISERY - Not "CARRIE"
49. In a single effort : AT ONE GO - I had IN one go to start; missed the "in" in the clue
51. Lore components : SAYINGS
52. Capital near the Red Sea : SANA'A - map
53. Celebrity perks : V.I.P. PASSES - makes me think of another music link
55. Employ with vigor : EXERT
56. Dr. Dean __ of talk radio : EDELL
57. Somme one : UNE - Frawnch
58. They might be hitched : RIDES
59. Spur part : ROWEL - new word for me; I had RODEL; see 51D.
60. Humanities dept. : PSYchology
DOWN:
1. Fiddles with : ADJUSTS
2. Situation when the first pitch is thrown : NO ONE ON - Baseball for C.C.; I wanted "opening day", then I stared at NOON -ON for a long time
3. Like many "Argo" militants : TEHRANI - those in Tehran, Iran
5. Mortgage payment component : TAXES - not here on Long Island; the tax bill comes separately twice a year
6. "__ the Falling Snow": Enya song : AMID
7. Golden ratio symbol : PHI - I know what this means, but I have a hard time describing it to others; Wiki does a pretty good job
9. Blade brand : ATRA
10. __ space : CRAWL - NYS cashed my check for filing to be a Home Inspector; going to be seeing my share of crawl spaces soon, I hope
11. Hang out (with) : CONSORT - SO - I was consorting with George, Jim, Bob, Kev, Mark, Jack and Chris tonight, downtown Patchogue....
12. Cookbook phrase : TO TASTE - ...speaking of which, there were some ladies....
13. Laid eyes on : SPOTTED - I "laid eyes" on a cute blonde at the club tonight; reminded me of Taylor Swift....
18. Ice-breaking aid : NAME TAG - ...the blonde did not have one....
22. Over the hill, say : NOT FAR - distance, not age - which is how we felt in the club tonight....
24. Saw your breath while singing, maybe : CAROLED - ...her name could have been Carol....
28. Quaint pointing word : YON - ...YON blonde....
31. Giving a once-over, with "up" : SIZING - and yes, I was sizing her up~!
32. Subtle absorption : OSMOSIS
34. Symbol of tiredness : RUT - I tried ZZZ first, since I considered there may be "ZZ" with SiZing - I was one square off
35. Pompadour sporter : GREASER - This guy?
36. One way to Martha's Vineyard : AIR TAXI
37. Showed affection for, in a way : SPOONED
39. Begins to share : OPENS UP - in a counseling session
40. Maker of Natural Glow lotions : JERGENS - um, don't go there....
41. Meandering journey : ODYSSEY
44. Georgian greeting : HI, Y'ALL - I lived in Jacksonville, Fla - they speak Georgian there, too~!
46. Catch : SNARE
48. Butcher block wood : MAPLE - I knew this, made me change my "Carrie"
50. Vittles : EATS
51. Jet : SPEW - Got me; I had SPED first
54. Swear words : I DO
44. Georgian greeting : HI, Y'ALL - I lived in Jacksonville, Fla - they speak Georgian there, too~!
46. Catch : SNARE
48. Butcher block wood : MAPLE - I knew this, made me change my "Carrie"
50. Vittles : EATS
51. Jet : SPEW - Got me; I had SPED first
54. Swear words : I DO
Splynter
