Theme: "Relatively Speaking" - Each theme entry consists of A,
B & C, both AB and BC are common phrases. A is the comparative
form, with two different meanings as shown in each clue.
22. Date night, or a midgame show starring Beyoncé instead of the coach's nephew's garage band?: BETTER HALFTIME.
39. Giving up a lazy Saturday to clean up a beach at sunrise, or waking up to pancakes instead of gruel?: GREATER GOOD MORNING.
56. A chic gray bob and cat eye bifocals, or sleeping until noon and dancing until dawn?: LATER LIFESTYLES.
80. Cardstock instead of newsprint, or the work of a wordy student?: LONGER TERM PAPER.
93. "The copy editor says this needs a capital letter," or a judge saying "Not enough evidence" in a bass-baritone?: LOWER CASE DISMISSED.
116. God's rest on the seventh day, or forty winks on a bunk bed?: HIGHER POWERNAP
Another Sunday debut! Congrats, Kelly! This is her second collaboration with Katie Hale, assistant to Patti Varol.
Sometimes theme is easier for me to understand than to explain in a blog post. Today is that case. So much thoughts went into making this theme work.
Across:
5. Driver's lic. info: DOB. Chinese driver's license. Year first, then month and date. We also put surname first.
8. Nixed, at NASA: NO-GO.
12. Back teeth: MOLARS.
18. Adolescent: TEEN.
19. Concessions purchase: COLA.
20. Very, informally: UBER.
21. Bright red liqueur: APEROL.
25. Stovetop piper: KETTLE.
26. Still going: ACTIVE.
27. Cappuccino topping: FOAM. And 8. Cappuccino topping, perhaps: NUTMEG.
28. Prophetic sign: OMEN.
30. Pliable wood: YEW.
31. English article: THE.
32. "And so forth" abbr.: ETC.
34. Bohr played by Kenneth Branagh in "Oppenheimer": NIELS. Always appreciate the clue angle.
37. Word with bright or big: IDEA.
45. Busy mo. for a 102-Across: APR. 102. Tax prep pro: CPA.
47. Weep: CRY.
48. Brazilian berry: ACAI.
49. Cancel: ANNUL.
50. Ease of movement: FLUIDITY.
53. Target: AIM AT. OK, Wendy and Glen, below are my latest
freestyle and breaststroke. Now I can do bilateral breathing. I'm
working on the fingertip drag drill. Hopefully I can get the high elbow
soon.
55. Food stamp org.: USDA.
59. Classified: RATED.
60. Ethically indifferent: AMORAL.
61. Skip over: OMIT.
62. Fast Amtrak train: ACELA. And 65. Underground systems: METROS.
64. Took first place: WON.
67. Fluffy craft supply: POM POM.
70. Writing tip?: NIB.
73. Adventure game console: ATARI.
75. Soy block: TOFU. Can't live without miso and tofu.
76. "I am enough," e.g.: MANTRA.
78. Snouts: NOSES.
85. Feel (for): ACHE.
86. Spanish diacritic: TILDE.
87. Meetings: SESSIONS.
88. Bite noisily: CHOMP. 92. Wolfed down: ATE.
90. Operatic icon: DIVA.
91. Pub choice: ALE.
99. Flit: DART.
100. Greek fabulist: AESOP.
101. Wallach of "The Holiday": ELI.
105. Scolding sound: TSK.
108. Spring: LEAP.
110. 2-Down, for one: TREE. 2. Canvas for many an arborglyph: BEECH. Arborglyph is a new word to me. Tree carving.
112. Ready at a moment's notice: ON CALL.
114. "Girl on Fire" singer Keys: ALICIA.
120. Sharp grabbers: TALONS.
121. Large barrel: DRUM.
122. Fish caught in pots: EELS. Wish I could eat this every day.
123. Hippocratic __: OATH.
124. Orbital extreme: APOGEE.
125. 18-wheeler: SEMI.
126. "Happy now?": SEE.
127. __ bargain: PLEA.
Down:
3. Midler of "Hocus Pocus": BETTE.
4. Against: ANTI.
5. Play-__: Fun Factory clay: DOH.
6. Norwegian saint: OLAF.
7. Balderdash: BALONEY.
9. __-Wan Kenobi: OBI.
10. Jewel: GEM.
11. Cookie used to make Halloween bat-shaped treats: OREO.
12. Manage with whatever's available: MAKE DO.
13. 1968 to now, in professional tennis: OPEN ERA.
14. "__ the games begin!": LET.
15. Highbrow: ARTY.
16. Part: ROLE.
17. Whole lot: SLEW.
19. Heraklion's island: CRETE. Unfamiliar with Heraklion. Looks pretty.
23. Eternally: EVER.
24. Event where pies win ribbons: FAIR.
29. "La Bohème" heroine: MIMI.
33. Prickly plants: CACTI.
35. Like fertile soil: LOAMY.
36. Bolsa Chica State Beach's locale, informally: SOCAL.
38. Single-season bloom: ANNUAL.
39. Actress Pam: GRIER.
40. Take a shot at: TRY FOR.
41. Promposal goal: DATE.
42. Appliance that performs under pressure?: INSTANT POT. Great clue/fill.
43. In the buff: NUDE.
44. Happy: GLAD.
45. Dollar alternative: ALAMO.
46. Give 'em the old razzle-dazzle, say: PUT ON A SHOW. Another great fill.
50. Weak spot: FLAW.
51. Many Oscar contenders: DRAMAS.
52. Not as well: ILLER. Gluey.
53. Sale caveat: AS IS.
54. Hirsute cousin: ITT.
57. Punk offshoot: EMO.
58. Drain: SAP.
59. Plots again: REMAPS.
63. PR focus: COMMS.
66. Ending at, casually: TIL.
67. Bioré target: PORE. Fun to pop on one.
68. Frequently, poetically: OFT.
69. Oaty breakfast mix: MUESLI.
71. Oscar nominee Dunne: IRENE.
72. Xylophone parts: BARS.
74. Abounded (with): TEEMED.
75. Journalist Koppel: TED.
77. Water nymph: NAIAD.
78. Salt formula: NACL.
79. Nueve preceder: OCHO.
81. Singer Redding: OTIS.
82. "Love your skin" body brand: NIVEA. I like their sunscreen. Japanese version.
83. Woody area: GLADE.
84. Actress Witherspoon: REESE.
89. Nutty confection: PRALINE.
90. __ mining: DATA.
91. Current units: AMPERES.
94. Fold: CREASE.
95. Thin strips of land: ISTHMI. Hard to pronounce for me. Chinese does not have TH letter combo.
96. Irked: SORE.
97. Loses speed: SLOWS.
98. German article: EINE.
102. Gondola waterway: CANAL.
103. Tectonic __: PLATE.
104. First Greek letter: ALPHA.
105. "Toodles": TA TA.
106. Thwack: SLAP.
107. 2.2 lbs., roughly: KILO.
109. Univ. conferrals: PHDS.
111. Sport sword: EPEE.
113. Trim, as a photo: CROP.
115. Horologist's piece: COG.
117. Wrath: IRE.
118. Orbit, e.g.: GUM.
119. Fútbol cheer: OLE.
Some extra notes:
1) Dennis sent me this stunning display at his front yard. His
buddy surprised him when he returned from his annual New Jersey trip.
The second one is from the visit on his 80th birthday. He has not aged
one day in all these years since I knew him.
2)
Look who's finally back home! Melissa picked up her husband Jacob on
Oct 20. It's been a long, hard journey. Melissa said "Jacob has been
home a week and already has work through the office of public defense,
and a few other irons in the fire for backup." More pictures here. The first picture below was taken on their way out to dinner his first night home.
