Theme: Get In - GET spans each two-word common phrase.
23A. Compelling read : PAGE TURNER
28A. Oberlin, e.g. : COLLEGE TOWN. Oberlin College, the first co-ed college in the US.
43A. Spa fixture : MASSAGE TABLE. Sweet entry for our beautiful Melissa Bee.
66A. Refinery sight : STORAGE TANK
90A. Landscaping tool : HEDGE TRIMMER. Gail loves gardening.
106A. Travel agency offering : PACKAGE TOUR
115A. Airport freebie : LUGGAGE TAG
31D. Site of some trash talk : GARBAGE TRUCK. Fun clue.
39D. Dairy Queen option : FUDGE TOPPING. Can you believe I've never been to a Dairy Queen?
The title gives away the gimmick, yes? This word splitting concept doesn't lend itself to tricky titling, esp if the word itself has only 3 letters.
Very enjoyable puzzle, super smooth and silky, Gail's hallmark. Hard to keep one or two obscure names/words out of a 21*21 grid. Gail always manages to do so. She's a real pro.
Across:
1. Heist, say : CAPER
6. Pooch without papers : MUTT. Nice clue.
10. "Beowulf," for one : EPIC
14. Nuance : TINGE
19. Full of energy : ALIVE
20. U.S. Open stadium : ASHE. Who is your favorite all- time tennis player?
21. "__ chance!" : NOT A
22. It's west of Daytona Beach : OCALA. Well, 7-letter city in Florida has to be Ocala.
25. Go here and there : ROAM
26. Opera hero, often : TENOR
27. Common starting hr. : NINE AM. Mine is much earlier.
30. Ancient market : AGORA. The old Greek mall.
32. Mark of distinction : A PLUS. Was thinking of FELT, Mark Felt.
34. Respond to an alarm : RISE
35. Exchange worker : TRADER. Stock exchange.
36. "But __ a man in Reno": Johnny Cash lyric : I SHOT. Not familiar with the song. Johnny Cash's voice feels shaky to me.
37. Damage : MAR
38. Way out there : AFAR
42. Short talk : WORD. I'd like a word with you.
47. Colorful card game : UNO. Three-letter card game, UNO it is.
48. Colt 45 brewer : PABST. And 75. Former Colt .45 : ASTRO. Might be tough for non-baseball fans. Also, 6D. Colt carrier : MARE. Great clechos (clue echos).
50. __ Cong : VIET
51. Santa __ winds : ANA
52. Digital interpreter : MODEM
54. Toledo title: Abbr. : SRA
55. Sch. whose mascot is Sam the Minuteman : U MASS. Nice to meet you, Sam.
57. Top in the 'hood : DO-RAG
59. Molten rock : MAGMA
60. Mockery : GIBES. I always confuse this word with JIBES.
62. Succubus : DEMON. Succubus is a new word to me. Demon in female form, said to have sex with men in their sleep.
63. Had leftovers, say : ATE IN
64. Lose locks : SHED. Oh, hair. Funny for me to see Boomer uses Volumizer shampoo now.
71. LAX postings : ETAS
72. Tribal symbol : TOTEM
74. Arabic holy book : KORAN
77. Tropical eel : MORAY. Then we also have 122. Freshwater eel, at sushi bars : UNAGI. Nothing beats the aroma of unagi.
78. Keys : ISLES
79. Magical start : HOCUS. Hocus-pocus.
81. Org. with much swinging : PGA. Golf swing.
84. Stallion, for one : ADULT. Creature loves horses.
85. Up to, briefly : TIL
86. Former "Last Comic Standing" host Jay : MOHR. Here he is, with his wife.
87. Resort east of Grand Junction : ASPEN. Not familiar with Grand Junction, largest city in western Colorado, a la Wikipedia.
89. Mythical flier : ROC
95. Subtle help : HINT
96. Team neckwear : YOKE. Ah, farm oxen team.
98. Fathers and grandfathers : MEN
99. CSA leader : R.E. LEE
100. Seven-time Grammy winner Morissette : ALANIS. She's engaged to Ryan Reynolds once.
102. Exchange : SWAP
104. Tons : LOADS
105. Twilled fabric : SERGE. Still waiting for the Serge Gainsbourg clue.
110. Line dance step : TOE TAP
113. Peaks : ACMES
114. Pen or pencil, e.g. : NOUN. Easier for constructors to get creative with NOUN clue. Tough to play with OREO.
119. In need of dough : SHORT
120. Record : DISC
121. Like hands co-opted by the Devil? : IDLE. The devil finds work for idle hands.
123. Wound up : TENSE
124. Roy Rogers's birth name : SLYE. Leonard Slye. I forgot. Hope Barry G did not.
125. Beautician, at times : DYER
126. They may be rough : EDGES. Rough edges.
Down:
1. Tube top : CAP
2. Menu catchphrase : A LA
3. Greedy sort : PIG
4. Toss-up ratio : EVEN ODDS. Nice entry.
5. Hit the hay : RETIRE. Oh, I forgot. I ate it.
7. Annapolis inst. : USNA
8. They have fewer privileges : THE MASSES
9. Thrice, in Rx's : TER. Hi, HeartRx!
10. Neither here nor there : EN ROUTE
11. Resort attractions : POOLS. And something else for Dennis.
12. Tilted type: Abbr. : ITAL
13. Canon holder : CAMERA BAG. Didn't think of Canon camera first.
14. Carries : TOTES
15. Party pitcherful : ICE TEA. Let's just move on with the D-less.
16. Shuffle cousin : NANO. iPod line.
17. Flush : GLOW
18. Come by honestly : EARN
24. Take some heat from? : UNARM. Nailed it.
28. Plumbing problem : CLOG
29. Woman of the future? : GIRL
30. Clamoring en masse : AROAR. I am not bothered by the a* word as Bill G does.
33. Excellent, slangily : PHAT
35. Local govt. units : TWPS. Townships.
36. Fertility goddess : ISIS. The horned Egyptian goddess.
37. Demain, across the Pyrenees : MANANA. Demain is French for "tomorrow". A demain = See you tomorrow.
40. Lack of vigor : ANEMIA
41. Many Shakespearean characters : ROMANS
44. Sailor's "Stop!" : AVAST
45. Futurist's tool : TAROT
46. __ Lee Bunton, a.k.a. Baby Spice : EMMA. The girl in black, with blunt bangs.
49. Shoddy ship : TUB. Got me.
53. Movie with a posse : OATER
56. Año part : MES. Month.
57. "Ballet Rehearsal" artist : DEGAS (Edgar). He liked to paint ballerinas.
58. Broken mirror, to some : OMEN. Are you superstitious?
61. Without a flaw : IDEAL
62. Show some spunk : DARE
64. Cath. church eponym : ST. MARY
65. Jinx : HOODOO
67. Silent approval : OK SIGN
68. "Good Times" actress : ROLLE (Esther). First encounter with this lady.
69. Iridescent shell layer : NACRE
70. Manhattan sch. : KSU (Kansas State University). Manhattan, Kansas.
73. Sasquatch, for instance : MYTH
76. Airport screening gp. : TSA
78. "Maybe, maybe not" : IT DEPENDS. Great entry too.
79. Computerized course, e.g. : HOME STUDY
80. Woeful cry : OH ME
82. Spirit in a bottle : GENIE
83. Social crawlers : ANTS. Ants are social insects.
86. Not so hot : MILD
88. It's opposite the eye : SHARP END. I don't get this clue.
91. Hi-tech read : E-MAG
92. Rout : TROUNCE
93. Keister : REAR
94. One with ropelike tresses : RASTA. I often wonder how they wash their hair.
97. Parts of Alaska's Denali Highway are built on them : ESKERS. Needed crossing help. Spitzboov knows so much about geology.
101. Alliance : LEAGUE
103. Refuse : WASTE
104. Crummy : LOUSY
106. It's history : PAST. Indeed.
107. Feel the pain : ACHE
108. "You're not serious!" : C'MON
109. Plug away : TOIL
111. Eye with ideas : OGLE
112. Hungarian castle city : EGER. Spa town. River name also.
115. Box top : LID
116. Diamond putout : TAG. Baseball "Diamond'.
117. Chronology datum : AGE
118. PX patrons : GIs.
Answer grid. (Sorry for the error earlier.)
C.C.
23A. Compelling read : PAGE TURNER
28A. Oberlin, e.g. : COLLEGE TOWN. Oberlin College, the first co-ed college in the US.
43A. Spa fixture : MASSAGE TABLE. Sweet entry for our beautiful Melissa Bee.
66A. Refinery sight : STORAGE TANK
90A. Landscaping tool : HEDGE TRIMMER. Gail loves gardening.
106A. Travel agency offering : PACKAGE TOUR
115A. Airport freebie : LUGGAGE TAG
31D. Site of some trash talk : GARBAGE TRUCK. Fun clue.
39D. Dairy Queen option : FUDGE TOPPING. Can you believe I've never been to a Dairy Queen?
The title gives away the gimmick, yes? This word splitting concept doesn't lend itself to tricky titling, esp if the word itself has only 3 letters.
Very enjoyable puzzle, super smooth and silky, Gail's hallmark. Hard to keep one or two obscure names/words out of a 21*21 grid. Gail always manages to do so. She's a real pro.
Across:
1. Heist, say : CAPER
6. Pooch without papers : MUTT. Nice clue.
10. "Beowulf," for one : EPIC
14. Nuance : TINGE
19. Full of energy : ALIVE
20. U.S. Open stadium : ASHE. Who is your favorite all- time tennis player?
21. "__ chance!" : NOT A
22. It's west of Daytona Beach : OCALA. Well, 7-letter city in Florida has to be Ocala.
25. Go here and there : ROAM
26. Opera hero, often : TENOR
27. Common starting hr. : NINE AM. Mine is much earlier.
30. Ancient market : AGORA. The old Greek mall.
32. Mark of distinction : A PLUS. Was thinking of FELT, Mark Felt.
34. Respond to an alarm : RISE
35. Exchange worker : TRADER. Stock exchange.
36. "But __ a man in Reno": Johnny Cash lyric : I SHOT. Not familiar with the song. Johnny Cash's voice feels shaky to me.
37. Damage : MAR
38. Way out there : AFAR
42. Short talk : WORD. I'd like a word with you.
47. Colorful card game : UNO. Three-letter card game, UNO it is.
48. Colt 45 brewer : PABST. And 75. Former Colt .45 : ASTRO. Might be tough for non-baseball fans. Also, 6D. Colt carrier : MARE. Great clechos (clue echos).
50. __ Cong : VIET
51. Santa __ winds : ANA
52. Digital interpreter : MODEM
54. Toledo title: Abbr. : SRA
55. Sch. whose mascot is Sam the Minuteman : U MASS. Nice to meet you, Sam.
57. Top in the 'hood : DO-RAG
59. Molten rock : MAGMA
60. Mockery : GIBES. I always confuse this word with JIBES.
62. Succubus : DEMON. Succubus is a new word to me. Demon in female form, said to have sex with men in their sleep.
63. Had leftovers, say : ATE IN
64. Lose locks : SHED. Oh, hair. Funny for me to see Boomer uses Volumizer shampoo now.
71. LAX postings : ETAS
72. Tribal symbol : TOTEM
74. Arabic holy book : KORAN
77. Tropical eel : MORAY. Then we also have 122. Freshwater eel, at sushi bars : UNAGI. Nothing beats the aroma of unagi.
78. Keys : ISLES
79. Magical start : HOCUS. Hocus-pocus.
81. Org. with much swinging : PGA. Golf swing.
84. Stallion, for one : ADULT. Creature loves horses.
85. Up to, briefly : TIL
86. Former "Last Comic Standing" host Jay : MOHR. Here he is, with his wife.
87. Resort east of Grand Junction : ASPEN. Not familiar with Grand Junction, largest city in western Colorado, a la Wikipedia.
89. Mythical flier : ROC
95. Subtle help : HINT
96. Team neckwear : YOKE. Ah, farm oxen team.
98. Fathers and grandfathers : MEN
99. CSA leader : R.E. LEE
100. Seven-time Grammy winner Morissette : ALANIS. She's engaged to Ryan Reynolds once.
102. Exchange : SWAP
104. Tons : LOADS
105. Twilled fabric : SERGE. Still waiting for the Serge Gainsbourg clue.
110. Line dance step : TOE TAP
113. Peaks : ACMES
114. Pen or pencil, e.g. : NOUN. Easier for constructors to get creative with NOUN clue. Tough to play with OREO.
119. In need of dough : SHORT
120. Record : DISC
121. Like hands co-opted by the Devil? : IDLE. The devil finds work for idle hands.
123. Wound up : TENSE
124. Roy Rogers's birth name : SLYE. Leonard Slye. I forgot. Hope Barry G did not.
125. Beautician, at times : DYER
126. They may be rough : EDGES. Rough edges.
Down:
1. Tube top : CAP
2. Menu catchphrase : A LA
3. Greedy sort : PIG
4. Toss-up ratio : EVEN ODDS. Nice entry.
5. Hit the hay : RETIRE. Oh, I forgot. I ate it.
7. Annapolis inst. : USNA
8. They have fewer privileges : THE MASSES
9. Thrice, in Rx's : TER. Hi, HeartRx!
10. Neither here nor there : EN ROUTE
11. Resort attractions : POOLS. And something else for Dennis.
12. Tilted type: Abbr. : ITAL
13. Canon holder : CAMERA BAG. Didn't think of Canon camera first.
14. Carries : TOTES
15. Party pitcherful : ICE TEA. Let's just move on with the D-less.
16. Shuffle cousin : NANO. iPod line.
17. Flush : GLOW
18. Come by honestly : EARN
24. Take some heat from? : UNARM. Nailed it.
28. Plumbing problem : CLOG
29. Woman of the future? : GIRL
30. Clamoring en masse : AROAR. I am not bothered by the a* word as Bill G does.
33. Excellent, slangily : PHAT
35. Local govt. units : TWPS. Townships.
36. Fertility goddess : ISIS. The horned Egyptian goddess.
37. Demain, across the Pyrenees : MANANA. Demain is French for "tomorrow". A demain = See you tomorrow.
40. Lack of vigor : ANEMIA
41. Many Shakespearean characters : ROMANS
44. Sailor's "Stop!" : AVAST
45. Futurist's tool : TAROT
46. __ Lee Bunton, a.k.a. Baby Spice : EMMA. The girl in black, with blunt bangs.
49. Shoddy ship : TUB. Got me.
53. Movie with a posse : OATER
56. Año part : MES. Month.
57. "Ballet Rehearsal" artist : DEGAS (Edgar). He liked to paint ballerinas.
58. Broken mirror, to some : OMEN. Are you superstitious?
61. Without a flaw : IDEAL
62. Show some spunk : DARE
64. Cath. church eponym : ST. MARY
65. Jinx : HOODOO
67. Silent approval : OK SIGN
68. "Good Times" actress : ROLLE (Esther). First encounter with this lady.
69. Iridescent shell layer : NACRE
70. Manhattan sch. : KSU (Kansas State University). Manhattan, Kansas.
73. Sasquatch, for instance : MYTH
76. Airport screening gp. : TSA
78. "Maybe, maybe not" : IT DEPENDS. Great entry too.
79. Computerized course, e.g. : HOME STUDY
80. Woeful cry : OH ME
82. Spirit in a bottle : GENIE
83. Social crawlers : ANTS. Ants are social insects.
86. Not so hot : MILD
88. It's opposite the eye : SHARP END. I don't get this clue.
91. Hi-tech read : E-MAG
92. Rout : TROUNCE
93. Keister : REAR
94. One with ropelike tresses : RASTA. I often wonder how they wash their hair.
97. Parts of Alaska's Denali Highway are built on them : ESKERS. Needed crossing help. Spitzboov knows so much about geology.
101. Alliance : LEAGUE
103. Refuse : WASTE
104. Crummy : LOUSY
106. It's history : PAST. Indeed.
107. Feel the pain : ACHE
108. "You're not serious!" : C'MON
109. Plug away : TOIL
111. Eye with ideas : OGLE
112. Hungarian castle city : EGER. Spa town. River name also.
115. Box top : LID
116. Diamond putout : TAG. Baseball "Diamond'.
117. Chronology datum : AGE
118. PX patrons : GIs.
Answer grid. (Sorry for the error earlier.)
C.C.
