Theme: It's a bird; it's a plane, it's Uperman! Drat, now where did I put that "S"? Each of the theme answers are phrases with one word ending in SS and the next beginning S. The theme has the S removed from the second word to create a new and typically Marti witty phrase. As Marti explains below, many constructors, like the great Dan Naddor use the run on letters to confuse the solver. Here, you have a letter missing, or do you? This woman really has an intriguing mind. I found this to be a really fun, fun solve with many little twists, humor and of course, no "J."
Let's play!
17A. A pint to drown your sorrows? : DISTRESS (S)ALE. A bad situation becomes an excuse for a beer. Thanks Hearti for the beer reference.
27A. Great diner food? : FIRST CLASS (S)EATS. And when you fly first class you get food which is actually edible.
44A. Film clips of a Triple Crown race? : PREAKNESS (S)TAKES. A week after the race, and the disappointment of no chance for a triple crown. Lights, camera, action.
59A. What a hamster wheel requires? : ENDLESS (S)PACE. The vast universe becomes a runner in a rut.
Across:
1. It's often about a yard: FENCE. Wonderful visual and pun trickery to start, yard as a measure and a garden.
6. Nanny's challenges : BRATS. Taking care of little kids, egads, it is the wurst!
11. Milk meas. : GAL. Poor dear lost her pal.
14. Pepe Le Pew's pursuit : AMOUR. Toujours l'amour; tonight l'amour for sure!
15. Sit in on : AUDIT. Like going to classes without registering.
16. Schnozz extension : OLA. We had Inka Dinka Doo this week. Also, 3D. Difference in a close race : NOSE. Hmm, what is she thinking?
Let's play!
17A. A pint to drown your sorrows? : DISTRESS (S)ALE. A bad situation becomes an excuse for a beer. Thanks Hearti for the beer reference.
27A. Great diner food? : FIRST CLASS (S)EATS. And when you fly first class you get food which is actually edible.
44A. Film clips of a Triple Crown race? : PREAKNESS (S)TAKES. A week after the race, and the disappointment of no chance for a triple crown. Lights, camera, action.
59A. What a hamster wheel requires? : ENDLESS (S)PACE. The vast universe becomes a runner in a rut.
Across:
1. It's often about a yard: FENCE. Wonderful visual and pun trickery to start, yard as a measure and a garden.
6. Nanny's challenges : BRATS. Taking care of little kids, egads, it is the wurst!
11. Milk meas. : GAL. Poor dear lost her pal.
14. Pepe Le Pew's pursuit : AMOUR. Toujours l'amour; tonight l'amour for sure!
15. Sit in on : AUDIT. Like going to classes without registering.
16. Schnozz extension : OLA. We had Inka Dinka Doo this week. Also, 3D. Difference in a close race : NOSE. Hmm, what is she thinking?
19. Co. with Mercury in it's logo: FTD. Florists' Transworld Delivery.
20.Editorial notation : STET. C.C. edits our work without notation or fanfare.
21. Mays, in his last game: MET. Willie, the Say Hey Kid. The CATCH.(0:28).
22. Place strategically : DEPLOY. From the French, also the root of our word, ploy.
24. Clairvoyance: ESP. I sensed this was going to be the answer!
26. Frolicsome : MERRY. Rhymes with...
33. One might make a ewe turn : RAM. Oh, you punny sex person! Ewe turn indeed!
34. Toothbrush bristle material : NYLON. I think mine are no longer nylon.
35. Disregard : SKIP.
36. Annual award org. : AMPAS. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. OSCAR.(1:08).
38. Some six-packs: ABS. Abdominal muscles.
39. "P.S. I Love You." originally : B-SIDE.
40. First name in game shows : MERV. The late great Grififn who brought both Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune to us.
41. Piece maker : REESE. I am a cup man, though I like apiece now and then.
43. Joe and Rose's youngest : TED. Kennedy.
48. Pig feature : SNOUT. Damn, I thought she was going for some obscure movie clue.
49. Sidewalk stand offering : ADE. Lemon____wasn't good enough for you?
50. Speakers' stands: ROSTRA. This comes from a Latin word which means SNOUT; way to go Marti!
52. Army unit : ANT. Little guys are so OPTIMISTIC.(2:39).
54. "That was close! : WHEW.
58. Cognac mate : AMI. A nice change for sneaking French into the puzzle, means friend or mate, Jeannie wherever you are.
62. Most admired, chat-rooms : FAVorite.
63. Nail a test : ACE IT.
64. Black ball: EIGHT. Both the magic one and at pool.
65. Crowd in Calabria : TRE. A double header pun, first you need to know the city is in Italy and then three's a crowd...
66. Eft parents: NEWTS. We had these babies before; I guess little Gingriches would not have worked.
67. Colombian currency : PESOS. Well I guess I earned my peso, but still have the rest to go.
Down:
1. They come and go : FADS. Hopefully house guests as well. Pet rock anyone, you can have it cheap?
2. Discharge : EMIT. Our second did word clue.
4. Coast Guard craft: CUTTER. Also a very effective pitch in baseball.
5. Goof : ERR.
6. Diamond corner : BASE.ball.
7. Tin Woodman's affliction : RUST. 'Beni? HERE? (2:14)
8. Org. concerned with canine health : ADA. Woe, not the aminals (sic) but your incisor teeth!
9. Math squiggles: TILDES. These PUPPIES (I got them in after all)
10. Drives, or driven ones: STEERS. Cars and Cows, how can you beat it!
11. "Get lost!" : GO FLY A KITE. Apparently from an old Bing Crosby song written by Jimmy Burke.
12. Chorus line? ALTO. Really Marti, more Sax?
13. Lord's partner: LADY. So what is the answer to my query, m'lady?
18. Drain EMPTY. What the Tinman does to his Pinch at sunset.
23. Garlic___: PRESS. Or the fourth estate in Italy?
25. I.R.S. form figures : SSNS. Social Security NumberS.
26. Parsonages : MANSES. From the same root word as mansions, Latin mansa, not related to maison.
27. Hall of ___: FAMER. Like our staff of constructors here at the Corner. They are all quite....
28. Awe-inspiring : IMPRESSIVE.
29. Bordeaux wine : CLARET. Veddy popular in the UK, n' est-ce pas?
30. Places to spot studs : LOBES. Ears, dears, not the guy from 38A.
31. Ocean's motions : TIDES. Not to be confused with TILDES.
32. Went over the limit : SPED.
33. Skatepark feature : RAMP. Who here has skateboarded?
37. Before, in Brest : AVANT. Après is after, as we travel back to France.
39. Drop on a sweater : BEAD. SWEAT by Inner Circle.
42. Sports figures : STATS. Statistics
45. Like Kia Motors : KOREAN.
46. Subtle distinction: NUANCE. It is the nuances which make for great writing and puzzle creating.
47. Collectible doll : KEWPIE. Creepie dolls.
50. Finn's vessel : RAFT. Huckleberry, I wanted George.
51. " A Jug of Wine...." poet : OMAR. First verse.
A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread-and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness-
O, Wilderness were Paradise enow!....
52. Landed: ALIT. Oh no, and A word!!!!!
53. Brooklyn hoopsters : NETS. They left New Jersey.
55. Cauldron stirrers : HAGS. MACBETH.
56. NATO alphabet"E" : ECHO. I heard that before, be fore, bee for
57. Attends to one's whistle : WETS. I am ready to wet mine, this is fun, but takes time.
60. Mountain ___ : DEW. The drink of champions, but too much caffeine for now.
61. Fall mo. : SEPtember.
Answer grid.
What a great way to start the weekend, Don and C.C. then Hearti. We had our Marti double once again, with her blog yesterday and her puzzle today. Well I am off to play (?) golf. Have a great day.
Lemonade, and now to Comtesse Marti....
1) Constructor's Note:
When I submitted this puzzle to Rich, here is what I said:"It drives me nuts when constructors use three-letter-sequence themes. I invariably drop off one of the letters - and in the grid, it still looks right (except for that blank square at the end of the line...) So I decided to get even with this theme that "looks right", but is missing something..."
2) Note from C.C.:
Congratulations to JD and Bob (Aka "J.D. holder", not ATT), who celebrated
their 43rd anniversary yesterday.
