Theme: Not anyone else - Inside the themes is the word SELF.
17A. Eponymous son of auto pioneer Henry : EDSEL FORD
30A. Truck stop purchase : DIESEL FUEL
46A. Colorful coral reef dweller : DAMSELFISH
62A. True nature, and, literally, what can be found in 17-, 30- and 46-Across : INNER SELF
Argyle himself here. All the themes have an ELF hiding inside. Oops, that is SELF, the ELF is out in the open. This like a Monday solve/Tuesday construction. Nice vertical stacks in two corners, with some long and sparkly fill. Plenty of clechoes (clue echoes).
Across:
1. “Now!” in the ICU : "STAT!"
5. Rm. near the ICU : EMER.
9. Topping enjoyed after blowing out candles : ICING. It gets tasted while putting on the candles. You can't help but get some icing on your finger tips, right?
14. Something made before blowing out candles : WISH
15. Actress Olin : LENA. IMDb
16. 1976 Olympics star Comaneci : NADIA. and crossword favorite.
19. Easy gaits : TROTS
20. Overexercise, as a privilege : ABUSE and 21A. Like a right not exercised : WAIVED
23. It’s everything, so they say : TIMING
25. Kind of warfare or fighter : GUERILLA. Also with two R's.
29. Leaf part : STEM
32. Catalog biggie : SEARS. Still?
34. Otherwise : IF NOT
35. Lively Irish dance : JIG. Rare footage of Yellowrocks and Irish Miss in their younger days. Clip.
38. Legislative assent : AYE. We had NAY yesterday. We'll have ABSTAIN tomorrow.
39. Prohibit : BAN
41. Year, in Spain : AÑO
42. “__ directed”: medication warning : USE AS
44. Hockey disks : PUCKS
49. Shoreline protection gp. : USCG. (United States Coast Guard)
53. Handshake words : "IT'S A DEAL"
54. Magazine bigwig : EDITOR. Crossword bigwig, too.
56. In exactly this way : JUST SO
58. Open-air lobbies : ATRIA
59. Ancient storyteller : AESOP
64. Insurance spokeslizard : GECKO. If you haven't seen the Geico gecko before, you don't need to see him now but it's a sheltered life you lead.
65. Lo __: noodle dish : MEIN. [Yum!]
66. Run into : MEET
67. Not from around here : ALIEN Link. Even the Russian Prime Minister has met them.
68. Performing __ : ARTS
69. ORD postings : ETD's. (Chicago's O'Hare Airport)
Down:
1. Gym duds : SWEATS
2. Snippet of gossip : TIDBIT
3. Presuppose : ASSUME
4. Game with virtual suburbanites : THE SIMS. Any players here?
5. Munchkin kin : ELF
6. Cat’s complaint : MEOW. A purr would be a compliment.
7. Makes really angry : ENRAGES
8. Half a diameter : RADIUS
9. Connect, as chain parts : INTERLINK
10. Capital of Wales : CARDIFF
11. Altar oath : "I DO"
12. “Picked” complaint : NIT
13. Nitrogen or helium : GAS
18. Sportscaster Berman : LEN
22. Geese flight formation : VEE
24. Aussie greeting : G'DAY
26. Roman moon deity : LUNA
27. Ponce de __ : LEON. He came to Florida looking for the Fountain of Youth (or was that Dennis?).
28. Voice below soprano : ALTO
31. Wrath : IRE
33. Gave more freedom to : EASED UP ON
35. Dench of Bond movies : JUDI
36. Words before stake or risk : IS AT
37. Precious stones : GEMS
39. Train alternative : BUS
40. Throb : ACHE
43. Facetiously : AS A JOKE
44. Pale lager beer : PILSNER
45. “No problem with that” : "SUITS ME"
47. “__ Misérables” : LES
48. Daughter of Muhammad : FATIMA. Strange it wasn't clued to Our Lady of Fátima, a more Tuesday friendly clue.
50. “Sesame __” : STREET
51. Like a Slinky : COILED
52. Skin transplants : GRAFTS
55. Patriotic women’s org. : DAR. (Daughters of the American Revolution)
57. Handling the job : ON IT
59. Turkish bigwig : AGA
60. Electric swimmer : EEL
61. Poli __ : SCI. Oh oh. I thought of Polident first.
63. USN rank : ENS. (Ensign)
Argyle
