Tuesday, December 25, 2012 John Lampkin

Theme: Ho, Ho, D'oh! - from our constructor: "The puzzle is a reincarnation of a song I composed and recorded in 1996. Mara & Sue, a popular local kid-oriented duo performed the vocals and I myself performed all the instrumental tracks—keyboards, bass, drums and percussion. I recently remastered it to make a fun go-with for your blog write-up. This may be a groundbreaking combination of YouTube and crosswords!

All the best wishes to you and your family, John.

Also, there is a Christmas present for Jason in one of the down entries."

17A. With 26- and 48-Across, unexpected Christmas morning observation : SOMETHING HUGE IS

26A. See 17-Across : CLOGGING UP

48A. See 17-Across : OUR CHIMNEY

61A. Goodies unclaimed as a result of this puzzle's predicament : COOKIES FOR SANTA

Watch it here: Link.

Argyle here. Hey! I resemble that remark. I suppose you could call this a quote puzzle but the quote isn't famous...yet.

Across:

1. Easy mark : PATSY

6. Where X marks the spot : MAP but 57A. Where eggs mark the spot? : NEST

9. British county : SHIRE. Home to Hobbits, too.

14. Marry on the sly : ELOPE

15. Top pilot : ACE

16. __ wave : TIDAL

20. Oompah maker : TUBA. In case you missed Abejo Saturday night, go here, starting @8:25PM.

21. "To a ..." poem : ODE. The title of odes often start with "Ode to a __"

22. Take a breath : INHALE

23. Rocky Balboa skipped it : ROPE

25. Choir recess : APSE where you might find the 40A. Choir voices : ALTOS.

30. Office supplies order : REAM. It may be the electronic age but you still need reams of paper.

34. The Tigers of the NCAA's Southeastern Conference : AUBURN

35. __ about: approximately : ON OR

37. Prez on a penny : ABE

38. Old battle-ax : CRONE

39. Big bang creator : TNT. Not the one created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady.

42. Giggling syllable : HEE

43. __ gin fizz : SLOE

45. Zips along : SPEEDS

46. ExxonMobil trade name : ESSO. Their international trade name.

50. "That's unlikely" : "I BET"

52. Start from scratch : REDO

53. Pitchman's "Don't delay!" : "ACT NOW!". "But wait!..." 5D. "However ..." : "YET ...". "That's not all!"

56. "Sure, skipper!" : "AYE!"

64. Has the guts : DARES

65. Agua, across the Pyrenees : EAU. Spain/France, in the Pyrenees, ur is the Basque word for 'water'.

66. Milk dispenser : UDDER. Going right to the source, the primary producer.

67. Bonnie's partner in crime : CLYDE

68. Paul's partner in song : ART. Simon and Garfunkel.

69. Outdoes : BESTS

Down:

1. Pantry ant, e.g. : PEST

2. Matty or Felipe of baseball : ALOU. "But who's on first?" "I don't know." "Third base!"

3. Mummy's home : TOMB

4. Underwater weapon : SPEAR GUN. 62D. Ocean : SEA. 63D. Ocean traveler : SUB

6. Damsel : MAIDEN

7. Teen's woe : ACNE

8. Place to hang your hat : PEG

9. Astonishes : STUNS

10. More expensive : HIGHER. I wanted DEARER.

11. Item in a writer's notebook : IDEA

12. Commuter's option : RAIL

13. Alternatively : ELSE

18. "Climb aboard!" : "HOP IN!"

19. Safari heavyweight : HIPPO

24. Shrek and his relatives : OGRES

25. Family reunion attendee : AUNT

26. Secret supply : CACHE

27. Angler's boxful : LURES

28. Melodious winds : OBOES

29. Dead duck : GONER. Evocative

31. Unlike leftovers : EATEN

32. Home : ABODE

33. Like many a dorm room : MESSY

36. Fast : RAPID

39. Publicize in a big way : TOUT

41. Sidewalk stand buy : LEMONADE

44. "My Fair Lady" composer Frederick : LOEWE

45. Transparent, as stockings : SHEER

47. Sounded like a pig : OINKED

49. Shout : CRY OUT

51. Northwest capital : BOISE

53. Electrically flexible : AC/DC

54. Naughty child's stocking filler : COAL. Theme related.

55. Revolutionary British sympathizer : TORY. Tens of thousands of Americans opposed the Revolution. They called themselves Loyalists; the Patriots called them Tories. from "Tories, Fighting For the King in America's First Civil War" by Thomas B. Allen. The word Tories was originally used to describe rural bandits in Ireland. Origin: 1640–50; < Irish *tóraighe outlaw, bandit, derivative of tóir chase, pursuit. 56. "Bearing gifts, we traverse __" : AFAR. Theme related.

58. Comes to a stop : ENDS

59. Kill the dele : STET

60. Finishes, as a road : TARS. Stop, kill it, finish...OK, I get the idea.

Argyle

Notes from C.C.:

1) Here is a picture of Argyle, our dear Santa. Merry Christmas!

2) Happy Birthday to Fermatprime (send me a photo if you like) & Yellowrocks (Kathy)!

 This is what Kathy said last time:

 "It is from my second trip to Japan about 5 years ago. Just add a few little streaks of gray and a few pounds and you'll see me today. Embracing Buddha? Or just his statue? LOL"