Theme: DRAT, GOLLY, EGAD, GEE WHIZ, DAGNABBIT, another Definition Puzzle even when I switch to Thursday.
Hi, Lemonade here to try to do justice to a marti masterpiece and slightly discombobulated by it being a Thursday puzzle. Each of the five theme answers are clued by a one word non-offensive 'swear' euphemism. We will not speculate on the derivation of the terms, but just enjoy the heavy themeage, and the usual wit and fun in a marti puzzle. 3 grid spanners and two 12's (Total 69 theme squares!!) does not leave room for much flexibility, but once again she slalomed her way though this one.
17A. RATS : PIED PIPER'S TRAIL.(15). The Hamelin guy; didn't you wonder as a child, where he developed the skill of getting rats to follow?
23A. SHUCKS : PREPARES CORN (12). Well all the great corn is gone again, I enjoy fall but hate the loss of the end of the growing season.
39A. DARN : MEND WITH A NEEDLE. (15). I have about 10 pairs of socks....
50A. SHOOT : TAKE A PICTURE. (12). Imagine life before cell phones when not everything you did in life was recorded.
62A. FUDGE : ICE CREAM TOPPING.(15). And her last theme entry, appropriately enough,, the dessert.
Across:
1. Ski area helpers : T-BARS. If nothing else, starting with a ski clue should tell you who created this one. And her other favorite, 67A. Time fraction: Abbr. : N-SEC. I am sure you all remember marti loves these Letter-word guys.
6. Finish line? : TA DA. A quick inside reference to what we all wait for when we finish a puzzle.
10. Equal to the task : ABLE.
14. "Live Free __": New Hampshire motto : OR DIE. On every license plate.
15. Some are easily bruised : EGOS.
16. Sound of laughter : PEAL. And bells, hmmm.
20. "Friendly skies" co. : UAL. United AirLines.
21. Garr of "Mr. Mom" : TERI. A nice retrospective of her FILMS. (5:33)
22. "My place or __?" : YOURS. Another classic finish line.
27. Unspecified amount : ANY.
28. One of the Seven Sisters schools : VASSAR. Five are still all women. LINK.
32. Joe's sister in TV's "Under the Dome" : ANGIE. Modern, up to date cluing, just for you. How many of you watch this SHOW?
35. Salinger girl : ESME.
38. Soccer shout : OLE. Sounds like bull to me.
43. Goat quote : MAA. The old Baa/Maa debate.
44. Hurdle for a storied cow : MOON.
45. Offers thanks, in a way : PRAYS.
46. Decides one will : OPTS TO.
49. Itinerary word : VIA. From the Latin word.
57. Setting for "Beasts of the Southern Wild" : BAYOU. Unfamiliar. Hahtoolah?
60. Cloudburst, e.g. : RAIN.
61. Seasonal drink : NOG. And grog?
66. Item on a "honey-do" list : TASK.
68. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" singer : CROCE. This SONG.(3:05)
69. Computerized city people : SIMS.
70. Former "Entertainment Tonight" co-anchor : TESH. Now for our musical INTERLUDE.(4:09)
71. Ecclesiastical council : SYNOD
Down:
1. Replenish a pint of ale, say : TOP UP. We had a debate about this one.
2. Thorny shrub : BRIAR.
3. Jane Eyre's charge : ADELE. Perhaps the most interesting CHARACTER.
4. Free : RID.
5. When sch. often starts : SEP.
6. Plains home : TEPEE.
7. Golden __: seniors : AGERS. You talkin' about me?
8. Classical Greek style : DORIC. We have discussed column before.
9. Stubborn one : ASS. The donkey.
10. They have strings attached : APRONS. Really cute clue.
11. Boyfriend : BEAU. Old timey word from the French.
12. Animal shelter : LAIR.
13. Under-the-sink joints : ELLS.
18. Modest acknowledgment of praise : I TRY. Modest?
19. Banks in fashion : TYRA. Do watch her SHOW? (1:51)
24. Bill stamp : PAID. Is that your Tattoo, Bill G.?
25. From the top : ANEW. Ooo, almost an A word.
26. Hot spot : OVEN. No, not the computer Wi-Fi kind....
29. Pop : SODA. Midwest= Pop, East Coast=Soda.
30. Compatriot : ALLY.
31. Roger who played Lord Marbury on "The West Wing" : REES. I first saw him on CHEERS.
32. BBs, e.g. : AMMO.
33. Spring tide counterpart : NEAP.
34. Hard-to-see pest : GNAT. Does this clue bug you?
35. WWII command : ETO. European Theater of Operations.
36. "Dexter" network, in listings : SHOtime. It is all over, what did everyone think?
37. Word with best or common : MAN.
40. "Don't worry about me" : I'M OK. really I am.
41. Huge production : EPIC.
42. Logician's "E," perhaps : ERAT. Q.E.D.
47. Has to sell : STOCKS. Tricky phrasing, the store has some items, they are in stock, not must sell.
48. Bullish beginning? : TAURus.
49. Chianti, in Chianti : VINO. In Vino Veritas, baby.
51. Wipe out : ERASE.
52. "Eight Is Enough" actor Willie : AAMES. In the interest of balance.
53. Sound quality : PITCH.
54. Workers' backer : UNION. Not so popular any more.
55. "But wait! There's more!" company : RONCO. Our old friend, Ron Popeil.
56. Vandalized, Halloween-style : EGGED.
57. Comedy routines : BITS.
58. Healthy berry : ACAI. My favorite BERRY.
59. Cowpoke's polite assent : YES'M.
63. Tolkien's talking tree : ENT.
64. IBM hardware : PCS. They actually sold off their PC division to Lenovo.
65. Ask too many questions : PRY.
Well I will not ask but once did everyone have a good time? Now you get the double header of a marti puzzle today and looking forward to her write up tomorrow. Not sure I will know what to do with myself. Well enjoy the last of September.
Notes from C.C.:
1) If you have not solved today's NYT, skip this message. If you have, click here. Today's masterpiece is by our Minnesota constructors Tom Pepper & Victor Barocas, both LAT constructors of course!
2) Happy Birthday to the now kidnapped Dennis, who helped me tremendously during the first few years of this blog. Here are two of my favorite Dennis photos:
