Theme: Long Vowel Progression - The first part starts with an S and follows with a long vowel sound that forms a word.
17A. "Waiting for your signal" : "SAY THE WORD"
24A. Be in complete accord : SEE EYE TO EYE
39A. Sound that may be "heaved" in a classroom : SIGH OF BOREDOM
54A. Oath-ending words : "... SO HELP ME GOD"
64A. "Alphabet series" mystery writer (she's up to "X") : SUE GRAFTON
Argyle here, pleased to be doing a Marti puzzle. Nice fill and six packs in the corners. Nice start to the week and the end of the month. Is it safe to say spring is here?
Across:
1. Nile dam : ASWAN
6. Start a card game : DEAL
10. Stone Age dwelling : CAVE
14. "The final frontier," on "Star Trek" : SPACE
15. Fairy tale meanie : OGRE
16. Curved molding : OGEE
19. Forest growth : TREE
20. Coastline concern : EROSION. And canyon former.
21. Garden entrance : GATE. "Out of my window I can see them in the moonlight,
Two silhouettes saying goodnight by the garden gate."
23. R-V link : S-T-U
29. Fill completely : SATE
31. Ex-NBA star Ming : YAO. He retired in 2011 due to injuries to his foot and ankle. He is 7 ft, 6 in.
32. Beginning : ONSET
33. Federal property agcy. : GSA. (General Services Administration)
36. Strikeout king Nolan : RYAN. He ended his career in 1993
38. Airport screening org. : TSA. (Transportation Security Administration)
43. __-dried tomatoes : SUN
44. Potpourri : OLIO
45. Wrath : IRE
46. Nebraska's most populous city : OMAHA
48. Genetic letters : RNA
50. Turn, as a burger : FLIP
58. Dictator Amin : IDI
59. __ Minor: Little Dipper : URSA
60. Continent-spanning landmass : EURASIA
62. Spanish artist Joan : MIRO. ???
67. Needing mending : TORN
68. "Gone With the Wind" plantation : TARA
69. Spanish painter El __ : GRECO. Toledo.
70. Fellows : GUYS
71. Ooze : SEEP
72. PlayStation and Discman : SONYs
Down:
1. Evaluate : ASSESS
2. Ancient Greek city-state : SPARTA
3. Exit door : WAY OUT
4. Behaves : ACTS
5. Classic grape sodas : NEHIs
6. "Iron Man" actor Robert __ Jr. : DOWNEY
7. A star may have a big one : EGO
8. LAX incoming flight datum : ARR. (Arrival)
9. Pigeon's perch : LEDGE
10. Word before boll or Bowl : COTTON
11. Goes along with : AGREES TO
12. Geese formation : VEE
13. Wide shoe spec : EEE
18. Fair-hiring abbr. : EOE. (equal opportunity employment)
22. One making amends : ATONER
25. Hammer or anvil, anatomically : EAR BONE
26. Toy on a string : YO-YO
27. Polite rural reply : "YES'M"
28. Greek "H" : ETA
30. It came before the chicken--or maybe after? : EGG
34. Shallow sea hazards : SHOALS
35. Yahoo! alternative : AOL
37. Tycoon Onassis : ARI
39. Japanese heavyweight sport : SUMO
40. Pressed for time : IN A HURRY
41. Law partnership, e.g. : FIRM
42. Rock's __ Leppard : DEF
43. Scouring pad brand : S.O.S
47. Great blue waders : HERONs
49. May-December wedding issue : AGE GAP
51. Pay attention : LISTEN
52. Foolishness : IDIOCY
53. Steinways, e.g. : PIANOs
55. Personal histories : PASTS
56. "... __ daily bread" : OUR
57. Fast, short auto races : DRAGS
61. Puffy hairdo : AFRO
62. Item on a business sched. : MTG. (meeting)
63. Letters from one who is short? : IOU
65. Persian Gulf fed. : UAE
66. Before, to a bard : ERE
Argyle
