Words: 70 (missing J,K)
Blocks: 30
I felt pretty confident when I
started this Silkie, and I am happy to say, I did not disappoint
myself. VALE at 18a. was my first fill, but I hit quite a few of the
Downs with only a letter or two in place. Just one complete write-over,
and I got my "Ta-DA~!" on a total WAG. Triple 10-letter corners,
though the downs are set inside by one column today. Two 8s and two 9s
wrap up the long answers;
1. Auto discontinued in 1974 and relaunched in 2004 : PONTIAC GTO - I did not know this was coming back for 2014 - at least we get more than just "GTO" in the answer
13. '80s West Coast stereotype : VALLEY GIRL - "ehmegawd, like, totally, I mean was this, um, puzzle like to the max, or did it barf you out~!?"
28. 1988 Radio Hall of Fame inductee, with "The" : LONE RANGER - I have started watching my "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" box set; man is the acting hard on the eyes - and to think I ate this up as a teenager
ACROSS:
11. Short reply : RSVP
15. One pushing the limit : SPEED DEMON
16. Space-saving term : ET AL.
17. Words of resignation : "IT'S TOO LATE" - it's never too late....for ice cream~!
18. Low area : VALE
19. Bygone boomers : SSTs
20. __ curls : BICEP
21. Touring the Getty Center Museum, briefly : IN L.A. - I've since come to recognize this style of clue as meaning "in -- " some abbreviated city
22. Arthur with a Tony : BEA
23. Order with many options : OMELET - I like mine on a bacon burger
25. Stain causes : SPILLS
29. "Follow me" : "THIS WAY"
31. "... but perhaps I'm mistaken" : "...OR NOT"
32. Weather station instrument : RAIN GAUGE
34. Spotted : SEEN
35. Sign of availability : TO LET
36. Filling limit : BRIM
39. Warn : ALERT
40. Reproduces, in a way : XEROXES - nice fill; XEROX was in another Saturday puzzle not too long ago
41. Puffs up : SWELLS
42. Explorer who landed at Calicut in 1498 : Da GAMA
43. Old platters : LPs
44. Saudi Arabia neighbor : OMAN
45. Thai appetizer : SATAY
- never heard of it; my 'other' buddy Mike suggested we go get Chinese
last Friday; instead he took me to a Japanese restaurant - I tried Kani
salad, and it was great ( WAGed the "T")
52. Annex : WING - I can never remember this "other" word for "ELL"
53. Impasse : BLIND ALLEY
55. Suffix with exist : ENCE - existENCE
56. Decisive factor : BOTTOM LINE
57. Suggestive look : LEER
58. One asking a lot of questions : QUIZ MASTER
DOWN:
1. Frat letters : PSIs
2. Accepts, with "in" : OPTS
3. Spot for a snake : NEST
- I once had a Ball Python; ate live mice - such a trip to watch the
litte fellow as it scurried about in the snake's nest, and then - BAM~!
4. Eastern holidays : TETs
5. Binding agreement : I DO
- I was told Thursday repeatedly by several older women that I was
charming, vulnerable, and good-looking; one went so far as to say I'd be
married in a year - we will see....there's not even a girlfriend right now
6. Some brick houses : ADOBEs - very big bricks, in some cases
7. "As You Like It" character : CELIA - A little Wiki for those interested
8. Ally Financial Inc., formerly : GMAC - From the financial bailout of 2008; more Wiki
9. Schlep : TOTE
10. Heart, in hearts : ONE POINT
11. Like some umps' calls : REVIEWABLE - I did not know they reviewed calls in baseball now; I know they review any questionable goal in hockey - in Toronto
12. 1961 recipient of an Honorary Award Oscar : STAN LAUREL
14. Fold : PLEAT - like this~? ( hey, I toned it down....)
24. No __: menu notice : MSG
25. __ ped.: piano music instruction : SOST - sostenuto, "sustained"; the middle pedal of a grand piano
26. Go over beforehand : PRE-EXAMINE
27. Lack of refinement : INELEGANCE
29. Lore : TALES
30. Yesterday, in Paris : HIER - meh, Frawnche
32. Mechanical method : ROTE
33. Init. response team : EMTs
35. Some slow-cooked cuisine, for short : TEXAS BBQ - more good fill
38. Hockey __ : MOM - because "TISSUE" did not fit; anyone care to guess at what a hockey tissue is?
39. Nursery reactions : AWs...
41. World of bugs and plants? : SPYDOM - nailed it with just the "Y" in place
42. Wooden peg : DOWEL -that it is
43. Woody Woodpecker's creator : LANTZ - Walter
46. Jesus of baseball : ALOU
47. Long-tailed monkey : TITI - "Awww...." - hey, this picture led me to some interesting reading on dating
49. Pass quickly : FLIT
50. Artist Magritte : RENÉ - I think this one's my favorite
51. Open hearing, in law : OYER
54. Chicago-based professional org. : AMA
Splynter
