Jerome treats us to a GR-r-reat puzzle today.
20-Across. Place for a nagging passenger? : GRUMBLE SEAT. Did you ever ride in a rumble seat? If you did, you would not wonder why they call it that!
38-Across. Prohibition against Confederate soldiers? : GRAY BAN. Ray Ban, the "cool" sunglasses of the '60s.
54-Across. Soup with a prayer? : GRACE COURSE. We have an annual book club meeting at the Saratoga race course.
11-Down. Tribute to a sourpuss? : GRUMP ROAST. Rump roast is a tough cut of meat, but works well for beef stew.
28-Down. Farmer's harvest tradition? : GRAIN DANCE. He also might need to do a rain dance to insure that his crops ripen.
Across
1. Radical diet : FAST.
5. Balkan native : SERB.
9. Old West trail sight : WAGON.
14. Arabian prince : EMIR.
15. Court material, perhaps : CLAY. Hmmm...not "suit."
16. Country-rock artist Steve : EARLE. I don't know his music at all. Any good?
17. You may get one from a doctor : NOTE.
And we have a mini theme going here:
23-Across. Small dose? : MED. "Small" meaning the shortened version of the word medicine.
and
24-Across. Doctor's order : BEDREST. Plus some MEDs.
and
41-Across. Aleve and Advil : PAIN PILLS. Those MEDs will probably help with what ails you, and you don't even need a Rx.
18. Exclude : OMIT.
19. Goody-goody : PRUDE.
25. Peppy : SPRY.
26. Secret motives : ANGLES.
29. Rouse : STIR.
31. Trim (down) : PARE.
32. Its maker traditionally buys the drinks : HOLE IN ONE. Yep, been there. It was witnessed on the 8th green by one of the members of the Senior league who were playing that day. A round for 30+ guys? Priceless!
37. Pay back? : OLA. Payola.
40. Bailed-out insurance co. : AIG. American International Group.
43. Movie role played by Skippy : ASTA.
44. Tide table term : NEAP.
45. Played on a green : PUTTED. But not if you get a 32-Across!
47. Weary from overuse : JADE. Your viewpoint can become jaded, if something jades you.
49. Apparent : EVIDENT.
53. In the style of : A LA.
58. Sal of "Rebel Without a Cause" : MINEO. Actor Sal.
60. South American rodent : PACA.
61. Scruff : NAPE.
62. Word from the Latin for "little grandfather" : UNCLE. Nice bit of trivia. Grandfather is "avus" in Latin. The diminutive is "avunculus."
63. Algerian port : ORAN.
64. Bad to the bone : EVIL. Like George Thorogood?
65. Sneaks a look : PEEKS.
66. Zebras that don't fear Lions? : REFS. REFerees as called "zebras" because of their striped uniforms.
67. Shoot down : DENY.
Down
1. __ shui : FENG.
2. Eros counterpart : AMOR. Greek & Latin lovers?
3. In __: as found : SITU.
4. Shake : TREMBLE.
5. Rebukes : SCOLDS.
6. Funny Fudd : ELMER. Wascally wabbit hunter.
7. Worker's reward : RAISE. Usually, just more work.
8. Units of memory : BYTES.
9. Let it all out, in a way : WEPT.
10. Rhine tributary : AAR.
12. More familiar, joke-wise : OLDER.
13. Poor : NEEDY.
21. Dragonfly prey : BEE. Cool insects, dragonflies. They can change direction in mid-air, hover for up to a minute and even fly backwards!
22. On the briny : AT SEA.
25. Moral lapse : SIN.
26. Per person : A POP.
27. Simba's mate : NALA. From "The Lion King." Nala is on the right.
30. English can : TIN. Not "loo."
32. Kubrick's computer : HAL. "2001: A Space Odyssey."
33. Olive often rescued : OYL. Funny cartoon.
34. Dumbbell abbr. : LBS.
35. Nick at __ : NITE.
36. Quaint expression of surprise : EGAD!
38. Student's fig. : GPA. Grade Point Average.
39. More apt to be picked : RIPER.
42. Word between some last names : NEE. Hilary Clinton née Rodham.
43. Brought into harmony with, with "to" : ATTUNED.
45. Praline nuts : PECANS. Aunt Sally's in New Orleans are the best!
46. Low número : UNO. I thought it was the top number?
47. Traffic congestion : JAM UP. Remember this one?
48. Dress with a flare : A-LINE. Well, I guess supermodel Aline does "dress with a flair."
50. Mist : VAPOR.
51. Comforting words : "I CARE."
52. Joltless joe? : DECAF. HaHa. Cute pun on "Jolting Joe Dimaggio."
54. Takes off : GOES.
55. Talk excitedly : RAVE.
56. __ doctor : SPIN.
57. Hard to hang on to : EELY.
59. Bugling beast : ELK. Wow, ear-splitting!
That's it for this week!
Marti
