Theme: None
Words: 68 (missing J,Q,X,Z)
Blocks: 30
This
is the second Saturday puzzle I have blogged from today's constructor,
and upon reviewing that last one (back in Nov. 2015), I read that my
solving experience was much the same today - and I recognize this as a
pattern with all crossword authors; no matter whose name is at the top
of the grid, I seem to have the same struggles and successes with their
contribution. Like that puzzle a little under a year ago, I was able to
get through 75% of the puzzle clue-by-clue, but then I ran into
self-inflicted spelling/WAG mistakes, and did myself in - no ta-DA - so
it was red-letter to the rescue. Oh well. Triple 9-letter Across
corners, and stacked 9's and 10's crossing a pair of 10-letter climbers;
9. Not woody, to a botanist : HERBACEOUS - I had HE-B---- and just filled this in, not that I knew it was right, but it sounded right
26. Jefferson and others : VIRGINIANS - my first thought, but I waited on perps
9. Not woody, to a botanist : HERBACEOUS - I had HE-B---- and just filled this in, not that I knew it was right, but it sounded right
26. Jefferson and others : VIRGINIANS - my first thought, but I waited on perps
1a. Decorative border : HEMSTITCH - too many thoughts to start; clothing, home decor, gardening~?....so I waited
55a. Formal choice : SILK DRESS - add a 44d., and you get this....
33a. One of ten in the Kentucky Derby : FURLONG - I took surveying as part of my construction technology classes in college, and I am always fascinated by the origin of distances and lengths - the Wiki
22d. Black arts practitioner : WARLOCK - "Crowley" fit, but didn't work with the crossings
O.M.G-ward~!
(see below)
ACROSS:
10. Business investment? : SUIT
14. Regardless : IN ANY CASE
15. Black-and-white vegetarian : PANDA - and a semi-clecho with....
16. Black-and-white : POLICE CAR
17. One putting two and two together : ADDER
18. Exit discreetly : SLIP OUT
19. Ivory, e.g. : BAR SOAP
21. Unannounced, as a quiz : POP
22. Beyond silly : WACKO - I tried INANE
23. Corroded : EATEN
26. Protect against harm, in a way : VACCINATE
30. It's about 40.5 for Pittsburgh, Pa. : N.Lat - I got it, but only because I am aware that LI is roughly on the 42nd North Latitude
31. Inspiration for a red shade : FIRE ENGINE
32. Tirana is its cap. : ALBania
14. Regardless : IN ANY CASE
15. Black-and-white vegetarian : PANDA - and a semi-clecho with....
16. Black-and-white : POLICE CAR
17. One putting two and two together : ADDER
18. Exit discreetly : SLIP OUT
19. Ivory, e.g. : BAR SOAP
21. Unannounced, as a quiz : POP
22. Beyond silly : WACKO - I tried INANE
23. Corroded : EATEN
26. Protect against harm, in a way : VACCINATE
30. It's about 40.5 for Pittsburgh, Pa. : N.Lat - I got it, but only because I am aware that LI is roughly on the 42nd North Latitude
31. Inspiration for a red shade : FIRE ENGINE
32. Tirana is its cap. : ALBania
34. "Gr8 joke!" : LOL - at first I didn't get the G-R-8 hint, but then the V-8 can flew....
35. Classroom no-no : CALLING OUT - I pondered CLASS CLOWN, but class can't be in both clue & answer
37. Where le nez is : TÊTE - Frawnche, nose and head
38. Typical ham feature : THEATRICS - ah, the CLASS CLOWN kind of 'ham'
39. More twisted : WRYER
40. Cleared the room, perhaps : STUNK - here's where the problems began; stAnk, stInk - and I don't care for "stunk", so it didn't occur to me
41. Inc. magazine subject : CEO - I tried BUS. first
42. A museum in Pesaro, Italy, marks his birthplace : ROSSINI - my DOWN crossings had me change this from GALILEO to GALILEI to CASSINI - and I was really pleased with my first 42d. fill
45. Alternative histories : "WHAT IFS"
49. Possible response to "I raise" : ALL IN - I got into a card game with some AA friends last Saturday night, and I am back at it tonight. The buy-in was $20, and I took one pot that was fairly decent, then lost paired 10s and 8s to 3 threes....I went "all in" and ended up "all out" of money - but I had something to do on a Saturday night for a change - worth every penny of $20
50. Words seen before a dollar sign : AMOUNT DUE - all my bills are paid online
52. Filmmaker's __ light : KLIEG - I am ashamed to admit this did not come to me, but then again, we used softbox lighting on the movie set I worked on, not these
53. Only you : NO ONE ELSE
- O.M.G. - the blue-eyed girl has re-entered my life - in the most
bizarre way possible. If you are curious, email me - I can't divulge
the details here....
54. Casual food : EATS - as in diner signs and such
DOWN:
1. Swinging joints? : HIPS - har-har
2. Organic compound : ENOL - we had this recently
3. Landlocked African country : MALI
4. Fragment : SNIPPET
5. Business VIP : TYCOON
6. Freeze : ICE UP - Look away, Tin - two weeks in a row~!
7. Careful handling : TACT
8. Union foe in the 19th cen. : CSA
10. Tearjerker : SAD SONG
11. Command following "Oops!" : UNDO - think computers; I have frequent "oops" moments with AutoCAD and Photoshop
12. Flash, maybe : IDEA
13. Weather protection : TARP - baseball winds down as hockey starts up
15. Downtown challenge : PARKING
20. Reason for a misunderstanding : ACCENT
23. Make law : ENACT
24. Quran deity : ALLAH - makes me think of this song from Van Halen, with Dave's "religious" philosophy (@2:40)
25. Stand with a leaf : TABLE - clever way to misdirect, but I did not fall prey, since I have been regularly refinishing leaf tables
27. Dancer posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 : AILEY - did not know this one - filled via perps
28. Govt. issue : T-NOTE
29. Pot-using sportsman : EELER - learned doing crosswords
31. 2K, say : FUN RUN - meh. I had FUNRA- from my stAnk fill, and just couldn't see what we were looking for
33. Tailor's service : FITTING - ...but then this made sense, so GALILEO had to go
36. Many Aberdeen residents : LASSIES - for some reason, I was thinking Texas, but that's Abilene ( though there IS an Aberdeen in Texas ) - we're talking Ireland instead
37. Harness racer : TROTTER - another good WAG on my pert
39. Withdrew gradually : WEANED
41. Piece : CHUNK
42. Casino tool : RAKE - well, Cassini gave me "CAGE", and that seemed reasonable
43. Paella cooker : OLLA
44. Clothing opening : SLIT
45. Clothing material : WOOL - bonus image this week
46. Off : IDLE
47. Bellyache : FUSS
48. Gets it : SEES
51. "Excusez-__" : MOI - and finish avec les Frawnche
35. Classroom no-no : CALLING OUT - I pondered CLASS CLOWN, but class can't be in both clue & answer
37. Where le nez is : TÊTE - Frawnche, nose and head
38. Typical ham feature : THEATRICS - ah, the CLASS CLOWN kind of 'ham'
39. More twisted : WRYER
40. Cleared the room, perhaps : STUNK - here's where the problems began; stAnk, stInk - and I don't care for "stunk", so it didn't occur to me
41. Inc. magazine subject : CEO - I tried BUS. first
42. A museum in Pesaro, Italy, marks his birthplace : ROSSINI - my DOWN crossings had me change this from GALILEO to GALILEI to CASSINI - and I was really pleased with my first 42d. fill
45. Alternative histories : "WHAT IFS"
49. Possible response to "I raise" : ALL IN - I got into a card game with some AA friends last Saturday night, and I am back at it tonight. The buy-in was $20, and I took one pot that was fairly decent, then lost paired 10s and 8s to 3 threes....I went "all in" and ended up "all out" of money - but I had something to do on a Saturday night for a change - worth every penny of $20
50. Words seen before a dollar sign : AMOUNT DUE - all my bills are paid online
52. Filmmaker's __ light : KLIEG - I am ashamed to admit this did not come to me, but then again, we used softbox lighting on the movie set I worked on, not these
54. Casual food : EATS - as in diner signs and such
DOWN:
1. Swinging joints? : HIPS - har-har
2. Organic compound : ENOL - we had this recently
3. Landlocked African country : MALI
about 23 N Lat
5. Business VIP : TYCOON
6. Freeze : ICE UP - Look away, Tin - two weeks in a row~!
7. Careful handling : TACT
8. Union foe in the 19th cen. : CSA
10. Tearjerker : SAD SONG
11. Command following "Oops!" : UNDO - think computers; I have frequent "oops" moments with AutoCAD and Photoshop
12. Flash, maybe : IDEA
13. Weather protection : TARP - baseball winds down as hockey starts up
15. Downtown challenge : PARKING
20. Reason for a misunderstanding : ACCENT
23. Make law : ENACT
24. Quran deity : ALLAH - makes me think of this song from Van Halen, with Dave's "religious" philosophy (@2:40)
28. Govt. issue : T-NOTE
29. Pot-using sportsman : EELER - learned doing crosswords
31. 2K, say : FUN RUN - meh. I had FUNRA- from my stAnk fill, and just couldn't see what we were looking for
33. Tailor's service : FITTING - ...but then this made sense, so GALILEO had to go
36. Many Aberdeen residents : LASSIES - for some reason, I was thinking Texas, but that's Abilene ( though there IS an Aberdeen in Texas ) - we're talking Ireland instead
37. Harness racer : TROTTER - another good WAG on my pert
39. Withdrew gradually : WEANED
41. Piece : CHUNK
42. Casino tool : RAKE - well, Cassini gave me "CAGE", and that seemed reasonable
43. Paella cooker : OLLA
44. Clothing opening : SLIT
45. Clothing material : WOOL - bonus image this week
47. Bellyache : FUSS
48. Gets it : SEES
51. "Excusez-__" : MOI - and finish avec les Frawnche
Splynter
Note from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to dear Jayce, my patient puzzle collaborator and friend. Thanks for understanding me the way you do, Jayce! Thanks for being here for all of us. Cooking Trader Joe's Chicken Gyoza in your honor today, but no miso for broth.
Note from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to dear Jayce, my patient puzzle collaborator and friend. Thanks for understanding me the way you do, Jayce! Thanks for being here for all of us. Cooking Trader Joe's Chicken Gyoza in your honor today, but no miso for broth.
Jayce, June 2013, Santa Barbara
