Theme: "Top This!" - Seven food items and their toppers are stacked.
18. Know one's __: master a subject : ONIONS
22. It's not a teeny wienie : FOOTLONG HOTDOG
24. Gusto : RELISH
27. Cookout favorite : HAMBURGER
43. Lively Cuban dance : SALSA
50. Crunchy snack choice : TORTILLA CHIP
60. Big __ : CHEESE
66. Trattoria selection : SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS. Grid spanner is not easy to maneuver for a 21*21 grid.
81. Green shade : LIME
86. Beef on the patio : GRILLED STEAK
99. "Drab" color : OLIVE
109. Dorm breakfast, maybe : COLD PIZZA
112. Nabisco noshes : OREOS
116. Dessert with syrup : ICE CREAM SUNDAE - Dessert is saved as the last themer. How fitting.
Six of the toppers are clued as non-food related. OREOS is an exception. There are just no other ways to clue OREOS.
This type of stacked theme is notoriously hard to pull it off cleanly. Hence Paul's extra four black squares in this grid.
Across:
1. Seabird related to the booby : GANNET. Wiki says "Gannet" is derived from Old English ganot "strong or masculine". It does look very strong.
7. Bold & Crispy Fries maker : ORE-IDA. We also have a few other food items: 58. Hero : SUB. 102. Deli bread : RYE. 103. Saigon soup : PHO. 19. "The one who makes it, takes it" breakfast brand : EGGO. 78. Juicy fruit : PEAR. 111. Pasta choice : ZITI
13. Rural "reckon" : S'POSE
19. It's intoxicating : ETHANOL
20. Willow twigs : OSIERS. Our old friend.
25. Place to put down stakes?: Abbr. : OTB. Nice clue as well.
26. Learned ones : SAGES
29. Marsh growths : REEDS
32. For, to Fernando : POR
33. Org. that does searches : TSA
35. "The Kiss" sculptor : RODIN
36. Seine feeder : OISE. EURE as well.
38. Chain that sells Grand Slam breakfasts : DENNY'S. Boomer would love this.
40. Masterpieces : GEMS
45. New Zealand native : MAORI
47. The Beatles' "__ Mine" : I ME
49. One-eighty : UIE Also 50. Eighty-six : TOSS
52. Confident solver's choice : PEN. Pen and Wite-Out here.
53. Gardner of mystery : ERLE. Gimme for regulars.
54. Major work : OPUS
55. "Et voilà!" : TA DA
56. Three-time NFL rushing yards leader Adrian : PETERSON. He was with the Vikings for a long time.
59. Some sodas : RCs
65. "Big Blue" : IBM. Hi there, T!
73. Unagi or anago : EEL
74. Antenna housing : RADOME. Learning moment to me.
75. Parisian pronoun : ILS. They.
76. Federation in OPEC : UAE
77. Please : APPEAL TO
83. Magazine founder Eric : UTNE
84. Stink : REEK
85. "Exodus" hero : ARI
18. Know one's __: master a subject : ONIONS
22. It's not a teeny wienie : FOOTLONG HOTDOG
24. Gusto : RELISH
27. Cookout favorite : HAMBURGER
43. Lively Cuban dance : SALSA
50. Crunchy snack choice : TORTILLA CHIP
60. Big __ : CHEESE
66. Trattoria selection : SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS. Grid spanner is not easy to maneuver for a 21*21 grid.
81. Green shade : LIME
86. Beef on the patio : GRILLED STEAK
99. "Drab" color : OLIVE
109. Dorm breakfast, maybe : COLD PIZZA
112. Nabisco noshes : OREOS
116. Dessert with syrup : ICE CREAM SUNDAE - Dessert is saved as the last themer. How fitting.
Six of the toppers are clued as non-food related. OREOS is an exception. There are just no other ways to clue OREOS.
This type of stacked theme is notoriously hard to pull it off cleanly. Hence Paul's extra four black squares in this grid.
Across:
1. Seabird related to the booby : GANNET. Wiki says "Gannet" is derived from Old English ganot "strong or masculine". It does look very strong.
7. Bold & Crispy Fries maker : ORE-IDA. We also have a few other food items: 58. Hero : SUB. 102. Deli bread : RYE. 103. Saigon soup : PHO. 19. "The one who makes it, takes it" breakfast brand : EGGO. 78. Juicy fruit : PEAR. 111. Pasta choice : ZITI
13. Rural "reckon" : S'POSE
19. It's intoxicating : ETHANOL
20. Willow twigs : OSIERS. Our old friend.
25. Place to put down stakes?: Abbr. : OTB. Nice clue as well.
26. Learned ones : SAGES
29. Marsh growths : REEDS
32. For, to Fernando : POR
33. Org. that does searches : TSA
35. "The Kiss" sculptor : RODIN
36. Seine feeder : OISE. EURE as well.
38. Chain that sells Grand Slam breakfasts : DENNY'S. Boomer would love this.
45. New Zealand native : MAORI
47. The Beatles' "__ Mine" : I ME
49. One-eighty : UIE Also 50. Eighty-six : TOSS
52. Confident solver's choice : PEN. Pen and Wite-Out here.
53. Gardner of mystery : ERLE. Gimme for regulars.
54. Major work : OPUS
55. "Et voilà!" : TA DA
56. Three-time NFL rushing yards leader Adrian : PETERSON. He was with the Vikings for a long time.
59. Some sodas : RCs
65. "Big Blue" : IBM. Hi there, T!
73. Unagi or anago : EEL
74. Antenna housing : RADOME. Learning moment to me.
75. Parisian pronoun : ILS. They.
76. Federation in OPEC : UAE
77. Please : APPEAL TO
83. Magazine founder Eric : UTNE
84. Stink : REEK
85. "Exodus" hero : ARI
90. Canal locale : EAR
91. Seoul soldier : ROK. Republic of Korea. Chinese military force is called PLA (People's Liberation Army).
92. Closely packed : DENSE. Also 124. Bright circle? : MENSA. Those not in the "Bright circle" are in the less bright DENSA.
93. Rwandan people : TUTSI
94. Oil acronym : ARCO. Atlantic Richfield Company.
96. Some polytheists : PAGANS
98. "Coriolanus" setting : ROME
105. High-quality : PRIME
114. Reverse pic : NEG
115. Serious plays : DRAMAS
121. Take back to the lab : RE-TEST. I've relapsed in my quiet for more iron-rich food.
122. Stretched to the limit : TENSEST. Also 126. Least ingenuous : SLYEST. Most puzzles' bottom edges are S-rich.
123. Gets in shape : TRAINS
125. Worthy principles : IDEALS
Down:
1. Enjoy : GO FOR
2. Make __ of: write down : A NOTE
3. Weeper of myth : NIOBE. She was turned into a stone.
4. Excluding : NOT
5. Blowup: Abbr. : ENL
6. Chinese menu possessive : TSO'S. Chicken does taste better when breaded and fried.
7. Catchall category : OTHER
8. P's on frat jackets : RHOs
9. Dig in, so to speak : EAT. Tiny clue dupes with 61. Ate : HAD
10. Lake Mich. state : IND
11. He played Scotty on "Star Trek" : DOOHAN. Forgot.
12. Pond growth : ALGA
13. TV's Hercules Kevin __ : SORBO. I forgot his name also.
14. Pretentious sort : PSEUD
15. Offshore equipment : OIL RIG
16. Feudal lords : SEIGNEURS. New word to me.
17. Language that gave us "plaid" : ERSE
21. Nasdaq unit: Abbr. : SHR
23. Pickup place? : NAPE. Pet.
28. Hook's mate : MR. SMEE
30. Knuckleheads : DOLTS
31. Amigo's assent : SI SI
33. Garr of "Mr. Mom" : TERI
34. Impertinent sort : SNIP
37. Dispenser made obsolete by the shaker : SALT CELLAR. So many nice salts and salt shakers at Bed Bath & Beyond.
38. Cry from Homer : D'OH
39. Winner's cry : YIPPEE
41. Cat pal of Otis : MILO
42. Caught in the act : SEEN
43. Absorb : SOP UP
44. Its capital is Oranjestad : ARUBA
45. "Spy vs. Spy" magazine : MAD
46. Mimosa family tree : ACACIA
48. Eligible for : ENTITLED TO
51. At the back of the pack : LAST
53. Aunt with a "Cope Book" : ERMA
57. Drops off : EBBS
59. Seehorn of "Better Call Saul" : RHEA. Don't know her.
62. "Another Green World" musician : ENO
63. Oilers, on NHL scoreboards : EDM (Edmonton)
64. Seems suspicious : SMELLS
67. Nerd : GEEK
68. Horse-drawn vehicle : TROIKA
69. Parisian lover's word : AIME
70. Fretted instruments : LUTES
71. Hawaiian island : LANAI. Owned by Steve's boss Larry Ellison.
72. Hunt for : SEEK
77. Carpeting calculation : AREA
79. Brew, in a way : PERCOLATE
80. Saint-__: French Riviera resort : TROPEZ
82. Martinique, par exemple : ILE
83. Complete : UTTER
86. Aussie greeting : G'DAY
87. Mathematician Descartes : RENE
88. Election winners : INs
89. Water collection pit : SUMP
95. "No Country for __" : OLD MEN. Directed by the Coen Brothers.
97. Adorned : GRACED
98. One of nine Clue cards : ROOM
100. Bridge declaration : I PASS
101. Windows XP successor : VISTA
103. Cider maker : PRESS. Honeycrisp season. $1.99/lb at our local Cub Foods.
104. Recipe verb : HEAT
106. Many a Sundance film : INDIE
107. Stands for : MEANS
108. Discharge : EGEST
109. USN officer : CDR. Our Spitzboov retired as a Commander. Also 120. Stubborn sailor's response : NAY.
110. City near Provo : OREM
112. Baseball's Hershiser : OREL
113. Retired fliers : SSTS
117. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir. : ENE
118. Civil War letters : CSA
119. Modern address : URL
122. Stretched to the limit : TENSEST. Also 126. Least ingenuous : SLYEST. Most puzzles' bottom edges are S-rich.
123. Gets in shape : TRAINS
125. Worthy principles : IDEALS
Down:
1. Enjoy : GO FOR
2. Make __ of: write down : A NOTE
3. Weeper of myth : NIOBE. She was turned into a stone.
4. Excluding : NOT
5. Blowup: Abbr. : ENL
6. Chinese menu possessive : TSO'S. Chicken does taste better when breaded and fried.
8. P's on frat jackets : RHOs
9. Dig in, so to speak : EAT. Tiny clue dupes with 61. Ate : HAD
10. Lake Mich. state : IND
11. He played Scotty on "Star Trek" : DOOHAN. Forgot.
12. Pond growth : ALGA
13. TV's Hercules Kevin __ : SORBO. I forgot his name also.
14. Pretentious sort : PSEUD
15. Offshore equipment : OIL RIG
16. Feudal lords : SEIGNEURS. New word to me.
17. Language that gave us "plaid" : ERSE
21. Nasdaq unit: Abbr. : SHR
23. Pickup place? : NAPE. Pet.
28. Hook's mate : MR. SMEE
30. Knuckleheads : DOLTS
31. Amigo's assent : SI SI
33. Garr of "Mr. Mom" : TERI
34. Impertinent sort : SNIP
37. Dispenser made obsolete by the shaker : SALT CELLAR. So many nice salts and salt shakers at Bed Bath & Beyond.
38. Cry from Homer : D'OH
39. Winner's cry : YIPPEE
41. Cat pal of Otis : MILO
42. Caught in the act : SEEN
43. Absorb : SOP UP
44. Its capital is Oranjestad : ARUBA
45. "Spy vs. Spy" magazine : MAD
46. Mimosa family tree : ACACIA
48. Eligible for : ENTITLED TO
51. At the back of the pack : LAST
53. Aunt with a "Cope Book" : ERMA
57. Drops off : EBBS
59. Seehorn of "Better Call Saul" : RHEA. Don't know her.
62. "Another Green World" musician : ENO
63. Oilers, on NHL scoreboards : EDM (Edmonton)
64. Seems suspicious : SMELLS
67. Nerd : GEEK
68. Horse-drawn vehicle : TROIKA
69. Parisian lover's word : AIME
70. Fretted instruments : LUTES
71. Hawaiian island : LANAI. Owned by Steve's boss Larry Ellison.
72. Hunt for : SEEK
77. Carpeting calculation : AREA
79. Brew, in a way : PERCOLATE
80. Saint-__: French Riviera resort : TROPEZ
82. Martinique, par exemple : ILE
83. Complete : UTTER
86. Aussie greeting : G'DAY
87. Mathematician Descartes : RENE
88. Election winners : INs
89. Water collection pit : SUMP
95. "No Country for __" : OLD MEN. Directed by the Coen Brothers.
97. Adorned : GRACED
98. One of nine Clue cards : ROOM
100. Bridge declaration : I PASS
101. Windows XP successor : VISTA
103. Cider maker : PRESS. Honeycrisp season. $1.99/lb at our local Cub Foods.
104. Recipe verb : HEAT
106. Many a Sundance film : INDIE
107. Stands for : MEANS
108. Discharge : EGEST
109. USN officer : CDR. Our Spitzboov retired as a Commander. Also 120. Stubborn sailor's response : NAY.
110. City near Provo : OREM
112. Baseball's Hershiser : OREL
113. Retired fliers : SSTS
117. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir. : ENE
118. Civil War letters : CSA
119. Modern address : URL
Here is a picture I grabbed from Misty's Facebook. It's from her 55th high school reunion. She's with her classmates Irene and Bonnie.
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| Left to Right: Misty, Irene & Bonnie |
Jayce also speaks fluent Chinese, hence his unique way of understanding my quirks. Off the blog, he's a great friend. Always there to help me when I' need his advice on blood pressure, diet, or any problem I might encounter.
Jayce, June 2013, Santa Barbara
