Theme: HAIR SALON (60. Permanent place ... and where to find the starts of the answers to starred clues)
17A. *ATM user's code: PIN NUMBER.
38A. *Contact sport on skates: ROLLER DERBY.
9D. *Forest threat: BRUSH FIRE.
35D. *Business known for overcharging, in slang: CLIP JOINT.
Boomer here. OR I could ROLLER the ball and BRUSH by the 6 PIN and CLIP the ten.
Good
Morning! I was never too fond of Mondays in the old days, but since I
retired they are not too bad. C.C. and I are looking forward to later
in the week to attend the 3M PGA Champions tour (over 50) in Blaine,
Minnesota. I do not get to play, even though my 9 hole scores have been
over 50 for a few years. But of course the pros must be over 50 years of
age. What a great format! We drive to a small airport about a mile from
the course and park (no charge). A shuttle bus takes us to the golf
course entry and we walk in. (no charge). 3M has a tent set up and we
walk in and some 3M volunteers hand us a bag full of 3M products. (no
charge). There is an area where you might purchase souvenirs, but there
are also various businesses set up in the tent. Last year we received
free samples of Osteo Biflex ease and Nature Valley munchies. Next year
3M is sponsoring a regular tour event at the TPC in Blaine, however the
"free of charge" will be history.
Across:
1. "__ la Douce": IRMA.
5. Beat decisively: DRUB. Looks like D Rub. A muscle pain relaxer.
9. High-80s grade: B PLUS. My high school gave number grades, 70 was passing, I think B+ was about 88-90.
14. Not nice at all: MEAN. Whaddya MEAN, not nice ?
15. In __: as placed: SITU. I think I saw this word in a previous crossword. I did not know what it meant then, and I still don't.
16. "Spider-Man" trilogy director Sam: RAIMI.
19. It usually shows AK and HI as insets: US MAP. I think I was about 12 when Alaska and Hawaii were added states to the U.S. Welcome.
20. Subordinate to: UNDER.
21. Newspapers, collectively: PRESS.
Minneapolis has only one local paper, but you can also receive USA
Today or a Wall Street Journal. New York has a ton of press, I would
not be able to keep up.
23. Lightning-to-thunder interval, e.g.: TIME LAG.
Lightning is quite a phenomena. Who would think that a couple of
harmless clouds would rub together and produce a million volts?
26. Play with Iago: OTHELLO. No this was not Alexander Graham Bell's suggestion to answer a phone. He suggested Ahoy - Hoy.
30. Naval rank: Abbr.: ENS. I think I covered Ensign last week.
31. Crosses (out): X'ES. Most people use "Wite out" now.
33. Fearful: AFRAID.
Three strings went into a bar. Two of them were refused service
because they were strings. The third went into the bathroom, mussed up
one end and tied himself. He returned to the bar and ordered but the
bartender said, "Wait a minute, are you a string?" No was the reply.
"I'm a frayed knot"
34. Start of Act II, say: SCENE I. I never saw a purple cow. Have you SEEN ONE?
37. Needs to be submitted by, as a term paper: IS DUE.
40. Garlicky sauce: AIOLI. There's that five letter word with four vowels again.
42. "Fringe on top" carriage of song: SURREY. Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry.
43. LIKE THIS CLUE: IN CAPS. Like a baseball team too.
45. GI's internet suffix: MIL.
46. Director Lee: ANG.
49. Exec's aircraft: LEAR JET.
51. Elizabeth Warren or Lisa Murkowski, e.g.: SENATOR. Minnesota is one of only 6 states that are represented by two women in the U.S. Senate.
54. Elizabeth Warren or Lisa Murkowski, e.g.: WOMAN. Hear me roar.
56. Bush 43 successor: OBAMA.
57. Diameter halves: RADII. Interesting plural - not radiuses.
63. Sch. east of Hartford: UCONN. Great women's basketball power.
64. Grand Ole __: OPRY. In the service, I was 40 miles north of Nashville. You would not believe the impact the OPRY had on the population there.
65. Civil wrong: TORT. Silly me. I thought tort was something you can eat.
66. Cake pan trademark: BUNDT.
67. Make less difficult: EASE. Not sure why the medication was called Osteo Byflex EASE. Odd name but it did not do much for me.
68. Lambs' moms: EWES.
Down:
1. Ascribe (to): IMPUTE.
2. Get control of: REIN IN. Let the sunshine, don't let the rain in.
3. Classic colorful candies: M AND M'S. Famous and absolutely great candy. Not for me anymore though. Blood sugar too high.
4. Year in France: ANNEE. NFL players are no longer allowed to take A KNEE during the Anthem.
5. U.S. Army award: DSM. High award for distinguished service.
6. Barbecued piece: RIB. Don't forget the Sauce!
7. Sch. near the Rio Grande: UTEP. El Paso, right on the U.S. border with Mexico.
8. Grand Canyon critter: BURRO. In Minnesota, it's something we say when it is COLDO
10. Ones who may stop to help: PASSERSBY.
11. Peru airport abbr.: LIM. This is the International Airport in Lima. But Peru has about 8 more.
12. Thurman of movies: UMA. So many three letter words. They might all be airports.
13. Taste of a drink: SIP.
18. Internet address: URL.
22. Incoming flight info: ETA. When will we get there or WWWGT.
24. Ice skater's jump: AXEL.
When I was a kid, there was a TV show featuring "Axel and his Dog". He
would close his show every night with a "Birdie". Like this - "Birdie
with his yellow bill, hopped upon my window sill. Cocked a shining eye
and said "Hey, What did you do when your wife dropped the cake? Batter
?"
25. Heredity units: GENES. If you have bad Genes, try Levi's
27. Title for Godiva: LADY. Could be a Kenny Rogers song
28. Actress Lucy: LIU. One of Charlie's Angels. Only in the movie though.
29. "__ to Billie Joe": ODE. It was the third of June another sleepy, dusty, delta day
32. Hospital supply: SERUM.
34. Sun emanation responsible for the northern lights: SOLAR WIND. Solar means Sun. I know what wind is. I wonder how windy it is up there.
36. Elba of "The Wire": IDRIS.
38. Almond __: candy: ROCA.
39. Mystery writer Gardner: ERLE. Many Perry Mason tales. One of my favorites.
40. Feel sick: AIL.
41. Suffix with hero: INE.
44. Coll. term: SEM.
46. Hitting bottom, spirits-wise: AT A LOW. Ran out of Vodka??
47. "That'll be enough": NO MORE. Ain't a gonna rain _____
48. Research funding sources: GRANTS. Coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Bud, and his son Michael who we lost last week.
50. Lake near Reno: TAHOE.
I have bowled in Reno and occasionally took the ride down to Tahoe. I
am from the land of lakes, but Tahoe is one of the most beautiful lakes
in the world.
52. Refusals: NOS.
53. Taper off: ABATE.
55. Golden State wine region: NAPA. We have been there too. Drove through the wine region north of San Francisco.
57. Coax (out), as a genie: RUB. A dub dub, three men in a tub.
58. Puncture prefix: ACU.
59. Shock jock Imus: DON. I have never listened to him. I think he belongs in a tub of something.
61. Tax form org.: IRS.
Careful. Crooks are calling on the phone, claiming you owe money to
the IRS. The IRS will never contact you by phone. They use our great
postal service if there is a question or problem with your return.
62. Deli bread: RYE. I like pumpernickel best.
Boomer
