Theme: "Not Again"- RE is removed from each theme entry.
23A. Chef's directives involving sieves?: STRAINING ORDERS. Restraining orders.
34A. One splitting firewood?: CORD BREAKER. Record breaker.
43A. Chance for Obi-Wan to play?: TURN OF THE JEDI. Return of the Jedi.
69A. Therapist's technique using poetry?: VERSE PSYCHOLOGY. Reverse psychology.
101A. Social event for British tavern keepers?: PUBLICAN PARTY. Republican party.
111A. Dusting goal?: MOTE CONTROL. Remote control.
125A. License to search for the Holy Grail?: QUEST PERMISSION. Request permission.
Such an apt title from David. It summarizes up the gimmick nicely and does not give away the theme.
Very consistent approach too. Super tight entries.
Very consistent approach too. Super tight entries.
Across:
1. Pen pals?: CONS. Fun clue.
5. Complexion enhancement: ROUGE. I just call it BLUSH.
10. Email subject abbr.: FWD.
13. Get to smile: AMUSE.
18. From square one: ANEW.
19. Steam up: ENRAGE.
21. John, to Paul, George and Ringo: LOO. And 22. John, Paul, George and Ringo: NAMES. Fantastic clues.
26. Travis of country: TRITT.
27. Tennis' Goolagong: EVONNE.
28. Kia HQ city: SEOUL. But HQ is asking for an abbreviated answer.
29. Widen: DILATE.
30. Old pool people: STENOS.
36. Violin stroke: UP BOW.
39. Big chamber group: OCTET.
41. Candidate's aim: SEAT. Our senator Amy Klobuchar is running.
42. Yearbook sect.: SRS.
47. Quaint oath: EGAD.
49. Bar quaff, briefly: IPA.
50. YOLO, in ancient Rome: CARPE DIEM. YOLO = You Only Living Once. This clue made me smile.
52. Actress Staunton of Harry Potter movies: IMELDA. Learning moment for me.
56. Lemony, say: CITRIC. Charlotte disagrees.
59. PC bailout key: ESC.
60. 113-Down's last words: A DAMN. And 113. "I never give anything without expecting something in return" speaker: RHETT.
62. Placed: LAID.
63. Take in or let out: ALTER.
64. Broadway's Hagen: UTA.
66. Hirsute Himalayan humanoid of myth: YETI. Triple alliteration. Agnes' forte.
68. Crossed (out): XED.
76. Compress, as a file: ZIP.
79. Resist: DEFY.
80. Pop duo __ & Him: SHE. Wiki says the duo consisting of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.
81. Signs of shock: GASPS.
85. Currier's partner: IVES.
87. Andrea __: ill-fated ship: DORIA.
90. City, informally: URB.
92. Magoo's malady: MYOPIA.
93. Cooperstown charter member: TY COBB. And Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson.
95. Abash: EMBARRASS.
98. Prov. at one end of the Ambassador Bridge: ONT. Here is the bridge. Our constructor is a Canadian.
99. Dental image: X RAY.
104. Latin art: ARS.
107. Triangle product: AREA.
109. Tot's rebuttal: IS NOT.
110. Role for Liam: OSKAR. Oskar Schindler. He's in trouble.
115. Banded metamorphic rock: GNEISS.
117. Big Sur institute: ESALEN. Read here for details. I learned it from doing crosswords.
118. Cambodians' neighbors: THAIS. Oo!
120. Film frames: STILLS.
124. Knighted British actor Hawthorne: NIGEL. Learning moment as well.
129. "The Canterbury Tales" pilgrim: REEVE.
130. Blast cause: TNT.
131. Washington city: YAKIMA. Not TACOMA.
132. Enterprise counselor: TROI.
133. Portfolio part: ASSET.
134. Collecting Soc. Sec.: RET.
135. Enlighten: TEACH. I just send opaque things to Roman Forest. They often come back clear.
136. Virgo/Libra mo.: SEPT.
Down:
1. Project for Poirot: CASE.
2. Airing: ON TV.
3. Student of Seneca: NERO.
4. TV dinner brand: SWANSON.
5. "Xena" actress O'Connor: RENEE. Also new to me.
6. Hush-hush maritime org.: ONI. Office of Naval Intelligence.
7. Java holder: URN.
8. Witty bit: GAG.
9. Sensitive issues for directors: EGOS.
10. __-de-lis: FLEUR.
11. Wells title foes: WORLDS. "The War of the Worlds". H. G. Wells.
12. Bobs and buns: DOS.
13. Bloody Civil War battle site: ANTIETAM. Wiki says "it was the bloodiest day in United States history, with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing."
14. Actress Maples: MARLA.
15. Inuit boats: UMIAKS. This looks cold.
16. Volleyball position: SETTER.
17. Fragrant compounds: ESTERS.
20. Put up: ERECTED.
24. Bisected: IN TWO.
25. Rooster's last word?: DOO. Oh, cock-a-doodle-doo.
29. Involve with reluctantly, as a tough situation: DRAG INTO.
31. __ bene: NOTA.
32. Yellowish tone: OCHRE.
33. Answers the call: STEPS UP.
35. Pollen carrier: BEE.
36. Erie Canal city: UTICA.
37. One who has class?: PUPIL. And 112. Parisian 37-Down: ELEVE.
38. Benjamin of "Law & Order": BRATT. Here with Lannie!
40. Kicks out: EJECTS.
44. Govt. org. with a Media Bureau: FCC.
45. Calendario square: DIA.
46. Mil. roadside danger: IED.
48. 2017 Best Director Oscar winner Guillermo __ Toro: DEL. "The Shape of Water".
51. It may be held in a deli: MAYO.
53. Southern Calif. airport: LAX. And 71. Northern Calif. airport: SFO.
54. Roller in Vegas: DIE.
55. Put in: ADD.
57. MLK's title: REV.
58. Miffed: IRED. Spell check does not like this form.
61. Voice artist Blanc: MEL.
65. Shakespearean cries: AYS.
67. Pop of punk: IGGY.
70. Snoopy's nemesis: RED BARON. Great fill.
72. Jane Rochester, née __: EYRE.
73. Uncouth types: CHURLS.
74. It's misleading when it's red: HERRING.
75. Ming most look up to: YAO. Very tall. He now owns Shanghai Sharks.
76. Spot at the prom?: ZIT. Bad pot.
77. Climbing greenery: IVY.
78. Iron pumper's pride: PEC.
82. Versatile utensil: SPORK.
83. Historic nautical trio member: PINTA.
84. Dionysus devotee: SATYR.
86. Red or White: SOX.
88. Little trickster: IMP. That's our Spitzboov!
89. "Aladdin" monkey: ABU.
91. Club component: BACON. Sandwich.
92. AOL alternative: MSN.
94. Patient's ID: BRACELET.
96. Knack: ABILITY.
97. Fill to the max: SATE.
100. Nikkei index currency: YEN.
102. Blog updates: POSTS. From our blogging team.
103. Gretzky's NHL record 1,963: ASSISTS.
104. Supreme Egyptian deity: AMEN RA.
105. Bar in TV's "M*A*S*H": ROSIE'S. Unknown to me. Never watched "M*A*S*H".
106. Play grounds?: STAGES. Nice clue.
108. Bring into harmony: ATTUNE.
114. Western treaty gp.: OAS. Organization of American States. And a blog regular.
116. NBA legend Thomas: ISIAH.
119. Little fight: SPAT.
121. Euro forerunners: LIRE.
122. Programmer's "endless" problem: LOOP.
123. Peevish state: SNIT.
125. Game div.: QTR.
126. Barely make, with "out": EKE.
127. Fjord kin: RIA.
128. CXL x XV: MMC. I dread this kind of clue.
I
spoke with Dave 2 last Monday. He coughed constantly. Both he and his
roommate had flu. They could not leave their room for fear that they
might spread the flu to to other patients in the rehab place. He felt
quite isolated.
C.C.
