Theme: CIRCLE OF LIFE
20. Many a coast-to-coast journey: RED EYE FLIGHT. A flight that takes off late at night and arrives early in the morning, usually taking off after 9 p.m. and arriving by 5 or 6 a.m. So, in taking a red-eye, you'll be in the air overnight, when you would typically be asleep. Typically, these flights travel west to east (according to cheapflights.com).
26. 2008 Ridley Scott film set in the Middle East: BODY OF LIES. Scott directed, Leonardo DeCaprio and Russell Crowe star. IMDB.
35. Reassuring reply to "You don't look well": I FEEL FINE. Except when it means the opposite.
46. Championship in a ring: TITLE FIGHT. For boxing fans - Andy Ruiz Jr. stuns Anthony Joshua in heavyweight title fight.
52. Influential in a big way ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles: LIFE CHANGING.
Melissa here. Did you get the circles? Perfect answer for the reveal, very clever.
Melissa here. Did you get the circles? Perfect answer for the reveal, very clever.
Across:
1. MSNBC analyst Melber: ARI.
4. Olds Cutlass model: CIERA. Tricky spelling.
9. Garbage boats: SCOWS.
14. Airport shuttle: VAN.
15. Up to this point: AS YET.
16. Deck with the Fool and the World: TAROT.
17. Make sense of: INTERPRET.
19. Yoga pose: ASANA.
22. Be concerned: MIND.
23. Burr and Hamilton, e.g.: ENEMIES.
31. Prefix with scope: ENDO. From Greek ἔνδον endon meaning "within, inner, absorbing, or containing."
32. Symbols in email addresses: ATS. @
33. Fishing equipment: REEL.
34. Ryegrass disease: ERGOT.
38. Cal. sequence: MTWTF. Monday, Wednesday, ...
41. Indigenous Japanese: AINU. Had no idea: Ainu, is a language spoken by members of the Ainu people on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
42. Took in: ATE.
45. Neighborhood: AREA.
49. Party popper: BALLOON. Not pooper ...
51. Invasive plant: WEED. Scotch Broom was introduced from Europe as a garden ornamental by early settlers of
the Pacific Coast. Later it was used to prevent erosion and stabilize
banks and sand dunes. It became invasive, and now costs Oregonians an estimated $40 million per year in lost timber revenue and control efforts. It sure is beautiful, though.
57. Goes after: HAS AT.
59. Spanish estates: HACIENDAS.
61. "Flashdance...What a Feeling" singer Cara: IRENE.
62. Put in office: ELECT.
63. Increase, with "up": AMP.
64. Big name in wedding invitations: EATON.
65. Med measures: DOSES.
66. Salty expanse: SEA.
Down:
1. Prefix for the birds: AVI.
2. Went on a rampage: RAN RIOT. I like this fill.
3. Plans (to): INTENDS.
4. Bit of TLC?: CARE.
5. "__ with my little eye ... ": I SPY.
6. "Reader, I married him" governess: EYRE. One of my top five books of all time.
7. Coral environs: REEF.
8. British prime minister after WWII: ATTLEE. Clement Attlee.
9. __ whisper: STAGE.
10. Soft wool: CASHMERE.
11. Holding the floor: ORATING. Ohhhh ...
12. Got the gold: WON.
13. Many a stop: Abbr.: STA.
18. Jacuzzi effect: EDDY.
21. New officeholders: INS. Politics.
22. Deg. for a CEO: MBA.
24. Old name of Tokyo: EDO.
25. Drunk: SOT.
27. German composer Carl: ORFF. Wikipedia.
28. Payment for services: FEE.
29. "To Kill a Mockingbird" novelist: LEE. My newest granddaughter shares her first name, Harper. Another top five - both book and movie. We also have a cat named Boo, and another named Scout. Now I just need a dog named Atticus.
30. __ ease: anxious: ILL AT.
34. Plenty, in texts: ENUF.
35. Firenze native: ITALIANO.
36. Chick-__-A: fast-food chain: FIL.
37. Chemistry suffix: INE.
38. Queen of folklore: MAB. Queen of the fairies.
39. __-la-la: TRA.
40. Firmly established: WELL SET.
42. Meeting handouts: AGENDAS.
43. When you're "ahead of" it, you're likely to succeed: THE GAME.
44. JFK stat: ETD.
46. Clog part: TOE.
47. Made slow progress: INCHED.
48. "Victory is mine!": I WIN.
50. Many times: OFTEN.
53. Divine circle: HALO. Love this clue - and so appropriate for today's puzzle.
54. Killer serves: ACES.
55. "Sweet!": NICE.
56. Understands: GETS.
57. Shake a leg, quaintly: HIE.
58. Immortal Notre Dame coach Parseghian: ARA.
60. Place for a hot stone massage: SPA.
Note from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to dear TTP (Tom)! Besides being our Tuesday/Friday guide, TTP is also always there helping me with various blog glitches.
Hope you have a fantastic round today, TTP!
