22. It happens without warning: SURPRISE ATTACK.
43. Reason for an ankle monitor: HOUSE ARREST.
96. It's more than right: OBTUSE ANGLE.
118. Fringe benefit for some reps: EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
14D. Frontier transport: HORSE AND BUGGY.
54D. Item on the best man's checklist: PROPOSE A TOAST.
Reveal:
67. Keyboard centerpiece, and a phonetic hint to six long puzzle answers: MIDDLE C.
I like that the reveal entry is placed in the very middle of the grid. Would be extra nice if every entry is like OBTUSE ANGLE where SEA is in the very middle of each themer. But it's impossible in this case.
Always great to see Pam Amick Klawitter, one of the most creative constructors in this country.
Across:
1. Reading aid: LAMP. My aid prior to 1981.
5. __ Office: OVAL.
9. Resort amenity: SPA.
12. Allergic reactions: ACHOOS.
18. DQ Blizzard flavor: OREO. Our neighborhood Dairy Queen is closed in winter.
19. Bridal gown decoration: LACE.
20. First one cast, usually: STAR.
21. Speaks in a boring way: DRONES.
25. Buzzard's snack, perhaps: VERMIN.
26. Avoid, as a puddle: STEP OVER.
27. Big piece: HUNK.
28. Truck propeller: DIESEL.
29. Finish off, as a cake: ICE.
30. __ Bridge, which connects Buffalo, NY, to Fort Erie, Ontario: PEACE.
31. Carnival destination: ISLE. Carnival Cruise Line.
32. Old car starter: CRANK.
35. "Tarzan" critter: APE.
37. Took off again: RE-ROSE.
39. Skeptical reply: AS IF.
46. Phishing target: USERNAME. And 122. Online break-in: HACK. And 17D. Identity theft target, briefly: SSN.
48. Payroll service co.: ADP.
49. Exam given intradermally, for short: TB TEST. Never had one.
50. "Chicago" actor: GERE.
52. "Do ___ to eat a peach?": Eliot: I DARE.
53. Cut the crop: REAP.
55. Salt on the Seine: SEL.
56. Word with bed or board: ROOM.
58. Bellyached: CRABBED.
60. "ABC World News Tonight" anchor David: MUIR. Also co-host for 20/20.
61. Rate of speed: CLIP.
63. Fond du __, Wisconsin: LAC. And 10. Member of the first Super Bowl-winning team: PACKER. If you go to Wisconsin Dells, stop by Ishnala Supper Club. Look hard, you might see D-Otto's footprints.
64. 90-Across garb: TUTU. And 90. See 64-Across: BALLET.
65. Hollywood tease: PROMO.
70. Loose, pants-wise: BAGGY. This just drives me nuts.
73. Blood donation unit: PINT.
75. Before, before: ERE.
76. "Piece of cake!": EASY.
78. Shapely school subj.?: GEOM.
80. Milk sources nowadays: ALMONDS. Not fond of the flavor.
83. One-in-a-million: RARE.
85. Young fellow: LAD.
86. Quotable "Star Wars" character: YODA.
87. "North Woods Law" critter: MOOSE. Wiki says "North Woods Law is an American reality television series that debuted on March 11, 2012, on the Animal Planet channel."
88. Head of the party?: HOST. Nice clue. And 51. Event host: EMCEE.
93. Short bylaw?: REG. Regulation.
94. "Wheel" coup: FREE SPIN.
98. Western skyline sight: MESA.
99. Skilled speaker: ORATOR.
102. Craft beer letters: IPA. After I graduated in college, I worked in Laiyan, Shandong Province for a short period. It's very close to Tsingtao. I liked the beer and the fresh seafood there. Some were too hot for me. Locals sure love hot red peppers.
103. Witherspoon of "Wild": REESE.
104. Pup __: TENT.
106. Directly: RIGHT.
108. Big name in luxury cars: BMW. And 121. Korean exports: KIAS. And 40. Swedish wheels: SAAB.
109. Nightly news segment: SPORTS. And 111. First name in '70s tennis: ILIE (Nastase)
112. Gets some air: BREATHES.
117. "I Love __": Irving Berlin song with the line "So you can keep your fiddle and your bow": A PIANO. Rare 6-letter partial.
120. "Othello" role: CASSIO.
123. Actress Campbell: NEVE. So innocent in "Party of Five".
124. New York's __ Island: STATEN.
125. Military VIP: GEN. Congrats on your 60-year-anniversary, Commander Spitzboov!
126. Products of 66-Down: ORES. And 66. See 126-Across: MINES.
127. Part of GPS: Abbr.: SYST.
Down:
1. Leader leader?: LOSS. Loss leader.
2. Stuck in __: A RUT.
3. Trifling: MERE.
4. Magical Mary: POPPINS.
5. Garden of eating?: OLIVE. Olive Garden. Not this garden with this sandwich.
6. Spray holder: VASE.
7. HP rival: ACER.
8. Michele of "Glee": LEA.
9. Position: STANCE.
11. Boat for couples: ARK.
12. Client: ADVISEE.
13. Fishing basket: CREEL. Never saw one in person.
15. Generous words: ON ME.
16. Trompe l'__: OEIL.
20. Little created by E.B. White: STUART.
23. Zoom: ROCKET.
24. With 112-Down, classic Faulkner story: THE. 112. See 24-Down: BEAR.
28. Examine in detail: DISSECT.
30. Preppy trio?: PEES. Just the three letters in Preppy.
32. Bracelet ornament: CHARM.
33. Arrived on wheels: RODE UP.
34. Childcare aide: AU PAIR.
35. Russian workers' cooperative: ARTEL. China had cooperative also. It's called Gung Ho, literally "working together".
36. Opening bout, for short: PRELIM.
38. Word for us: OUR.
41. Nagy of Hungary: IMRE. Died in 1958.
42. Put coins into: FEED.
44. Sneak off and hide: ABSCOND. I confused this word with ABDICATE.
45. Bering, e.g.: Abbr.: STR. Strait.
47. Calf catcher: RIATA.
50. World Cup cry: GOAL.
57. More mature: OLDER.
59. Actress/activist married to Ossie Davis: RUBY DEE.
62. Waterside sights: PIERS.
68. "Curses!" cousin: DRAT.
69. Bring to the majors, in baseball: CALL UP.
71. Presidential name in three centuries: GEORGE. Oh, Washington. Bush Sr. and Jr.
72. Alpine songs: YODELS.
74. Wearable ads, maybe: T SHIRTS.
77. Spicy dip: SALSA. Hahtoolah loves salsa.
79. Kid-lit "Maniac": MAGEE. Unknown to me.
80. Car radio letters: AM FM.
81. It's handed down: LORE.
82. Chili's competitor: MOE'S. Google shows they don't have a store in MN.
84. Flow counterpart: EBB.
89. Off-tangent link: ON A.
91. Arguing: AT IT.
92. Airport surface: TARMAC.
95. Floatplane feature: PONTOON.
96. Wild revelries: ORGIES.
97. Units of force: NEWTONS.
100. "Call the Midwife" nurse: TRIXIE. Unfamiliar with the show.
101. Crankcase reservoir: OIL PAN.
105. Bert's pal: ERNIE.
107. Barnyard mama: HEN.
108. Stella Artois alternative: BECK'S.
109. Minor fight: SPAT.
110. Italian tower town: PISA. Odd. I put "site:crosswordcorner.blogspot.com Pisa Gary" in Google but could not find Gary and Joann.
113. Human __: RACE.
114. Toon nephew: HUEY.
115. USPS stack: ENVS. Envelopes.
116. Editorial "let it stand": STET.
117. They run often in summer, initially: ACS.
118. ER graph: EKG.
119. MAX rival: SHO.
C.C.
