Today our constructor is Mary Lou Guizzo who C.C. calls "a very talented constructor". Here is her gracious reply to my note to her about crosswords, C.C. and her name that evokes memories of Ricky Nelson:
Hi Gary,
Yes, I’ve been serenaded with that song more than once, LOL!
You and my husband have much in common. He taught science (Biology and Anatomy primarily) for 43 years before retiring. I met my husband at The University of Dayton and we now live in Oakwood, OH which is a suburb of Dayton.
I am a retired medical technologist with a Specialty in Blood Banking (SBB). I’ve worked in hospitals, private labs and the Community Blood Center for many years.
The youngster in that picture is my grandson who I miss immensely during these days of quarantine. I cut back on the time I devoted to constructing when I started watching this little guy shortly after he was born. But I still keep my hand in creating puzzles a little.
I most definitely have heard of the crossword rockstar, CC! I followed her blog almost from it’s start until I started watching my grandson, 3 days/week, 10 hours a day. She is a very inspiring and impressive person.
I’ve been constructing crosswords for a few years now (my first having been published in the WSJ in 2013, a puzzle co-constructed with Jeff Chen). I do like to include women’s names in my puzzles whenever possible as you will see in today’s themeless. I hope you enjoyed the solve. Thanks to Rich and Patti for accepting and editing this puzzle.
Thanks again for your kind words and for getting in touch with me. Stay safe and be well.
Best,
Mary Lou
[Gary p.s.] - Mary Lou is still disappointed that her Dayton University Flyers didn't get a shot a the NCAA Tournament. They were very highly ranked and as good as anybody this year
[Gary p.s.] - Mary Lou is still disappointed that her Dayton University Flyers didn't get a shot a the NCAA Tournament. They were very highly ranked and as good as anybody this year
Across:
1. Joe __: SCHMO - Slang for "Joe Anybody". From English from the use of the "schm" prefix in Yiddish to dismiss something; as in, "Fancy, schmancy."
6. Exude: OOZE.
10. Classified times: EVES - December 24th and 31st, e.g.
14. Distant: ALOOF.
15. Foam footwear: CROC - Often seen at my clinic
16. Place for a grinder: DELI.
17. Metropolis nickname: MAN OF STEEL
19. 2004 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee: GRAF - Steffi
20. Liqueur flavoring: MENTHE.
23. Money layouts, say: PHOTO SPREADS - Of all the magazines Mary Lou could have chosen...
26. Engaged: BUSIED.
29. John Wayne film set in Tanganyika: HATARI - Swahili for Danger!
30. 15th-century ruler Axayácatl, e.g.: AZTEC - Here ya go! Blue on the map below
31. Sean who played Samwise: ASTIN - A stouthearted Hobbit
32. Trip-taking aid: LSD.
35. She plays Watson on "Elementary": LIU - She plays Dr. Joan Watson in an updated version of Sherlock Holmes
36. Medalworthy acts: HEROICS - We see them every day now!
38. __ Day: Hawaii celebration: LEI - While we are celebrating May Day...39. ISP choice: MSN.
40. Watts on the keys: ANDRE - ANDRE Previn on the keys would have more familiar to me
41. Absconds: FLEES - No one saw Andy Dufresne abscond with the duplicate bank books from Shawshank Prison
43. Sharper-tasting: TARTER.
45. Mall booths: KIOSKS.
46. Nakia portrayer in "Black Panther": LUPITA NYONGO - She won for 12 Years A Slave. We only saw the fabulous June Squibb in Nebraska
49. Melodic pieces: ARIOSI - A vocal piece falling somewhere between recitative and an aria. It literally means "Airy"
50. Doesn't toss: REUSES - Clever recycling cluing took some time
53. __ waiting: CALL.
54. The better of a familiar pair: LESSER EVIL - Yeah, I vote too.
58. Wells' Weena et al.: ELOI - A true H.G. Wells tribe of Crosswordland
59. Nevada city straddling the Humboldt River: ELKO - About 17 hours from me on the Platte River
60. Uplift: ELATE.
61. Old swift fliers: SSTS.
62. Cannon of Hollywood: DYAN - Jennifer Grant is shown here with her mother DYAN Cannon. Considering her dad was Cary Grant, her gene pool was pretty good!
63. Newton parts: DYNES - More than you would ever want to know
Down:
1. "In the Lonely Hour" singer Smith: SAM - A song of unrequited love
2. Refuse to talk, with "up": CLAM - "Get me a lawyer!"
3. Sharpen: HONE.
4. Heavenly dessert?: MOONPIE.
5. Beyond expectations: OFF THE CHARTS - The success of the Big Bang Theory show above
6. String group: OCTET.
7. Bank deposit?: ORE - The Cornwall, PA Iron ORE Bank map from 1873
8. Kazan of "Olive Kitteridge": ZOE - ZOE, the granddaughter of Elia Kazan, played Denise Thibodeau. Frances McDormand played the title role in this Emmy Winner and is at the mic below. Zoe is in the red/white striped dress. Trailer
9. Like a much-watched 8/21/2017 alignment: ECLIPTIC - It was an ECLIPTIC event for Joann and me when the Moon's shadow came across Eastern Nebraska on this date
10. More out-there: EDGIER.
11. Pre-revolution French royal residence site: VERSAILLES - The story of Versailles after the revoltuion (2 minutes)
12. African antelope: ELAND.
13. Sieves: SIFTS.
18. Rough end?: SHOD - Husker FB used to run ROUGHSHOD over most all comers. Sigh...
22. Altered for the better: TRANSFIGURED - A part of Christianity
24. "My bad": OH SORRY.
25. "Mercure" composer Erik: SATIE - A 1924 opera with decor and costumes designed by Picasso
26. Skin soother: BALM.
27. Israeli weapons: UZIS.
28. Aerial daredevil: STUNT PILOT - Barnstormers
31. "As You Like It" forest: ARDEN - A lovely golf course is located near it in central England
33. Strive for: SEEK.
34. Ph.D. hurdle: DISS - 8 most unusual DISSERTATIONS of all time
37. Necessitated: ENTAILED.
42. How a blown-open door may have been closed: LOOSELY.
44. Pungent spreads: AIOLIS - Burger King has it in here somewhere
45. One may be replaced: KNEE.
46. Ties: LACES.
47. Eurasian range: URALS.
48. "Ender's Game" author __ Scott Card: ORSON.
51. John in Wales: EVAN - John in MANY languages
52. Surfer's stop: SITE.
56. Jamaican music: SKA.
57. Guitarist Paul: LES - Rick Harris wound up paying $90,000 to LES Paul's nephew on Pawn Stars for this guitar with a lot of provenance.
Should you comment? Let Ricky Nelson tell you with another song:
