Theme: Going Postal - Each even-letter-numbered theme entry is consisted of all two-letter state abbreviation.
18. Florida swim-with-the-dolphins park: MARINELAND. MA/RI/NE/LA/ND.
23. Energy source with tunnels: COAL MINE. CO/AL/MI/NE.
53. Huge corporate agreement: MEGA DEAL. ME/GA/DE/AL.
63. One requiring a token payment?: ARCADE GAME. AR/CA/DE/GA/ME.
Reveal:
39. With 43-Across, America ... or what 18-, 23-, 53- and 63-Across contain, briefly: UNITED.
43. See 39-Across: STATES.
Boomer here. This grid is a special 16x14.
When I was a kid, I remember having a boxed "Game of the States" but like many of my 1950s baseball cards it is now history. I noticed that Minnesota's postal abbreviation did not make it into the puzzle. I suppose it's because it does not have a vowel. But North Dakota made it! DaMN.
Across:
1. Food nutrients that might be saturated: FATS. Speaking of Minnesota, I'm sure you've all heard of Mr. FATS.
5. Trooper automaker: ISUZU. Some autos have strange names. Who ever heard of Hyundai?
10. Docks: PIERS. Also, when I was a kid, we had a dock at our
cabin at North Star Lake. I think it has to be a lot bigger to get PIER
status.
15. Father of Leif: ERIK. Yes he was and Leif took the surname Erikson. I guess Thorvaldsson was too hard to spell.
16. Curry spice: CUMIN.
17. Away from the dock, maybe: AT SEA. "We sail the ocean blue, in our saucy ships of beauty." Gilbert and Sullivan - HMS Pinafore.
20. Lightning-fast Bolt: USAIN. I think he owns eight Olympic golds from three Olympics. I think his Mom should have named him Lighting.
21. 1860s prez: ABE. Honestly?
22. Energy source: OIL.
25. Slangy "Now it's clear": I GOT YA.
28. Miler Sebastian: COE. Another owner of Olympic medals. Not so many as "Lightning."
29. Tree pod used as ersatz chocolate: CAROB.
31. Muslim mystic: SUFI. Whirling Dervish.
34. Bellicose god: ARES. Greek god of war. Said to be an Olympian of Greek history.
38. Symphony wind: OBOE.
41. Black-clad subculturist: GOTH.
42. Boy Scout groups: DENS. I'm pretty sure that Boy scout groups were called Troops. Cub scouts met in DENS.
44. "Back forty" unit: ACRE.
45. "What's more ... ": ALSO. I see Alabama
46. Words of woe: AH ME. Now it looks like Maine.
47. Favored on Facebook: LIKED. I use Facebook now and then. Now they are getting sued. Mr. Zuckerberg got too big too fast I guess.
48. Pester: NAG.
50. Amber and epoxy: RESINS.
58. Zodiac butter: RAM. LA football player or a Dodge truck.
59. Smartphone no.: TEL. I only use a dumb phone.
62. Rossini work: OPERA.
66. Sexy poster: PIN-UP.
67. Big blood vessel: AORTA.
68. Grand __: auto race: PRIX.
69. Bloodhound's clue: SCENT. Did someone say South Carolina ??
70. Haughty one: SNOOT.
71. __ Spumante wine: ASTI.
Down:
2. Many a Syrian: ARAB.
3. Flat-fixing tools: TIRE IRONS.
4. Slider on a slope: SKI. Popular in Minnesota. We have a golf
course south of Minneapolis that becomes a ski area in the winter.
Right now it has no use. We did get a bit of snow in October and early
November but it is long gone. It was 47 degrees last week but getting
colder now.
5. Seal the deal: ICE IT. Cannot do that with temperatures like above.
6. Pilot played by Hanks: SULLY. Quite a feat, he landed his plane on the Hudson River. Saved a lot of lives.
7. Actress Thurman: UMA.
8. Brass component: ZINC.
9. Loosen, as a knot: UNDO.
10. São __, Brazil: PAULO.
11. "I'm baaaack": IT'S ME AGAIN.
12. Morales of "Criminal Minds": ESAI. I remember him on NYPD Blue.
13. Equestrian's control: REIN.
14. All there: SANE. I see Nebraska.
19. Gaming novice: NOOB.
24. Stomach __: digestive aids: ACIDS.
26. Starts one's daily jog: GOES ON A RUN. We used to go on a daily WALK. I am too old to run.
27. "Take me __": "This is me": AS I AM.
29. Musical finale: CODA.
30. Biblical shepherd: ABEL. Cain's BRO.
32. Unmitigated: UTTER.
33. Greens __: golfer's payment: FEE. I have made plenty of these. Thankfully the course does not charge by the stroke.
35. Rolling Stone interviewees: ROCK STARS. We keep a few rocks in the garden area. The stars are overhead and you can only see them at night.
36. To be, in Toulon: ETRE.
37. Mower storage spot: SHED. Our Association hires a lawn service. Thankfully because I don't think we would have room for a mower in the garage.
39. Grammar lesson subject: USAGE.
40. Utmost degree: NTH.
47. Corona wedge: LIME. Bartender's favorite garnish.
49. Modify to fit: ADAPT.
51. Muse with a lyre: ERATO.
52. Anwar of Egypt: SADAT. No one ever said what he was SAD AT.
53. Deck-swabbing tools: MOPS. I was not on a ship, but we used MOPS in the barracks also.
54. Large-scale tale: EPIC.
55. Heredity carrier: GENE.
56. Small batteries: AAAS.
57. Scientologist Hubbard: L RON.
60. Radiate, as light: EMIT.
61. Thompson of the LPGA: LEXI. This young lady is now 25 and
well established on the LPGA tour. Can you believe that she qualified
for the women's LPGA U.S. Open at age 12?
64. __-Magnon: CRO. I am not as old as this guy but some days I feel .... Oh never mind.
65. College transcript no.: GPA.
Boomer
Notes from C.C.:
1) Amazing puzzle, Bruce!!
2) Here is Kathy (Yellowrocks) entering her new home on Thursday (Dec 10, 2020). So glad you settled in and are back to our Corner family quickly.
