Sunday January 9, 2022 John-Clark Levin

Theme:  "Across America" - The first word in each theme entry consists of state abbreviations.

23. Tournament pairings in Fort Wayne, Denver and Kennebunkport?: IN CO ME BRACKETS.

33. Regular observance in Bangor, St. Louis, Providence and Mobile?: ME MO RI AL DAY.

50. Bread spread in Montgomery, Jefferson City and Fargo?: AL MO ND BUTTER.

66. Tableware in Boston, South Bend, Baton Rouge and Bismarck?: MA IN LA ND CHINA.

86. What can capture Santa Barbara, Grand Forks and Boise?: CA ND ID CAMERA.

98. Olympiads in Little Rock, Fresno and Dover?: AR CA DE GAMES.

114. Traffic cone color in Quincy, Minot, Bentonville and Bloomington?: MA ND AR IN ORANGE

Wow, I'm so impressed by the theme and the execution, esp those 8-letter entries. Just amazing. There are some state dupes, unavoidable for a Sunday grid.

The fill is also so good. Look at those stacked 10's in Downs.

Across:

1. Band with horns: CHICAGO. Three horns.

8. Some fits: SPASMS.

14. "Or perhaps less": IF THAT.

20. Go on a rampage: RUN RIOT.

21. November pardon recipient: TURKEY. Google shows that JFK was the first president to pardon a turkey.

22. End of a sentence: PAROLE.

25. Without delay: AT ONCE.

26. Personnel groups: STAFFS.

27. A 20-sided one may be used in Dungeons & Dragons: DIE.

28. Bit of Lab love: LICK.

30. Pericles foe: CLEON. Wikipedia says he was an "Athenian general during the Peloponnesian War."

31. Hot Wheels item: TOY CAR.

35. Grandpa Simpson: ABE.

38. Cheering noise: RAH.

39. Fill up: SATE.

40. They may have EIKs: APTS. EIK = Eat-In Kitchen. Xi'an is still under strict lockdown. Total 42 cases yesterday. Several officials were fired already. Here the officials are picking up the vegetable package for residents. I can see Napa cabbage, daikon radish & green onions. Staple in Xi'an winter cooking.

41. They may be uncut: GEMS.

43. __ Díaz de Vivar (El Cid): RODRIGO. I only know El Cid, not his real name.

46. Reddit Q&A sessions: AMAS. AMA = Ask My Anything.

47. Bagel topping: LOX.

52. Showed the way: LED.

53. "Murder, She Wrote" setting Cabot __: COVE. Is this gimme to you?

54. Formal topper: TIARA.

55. Screenwriter James: AGEE.

56. Fronts divide them: AIR MASSES.

58. Cleave: HEW.

59. Hilton rival: OMNI. I don't remember seeing one Omni in Minnesota.

61. Ancient Dead Sea kingdom: MOAB. In modern-day Jordan.

64. Far less friendly: ICIER.

65. "A Wrinkle in Time" director DuVernay: AVA.

70. Old draft org.: SSS.

72. Amazon's sector: E-TAIL. Boomer likes this walker I got from Amazon. He needs it to get around our house. It has a seat in the middle. Thanks again for the recommendation, Nina!

74. Did: APED.

75. Base opposite: ACID.

76. Cable station for 45 yrs.: SHO.

77. "Shape of You" Grammy winner: ED SHEERAN. British singer.

80. Moderate, with "up": EASE.

82. Religion of Mecca: ISLAM.

84. Some Kias: RIOS.

85. Gadot of "Wonder Woman": GAL.

89. Journalist Curry: ANN.

90. Cry hard: BAWL.

91. Pasta order: AL DENTE. I start to like Thin Spaghetti, thicker than Angel Hair.

92. Shoe part: HEEL.

93. Route-finding app: WAZE.

94. Writer Bombeck: ERMA.

95. Contractor's no.: EST.

97. Power-washing meas.: PSI. Pounds per Square Inch.

102. Modesto Nuts' baseball level, historically: CLASS A.  Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

105. Tackle neighbor: GUARD.

106. Giants manager Kapler: GABE.

107. Orc, to an Elf: FOE.

108. JFK's 109: PT BOAT.

112. Name of six popes: ADRIAN. When Boomer was at the VA hospital, two chaplains visited him regularly.

117. Supply: SELL TO.

118. Big Easy cuisine: CREOLE. I never had jambalaya or gumbo.

119. Coffeehouse job: ROASTER.

120. Implored: PRAYED.

121. Patronizing words, maybe: OK DEAR.

122. Mountain wind: ALPHORN.

Down:

1. NFL analyst Collinsworth: CRIS.

 

2. Track: HUNT.

3. Atahualpa, e.g.: INCA. Atahualpa was the last Inca Emperor.

4. Lara of "Tomb Raider" games: CROFT.

5. Try to achieve: AIM FOR.

6. Homers, in baseball lingo: GOES YARD.

7. Gambling initials: OTB. Off-Track Betting.

8. Part of a flight: STAIR.

9. Purplish shade: PUCE.

10. Target of Indy's quest: ARK.

11. He-Man nemesis: SKELETOR.

12. Relaxing bubble bath, say: ME TIME.

13. Food service giant: SYSCO. Jeannie, who commented on our blog in the earlier days, worked for Sysco.

14. Pub pick: IPA.

15. Campaign funders: FAT CATS.

16. Online harassers: TROLLS. Thank you for ignoring them. You make my and TTP's life easier.

17. Worked to perfect: HONED.

18. Big name in metal: ALCOA. Stock symbol AA.

19. Itsy-bitsy: TEENY.

24. Food label fig.: RDA.

29. "Seinfeld" doofus: KRAMER.

32. Greek-style yogurt brand: CHOBANI. Sometimes we see OIKOS, the Dannon brand.

33. Old wizard: MAGE.

34. Small tablet: IPAD MINI. Agnes might be on iPad Mini 5 or 6.

35. First name in mystery: AGATHA.

36. Trusted: BELIEVED IN.

37. Hermione Granger portrayer: EMMA WATSON. Argyle liked her.

39. Browsing blueprint: SITE MAP.

42. Campus org.: SOR.

44. Started eating: DUG IN.

45. Hwy., e.g.: RTE.

46. Clay became him: ALI.

47. Worries too much (over): LOSES SLEEP. Stacked with 48. Evokes a "TMI," say: OVER-SHARES.

49. Strikes (out): XES.

51. "Moonlight" actress Harris: NAOMIE. British actress. She was also in a few Bond movies.

53. TV forensics letters: CSI.

56. Easy as __: ABC.

57. Maine coastal park: ACADIA.

60. Feminist film-criticism subject: MALE GAZE. And 99. Less tactful: RUDER.

62. __-horse town: ONE.

63. Riders, e.g.: ADDENDA. Legislative riders.

67. Office PC linkup: LAN.

68. Invites over: HAS IN.

69. Summer quencher: ICED TEA. Hong Kong-style. Plenty of lemon slices. Sugary.

71. Kenyan's neighbor: SOMALI.

73. "I see" reactions: AHS.

77. Important period: ERA.

78. Caesar salad dressing ingredient: RAW EGG. Wow, really? I never made Caesar salad dressing.

79. Tie word: ALL. One-all.

81. Gator's tail?: ADE. Gatorade.

83. Texter's "No way!": SMH. Shaking My Head.

86. Lurched: CAREENED.

87. Donation to the poor: ALMS.

88. Corruption metaphor: CESSPOOL. The Ryan Reynolds movie is "Deadpool".

90. Disappointing social outing: BAD DATE.

93. In a watchful way: WARILY.

94. Head to sea: EMBARK.

96. Sandal style: T-STRAP.

98. Audibly shocked: AGASP.

100. "Cheers" waitress: CARLA. Played by Rhea Perlman. 

101. Big name in transmission repair: AAMCO.

102. Apple pie-making tool: CORER.

103. Welcoming garland: LEI. Lucky to have received a bouquet of fresh lei.

104. Bring shame to: ABASH.

107. FDR's Scottie: FALA.

109. Not duped by: ONTO.

110. New __: AGER.

111. Migratory seabird: TERN.

113. Quiet go-ahead: NOD.

115. One looking for a buck?: DOE. Great clue.

116. Food service trade org.: NRA.

 

 

Boomer left the VA hospital last Monday, earlier than what was recommended, but he was so frustrated. It's unfortunate that he landed there during the holiday periods. VA kept a skeleton crew and PT just took a few days off. Thankfully the kind doctor did not put AMA (Against Medical Advice) on his discharge papers. 

We went back to VA last Thursday (1/6/2022) for a consultation with the radiation doctors. Boomer was tattooed and he'll have 5 sessions of radiation from Jan 24th to Jan 28th to shrink the bad cells (impossible to eradicate them). After that, he'll have new chemo. He had been taking oral chemo every day.

Next Tuesday, Dr. Downs will let us know more details. The week after, Boomer will have a few sessions with the PT and the OT.

I'm sure we have a rough road ahead. Please continue to keep Boomer in your thoughts and prayers.

C.C.