My mind is a bit Foggy today.
21-Across. "When Harry Met Sally..." screenwriter: NORA EPHRON. Nora Ephron (May 19, 1941 ~ June 26, 2012) was an American journalist, writer and screenwriter. She is best known for her rom-coms, such as the one in the clue.
33-Across. Annual LGBTQ celebration: PRIDE PARADE.
44-Across. Mug for the camera: STRIKE APOSE.
55-Across. Slippery slapstick prop: BANANA PEEL.
And the unifier:
68-Across. Thick fog metaphor ... and what each set of circled letters is?: PEA SOUP. Rearrange the letters in the circles to get Pea Soup. It's a nice thick soup to eat on a FOGgy day.
Across:
1. Frightened cry: EEK.
4. The-lower-the-better MLB stat: ERA. Earned Run Average.
7. Relay segment: LEG.
10. James Bond, for one: SPY.
13. Wannabe IRS agent's test: CPA EXAM. A CSO to all our busy CPAs.
15. Glass of "This American Life": IRA. This American Life is a series on NPR. Ira Glass (b. Mar. 3, 1959).
16. Make, as a knot: TIE.
17. Vitamin capsule material: GELATIN.
18. Prayer books: MISSALS.
20. Crystal ball gazer: SEER.
23. Turkey roasting instruction: BASTE.
25. Name for a man going either way?: OTTO. Hi, Desper-Otto!
26. Full range: GAMUT.
29. Puts up with: ABIDES.
36. Sign of success: SRO. Standing Room Only. The Fire Marshal probably has something to say about this.
39. Help: AID.
40. Green New Deal co-sponsor, initially: AOC. As in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (b. Oct. 13, 1989).
41. 35mm camera type: SLR. The Single-Lens Reflex camera has become a crossword staple.
42. Bagel go-with: LOX. Yummers! We have lox and bagels nearly every weekend.
43. Frodo's sidekick: SAM. A reference to the Lord of the Rings series.
47. "Be right there!": ONE SEC. I usually say: Just a sec.
49. Cedar Rapids resident: IOWAN.
50. Taj Mahal city: AGRA. We all know what the Taj Mahal looks like, but do we know where it is in India?
52. Pandora's box emanations: EVILS.
59. Slide on the icy road: SKID. Even penguins can skid on ice.
63. Like dark clouds: OMINOUS.
64. "Quiet!": SILENCE.
66. Lair: DEN.
67. Many pop-ups: ADS.
69. Joule fraction: ERG.
70. Home run, for one: HIT.
71. Put two and two together: ADD.
72. Recipe amt.: TSP. As in a Teaspoon.
Down:
1. Heart charts, for short: ECGS. As in an ElectroCardioGram. Often seen as EKG. Do you know the difference between an ECG and an EKG?
2. Blunt-tipped sword: ÉPÉE. A crossword staple.
3. Popular smoothie veggie: KALE. Very trendy, but has disappeared from our menus.
4. Business card no.: EXT. As in a telephone Extension number.
5. Drizzles, say: RAINS.
6. Playground retort: AM NOT!
7. __ bean: LIMA.
8. Part of HOMES: ERIE. Can you name all of the Great Lakes without the aid of HOMES?
9. [OMG!]: GASP.
10. Paces oneself, maybe: STARTS SLOW.
11. Amelia Earhart, e.g.: PILOT. Amelia Mary Earhart (July 24, 1897 ~ disappeared July 2, 1937) led a fascinating life. Her disappearance in July 1937 has sparked all sorts of theories of what happened to her. She was officially declared dead on July 5, 1939.
12. Like 20 Questions questions: YES/NO. This is becoming a crossword staple.
14. Jogger's speaker: EARBUD.
19. Clog or Croc: SHOE. What's the difference between a Clog and a Croc?
22. Stern, at sea: REAR. Here's to our pal Spitzboov.
24. "Relax, soldier": AT EASE.
26. Student stats: GPAs. As in Grade Point Averages.
27. "Nessun dorma," e.g.: ARIA. This is an aria from the final act of Turandot, an opera by Giacomo Puccini. We will see this opera at the Houston Grand Opera this May.
28. Common coffee break time: MID-MORNING. For some people, any time is ripe for a coffee break.
30. Revel (in): BASK.
31. Just sitting around: IDLE.
32. Knock off the track: DERAIL.
34. Plant places: POTS.
35. 43,560 square feet: ACRE.
37. Parks who took a seat to take a stand: ROSA. Rosa Parks (née Rosa Louise McCauley; Feb. 4, 1913 ~ Oct. 24, 2005) was an American civil rights activist best known for the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. After her death in 2005, she became the first woman to lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda.
38. Team in a yoke: OXEN. Oxen have to be taught to work in teams.
45. Slurpee rival: ICEE. There is no difference between a Slurpee and an Icee. Who knew?
46. Wild West enforcers: POSSES.
48. Bread with palak paneer: NAAN. This tasty bread is becoming a crossword staple.
50. Condo or co-op: ABODE.
51. Minecraft player: GAMER.
53. Italian scooter: VESPA.
54. "That part was made-up": I LIED.
56. Ark builder: NOAH.
57. Q5 automaker: AUDI.
58. Soft "Over here!": PSST.
60. Sea speed unit: KNOT.
61. Hosp. areas: ICUs. As in Intensive Care Units.
62. "Pirates of the Caribbean" star: DEPP.
65. "Wee" boy: LAD.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
