Sunday April 10, 2022 Paul Coulter

 

Theme:  "Assembling the Parts" - Each theme entry consists of ABC, B is a preposition. Each entry is clued as AB+ BC = ABC.

22. "Might I suggest ... " + "Since you mentioned it ... " = "I'll be darned!": HOW ABOUT THAT. "How about ..." + "About that" = "How about that?".

30. Honest about + "L'chaim!" = Realistic: TRUE TO LIFE. True to + "To Life!" = True to life.

43. Approached old age + Ready to sail = Joined the cause: GOT ON BOARD. Got on + On board

61. Yell + Bent on getting = Need urgently: CRY OUT FOR. Cry out + Out for = Cry out for.

79. Sergeant's order + Type of skate = Get with the program: FALL IN LINE. Fall in + inline = Fall in line.

91. Patronize + Comfortable = Kind of parent: STAY AT HOME. Stay at + At home = Stay at home.

104. Cede + Pitching style = Climbing method: HAND OVER HAND. Hand over + overhand = hand over hand.

I don't recall a similar theme in LAT before. Fun and tight, Paul! Made me think of the great Merl Reagle.

I was wrong last Sunday when I said this would be the last puzzle edited by Rich Norris. Next Sunday's is.

Across:

1. Fruit stand buys: MELONS. Have you tried the black Beauty watermelons?

 

7. One way to be taken: ABACK.

12. Behavioral Analysis Unit's org.: FBI. 15. Govt. loan agency: SBA. Also 40. DOD intel arm: NSA. And 101. Fed. power dept.: ENER.

18. Mountains of __: Genesis locale: ARARAT.

19. Bar offering: SUSHI. And 20. Heros, to some: GRINDERS. I prefer sushi.

24. Superior: HIGHER UP.

25. Wasn't present?: ISN'T. And 27. Car jackers?: MECHANICS. Fun clues.

26. Violent protester: RIOTER.

28. Irish moonshine: POTEEN. Learning moment for me. Also spelled as "Poitin".

32. Netted, say: SNARED.

34. Kennel club designation: BREED.

36. Angers: IRES.

37. Cliffside dwelling: AERIE.

38. Defense secretary under Nixon: LAIRD (Melvin). New name to me, though he does look familiar. 

39. Dear: HON.

46. Archaeological site: RUIN. Hope you all get a chance to visit my hometown Xi'an someday. So many historical sites.

48. Noticed: SPIED.

50. "__ ideas?": ANY.

51. Phone downloads: APPS.

52. Irritates: RASPS.

53. Studied for a job?: CASED. Cased a joint.

54. Google find: SITE.

56. Lite: LO-FAT.

57. Have credit from: OWE TO. A few other To's: 39. Well aware of: HIP TO. 41. Take care of: SEE TO.

58. __ male: ALPHA.

65. Western __: UNION.

66. Super Bowl LVI champ: LA RAM.

67. Some wedding guests: AUNTS.

68. Snacks, say: EATS.

70. Biting: ACERB. This word just looks sour.

71. One may become a cliché: ADAGE.

72. Raise: REAR.

74. High point: TOP.

77. Marsh growths: REEDS.

78. Brief "Out of the question": CAN'T.

82. AOL alternative: MSN.

83. __ Elton John: SIR.

84. Morally instruct: EDIFY.

86. The Mick succeeded him as Yankee center fielder: DIMAG. Mickey Mantle.  This might be Rich's clue. He's an avid Yankee fan.

87. Letters after many a general's name: RET'D.

89. Full force: BRUNT.

90. Experts: MAVENS.

94. Rouses: AWAKES.

96. Changeable type: CHAMELEON. So many great fill in this grid: 3. Celebration with a tent, maybe: LAWN PARTY. 56. Like some bonds: LONG TERM. More great fill: 71. Crucial trials: ACID TESTS. 74. Vacation rental option: TIMESHARE. 81. Online customer service option: LIVE CHAT.

97. Thingamabob: DOODAD.

100. "Goddess of Pop": CHER. Do you believe in life after love?

103. Hardly promising: HOPELESS.

106. Writers like O. Henry: IRONISTS. And 109. Writer: PEN.

107. Aquatic mammal: OTTER.

108. Beltway environs: DC AREA.

110. Rehab hurdle: DTS. Delirium tremens.

111. Crystal-lined rock: GEODE.

112. "Stagecoach" and "High Noon": OATERS.

Down:

1. When repeated, a fish: MAHI. Huge.

 

2. Winged figure of myth: EROS.

4. Handel bars: ORATORIO. Nice clue also.

5. Apt grab rhyme: NAB.

6. Put away for later: STORED.

7. __ Clinton, historic English village that lent its name to a sports car: ASTON. Another learning moment. 

 

8. Joke victim: BUTT.

9. "A Hard Road to Glory" author: ASHE.

10. Rent for fishing, say: CHARTER. Charter boat.

11. Do-it-yourselfer's purchase: KIT.

12. Disagreements: FRICTIONS.

13. Mountain West river named for sheep: BIGHORN.

14. Clinton said he didn't do it: INHALE.

15. Printing flourish: SERIF.

16. Actor Dern: BRUCE. Laura Dern's father.

17. Nile serpents: ASPS.

20. Indian butter: GHEE.

21. Patron saint of France: DENIS.

23. Risky turn, maybe: UIE.

27. __ pie: MUD.

29. Frosh, probably: TEEN.

31. Writes a new version of: RE-DRAFTS.

32. It's a long story: SAGA. One of our blog readers actually read "Dream of the Red Chamber".

33. Brightly colored: NEON.

34. Hopping targets?: BARS.

35. Clear (of): RID.

38. Common cat seat: LAP.

40. Japanese-American: NISEI. Jill is one.

Steve and Jill, June 12, 2016

Tea at The Queen Mary

42. Extra feature: ADD ON. A few more On's: 75. "... roasting __ open fire": ON AN. 92. Hit lightly: TAP ON. 98. Able to see right through: ONTO.

44. Dugout rack item: BAT.

45. Crude gp.?: OPEC. Can't fool our regulars.

47. "Aim High" federal org.: USAF.

48. Merit badge earner: SCOUT.

49. Little men in the front row: PAWNS.

52. Delivery assignment: ROUTE. Our mail delivery is still erratic.

54. Dig find: SHARD.

55. Sonnet line quintet: IAMBS.

58. Auto option: ALARM.

59. Velcro alternative: LACES.

60. Groom with a bill: PREEN. Verb "groom".

62. "M*A*S*H" corporal: RADAR.

63. Chinese currency: YUAN. My dad's salary was RMB49/month in 1981. Less than $8.

64. Authentic: REAL.

69. "Exodus" hero: ARI.

72. "Cast Away" escape vehicle: RAFT.

73. Nevada copper town: ELY. Learned from doing crosswords.

76. Cello parts: PEGS.

79. Flipper: FIN.

80. Sask. neighbor: N DAK.

83. Least fresh: STALEST.

85. Deadline: DUE DATE.

87. Asian noodle dish: RAMEN. Xi'an style.  You can find this chain in New York City.

88. Lens cover: EYELID.

89. French word of approval: BON.

90. Managed: MADE DO.

91. Jersey __: SHORE.

93. "Bonanza" brother: HOSS. I watched a little bit of  this episode when I was waiting for Boomer at the MRI waiting place. My first and only "Bonanza".

94. Really dig: ADORE.

95. Sound file suffix: WAV.

96. China problem: CHIP.

99. Had too much, briefly: OD'ED.

102. Old food label figs.: RDAS.

104. Keep every one of: HOG.

105. TV pioneer: RCA.

Boomer's blood draw result was not good. His PSA rose to 445 (0-4 is normal), so the third chemo infusion did not work either. We're going back to the big VA hospital again tomorrow for a CT scan. Busy week ahead, appointment every day. 

The good news is that spring is finally here.The snow is almost all gone.

C.C.