Theme: "Major League Divisions" - Eight different teams bookend the theme entries.
23. Groups for aspiring grandmasters: CHESS CLUBS. Cubs.
25. Vocalists who combine musical styles: RAP SINGERS. Rangers.
37. Weekend trips for two, e.g.: ROMANTIC GETAWAYS. Rays.
66. Frequent changes of direction: TWISTS AND TURNS. Twins.
73. Films that may follow a band on tour: ROCKUMENTARIES. Rockies. The only one-word entry. I just could not find a multi-word candidate.
101. Well-balanced people?: TIGHTROPE WALKERS. Tigers.
119. Unusual sorts: RARE BREEDS. Reds.
122. Music festival setups: MERCH TENTS. Mets.
I originality had a set of all National League teams, but two of the entries (GINGER PLANTS and PIECE RATES) were not quite solid, so I came up with this new set of 4 AL teams and 4 NL teams.
Patti redid the 37-, 38- and 57-Down area, here's my original grid. I think I know the problem. Can you guess why?
Some of you may not know this: Patti has been the editor for the Crossword Club for many years. She also constructed many Sunday grids herself. She has a keen eye for clue/answer dupes. As you can see from my write-up below, she caught a few of my goofs.
Across:
6. Country where Inca Kola originated: PERU. Guessable even if you don't know the answer, right?
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10. Remy's brother in "Ratatouille": EMILE.
15. Brahma and Vishnu: GODS.
19. Pungent: ACRID.
20. John of "Coming 2 America": AMOS.
21. Chart a new course for: REMAP.
22. Samoa's biggest city: APIA.
27. Pump part: HEEL.
28. Selling points: ASSETS.
30. Govt. prosecutors: DAS.
31. Elsie Fisher's "Despicable Me" voice role: AGNES. Shout-out to our dear Agnes.
32. Sign gas: NEON.
34. CBS News correspondent Barnett: ERROL. My original clue is [Documentarian Morris]. See how it partially dupes the 73A entry? Patti caught it!
36. Hardly holy: EVIL.
43. National Organ Donor Day mo.: FEB.
45. Steer clear of: EVADE.
46. Test prep giant: KAPLAN.
47. Neglected to mention: OMITTED.
50. "Kapow!": BAM.
51. Knightley of "Colette": KEIRA. Colette wrote "Gigi".
53. Website subunits: PAGES.
55. __ Fridays: TGI.
56. Clerical vestments: ALBS.
58. Kissing in a crowd, say: PDA. Public Display of Affection. When I grew up, couples did not even hold hands in public.
59. Poland Spring competitor: DASANI. From Coca-Cola.
62. "Let me put it this way ... ": I MEAN.
64. Swedish autos: SAABS.
69. Drain nuisance: CLOG. I've learned to comb my hair before I take a shower.
71. Starts a pot: ANTES.
72. Purrfect Delicacies brand: IAMS.
78. Chrome or silver: METAL.
81. Clear the board: ERASE.
82. One millionth of a meter: MICRON.
83. Garlic paste amt.: TSP.
85. __ musubi: meat-and-rice snack: SPAM. Wrapped with nori of course.
87. ESPN broadcaster Shriver: PAM.
88. Forge worker: SMITH.
90. TaquerÃa bowlful: SALSA.
92. Gp. with a tour: PGA. The PGA Tour. They might lose Phil Mickelson.
93. Woke up late: SLEPT IN.
95. __ waist: EMPIRE.
98. Item that's made to measure: RULER.
100. Garment with hooks: BRA.
105. Land division: ACRE.
107. "Wonderwall" Britpop band: OASIS. Not familiar with the song. I used the desert clue.
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108. Lopsided victory: ROUT.
109. Sticky-footed lizard: GECKO.
111. Topological abbr.: MTN.
112. Audio interference: STATIC.
116. In __ of: LIEU.
124. "I hate to break up __": A SET.
125. To any extent: AT ALL.
126. "Pearls" Grammy winner India.__: ARIE. No other way to clue this entry.
127. Flared dress style: A-LINE.
128. Topiary evergreens: YEWS. Pretty.
129. Many a Twitch streamer: GAMER.
130. "Ain't happening": NOPE.
131. Navajo Nation tablelands: MESAS.
Down:
2. Tiger Balm target: ACHE.
3. Bright African snake: GREEN MAMBA. Venomous!
4. Send down the wrong path: MISLEAD.
5. Show stoppers?: ADS.
6. Chums: PALS.
7. Fast-running birds: EMUS.
8. Spa wrap: ROBE.
9. One of the largest tenants of Pittsburgh's tallest building: US STEEL. I wrote "the largest". Patti fact-checked!
10. Make a blunder: ERR.
11. Place for a lark: MEADOW.
12. Antelope whose name means "gazelle" in Zulu: IMPALA.
13. Highlands girl: LASS.
14. Prefix with center: EPI.
15. Present presented for fun: GAG GIFT.
16. Martin Luther King Jr.'s message from Birmingham Jail, for one: OPEN LETTER.
17. Desperate: DIRE.
18. Smart talk: SASS.
24. "__ win 'em all": CAN'T.
26. Pt. of USNA: NAV.
29. Mlle., in Managua: SRTA.
33. Short race, for short: ONE-K. And
35. Did a 33-Down, say: RAN. Close cross-reference by Patti.
36. "Hanna" actress Creed-Miles: ESME. Another "Hanna" star is Mireille ENOS. So happy with the new clue opportunities for these two entries.
37. Country star McEntire: REBA.
38. Cameo shapes: OVALS.
39. "Just joking!": I KID.
40. Unit in gemology: CARAT.
41. College application fig.: GPA.
42. Tantra specialist: YOGINI.
44. Kicked off: BEGAN.
48. "Am I the only one?": IS IT ME.
49. Loud noises: DINS.
52. Dr Teal's Pure __ Salt: EPSOM. I like the one with Vitamin C. Smells amazing.
53. So yesterday: PASSE.
54. Actress de la Reguera: ANA.
57. Stats for NFL defensive linemen: SACKS.
59. Tunisian currency: DINAR.
60. Four-footed Jetson: ASTRO.
61. Beer garden mug: STEIN.
63. Necessities: MUSTS.
65. Toni Morrison's "The __ Eye": BLUEST.
67. Timepiece: WATCH.
68. Softens, as sound: DAMPS.
70. Sign of spring: GEMINI. I had "Twins in the sky", which duped the key team TWINS.
73. Powerlifter's units: REPS.
74. Maker of Glide floss: ORAL B.
75. People who take the shots: CAMERA CREW.
76. Minor quibble: NIT.
77. Unblinking look: STARE.
79. Fruit-flavored cocktails: APPLETINIS.
80. Golden brew: LAGER.
84. Whole lot: SLEW.
86. Land of Opportunity?: MARS. Capitalized O.
89. Tiny arachnid: MITE.
90. Tentative taste: SIP.
91. "The Good Dinosaur" dinosaur: ARLO.
94. Sugar holders: PACKETS. Boomer can't have sugar or fake sugar
or coffee tomorrow morning to prep for the surgery. Water is OK though.
The tough part is no ibuprofen or Oxycodone for 5 days before surgery.
95. UFO beings: ETS.
96. Diagnostic pics: MRIS.
97. "Please Mr. __": POSTMAN.
99. Tiki bar instrument: UKULELE.
102. Pep rally shout: GO TEAM.
103. Pump part: HANDLE.
104. Curved structure: ARCH.
106. "Catastrophe" writer/star Delaney: ROB. Not familiar with him. I used [Rip off].
109. Slate-colored: GRAY.
110. Smooth sailing: EASE.
111. Parent company of Facebook: META.
113. Sleek, in car lingo: AERO.
114. Take a tumble: TRIP.
115. Slushy treat: ICEE.
117. Europe's tallest volcano: ETNA.
118. Puts into play: USES.
120. Cleaning cloth: RAG.
121. Canon choice, briefly: SLR.
123. Cap with a toorie: TAM.
We had a busy week: X-ray on Monday morning, then meeting with the orthopedic doctor, who said a surgery was needed. Then we visited Boomer's new oncologist, who postponed all of his cancer treatments until early June. He might try a new oral chemo on Boomer.
We
went back to the VA for more procedures to prep for the surgery:
meeting with the anesthesiologist, an EKG test, meeting with the pre-op
nurse, registering for the pre-admission, one more CT scan to see if there are bad cells in his left shoulder area. Pretty exhausting, but Boomer handled them well.
We're checking in tomorrow morning at 7:30am for Boomer's surgery at the VA hospital in Minneapolis. They'll put a metal ball inside his left shoulder.
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| VA Ortho, 5/9/2022 |
