Theme: "Where R U?" - Part of each common phrase/word contains the letter (s) U/U's, the other part identifies the position(s) of the U/U's.
23A. U: PERCUSSION SECTION. U is part of PERCUSSION.
43A. U: UNION LEADER. First letter of UNION, hence "leader".https://twitter.com/jpdavidson?s=20&t=dNow059NQxtUA2CBTEU4lw
66A. U: COMMUNITY CENTER. Very center of COMMUNITY.
92A. U: COUNTERPART. Part of COUNTER.
116A. U's: PIECES OF FURNITURE. Parts of FURNITURE.
16D. U: HUNK OF JUNK. Part of JUNK.
71D. U: MID-JANUARY. Very center of JANUARY.
t=dNow059NQxtUA2CBTEiilal
Very creative. We've seen puzzles with different letters in the clues, like this one. But I don't recall a puzzle that uses only one letter. Amazing, as the theme is super constraining.
Of the 7 entries, UNION LEADER, COMMUNITY CENTER & JANUARY point out precisely where the U's are. The others are just parts.
Across:
6. Sheepherding pig in a Best Picture nominee: BABE.
10. Some bowling feats: SPARES. The PT lady we met last Thursday loves bowling.
16. Chef's toque, e.g.: HAT.
19. Maine college town: ORONO. Hahtoolah!
20. Lena of "The Artist's Wife": OLIN.
21. Some Tuscany natives: PISANS.
22. Actress Thurman: UMA.
26. Neither here __ there: NOR.
27. Grand spreads: ESTATES.
28. Unproductive activity: TIME SINK. Also TIME SUCK.
29. Sitcom home of Johnny Fever: WKRP.
30. Embrace: HUG.
31. Made less stringent: EASED.
32. "I'm with you": DITTO.
34. Sound sleepers?: SNORERS. Fun clue.
37. Pet adoption org.: ASPCA.
40. On the up and up?: LOFTY.
46. Eye-related: OPTIC.
48. With 69-Down, MVP of Super Bowl III: JOE. 69. See 48-Across: NAMATH. "Broadway Joe".
49. Posted: SENT.
50. Verizon communications service: FIOS. For Fiber Optic Service.
51. Beatrix Potter's real first name: HELEN.
52. Cougar on a sneaker: PUMA.
53. Orchestra leader: MAESTRO.
56. 100 smackers: C SPOT. 60. Low-risk investments: Abbr.: CDS. Also 54. Govt. security: T BOND.
58. Conference session: SEMINAR.
61. Glacier breakaway: BERG.
63. College football fans sporting a blue "Y": ELIS.
65. Smells awful: REEKS. So nice to have a workable floor drain
again. Ours was clogged. I had a hard time soaking dry the problem area
on Friday. Thankfully I listened to D-Otto and did not use the washing
machine. Otherwise, the whole basement carpet would have been ruined.
70. __ acid: AMINO.
72. Trillion: Pref.: TERA.
73. Stand in line: WAIT.
74. Waze display: MAP.
77. Washer cycle: SPIN DRY.
79. Employee who works a lot?: VALET. Parking lots.
82. Team symbols: MASCOTS. Me and T.C. Bear. 11 years ago.
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84. Senate staffer: AIDE.
85. Bar mixers: SODAS.
87. Greek earth goddess: GAIA.
89. Santa __: dry California winds: ANAS.
90. "The Big Bang Theory" astrophysicist with a Yorkshire terrier named Cinnamon: RAJ. Nice trivia clue.
91. Worked (up): KEYED.
95. Leaving nothing out: IN ALL.
97. National Forest northwest of Orlando: OCALA.
99. Wrinkly dog: SHAR PEI. Cantonese. In Mandarin, it's Sha Pi, literally "sand skin".
100. Wayfarer: NOMAD.
102. Break up: END IT.
105. Mai __: cocktail: TAI.
106. "Billions" actor Giamatti: PAUL.
108. Home for a pride: LION'S DEN. Pride of lions.
111. Road trip break: PIT STOP.
115. Old hoops gp.: ABA. American Basketball Association.
118. __ La Table: cookware shop: SUR.
119. Clear up: SETTLE.
120. Nestlé chocolate bar with a bubbly texture: AERO. Helpful "bubbly" hint.
121. Time being: NONCE.
122. Barnyard pen: STY.
123. Dr. Scholl's purchase: INSOLE. Boomer likes this pair of Dr. Scholl's.
124. Prune: TRIM.
125. Discover bit by bit: GLEAN.
Down:
2. God of war pursued by Wonder Woman: ARES. Played by David Thewlis.
3. Civil wrong: TORT.
4. Conspiring: IN CAHOOTS. With.
5. Highway warning: NO U-TURN.
6. Order (around): BOSS.
7. Undefeated boxer Laila: ALI.
8. Flora and fauna: BIOTA.
9. Heath's "Brokeback Mountain" role: ENNIS. Heath Ledger.
10. Zooms: SPEEDS.
11. Snaps: PICS.
12. Hub of bubbly: ASTI.
13. Backup plans for outdoor events: RAIN DATES.
14. Ramen mushroom: ENOKI. Our fridge has been enoki-less for a
while. I could easily get one pack for $0.99 to $1.99 pre-COVID days.
Now it's $4.99 to $5.99. Crazy.
15. Govt.-issued ID: SSN.
17. Love, in Spain: AMOR.
18. Waterproof cover: TARP.
24. Jason of "How I Met Your Mother": SEGEL.
25. Lipstick mishap: SMEAR.
29. GATT successor: WTO. The World Trade Organization.
31. Actor Morales: ESAI.
33. "Waterfalls" pop trio: TLC.
34. Golf legend Sam: SNEAD. Super flexible even in his 70s.
35. Dressed to the __: NINES.
36. Campaign promise: REFORM.
38. Written in verse: POETIC.
39. Certain NCO: CPL.
41. 2011 Literature Nobelist Tranströmer: TOMAS. Swedish poet. Learning moment for me.
42. 12 months: YEAR.
43. Camp Pendleton org.: USMC.
44. "What's up, __?": DOC.
45. Last letter of many plural nouns: ESS.
47. Subject of Newton's first law: INERTIA.
51. Sanctified: HOLY.
52. Santa Monica landmark: PIER.
55. Contrition: REMORSE.
57. Part of a flower: PETAL. So pretty.
59. Track events: MEETS.
62. __ reaction: GUT.
64. Wrap (up): SEW.
66. French film: CINE.
67. The Silver State: NEVADA.
68. Some long-term investments, briefly: IRAS.
70. Bee-related: APIAN.
74. "Hidden Figures" actress Janelle: MONAE.
75. "Pong" company: ATARI.
76. Hushed "Hey!": PSST.
77. Bollywood dress: SARI.
78. Inconsistent nutrition plans: YO-YO DIETS. My friend Carmen
has been into turtle eggs the past few weeks. Turtle eggs are also
called "Wang Ba Dan" in Chinese. Bad curse words. Don't use them.
80. Bigheadedness: EGO.
81. Kind of cross: TAU.
83. Noisy toy gun: CAP PISTOL.
86. Last mo.: DEC.
88. Research org.: INST.
91. Netherlands airline: KLM. In alphabetically order.
92. "On it": CAN DO.
93. Use DoorDash, say: EAT IN.
94. Classification for some violent films: R- RATING. Restricted.
96. "2 funny!": LOL.
98. One paying a flat fee?: LESSEE. That flat.
101. Extraterrestrial: ALIEN.
103. Make more lean: DEFAT.
104. Gather: INFER.
106. "No thanks": PASS.
107. Share a border: ABUT.
109. Quadri- doubled: OCTO. 4/8.
110. Georgia Tech basketball coach Fortner: NELL. Another learning moment for me.
111. Senior moment?: PROM.
112. Song: TUNE.
113. Keiko in "Free Willy," for one: ORCA.
114. Hammer end: PEEN.
116. Inflation fig.: PSI.
117. Ocean State sch.: URI.
Boomer will start his at-home PT tomorrow. Twice a week for six weeks. He'll also have a few OT sessions soon.
We'll
go to the big VA for a consultation with the radiation doctor next
Wednesday. We'll also meet with his oncologist for the next steps. And
an ortho follow-up.
Thank you so much for always thinking of Boomer and keeping him in your prayers.
C.C.
