Theme: HALF AND HALF (61. Coffee creamer option, or what can precede both parts of the answers to the starred clues)
16. *Sibling by marriage: STEP BROTHER. Halfstep. Half brother.
23. *Best Picture Oscar winner directed by Barry Jenkins: MOONLIGHT. Half-moon. Half light.
29. *Wee: PINT-SIZE. Half-pint. Half-size.
43. *Lengthy warranty period: LIFETIME. Half-life. Half-time.
50. *Retrace one's steps: BACKTRACK. Half back. Half-track.
Boomer here again. Susan is in Houston to take care of her mother-in-law. She'll be back next Tuesday.
Indeed I found out yesterday that my work was only HALF-finished. I think I earn time and a HALF for overtime.
Across:
5. Candy __ Saga: match-three game app: CRUSH. An Orange drink.
10. Fourth-yr. students: SRS. Also people like me. Over 70.
13. Org. with a Women's Rights Project: ACLU.
14. Small cap: BEANIE. Never had to wear one.
15. Split __ soup: PEA. I prefer chicken noodle.
18. Old tee, perhaps: RAG.
19. Can opener: POP TAB. I prefer bottles.
20. "Am __ time?": I ON.
21. Bad habit: VICE. The VICE squad will get you.
22. Barnyard bird: HEN.
25. Fictional wolf's disguise: GRANDMA. I had one GRANDMA as a kid. Never got to know my maternal Grandma.
28. "Get Smart" crime org.: KAOS. Maxwell Smart fought KAOS.
31. Floats on the wind: WAFTS.
35. Pretend: ACT. I had a lead in a high school play.
36. Video game princess: ZELDA. Legend of Nintendo.
39. Early ISP: AOL. America on Line.
40. "Such a tragedy": SO SAD. England is sharing their loss.
46. __ hog: ROAD. Keep to the right!
49. Played the lead: STARRED. Yup, I was NOYE. Benjamin Britian spelled Noah wrong.
54. Fin. neighbor: RUS.
55. Mid-month date: IDES. Beware in March.
56. "__-ching!": CHA.
57. Leash: TETHER.
60. __ & Perrins steak sauce: LEA. I never tried it.
63. Trains that rumble overhead: ELS. Or golfer Ernie.
64. "Murder on the __ Express": ORIENT.
65. "Just teasing ya": I KID.
66. Match, in poker: SEE. Just pay a little. Do not raise.
67. Raise a glass (to): TOAST. Cook some bread.
68. Salty expanses: SEAS.
Down:
2. Prefix with -plasm: ECTO.
3. Tusked animals: ELEPHANTS. I guess I'd see about everything when I see one fly.
4. Small camping shelter: PUP TENT.
5. VIP with a corner office, perhaps: CEO. Corner office is a lasting tradition.
6. Mathematical comparison: RATIO. A batting average.
7. Loosen, as a bra: UNHOOK.
8. "Burnt" crayon color: SIENNA.
9. That woman: HER. She fits too.
10. Parsley piece: SPRIG. Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme.
11. Get through to: REACH.
12. Bob who had a recurring role on "Fuller House": SAGET.
14. Texter's "Gimme a sec": BRB. My son's initials.
17. Music groups: BANDS. Not rubber
21. Travel document: VISA. Or credit card.
23. Pencil puzzle with dead ends: MAZE. In Minnesota, the farmers make a big one in their fall cornfield.
24. Fan setting: LOW. All ballparks have upper decks.
25. Honor roll figs.: GPAS. Grade Point Average.
26. Puerto __: RICO. Will it ever be a state?
27. "Les __": musical nickname: MIZ.
30. Shape of some building additions: ELL. Also aluminum and galvanized pipe.
32. Equal chance: FAIR SHAKE. I prefer chocolate!
33. Heavy book: TOME.
34. Iditarod vehicle: SLED. Every Minnesotan owns one at one time of their life.
37. Floppy __: DISK.
38. Toward a boat's rudder: AFT. I think I just called it the back.
41. Boats like Noah's: ARKS. 300 cubits, it shall be long.
42. "j" topper: DOT. Ditto's sister.
44. Dog-__: folded at the corner: EARED. I only have Doug ears.
45. "To be honest ... ": TRUTH IS. And that's the truth!
47. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie: ARCARO.
48. National flower of Mexico: DAHLIA. My Mother grew these annually.
50. Olympic gymnast Simone: BILES.
51. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE.
52. Halt: CEASE. Nope - keep going.
53. Sidewalk eateries: CAFES. Incredible number of these at the Minnesota State Fair.
57. Demo stuff: TNT.
58. Director Kazan: ELIA.
59. Country mail rtes.: RFDS. Rural Free Deliveries.
61. Like habanero peppers: HOT. Some like it HOT!
62. Picnic pest: ANT. They don't eat much.
Boomer
