Theme: STUFFED PEPPERS (54. Tex-Mex fare found with increasing spiciness in this puzzle's circled letters?) - Three peppers are stuffed inside.
20. Annual honorees in chemistry, physics, economics, etc.: NOBEL LAUREATES. Bell pepper.
33. Military division: BRANCH OF SERVICE. Ancho pepper.
41. WordPress, for one: BLOG HOSTING SITE. Ghost pepper.
Boomer here.
I have to admit that we visit Taco Bell now and then. I like the burritos there. Also, the VA cafeteria serves HUGE burritos for a bit more $$$$ but one fills me up there.
Across:
5. "Saving Mr. Banks" actress Thompson: EMMA. Ernie was not saved. Hall of Famer passed in 2015.
9. Snares: TRAPS. Kramer got in deep trouble for poaching the lobster traps.
14. Birthstone after sapphire: OPAL. October stone. My birthday is coming up!
15. Without rocks, in a bar: NEAT. Years ago I always ordered my VO Manhattan on the rocks.
16. During: WHILE.
17. Texas Hold 'em, e.g.: POKER GAME. We always had a nickel ante poker game going in the caddy shack.
19. "__ Meenie": Kingston/Bieber song: EENIE. Minee Mo.
22. "One Night in Miami" actor Goree: ELI.
23. Notice: SPOT. 4392 dogs have this name.
24. Corn discard: COB. Always better on the COB than from the can.
27. Doctrine suffix: ISM.
29. Red root vegetables: BEETS. Also better not from a can.
38. Lavish party: GALA.
39. Bowler's target: PIN. The ten is the toughest. Too close to the gutter.
40. Online auction giant: EBAY. We have spent many hours there.
46. "That's unfortunate": SO SAD.
47. __ for the course: PAR. I would make them now and then.
48. Animal in some fables: ASS.
49. Fibs: LIES. Never on this blog.
52. Dot on a domino: PIP. I don't remember FATS having any.
61. Tim who was the first sophomore to win a Heisman: TEBOW.
62. Vanish: GO MISSING.
64. NBA venue: ARENA. Now they are usually named after a sponsor.
65. Southernmost Great Lake: ERIE. Have only seen Superior.
66. Music genre of the boy band BTS: K-POP. Never heard of them.
67. Late: TARDY.
68. Adjusts, as a clock: SETS. Partial tennis match.
69. Conifers with pliable wood: YEWS.
Down:
2. "__ further reflection ... ": UPON.
3. Powerful shark: MAKO.
4. West Point cadet: PLEBE.
5. School subject with lots of reading: ENGLISH. Been there, done that.
6. Lunch or brunch: MEAL. Done that too!
7. Two of the "California Dreamin'" quartet: MAMAS. On such a winter's day!
8. Totally believed: ATE UP.
9. Woofer's counterpart: TWEETER. Did Elon Musk buy this too?
10. "Better Call Saul" Emmy nominee Seehorn: RHEA.
11. "You __ seen nothin' yet": AIN'T. AIN'T AIN'T a word
12. Ballet bend: PLIE.
13. Recognizes: SEES.
18. Archaeological artifact: RELIC. Many churches have a RELIC of their namesake.
21. Post-shower wrap: ROBE. I just use a towel.
24. Bygone NYC punk club: CBGB.
25. Exams for Ph.D. candidates: ORALS.
26. "The Jungle Book" bear: BALOO. I thought this was a cat's name.
28. Deck-swabbing tools: MOPS. Does not work well on carpet.
30. Nights before special days: EVES. My birthday EVE is coming soon.
31. Fibula neighbor: TIBIA. My bones are still working. Not much meat on them anymore though.
32. Improvises vocally: SCATS.
34. Badgers constantly: NAGS. No comment.
35. In shape: FIT. Clothes are a bit loose now.
36. Small cut: SNIP.
37. Peepers: EYES. Jeepers creepers, where did you get them?
42. In the middle: HALFWAY. You are now over HALFWAY there.
43. "Garfield" dog: ODIE.
44. Diapers, in Britain: NAPPIES. Afternoon sleep in the US.
45. Holds tight: GRIPS. Great for the golf clubs
50. Barely beats (out): EDGES.
51. Fern seed: SPORE.
53. Hard to get rid of: PESKY. Johnny was an infielder for the Red Sox.
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54. Bit of sports trivia, for short: STAT. Makes MLB more interesting
55. Hard drive capacity prefix: TERA.
56. Ridesharing rival of Lyft: UBER. C.C. uses it occasionally. I do not like it.
57. Sweet on, with "of": FOND.
58. Give off: EMIT. Thank you sun.
59. Ready to eat: RIPE.
60. Winter forecast: SNOW. Only about 4-5 months here in Minnesota.
63. Navigation tech: GPS. Global Positioning System.
Boomer
Notes from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to Wilbur Charles (Bill), a Vietnam veteran who's been posting on our blog regularly for quite a few years.
