Sunday October 23, 2022 Pam Amick Klawitter

Theme: "I Needed a Change" - Long I sound is changed into short A sound.

26. Parliamentary official overseeing strollers?: BRITISH PRAM MINISTER. British Prime Minister.

33. Brave showing at the bug zapper?: ONE GNAT STAND. One-night stand.

52. Clean halfheartedly?: BAT THE DUST. Bite the dust.

63. Guy who invented tiny nails?: FATHER OF THE BRAD. Father of the Bride.

81. Excellent reason to avoid a career as a milliner?: FEAR OF HATS. Fear of heights.

93. Evidence that leads to identity thieves?: HACKING TRAIL. Hiking trail.

99. How one kisses a famous rock at Blarney Castle?: NOSE TO THE GRAND STONE. Nose to the grindstone.

Another creative sound change gimmick from Pam. I would never came up with the title. Husker Gary-ish. Amazing!

Across:

1. Chunks of marble: SLABS.

6. Private eye: TEC. Detective.

9. Wild hog: BOAR.

13. Word of welcome: HELLO. Ni hao!

18. Sly: CAGEY.

19. Brand of sport sandals: TEVA. Meaning "nature" in Hebrew.

20. Blue area on a map: LAKE.

21. Universal principle: AXIOM.

22. Broadcaster: AIRER.

23. U.S. citizen: AMER.

24. "No warranties": AS IS.

25. Speed-reads: SCANS.

30. Poke bowl tuna: AHI.

31. Wine sediment: LEES.

32. Calendar boxes: DAYS.

39. Côte d'Azur view: MER.

40. Barge: SCOW.

44. California's __ Alto: PALO.

45. Fake ID flashers: MINORS.

46. Charge toward: RUN AT.

48. Pie __ mode: A LA. Can't even interest Boomer with pies or cookies these days. Sigh.

49. Like this answer: ACROSS.

51. Blue chip called "Big Blue": IBM. Juliet Wu was the GM of IBM China back in the late 1990s.

54. Horned African grazer: RHINO.

55. Farm enclosure: STY.

56. Trees with caffeine-rich nuts: KOLAS.

57. Zero out: RESET.

58. Besides: TOO.

59. OB or ENT: DOC.

61. Bounded: LEAPT.

62. Putting spots: GREENS.

67. Breakfast cereal magnate: CW POST.

70. "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" Oscar nominee: DAVIS. Viola.

71. Cartoonist Chast: ROZ.

72. Spot for withdrawals: ATM.

75. "Yeah, sure": UH HUH.

76. "For sale by" sign poster: OWNER.

77. John of the "Harold & Kumar" films: CHO.

79. Allende novel about a masked hero: ZORRO. Isabel Allende.

83. __ goo gai pan: MOO.

84. "Hurry up!": MOVE IT.

85. Notes before sols: FAS.

86. Mates: PAIRS.

87. Betting tactic: PARLAY.

89. Kin of -trix: ENNE.

90. Fr. holy women: STES. Saintes.

92. Dad __: BOD.

95. Animation collectibles: CELS.

97. Xperia Tablet maker: SONY.

98. Forest female: DOE.

107. "Cancel the launch!": ABORT.

109. Suffix with buck: AROO. And 3. Farming prefix: AGRI.

110. NFL analyst Tony: ROMO.

111. Light fabric: LINEN. Looks nice. Wrinkles so easily though.

112. Free-for-all: MELEE.

113. Dash dial: TACH.

114. Profess: AVOW.

115. "Miss Congeniality 2: __ and Fabulous": ARMED.

116. Stop: CEASE.

117. Humboldt River city: ELKO.

118. "That's correct": YES.

119. Watermelon leftovers: SEEDS.

Down:

1. Sign of healing: SCAB.

2. Dragon's digs: LAIR.

4. Vegetable in red flannel hash: BEET. Google shows Red flannel hash is just corned beef hash with beets.

5. Aleppo native: SYRIAN.

6. Fill-in worker: TEMP.

7. At any time: EVER.

8. Parking lot siren: CAR ALARM.

9. Threw under the bus: BLAMED.

10. Desert hangout: OASIS.

11. Analogous: AKIN.

12. Doctors-in-training: RESIDENTS. Have seen quite a few in VA radiology.

13. Rash: HASTY.

14. Surplus: EXCESS.

15. "That's not true!": LIAR.

16. Chaney of horror: LON.

17. Sounds in a yoga studio: OMS.

19. Island where Gauguin painted "Vahine no te tiare": TAHITI.

27. Fancy pillow covers: SHAMS.

28. Clothing department: MEN'S.

29. Figure skater Hughes: SARAH.

33. Eyeball benders: OP-ART.

34. Snack chip: NACHO.

35. California town whose name means "the river": EL RIO.

36. "Continue, please": GO ON.

37. Fit of pique: SNIT.

38. Kate's husband on "This Is Us": TOBY. Here they're.

39. Change into something new: MUTATE.

41. Bring about: CAUSE.

42. Jimmy of the Daily Planet: OLSEN.

43. Actress Naomi: WATTS.

46. "Invisible Man" writer Ellison: RALPH.

47. Mosaic flooring: TERRAZZO. Learning moment for me.

50. Malted spot: SODA SHOP.

52. Coast Guard fleet: BOATS.

53. Monopoly card: DEED.

55. UCLA or USC: SCH.

56. Mideast drink made from fermented milk: KEFIR. I don't drink milk, so never tried this.

60. Polo Grounds legend Mel: OTT. Big Easy sent me this a while ago.

61. Dotes on: LOVES.

62. Garden product syllable: GRO.

63. __ Corners: FOUR.

64. Norton of "Fight Club": EDWARD. Here with Brad Pitt.

65. Goes off: RANTS.

66. Sis's playmate: BRO.

67. Escape artist's props: CUFFS.

68. Whole __ bread: WHEAT.

69. Moon stage: PHASE.

72. Concert venue: ARENA.

73. "Lemon Tree" singer Lopez: TRINI.

74. Drive-up lodging: MOTEL.

76. Brutus Buckeye's home: OHIO STATE. Boomer paid closer attention to the Guardians this season because of his pen pal (and our blog reader) Janice.

77. Screw cap alternative: CORK.

78. Hindu festival of colors: HOLI.

80. "Back to you," on a walkie-talkie: OVER.

82. Aesop work: FABLE.

83. "I Try" Grammy winner: MACY GRAY.

84. Astonished cry: MY GOD.

87. French door piece: PANE.

88. "Here comes the next act": AND NOW.

91. Recap numbers: SCORES.

93. Syllables from Santa: HO HO HO.

94. Cars at a charging station: TESLAS. I'm terrible with cars. I don't even know what a Tesla looks like. OK, here's one.

 96. Cosmetician Lauder: ESTEE.

97. Inventory: STOCK.

99. French Quarter city, informally: NOLA.

100. Not written down: ORAL.

101. Wander around: ROVE.

102. "Silent All These Years" singer Tori: AMOS.

103. Flag: TIRE.

104. "Drinks are __": ON ME.

105. Call for: NEED.

106. Fades to black: ENDS.

107. "Preacher" network: AMC.

108. Quilting party: BEE.

We had a busy week. On Monday, Boomer visited his traveling league and said goodbyes to his longtime bowling buddies. On Tuesday he had another fall. His legs just gave in while I tried to get him off the toilet seat. Thankfully he did not get hurt. He was just a bit embarrassed to see the same fire department guys who helped us last month.

On Wednesday, the VA nurse removed the glucose monitor and the doc took Metformin off his med list. On Thursday, the Headland Hospice started the in-home hospice care and the Eucharistic Minister Bill Pavlik visited him.

Then on Friday and Saturday, we received lots of birthday cards with sweet notes from you guys! Boomer said "I did not know I have so many friends ..." He was surprised but delighted by your attention and love. We're only opening a few cards at a time so he can savor and have something to look forward to every day. It's Boomer's goal to live past January 1, 2023. 

C.C.

Boomer & His Friend Bill Whritenour, 10/17/2022