Theme: "Meditation Break" - OM is added to each common phrase.
23. Illumination in the Sugarhill Gang's car?: RAPPER'S DOME LIGHT. Rapper's Delight. The Sugarhill Gang song.
34. Critique of an overstuffed pillow?: TOO MUCH DOWN. Touch down.
47. Scriptures published in a garage?: HOME BREW BIBLE. Hebrew Bible.
66. Headline announcing a generous Butterball donation by an Oscar winner?: TOM HANKS' GIVING TURKEYS. Thanksgiving turkeys.
85. All-clear announcement near the Colosseum?: ROMAN RIOT OVER. Ran riot over.
99. Trite remark of the future?: BROMIDE-TO-BE. Bride-to-be.
110. Employee's explanation for intentional incompetence?: JUST DOOMING MY JOB. Just doing my job.
I mentioned before that Trent has his own website (Grid Therapy) where he regularly publishes puzzles.
Such
a creative theme. I would never thought of Tom Hanks for Thanks. Talk
about imagination. Quite a few cross-conferences in this puzzle. Might
be Trent's style.
Across:
1. Wafer brand: NECCO.
6. Con: SCAM.
10. Count in jazz: BASIE. Count Basie. First African-American to win a Grammy.
15. Artisan's online marketplace: ETSY.
19. Charity golf tourney: PRO-AM.
20. "Otello" baritone: IAGO.
21. Build up: AMASS.
22. "I like it!": NICE.
26. Michael of "The Lego Batman Movie": CERA. Robin.
27. __ pan: SAUTE.
28. Source of many quotes, for short: ANON.
29. Apple device?: CORER. Really apple.
30. Bones, perhaps: DOG TREATS.
38. Advance: INROAD.
39. Vientiane language: LAO. Our Asian store now carries both pork larb and beef larb.
41. Tirades: SCREEDS.
42. Floor: STUN.
43. "Gosh!": DEAR ME.
46. Toi et moi: NOUS.
51. Vexes: NETTLES.
56. Casual agreement: YEP.
57. Fish bait: LURES.
58. Nobelist Pavlov: IVAN. Died in 1936. Pavlov's dog. Conditioned reflex.
60. Some Indian music: RAGA. Also 89. Tikka masala bread: NAAN.
61. Heredity unit: GENE.
62. Anglican minister: VICAR. Father Charlie is Vicar General. So glad he was able to visit us during Boomer's last days.
64. Porch seats: SWINGS.
72. Snobbish: SNOOTY.
73. Aspect: FACET.
74. Tahiti sweetie: AMIE.
75. Athletic tear spots, for short: ACLS. Anterior Cruciate Ligament.
76. Carnival ride destination: PORT.
77. Schism results: SECTS.
79. Corner PC key: ESC.
82. Cause of some delays: RED TAPE. Social Security is a bit bureaucratic.
91. Least likely to be found: RAREST.
92. Kotb of "Today": HODA.
93. Literal and metaphorical danger spot: THIN ICE.
96. Not quite the worst grade: DEE.
97. Pickleball smashes: SPIKES. And 90. Pickleball barrier: NET.
102. Press corps members: REPORTERS.
105. Cheek colorer: ROUGE.
106. Squat: NADA.
108. Filing jobs, briefly: MANIS.
109. Lhasa __: APSO.
117. Invite information: WHEN.
118. Habitual: USUAL.
119. Bagpiper's garb: KILT.
120. French wine valley: LOIRE.
121. Wall St. index, familiarly: NYSE.
122. Like some rom-coms: SAPPY.
123. Goes: SAYS.
124. Maxwell House alternative: YUBAN. Boomer liked Folgers.
Down:
1. "Sunday Puzzle" airer: NPR. 40. Shapiro of 1-Down: ARI.
2. The Carter __: ERA.
3. "What a __-out!": COP.
4. Crowning achievement: CAPSTONE.
5. Mark in the World Golf Hall of Fame: OMEARA. Used to be very close to Tiger.
6. Blues great __ Monica Parker: SISTA. Learning moment for me.
7. Academy trainee: CADET.
8. In the past: AGO.
9. NYC cultural center: MOMA. The Starry Night is there.
10. "The Jungle Book" bear: BALOO.
11. __ acid: AMINO.
12. Droop: SAG.
13. "Kinda": ISH.
14. Approximate fig.: EST.
15. Make secret, in a way: ENCODE.
16. Steering system part: TIE ROD.
17. Threaded fasteners: SCREWS.
18. Thirst (for): YEARN.
24. Wished for a do-over: RUED.
25. Lay to rest: ENTOMB.
29. Lungs locale: CHEST.
30. Full of gossip: DISHY.
31. Doing a pirouette, say: ON TOE.
32. Oscar the Grouch, e.g.: GRUMP.
33. Hunks: SLABS.
35. AOL rival: MSN.
36. The NCAA's Huskies: U CONN. Women's basketball powerhouse.
37. One of two words with an umlaut in a metal band's name: CRUE. Mötley Crüe.
43. Actor Jacobi: DEREK.
44. Lea grazer: EWE. 48. 44-Down's sound: BLEAT.
45. Call forth: ELICIT.
49. Far from hard-boiled: RUNNY. And 54. Like soufflés: EGGY.
50. __ Rachel Wood of "Westworld": EVAN.
52. Tot's transport: TRIKE.
53. Alley assignment: LANE.
55. Lip: SASS.
59. Evita's land: Abbr.: ARG.
61. Drop without warning, in a way: GHOST. As in text, e.g.
62. Triumphant one: VICTOR. 93. Prize for a 62-Down: TROPHY.
63. "__ seen better": I'VE.
64. Total: SUM TO.
65. Place for a bangle: WRIST. Jade bangles are very popular in
Guangzhou. Real jade can be pricey. Lao Pan gifted Carmen a light green
one for her birthday a few years ago. It cost RMB9,0000 ($1,300).
66. Nicholas II title: TSAR.
67. Previously: ONCE.
68. Orthodontist's creation: MOLD.
69. Airport with a BART station: SFO.
70. Teri of "Oh, God!": GARR.
71. Unspoken: TACIT.
76. Harmony: PEACE.
77. Show scorn: SNEER.
78. Hosp. areas: ERS.
79. Call forth: EVOKE.
80. Meal with vegetables dipped in salt water: SEDER.
81. Boorish: CRASS.
83. "Little Girls" musical: ANNIE.
84. Took care of dinner, say: PAID.
86. Got by: MADE DO.
87. "__ we there yet?": ARE.
88. Cold open?: OH IT'S YOU. I like the clue/answer.
94. Green Monopoly pieces: HOUSES.
95. "That's it for me!": I'M GONE.
97. Playlist unit: SONG.
98. In a rigidly formal way: PRIMLY.
99. Muscle: BRAWN.
100. Handy: ON TAP.
101. "This'll end __": BADLY.
103. Post of propriety: EMILY. Emily Post.
104. Trousers: PANTS.
107. Astronaut's go-aheads: A-OKS.
110. Prime rib au __: JUS.
111. Forever Stamp letters: USA.
112. "Yo": SUP.
113. Actress Wasikowska: MIA. She's an Australian.
_(cropped).jpg)
114. Triangular sail: JIB.
115. British singer Rita: ORA.
116. Big __: London landmark: BEN. Did any of you see our Steve at the Coronation? He's been in the UK for a few days.
I
had a great walk at Springbrook Nature Reserve last Thursday with my
sister-in-law Connie and our friend Tom Pepper, the crossword
constructor based here in Minnesota. Afterwards Tom treated us to a
delicious Thai lunch. I had the most amazing papaya salad, mild version
of course, as I can't handle the hot pepper. Thai chili is something
else.
 |
| C.C. & Connie |
 |
| Tom & C.C., 5/4/2023 |
