Theme: "Creatures of Habit" - Each common phrase, in the pattern of *ING + creature, is humorously rephrased.
22. Canine that thinks it's an old-timey news announcer?: CRYING WOLF.
32. Bird that thinks it's a television show host?: TALKING TURKEY.
48. Marsupial that thinks it's an actor?: PLAYING POSSUM.
67. Tabbies that think they're collies?: HERDING CATS.
86. Insects that think they're outfielders?: CATCHING FLIES.
99. Lambs that think they're census takers?: COUNTING SHEEP.
115. Bird that thinks it's a restaurant critic?: EATING CROW.
I wonder who came up with the title. So perfectly captures the theme/clue approach of this puzzle.
Here is a short bio of Rebecca. Here is Rachel's website. Both are amazing constructors.
Across:
6. Whole bunch: SCAD.
10. "I did it!": TA DA.
14. Spumante specification: BRUT.
18. Faith with a shrine in the Hanging Gardens of Haifa: BAHAI. I bet Hahtoolah has been here.
19. Healing succulent: ALOE.
20. Silent stars?: MIMES. Lovely clue.
21. "The Chi" creator Waithe: LENA.
24. Bikini in the Pacific, e.g.: ATOLL.
25. Eager: AVID.
26. Any minute now: SOON.
27. Corvallis sch.: OSU. Oregon State University. The Beavers.
Tom Pepper graduated from University of Oregon. The Ducks. This picture
was taken on Nov 1, 2013. He likes that hat.
28. Ridiculous: INANE.
29. Flanged fasteners: T NUTS. Also 74. Minor in Hollywood: D LIST. 81. Cable network that's a nonprofit: C SPAN.
30. Willingness to support: BUY IN.
36. Contacted privately, in a way: DM'ED.
38. Craps cube: DIE.
39. Egyptian peninsula: SINAI.
40. Ingredient in some vegan marshmallows: AGAR.
42. "The curl experts" hair care brand: OUIDAD. Unfamiliar to me. What does the word mean?
45. Tourney favorite: TOP SEED.
51. Agcy. that oversees PubMed: NIH.
52. Snare: NET.
54. Cambridgeshire cathedral city: ELY.
55. Brewery shipments: CASES.
56. Cheer syllable: RAH.
58. Snapple rival: NESTEA.
60. "Homeland" org.: CIA.
61. Opposite of 33-Down: HOLA. 33. Opposite of 61-Across: ADIOS.
62. Sets to zero, as a scale: TARES. Learned from doing crosswords.
64. Runs very slowly: SEEPS.
65. Alight: LAND.
71. Pound sounds: ARFS.
72. Pot payments: ANTES.
75. Inflict upon: DO TO.
77. Italian three: TRE.
78. Big name in financial services: SCHWAB. They bought TD Ameritrade last year.
80. Fashion monogram: YSL.
82. Trouble: AIL.
83. Observe: SEE.
84. Cozy room: DEN.
90. Teensy bit: SMIDGEN.
93. Wool type: MERINO.
94. Olympic swimmers Crocker and Thorpe: IANS. Ian Thorpe is known for his powerful 6-beat kicks. We also have 104. Swim events: MEETS.
95. "Groovy": NEATO.
96. Picture of Pluto?: CEL. Pluto the dog.
97. "Star __": WARS.
107. Takes a victory lap, maybe: TROTS.
108. Reads (over): PORES.
109. Frozen solid?: ICE.
111. Caramel candy sold in a tube: ROLO.
113. Word after "Lavender" and "Purple," in song titles: HAZE.
114. Red Monopoly piece: HOTEL.
118. Finished: OVER.
119. __ City: Pittsburgh: STEEL.
120. "__ did I just watch?": WHAT.
121. Don: PUT ON.
122. Try again: REDO.
123. Little helper?: ASST. Little hints at Abbr.
124. Simplicity: EASE.
125. Pedometer units: STEPS.
Down:
2. Pod used as a chocolate substitute: CAROB.
3. "Such a flirt!": OH YOU.
4. Occasion to carry an umbrella: RAINY DAY. Cloudy, rainy here, but not cold.
5. Diarist Anaïs: NIN.
6. Carpentry tools: SAWS.
7. Social capital: CLOUT.
8. Pioneering ISP: AOL.
9. Pt. of HDTV: DEF.
10. Phoebe or Cronus: TITAN.
11. Surrounded by: AMONGST.
12. Mutation that removes a DNA sequence: DELETION. Might be Rachel's clue.
13. Interpretation first provided for a SOTU address in 2021: ASL.
14. Comfort item for some tots: BLANKIE.
15. Light show?: REVUE.
16. Principle celebrated on the first night of Kwanzaa: UNITY.
17. Iotas: TADS.
20. __-pedi: MANI. Someone asked about my hand cream last week. This saved me.
23. Used up: GONE.
28. Stores with Småland play areas: IKEAS.
29. Gives a zero-star review, say: TRASHES.
31. Cry from a Mega Millions winner: I'M RICH.
34. Ball caps or bottle caps: LIDS.
35. Remove from the top of an inbox, say: UNPIN.
37. Musher's conveyance: DOGSLED.
40. Partnerships: ALLIANCES.
41. Jam at a Pride Parade: GAY ANTHEM.
43. Awake before the alarm: UP EARLY.
44. Headwear sported by Rihanna on the cover of British Vogue: DURAG. Preferred over DORAG
46. Consider, as an idea: ENTERTAIN.
47. Prepares at a state fair, perhaps: DEEP-FRIES. Come here and try our fried pickles.
48. Gym: PE CLASS.
49. Lye, in a lab: NAOH.
50. Syst. between Baltimore and D.C.: MARC. OK, Maryland Area Rail Commuter. Unknown to me.
53. Fez danglers: TASSELS.
57. Enters: HEADS IN.
59. __ cucumber: SEA.
62. Blast letters: TNT.
63. "This is your last warning!": STOP NOW.
66. Droplets on a cobweb: DEW.
68. LP or EP, e.g.: DISC.
69. Official religion of Djibouti: ISLAM.
70. Deer sir: STAG.
73. Turns blue?: SADDENS.
76. Burning: ON FIRE.
79. Sired: BEGAT.
81. Easter Island's country: CHILE.
85. Nasal irrigation vessels: NETI POTS. Looks uncomfortable.
87. Backstage crew: TECHS.
88. First Nations people: CREE.
89. Like some intricate designs: LASER CUT.
91. Before birth: IN UTERO.
92. "I love everything you've done here": NO NOTES. Just perfect.
98. "I'll drink to that": AMEN.
99. Hunger for: CRAVE.
100. Ran very slowly: OOZED.
101. Receive: GREET. I mentioned last time that I bumped into
Boomer's old colleague Steve at the pool last month. He kindly invited
me as his guest to the annual Graybar Retiree Luncheon. The couple in
the second picture told me about their granddaughter, who received the
very last Debra Burnikel Scholarship.
 |
| C.C. & Steve Bauer, 12/14/2023 |
 |
| Joan, Allen Silver & C.C. |
102. Put on the market: SELL.
103. Breads with pockets: PITAS.
105. Rich cake: TORTE. Graybar had this and carrot cake on their menu.
106. Single-masted sailboat: SLOOP.
107. Mjölnir wielder: THOR.
110. Give credit to: CITE.
112. Possesses: OWNS.
114. Employee benefit option, for short: HSA. Health Savings Account.
115. Manchego source: EWE.
116. Cry of recognition: AHA.
117. Path finder in a Pathfinder, briefly: GPS.
C.C.
