Theme: That's Amore (A-more) - A is added to the start of each common phrase/word.
25A. Bit of support on the job?: AMEN AT WORK. Men at work.
42A. Leave everyone amazed?: AWE THE PEOPLE. We the people.
67A. In-house water source?: ABODE WELL. Bode well.
98A. Collect music publishing copyrights?: AMASS NUMBERS. Mass numbers.
119A. Legislative branch that is mindful and introspective?: AWARE HOUSE. Warehouse.
3D. Rock collector?: AGATE KEEPER. Gatekeeper.
6D. Stood up as friends?: AROSE BUDS. Rose buds.
72D. Row in Petco?: AISLE OF DOGS. Isle of Dogs.
83D. Mixture for a Pennsylvania Dutch brewer?: AMISH MASH. Mishmash.
Very consistent. All the A's are inserted in the front.
Quite
a gridding feat. The four Downs intersect four of the Across theme
entries. I don't think I've done this for a Sunday grid before.
Intersection sometimes makes the filling easier, sometimes it brings
knotty spots.
Across:
1. Refrigerator handle: AMANA. Ha, nice handle.
6. Rideshare updates, for short: ETAS.
10. Pencils that are hard to sharpen: STUBS.
15. In need of resupply, maybe: BARE.
19. Asperity: RIGOR. Never used "asperity" before.
20. TV producer Spencer: LARA. Knew her from "Antiques Roadshow" days.
21. Put forward: POSIT.
22. Lacking a paper trail: ORAL.
23. About to explode: IRATE.
24. Blondie drummer Burke: CLEM. Short for Clement.
27. Blues legend James: ETTA.
28. Partridge family member: PHEASANT.
30. Dune plants: GRASSES.
31. Scottish herders, informally: SHELTIES.
33. Noble gas that's roughly 1% of the atmosphere: ARGON.
35. __ gin fizz: SLOE.
36. Arboreal marsupial: KOALA.
37. Hypoallergenic makeup brand: ALMAY.
39. Bouillon __: CUBES.
47. Farm female: HEN.
49. Glissade garb: TUTU.
50. Sushi roll topper: ROE.
51. Tristan and __: ISOLDE.
52. Like much of Montana: RURAL.
54. Dworshak structure: DAM. Not famliar with the Dworshak Dam. In Idaho.
55. Gets a move on: HOPS TO. And 60. Greets silently: NODS TO.
57. Legal term that means "guilty mind": MENS REA.
62. See 58-Down: ADELINE. 58. With 62-Across, barbershop standard: SWEET.
64. Broke off from a group: WENT SOLO.
66. Supermodel Banks: TYRA.
71. From Perth to Sydney: EAST.
75. Sanctimonious sort: PHARISEE. I think I learned this word from Boomer, or maybe from Father Charlie.
81. Goes after: CHASES.
84. Woodstock sextet: SANTANA.
88. Being: PERSON.
89. Sleep cycle: REM.
90. Not quite foggy: MISTY. Hi there, Misty!
92. Goodyear offering: RADIAL.
94. "__-in-the-Mist": novel by Hope Mirrlees: LUD. Learning moment.
95. Purple bloom: IRIS.
97. Post-dubbing title: SIR.
101. Like 101 courses: BASIC.
103. "Honest": NO LIE. And 4. Very little: NOT A LOT.
105. Light cigar: CLARO.
106. Letter-shaped beam: H BAR.
108. Sealy rival: SERTA.
110. County officers: SHERIFFS.
113. Daughter of Cronus and Rhea: DEMETER. Also 82. Daughter of Cronus and Rhea: HERA. And 118. Balder's father: ODIN.
116. One well-versed in competition?: SLAM POET. Nice clue/fill.
121. Bent: BIAS.
122. "Middle Child" rapper: J COLE.
123. "Being the Ricardos" role: DESI.
124. Basilica areas: APSES.
125. Almond shade: ECRU.
126. "Shucks!": OH GEE.
127. Labor agcy.: OSHA.
128. Vegetarian source of protein: BEANS. Not a fan of beans. I do like tofu though.
129. Coarse file: RASP.
130. Conquers: BESTS.
Down:
1. Astrological ram: ARIES.
2. Jollity: MIRTH.
5. "Blessed __ the meek": ARE.
6. Stingy sort: EL CHEAPO.
7. Chronicles: TALES.
8. Length x width, for a rectangle: AREA.
9. Kafka protagonist: SAMSA. "The Metamorphosis".
10. Sequin: SPANGLE.
11. Snareless drum: TOM TOM. Hi there, Tom, Tom!
12. Make the most of: USE.
13. Google alternative: BING.
14. Rating units: STARS.
15. Steps aside: BOWS OUT.
17. Scarce: RARE.
18. Group with lodges: ELKS.
26. Mineral replaced by cornstarch in most cosmetic powders: TALC.
28. Adds criticism to criticism: PILES ON.
29. North __ Sea: Kazakh lake: ARAL.
32. Island of French Polynesia known for black-sand beaches: TAHITI.
34. Language of central Mexico: NAHUATL.
38. "Programs! Git __ programs here!": YER. What does this mean?
40. Nouveau-Mexique, par exemple: ETAT.
41. Japanese wrestling: SUMO. The wrestlers eat sumo oranges.
42. Buddhist who has attained nirvana: ARHAT.
43. Buzz Lightyear's pal: WOODY.
44. Shade tree: ELM.
45. Laudatory poem: ODE.
46. Cross product: PEN.
48. Tech startup?: NANO. Another great clue.
52. Actress Russo: RENE.
53. "hehe": LOL.
56. Smacks: SLAPS.
59. DVR button: REW.
61. "All the Light We Cannot See" novelist Anthony: DOERR. We had him before.
63. Ring bearer, maybe: EAR.
65. Camera type, briefly: SLR.
68. Casual cafes: BISTROS.
69. Anthem opener: O SAY.
70. TV room: DEN.
73. Use elbow grease on: SCOUR.
74. Cares for: TENDS.
76. Alter, in a way: HEM.
77. Clearance rack caveat: AS IS.
79. Shoulder ornament: EPAULET.
80. California beach town with a historic racetrack: DELMAR.
81. Nursery piece: CRIB.
85. Longtime Notre Dame coach Parseghian: ARA.
86. "If I Ruled the World" rapper: NAS.
87. Infomercials, e.g.: ADS.
91. Gluttony, e.g.: SIN.
93. Creeps: INCHES UP.
96. Risk territory: SIBERIA.
98. Close: AIRLESS. I don't get this clue.
99. Self-referential: META.
100. Eggy bun: BRIOCHE. Looks so soft.
102. "Tár" Oscar nominee Blanchett: CATE.
104. Abate: LESSEN.
107. Get-well program, briefly: REHAB.
109. "Waves of grain" color: AMBER.
110. Takes off: SOARS.
111. Boneless cut: FILET.
112. Bygone blades: SNEES.
113. Carpentry slot: DADO.
114. Farm females: EWES.
115. Tire swing holder: ROPE.
117. 12-point type: PICA.
120. Winner of all but three Olympic women's basketball championships: Abbr.: USA. I bet this is Patti's clue.
122. Indeed.com listing: JOB.
Big Easy's granddaughter
Janie scored 26 points in her final HS home game. Here she is with her
coach. Big Easy had a few health hurdles in the past few weeks. Glad the
toughest part is over, George!
C.C.
