DOGHOUSE
I
am pleased to see a puzzle that is a standard 15x15 grid, with no
circles, a SLEW of "quoted" clues, only a handful of proper names - but - we have a balance of thirteen 3LWs in both the Across and Down
clues still. Mr. Schlossberg has appeared before at the corner, dating as
far back as 2019, as far as I can see. The construction itself is a bit
odd, I must admit, with a "*" theme answer starting us off at 1A.;
enclosed in the parentheses are the necessary "parts" one would assemble
to complete the "project" for your pet. Those theme answers, with the
centered reveal to start;
38. Labors of love, perhaps, and what the answers to the starred clues are?: PET PROJECTS
1. *Messy place [wire mesh, posts, fasteners]: PIGPEN - I had PIG STY to start
20. *Area with little privacy [candy jar, rocks, aerator, water]: GOLDFISH BOWL - Geez, I hope that's a BIG candy jar
Klaus of American Dad !
57. *Dull and repetitive job [cardboard, dowel, popsicle sticks, glue, scissors]: HAMSTER WHEEL - this clue/answer doesn't quite jibe for me; not quite sure how to phrase it
A trippy Monster Magnet song; lyric @ 0:54
And one more "Doghouse" reference. . . .
And Away We Go~!
ACROSS:
7. Fuss: ADO
10. Barracks bosses: Abbr.: SGTs - I saw "Barack's" at first, so I thought "huh~?" Aliens~?
14. Verdi opera: OTELLO - the "Italian" adaptation of the Bard; Guiseppe Verdi = "Joe Green" ( thanks, Victor Borge )
15. Pride or lust: SIN - se7en was a great movie
16. Time in office: TERM - Barack did two "terms"
17. Lose feeling: GO NUMB - my bum went numb as I had to deliver and pick-up pipes 1100 miles round-trip; the place - a renovation shop in Alliance OH, A.R. Schopp's Sons Co., making organs and pipes for over 100yrs
18. Winter sport vehicle: ICE CANOE
22. Cuppa, to a Brit: TEA - I occasionally go for a "spot" of tea
25. "Get it?": "SEE~?"
26. Fair-hiring letters: EEO - Equal Employment Opportunity
27. Director Brooks: MEL - Comic movie genius
28. Genesis figure: ADAM
30. Michael of "Juno": CERA
32. Depend (on): RELY
33. Group summoned to a courthouse: JURY POOL - there's something "off" about the wording of this clue/answer, too - like jurOR would be better. . . .
36. Country duo Maddie & __: TAE - no clue; their website
41. Pup's bark: YAP - not YIP today
42. Landscape alternative: PORTRAIT - photos and printing orientation
45. Pine (for): ACHE - my first fill was LONG - Bzzzt~!
48. Uncork, say: OPEN - see 54D.
50. Gumbo pod: OKRA
51. "Please explain": "WHY~?"
52. Actress de Armas: ANA - filled via perps; her IMDb - once I looked, I realized she was the hot "Bond girl" in No Time To Die - I loved her scenes~!
53. Qty.: AMounT
56. Body part examined by an otolaryngologist: EAR - a long way to go for a 3LW; see 35D.
61. Insinuation: INNUENDO - OK, but what do you really mean~?
62. Dresser part: DRAWER
66. Shakespearean king: LEAR - more of the Bard
67. As well: TOO
68. Camden Yards ballplayer: ORIOLE - Waaay back when I was about 8yrs old, I thought this team had the coolest logo on their hats
69. French fashion magazine: ELLE
70. "Lisa From Temecula" sketch show, for short: SNL - crossword sketch show = Ektorp, and #13 for 3LW in the ACROSS
DOWN:
1. 1990s fad disc: POG - I was too old for this; essentially
collectible cardboard discs
2. "How was __ know?": "I TO"
3. Lead-in to Xer, Yer, and Zer: GENeration
4. Stop (up): PLUG - I had CLOG, then STOP, duh, because of STY, and it messed up my NW
5. "__ World": "Sesame Street" feature: ELMO'S
6. Highborn: NOBLE
7. "You wish!": "AS IF~!"
8. More fraught: DICIER
9. Many a kayak: ONE-SEATER
may the "oars" be with you
10. Wild guess: STAB - or WAG, if you're doing the crossword
11. Biological map subject: GENOME
12. Mortar-spreading tool: TROWEL - and what some women use to apply makeup
13. Like some compost bins: SMELLY - I suppose it would "smell", but is it smell-Y~? The kitchen garbage, that's a different story. . . .
19. Comedian Margaret: CHO - becoming a crossword staple
21. Interior design: DÉCOR
22. __ Mahal: TAJ - I uploaded an image of my "Garage Mahal" sign a couple of months ago
23. College URL ender: EDU
24. 50+ group: AARP - technically, I qualify - but I am resisting the fact that I am "OLD"
29. "Nonsense!": "MY EYE~!"
31. Get hitched in Vegas, perhaps: ELOPE
32. Hip again: RETRO - I noticed that yoga pants are going "retro" now. . . .
34. School org.: PTA
35. Foes: OPPONENTS - and a short way to get to a loooong answer
37. Play a part: ACT
39. "The Wolf of Wall Street" Oscar nominee Hill: JONAH - perps and WAGs
40. Sushi pairing: SAKE - Dah~! I tried the NORI first
43. Golden yrs. fund: IRA - I have two; one is funded by the proceeds from my investment account to avoid taxation - works for me
44. Road goo: TAR
45. Some time: AWHILE
46. Big name in perfume: CHANEL
I am "intimidated" by these ads with ripped men;
I feel like I'm "not allowed" to wear this cologne
47. Church songbook: HYMNAL
49. "Excuse me?": "PARDON~?"
52. Noshed: ATE
54. French red wine: MEDOC - I quit drinking, ergo I don't drink wine; I was unfamiliar with this answer. . . .
. . . but 1971 was a great year to be "born". . . .
55. __ firma: TERRA
58. "Yeah, I guess so": "SURE."
59. Cold-weather fabric: WOOL
60. Milk, in French: LAIT - Frawnche, but I knew this
63. Came in first: WON
64. Yalie: ELI - Connecticut~!
65. Agt.: REP - #13 in the DOWN
Splynter
