Gifts for Girls and Boys!
When the girls were little, they'd get to OPEN one present from us on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, they'd see what Santa brought (mostly unwrapped and built the night before).
In this Christmas Eve offering, Taylor gives us gifts that a trained eye will spot at the beginning of four answers. Let's see what they are:
17a. Asset of a highly skilled individual: TRAINED EYE.
25a. Lizard with a misleading name: HORNY TOAD.
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| Cute little fella |
47a. "The Nutcracker" performer: BALLERINA. Both Girls took ballet. For years, we schlepped -- at least one girl -- to four performances in December.
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| Source: Houston Ballet |
61a. List of cheap eats: DOLLAR MENU.
And the reveal:
38a. Christmas morning activity, and what 17-, 25-, 47-, and 61-Across all have?: OPENING PRESENTS.
Each themer Opens with a Present! Let's unwrap the rest of Taylor's gifts...
Across:
1. Casino ratios that favor the house: ODDS. The house always wins.5. Button alternatives: SNAPS.
10. Sir equivalent: DAME. Sir Elton John [Colbert 18+m]; DAME Judi Dench. [Tracey Ullman 2:25]
14. Schnitzel meat option: PORK.
15. Holy scroll of Judaism: TORAH.
16. Gulf nation bordering Yemen: OMAN.
17. [See: theme]
19. Orange skin: RIND. I had peel 'cuz that's what I zest ;-)
20. Bend under pressure: SAG.
21. Provide a welcome distraction: AMUSE. I wonder if Dame Judi was AMUSEd by Tracey's sketch.
22. Door joint: HINGE.
23. Key NFL players: QBS. QuarterbackS
25. [See: theme]
27. Personal energy fields: AURAS.
29. Early investor's opportunity, briefly: IPO. Initial Public Offering.
30. Urgent entreaty: PLEA.
31. Home of the University of Oregon: EUGENE.
35. Settle on a chair: SIT.
38. [See: theme]
41. Large amount: TON.
42. Half step down from D natural: C SHARP.
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| Both Java and C# are programming languages (yes, I am a nerd) |
43. Twilight time: DUSK.
44. Nat __: documentary channel: GEO.
45. Sticky, as the weather: MUGGY.
47. [See: theme]
53. Implore: BEG.
54. Opera soliloquies: ARIAS.
55. Like Thor and Odin: NORSE. Thems NORSE gods.
57. Tupperware topper: LID. Mom was a Tupperware lady for a while. I learned how to burp the lid at parties :-).
Mom was no Brownie Wise
60. Mercedes-__: BENZ. Janis Joplin* sang about this German auto maker.
61. [See: theme]
63. Olympic blade: EPEE.
64. Bit of inside info: INTEL.
65. Adorable: CUTE.
66. Shore thing?: SAND.
67. Gaggle members: GEESE.
68. Television ad: SPOT.
Down:
1. Votes (for): OPTS.2. Cartoon explorer with a talking backpack: DORA. The Girls loved Dora cartoons.
3. Adore Delano or Plastique Tiara: DRAG QUEEN. Perps half filled this before it became obvi.
4. Traverse a black diamond slope, say: SKI.
Movie: Better Off Dead
5. Thorny rose part: STEM.
6. "Obviously!": NO DUH. Obvi.
7. "You __ welcome!": ARE SO.
8. Venmo user, maybe: PAYER. Venmo is an app to pay folks. My paper deliver put her Venmo on her tip request insert.
9. Pronoun option: SHE.
10. Cool Ranch chip: DORITO.
11. __ acid: AMINO.
12. Japanese comic style: MANGA.
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L337 Translation: Panel 1: "The Pain!" Panel 2: "I need help!" and "I need you to get the doctor. I got some bad pain in my chest. I need my pills." Panel 3: Does anyone here speak "eleet"? Panel 4: "Yes" //told you I was a nerd ;-) |
13. Stopped: ENDED.
18. Mars rover org.: NASA. The history of NASA's logos.
22. Amps (up): HYPES.
24. Muffin fiber: BRAN.
R.I.P. Phil Hartman
26. Prime-time hour: NINE PM. The SNL Players were not ready for Prime-time.
27. Pet aisle brand: ALPO.
28. Motion detector, e.g.: SENSOR.
30. Planter: POT.
32. Groaning sound: UGH.
33. College application fig.: GPA. Grade Point Average.
34. Go off course: ERR.
35. Get cozy together: SNUGGLE UP.
36. Teeny: ITSY.
37. "How naughty!": TSK.
39. Some slushies: ICEES.
40. Rim: EDGE.
44. Sticky, as a doughnut: GLAZED.
46. Cab alternative: UBER.
47. "__ in Toyland": Christmas classic: BABES.
48. Venezuelan snack: AREPA.
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| Yummers! |
49. Summery material: LINEN.
50. Hole-__: golf feat: IN ONE.
51. Nick of "Affliction": NOLTE.
52. French city in many van Gogh paintings: ARLES.
56. Garage event: SALE.
58. "__ the Woods": Sondheim musical: INTO.
59. Couple's karaoke request: DUET.
61. Use a spade: DIG.
62. Hosts, for short: MCS. Emcees.
The Grid:
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| The Grid |
Taylor gifted us a nice Tuesday puzzle fit for the holidays, Oui?
The skinny: WO: peel -> RIND
ESPs: N/A
Fav: A Mercedes-BENZ for Janis.*
Merry Christmas & Happy (start of) Hanukkah!
//If that's not your thing... Happy Festivus!
Cheers!, -T
*Story: Last New Year's, we visited DW's aunt in Tiburon, CA. We, however stayed in nearby Sausalito.
DW found this wonderful Air B&B. During our stay, we learned that it was a house Janis Joplin had lived in.
One afternoon for lunch, we met up with DW's cousin (who lives in LA, CA) at The Trident (opened by the Kingston Trio!) that had a few pictures of Janis (and her car) on the walls... We even got to sit at Janis' regular table. How cool is that?
