THEME:
A rhyme for Clear AYES. Each of the four themes answers are two word phrases which are sound alikes for a word ending with IZE. What makes this even more special, hearti accomplishes this feat with each second word a different spelling of the sound of "IZE." The two word phrases also end and begin with the same letter to preserve the sound. This is another wonderful glimpse into the punny, funny mind of our dear marti. Naturally she begins with a ski reference. let's start on our downhill run.....
17A. Trendy ski area? : POPULAR RISE.(11) (POPULARIZE) We all wanted a particular resort, until the perps cleared that hurdle.
26A. Monogrammed neckwear? : ALPHABET TIES. (12) (ALPHABETIZE). I have some shirts, but no ties with initials.
45A. Red, blue and green food colors? : STANDARD DYES. (12) (STANDARDIZE) My favorite.
61A. Indicators of royal contentment? : QUEENS SIGHS. (11) (QUEENSIZE). I cannot decide if this really one word or two, but you should have the theme by now anyway.
no unifier so we are going to go....
Across:
1. Where a canary sings : PERCH. We're off.
6. Loser's catchphrase : NO FAT. Ah, that kind of loser, a dieter.
11. Blackjack variable : ACE. This word has so many meanings, from military fighter pilots, to a golfer's hole in one, a test well taken...
14. Last Olds model : ALERO.
15. Living proof : PULSE. Love this clue, it is literal but very tricky as they do check the pulse to see if the victim is still living.
16. Test to the max : TAX. Did this puzzle TAX your brain?
19. Front-end protector : BRA. Like THIS?
20. Assumed name: ANONYM. The less famous Pseudonym.
21. Diamond offense: SPITBALL. Baseball diamond; a pitch outlawed in the 30's.
23. Skelton's Kadiddlehopper : CLEM.
25. Tried to hit : SHOT AT.
31. Levi alternative : LEE. I love this AD. (1:00)
32. Mini successors? : NANOS.
33. Henhouse : COOP.
37. Scout's honor : AWARD. Cute boy scout pun.
39. Pub. with more than 100 Pulitzers. : NYT. Home to Will Shortz and others.
40. Serengeti heavyweight : RHINOceros.
41. Nonproductive : IDLE. Not around here, too much to do.
42. More than strange : EERIE.
44. Watch faces, briefly : LCD. Liquid Crystal Display.
49. Lesser partner : JUNIOR. A law firm staple.
52. Southern cuisine staple : PONE. See, made from corn.
53. Trucker's view : OPEN ROAD. A shout out no doubt to my recent exploits in the 26' Penske for 1991 miles, thanks m.
56. "Same old, same old": NO NEWS. Is good news?
60. Airport 100+ miles NW of PIT: CLE
63. Tease: KID. I am serious, I like this clue.
64. GI's home : U.S. OF A. My home too.
65. Ready and then some : EAGER. I am getting excited about the Down clues now, I can smell them
66. Mud bath site : STY. Not a SPA, devious.
67. Itty-bitty : EENSY. This is from the SIMS (2:26) video game.
68. Impedes : SLOWS. I hope all these tricks have not slowed anyone down too much.
Down:
1. Literary nickname : PAPA. Hemingway; since I grew my beard one of my lawyer friends want me to go to Key West and enter the contest.
2. The Phoenix of the NCAA's Southern Conference : ELON. My very first comment on this blog was about schools whose mascots did not end in "S." I also worked closely with a graduate of this fine institution.
3. Forfeited wheels : REPO.
4. Exercise unit : CRUNCH. The word makes my abs hurt; personally I would rather have a candy bar.
5. Pilgrimage destination : HOLY LAND.
6. "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" airer : NPR. Wonderful show; let's go BEHIND THE SCENES.(8:00)
7. Relative of mine : OURS. Really well done, misdirection, not a relative hers, well sort of...
8. Yes-or-no decision method : FLIP. The coin.
9. Original home of the Poor Clares : ASSISI. We have had this information a few times.
10. Raise canines? : TEETHE. Not in kennel but in your young child's mouth; also a pun on raising Cain.
11. Ready to swing : AT BAT. Baseball for C.C.
12. Sarkozy's wife ___ Bruni : CARLA. A FIRST LADY?
13. Put on a pedestal : EXALT. As I am sure Mr. Sarkozy does for Carla.
18. Low life? : AMEBA. I LOVE THIS! I am abandoning douche bag as my favorite insult and going to AMEBA (var.).
22. "The Garden of Earthly Delights" artist : BOSCH. I knew this because I read books by MICHAEL CONNELLY.he also appears often on CASTLE.
A rhyme for Clear AYES. Each of the four themes answers are two word phrases which are sound alikes for a word ending with IZE. What makes this even more special, hearti accomplishes this feat with each second word a different spelling of the sound of "IZE." The two word phrases also end and begin with the same letter to preserve the sound. This is another wonderful glimpse into the punny, funny mind of our dear marti. Naturally she begins with a ski reference. let's start on our downhill run.....
17A. Trendy ski area? : POPULAR RISE.(11) (POPULARIZE) We all wanted a particular resort, until the perps cleared that hurdle.
26A. Monogrammed neckwear? : ALPHABET TIES. (12) (ALPHABETIZE). I have some shirts, but no ties with initials.
45A. Red, blue and green food colors? : STANDARD DYES. (12) (STANDARDIZE) My favorite.
61A. Indicators of royal contentment? : QUEENS SIGHS. (11) (QUEENSIZE). I cannot decide if this really one word or two, but you should have the theme by now anyway.
no unifier so we are going to go....
Across:
1. Where a canary sings : PERCH. We're off.
6. Loser's catchphrase : NO FAT. Ah, that kind of loser, a dieter.
11. Blackjack variable : ACE. This word has so many meanings, from military fighter pilots, to a golfer's hole in one, a test well taken...
14. Last Olds model : ALERO.
15. Living proof : PULSE. Love this clue, it is literal but very tricky as they do check the pulse to see if the victim is still living.
16. Test to the max : TAX. Did this puzzle TAX your brain?
19. Front-end protector : BRA. Like THIS?
20. Assumed name: ANONYM. The less famous Pseudonym.
21. Diamond offense: SPITBALL. Baseball diamond; a pitch outlawed in the 30's.
23. Skelton's Kadiddlehopper : CLEM.
25. Tried to hit : SHOT AT.
31. Levi alternative : LEE. I love this AD. (1:00)
32. Mini successors? : NANOS.
33. Henhouse : COOP.
37. Scout's honor : AWARD. Cute boy scout pun.
39. Pub. with more than 100 Pulitzers. : NYT. Home to Will Shortz and others.
40. Serengeti heavyweight : RHINOceros.
41. Nonproductive : IDLE. Not around here, too much to do.
42. More than strange : EERIE.
44. Watch faces, briefly : LCD. Liquid Crystal Display.
49. Lesser partner : JUNIOR. A law firm staple.
52. Southern cuisine staple : PONE. See, made from corn.
53. Trucker's view : OPEN ROAD. A shout out no doubt to my recent exploits in the 26' Penske for 1991 miles, thanks m.
56. "Same old, same old": NO NEWS. Is good news?
60. Airport 100+ miles NW of PIT: CLE
63. Tease: KID. I am serious, I like this clue.
64. GI's home : U.S. OF A. My home too.
65. Ready and then some : EAGER. I am getting excited about the Down clues now, I can smell them
66. Mud bath site : STY. Not a SPA, devious.
67. Itty-bitty : EENSY. This is from the SIMS (2:26) video game.
68. Impedes : SLOWS. I hope all these tricks have not slowed anyone down too much.
Down:
1. Literary nickname : PAPA. Hemingway; since I grew my beard one of my lawyer friends want me to go to Key West and enter the contest.
2. The Phoenix of the NCAA's Southern Conference : ELON. My very first comment on this blog was about schools whose mascots did not end in "S." I also worked closely with a graduate of this fine institution.
3. Forfeited wheels : REPO.
4. Exercise unit : CRUNCH. The word makes my abs hurt; personally I would rather have a candy bar.
5. Pilgrimage destination : HOLY LAND.
6. "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" airer : NPR. Wonderful show; let's go BEHIND THE SCENES.(8:00)
7. Relative of mine : OURS. Really well done, misdirection, not a relative hers, well sort of...
8. Yes-or-no decision method : FLIP. The coin.
9. Original home of the Poor Clares : ASSISI. We have had this information a few times.
10. Raise canines? : TEETHE. Not in kennel but in your young child's mouth; also a pun on raising Cain.
11. Ready to swing : AT BAT. Baseball for C.C.
12. Sarkozy's wife ___ Bruni : CARLA. A FIRST LADY?
13. Put on a pedestal : EXALT. As I am sure Mr. Sarkozy does for Carla.
18. Low life? : AMEBA. I LOVE THIS! I am abandoning douche bag as my favorite insult and going to AMEBA (var.).
22. "The Garden of Earthly Delights" artist : BOSCH. I knew this because I read books by MICHAEL CONNELLY.he also appears often on CASTLE.
24. Teen Spirit deoderant brand : MENNEN. Never heard of this PRODUCT.
26. Kyrgyzstan border range : ALAI. I am so glad we saw this alternative to JAI___ recently.
27. Bawdy : LEWD. My kind of clue!
28. Series of rings : PEAL. Not like Mari, but in the bell tower.
29. Played around (with) : TOYED. Marti clearly was toying with us with these clues.
30. Letter shaped shoe fastener : T-STRAP. Like Mary Janes; not to be confused with G-strings.
34. Like some garage floors : OILY.
35. Almost never, maybe : ONCE. Oddly, this reminded me of the Rock Hudson line from a movie with Doris Day, where he explains to Tony Randall that Ms. Day's character is a Demi-virgin: tried it once and did not like it.
36. Pea jackets : PODS. Another nice misdirection if you know what a Pea Coat is.
38. Amber, for one : RESIN. made famous in the Jurassic Park movie and book.
40. Caroling consequences : RED NOSES. Nice visual.
43. Pressing needs? : IRONS. Again, a double clue.
46. Twisting force : TORQUE.
47. Stimulate : AROUSE. Did my BRA pic arouse anyone?
48. First stage of grief : DENIAL. Or are you all from Egypt and swim in the river.
49. Serious players : JOCKS. Also a strap word; hmm a mini theme maybe.
50. Like Mount Rushmore at night : UPLIT. Nothing to do with UPSKIRT, but like this
51. High maintenance : NEEDY. Five letters, hell, it had to be PEGGY, my first wife!
54. Many ages : AEON.
55. Dict. entries : DEFS. Definitions.
57. Food fought over in old food ads : EGGO. Leggo my eggo.
58. "Man, it's hot!" : WHEW. Yes, it is but we are almost done.
59. Red gp. : SSRS. Okay enough of this clue!
62. Rejection : NAY. Please do not go away mad, just time to go away.
Answer grid.
Once again a fun Friday romp in Marti's world; watch out for Isaac and get ready for Monday's party.
Until next time I leave you with this SONG. (2:38)
Lemonade
Note from C.C.:
Here are a few wonderful pictures from Spitzboov's Navy reunion trip last week to Groton, CT. I just love the third picture of him and his lovely wife Betty.
