Tuesday, May 3, 2022 Catherine Cetta

For Book Lovers Only:  The word Book can come at the End of the word that the letters spell out to give us a new concept.  The circles make a nice Bookend for the letters in-between.

17-Across. "Almost!": NOT QUITE.  Notebook.

22-Across. Bargain hunter's event: RUMMAGE SALE.  Rule Book.

38-Across. Rush hour woe: COMMUTER TRAFFIC.  Comic Book.  Odd man out, since there are 3 letters at the beginning, and only 2 at the end of the answer.

49-Across. Lingers: HANGS AROUND.  Handbook.

And the Unifier:

61-Across. Items found on library shelves, and what are literally found in each set of circled letters: BOOKENDS.

Here's the Grid:

Across:

1. Prickly desert plants: CACTI.

6. Oolong and rooibos: TEAs.  Who knew there were so many types of teas.  Rooibos is a red tea and is considered an herbal tea because it is caffeine-free.

10. "The Problem With __": documentary about Indian stereotypes on "The Simpsons": APU.

13. In order to: SO THAT.  In order to complete this puzzle ...  So that I can complete this puzzle ...

14. Puts on edge: UNNERVES.

16. Springs for dinner: TREATS.

18. Distant: AFAR.

19. "Gorillas in the Mist" animal: APE.  Gorillas in the Mist is a 1988 film about Diann Fossey (Jan. 16, 1932 ~ Dec. 26, 1985) and her work in Rwanda with mountain gorillas.  Sadly, Fossey was murder in her research cabin in Rwanda.

21. Answering to: UNDER.  Think chain of command.

26. Dairy farm animal: COW.

27. Majestic homes: PALACES.  Do you know the difference between a Palace and a Castle?

32. As good as it gets: IDEAL.

36. News inits.: UPI.  United Press International.

37. __ Beds National Monument: LAVA.  I was not familiar with Lava Beds National Monument.  It looks beautiful and you can explore caves there.

42. Actress Falco: EDIE.  Edie Falco (née Edith Falco; b. July 5, 1963) is probably best known for her role as Carmela Soprano on the television series The Sopranos.

43. "I'm __ ears!": ALL.

44. Iona College athletes: GAELS.  Iona College is a private Catholic college in New Rochelle, New York.  The mascot looks a bit like a creepy Abe Lincoln.

45. Major plot twist in "The Wizard of Oz"?: TORNADO.  Cute clue!

47. Happy __ clam: AS A.

55. Permit: ALLOW.

59. Syst. with hand gestures: ASL.  As in American Sign Language.

60. Away from shore: ASEA.

64. Ludicrous: ABSURD.

66. Response to someone saying 65-Down, perhaps: BUNDLE UP.  //  And 65-Down: "It's c-c-cold": BRR!!!

67. Hairstyle that may be maintained by a professional "loctician": DREADS.

Bob Marley (Feb. 6, 1945 ~ May 11, 1981)

68. Had a bite: ATE.

69. Relay race segments: LEGS.

70. "R u for real?": SRSLY.  Text speak for Seriously.

Down:

1. Resort island in the Ionian Sea: CORFU.

2. First-stringers: A-TEAM.

3. __ City: Baltimore's nickname: CHARM.  Is this an ironic nickname for Baltimore?

4. Skin art, for short: TAT.

5. "We're on!": IT'S A GO.

6. Melodies: TUNES.

7. Roxy Music co-founder Brian: ENO.  Brian Eno (né Brian Peter George Eno; b. May 15, 1948) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.

Then and Now.

8. "__-Man and the Wasp": ANT.

9. Title with a "II," maybe: SEQUEL.  Do you think that there will be a sequel to 8-Down?

10. Passionate: AVID.

11. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg: PETE.  Pete Buttigieg (né Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg; b. Jan. 19, 1982) was the 32nd Mayor of South Bend, Indiana before he became the 19ht United States Secretary of Transportation.

12. Icon tapper: USER.

13. Polaris or Betelgeuse: STAR.

15. Part of RBI: RUN.  As in the baseball abbreviation for Runs Batted In.

20. Chapel bench: PEW.

23. Rights advocacy org.: ACLU.  As in the American Civil Liberties Union.  The ACLU has been around for over 100 years.

24. Datebook entry: Abbr.: APPT.

25. Wild animal's home: LAIR.

28. Communications code word for "A": ALFA. 

29. Casual eatery: CAFÉ.

30. Really, really bad: EVIL.

31. Biological pouches: SACS.

32. "Rhyme Pays" rapper: ICE-T.  Ice-T (né Tracy Lauren Marrow; b. Feb. 16, 1958) is known as Detective Tutuola on one of the Law & Order series.

33. Knucklehead: DODO.  CSO to our dear friend Dodo, who certainly wasn't a knucklehead.

34. Dubai dignitary: EMIR.  This is becoming a crossword staple.

35. "Right on!": AMEN.

36. http follower: URL.  The Uniform Resource Locator appears with some frequency in the puzzles.

39. "And here it is!": TA DA!

40. Musk of SpaceX: ELON.  Elon Musk (né Elon Reev Musk; b. June 28, 1971) has been the news a lot recently.  Enough said.

41. Seaweed gelatin: AGAR.  Agar makes the base for growing bacteria in the laboratory.

46. "Can't be helped": AH, WELL!

47. Pack animal: ASS.  This is becoming a crossword staple.

48. Light lunches: SALADS.

50. "Oh my gosh!" reactions: GASPS.

51. Fertile desert spots: OASES.

52. Garden-variety: USUAL.

53. Square: NERDY.

54. Both parents, in some families: DADS.

55. "Mamma Mia!" pop group: ABBA.

56. Boor: LOUT.

57. Only: LONE.

58. Approved, briefly: OK'D.

62. Word before a maiden name: NÉE.  Today's French lesson.

63. Really grooved on: DUG.

Now it's time to get back to my reading.

חתולה

Monday May 2, 2022 Robert E. L. Morris

Theme: I SEE (57. Words of comprehension, and a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues) - each theme entry is in the pattern of I* C*.

17. *Chilled caffeinated drink: ICED COFFEE.

28. *Cold War barrier: IRON CURTAIN.

44. *Close-knit, influential group: INNER CIRCLE.

60. *English name of a West African republic: IVORY COAST.

Boomer here. 

I had a little pratfall this past week and broke my left shoulder. C.C. is helping me around the house but I am pretty sure that I can drive with my right hand. Spring is almost here. No ICY CONDITIONS.

 Across:

1. Former Yankee slugger, familiarly: A-ROD.  I have many baseball cards of this guy.

5. Barrel of laughs: RIOT.  Our weather broadcasts.

9. "Joy of Cooking" writer Rombauer: IRMA.

13. Take away: MINUS.  Yes, MIN is in the US.

15. Skeleton prefix: ENDO.

16. Is sorry about: RUES.  I RUE the day I broke the arm.  It still hurts.

19. __-lock brakes: ANTI.  I think most models have these now.

20. Pt. of HDTV: DEF.

21. __ facto: IPSO.

22. "Moby-Dick" ship: PEQUOD.  The ships captain was Ahab but  I don't think he let Moby steer.              
24. Slim woodwind: OBOE.

26. Not well: ILL.  That would be me but you all know that. Chemo coming on Thursday

27. "Star Wars" pilot Dameron: POE.  

32. Blueprints: PLANS.  Very hard to read.

33. Orderly: NEAT.  C.C. keeps our home this way.  My job is the garden if winter ever ends.

34. Comply with: OBEY.  I did not obey the ER doctor.

38. Frying liquids: OILS.  Also paintings.

39. Holy book: BIBLE.

40. Small valley: DALE.  Racer Mr. Earnhardt as well.

41. Ward on "FBI": SELA.

42. Brazilian berry: ACAI. Some fruit I have never tried

43. Medicinal units: PILLS.  I keep the VA Pharmacy busy.

47. Legal org.: ABA. Yankee Aaron's batting average

50. Lummox: OAF.  Yankee Aaron J.

51. Peters out: DIES.

52. Tearjerker featuring Anna Chlumsky in her feature-film debut: MY GIRL.  Also a song by The Temptations.

54. Ceramics oven: KILN.

56. "__ the season ... ": TIS.  To be jolly!

59. Radar screen spot: BLIP.  I do not have radar, but sometimes my TV blips at me

63. Refrain syllables: LA LA.  Starts with FA

64. Majorino of "Veronica Mars": TINA.

65. Cosmetician Lauder: ESTEE.  Big name in smelly stuff.

66. Meadow moms: EWES.

67. Affirmative votes: YEAS.  Lots of politics going on out east.

68. Pass (through) slowly: SEEP.

Down:

1. In the thick of: AMID.

2. Risotto grain: RICE. A Roni. the San Francisco treat.

3. Part of the Three Musketeers' credo: ONE FOR ALL.

4. Lemon: DUD.  I disagree.  I like lemon on walleye.

5. NFL officials: REFS.

6. The 411: INFO.

7. "__ of Girls' Things": poem by Sharon Olds: ODE.

8. Metal tab that protects a shoe: TOE PLATE.  Pitching rubber.

9. Baghdad's country: IRAQ.

10. Accumulate, as charges: RUN UP.  We did some of this last week.

11. "Same here!": ME TOO.

12. "All kidding __ ... ": ASIDE. Sorry, I can never stop kidding.

14. Descendants: SCIONS.

18. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC. So, I wonder how much these guys are making when fill ups are $4.00 per gallon or more.

23. "Riverdale" actor Goree: ELI.

25. Tiny potted tree: BONSAI.

26. Slanted, as a typeface: ITALIC.  It means PAY ATTENTION .

28. 1970s tennis star Nastase: ILIE.  I never paid much attention to tennis.

29. Worldwide humanitarian gp.: UNICEF.  Right now they are devoting time to kids in Ukraine.

30. Concrete-reinforcing rod: REBAR.

31. "Sorry, can't help ya": NO DICE. You will never hear this at the craps table in Vegas.

32. Spots to buy stamps: Abbr.: POS.  Most are forever stamps now.

35. Mid-American Conference university in Indiana: BALL STATE.

36. Actress Fanning: ELLE.

37. "Of course!": YES.  We have no bananas.

39. Triteness: BANALITY.

43. Royal son: PRINCE.  Six years since his death, Minnesota is still honoring his memory.

45. Fin. neighbor: NOR.  Many of us transplanted Norwegians are here in MN.

46. In a lazy way: IDLY.

47. Saunter: AMBLE.  At my age that is called walking.

48. Internal regulation for a club: BYLAW.  I only know 1 to 5 wood and 3 to 9 iron.

49. Nimble: AGILE.  At my age, this word is not used.

53. Hoppy brews, briefly: IPAS.

54. Beer company based in Hawaii: KONA.  Silly me, I thought all beer came from Germany.

 

55. Some nest eggs, for short: IRAS.  Graybar took care of me however mine has money, not eggs.

58. Dance move: STEP.

61. "C'est la __!": VIE.

62. CIA predecessor: OSS.

Boomer

Sunday May 1, 2022 Patti Varol

Theme: "Work Clothes" - Each common phrase is humorously rephrased as if it's a work clothing fitting the person in the clue.

25A. What the housekeeper wore to work?: DUST JACKET.

27A. What the actor wore to work?: MOVIE SHORTS.

47A. What the messenger wore to work?: BICYCLE PUMPS.

68A What the truffle hunter wore to work?: MUSHROOM CAP.

91A. What the NASA scientist wore to work?: ASTEROID BELT.

111A. What the scholar wore to work?: SMARTY PANTS.

114A. What the groundskeeper wore to work?: GARDEN HOSE.

36D. What the conductor wore to work?: RAILROAD TIE.

46D. What the soda jerk wore to work?: COUNTER-SUIT.

Patti likes themes that are consistent,  narrowly-defined and humorous. She delivers what she likes. Super wacky answers and clues. Makes you LOL during the solving.

She also sticks to 144-worder for the cleanest fill. Very limited proper names.

Across: 

1. Kills time in an airport terminal, say: SHOPS. Here is the list of busiest airports in China. Lemonade stopped at #1 Guangzhou Airport a few years ago. It opened a few years after I left the city.

6. "Be there in __": A SEC.

10. Deposed Iranian ruler: SHAH.

14. __ Scotia: NOVA.

18. "Who's there?": HELLO.

19. Cuarón film nominated for 10 Oscars: ROMA. Won three.

20. As yet: TO NOW.

22. "Young Sheldon" star Armitage: IAIN. Unknown to me. He looks so happy.

23. No-frills type: ARIAL.

24. Debit slip: CHIT.

30. Look that way: SEEM TO.

31. Genesis locale: EDEN.

32. Body image, briefly: TAT.

33. Pass on, in a way: RETELL.

35. Runs: AIRS.

38. Wraparound dress: SARI.

40. Hyland of "Modern Family": SARAH. Very strong lady.

41. Bumbling one: SAD SACK.

44. "Abbott Elementary" TV network: ABC.

50. Country name on some euro coins: EIRE.

51. Jam: CLOG UP.

53. Hotmail alternative: AOL. Who else still use Hotmail besides me?

54. Writer Zora __ Hurston: NEALE. She wrote "Their Eyes Were Watching God".

56. Schlep: LUG.

57. Romance: COURT.

58. Backing: PRO.

59. Mennen product: AFTA.

61. Outlying communities: EXURBS.

63. Indian royalty: RANIS. or RAJAS.

64. Available if needed: ON CALL. Took three EMTs to get Boomer off the floor last Tuesday.

66. Back in: RETRO.

67. Routing abbr.: ATTN.

71. Big do: GALA.

74. "Shaun of the Dead" director Wright: EDGAR. He also directed "Last Night in Soho".

76. Pie choice: CHERRY.

77. Relinquishes: CEDES.

78. Quite steamy: TORRID.

80. Hazmat monitor: OSHA. And 84. E-file org.: IRS.

82. Color nuance: HUE.

83. Naysayers: ANTIS.

85. Tree surgeon's transplant: GRAFT.

87. Orch. work: SYM. Symphony.

88. Tempt: ENTICE.

89. Art Spiegelman graphic novel: MAUS. Have any of you read this book?

95. Pack it in: EAT.

96. Snobbery: ELITISM.

98. Brink: VERGE.

99. Michelle of "Crazy Rich Asians": YEOH. Her surname is spelled as "Yang' (Jerry Yang, e.g.) in Chinese. Same characters of course.

101. A/C units: BTUS.

102. Jagged: UNEVEN.

104. Tuning pin on a cello: PEG.

105. Rae who has won five Black Reel Awards: ISSA. Gimme!

109. Football Hall of Famer Jones: DEACON. From Wikipedia: Jones stated that he gave himself the nickname Deacon after joining the Rams because too many David Joneses were in the local phone book. "Football is a violent world and Deacon has a religious connotation," he told the Los Angeles Times in 1980. "I thought a name like that would be remembered."

118. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.

119. Rarely ordered meat?: STEAK. Ha, rare-ly.

120. Diaper cream ingredient: ALOE.

121. Church law: CANON.

122. Deep-dish chain, familiarly: UNO'S.

123. Shampoo brand with an Essentials line: SUAVE. I bet I'm the only one who tried this brand.

124. Touch down: LAND.

125. Dispatch: SEND.

126. Fortified wine from the Douro Valley: PORT.

127. Expressed disdain: TSKED.

Down:

1. Embarrassment: SHAME.

2. Early Judean king: HEROD.

3. "__ Kitteridge": Pulitzer winner by Elizabeth Strout: OLIVE. Wikipedia says she also wrote a sequel titled "Olive, Again".

4. Grasslands: PLAINS.

5. Lone: SOLE.

6. Really, really old-school: ARCHAIC.

7. "You're not looking __ yourself!": SO HOT.

8. Mideast title: EMIR.

9. Kim who narrates "How I Met Your Father": CATTRALL.

10. Avg.: STD.

11. Work with a real estate agent, say: HOUSE HUNT. Quite a few nice long Downs. See also 87. "Sounds awesome!": SIGN ME UP.

12. Photographer Adams: ANSEL.

13. Posh spot for a weekend getaway: HOTEL SPA. And 37. Clean vigorously: SCRUB.

14. Classic salade: NICOISE.

15. State tree of Iowa: OAK.

16. Try (for): VIE.

17. Tiny tunneler: ANT.

21. Lou Grant's TV station: WJM. From "The Mary Tyler Moore Show".

26. Somewhat: A TAD.

28. Narrow piece: STRIP.

29. Sun-cracked: SERE. Learned from doing crossword.

34. Choose, in Duck, Duck, Goose: TAP.

39. Borders on: ABUTS.

40. "Shift over a bit, will ya": SCOOCH. Can't wait to receive this Amazon belt. Right now, getting Boomer off the chair and his recliner is a daunting task for me.

42. Out: ASLEEP.

43. Brewery array: KEGS.

44. Ghana's capital: ACCRA.

45. Swell up: BLOAT.

48. Rambling accounts: YARNS.

49. __ culpa: MEA.

52. Gay dating app: GRINDR. Owned by China's Kunlun Tech for a few years.

55. Interoffice no.: EXT.

58. Rain hard: POUR.

59. Hi or bye on Lanai: ALOHA.

60. Arctic chunk: FLOE.

62. Top-priority: URGENT.

65. Many a rock formation in Bryce Canyon: ARCH.

66. Susan or Collin of country music: RAYE. I know neither.

68. Multicolored fabric: MADRAS. Named after the city Madras (now Chennai).

69. Literary alter ego: MR HYDE. And 81. Scottish writer who created 69-Down: STEVENSON.

70. Roomba target: CRUMB.

72. German camera: LEICA.

73. Plus: ASSET.

75. Play date?: GIG. 80. Frequently found in a sonnet?: OFT. 108. Did something appealing?: ASKED. Fun clues for small words.

77. Poem section: CANTO.

78. "Pencils down": TIME.

79. G-U-M rival: ORAL B.

86. To an equal degree: AS MUCH AS.

88. Melancholy poem: ELEGY.

90. Star-__: STUDDED. Met Gala tomorrow night. Eager to see what Katy Perry comes up this year.

 

92. Crank (up): REV.

93. Smelter input: ORES.

94. Chart-reading exam: EYE TEST.

97. "Ohhhhh": I SEE.

100. Short break: HIATUS.

103. "... said __ ever": NO ONE.

104. Earlier: PRIOR.

106. Weasel: SNEAK.

107. Ward (off): STAVE.

110. Mandela's org.: ANC. African National Congress.

112. River of Pisa: ARNO. It flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea

113. "Hey, c'mere!": PSST.

114. "Wonder Woman" star Gadot: GAL.

115. __ carte: ALA.

116. Mets color commentator Darling: RON.

117. Conclusion: END.

Boomer had a bad fall last Tuesday and broke his left shoulder. We're seeing an orthopedic doctor soon to see if he needs a surgery. Quite tricky for him to maneuver the walker with one hand, esp since his legs are so weak. Getting up stairs and downstairs also becomes extra hard. But Boomer is Boomer! He'll have the Monday blog ready for you guys. He's been working slowly with one hand.

One more blood draw tomorrow. Hope his white blood count is good so he can get his 5th chemo infusion on Thursday. His numbers were pretty low when he was treated at the ER at the North Memorial hospital a few days ago.

C.C.