Wednesday, September 14, 2022 - Lisa Senzel & Christina Iverson

3. *Figure often depicted with a scythe and an hourglass: FATHER TIME. I thought GRIM REAPER for a second.

7. *Pakistani-born chef who was posthumously honored with a James Beard Award: FATIMA ALI. I know of the James Beard Award (Food!) but not her until I saw a picture.  I watch a lot of the food-channel.

 

FATIMA ALI (8/8/1989 - 1/25/2019)

11. *Serious software problem: FATAL ERROR. In Windows, that's the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death); *NIX's kernels just panic.

53. *Secretive email option: BLIND CARBON COPY.  OK, Cornerites, someone's gotta know what you call words/phrases that reference obsolete technology (that no longer exist) in new applications.  This isn't quite the same as calling a CD a record as vinyl still exists.  Sunday, I looked for over an hour - my Google-fu was weak.

68. Diet that's high in fats and low in carbs, as illustrated by parts of the answers to the starred clues: KETO.  KETO is the worst diet in the world because everyone who's on it tells you about it ad-nauseum. 

An early peek at the grid visually illustrates the 'high' FATs and 'low' CARBs:

Across:
1. Spanish tennis great Nadal, familiarly: RAFA.

5. Upgrade, as machinery: REFIT. RE-TOOL was too long.

10. Uncertain: IFFY.

14. Cabbage buy: HEAD. Thinking this was a trap, I thought: "You can buy anything with money/cabbage."

15. Glazer of "The Afterparty": ILANA. No idea. The Afterparty is on AppleTV+. I only know Ilana as part of the Upright Citizen's Brigade improv troupe.

Apple's The Afterparty announcement

16. Skating commentator Lipinski: TARA. Perps. Tara's WikiP page.

17. Analogy words: IS TO. An SAT staple until 2005.

18. Bridal path flower piece: PETAL. PE___. Is it PEDDLE|PEDAL|PETAL?

19. Stash, as gear: STOW. The dog ate his stash, man.

20. Japanese drama: NOH. Perps -- I should know this by now.  Here's a link to PBS LearningMedia explaining.

21. Cookbook contents: RECIPES. Does anyone follow these to a (31d) TEE?

23. Author Rand: AYN. Atlas Shrugged, "Meh."

24. Genre for composer Terence Blanchard: OPERA. Easy WAG w/ the P in place.

Terence Blanchard

26. Informal "You're oversharing": TMI. Too Much Information (about your KETO diet).

27. Caramel candies: ROLOS.

 

29. Like some dangerous isotopes: RADIOACTIVE. XwordInfo says this is 1st-time fill (really?). Time for a musical interlude:

The Firm

32. Curry of the NBA: SETH. I'll let hoops-fans comment.

34. Bike part: BRAKE. Car part, caboose part, ...

35. Quintet for most starfish: ARMS.  In no particular order:

38. Prefix for a lifesaving "Pen": EPI. 

In the Army, they gave us training on using some kind of self-injecting needles in case of chemical attack. They told us to be careful when hitting our thigh 'cuz the force of the needle could break a bone. After injection, and under whatever stress we were in, we had to bend the needle of the injector and put it in our breast pocket. And, if only one needle was bent, another soldier finding you could give you the other (of the 3) doses. I'm not sure The Army thought this one all the way through.

39. Not so big: SMALLER.

41. Knock: RAP. I won't knock this clue.

42. Try to hit: AIM AT. The chin with a left-hook. RAP! - not so big-man now, eh?

44. Tell it like it isn't: LIE.

45. Speed skater Ohno: APOLO. Mostly perps until I remembered him from past puzzles.

APOLO

47. Act parts: SCENES. ACT I, Scene II: OMK comes on stage...

49. Past the point of caring: OVER IT. If the play goes into Act V, I'm out.

50. Michelle of "Crazy Rich Asians": YEOH. Perps.

Oh, I recognize her!

 

52. Neighborhood: AREA. "I was in the [...] and thought I'd stop by."

53. [See: theme] 

60. Uncommon: RARE. Boomer has those rare Baseball cards.

61. Assertion: CLAIM. Neither is necessarily fact...

62. Cookie used as a 12-Down topping: OREO. Right there -- solidified my hunch 12d was FROYO.

63. Admit frankly: AVOW. 'Tell it like it is' didn't fit.

64. Omit in speech: ELIDE. You're not Eluding, just sLIDEing [sic] a bit in speech.

65. Spreadsheet unit: CELL. Hands up: who can VLOOKUP cells in spreadsheets?

66. Soaks up the sun: TANS. If you TAN on high-FAT KETO, do you sizzle?

67. Calf-roping event: RODEO. There's more than roping at the annual Houston RODEO

68. [See: theme]

Down:
1. Safari herbivore: RHINO.

2. Fabulous writer?: AESOP. He of the fables.

3. [See: theme]

4. Hubbub: ADO.

5. Ready for picking: RIPE.

6. __ college: ELECTORAL. Because us normal folk aren't fit for direct elections?!?

7. [See: theme] All perps.

8. Up the creek: IN A PICKLE. Without a brine?

9. Story: TALE. A softer 'like it ain't.'

10. Part of FWIW: IT'S. For What It's Worth (I thought about getting you something nice for your birthday but...).

11. [See: theme]

12. Dessert from 16 Handles, familiarly: FROYO.  16 Handles is a FROzen YOgurt shop with 16 dispensers on the wall where you can "pull" your own flavor and then top with goodies.  They charge by your cup's weight.

13. Signs of boredom: YAWNS. Contagious, they are.

21. "Wicked!": RAD. Bodacious, Bro!

22. __ Lanka: SRI.

25. Sidelines cheer: RAH. Not OLE today.

28. Fertility lab cells: OVA. Plural.

30. Maker of the Deep Blue chess computer: IBM.  Big Blue went Deep to beat Kasparov. What I like about the computer's name is it (to me at least) invokes Douglas Adams' Deep Thought.

31. Workout top: TEE.

32. Bodies of water: SEAS.

33. __ fail: EPIC.

36. Timbuktu's land: MALI. 

Timbuktu

Timbuk 3

37. Predicament: SPOT. If you're in a predicament maybe someone will SPOT you a fiver? ;-)

39. Fine horse: STEED. Indeed.

40. Black bird: RAVEN. Nevermore.

43. "What's the latest?": ANY NEWS. Today it's "What's the 411?"

46. NBC symbol: PEACOCK. Proud as a...

NBC LOGOS

48. Abby Wambach's sport: SOCCER. WAG'd it with the S&C in place.

Abby Wombach

49. Juliet's cry: O ROMEO. He had onion breath [Little Rascals]

51. Winnie-the-Pooh greeting: HALLO. And TTFN upon leaving.

Not yet... 8 more c/a's to go.

52. Tolerate: ABIDE. The Dude does.

53. Sassy kid: BRAT. They're the wurst.

54. Chocolate __ cake: LAVA.

55. Waffle maker: IRON. Mini waffle irons were all the rage a few years ago.

56. "Kills bugs dead!" spray: RAID.

57. Hockey Hall of Famer Willie: OREE. Perps 'cuz ORR was too short (and he's Bobby, right?)

58. Hit, as with snowballs: PELT. Won't hurt if you're wearing pelt.

59. "Seize the day" initialism: YOLO. You Only Live Once.  Justification for doing something stupid / taking unnecessary risks.

Well, how'd you do on this diet?  Leave your comments below.

Every dieter I know

My recap:
WOs: N/A
ESPs: TARA, ILANA | FATIMA ALI, NOH, APOLO, YEOH, HALLO [spelling], OREE
Fav: I love the idiom IN A PICKLE and it reminds me of Arlo who didn't want one when he was in one with the 3'-tall cop.

Cheers, -T

Tuesday September 13, 2022 Jerry Edelstein

Theme: HALF AND HALF (61. Coffee creamer option, or what can precede both parts of the answers to the starred clues)

16. *Sibling by marriage: STEP BROTHER. Halfstep. Half brother.

23. *Best Picture Oscar winner directed by Barry Jenkins: MOONLIGHT. Half-moon. Half light.

29. *Wee: PINT-SIZE.  Half-pint. Half-size.

43. *Lengthy warranty period: LIFETIME. Half-life. Half-time.

50. *Retrace one's steps: BACKTRACK. Half back. Half-track.

Boomer here again. Susan is in Houston to take care of her mother-in-law. She'll be back next Tuesday.  

Indeed I found out yesterday that my work was only HALF-finished.  I think I earn time and a HALF for overtime.

Across:

1. Shed tears: WEEP.  No, I can handle it.

5. Candy __ Saga: match-three game app: CRUSH.  An Orange drink.

10. Fourth-yr. students: SRS.  Also people like me. Over 70.

13. Org. with a Women's Rights Project: ACLU.

14. Small cap: BEANIE.  Never had to wear one.

15. Split __ soup: PEA.  I prefer chicken noodle.

18. Old tee, perhaps: RAG.

19. Can opener: POP TAB.  I prefer bottles.

20. "Am __ time?": I ON.

21. Bad habit: VICE.  The VICE squad will get you.

22. Barnyard bird: HEN.

25. Fictional wolf's disguise: GRANDMA.  I had one GRANDMA as a kid.  Never got to know my maternal Grandma.

28. "Get Smart" crime org.: KAOS.  Maxwell Smart fought KAOS.

31. Floats on the wind: WAFTS.

35. Pretend: ACT.  I had a lead in a high school play.

36. Video game princess: ZELDA.  Legend of Nintendo.

39. Early ISP: AOL.  America on Line.

40. "Such a tragedy": SO SAD.  England is sharing their loss.

46. __ hog: ROAD.  Keep to the right!

49. Played the lead: STARRED.  Yup, I was NOYE.  Benjamin Britian spelled Noah wrong.

54. Fin. neighbor: RUS.

55. Mid-month date: IDES.  Beware in March.

56. "__-ching!": CHA.

57. Leash: TETHER.

60. __ & Perrins steak sauce: LEA.  I never tried it.

63. Trains that rumble overhead: ELS. Or golfer Ernie.

64. "Murder on the __ Express": ORIENT.

65. "Just teasing ya": I KID.

66. Match, in poker: SEE.  Just pay a little.  Do not raise.

67. Raise a glass (to): TOAST.  Cook some bread.

68. Salty expanses: SEAS.

Down:

1. Stinging insect: WASP.  Ouch it hurts.

2. Prefix with -plasm: ECTO.

3. Tusked animals: ELEPHANTS.  I guess I'd see about everything when I see one fly.

4. Small camping shelter: PUP TENT.

5. VIP with a corner office, perhaps: CEO.  Corner office is a lasting tradition.

6. Mathematical comparison: RATIO. A batting average.

7. Loosen, as a bra: UNHOOK.

8. "Burnt" crayon color: SIENNA.

9. That woman: HER.  She fits too.

10. Parsley piece: SPRIG.  Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme.

11. Get through to: REACH.

12. Bob who had a recurring role on "Fuller House": SAGET.

14. Texter's "Gimme a sec": BRB.  My son's initials.

17. Music groups: BANDS.  Not rubber

21. Travel document: VISA. Or credit card.

23. Pencil puzzle with dead ends: MAZE.  In Minnesota, the farmers make a big one in their fall cornfield.

24. Fan setting: LOW.  All ballparks have upper decks.

25. Honor roll figs.: GPAS.  Grade Point Average.

26. Puerto __: RICO.  Will it ever be a state?

27. "Les __": musical nickname: MIZ.

30. Shape of some building additions: ELL.  Also aluminum and galvanized pipe.

32. Equal chance: FAIR SHAKE.  I prefer chocolate!

33. Heavy book: TOME.

34. Iditarod vehicle: SLED.  Every Minnesotan owns one at one time of their life.

37. Floppy __: DISK.

38. Toward a boat's rudder: AFT.  I think I just called it the back.

41. Boats like Noah's: ARKS.  300 cubits, it shall be long.

42. "j" topper: DOT.  Ditto's sister.

44. Dog-__: folded at the corner: EARED.  I only have Doug ears.

45. "To be honest ... ": TRUTH IS.  And that's the truth!

47. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie: ARCARO.

48. National flower of Mexico: DAHLIA.  My Mother grew these annually.

50. Olympic gymnast Simone: BILES.

51. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE.

52. Halt: CEASE.  Nope - keep going.

53. Sidewalk eateries: CAFES. Incredible number of these at the Minnesota State Fair.

57. Demo stuff: TNT.

58. Director Kazan: ELIA.

59. Country mail rtes.: RFDS. Rural Free Deliveries.

61. Like habanero peppers: HOT.  Some like it HOT!

62. Picnic pest: ANT.  They don't eat much.

Boomer

 

Monday September 12, 2022 Kelly Clark

 

Theme: Isn't it Obvious?

17. "Careful now": EASY DOES IT.

27. Nursery rhyme guy who met a pieman: SIMPLE SIMON.

44. Mennonites, e.g.: PLAIN PEOPLE.

60. Fair-weather forecast: CLEAR SKIES.

Boomer here, happy to blog a puzzle from our own Kelly Clark. 

 

I wish bowling and golf were easy and simple these days.  I had a talk with my oncologist last week and he told me to put some weight back on.  Next time I'll bring my bowling ball to the scale.

Across:

1. Programs opened with a finger tap: APPS. 

5. Lucy's pal on "I Love Lucy": ETHEL.  Mrs. Mertz

10. Price to pay: COST.  The VA is very lenient on prescriptions.

14. Harvest: REAP.

15. Circle or polygon: SHAPE.  I lost 4 more pounds.  If I stand sideways can you still see me??

16. Sailor's hailing call: AHOY.

19. Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac: MICK.  I spoke about Mr. Mantle (Number 311) last week.

20. Sitcom star: ACTOR.

21. Astronaut's home in orbit: Abbr.: ISS.  The International Space Station. The Moonshot Artemis is still in Florida.

22. Said something: SPOKE.

23. Quality that keeps wallflowers by the wall: SHYNESS.

25. "Yay, the weekend!" letters: TGIF.  My blog, TGIM!

32. Miss, as a turn while driving: GO PAST.  This happened to me last week. Scared the heck out of C.C.

36. __ and haw: HEM.

37. Short on manners: RUDE.  Many political ads for the coming elections.

38. Togetherness: UNITY.

39. "Mayday!" letters: SOS.  Used to mean save our ship.  Now it's a steel wool pad.

40. Small, in French: PETIT.

41. "__ we forget": LEST.  I'm not quite old enough to remember Pearl Harbor.

42. Hall of Fame slugger Mel: OTT.  Played for the New York Giants.  Hit 511 home runs.

43. "Full House" twins: OLSENS.

47. __ Modern: London art gallery: TATE.

48. Uses for support: LEANS ON.  "Lean on me, when you're not strong".

53. Bicker: ARGUE.  Big League Managers job.

56. Post's opposite: PRE.

58. Prom crown: TIARA.  Lotsa gems.

59. __ for thought: FOOD.  I think I'll eat!

62. Part to play: ROLE.  I was Noye.  (Noah)

63. V-formation flyers: GEESE.  They will be heading south soon.

64. Nautical speed unit: KNOT.

65. __ and ends: ODDS.  I like to play the ODDS at craps.

66. Tropical getaways: ISLES.  Not tropical but Minneapolis Lake of the Isles fits.

Boomer, Lake of the Isles

67. "The __-bitsy spider ... ": ITSY.

Down:

1. Fields of study: AREAS.

2. Fuzzy fruit: PEACH.  But a pit in the center.

3. British meat pie: PASTY.  Must be Tasty to be a PASTY

4. Secretly watch: SPY ON.

5. Spanish "that": ESO.

6. Belief in one god: THEISM.  I believe in God but I never heard of THEISM?

7. Avocado variety: HASS.  Dark green, rich and creamy!

8. Apostolic messages in the New Testament: EPISTLES.  In the Bible.

9. Give permission to: LET.

10. Places for telling ghost stories and roasting marshmallows: CAMPFIRES.  Delicious! The 

marshmallows, not the fire.

11. Cleveland's state: OHIO.  Home of the Guardians. The Indians got scalped.

12. __ puppet: SOCK.

13. Youngster: TYKE.

18. Like garb for a gala: DRESSY.  Our Glee Club had tuxes.

22. Bro kin: SIS.  I have three.

24. "Park it!": SIT.

26. Precious stone: GEM.

28. Pinterest posting: PHOTO.  Fun to put appropriate photos out here.

29. Volume-off button: MUTE.

30. Norse god of war: ODIN.  War God.  I don't think we pay much attention to him.

31. Brooklyn NBA team: NETS.  New York gets the NETS and the METS.

32. Big swallow: GULP.

33. Turow memoir about first-year law students: ONE L.

34. Italian city with a leaning tower: PISA.  Some restaurants call themselves the Leaning Tower of Pizza.

35. States of mind: ATTITUDES.

39. Church towers: STEEPLES.  Open the doors and see all the peoples.

40. Kilt features: PLEATS.

42. Decide to leave, with "out": OPT.  Not yet - a few clues to go.

43. The Grand __ Opry: OLE.  The guy in many Norwegian chuckles with Sven.

45. "Go jump in the loch!": NAE.

46. Satisfy: PLEASE.

49. Poet Giovanni: NIKKI.

50. Canonized one: SAINT.

51. Cookies in some pie crusts: OREOS.  Chocolate chip are the best, but Oreos are pretty good too.

52. Really, really bad: NASTY.

53. Hairdo that may be maintained with a pick: AFRO.  Amazing how some ballplayers get a hat on.

54. Crucifix: ROOD.

55. Top prize at the Olympics: GOLD.  Great collectors item!

57. Rod and __: REEL.  Many are used here in our Land of 10,000 lakes.

60. High-tech SFX: CGI.

61. Low-__: like fuzzy graphics: RES.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

1) Great to see you back, Kelly!

2) The kids' bowling season started again. Boomer went to Texa-Tonka last Thursday to cheer the kids up. He won't be able to do more coaching this year due to his health.

 Texa-Tonka 9/8/2022

3) Happy birthday to dear Steve, who guided us for many years on Thursdays. Steve is now with the Universal Pictures. I'm very lucky to still have him as a good friend.  

Steve and Jill, June 12, 2016

Tea at The Queen Mary

Sunday September 11, 2022 Alan Olschwang

 

Theme:  "Triple Play" - Second word is the first word with an extra letter, third word is the second word with an extra letter.

23A. Cherries jubilee?: BIG BING BINGE.

35A. "I mean a different cereal box mascot!"?: NO NOT TONY.

52A. Headline after the IT department fixes a bug on Hulu?: TEAM TAMES STREAM.

90A. Beer brewed by the Royal Family?: REAL REGAL LAGERS.

110A. Where NHLers serve penalty time?: IN SIN BINS.

124. Wading bird that a girl can really look up to?: HER HERO HERON

16D. Dolly the sheep, sitting all by herself?: ONE LONE CLONE.

64D. Cheap perfume?: TEN CENT SCENT.

Some of you are aware that I started blogging the Tribune Media Daily back in 2008. Alan had a quote/quip every Thursday. It's always comforting to see his byline.

Both 124A and 16D have an orderly letter addition to the end or the start. I think Alan tried to come a full set like this but could not make it work.

 
Across:

1. Wii or Xbox aficionado: GAMER.

6. Tantalizes: TEASES.

12. Mop & __: GLO.

15. Persian Gulf capital: DOHA. Legal to have a beer there.

19. Moby Dick, e.g.: WHALE.

20. Hint at, with "to": ALLUDE.

21. Long time: EON.

22. Unknown author, for short: ANON. We have our Anon-T.

25. Area that separates a nave from a sanctuary: TRANSEPT. See this.

27. Nixed, at NASA: NO GO.

28. Make less strict: EASE.

29. Areas of human development: UTERI.

30. "Macarena" band __ del Río: LOS. Quite a craze then.

31. Topped, in a way: CROWNED.

34. French possessive pronoun: SES. His/Her.

37. Actor Holbrook: HAL.

38. Swill: SLOP.

40. Warn with a horn: TOOT.

42. Brown in the kitchen: ALTON. Host of "Iron Chef America".

43. Spring flower: IRIS.

45. India's smallest state: GOA.

47. "Trinity" novelist Leon: URIS.

49. Ships with staterooms: LINERS.

57. "Law & Order: SVU" actor: ICE T.

58. All over the place: ERRATIC.

59. Headliner: STAR.

61. Merrie __ England: OLDE.

62. Hold on to: RETAIN.

65. Comedian Silverman: SARAH. So witty.

68. Scrutinized: EYED.

70. All __ sudden: OF A.

71. Tipped off: ALERTED.

73. Neck parts: NAPES.

75. Sea nymph of Greek mythology: OCEANID. Learning moment for me.

77. Junior: SON.

78. Roof with removable panels: T TOP.

80. Defensive trenches: MOATS.

82. Birch family trees: ALDERS.

83. Check mark: TICK.

85. Reggae great Peter: TOSH. Part of the Wailers. We also have 62. Many dreadlocks wearers: RASTAS.

87. Plain: VANILLA.

89. Sailing: ASEA.

96. Security system component: SENSOR.

99. Manitoba First Nations people: CREE.

100. __ trip: EGO.

101. North Carolina college town: ELON. Was it named after someone named Elon?

102. Crook: THIEF.

104. "Yeah, right!": AS IF.

106. Tight-fitting: SNUG.

109. Former owner of Virgin Records: EMI.

113. Game with matchsticks: NIM.

115. Fruit jam in Sacher tortes: APRICOT.

117. Japanese IT services giant: NEC.

118. Mila of "Bad Moms": KUNIS.

119. Useless, batterywise: DEAD. Also 131. Battery terminal: ANODE.

121. Small fruit pie: TART.

122. Knight spot?: CHESS SET. Works without ? in the clue also.

128. River in Tuscany: ARNO.

129. Before, in ballads: ERE.

130. Changed into: BECAME.

132. "Oh, shoot": NUTS.

133. Leb. neighbor: SYR.

134. "... if you know what's good for you!": OR ELSE.

135. Repairs: MENDS.

Down:

1. Hudson Riv. crossing: GWB. George Washington Bridge.

2. Sushi-grade tuna: AHI.

3. Official flower of two Southern states: MAGNOLIA. Louisiana and Mississippi.

4. __ grease: ELBOW.

5. Rules: REIGNS.

6. Schoolyard game: TAG.

7. Dresden's river: ELBE.

8. Margaret Atwood's "__ Grace": ALIAS. Unfamiliar to me.

9. Nightly show with free admission: SUNSET.

10. Beats by a whisker: EDGES OUT.

11. "Catch my drift?": SEE.

12. Really bug: GET TO.

13. Golfer Ochoa: LORENA.

14. Winning steadily: ON A ROLL. 17. Climb aboard: HOP ON.

15. Some govt. lawyers: DAS.

18. Nasty anagram: ANTSY.

24. Yule tune: NOEL.

26. Tucci's "Road to Perdition" role: NITTI. Frank Nitti.

29. Lets loose: UNTIES.

31. Gambler's marker: CHIT.

32. Almost unique: RARE.

33. Religious doctrine: DOGMA.

36. "Pagliacci" clown: TONIO.

39. Audre Lorde and Lord Byron, e.g.: POETS.

41. NHL great Bobby: ORR. Boston Bruins.

44. Ink mishap: SMEAR.

46. Like most of the world's people: ASIAN.

48. Make full: SATE.

50. Colorful timber tree: RED FIR.

51. Places: STEADS.

53. Travis of country: TRITT.

54. "BoJack Horseman" voice actor Will: ARNETT.

55. "Get lost!": SCRAM.

56. BLT spread: MAYO. Bánh mì as well.

60. Car manufacturer's woe: RECALL.

63. Plaza Hotel girl: ELOISE.

66. Mil. mail drop: APO.

67. Fling with force: HEAVE.

69. Street of mystery: DELLA. Perry Mason.

72. Way in: DOOR.

74. __ whisper: STAGE.

76. Wise words: ADAGE.

79. Tiny fraction of a min.: PSEC.

81. Catches: SNAGS.

84. Golean cereal maker: KASHI. Never had this.

86. Hound: HARASS.

88. Massey of old films: ILONA.

91. French article: LES.

92. Sven of "Frozen," for one: REINDEER.

93. Kind of microscope: ELECTRON.

94. Dallas quarterback after Bledsoe: ROMO. Tony. Right.

95. Cross mood: SNIT.

97. Farmyard noises: OINKS.

98. Picture puzzles: REBUSES.

103. Fancy duds: FINERY.

105. Intense: FIERCE.

107. Until: UP TO.

108. "Gilmore Girls" actress Lauren: GRAHAM.

110. Early Peruvian: INCAN.

111. India's first prime minister: NEHRU.

112. Compound in fireworks: NITER.

114. Taj __: MAHAL.

116. Joliot-Curie who won a Nobel Prize in chemistry: IRENE. Daughter of Marie Curie.

120. Pols from blue states, usually: DEMS.

123. Brillo rival: SOS.

124. "Succession" network: HBO.

125. Food Network host Drummond: REE.

126. Out of the ordinary: ODD.

127. Early video game letters: NES.

 

A few extra notes:

1) Happy birthday to dear Husker Gary, our faithful Saturday sherpa, whose posts are always so informative and cheerful. Off the blog, he's a close friend who has bailed me out so many times. Here he is with his incredible wife Joann. They've been married for over 57 years!

2) Boomer's PSA was 861 last Tuesday (742 last month), at least the increase was not that sharp. The doctor decided to cut the oral chemo from 200 mg to 150 mg due to the severe side effects. Boomer's hemoglobin and WBC count were too low. We'll have one more blood draw next week. If his numbers do not improve, he'll get a blood transfusion. 

C.C.