Theme: They're Beside Themselves - The embedded three-letter common names that end the first words of all two-word theme entry are the same as the ones that start the second word.
22A. Introductory assortment of wreckage?: FLOTSAM SAMPLER. Flotsam. Jetsam.
40A. One-of-a-kind book? CUSTOM TOME
65A. Place to leave the flock during vacation?: CHICKEN KENNEL. Chicken want to live in the coop.
92A. Try to get tallow?: PURSUE SUET. My first theme answer.
114A.Music for painters?: ENAMEL MELODIES
15D. Scallions for an anniversary party?: JUBILEE LEEKS. To me, scallions are just green onions.
59D. Short treatise on junk e-mail? SPAM PAMPHLET. Fun clue/answer.
I only realized all the embeds are common names after I typed in & green-highlighted all the the letter string repetitions. Great theme title. Nice play on "beside oneself".
The puzzle is one Q away from a pangram. As the norm with our Sunday puzzles, quite a few entertaining clues. My favorite is FEET (109D. Pump inserts). D'oh, pump shoes.
I still don't like the clue for PEDAL (105D. Step on it). The "it" grammar confused me last time. I just don't feel the clue and answer fully correspond to each other, unlike the clear "them" reference in LEADS (97D. Reporters chase them).
Across:
1. Garfield's middle name: ABRAM. Can never commit his name into my memory. Did get KENNEDY (49D. President under whom the Peace Corps was formed).
6. Tiptop: ACME
10. Timber shaper: ADZ. Or adze.
13. Big Indians: RAJAS. Thought of Native American Indians.
18. At large: LOOSE
19. Property claim: LIEN. And DEED (11. Safe document).
20. Scripps competition: BEE. Spelling Bee.
21. Disqualify (oneself), in court: RECUSE
25. Protozoan: AMEBIC. Or ameobic.
26. Swears to: ATTESTS
27. Home of Texas A&M International University: LAREDO. U.S./Mexico border city.
28. Pooh-pooh: DERIDE
29. Manhattan component: RYE. Rye is an affluent suburb of NY City, a la Wikipedia.
30. Boris Godunov, e.g.: TSAR. Don't know Boris Godunov.
31. Lost the point: RAMBLED
32. Vardon Trophy org.: PGA. Gimme. Vardon Trophy is awarded to PGA player who leads in scoring average. Named after British golfer Harry Vardon.
35. Be of service to: ASSIST
38. Pointed remark: BARB
39. Legal conclusion?: ESE. Legalese.
43. Exercised in a lane: SWAM. Can't jam in BIKED.
45. Barely earn, with "out": EKE
47. Online bulletin board mgr. : SYSOP (System Operator)
48. Pub staple: ALE
49. It isn't really a bear: KOALA. What is it then, Kazie? Sure looks like bear though.
50. Vestige: RELIC
53. Put in the warehouse: STORE
55. Cut down: FELLED
56. One who follows the news?: LENO. Because Leno's show is after the evening news?
57. Cinnamon tree: CASSIA. Wow, it's Chinese cinnamon. No idea.
60. IV to III?: SON. Nailed it.
61. River duck: TEAL
63. Writers: PENS. Did not know "pen" can refer to a person who writes.
64. Marching start?: HUP. "Hup, two, three, four". The military march. Got me again.
70. Hobby shop buy: KIT
71. Significant times: ERAS
73. Hard on the eyes: UGLY. No, I will not link anything hard on the eyes. Al's Hart.
74. Thing to bend or lend: EAR. Nice rhyming clue.
75. Speaks disrespectfully to: SASSES
77. "If it's all the __ to you ...": SAME
78. Star's opposite: NOBODY
80. Bow ties and elbows: PASTA. Nice "bow" echo.
82. Early mobile home: TEPEE. Yurt too.
84. Soap whose first slogan was "It floats": IVORY
85. Scroogean word: BAH
86. Uses a keyboard: TYPES. And ENTER (120. Put in)
90. Rule of crime writing: ANN. I've never heard of Ann Rule. Good clue though.
91. BlackBerry message: TEXT
94. Fire or side attachment: ARM. Excellent play on fireside.
96. Secluded lowland: GLEN
98. Continued: GONE ON
99. Practice, as a trade: PLY
100.Comebacks: REPLIES
102.Like some telegrams: SUNG. I don't get this clue. How can telegrams be sung?
103.Dosage amt.: TSP
106.Goddess of wisdom: ATHENA
107.Noisy summer bug: CICADA. Ear-splitting!
109.Artful handling: FINESSE
113.Lost some locks: BALDED. Locks always refer to hair in Xword.
116.Feudal lords: LIEGES. Another hard to remember word.
117.He played Quasimodo in 1923: LON (Chaney). Easy guess.
118.Justice's garb: ROBE
119.Dylan Thomas's home: WALES
121.Explosive letters: TNT
122.Whack: SWAT
123.Skiing locale: SLOPE. Didn't jump to me immediately.
Down:
1. __ Romeo: ALFA. The sport car.
2. Cloth quantity: BOLT
3. Cheer: ROOT
4. Sunflower relative: ASTER. Oh, OK.
5. Like Oscar Madison's room: MESSY. And STY (89. 5-Down place).
6. Charity: ALMS
7. Grafton's "__ for Corpse": C IS
8. When many a bell is rung: MEAL TIME. Where?
9. As a group: EN MASSE
10. More competent: ABLER
12. Nonentity: ZERO
13. Common word in rallying slogans: REMEMBER. I peeked at the answer sheet.
14. Biting: ACERB
16. Parenthetical comments: ASIDES
17. Withdraw: SECEDE
21. Hawkeye associate: RADAR (O'Reilly). Both M*A*S*H characters. And WALTER (44. 21-Down's real first name, on TV). Unknown to me.
23. Starting squad: A-TEAM
24. Duff: PRAT
31. Islamic holy month: RAMADAN
32. Modern office staples: PCS
33. Chap: GUY
34. Mule's papa: ASS
36. Antares, for one: STAR
37. Something to walk on: SOLE. Indeed.
38. Whalebone: BALEEN. New word to me.
41. Chuck: TOSS
42. __ nerve: OPTIC. Also new to me.
43. Sun, in Spain: SOL. Alliteration.
46. Food for sea urchins: KELP. I use kelp for miso soup base sometimes.
51. Navel phenomenon: INNIE
52. Expenditures: COSTS
54. Hawaii's "Gathering Place": OAHU. "Gathering Place" is its nickname.
55. Other side: FOE
57. Pirate booty holder: CHEST
58. Halos: AURAE. Or auras.
60. Luxury seating: SKYBOX
62. Discounted: LESS
66. Fires up: IGNITES
67. Split, as some hoofs: CLOVEN. Past participle of "cleave".
68. Round Table knight: KAY. Not familiar with Sir Kay. Another lady sounding name.
69. Starbucks buy: LATTE
72. As __ on TV: SEEN
76. Indicates: SAYS
79. Fido's dinnertime extra: ORT. Classic crosswordese.
80. Trim, as apples: PARE
81. Semi-serious "I understand": AH SO
83. Casey Jones, e.g.: ENGINEER. Have never heard of Casey Jones. He must be very famous to be honored with a stamp.
85. Cottage: BUNGALOW
87. Lassie, once: PUP. The answer surfaced itself.
88. Slender swimmer: EEL. Slender indeed.
92. Thinks over: PONDERS
93. Up to: UNTIL
94. Like productive land: ARABLE
95. Hang on to: RETAIN
98. Largest of the Marianas: GUAM
101.Outcropping: LEDGE. Like this protruding part.
102.Meager: SCANT
104.Hoodwinks: SNOWS. Learned this slang meaning of snow a few weeks ago.
107.Breton, e.g.: CELT
108.Privy to: IN ON
110.Storage cylinder: SILO
111.Trickle: SEEP
112.Start of North Carolina's motto: ESSE "Esse quam videri" (to be rather than to see). Another learning moment for me.
115.Many a Wharton grad: MBA
Answer grid.
C.C.
22A. Introductory assortment of wreckage?: FLOTSAM SAMPLER. Flotsam. Jetsam.
40A. One-of-a-kind book? CUSTOM TOME
65A. Place to leave the flock during vacation?: CHICKEN KENNEL. Chicken want to live in the coop.
92A. Try to get tallow?: PURSUE SUET. My first theme answer.
114A.Music for painters?: ENAMEL MELODIES
15D. Scallions for an anniversary party?: JUBILEE LEEKS. To me, scallions are just green onions.
59D. Short treatise on junk e-mail? SPAM PAMPHLET. Fun clue/answer.
I only realized all the embeds are common names after I typed in & green-highlighted all the the letter string repetitions. Great theme title. Nice play on "beside oneself".
The puzzle is one Q away from a pangram. As the norm with our Sunday puzzles, quite a few entertaining clues. My favorite is FEET (109D. Pump inserts). D'oh, pump shoes.
I still don't like the clue for PEDAL (105D. Step on it). The "it" grammar confused me last time. I just don't feel the clue and answer fully correspond to each other, unlike the clear "them" reference in LEADS (97D. Reporters chase them).
Across:
1. Garfield's middle name: ABRAM. Can never commit his name into my memory. Did get KENNEDY (49D. President under whom the Peace Corps was formed).
6. Tiptop: ACME
10. Timber shaper: ADZ. Or adze.
13. Big Indians: RAJAS. Thought of Native American Indians.
18. At large: LOOSE
19. Property claim: LIEN. And DEED (11. Safe document).
20. Scripps competition: BEE. Spelling Bee.
21. Disqualify (oneself), in court: RECUSE
25. Protozoan: AMEBIC. Or ameobic.
26. Swears to: ATTESTS
27. Home of Texas A&M International University: LAREDO. U.S./Mexico border city.
28. Pooh-pooh: DERIDE
29. Manhattan component: RYE. Rye is an affluent suburb of NY City, a la Wikipedia.
30. Boris Godunov, e.g.: TSAR. Don't know Boris Godunov.
31. Lost the point: RAMBLED
32. Vardon Trophy org.: PGA. Gimme. Vardon Trophy is awarded to PGA player who leads in scoring average. Named after British golfer Harry Vardon.
35. Be of service to: ASSIST
38. Pointed remark: BARB
39. Legal conclusion?: ESE. Legalese.
43. Exercised in a lane: SWAM. Can't jam in BIKED.
45. Barely earn, with "out": EKE
47. Online bulletin board mgr. : SYSOP (System Operator)
48. Pub staple: ALE
49. It isn't really a bear: KOALA. What is it then, Kazie? Sure looks like bear though.
50. Vestige: RELIC
53. Put in the warehouse: STORE
55. Cut down: FELLED
56. One who follows the news?: LENO. Because Leno's show is after the evening news?
57. Cinnamon tree: CASSIA. Wow, it's Chinese cinnamon. No idea.
60. IV to III?: SON. Nailed it.
61. River duck: TEAL
63. Writers: PENS. Did not know "pen" can refer to a person who writes.
64. Marching start?: HUP. "Hup, two, three, four". The military march. Got me again.
70. Hobby shop buy: KIT
71. Significant times: ERAS
73. Hard on the eyes: UGLY. No, I will not link anything hard on the eyes. Al's Hart.
74. Thing to bend or lend: EAR. Nice rhyming clue.
75. Speaks disrespectfully to: SASSES
77. "If it's all the __ to you ...": SAME
78. Star's opposite: NOBODY
80. Bow ties and elbows: PASTA. Nice "bow" echo.
82. Early mobile home: TEPEE. Yurt too.
84. Soap whose first slogan was "It floats": IVORY
85. Scroogean word: BAH
86. Uses a keyboard: TYPES. And ENTER (120. Put in)
90. Rule of crime writing: ANN. I've never heard of Ann Rule. Good clue though.
91. BlackBerry message: TEXT
94. Fire or side attachment: ARM. Excellent play on fireside.
96. Secluded lowland: GLEN
98. Continued: GONE ON
99. Practice, as a trade: PLY
100.Comebacks: REPLIES
102.Like some telegrams: SUNG. I don't get this clue. How can telegrams be sung?
103.Dosage amt.: TSP
106.Goddess of wisdom: ATHENA
107.Noisy summer bug: CICADA. Ear-splitting!
109.Artful handling: FINESSE
113.Lost some locks: BALDED. Locks always refer to hair in Xword.
116.Feudal lords: LIEGES. Another hard to remember word.
117.He played Quasimodo in 1923: LON (Chaney). Easy guess.
118.Justice's garb: ROBE
119.Dylan Thomas's home: WALES
121.Explosive letters: TNT
122.Whack: SWAT
123.Skiing locale: SLOPE. Didn't jump to me immediately.
Down:
1. __ Romeo: ALFA. The sport car.
2. Cloth quantity: BOLT
3. Cheer: ROOT
4. Sunflower relative: ASTER. Oh, OK.
5. Like Oscar Madison's room: MESSY. And STY (89. 5-Down place).
6. Charity: ALMS
7. Grafton's "__ for Corpse": C IS
8. When many a bell is rung: MEAL TIME. Where?
9. As a group: EN MASSE
10. More competent: ABLER
12. Nonentity: ZERO
13. Common word in rallying slogans: REMEMBER. I peeked at the answer sheet.
14. Biting: ACERB
16. Parenthetical comments: ASIDES
17. Withdraw: SECEDE
21. Hawkeye associate: RADAR (O'Reilly). Both M*A*S*H characters. And WALTER (44. 21-Down's real first name, on TV). Unknown to me.
23. Starting squad: A-TEAM
24. Duff: PRAT
31. Islamic holy month: RAMADAN
32. Modern office staples: PCS
33. Chap: GUY
34. Mule's papa: ASS
36. Antares, for one: STAR
37. Something to walk on: SOLE. Indeed.
38. Whalebone: BALEEN. New word to me.
41. Chuck: TOSS
42. __ nerve: OPTIC. Also new to me.
43. Sun, in Spain: SOL. Alliteration.
46. Food for sea urchins: KELP. I use kelp for miso soup base sometimes.
51. Navel phenomenon: INNIE
52. Expenditures: COSTS
54. Hawaii's "Gathering Place": OAHU. "Gathering Place" is its nickname.
55. Other side: FOE
57. Pirate booty holder: CHEST
58. Halos: AURAE. Or auras.
60. Luxury seating: SKYBOX
62. Discounted: LESS
66. Fires up: IGNITES
67. Split, as some hoofs: CLOVEN. Past participle of "cleave".
68. Round Table knight: KAY. Not familiar with Sir Kay. Another lady sounding name.
69. Starbucks buy: LATTE
72. As __ on TV: SEEN
76. Indicates: SAYS
79. Fido's dinnertime extra: ORT. Classic crosswordese.
80. Trim, as apples: PARE
81. Semi-serious "I understand": AH SO
83. Casey Jones, e.g.: ENGINEER. Have never heard of Casey Jones. He must be very famous to be honored with a stamp.
85. Cottage: BUNGALOW
87. Lassie, once: PUP. The answer surfaced itself.
88. Slender swimmer: EEL. Slender indeed.
92. Thinks over: PONDERS
93. Up to: UNTIL
94. Like productive land: ARABLE
95. Hang on to: RETAIN
98. Largest of the Marianas: GUAM
101.Outcropping: LEDGE. Like this protruding part.
102.Meager: SCANT
104.Hoodwinks: SNOWS. Learned this slang meaning of snow a few weeks ago.
107.Breton, e.g.: CELT
108.Privy to: IN ON
110.Storage cylinder: SILO
111.Trickle: SEEP
112.Start of North Carolina's motto: ESSE "Esse quam videri" (to be rather than to see). Another learning moment for me.
115.Many a Wharton grad: MBA
Answer grid.
C.C.
