Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Don Gagliardo & C.C. Burnikel

Theme: It was so cold ... - three dogs were allowed on the bed. The band's name is explained here.

20A. Golfer's gadget used at the edge of water hazards : BALL RETRIEVER

34A. Early leader in a race : PACE SETTER

43A. Pelvic contusion : HIP POINTER

55A. "Joy to the World" group, and based on the ends of 20-, 34- and 43-Across, what you're having if you solve this puzzle after dark? : THREE DOG NIGHT

Argyle here. Hard G and C.C. have gone to the dogs. Not just any dogs but a tight group of sporting dogs. There is a wide spread in the fill to keep it interesting. I hope you were able to fetch all the answers.

Across:

1. Coal holders : BINS

5. "The Censor" of Rome : CATO. There is Cato the Elder and Cato the Younger; you can guess which one was "The Censor".

9. Hiked, as prices : UPPED. Can you say "gas prices"?

14. Australian golfer __ Scott : ADAM. He was involved with that incident where Tiger fired his caddy.

15. Most fit for duty : ONE A

16. Emma Roberts, to Julia : NIECE. Here as a blonde.

17. Pass catchers : RECEIVERS

19. Company that ironically had a crooked E in its logo : ENRON

22. 10-Down substance used in roofing : TAR and 10D. Tree with needles : PINE. I knew it was used on bats.

23. Salinger title girl : ESMÉ. "For Esmé – with Love and Squalor"

24. Sumac of Peru : YMA

27. Cries of pain : OWs

30. Little rascal : IMP

32. How animals boarded the ark : IN TWOS

38. Cries of surprise : OHO'S

39. "__ Were the Days" : THOSE

40. __ Intrepid : USS

41. Curing solution : BRINE

42. Watches a kid for cash : SITS

45. Form 1040 data : INCOME

47. Many moons: Abbr. : YRs. (years)

48. Erie summer hrs. : EDT. (Eastern Daylight Time)

49. Bk. before Esther : NEH. (Nehemiah)

50. "__ la Douce" : IRMA. Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine(1963)

53. Extremely long time : EON

61. Way up : STAIR

63. Deceived : LED ASTRAY

64. Duplicate, briefly : REPRO

65. Bath, in Bordeaux : BAIN. French.

66. Wyatt at the O.K. Corral : EARP

67. Look of disdain : SNEER

68. Pisa's river : ARNO

69. Portly Jolly Roger pirate : SMEE

Down:

1. Wire fence point : BARB

2. It's all in your head : IDEA

3. Salt, to a chemist : NACL

4. Silvery food fish : SMELT

5. Oater hero's request when entering the fray : "COVER ME!"

6. Work without __ : A NET

7. Land in Paris : TERRE. More French.

8. Desert refuge : OASIS

9. In need of leveling : UNEVEN

11. Daily Planet editor : PERRY WHITE. He was always telling Jimmy Olsen, "Don't call me chief!"

12. Prefix with system : ECO

13. Room with a remote : DEN

18. Call from one who more than calls? : "I RAISE"

21. Arab commander : EMIR

25. Gazed dreamily : MOONED. Let the DF comments begin.

26. Declare : ASSERT

27. Decides to join : OPTS IN

28. Hula dancer, often : WAHINE. Often the clue, seldom the answer.

29. Present wrapper's aid : SCOTCH TAPE

31. Spitting sound : "PTUI!". "Pardon me"

33. In tatters : TORN

35. Pump sign on the Alcan highway : ESSO. Better gas up when you have a chance.

36. Recipe meas. : TSP.

37. Make out : ESPY

41. Buffalo's minor league baseball team : BISONS

43. "Take this" : "HERE"

44. Pizza herb : OREGANO

46. "Snow White" fairness judge : MIRROR

51. Toast type : MELBA

52. "Be __ ...": start of a polite request : A DEAR

54. Evenings, in ads : NITES

56. Add to the work force : HIRE

57. Viking war god : ODIN. Thor was his son.

58. Protein unit : GRAM

59. Fabled slacker : HARE

60. Make words using keys : TYPE

61. Many retd. boomers : SRs. (seniors)

62. Farthest-right bowling pin : TEN

Answer grid.

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Don came up with this idea after adopting his two dogs Pansie & Cosmos. We originally had SACAGAWEA for 55A & IT'S I for 31D. Rich felt that SACAGAWEA was not Monday/Tuesday friendly and IT'S I overly contrived. So we went through a couple revisions.