Theme: Mere Pittance - Each theme entry is a slang for "paltry sum".
18A. Peanuts : CHICKEN FEED
38A. Peanuts : SMALL POTATOES. Remember the black squares on both sides of this entry are not cheaters. The tricky 13 demands the black squares.
58A. Peanuts : CHUMP CHANGE
C.C. here, swapping blogging slot with Husker Gary, who wrote last Sunday's post.
At first, I thought this might be a Definition type, which often runs on Thursday or Friday. But no SCHULZ'S STRIP or BALLPARK SNACK or other made-up phrases. Patti has a tight set of all solid in- the-language phrases.
At first, I thought this might be a Definition type, which often runs on Thursday or Friday. But no SCHULZ'S STRIP or BALLPARK SNACK or other made-up phrases. Patti has a tight set of all solid in- the-language phrases.
Across:
1. Wander (about) : GAD
4. Fragrant bloom : LILAC. The scent is a bit overwhelming for me.
9. Utter disorder : CHAOS
14. Second person in Eden : EVE
15. Kitchen sponge brand : O-CEL-O. Love 3M. They sponsor the annual Champions Tour here in our area.
16. Full of moxie : NERVY
17. Like many a gray day : WET
20. Sales meeting aid : GRAPH. Not CHART.
22. Feel crummy : AIL. Was on antibiotics for 2 weeks. Man, I felt so crummy. The periodontist is going to take off the stitches this morning. Yay!
23. Coal __ : TAR
24. Most populous continent : ASIA
25. Date night destination : CINEMA
28. One of a gallon's 16 : CUP
30. Like a successful business, presumably : WELL-RUN. Like 3M.
32. Stand against : OPPOSE
34. Northern California city : EUREKA
37. Birch family tree : ALDER
41. Hardly fresh : STALE. Hope you have Aldi in your neighborhood. This week's boxed Medjool dates are incredibly fresh.
42. Bit of photography equipment : TRIPOD
43. Southern California team : LAKERS. Not ANGELS or PADRES. Lakes are originally from Minnesota, "Land of 10,000 Lakes".
45. Inside information : LOWDOWN
49. Copper source : ORE
50. Hits the road : SPLITS
53. Albany-to-Buffalo canal : ERIE
54. Former Air France jet : SST
56. Geologist's division : EON. Not ERA.
57. Tops by a slight margin : EDGES
62. Picnic invader : ANT
63. Ready to hit the hay : TIRED. Also 66. Used up : SPENT
64. Invalidate : ANNUL
65. Maiden name preceder : NEE
67. Pond critters : NEWTS. Not FROGS.
68. Mexican Mrs. : SRA
Down:
1. Gaudy trinket : GEWGAW. Not a word I use.
2. Opposed : AVERSE
3. Enlargement advantage : DETAIL
4. Scot's swimming spot : LOCH
5. German "I" : ICH
6. Welcoming wreath : LEI
7. Highway through the Yukon : ALCAN (Alaska-Canada)
8. Newswoman Roberts : COKIE. NPR.
9. "Erin Burnett OutFront" channel : CNN
10. Pick up with effort : HEFT
11. Geographically based trio : AREA CODE
12. Makes trite, in a way : OVERUSES
13. Hoff who wrote the "Henrietta" children's books : SYD
19. Red "Sesame Street" puppet : ELMO
21. Light beer? : PALE ALE. Color-wise.
25. Biceps exercise : CURL
26. Not at all handy : INEPT
27. "Trainwreck" director Judd : APATOW. He was on the Bill Cosby crusade from the very start.
29. Pay-__-view : PER
31. Kings, e.g. : RULERS
33. Lumbered : PLODDED
35. "MASH" setting: Abbr. : KOR (Korea). Land of Kimchi & Tteokbokk. The latter is a street food, as ubiquitous as our WIENER (47. Ballpark snack)
36. Lopsided : ATILT
38. Sci-fi fleet vessel : STARSHIP
39. Leave no doubt : MAKE SURE
40. GI addresses : APOs
41. __-mo : SLO
44. What a freelancer may work on : SPEC
46. Hearts, but not minds : ORGANS
48. Lipton rival : NESTEA
51. Lindsay of "Mean Girls" : LOHAN. She was once so promising.
52. Foolish : INANE
55. Anti-counterfeiting agts. : T MEN
57. Slim swimmers : EELS
58. Euro divs. : CTs
59. West Coast hrs. : PDT
60. Houston-to-Dallas dir. : NNW
61. Belly : GUT
C.C.
