Sunday August 28, 2022 Gary Larson & Amy Ensz

Theme: "Game for Anything" - Each theme entry is humorously reinterpreted as if it's a sports competition.

22. Track competitions for nudists?: MEETS IN THE FLESH.

40. Cross-country competitions for grounds workers?: COFFEE RUNS.

42. Football competitions for Pepperidge Farm employees?: GOLDFISH BOWLS.

67. No-holds-barred competitions for mixed martial artists?: STRIKE ANYWHERE MATCHES.

93. Field competitions for electricians?: CURRENT EVENTS.

96. Baseball competitions for collectors of compact cars?: MINI-SERIES.

115. Boxing competitions for comedians?: BOUTS OF LAUGHTER.

In case you missed this, our Gary Larson was a comedian for cruise ships for many years.

I'm not familiar with Strike Anywhere matches. I have not used matches for years. Such an apt description for the clued competition.

Across:

1. Airplane __: cellphone setting: MODE.

5. Hefty slice: SLAB. Has any of you tried cod roe (mentaiko)? So tasty!

9. Dutch semisoft cheese: EDAM.

13. Spanish "this": ESTA.

17. Windows alternative: UNIX.

18. Group activity at a Jewish wedding: HORA. Guess how many 4-letter entries in this grid?

19. Corporate symbols: LOGOS.

21. Fireplace outlets: FLUES.

25. Visual puzzle: REBUS.

26. Figures of speech: TROPES.

27. Nada: NIL.

28. Fragile: DELICATE.

30. Asian archipelago: JAPAN. Probably the cleanest country on earth.

32. Cub's home: DEN.

33. Soccer great nicknamed "O Rei": PELE. The King.

34. Relaxed pace: TROT.

35. Oscar winner Mahershala: ALI.  2 Oscars.

36. View sharer: OPINER.

45. __-mo replay: SLO.

46. "Star Trek" role for Takei and Cho: SULU.

47. "The Lion King" lion: NALA.

48. Lift: HOIST.

51. The Gem State: IDAHO.

55. Support: BACK.

57. One who spins yarns?: KNITTER. Not storyteller.

59. Irish-speaking New Age singer: ENYA.

60. Secret drawer full of snacks, e.g.: STASH.

62. Fair-hiring org.: EEOC.

63. Actor Kaplan or MLB manager Kapler: GABE. Giants' manager.

66. Lifesaving skill, for short: CPR.

72. __ lime pie: KEY.

73. Old geopolitical states: Abbr.: SSRS.

74. And others, briefly: ET AL.

75. Goes up and down: YO-YOS.

76. Purina rival: IAMS.

78. German-made camper: EUROVAN. Learning moment for me. Volkswagen model. We also have 95. Beetle, briefly: VW BUG.

81. Seat in un parc: BANC.

82. Kilt fold: PLEAT.

84. River through Paris: SEINE.

85. Much loved: DEAR. In Chinese, it's Qin an de.

87. Bridal veil trim: LACE.

91. Zip: VIM.

101. Donkey's bray: HEE HAW.

102. Parka sleeve: ARM. Never wore a parka.

103. Ex-Dodger Hershiser: OREL. Still the broadcaster for the Dodgers

104. Fix: MEND.

105. Nurse: SIP.

106. Emma's "Beauty and the Beast" role: BELLE. Emma Watson.

108. Some facial surgeries: NOSE JOBS. Great fill.

110. Sky light?: SUN.

111. At work: ON DUTY.

114. Foreword, for short: INTRO.

120. Time punctuation: COLON. 9:30am.

121. The blahs: ENNUI.

122. Gutter spot: EAVE.

123. Dublin's land: EIRE.

124. Again: ANEW.

125. Departed: GONE.

126. Spud growth: EYES.

127. Allied flyers during WWII: RCAF. The Royal Canadian Air Force.

Down:

1. Tight-lipped: MUM.

2. Till bill: ONE.

3. Appetite suppressant: DIET PILL. Oral chemo pills definitely suppress your appetite.

4. Uncredited actor: EXTRA.

5. FedEx, say: SHIP.

6. __ Star State: LONE.

7. Crafts partner: ARTS.

8. "Pshaw!": BAH.

9. Spritelike: ELFIN.

10. Bratz toy: DOLL. With big, glossy lips.

11. Get old: AGE.

12. Longtime stage name of Yasiin Bey: MOS DEF.

13. Conductor in a circuit: ELECTRODE.

14. Crosstrek automaker: SUBARU.

15. Ancient German: TEUTON.

16. Portfolio listings: ASSETS.

20. Bookcase part: SHELF.

21. Workwk. end for some: FRI. And 24. Año start: ENERO.

23. "__ a gun!": SON OF.

29. Some jeans: LEES.

30. Binges: JAGS.

31. Six-time MLB All-Star Moisés: ALOU.

32. Pioneering cardiovascular surgeon: DEBAKEY. Michael DeBakey. Learning moment for me. He died at the age of 99.

33. Theorize: POSIT.

37. Lifts: PINCHES.

38. "Out of Africa" novelist Dinesen: ISAK. Her real name is Karen Blixen.

39. Org. with Ducks and Penguins: NHL.

40. Coagulate: CLOT.

41. Former quarterback Manning: ELI.

43. Persian Gulf emirate: DUBAI.

44. "Eh, either is fine": WHICHEVER.

49. Jason of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall": SEGEL.

50. Airport shuttle on rails: TRAM.

52. Dried chili pepper: ANCHO.  Dried poblano.

53. Really pushes: HYPES.

54. Rowboat set: OARS.

56. Makes a request: ASKS.

58. Without delay: NOW.

60. Base runner's ploy: STEAL.

61. "You think I'm kidding?": TRY ME.

62. Follow: ENSUE.

64. San Francisco and environs: BAY AREA. Where two of my sisters-in-law live.

65. Historic British prep school: ETON.

67. 116-Down card: SKIP. 116. Game with an edition for colorblind players: UNO.

68. Trojan War god: ARES.

69. Lyft driver's guess: ETA.

70. Were strongly felt, as emotions: RAN DEEP.

71. Ride a bike: CYCLE.

77. Well-suited London street name?: SAVILE ROW. Tailored suits.

79. Finely chopped: RICED.

80. Weighty obligation: ONUS.

81. __ & Body Works: BATH. Amazing shower gels. Here's my favorite.

83. Carol contraction: TIS.

86. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir.: ENE.

88. __ psychology: ANALYTIC.

89. PC key below Shift: CTRL.

90. Salinger heroine: ESME.

92. Staff note: MEMO.

94. African herbivore: RHINO.

96. Santa __: West Coast city known for its pier: MONICA.

97. Patch type: IRON-ON.

98. Get cozy: NESTLE.

99. Yeshiva leader: REBBE. Not RABBI.

100. Joyous way to break out: IN SONG.

105. "Calvin and Hobbes" girl: SUSIE.

107. Upper regions of space: ETHER.

109. Actor Hamm: JON. "Mad Men".

110. Wow: STUN.

111. Body wash brand: OLAY.

112. Central church section: NAVE. And 113. Members' payments: DUES. And 117. Fixed payment: FEE.

118. Historical period: ERA.

119. Slo-mo reviewer: REF.

We had a very productive meeting with the VA Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) nurse. We still have to go to the VA for oncology or other specialty meetings, bone strengthener injections, MRI scans, etc, but we don't need to see Boomer's primary care doctor anymore. The HBPC covers it, plus it also has a PT & an OT.  

We're going to the VA next Wednesday for a 3-month orthopedic follow up. Boomer's left shoulder is getting stronger, but he still can't type with his left hand and his legs are getting weaker every day. Daunting task to get him from the basement to our bedroom now.

C.C.