What a busy day! After being on the go since 10:00, it was nice to sit down in my favorite chair (with Barnabas) and do the Monday puzzle.Today we learn HOW TO FIX / YOUR HAIR, revealed at 25D and 22D: What the ends of the answers to the four starred clues are examples of. The four theme answers are:
17A: It rolls across the Plains (sage brush). Boy, does it ever!
65A: Beehive contents (honey comb). I read that clue upside down as the puzzle was being printed. Nice way to start a puzzle.
11D: Juice drink brand (Ocean Spray).
31D: Alluring dance (strip tease). Pretty racy clue and answer. The Times They Are a-Changin' -- Pardon the pun...I couldn't resist.
I guess some people still tease their hair. I remember when everyone did. I can't even remember the last time I ran a brush or comb through my hair. I'm lucky enough to have body and natural curl...thanks, Mom. I just run my fingers through it with a little bit of gel, and it's a done do.
Nothing in this puzzle tripped me up. I actually missed many of the down clues, since I'd gotten most of the acrosses. Looking back over it now, I see a couple of things I didn't really know but managed to get.
48A: Edith who sang "La Vie en Rose" (Piaf). Never saw it. However, I did see Ma Vie en Rose, which I highly recommend.
55A: Vivacity (brio). How could I not know this word that aptly described me at some point in my life...
Things I really liked:
24A: When repeated, a Hawaiian fish (mahi). I thought they might be looking for humu...as in humuhumunukunukuapuaa (pronounced HOO-moo- HOO-moo-NOO-koo-NOO-koo-AH-poo-AH-ah), affectionately called humu humu. It is (once again) the state fish of Hawaii, thanks to a 6-year-old boy. You can read about it here.
56A: "The Tell-Tale Heart" teller (Poe). I think I've said this here before, but this is my absolute favorite Poe story. If you haven't read it, you oughta. Here's a pretty good synopsis.
9D: Card game with melding (canasta). My mother taught me to play Canasta when I was a teenager. Seriously, all I remember is that it used two decks of cards, so I can't believe that "melding" rang a bell.
12D: Where Moose meet (Lodge). Tee-hee.
45D: Cautions (caveats). I've just always liked this word. And its crossing at the V with 52A: Wife of Marc Antony (Octavia) is superb.
51D: Big-billed bird (toucan). This always reminds me of the Froot Loops bird, Toucan Sam. I haven't watched television in years. Do they still use Pig Latin, referring to the cereal as OOT-fray OOPS-lay? I certainly hope so.
It's not even 9:30, but I'm ready to turn in. OOD-gay IGHT-nay.
Linda G
6 comments:
Thanks for the toucan sam link, didn't know about him! After my time, I guess --
great write-up!
Icenay ostpay. Unfay, easyway uzzlepay.
Ixnay on the igpay atinlay! ;)
Linda: like the new thing where you are showing the completed puzzle in your own handwriting. That's pretty cool! Is this to become a permanent feature?
When I started this blog, I initially thought I wouldn't post the grid. Most of my readers also read Rex's blog, and he posts it every day. I did include it a couple months ago when we had the great tic-tac-toe puzzle.
If readers want it, though, I'll post it. Yeah or nay?
Well, Linda this is totally up to you, my pretty : ) A "Wicked" joke. Although she doesn't use that term as much in the book as she did in the movie.
Personally, I like seeing the handwritten grid. It helps me feel more connected and sometimes you can see where someone "messed up" at first -- or did (like I often do) write things in the margins.
Anyway -- you're right that we can see the completed grid at Rex's....but I think it's kind of fun to see it here too.
Not a huge deal though if it causes you more time/trouble. I so appreciate those of you who do the blogs.
Have a great evening~
Post a Comment