Wednesday, April 2 - Patrick Merrell

We haven't seen a Patrick Merrell puzzle in the New York Times in several months. One of my all-time favorites is his May 24 puzzle...the letter K appeared in it eighteen times!

Today he invites us to Turn the completed grid into a greeting card!...with the following theme answers:

16A: Step 1: Highlight this answer (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO).

27A: Step 2: With 43- and 55-Across, do this in the grid (scrambled or not)...it works for almost anyone! (CIRCLE LETTERS TO / SPELL OUT THE NAME / OF YOUR RECIPIENT).

I checked to see who had a birthday on April 2, and found that the late Marvin Gaye was born on this date...so I made my birthday card for him.

By the way, if you haven't already read it, be sure to check out Wendy's blog for an earlier post on Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell...two very talented singers who left us way too soon.

Famous names in the puzzle include 5A: 12-time Pro Bowl pick Junior __ (Seau), 36A: Diamond of note (Neil), 50A: "Star Wars" title (Darth), 4D: Some Dada prints (Arps), 31D: Louise's cinematic partner (Thelma), 41D: Root who won the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize (Elihu), 44D: One of the Jacksons (LaToya), 52D: Meg of "You've Got Mail" (Ryan) and 60D: "The Waste Land" poet's monogram (TSE).

I didn't know 9D: Eighth note (quaver) but guessed it based on crosses, including 15A: Europe/Asia boundary river (Ural) and 20A: Sailor's "Stop!" (avast). According to my Webster's New World College Dictionary, it's the last definition and is marked [Chiefly Brit.]. No wonder I hadn't heard of it.

Also not familiar with 61A: Big name in supercomputers (Cray). I was missing only the first letter, and it didn't help that I drew a total blank on 50D: Where to tie one on? I had had trouble letting go of neck for that one...but even with three letters in place, it took me forever to see dock.

A word often tossed around in crossword blogs appears at 53A: The heart in "I Love New York" signs, e.g. (rebus). While this represents the actual meaning of the word, I will likely continue to use it incorrectly in the future.

My favorite clue in the puzzle is 21D: Bakers' coats (icings). Other favorites include 33A: How Santa dresses, mostly (in red), 49A: End of a machine gun sound (tat), 1D: Good cheer? (rah), 7D: Figure on a hill (ant) and 46D: Usually black garb (habit).

I was up until midnight visiting with Leslie and Candy...ended up sleeping in and going to work at 9:30. If I do that two days in a row, I'll look like a slacker...that would not be a good thing.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, July 11 - Patrick Merrell

I almost feel as though I'm on vacation today...what with only having to solve and blog one puzzle! I enjoyed my time guest blogging for Green Genius, but it seemed like more than twice the work to solve the New York Sun and the New York Times. I guess I'm not on the Sun wavelength yet...the Tuesday puzzle stumped me something fierce.

So, it's nice to have a fairly easy (for a Wednesday) puzzle to solve. Patrick Merrell's theme involved three sports of sorts. The three theme answers are:

20A: Sport played on the first word of its name (table tennis).

35A: Sport played in the first word of its name (arena football). I've never really heard of that, but it was easy to infer.

51A: Sport played on the first word of its name (field hockey).

The best answer in the grid is at 31D: Pitcher who says "Oh, yeaahh!" (Koolaid Man). Check this out...way too funny.

Some other long answers that are nice to see.

18A: Mature before being picked (vine ripen). That's the only way to pick anything. Our apricot tree is just loaded. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by for some vine-ripened apricots.

6D: They run rapids (river rafts). Living so close to the Colorado River, we've done this a number of times. The older I get, though, the less I want rapids...I like the slow, easy floats. More my speed.

54A: It may get stuck in a movie theater (bubble gum). I'm glad the clue didn't reference The Archies.

42A: The lion in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (Aslan). That was in a puzzle I just did...if not a recent New York Times, then in one of my books.

Had THEM** for 46A (Organized crime) and was sure I'd done something wrong with the downs. A few more downs, though, and I knew I was on the right track with the mob.

I'm not sure about the clue for 22A: Ax user, e.g. (wielder). I mean, it works, but it conjures up images of Lizzie Borden.

I had to laugh at 62A: "Shucks!" (pshaw). I can't remember the last time I heard either of those words used, but they're still funny. And, in that same vein, 52D: "Yikes!" (egad).

I never saw any of the Austin Powers' movies, but it was easy to guess 26D: Dr. __ of "Austin Powers" films (Evil). I had already guessed 32A: Say "uncle" (give), and the V pretty much confirmed it.

I was just asking someone to explain 34D: Some hikers' targets, for short (QBs), when it came to me...32, 41, 15, hike! Or something like that. Do those numbers mean anything, or is it a random call?

I fell for it again! 6A: 50 Cent piece (rap). When will I learn? If cent is capitalized, it refers to Curtis James Jackson III.

Another clever clue at 15A: Voters liked him twice (Ike).

53D: Corker (lulu). Would have preferred to see it clued as the singer. I didn't know she did anything other than To Sir With Love, but it looks as though Lulu's stayed pretty busy.

Nice to see Eeyore in the puzzle. He's at 45D, clued as Pooh's mopey pal. But is anyone else getting tired of seeing bra? It reappears at 57D, clued as Strapped wear. I realize the letters lend themselves to inclusion in a grid, but would we ever see jock strap or athletic supporter in a puzzle? How about boxers or briefs? "Should that come to pass" (44D: if ever), I'd like to see them clued as men's undergarments.

There's a lot more good fill in this puzzle, but I'm calling it good for tonight. See you tomorrow.

Linda G

Thursday, May 24 - Patrick Merrell

When I see long theme answers, like we have today, I usually end up working a lot of downs to get some idea where they're going.

These were definitely looking strange...

17A: DDD
41A: HHHH
62A: KKKKKKKKKK

Not that I had all of them, of course. But enough to wonder what was up. And what was up was:

17A: "Creature From the Black Lagoon," e.g. (DDD monster movie)

41A: Gathering of budding agriculturists (HHHH Club meeting)

62A: Some running competitions (KKKKKKKKKK races)

Initially, I thought that 62A would be KKKKK. Since we had three, then four, I just assumed the next one would be five. So much for assuming.

Who doesn't love gimmes? I especially love the longer ones, like 15A: Site of an annual auto hill climb (Pike's Peak) and its symmetrical correspondent 69A: City of Indiana or Louisiana (Lafayette).

With the 10K and Pike's Peak, the letter K appeared 18 times in this puzzle. 5D: "The Greatest Generation" author (Brokaw), shared his with 19A: One trying to stay up while going down (skier). Clever clue, by the way. Some others were:

1A: Food that's stuck on a plate (kebab), with 1D: Western moniker (Kid)

18D: Jefferson site (nickel) with 30A: Attention-getting haircut (Mohawk)

39A: Canon rival (Nikon) and 27D: Two-piece suits? (bikini). Happy to see it clued without reference to waxing.

A scrabbly X in the grid as well. 51D: People in a crowd, maybe (extras) and 54A: Controversial 1767 act of Parliament (tea tax).

Liked the clever clue at 64D: Restaurant with wings (KFC).

Did not know 21D: Old wine vessel (amphora). Must remember, as it will probably come back some time.

The award for the funniest-looking word in the puzzle goes to 22D: Bigwig (Poohbah). That always reminds me of The Flintstones.

61D: Bed, slangily (sack) reminds me that I need to hit it early tonight.

Enjoy your Thursday. The weekend's almost here.

Linda G

Wednesday, May 9 - Patrick Merrell

I swear I've seen this quote in a puzzle in the last few months. Did anyone else have that feeling?

Winston Churchill's description of a fanatic is divided into four parts:

17A: One who can't
27A: change his mind
44A: and won't change
60A: the subject

I wonder if I'm the only one who thought the quote had only three parts. To be consistent, the clue for 60A should have been Description, part 4. Clued as Description's end, though, I tried to think of an appropriate answer. What comes at the end of a description? When I ended up with the subject (only because I had all the downs), I couldn't figure out how that made any sense. It finally all came together.

They're b-a-a-a-a-ack:

10A: Pre-Communist leader (Tsar). Old word, new clue.

14A: It's a killer (orca)

15A: Tubular instruments (oboes). I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If it's an instrument, and it's obviously not a viola, it's an oboe.

33A: December celebrations (Noels). Plural this time, but an oft-repeated answer.

42A: Lug (ape). Again, a fresh clue keeps it from being a tired answer.

35D: Gin fruit (sloe).

67A: Collars worn outside the lapels (Etons). See Noels comment above.

Some fresh, snappy answers and/or clues:

25A: Secured, as a fish on a line (reeled in).

39A: Dreadful (abysmal). It's a great sounding word, despite its meaning.

11D: Leadfoot (speed demon). I've been driving almost 40 years and have never had a ticket--or an accident for that matter. I'll admit that I have been very lucky many times, but I rarely exceed the speed limit.

22D: "Elder" of ancient history (Pliny). I knew this, but I don't know how. Former puzzle?

46D: Commonplace (old hat). What I hope crossword blogs never become.

29D: From dawn till dusk (all day long). I just like it because it's a long answer.

48D: Key with three sharps (A major). I haven't gotten to that point in my lessons yet. C, D, G and F major, and A minor. I freak out when I see too many sharps. (MDS, if you're reading this, don't take it personally).

Things I didn't know:

26D: Orbiting chimp of 1961 (Enos). I remember watching it on the news but didn't remember that the chimp had a name.

34D: "Metropolis" director Fritz (Lang). Never heard of him.

37D: Bild article (Eine). Need to brush up on foreign languages other than Spanish.

I have a busy day tomorrow that will start early and go on and on, so I'll wrap this up. For further commentary, read what constructor and guest blogger John Farmer (filling in for Orange) has to say.

Good night...

Linda G