Monday, May 12 - Randall J. Hartman

An enjoyable Mother's Day was followed by an enjoyable Monday puzzle. Randall Hartman's clue to the theme was at 58A: Youth groups...with a hint to 17-, 28- and 44-Across (Four H Clubs).

Theme answers:

17A: Anglican body (high church).

28A: Question when you can't tell two things apart (which is which). I don't know why I loved that one, but I did. Although at this point, I still didn't catch on to the theme.

44A: Jewish high holy day (Rosh Hashanah). Embarrassing to admit...I still hadn't noticed it by this one.

We spent the day leisurely...enjoying coffee at our favorite coffee shop, buying paint for the bathroom and laundry room, and picking up plants at the nursery. While Don got the swamp cooler up and running (we usually get three days of spring...then it's summer), I planted a couple of color pots, as well as flowers in the front. Don, Leslie, Candy and I all worked on pruning the rose bushes...nasty work, that. [Just noticed that was an answer...at 43A: Not just mean.] We enjoyed a cookout on the patio...the weather was perfect, and not a bug in sight. The only thing that could have made it better was if Elaine had been here, although she called a couple of times.

But I guess you came here to read about the puzzle...

I'm always proud when I get a sports clue as a gimme...tonight's was 5A: Home of the N.F.L.'s Buccaneers (Tampa).

I pretty much worked this one left to right, top to bottom...not my usual method, but this was pretty easy. I had to go back and read all of the down clues and answers...I didn't see many of them.

I only had one mistake in the puzzle, but it was a good one...at 56A: Whisper sweet nothings. For some reason, I thought it was woo. When I got to 50D: Less than 90 degrees, I had awute...WTF? That's when I realized that you coo...and acute makes much more sense.

Favorite clues include 15A: Criminal's "a k a" name (alias), 22A: Hornswoggled (duped), 37A: Shot in the arm (boost) and 48A: Top secret? (toupee). This little one is going for the Donald Trump look.

A few favorite answers:

49A: The "I" of Canada's P.E.I. (Island). In my former life, we had a friend who lived on Prince Edward Island...never made it up there.

11D: September birthstones (sapphires). Beautiful stones...although my favorite is still a ruby. Well, and diamonds, of course.

26D: Something beaten at a party in Mexico (piñata ).

40D: Roald who wrote "James and the Giant Peach" (Dahl). The girls enjoyed his books...especially the one about the giant.

45D: Fanfare (hoopla).

55D: "Rule, Britannia" composer (Arne).

60D: Geller with a psychic act (Uri).

Probably my very favorite is 33D: Tramp (hobo)...because I just learned the origin of the word...homeward bound. Stick around...you never know what you'll learn here at Madness.

I remember running into this in the past, but it still looks wrong. 29A: __ longue (chaise). Chaise looks just fine...but longue looks as though it should rhyme with tongue. I prefer lounge.

Time to wrap it up...dessert is served.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, April 7 - Randall J. Hartman

Before I forget...again...I'd like to introduce two new additions to the sidebar. Some of you have already met Ryan and Brian...two very funny guys writing about their struggles and successes with the New York Times and other crossword puzzles. They've recently done a podcast...be sure to check that out.

The other blog...under Crossword Fans But Not Crossword Blogs...is The View From My Window. Reader and frequent commenter Annielee offers "Random musings in words, pictures, and color. Just for fun." I hope you'll visit her often and encourage her to continue with Annie's 365.

After a week of butt-kicking puzzles, it was nice to see Monday again. There was one clue that totally stumped me, and the cross wasn't much help. More about that after the theme...revealed at 40A: Takes care of all possibilities (covers every base). The other four theme answers are:

17A: Bess Truman or Barbara Bush (First Lady).

25A: Question after the fact (second-guess).

52A: Grilling (third degree). Elaine recently brought a young man home for dinner. Poor Jesse got a bit of the third degree, but he took it quite well. I've made it clear to Elaine that there will be no talk of marriage for a very, very, very long time.

65A: 1990 Macaulay Culkin film (Home Alone). I wonder if anyone had skipped the long answer...so had this one starting with fourth before even reading the clue.

On to my area of struggle...I've never heard of 8D: Brother comic Shawn or Marlon (Wayans), and I didn't understand the clue for 21A: Enclosure with a MS. (SASE). Okay, I get SASE, but I'm clueless about the MS. part of the clue. I finally figured out that 22D: Star Wars program, for short was SDI...Strategic Defense Initiative...and then guessed that SASE was the correct answer. The Applet accepted my solution, but that doesn't help me get it.

Favorite answers in the puzzle include 5A: Stick in one's __ (craw), 9A: Frank of the Mothers of Invention (Zappa)...I'll spare you the toilet shot, 32A: "God's Little __" (Erskine Caldwell best seller)(Acre)...I remember my mother reading it years ago, 44A: Pan-cooked brunch treat (crepe), 61A: French city famous for its mustard (Dijon), 3D: Put aside for later (in reserve), 9D: "Riders of the Purple Sage" author (Zane Grey), 37D: Play by George Bernard Shaw (Saint Joan), 41D: Relatively low-temperature star (red dwarf), 42D: German river in a 1943 R.A.F. raid (Eder), 49D: Opposite of "At ease!" (Ten hut), and 54D: Ballroom dancer Castle (Irene)...here she is with her husband and dance partner, Vernon Castle.

Favorite clues...29A: Car bomb? (Edsel)...poor Edsel gets no respect, 59A: Crew's control? (oar), 70A: Compete in the America's Cup (sail), 28D: Fit to be tried? (usable), 52D: "Animal House" party costumes (togas) and 62D: She requested "As Time Goes By" (Ilsa)...a different clue for a change.

The Applet wouldn't take my solution for the longest time...I finally found the error. I had misread the clue for 69A...thought it said B.Y.U., rather than B.T.U. Needed Unit rather than Univ. Since Eva is also a word, I didn't pay attention to the fact that it didn't work with the clue for 67D [When a plane is due in: Abbr.] (ETA).

That's it for tonight. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Tuesday...I don't think I could handle another week of puzzles like that.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, February 25 - Randall J. Hartman

I'm not sure if this was easier than most Mondays, but I fairly zipped through it...not even reading many of the down clues until after the fact. In some cases, I was guessing the down answer based on the letters I already had. Amazingly, it worked every time.

The theme of the puzzle...revealed at 55A: Object of the actions suggested by the starts of 17-, 30-, 47- and 66-Across (wood) was furniture refinishing. I was impressed that the four steps were in the proper order. The theme answers:

17A: X-rated dance (striptease). That will always remind me of "The Stripper," a #1 song in 1962...and used in a 1967 Noxzema commercial. "Take it off...take it all off."

30A: Beach find (sand dollar).

47A: Initial power source (prime mover). I had never heard the expression...don't know where I've been.

66A: Pinto (paint horse).

I enjoyed seeing both olio (16A: Mixed bag) and oleo (56D: Margarine) in the same puzzle. I hope JimH can tell us if that's ever been done before...I know I haven't seen it.

We don't have a pangram, but there are plenty of Scrabbly letters. Interesting clue at 40A: Rotcut (booze). I particularly love its cross at 34D: Sky-blue (azure). I'm sure I've said before that I have a great-nephew named Azure...and it's the perfect name for him. Check out those eyes. Are the girls gonna love him?

Two long entertainment-related answers...10D: 1990 Macaulay Culkin film (Home Alone) and 37D: Competitor of "The 5th Wheel," in reality TV (elimiDATE). Knew the former but not the latter. Elaine confirmed that I didn't have something wrong there.

I couldn't choose an absolute favorite answer. It's a tie between 31D: Israeli desert (Negev)...I like both the way it looks and the way it sounds...and 46A: __ jacket, 1960s fashion (Nehru). Here's Sir Paul McCartney himself wearing one.

Other favorites, because of clues, answers, or whatever:

1A: Boston orchestra (Pops).

27A: Some Caribbean music (ska).

39A: __ Speedwagon (1970s-'80s band) (REO)...my favorite treadmill CD is their greatest hits.

69A: Ryan of "The Beverly Hillbillies" (Irene). I am extremely embarrassed to say that I watched that show religiously...and I can't for the life of me explain why. But Irene Ryan was a class act.

4D: Slide, as a credit card through a reader (swipe). I still think of swipe as meaning steal, so it sounds strange when they tell me to swipe my card. It's already mine...why would I swipe it?

13D: Cappuccino head (foam). That's one I didn't see until just this moment. Good one.

24D: "Streets of __" (classic cowboy song) (Laredo).

27D: Little rascal (scamp).

32A: Sharp turn on a golf course (dogleg).

48D: Chatterbox (magpie). This was an exceptional weekend at the bird feeders. We had a hairy woodpecker at the feeder for the first time, a small flock of grosbeaks, and chickadees and goldfinches galore. I get so much enjoyment from watching them.

49D: Spoiled (rotten). Why, yes, I am.

This wasn't much of a movie year for me, and I didn't see any of the films that received major Academy Award nominations. I'm renewing my Netflix membership, though, and I'll start adding them as they're available. I've been checking for updates...so far, the hottest dress I've seen was on Renée Zellweger.

That's it for tonight. Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, July 23 - Randall J. Hartman

There are two things I love to see in puzzles. One is circles...

...and the other is anagrams! Put 'em in my puzzle, and I'm a happy solver.

Today's theme is TOPS, with the five theme answers ending in some variation on those four letters.

17A: Traps off the coast of Maine (lobster pots).

28A: Ball catcher behind a catcher (back stop). Is that a person...or are they talking about the fence? I do like that its B crosses at 28D: Points on a diamond? (bases). Good tie, and clever cluing to boot.

34A: Source of disruption to satellites (sun spot).

42A: Sleeveless shirts (tank tops). I've been wearing them whenever I can get away with it. These hot, humid (for Colorado) days are getting old.

56A: Gotham tabloid (New York Post).

For a Monday puzzle, that's a pretty clever theme, and the rest of the fill ain't too shabby.

1A: Toast to one's health (salud). Nice crosses at 3D: Jerry Lewis telethon time (Labor Day) and 4D: Andrew Carnegie corp. (US Steel).

26A: Part of a TV catchphrase from Howie Mandel (no deal). Other multiple word answers include 32A: Identical to (same as), 47A: Goad (egg on), 42D: Thus far (to date) and 44D: Music genre for Enya (New Age).

My favorite multiple word clue was 13D: "Little" shepherdess of children's verse (Bo Peep). Funny, I never thought of her as a shepherdess before.

I liked 39D: Designer letters (DKNY). According to their website, DKNY is not just about clothes. It's about a lifestyle. For years, I didn't know that it stood for Donna Karan New York. I thought it was a new take on a brand that I knew years ago...Donkenny.

I'm so glad to see Opie back in his rightful place (52A: Mayberry lad). I take personal issues with the idiot clued last week as Opie. See the comment posted by Lee at Diary of a Crossword Fiend. I think his link was on the word rude.

I didn't know 12D: Georges who composed "Romanian Rhapsodies" (Enesco) but was able to get it from crosses. I know Enesco as the maker of Precious Moments, the figurines with the big teardrop-shaped eyes. I also thought it was the name of the stadium in Denver...no, that's Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium. I haven't been there since they rebuilt and renamed it. Apparently, Mile High Stadium wasn't a good enough name.

It made me laugh to see blooper (41D: Knee-slapping goof) in the grid, just because it's such a funny-looking word. Bean pole (36D: Tall, skinny guy) also made me laugh, for personal reasons. I'm 4' 11" now, so you can imagine how short I was in 6th grade...but one girl was calling me names and that was what she came up with. Don't know why I remember this now.





As you can see, I had already started highlighting before I remembered to scan the puzzle. I usually highlight before I blog...so that my random thoughts don't appear to be quite so scattered.

It's Monday...back to the grind for some. Although it's not so bad when you love what you do. And I do...I'm so blessed.

Linda G

Monday, June 18 - Randall J. Hartman

After a day of celebrating (my birthday, as well as Father's Day), it was nice to sit down and blast through Randall J. Hartman's Monday puzzle.

The three theme answers all relate to water, specifically, [something] of the [some body of water]. Huh? Here they are:

20A: She offered Excalibur to the future King Arthur (Lady of the Lake)

37A: Popular canned tuna (Chicken of the Sea)

48A: Columbia, in an old patriotic song (Gem of the Ocean)

Ordinarily, I'm ecstatic when I get a 15-letter answer with no letters in place. In the case of 37-Across, though, I guess it was pretty much a no-brainer. Still...

The winner for best clue is 1A: #1 number two who became the #2 number one (Adams). I'm sure glad I did this puzzle before dinner (i.e., before beer). As it was, I had to read the clue several times. I thought it might have something to do with Hertz and Avis. After doing the downs in the northwest, I hit on it. For those of you who may still be confused...John Adams was Washington's vice president. He then became the second U.S. president.

Nice little religious mini-theme going with 17A: Food from heaven (manna), 19A: __-again (like some Christians) (born), and 25D: Holy city of Islam (Mecca).

Enjoyed seeing My bad at 10D, clued as "Oops! I made a mistake." I never said that until a few months ago. If it's in the New York Times, though, I guess it must be okay to say it.

And speaking of okay to say it, we have sex at 58D, clued as Topic for Dr. Ruth. It's always good to have an X in the grid, and especially good if its cross is a great word like Essex (64A: County ENE of London).

My sweet Don makes an appearance at 13D, even though he's clued as "__ we now our gay apparel." He was gracious enough to let my birthday trump his Father's Day.

A big thank you to Mr. Hartman (and/or Mr. Shortz) for 61A: Do, as a puzzle (solve). It's about time we all got some recognition for what we do...day after day...sometimes to the exclusion of everything else.

Favorite word of the puzzle has to be 38D: Crayfish dish (etouffee). We had a really good Cajun restaurant in town for about two years. Their etouffee was to die for. The college owned the building they were in and didn't renew their lease. The building was needed for expansion that hasn't happened...almost two years later.

One of Rex's favorite words is in the puzzle again at 23A: Garment accompanying a girdle (bra). If you didn't read his post a few days ago, you should. By the way, I wear a bra at least 350 days a year, but I have never worn a girdle. The two do not go hand in hand, so to speak.

For some ridiculous reason, I scheduled physical therapy for 8:00 tomorrow morning, so I must get to bed early. This go-round is actually helping, owing in large part to the fact that we had a diagnosis to work with. And I love Matt and Nicole. I get 20-30 minutes of massage on my arm, shoulder and upper back, followed by 20 minutes of electrical stimulation (and hot packs) to my bicep and shoulder. I am definitely getting a lot of bang for my co-pay.

Good night, sweet dreams.

Linda G