Wednesday, June 4 - Billie Truitt

Billie Truitt's New York Times debut was just a couple of weeks ago...May 20...and we already have another puzzle by this talented constructor. [UPDATE: While I was neutral as to the constructor's gender with this post, I wasn't with the debut. I received an email from Billie Truitt today...who pointed out that she is a she. I had questioned the spelling but took my cue from Cruciverb...referring to Billie and another debuting constructor in May as "guys."]

My work day started at 8:00, and I didn't get home until 9:15. Fortunately, enough of my brain was working that I was able to solve this in a reasonable amount of time...but a Q & D (quick and dirty...according to my favorite professor) is about all I've got left in me. I'm worn out.

It's a shame, really...maybe you'll talk up the puzzle among yourselves.

The theme is revealed at 33A: What 17-, 24-, 48- and 57-Across are (things that break)...and the four theme answers are:

17A: Tricky, unexpected questions (curveballs).

24A: Vampire's undoing (daylight). This was the first theme answer I got, and I tried to go somewhere with the time zones...until I remembered that daylight isn't a time zone. Did I mention that I was beat?

48A: Stairway hazards, in some homes (kids' toys). Oh, do they ever break!

57A: View from the shore (ocean waves). My favorite...mostly because it reminds me of Hawaii. This was taken on Kauai during our trip last September.

I absolutely loved that the puzzle featured both 63A: Numbered work (opus) and 2D: Cross to bear (onus).

Also liked the connected cluing at 4D: 12-Down hardware (anvils) and 12D: Place with a forge (smithy).

There were only a couple of answers I didn't know, but the crosses were easy enough...29A: "Hurlyburly" Tony winner Judith (Ivey), 41A: "Man's the __, the Wealth the vine, / Stanch and strong the tendrils twine": Emerson (elm), and 10D: 1948 John Wayne western (Red River).

Favorites include 20A: It's a relief (aspirin), 1D: Pay stub abbr. (FICA), 6D: New York cardinal (Egan)...because I remembered it somehow, 9D: "Mighty" one who struck out (Casey), 11D: Make as a claim (allege), 13D: Use a block and tackle on (hoist), 34D: Bulletin-creating department (news desk), 44D: Slowly, on a score (adagio) and 49D: Maine college town (Orono)...because I remembered it from a fairly recent puzzle.

I have another day that will start at 8:00 and will probably be another 10-hour day. Today I had the privilege of notifying the men and women who were accepted into the new housing program. The flip side...having to tell the bad news to those who weren't. That's always so tough...and there aren't many options for some of them. I'm probably as emotionally exhausted as I am physically.

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



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, May 28 - C. W. Stewart

Nice Wednesday puzzle from C. W. Stewart...good theme answers, some out-of-the-ordinary fill.

The theme is revealed at 38A: Word that can follow the starts of 17-, 21-, 58- and 64-Across and 3- and 40-Down (balls).

The theme answers:

17A: Fund-raiser wear, perhaps (black tie).

21A: Yellow flower (buttercup).

58A: Artist's smudge remover (gum eraser).

64A: 1952 Gary Cooper western (High Noon). If you missed KarmaSartre's "Don't Forsake Me, Darlin' Blogger," be sure to check it out here. He gets much of the credit (the blame?) for the swift end to my sabbatical.

3D: "All in the Family" nickname (Meathead).

40D: Cajole (soft soap). This was the last theme answer to come to me. I was sure I had something wrong in that southeast corner. The cross at 60A: Goes for (costs) and 51A: Aqualung, e.g., in the 1971 Jethro Tull album (lecher) just wasn't coming together.

Some of my favorites:

14A: Chief Hun, in Scandinavian legend (Atli).

15A: Bygone political council (Soviet).

19A: Superlawyer Gerry (Spence).

25A: Metric volume measure (stere).

33A: Lacking subtlety (blatant).

63A: Cure-all (elixir)...crossing at the X with 53D: Either President Bush (Texan). I could think of several appropriate answers...but I had trouble coming up with one that had five letters.

6D: Out (alibi). That seems like a much-tougher-than-Tuesday clue. I just realized that this is Wednesday...so I changed the first sentence of the post. These three-day weekends can be confusing.

30D: Iraqi port (Basra)...finally remembered that from previous puzzles.

34D: Breaks in concentration (lapses). I've had a few of those since I started this post. My computer wasn't cooperating, and I had to reboot in the middle of posting. That's one of my pet peeves...another is that I'm so impatient when I have to reboot. What are we talking? Five minutes or less...

47D: Repeller of evil (amulet).

48D: Pizza box logo (domino). The next time you get a Domino's pizza, be sure to read everything on the box...including (especially!) the bottom.

I caught some improper parsing as I was reading over the grid. 44D: Arranging in rows (tiering)...not tie ring.

Time to wrap up for tonight. These early morning meetings may be an indication of what's in store as my job morphs into a new shape.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, May 21 - Dave Mackey

Dave Mackey's Wednesday puzzle has a bit of a wicked twist...then again, that may be his usual style. I had a lot of blanks staring back at me for some time, and I was beginning to think I was dealing with a rebus.

There were only a few answers that were Google-able, so it boiled down to trial and error...heavy on the latter.

The long answers were all good...and I just this minute saw their connection.

17A: Solitaire card game (Rouge Et Noir)...if I ever played it, I called it something else.

24A: Pugs in gyms, at times (shadow boxers).

37A: Good thing to build on (solid foundation).

50A: Initially (at first blush).

59A: Cunard fleet member (luxury liner).

I'm struggling to stay awake...actually dozed on and off while I was solving. That does take away from the enjoyment level somewhat...but the end result in this case was more than worth it.

Favorite answers include 1A: Birdbrain (nitwit), 15A: Norse epic (Edda), 28A: Forcefully, in music (furioso), 44A: Gentle opening? (soft G)...one of just a few gimmes, 53A: 1983 Keaton comedy (Mr. Mom)...I had the wrong Keaton in mind, 6D: Certain sorority members (Thetas), 7D: Slowly, on a score (lento), 10D: "American Graffiti" extra (carhop), 11D: Item from a registry, perhaps (shower gift), 30D: They show altitude (relief maps), 36D: "A Loss of Roses" playwright (Inge), 41D: Peter of reggae (Tosh), and 49D: "Guys and Dolls" is based on his writing (Runyon).

The connected clues/answers were fairly easy, considering my struggle with much of the puzzle...48A: 52-Down part (bristle) and 52D: Toiletry kit item (brush).

Favorite clues...7A: Of the flock (laic), 45A: Québec's southern neighbors (Etats), 65A: Greasy spoon sign (Eats), 67A: Saucer contents, in brief? (ETs), 1D: "Quo Vadis" role (Nero), 5D: It's never in a neat order (ice)...I'm quite proud of that gimme, 18D: List-starting words (to do), 48D: Astigmatic's view (blur), 41D: Red hair or freckles (trait), 55D: Social workers? (ants), and 63D: Liked leader? (Ike).

Although he's a favorite from way back, I didn't get 32A: 1972 Bill Withers hit (Use Me) until I had some crosses. I wanted it to be "Lean on Me," which is one of the main reasons I thought we had a rebus.

It's late and I'm 56D: Ready for the sack (beat). Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, May 14 - Doug Peterson

I finished Doug Peterson's Wednesday puzzle a half hour ago...but I just now caught on to the theme.

Although it was revealed at 71A: Football linemen, for short, caught in 17-, 28-, 47- and 63-Across? (RTs). I'm getting to know names of teams, and some well-known players...but this one escapes me. Why are football linemen called RTs?

Whatever...the four theme answers are in-the-language phrases that have the addition of RT somewhere in the answer. The new words are then cleverly clued. I tried to find RTS in the answers...so I didn't catch on to the theme for a while.

The theme answers are:

17A: Singles bar habitué (FREQUENT FLIRTER).

28A: Do some barhopping? (PARTY AS YOU GO).

47A: Dirndls? (ALPINE SKIRTS). This was the first theme answer I got, and it had RTS...so that added to my confusion.

63A: "Wild and crazy guy" on the old "S.N.L."? (MARTIN CHARACTER). I haven't thought of those two in years.

Lots of fresh fill in this one...before I get to that, though, there's one answer that threw me. 66A: Put up with (brook). I have never heard that definition of the word and thought I might have something wrong...but a 41A: Quick peek (glimpse) at water and waves confirmed that it's correct. I wonder if I'm the only one out there who was clueless on that one.

Favorite answers and/or clues:

4A: Polo name (Marco). That sure brings back memories of summers spent at the pool.

16A: Physics Nobelist Wolfgang (Pauli).

25A: H (eta)...much better clue than the usual Estimated Time of Arrival.

34A: Bogart role (Queeg).

39A: Stooped shoulders, e.g. (posture).

44A: Ryan with 5,714 strikeouts (Nolan). I know very little about baseball, but I do know Nolan Ryan...not personally.

55A: Lye, e.g. (alkali).

1D: The "Judy" of Punch and Judy (wife).

3D: This answer intersects it (one across)...probably my favorite clue/answer.

24D: Vicks brand (NyQuil). NyQuil gives me strange dreams...like seeing this guy on the beach. I rest better if I don't take it.

29D: Baseball's Felipe or Moises (Alou). This has appeared enough times...and it's about time I remembered it.

32D: "A Life for the Tsar" composer (Glinka).

40D: Death personified, in ancient Greece (Thanatos).

45D: For the heck of it (on a whim).

50D: Feet in a meter (iambs).

51D: St. __ of Assisi (Clare)...Francis is better known.

52D: Goodyear's home (Akron). I hope reader/fellow blogger Wendy finds this clue more acceptable than the one that appeared the last time.

58D: Eric of "Munich" (Bana)...just because I like him.

The weather has turned rainy and a bit cooler...just two days after packing away my winter clothes. That means I have no choice but to wear capris and open-toed shoes. That's not a problem for me, but I'm sure I'll hear about it from some of my co-workers.

That's it for this one. Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, May 7 - Richard Silvestri

Richard Silvestri delivers a fun Wednesday puzzle...right on the heels of his Sunday puzzle, Poplar Music.

I enjoyed this theme far more than Sunday's...four in-the-language phrases, clued in relation to baseball teams.

17A: Musial's 6 and Gibson's 45? (Cardinal numbers).

27A: Pregame practice in Cincinnati? (Red pepper).

48A: AT&T Park standout? (Giant star).

62A: Prospects for a New York pennant? (Met expectations).

We had dinner tonight with a friend, so I was late getting to the puzzle and blog. My goal is to be finished by 10:00...which means I have ten minutes.

I was impressed with much of the fill. My favorites, either because of the clue or the answer:

5A: Big jerk (spasm).

10A: Author O'Flaherty (Liam). I think I remember this from just a couple of days ago...or am I making that up?

15A: White house (igloo). This one is made out of milk jugs.

21A: Grabs some shut-eye (snoozes).

42A: Ledger entry (debit)...twice in one week. Don couldn't believe it.

43A: Coffeehouse order (latte). My regular is a soy latte, occasionally with one shot of regular and one of decaf...you know, so I don't get overly wired.

53A: Adak native (Aleut).

54A: With "El," British victory site of 1942 (Alamein).

58A: Wild (feral). The friend we had dinner with is very active in the feral cat project here in town. They trap the cats and have them neutered...then they're returned to the same place they were found. Five or six of them continue to live in her back yard. Even after neutering, they're still a bit jumpy when she comes outside with food.

68A: Part of N.B. (nota). Nota bene...Latin for note well.

4D: Snatch (kidnap).

5D: Sloth, for one (sin)...I'll bet that faked out a few who were thinking of the animal.

10D: Inspiration for "Rent" (La Bohème).

11D: Don Juan's mother (Inez).

24D: Closing passage (epilog).

25D: City in central Missouri (Sedalia).

34D: Man of Principle? (Peter). Some of these just made me giggle. I must be tired.

40D: Adjective for a 1-Down (TexMex), referring to taco [Snack in a shell]. How can you not love a word that has more than one X in it? Also liked its cross at 47A: Earl in the court of Elizabeth I (Essex).

I managed to get 2D: One of TV's "Two and a Half Men" (Alan), but I have no idea who it refers to. It's too late for me to Google it, so I hope someone out there knows.

That's it for tonight. Not bad...it's only 10:15.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, April 30 - Henry Hook

I know someone who's very happy to see a Henry Hook puzzle today. The sad news...I can't remember who it is.

Henry did with this puzzle what he manages to do with every other one...messes with my mind. Only this time he did it literally...with three musical theme answers.

20A: 1968 Glen Campbell hit (Gentle On My Mind). That was always a favorite...and listening to it now I realize I still love it. Here's a duet with the song's writer, John Hartford.

34A: 1960 Ray Charles hit (Georgia On My Mind).

53A: 1982 Willie Nelson hit (Always On My Mind). Another favorite.

My favorite answer...hands down...is 1D: Solver's online recourse (Googling). I've been saying for more than a year that it's okay...and now it's been legitimized in the New York Times puzzle.

Other good fill:

13A: Sans deferment (one A). Took me forever to see it, though.

25A: Mouse who's always throwing bricks at Krazy Kat (Ignatz). I haven't a clue who either of those characters are...that was either before my time or way after. But they made it to a postage stamp.

40A: Peace-and-quiet venue (Arcadia).

44A: Little fingers or toes (minimi). Okay, I like the looks of it...but I've never heard it. And it's not in my Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition.

47A: He wrote "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him" (Voltaire). That was a good guess...based on another good guess at 42D: Burial place of King Arthur (Avalon).

57A: False deity (Baal).

58A: "Gilmore Girls" daughter (Rory).

61A: 1961 "spacechimp" (Enos). He's appeared a few times...so it was a gimme.

4D: Title locale in a Cheech Marin flick (East LA).

5D: Actor Billy of "Titanic" (Zane)...and the cross at 5A: Slalomer's moves (zags).

7D: Adorned, in the kitchen (garni). I so wanted something that would end in ED, especially before I figured out the theme...and remembered the name of the Glen Campbell song.

Digression...today I won lunch at the Honeybaked Ham Cafe, courtesy of our local oldies station. The disc jockey read five words from a song, and I called in and identified the song and the artist. Here are the lyrics...misty memories of days gone. The answer appears at the end of the post.

9D: What demonstrators demonstrate (activism).

11D: Longtime Cowboys coach Tom (Landry). I don't know why I know this, but I do.

36D: Van Susteren of Fox News (Greta). While searching for a picture to post, I discovered the hoopla about her plastic surgery...about which I had been blissfully unaware. I wasn't sure if I should do a pre- or post-surgery photo, so I decided to skip it altogether.

I like the three consecutive answers in the southeast...37D: Begin (initiate), 38D: Put up (nominate) and 39D: Approached zero (dwindled).

43D: Ravel work (Bolero). Capital R...accent on the second syllable.

I wasn't wild about the multiword answers in the northwest...2D: Allied (with) (in league) and 3D: Enjoyed doing (been into). Similarly, 24A: Cut into parts (dissever)...if sever means to cut apart, shouldn't dissever mean to put it back together? I mean...think about it.

Struggled with 23A: Daughter of Muhammad Ali (Laila). I know her name, but I can never remember how to spell it...relying (again) on the crosses.

Favorite clue in the puzzle...35D: Things people are trained in? (railways).

This is the song that won lunch...the video doesn't appear to work.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, April 23 - Stephen Edward Anderson

According to cruciverb.com, Stephen Edward Anderson had his first New York Times puzzle published on Thursday, March 20, 2008. He didn't come up in a search of my blog., though...I guess that was during my short-lived sabbatical.

I found this pretty tough for a Wednesday...maybe it's just that I'm tired. It will be interesting to hear what others have to say.

A quick diversion before I go on with the puzzle. Since I posted an email address in the sidebar earlier in the week, several readers have chosen that option over posting a comment. It's always nice to hear from you...however it happens...but other readers can only interact with you via the comments section. You can be as anonymous as you'd like to be with your comments...no one knows who you are, including me. If you'd like to be a little less anonymous, you can post anonymously but include your first name.

On to the puzzle...

Nice work on Stephen's part. Good long answers and several multiword, along with some not-often-seen fill.

The long answers...17A: Mercury (quick silver), 60A: Easily set off, as a temper (hair trigger), 11D: #1 on the Hot 100 (chart topper) and 25D: Discoverer of stars? (talent scout). [Update: Oh, hello! Those are also theme answers. Look at the last word of each...a famous TV western horse is lurking.]

Multiword answers include 21A: Where to spend time with moguls? (ski run), 23A: What French fries are fried in (hot oil), 29A: All riled up (in a stir)...I had in a snit for a while, 31A: Working the desk, say (on duty), 38A: Ate, but not much (had a bit), 5D: Try to get by through bluffing (fake it), 9D: Strands after a blizzard (ices in), 46D: Nice enough fellow (okay guy)...who would want to be described that way...and 50D: "I ain't buyin it!" (no dice).

If I'm not mistaken, the two-part answer [30D: With 27-Down, western cry] (ride 'em / cowboy) was in a puzzle not that long ago.

I'll bet that many of you got sidetracked by one of my favorite answers...1A: Low pitch symbol (F clef). I know I did. I was tickled to remember 2D: Premier __ (wine designation) (cru) from a recent puzzle...and I was sure that 1D: Help page rubric was FAQ...so I was pretty sure I had a wrong answer. What could possibly start with FCL?

Other favorites include 47A: Part of the Kazakhstan landscape (steppe), 49A: Neil Simon's "Lost in __" (Yonkers), 55A: And so on and so forth (etc etc), 66A: "I'm so bored" feeling (ennui), 12D: Prognostication (augury) and 51D: It has a test of brightness (Mensa).

How many of you recognized 44D: "La Belle et la __" (Bête ) as Beauty and the Beast? Here it is in French.

Favorite clues...6A: Prepare for a physical exam (strip), 8D: Gun in the garage? (rev)...and the very best...47D: Soap alternative (sitcom).

It looks as though Obama is still in the running. Here it is...almost the end of April...and we don't yet know who the Democratic candidate will be. Has this happened in my lifetime? I'm thinkin' it hasn't.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, April 16 - Edward Sessa

When I first saw the clues for the theme answers, I was flummoxed. I managed to get the first three, but I still didn't understand the theme...until I had a few letters of the last one.

In a word...clever.

17A: INK (cephalopod spray). This is probably the first crossword puzzle in history that has that as an answer. Maybe JimH will have something to say about that.

25A: IN (social advantage).

43A: I (personal pronoun).

57A: - (disappearing ink).

I told you it was clever.

But Edward Sessa didn't stop with that. Some of his nontheme answers are pretty fine...10A: In a frenzy (amok), 15A: Vacuous (inane), 21A: Vetoes (nixes), 23A: River in a 1957 hit film (Kwai), 42A: Shot with lots of English (massé )...that has to do with billiards, 5D: Of a son or daughter (filial), 6D: It may cause a coma (anoxia)...literally, without oxygen, 10D: Herb of A & M Records (Alpert), 30D: Dispatch boat (aviso), 41D: Coral producer (polyp)...this kind, not the tissue growth, 45D: Ptolemy's lighthouse locale (Pharos), and 56D: Show unfairly (skew).

I was happy to see 37A: Marshmallow candies in Easter baskets (Peeps). I spent the last ten minutes searching for my favorite video of Peeps in the microwave, but I can't find a really good one. For real fun, do it yourself. Put a Peep (the chicken works best...but don't include the chocolate egg) on a plate, microwave on high for 10 seconds. Don't blink or you might miss the best part. I was going to add that they're not really edible after that...but there are some who think they could never be called that. I happen to like Peeps...in moderation. Like maybe one every three years.

Jean Arp appears frequently as an answer in the grid. Today's variation is 1A: Movement branded as "anti-art" (Dada).

Favorite clues...14A: They can be inflated (egos), 61A: Finger, in a way (rat on), 3D: Bonehead (dope), 13D: Drop for the count (Kayo), 26D: Nostalgic number (oldie) and 42D: No-brainer? (moron).

I'm happy to say that Don survived yet another tax season...his most grueling ever. We went out to our favorite Italian restaurant...after a good meal and a couple of glasses of vino, he's sound asleep in the big chair with Barnabas. He'll take the rest of this week off...hopefully most of next week as well. If you know someone who is interested in buying a successful accounting practice in western Colorado, let me know.

[Update: Something is definitely wrong between Blogger and Madness. I've received emails that comments are just disappearing (funny with ink...not with comments) when they're sent to publish. Some get through...others don't. I need to get this straightened out.]

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, April 9 - Daniel Kantor and Jay Kaskel

For some reason, today's puzzle was easier to solve than a typical Wednesday puzzle. It makes no sense...an early morning meeting followed by a long day at the office, allergies that have kicked in with a vengeance...not normally conducive to successful solving.

Daniel Kantor is a name I recognize, but Jay Kaskel is a new one. I haven't Googled him yet...maybe someone has and will share what they learned.

Joint construction of a puzzle amazes me. I'd like to know how they divided up this one.

The first three theme answers are common restaurant diners' complaints:

20A: "I asked for tomato bisque, not gazpacho!" (complaint #1) (My soup is cold!)

28A: "Has our waiter even made eye contact?" (complaint #2) (Are we invisible?)

47A: "What, are they growing the food?" (complaint #3) (Where's our order?)

And the theme is revealed at 54A: Title of this puzzle (whine and dine).

One of my pet peeves is restaurant patrons complaining, at least loudly enough that I can hear it at a nearby table. So while I didn't find the complaints themselves funny, I couldn't help but laugh at the way they wrapped it all up.

The best part of this puzzle, though, was some of the fill. Favorites include 15A: Mann of the Haus (herr), 19A: Dizzy Gillespie's jazz (bebop), 42A: Money for money (ATM fee), 65A: Bikini, e.g. (Atoll), 66A: Language of the Hindustan Express (Urdu), 8D: 13th-century king of Denmark (Eric IV), 25D: On fire (ablaze), 29D: German commander at the invasion of Normandy (Rommel) and 43D: Morales of "La Bamba" (Esai).

Favorite clues...39A: 14+ (UHF), 46A: Something Elizabeth II has? (zed), 3D: Charge holders (ions), 33D: Sticking points? (craws), 37D: It has a horn: Abbr. (Afr)...I just now realized that was Africa and 60D: Crash site? (pad).

I almost missed 67A: Sci-fi sage (Yoda). I misread the clue (I've been doing that a lot lately) as [Sci-fi stage]. To make matters worse, I had 50D: Pops (Daddy-o) spelled Daddio. When the Applet wouldn't take my solution, it took a couple of minutes to see the error of my ways...or the errors.

Another answer threw me for a bit. 38D: Apartment security feature (peephole). When I had the PHO*E, I assumed it was some kind of phone...but peephone just wasn't working. I jumped to the downs in the southwest corner...mystery solved.

70A: 10 C-notes (one G) is one of those answers that causes me to do a double-take when I'm reviewing the grid to blog. What the hell's an oneg? What do I have wrong?

I've never seen an episode of South Park, but I know a little bit about it...mostly from crossword puzzles. I got 32D: "South Park" boy (Ike)...but only because I had all the across answers. He's a cute little guy...but he has a funny mouth. Is there a reason for that?

The spam comments have reappeared. There's no telling where their links would take you....but for the time being, you'll need to type in those funny letters.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

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, March 26 - Michael Langwald

In a post last month, Orange mentioned Michael Langwald's crossword debut with a puzzle featured in the LA Times. Today marks his debut with the New York Times. Congratulations, Michael.

You might not want to solve this one on an empty stomach, though. The theme answers are punned specials of three well-known celebrities, all of whom have last names that are homonyms of cooking methods.

20A: Breakfast specialty of a rock singer? (Glenn Frey's eggs).

39A: Lunch specialty of an Emmy-winning actor? (Peter Boyle's stew).

57A: Dinner specialty of an R&B singer? (Sam Cooke's steak)

The theme answers should have been easier to figure out. I'm not sure where I can place the blame. I had a busy day...yeah, that's it.

The theme wasn't bad. It wasn't great, either, although many of the nontheme answers were. Some of my favorites:

9A: Off the wall (daffy). That brings this guy to mind.

29A: Constant complainers (cranks).

46A: Topple (depose).

6D: Purim's month (Adir). [Update: Read SethG's comment...this should be Adar. I Googled for confirmation after completing the grid, and came up with this...but Seth's answer is correct.]

9D: Makeshift bookmark (dogear). This is never acceptable to a serious lover of books. Isn't there something called Dogear that allows one to bookmark favorite blogs and the like?

10D: Angered and enraged, e.g. (anagrams). I absolutely love anagrams...but tonight I absolutely could not see it until I had most of the letters in place.

34D: Le Pew of cartoons (Pepé). He was a favorite character in my childhood...and he still is. What a lover boy.

40D: More than big (enormous).

54D: Director Sergio (Leone).

56D: Rubber hub (Akron). Fellow blogger Wendy will no doubt be proud that this was a gimme. I especially like the geographical cross at 53A: Arkansas River city (Tulsa).

Favorite clues include 14A: Word before luck or cluck (dumb), 24A: King of the stage (Lear) and 47D: It may be under your hat (secret).

I haven't seen Saturday Night Live in forever, so I wasn't sure about 51A: Clinton cabinet member satirized by Will Ferrell...although Reno was my first guess. This picture is just too funny.

I just noticed the cross between Reno and crossword staple Eno at 48D, clued as [Brian of ambient music].

Our book club read Pride and Prejudice this month, and we're meeting tomorrow night to discuss it. If it's a late night, you'll likely see the grid and an abbreviated post...with the possibility of more written on Thursday morning.

That will be one of my new blogging rules...no more staying up until midnight to solve and blog if I've had something going on that night. That should help me stay rested...and sane.

That's it for tonight. Here's the grid... [Update: Since Adir was incorrect, so are its crosses. I misspelled vise, which gave me rich (rather than the correct rash) for 18A: Ill-considered. My wrong answer seems to fit the definition, though...Wasn't that rich?].



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, March 12 - Larry Shearer

Larry Shearer gets better than an AVERAGE MARK (11D, clued as C) for this one.

Every clue in this puzzle begins with the letter C...four of them are simply the letter C. There are also C shapes within the grid.

In addition to average mark, the other theme answers are:

17A...CAR STARTER

60A...CLAMP SHAPE

26D...EPCOT CENTER...the first theme answer to fall, although I don't know why.

This was a pretty clever puzzle. I was wiped out tonight, but it held my interest...not just because of the theme. Check out the number of multiword answers.

27A: Curved motorcycle part (mud guard).

30A: Concluding appearance (swan song).

45A: Collects one's winnings (cashes in).

50A: Clarify (spell out).

66A: Come aboard, in a way (hire on). I wanted this to have something to do with a ship...although I guess they wouldn't have added in a way.

8D: Consequence of a solo homer (one run). I got this with only the R in place. Does it count as a sports clue?

18D: Concentrates on specific achievement (sets a goal).

28D: Committed to the truth, in court (under oath).

Favorite clues and/or answers include 10A: Churls lack it (tact), 15A: Convincing, as an argument (cogent), 19A: Cosmos legend (Pelé)...born Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, 20A: Celebrity biographer Hawes (Esme), 38A: Columnist Hopper (Hedda), 42A: Con __ (animatedly, in music) (moto), 65A: Critic James (Agee), 24D: Cassandra's father (Priam), 25D: "Capitalism" rock group __ Boingo (Oingo), 35D: Capua friends (amici), 36D: "Chimes of Freedom" songwriter (Dylan)...I don't remember if Wendy's done Bob Dylan yet, but I bet she will soon if she hasn't already, 47D: Chief (honcho), 48D: City near Cleveland (Euclid) and 55D: C.I.A. betrayer Aldrich (Ames).

Arn returns at 53A, clued as [Comic strip prince's son]. This is one to remember...along with Aleta, the wife of Prince Valiant. You'll see them both fairly often.

Not to be confused with Arn, we have ARI at 61D, clued as [Cardinals, on scoreboards). I was thinking baseball, though, so had STL.

Just noticed a couple of excellent clues, although the answers aren't especially noteworthy. 70A: Coach in Little League, often (Dad), 5D: Circumambulate (roam), 7D: Coloratura's home, with "the" (Met) and 9D: Cremona collectibles, for short (Strads).

Very quickly...got my blood work back today. After three months on Lipitor, my total cholesterol dropped from 277 to 163. HDL is 69 (up from 58), and LDL is 76 (down from 197). I'm not crazy about having to take Lipitor, but I'm crazy about those numbers. The lowest total cholesterol I've ever had was 167...that was back in 1988 when I weighed 98 pounds and exercised obsessively. Trust me...there's no way I could get back to that weight and exercise frequency!

I've been up since 5:30 and I need to be ready for another busy day...so it's off to bed.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Wednesday, March 5 - Steven Ginzburg

This is the first New York Times puzzle by Steven Ginzburg in more than six months. Maybe it's because I'm beginning to feel better, but I whipped through it.

The five theme answers are names or phrases that begin with two initials:

18A: Common computer feature (CD-ROM drive).

23A: German auto debut of 1974 (VW Scirocco).

37A: First person to win a Smarties Prize, for children's books, three years in a row (J. K. Rowling). That seems like an odd name for a prize...you might think they were giving her a bunch of those little candies wrapped in rolls. Okay, maybe I'm not feeling better.

53A: Universal recipient type (AB Positive).

61A: Cause of some burns (UV exposure). That was looking mighty strange when I was working the downs...how many words can you think that begin with UVEXP?

I enjoyed this puzzle, but this will be a brief post. I've been running nonstop since 5:00 this morning and I'm beat.

There were some good multiword nontheme answers...among them 50A: "Eat!" (dig in), 11D: Show friendliness (smile at), 40D: An overdose of (too much), 41D: Pro (in favor) and 45D: "You win" (I give up).

Favorite answers include:

15A: Meteor in a meteor shower (Leonid).

28A: Big name in stationery (Eaton).

33A: Frankie with the 1959 #1 hit "Why" (Avalon).

43A: Ohio city named for a mathematician (Euclid).

1D: Turn from a grape into a raisin, e.g. (shrivel).

3D: Automaker Maserati (Ernesto).

7D: Kind of column (Doric).

26D: Egg-shaped (ovoid).

Favorite clues include 48A: 1969 "bed-in" participant, (Ono), 67A: Melpomene, e.g. (Muse)...she's the Muse of tragedy, despite her joyous singing, 10D: Drainage indicator (eddy), 35D: Spiked punch? (awl) and 58D: It may be caught in a filter (spam).

They tripped me up momentarily with 25D: They're part of the string section...there's no S at the end of celli. I think I've fallen for that one before and may yet again.

There were a couple of other areas of slight hesitation, including 27A: Departed. I originally had died, then changed it to left, before finally settling on the correct went. The other was 4D: One eye in ;-) My first thought was dot...which was correct...but I thought they were going in another direction that I couldn't see.

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



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G