This wasn't a difficult puzzle...nothing will ever be as difficult as last Saturday's BEQ...but there were a few places where one could stumble.
The theme is revealed at 62A: Director's cry...or a statement about 17-Across and 11- and 29-Down (That's a wrap). The three theme answers are:
17A: Glam rocker's accessory (feather boa). I didn't get that on my first reading of the clues. After 62A, though, I went right back and filled it in.11D: Transparent packaging material (cellophane). The word reminds me of John C. Reilly's portrayal of Amos Hart in "Chicago." Here he is, ladies and gentlemen...Mr. Cellophane.
29D: Taco alternative (beef fajita).
Some fresh nontheme fill, including:
15A: Herb popular in Indian food (cumin).
20A: The "F" in the equation "F = ma" (Force).
46A: Make believe (feign).
50A: Like trees on a prairie (sparse).
54A: "Mr. __ risin'" (classic Doors lyric) (Mojo).
61A: Wife of Osiris (Isis). Their story is one of my favorites. You can read about it here.64A: Longtime Yugoslav chief (Tito).
65A: Flood preventer (levee).
3D: King who was the father of Cordelia (Lear).
4D: Moneybags types (fat cats).
7D: Saturate (imbue). I don't know why I always want that to start with an E.
43D: Kind of can (aerosol).51D: Take as a given (posit).
I like the connected cluing at 10A: Remnant of a tattoo removal, maybe (scar) and 34D: Stereotypical tattoo (Mom).
Favorite clues include 1A: It's full of holes and traps (golf), 27A: Usurer's victim (debtor), 67A: List ender (et al), 50D: Beat, biblically (smite) and 53D: Wedding band, maybe (octet).
What am I missing on 41A: Guitarist's guitar (axe)...don't get it.
Tomorrow's an early morning...I'm on a committee that has been planning a breakfast for 200 employees and board members of local nonprofit organizations, and it's finally here. We need to be there at 6:30, so I'd better call it a night.
Here's the grid...
...and I'll see you tomorrow.
Linda G
