Monday, June 16 - Ronald J. and Nancy J. Byron

An unfamiliar duo, Ronald and Nancy Byron, turn small talk about the weather into a theme for today's puzzle.

The three theme answers are all clued in relation to a song from the sixties:

20A: 1960s weather song by Peter, Paul and Mary (Blowin' in the Wind).

36A: 1960s weather song by the Beatles (Here Comes the Sun)...from Abbey Road, one of my all-time favorite albums.

51A: 1960s weather song by the Cascades (Rhythm of the Rain). This one was less familiar to me, and I needed a couple of downs to get it. The RH beginning had me thinking something was wrong with my down answers.

Favorite clues and answers include 23A: Sacagawea dollar and others (coins), 25A: Secret matters (arcana), 44A: Animals with brown summer fur (stoats)...pictured at left, 46A: Clear jelly used as a garnish (aspic), 49A: "__ Gavotte," "My Fair Lady" tune (Ascot), 58A: Prospero's servant in "The Tempest" (Ariel), 59A: Mallorca or Menorca, por ejemplo (isla), 61A: New Orleans's Vieux __ (Carré)...more commonly known as the French Quarter, 9D: Egyptian symbol of life (ankh), 10D: Lamebrain (nitwit), 39D: Self-aggrandizing acts (ego trips), 43D: Some '60s protests (sit-ins), 44D: Carry, slangily (schlep) and 48D: Combustible funeral structures (pyres).

I read the clue for 17A: Voice below soprano (alto) but totally missed the similar cluing at 28D: Voice below baritone (bass).

The clue for 18A [Follow persistently, as a celebrity] was a bit too mild for the answer. Stalk implies some sort of perversion or sickness...often heading toward the criminal side.

46D: Criminal burning (arson) was a sad reminder that the arsonist was released last week, pending further investigation. I'm sure there is an eye on his every move...fortunately, there haven't been any more fires.

That's it for tonight. I'm off to join Don...working the puzzle in the living room. He's not enjoying it as much as I had hoped. That's okay...he enjoys running a lot more than I do.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, June 2 - Barry Boone

Barry Boone's Monday puzzle may very well be his New York Times debut. I spent a good ten minutes Googling him and didn't find anything.

The theme...more than entertaining enough for a Monday...was revealed at 7D: What the starts of 22-, 36-, 41- and 50-Across comprise (the four elements).

Theme answers:

22A: Heater or repeater (firearm).

36A: Revolutionary pattern of the moon (earth orbit).

41A: Non-oil painting method (watercolor).

50A: TV Guide info (air date).

Some pretty snappy fill rounded out the puzzle, including 10A: Evil organization in "Get Smart" (KAOS)...here's Siegfried, a/k/a Doc from Love Boat, 20A: Church bell ringer (sexton), 24A: Japanese maker of watches and calculators (Casio), 39A: Sex researcher Hite (Shere)...not Sheri, 43A: Fashion's __ Saint Laurent (Yves), 46A: Treaty of __-Litovsk, 1918 (Brest), 57A: Olympic sport from Japan (judo), 4D: The Civil War, for the Confederacy (lost cause), 10D: Telly Savalas role (Kojak) and 36D: Lazy person's stairs? (escalator).

I drew a complete blank at 9D: Predecessor of Katie Couric. Because I had a wrong answer at 5A: Group of eight (octet, rather than the correct octad), I couldn't think of a name that started with T. I finally had enough letters to realize that it was Dan Rather.

An interesting double blast from the TV past...58A: Lone Ranger's companion (Tonto) and 37D: Trigger man? (Roy Rogers).

I was totally clueless on 15A: Conductor Zubin (Mehta). It didn't help at all that I didn't know 6D: 1970s Dodgers All-Star Ron (Cey). Also didn't know 8D: Yours: Fr. (atoi). I can tell you...it was pretty humbling to have to Google on a Monday puzzle.

We got quite a bit of yard work done on our no-driving weekend. Don worked on the flagstone patio today, while I worked on the steps. Sadly, I neglected to take my own advice about sunscreen (I did have it on my face, though), and my back and shoulders got pretty burned. Jeez! [19A: "Man, oh, man!"]

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, May 26 - Mark Sherwood

Mark Sherwood's Memorial Day puzzle was a real treat...a clever enough theme and fill that's not generally found on Monday.

The theme is revealed at 29A: Experts with the ends of 17- and 55-Across and 10- and 24-Down (dentists). Theme answers:

17A: Strap-on leg supports (knee braces).

55A: Mincemeat, e.g. (pie filling).

10D: It sets things off (blasting cap).

24D: Feat for Secretariat (Triple Crown)...a beautiful horse.

Favorite answers include 14A: Old Big Apple restaurateur (Sardi), 42A: Rifle and revolver (firearms), 44A: Poisonous atmosphere (miasma), 47A: Football refs (zebras)...never heard them called that, 50A: Mitchell who sang "Big Yellow Taxi" (Joni), 5D: Chest protector (rib cage), 9D: Decreased (lessened), 12D: Western writer Grey (Zane), 13D: Baseball's Hershiser (Orel), 18D: Rakish short (roué)...I like the word, not people like that, 32D: "Come Back, Little __" (Sheba)...a major tearjerker, 34D: __ d'Or (Cannes award) (Palme), 37D: Appearing and disappearing feature on Jupiter (dark spot), 41D: "Fresh as a daisy" and others (simile) and 50D: Bach's "__, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Jesu).

A nice blast from the past to see 10A: Classic clown (Bozo)...although the hair is a little scary.

And I was delighted to see some old favorites in connected clues...22A: Film critic Gene (Siskel) and 60A: 22-Across's longtime partner (Ebert).

To be expected...some crosswordese to fill in the gaps. 25A: Lady's partner (gent), 33A: Eagle's nest (aerie), 40A: Away from the storm (alee), 58A: Gullet (craw), 59A: Bones: Lat. (ossa), 3D: "Jurassic Park" giant, informally (T-Rex), 6D: Some psychedelic designs (op art), 48D: Longest Spanish river (Ebro) and 53D: Some noncoms: Abbr. (sgts.).

It looks as though we'll have a quiet Memorial Day at home...just the two of us. The weather is supposed to be nicer, though...no more wind...so we'll probably go for a bike ride or a long walk. However you spend your day, be safe.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, May 19 - Mike Nothnagel

If Mike Nothnagel ever had a Monday puzzle, it had to have been many years ago. I can only recall Friday, Saturday and Sunday puzzles for the last year and a half that I've been solving.

What a welcome relief, though, after he kicked my butt on Saturday!

The only VOID in the puzzle was in the theme answers...each begins with a synonym (appearing at 5D: Roget's listing) for that word.

16A: Place not generating rent (vacant apartment).

24A: Guarantees that mean nothing (empty promises). My favorite, for reasons I can't explain.

42A: Win that brings little actual gain (hollow victory). This one ran a close second.

57A: Contents of guns used in training exercises (blank cartridges).

I'd venture a guess that Mike whipped this one up in short order...relative to one of his Friday or Saturday offerings.

There was some good fill in this one, and very little compromised to put it all together.

Favorite clues and/or answers:

1A: The pyramids, for pharaohs (tombs).

13A: "The Cat and the Curmudgeon" author Cleveland __ (Amory).

19A: Feeling tied up, as a stomach (in knots).

20A: Rock band follower (groupie).

49A: Brandy cocktail (sidecar).

63A: Baby boomers' kids, informally (Gen-X).

1D: Rikki-Tikki-__ (Tavi)...a childhood favorite by Rudyard Kipling.

6D: "Star Trek" weapon (phaser).

10D: Portrayer of Frank Sinatra on "Saturday Night Live" (Joe Piscopo). The only thing I love more than multiword answers is having both first and last name.

26D: 1998 Robin Williams title role (Patch Adams)...a real tearjerker, which is probably obvious from this picture.

41D: A pair of deuces beats it (Ace high).

44D: Whirlpool or tornado (vortex).

Often the multiword answers, especially the short ones, tend to confuse me when I look over the finished grid. What in the world is GOAS? Nothing...the answer to 38A: Pretend to be, as at a Halloween party is go as. Similarly, 41A: Increase (amp up) looks very much like AM PUP. Who/what are you? I am pup. My favorite one tonight is ISPY...it looks as though it would rhyme with wispy. Actually, 34D [1960s Bill Cosby TV series] is I Spy...also starring Robert Culp.

Other quick mentions before I wrap up...10A: PBS newsman Lehrer (Jim), 14A: Inventor Elias (Howe), 36A: Euphoric (giddy), 39A: Without a prescription: Abbr. (OTC), 40A: Pal for Spot or Rover (Fido)...right next to AM PUP, 46A: Avis competitor (Alamo)...originally had Hertz, 2D: Neighbor of Yemen (Oman), 15D: Stubborn as __ (a mule)...another one that's easy to mis-parse, 22D: Scuttlebutt (lowdown), 40D: Group watched by Little Bo Peep (flock) and 47D: Eli __ and Company (Lilly)...maker of Prozac.

So...where's Mike? He commented from sunny Florida on Saturday...perhaps vacationing? If so, where's Mike on Monday?

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

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, May 5 - Stella Daily and Bruce Venzke

Stella Daily and Bruce Venzke team up again for today's puzzle. Unless they had one during my short-lived sabbatical, their last joint venture was the soap puzzle a few months ago.

Today's theme answers all end with words that rhyme:

20A: Tourism bureau's offering (welcome packet).

28A: It's swung at Wimbledon (tennis racket).

48A: Pesky wasp (yellow jacket).

58A: It helps determine how much tax you owe the I.R.S. (income bracket).

In addition to theme answers, there were a couple of good long ones...11D: Become acquainted with (get to know) and 34D: Noted performing arts school (Juilliard). In a recent post, Harris at water and waves mentioned a book called "The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music" by Steve Lopez. It's a story about a former Juilliard student who ends up homeless because of mental illness...definitely at the top of my must-read-soon list.

Other favorites:

1A: Meat featured in a Monty Python musical title (SPAM).

9: Popeye's creator E. C. __ (Segar).

16A: Singer Cara (Irene).

17A: Difficult burden (onus).

36A: 1983 Barbra Streisand title role (Yentl)...it's appearing often enough that it should be a gimme for most.

37A: Notes in a poker pot (IOUs).

54A: Clears an Etch A Sketch, e.g. (erases)...had shakes at first.

64A: Venus de __ (Milo).

66A: Airs, in Latin (aurae).

1D: Vermont ski town (Stowe).

4D: Yale's bulldog, e.g. (mascot).

5D: Small amount of cash saved for an emergency (mad money). My mad money stash is only used for emergencies...you know, when I'm badly in need of a pedicure or other pampering.

9D: Time off from work with pay (sick day). I hope I don't have to take one tomorrow. I've spent the day in bed, sleeping on the couch, and reading in the big chair...I don't feel as achy but I'm still coughing.

27D: Canonized fifth-century pope (St. Leo). If we're looking at a canonized pope, it has to start with ST...and I don't know of any other three-letter popes.

41D: Become established (take root).

44D: Targets of Raid (roaches). Not a favorite word at all...I don't know why I feel compelled to include it. Definitely not an answer that gets a picture. Ick.

51D: Bit of strategy (tactic).

55D: Smidgen (skosh)...I've always liked both words.

61D: Unidentifiable mass (blob)...brings to memory the old Steve McQueen film of the same name. Now that was some good acting.

I just read through some down clues that I completely missed. 22D: Mercury or Saturn, but not Venus (car), 30D: Classic toothpaste brand (Ipana), 38D: "My gal" of song (Sal) and 60D: Country whose name is an anagram of 10-Down (Eire / Erie).

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



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, April 28 - Gary Disch

Gary Disch is no stranger to crossword construction, but this may be his first New York Times puzzle.

I enjoyed this one...a pretty fine Monday puzzle, with some out-of-the-ordinary fill.

The theme is revealed at 41A: Making out...or a hint to this puzzle's four hidden articles of clothing (necking). The theme answers:

17A: Boardinghouse sign (ROOMS TO LET).

64A: Halifax's home (NOVA SCOTIA).

11D: Favoring common folk (ANTI ELITE).

34D: Daytona 500 enthusiast (NASCAR FAN).

I don't understand the inclusion of a note in AcrossLite...17- and 64-Across and 11- and 34-Down each conceals an article of clothing. It seemed pretty easy to figure out the theme without it. Maybe because it's a Monday puzzle?

Best fill in the puzzle includes:

5A: Mafia bosses (capos).

15A: Japanese cartoons (Anime).

23A: Katmandu resident (Nepali).

25A: Snarled mess (tangle). I think this would qualify as a pretty nasty one.

46A: Perfectly clear (lucid).

54A: Slave (thrall). That doesn't seem like a Monday word, but it was a nice addition to the puzzle.

62A: Eskimo home (igloo).

67A: El __, Spanish artist (Greco).

70A: Church council (synod).

71A: God of war (Ares). That's definitely one to remember...it shows up fairly often.

4D: Church songbooks (hymnals).

10D: Snoopy, for one (beagle).

31D: Lennon/Ono's "Happy __ (War is Over)" (Xmas). We wish. Here they are, along with some beautiful children singing the background.

33D: Language of Lahore (Urdu).

45D: Shaded passageway (pergola)...a great word.

56D: Valley known for its chateaux (Loire). If you didn't know this, and you didn't know the cross at the L (thrall), you could have been in deep trouble.

Favorite clues include 1A: "Miss America" might be printed on one (sash)...although the thought gags me...and 32A: Many conundrums have them (puns).

Elaine and Jesse were here for dinner, so I got a very late start blogging. I had done the puzzle as soon as it was available online...probably should have just done the blog then. Now it's late, and I'd better call it a night.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, April 21 - Janet R. Bender

Janet Bender hasn't had a New York Times puzzle since I started solving, but I discovered one of hers from February 9, 1999. According to this site, that puzzle holds the record for the most E's in a New York Times puzzle...78 of them.

Overall, this was an average Monday puzzle with an average Monday theme, but there were a couple of answers that had me wondering if I had an error.

32A: Fugard's "A Lesson From __" (Aloes). The cross at 27D: Baseball's Felipe or Jesus (Alou) wasn't much help. I think I should have known that, at least from a previous puzzle...but I didn't.

50A: Hasty glance (aperçu). I can honestly say I have never heard this word used in my life...or seen it in print.

The theme was housework...the first word of each theme answer was a household chore.

18A: Symbol of a new start (clean slate).

20A: Low-growing tree found typically in rocky soil (scrub oak).

33A: It indicates the seconds on a clock face (sweep hand).

40A: Small whirlwind (dust devil).

52A: Stock transaction done at a loss for tax purposes (wash sale).

57A: Old radio part (vacuum tube).

There must have been something subliminal about the theme. After solving the puzzle, I spent the next three hours cleaning out my office...and I made great progress.

The most noteworthy answer in the puzzle is 49D: Local theaters, in slang (nabes). We had it just a few days ago, and it baffled a lot of us...every blog had comments about it. I found it very exciting that it appeared again before I had a chance to forget it.

Other answers were gimmes because of previous puzzles...some more recent than others...3D: Banned spray on apple trees (alar), 24D: Actor Tom of "The Girl Can't Help It" (Ewell), 29D: Legendary Washington hostess Perle __ (Mesta), 34D: Asia's __ Sea (Aral) and 46D: Sudden outpouring (spate).

Favorites include 16A: Actor Murphy of old westerns (Audie), 26A: Dangerous cargo (hazmat), 43A: "As You Like It" forest (Arden), 59A: "Stronger than dirt" sloganeer (Ajax), 64A: "Hey!" (psst), 9D: Old-fashioned light (gas lamp), 30D: Lover (swain), 41D: Bram Stoker novel (Dracula), 42D: Central part (pith), 51D: Go to rack and __ (ruin)...love the clue...and 52D: Pantywaist (wuss).

The most newsworthy answer in the puzzle is 11D: Red who fought oil well fires (Adair). I remember him from the awesome film "Fires of Kuwait," which we saw on an IMAX screen. Red Adair was truly an amazing man...read more about him and his firefighting career here. R.I.P., Red.

I'm exhausted and ready to call it a night. Thanks, Janet...it was a fun puzzle...and my office needed a good cleaning.

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, April 14 - Christina Houlihan Kelly

It's Monday...so that means we're back on Easy Street. I wonder how long before the puzzles turn challenging again.

Maybe it's just that my brain has failed me, but the last two weeks have really seemed more difficult than usual.

Christina Houlihan Kelly serves up an entertaining theme today...four theme answers, all ordinary phrases, but with clues that could literally stop you in your tracks.

20A: Bidding impediment? (auction block).

33A: Outdoor meal deterrent? (picnic hamper).

44A: Truth obstruction? (reality check).

58A: Metallic element's obstacle? (aluminum foil).

I had a hard time picking a favorite...they were all good...but I think aluminum foil wins, followed by picnic hamper.

I love it when I actually remember things from previous puzzles, and that happened a few times with this one.

17A: From __ (completely) (A to Z)...that used to stump me fairly often.

18A: Cheri formerly of "S.N.L." (Oteri). She wasn't on when I watched the show, and I only know her from a previous puzzle.

10D: Napoleon, on Elba or St. Helena (exile). Okay, I knew this, but it's been cemented by frequent appearances.

24D: Les États-__ (Unis).

45D: Grades 1 to 12, briefly (elhi)..had never heard that expression used before I started doing the New York Times.

Favorite answers in the grid:

16A: Lucy Lawless TV role (Xena).

27A: Steisand film about a Jewish girl masquerading as a boy (Yentl).

38A: Gas brand with the slogan "Put a tiger in your tank" (Esso). That takes me back many years.

39A: Book after Daniel (Hosea).

6D: Crime boss known as the Teflon Don (Gotti). I thought the reason might be something disgusting...thankfully that wasn't the case.

11D: "The Two Gentlemen of __" (Verona).

13D: Annoy (rankle). Such a good word.

46D: Mozart's "__ Fan Tutte" (Cosi).

48D: Dahl or Francis (Arlene). I know both names, but I seem to remember Arlene Dahl from the television game shows of my youth.

Just one more late night for Don after tonight...I know he's so ready for this tax season to be over. I saw his secretary today...she's worked for him for five years and doesn't recall it ever being as crazy as it was this year. On Friday, he still had thirty returns to do. The really crazy thing is that he'll get them all done. He's looking forward to spending the rest of this week and all of next week at home...puttering around the yard, walking with the dogs, just enjoying seeing the place in daylight.

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, March 31 - Jeff Armstrong

Another unfamiliar name on the byline...whether or not it's a debut, Jeff Armstrong has turned out a better-than-decent Monday puzzle.

The theme is revealed at 36A: Word that can precede each half of the answers to each of the eight starred clues (air).

It's something when that works with the first or second half of a long theme answer. It's something else when the word can precede both halves of...what? Is it a compound word? Whatever...the theme answers are:

18A: *Sci-fi barrier (forcefield).

20A: *Newspaper article lead-in (dateline)...for the second time in just a few days.

28A: *When the curtain goes up (showtime).

41A: *Wrestling move that puts an arm around someone's neck (headlock). I am so not into wrestling. I definitely wouldn't want to be the guy who's on the receiving end of this.

50A: *Secret communication location (maildrop).

54A: *Mars Pathfinder, for one (spacecraft).

4D: *Diamond game (baseball).

37D: *Indy 500 venue (speedway).

There's a bit of standard crossword fare in here...including oater, alot, esc, ogle, PSAT and apse. Because it's Monday, they're all clued pretty much the way we usually see them. But 5A: Group of eight musicians (octet) is a more straightforward clue than I ever remember seeing. I'm wondering if it's usually a late-week word. Rather than challenge JimH to find out for me, I went to his site and looked for myself. Octet has been in the puzzle 40 times...including some Mondays with a very similar clue. One of my favorites is [Wedding band, maybe]...one of the tougher clues is [Noted Schubert piece in F major]. I got this picture from Google and thought it was interesting, so I followed it to this guy's blog.

Favorite answers include 23A: Big name in audio equipment (Bose), 25A: Result of a belly flop (splash), 9D: Golfer's opening drive (tee shot), 26D: Blender setting (puree), 27D: South American wool source (llama)...is this the sweetest face you've ever seen, 29D: Actor and rockabilly crooner Chris (Isaak), 30D: Three-card hustle (Monte), 39D: "Yikes!" (Holy Cow!), 42D: Business that may have gone boom and then bust in the '90s (dot com) and 44D: __ d' (Maitre).

The last comment I received on Sunday's puzzle was from Alan. After the obligatory small talk, he cut to the chase. "Never, never, never leave us again." Isn't that sweet?

Here's the grid...



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G

Monday, March 24 - David J. Kahn

Two thoughts came to mind after finishing this puzzle. First...I didn't think David Kahn did Monday puzzles. Second...where the hell did the last fifty years go?

The theme of the puzzle is revealed at 39A: Notable Army inductee of 3/24/58. I was only in the first grade, so I have no independent recollection of that being the date that Elvis Presley was inducted into the United States Army. The rest of the puzzle's theme answers are all about the Elvis the soldier.

17A: Like 39-Across's fans on his induction day? (All Shook Up).

56A: Last movie 39-Across made before his Army stint (King Creole).

11D: Army officer who met 39-Across in 25-Down (Colin Powell).

13D: Last Army rank of 39-Across: Abbr. (Sgt).

23D: Much-photographed event after 39-Across's induction (haircut).

25D: Where 39-Across was stationed overseas (West Germany).

30D: First movie 39-Across made after his Army stint (G.I. Blues).

54D: Record label of 39-Across (RCA).

I'm slightly amazed that there's so much trivia about Elvis joining the Army...and fairly astounded that David Kahn put them all together in one puzzle.

Noteworthy fill includes 5A: La __, Milan opera house (Scala), 16A: Phileas __, who went around the world in 80 days (Fogg), 32A: Layers (strata), 42A: Flexible (pliant), 49A: Legendary Chicago Bears coach George (Halas), 50A: Singer __ Anthony (Marc), 65A: Novelist Seton (Anya) and d66A: Artist who liked to paint dancers (Degas). He also painted nudes...an alternate way to clue him.

Also liked 4D: Openers for all doors (pass keys), 8D: "Ally McBeal" actress Lucy (Liu), 9D: Some computer software checks (alpha tests), 24D: City with a Penn State campus (Altoona), 27D: Like seawater (saline), 32D: Defeated soundly (shellacked) and 33D: Actresses Shire and Balsam (Talias).

For those who may not know, I grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida...close to Fort Lauderdale, the home of 63A: 1975-78 U.S. Open champ Chris (Evert). We were all quite proud of Chrissie, the teenager who faced (and beat) champions who had been playing professionally for years. That two-handed swing of hers was something to see.

We had the same clue tonight at 18D and 49D...[What the "H" of H.M.S. may be]. The answers were His and Her, respectively. I only knew that Her Majesty had ships.

In a comment earlier today, Wendy mentioned the second Sunday puzzle. In the past I haven't regularly done it, but after today's, I just might. Eric Berlin filled every square in the puzzle, including the 37 gray squares. Notepad gave you this information about Going Too Far: "Many of the answers in this crossword are one letter too long and won't fit in the spaces provided. Each of these answers will either begin or end in the gray square immediately before or after it. When the puzzle is done, all the gray squares will have been used exactly once, and the letters in them (reading left to right, line by line) will spell out a quote by fashion editor Diana Vreeland." It was tough, but it was good...and lots of fun.

And speaking of Wendy, be sure to check out her blog for insight into the music of the baby boomer generation. Her picks are always good, but yesterday's feature was one of my favorites...Bell Bottom Blues by Derick and the Dominos. I don't know how she decides who to feature (and what song she'll use)...but you'll want to go back often.

I stayed up past my bedtime and I'll pay dearly for it come morning. Elaine and a friend joined us for Easter dinner and just left a little bit ago. Leslie and Candy will be here tomorrow for a belated celebration. It's so hard to get both of the girls here at the same time, but it's actually kind of nice to have one-on-one with them.

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



...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Linda G