Winding down…

I’ve been doing this blog for just over a year and a half, and it’s been fun and a lot of work.  During this time I’ve managed to post for every puzzle during that time, although not always in a timely manner.  But, I never got more than a week or so behind, and always managed to get back on schedule.  I have tremendous respect (and awe) for for people who blog puzzles from multiple publications, on time, all the time.

Unfortunately, it’s been getting harder for me to maintain this blog.  There’s the 3 1/2 year old and the 6 month old.  They come first and take the most time.  And then there are a few other projects that have been on hold for way too long.  I’m hoping that by gaining time from not blogging the Times puzzle every day, I’ll be able to get back to work on the crossword puzzle program that I started, probably over a year ago.

I’ll probably still post occasionally about progress on the program, maybe other random crossword-related stuff or the occasional puzzle.  No guarantees.  Anyway, thanks to any regular lurking readers who still remain.  Thanks to Amy Reynaldo for all the advice when I started doing this.  If you like crosswords and you’re not reading her blog, you should be (http://crosswordfiend.blogspot.com/).  And thanks to Amy Guskin for designing the super-nifty banner graphic for this site.  If you need a web designer, please give her a look (http://fjordstone.com/web/).

Be seeing you…

Wednesday, September 2 – ??:??

Sorry, no time today.

9D, Superfluous person – FIFTHWHEEL
13D, Like some Adventists – SEVENTHDAY
24D, Intuition – SIXTHSENSE
27D, Quaver – EIGHTHNOTE
Circled squares – BROADWAY

What a beautiful theme!  The theme answers form a map of New York City.  Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Avenues, crossed diagonally by Broadway.  Nicely done, Jim Hyres!

Tuesday, September 1 – 6:17

It’s my birthday today; happy birtday me.  :)

18A, See 37-Across – SHARPTURN
24A, See 37-Across – SHEPHERDSBANE
37A, How 18-, 24-, 47- and 56-Across may be defined – BYHOOKORBYCROOK
47A, See 37-Across – SWINGINGPUNCH
56A, See 37-Across – RACKETEER

Monday, August 31 – 5:20

17A, Roger Bannister was the first – FOURMINUTEMILER
35A, How something may be done, nostalgically – FOROLDTIMESSAKE
54A, Features of yawls or ketches – FOREANDAFTSAILS

Sunday, August 30 – 31:08

In “Literally So”, the theme clues all have letters missing.  The missing letters in each clue spell a word.  The clue word minus the missing word lead to the respective punny theme answer.

23A, -IRC-MS-ANCES (CUT) – TAKEOUTOFCONTEXT
36A, ANTI–VERNMENT UN–ST (GORE) – BLOODLESSREVOLUTION
52A, AR–CL- (TIE) – THEMISSINGLINK
79A, P—ARY CARE PHY-ICIANS (RIMS) – DOCTORSWITHOUTBORDERS
86A, FI-TH WH–L (FEE) – SPARENOEXPENSE
98A, WHAT A -ANDA DOES IN -EIS-RELY FA-HION (PLUS) – EATSSHOOTSANDLEAVES
121A, W–THL-SS R-ADST-R (OREO) – LEMONDROPCOOKIES

Saturday, August 29 – 33:10

1A, 2001-08 Yankees pitcher with seven Gold Gloves – MUSSINA
8A, Headline during the Dreyfuss Affair – JACCUSE
15A, Revealing pieces - INTIMATEAPPAREL
17A, Some coverage providers – CELLPHONETOWERS
29A, Credited – IMPUTED
37A, Hymnbook holder – PEW
46A, Something to show off on a half-pipe – SKATEBOARDTRICK
49A, Russia, China and France are in it – SECURITYCOUNCIL
1D, Algonquian language – MICMAC
29D, “Um … all right” – IGUESSSO

Friday, August 28 – 19:58

1A. Rallying cry supported by some monks – FREETIBET
10A, When Antony says “I am dying, Egypt, dying” – ACTIV
24A, Chilled – TOOKITEASY
39A, Recruiting org. – SSS
44A, Literally, “already seen” – DEJAVU
66A, Brand for hobbyists – XACTO
67A, Where “all the people that come and go stop and say hello” – PENNYLANE
1D, Dolt – FATHEAD
10D, Superior title? – ABBOT
39D, Transmission blocker? – SAFESEX
62D, Third qtr. ender – SEP

Thursday, August 27 – 4:11

What?  4:11 can’t be right.  I solved it yesterday, blogging it now, but I must have messed up on the timer.  Anyway…

This puzzle contained a 7-level word ladder in the circled squares, and the theme answers were all clues to the different ladder levels.

52A, First row – DESIGN
64A, Fourth row – HEAD
4D, Fifth row – DAB
43A, Third or sixth row – DAD
51A, Second row – SPIEL
61D, Seventh row – ONE

And the word ladder:

PATTERN
PATTER
PATER
PATE
PAT
PA
A

Wednesday, August 26 – 5:17

17A, “_____, please” (diner’s request) – CHOPSTICKS
27A, “_____, please” (announcer’s request) – ATTENTION
36A, “_____, please” (awards show presenter’s request) – THEENVELOPE
51A, “_____, please” (operator’s request) – ONEMOMENT
60A, “_____, please” (Henny Youngman’s request) – TAKEMYWIFE

Tuesday, August 25 – 6:06

20A, Residential area of California [think Chevy] - SUBURBANMALIBU
26A, Start of a stampede [think Ford] – MUSTANGESCAPE
48A, Part of a peace treaty [think Honda] – ACCORDELEMENT
56A, Cars suggested by 20-, 26- and 48-Across? – HYBRIDVEHICLES