Entries from February 2009
Pretty good time for a Saturday for me, even though there three squares I wasn’t sure about.
17A, Place for a tie – GARBAGEBAG
20A, Summer cooler – ITALIANICE
22A, Manages to get through – NEGOTIATES
27A, Hue similar to cyan – ELECTRICBLUE
38A, Oscar winner for “The Bridge on the River Kwai” – ALECGUINNESS
47A, First holder of the title Supreme Governor of the Church of England – ELIHUBETHI (I’m not sure about the first H and the U)
54A, Governing group – RULEMAKERS
56A, Epithet coined for the 2002 State of the Union address – AXISOFEVIL
6D, Elaborate solo vocal composition – STENA (not sure about the T)
10D, Sternum attachment – TRUERIB
29D, Count – ENUMERATE
33D, Burner locale – GASRANGE
Categories: Solving Time
This one was hard! I’m very happy with myself for being able to finish it.
1, Bygone flag – THESTARSANDBARS
16A, Think a certain way about – HAVEANOPINIONON
17A, Make a call – USETHETELEPHONE
28A, B and O figures: abbr. – ATNOS
29A, Brilliant moves – COUPS
39A, Mammonism – GREED
50A, Much of Central America, once – BANANAREPUBLICS
54A, “This would be a first for me” – IVENEVERTRIEDIT
55A, Trading posts? – GENERALMANAGERS
1D, Beat but good – THUMP
23D, Downright – PLUMB
30D, Withdrew quietly – WENTASIDE
34D, Things that open and close yearly? – WYES
41D, See 26-Down – ASBIG
Categories: Solving Time
Not quite sure what the theme is, other than Q words:
20A, Residence – LIVINGQUARTERS
25A, It has to be asked – BURNINGQUESTION
43A, Alumni weekend V.I.P. – HOMECOMINGQUEEN
48A, Many Haydn compositions – STRINGQUARTETS
Categories: Solving Time
21A, Pulitzer Prize entries – NEWSSTORIES
52A, They may be served at the beach – VOLLEYBALLS
3D, Some ornamental barriers – IRONFENCES
31D, Party servers – PUNCHBOWLS
48D, What 21- and 52-Across and 3- and 31-Down might be – SPIKED
Categories: Solving Time
Three birds with one puzzle:
21A, Strain to see over the top – CRANEONESNECK
41A, Eat humble pie – SWALLOWONESPRIDE
59A, Be a street peddler – HAWKONESWARES
Categories: Solving Time
The theme is B-ND words:
17A, Stretchable holder – RUBBERBAND
23A, Loony – AROUNDTHEBEND
35A, Strong family connections, idiomatically – THETIESTHATBIND
47A, Tax-free investment – MUNICIPALBOND
57A, Tux go-with – CUMMERBUND
Categories: Solving Time
In “The Cruciverbalist”, we get a six-line quote about being a cruciverbalist (i.e. crossword puzzle constructor).
26A, Cruciverbalist’s Step 1 – BRAINSTORMTHEMEIDEAS
39A, Step 2 – DEVELOPBESTENTRIES
59A, Step 3 – CONSTRUCTSUITABLEGRID
66A, Step 4 – RESEARCHANDWRITECLUES
85A, Step 5 – SENDPUZZLETOEDITOR
105A, Step 6 (the payoff) – SEEBYLINEINNEWSPAPER
Categories: Solving Time
When I saw that not only was this puzzle a collaboration between Make Nothnagel and Byron Waldon, but that it didn’t have usualy crossword symmetry, I got a really bad feeling. I actually did manage to complete the right half of the puzzle without much problem. But for the left half, I ended up using “Check” to find wrong letters (although I didn’t reveal any letters) a number of times.
1A, Item with a clear face value? – RAZOR
6A, One who may have many connections – TRAVELER
20A, NATO member since 2004 – LATVIA
23A, Rectangular array that’s identical when its rows and columns are transposed, as this puzzle’s grid – SYMMETRICMATRIX
31A, Some collectible Dutch prints – ESCHERS
37A, Kind of paper – FAX
40A, Pondering, informally – CHEWINGON
58A, Automaker Maserati – ERNESTO
59A, Tots – WEEONES
1D, Hindu musician’s source material for improvisation – RAGAS
5D, They may be seen on a lake’s surface – REFLECTEDIMAGES
6D, 1963 Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton drama – THEVIPS
8D, Turkey setting – ASIAMINOR
24D, 1990s HBO sketch comedy series – MRSHOW
31D, Dido – ESCAPADE
65D, Wrench part – JAW
Categories: Solving Time
For anyone who is interested, here is the newest member of my family…
Isn't she cute?
Categories: Uncategorized
I was able to work my way through this tough Paula Gamache with only one wrong square (MSS/MICO instead of PSS/PICO at 45A/D). Here are some hints:
1A, Aids in artful deception – WEASELWORDS
12A, Knowledge base?: Abbr. – SCH
21A, Gabfest – KLATCH
25A, How Viola is disguised in “Twelfth Night” – ASAMAN
38A, Back out? – REAREXIT
40A, One may be backed up – SINGER
49A, 1970s – ’80s sitcom put-down/catchphrase – KISSMYGRITS
52A, Loch ___, on the River Shannon – REE
55A, Components of some alarms – HEATSENSORS
1D, Bailiff’s concern – WRIT
12D, Pet with short legs and a hard coat, informally – SCOTTIEDOG
25D, Measure of a newborn’s health, named for its develops – APGARSCORE (Dorothy’s was 8.9)
36D, One of Judaism’s four matriarchs – REBEKAH
42D, Round of four – SEMIS
Categories: Solving Time
