Hess Truck

 

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024, Rebecca Goldstein

 HURDLES

Today's construction makes two Rebecca puzzles in a row for me, AND the second in a row that's 16 x 15.  Plus the fourth grid of hers that I have blogged since I started guest blogging last year.  Two spanners and two 10-letter theme answers.  IMHO there was some meh fill, but that may be due to the fact that I am getting "older" and not keeping up with the world as it races past me.  The theme clues/answers: 

17. Undercover undertaking: STEALTH OPERATION

36. Winter getaway deal: SKI PACKAGE

43. Meet, Maps, and Drive, e.g.: GOOGLE APPS

62. Bend over backward, or what each set of circled letters is: JUMP THROUGH HOOPS - three synonyms for "jump", which 'bound' from one word to another, while being "circled" by a hoop.

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Pleads: BEGS

5. Clear as day: LUCID - eh, I like this better when referring to dreams

10. Brunch side: HASH

14. "Lunch __ a Skyscraper": iconic New York photograph: ATOP - I did not know it was a publicity stunt; the Wiki

Totally Photoshopped

15. Trip to see Africa's "Big Five": SAFARI - I did not know there was a "set" that should be on one's African safari bucket list; they are listed here on this site

16. Capital city with public transit ferries: OSLO - this strikes me as being "Ektorp", but there's "Norway" it's going to be Swedish 😜

20. Owns: HAS

21. __ Lingus: AER - Crossword staple

22. As of now: TO DATE

23. Toy that may get stuck in a tree: KITE - ah.  Not "POM"

C'mon, that's funny~!

25. Sweater pattern: ARGYLE - a shout-out to our dear departed Santa

28. Fully __ nachos: LOADED

30. Apt rhyme for tear: WEAR - "wear & tear"; took me a minute

31. Lovers' quarrel: SPAT - and - 50A. Tizzies: ADOs

35. Garden shelter: ARBOR - my maiden excursion on my new tractor did not go so well; trashed my garage door track, twice, trying to get it out; knocked myself silly when the folding roll bar folded on my head, then when I was out mowing, first the roll bar snapped a branch off my pine tree and then....

38. "Wild" card game: UNO

39. 4-Down sigh: AHH....

41. Country north of Kenya: Abbr.: ETHiopia

42. Unlikely to reprimand: LAX - not the airport this time

47. "Don't cry for me" singer: EVITA

49. Web content std.: HTML - oops, I tried HTTP

51. Soaks in a salt solution: BRINES - meh.  Don't care for the 'verb'; salt solutions...better

52. "Even still ... ": AND YET. . .

54. "So I __": "LIED" - OK, "So I LIED" - that's not really my tractor 😁

55. Infinitesimally small: ATOMIC

58. Things put in to power?: AAs - bitty batteries

59. Wheelbarrow groove: RUT - yeah. meh.

67. Novelist Rice: ANNE

68. Vehicles with pedal assist: eBIKES - I have such a short drive to work, I considered buying one of these for the exercise and to save on gas

69. All over the place: AMOK

70. Fridge incursion: RAID

71. Folder contents: FILES

72. Top diving scores: TENS


DOWN:

1. Swinging soiree: BASH

2. Gospel icon James: ETTA

3. Makes a big noise: GOES KABOOM - remember this game~?

4. Relaxation station: SPA

5. Judy Garland co-star Bert: LAHR - you won't find this lion in Africa

Wow - he even signed it to my given name~!

6. Mysterious sight in the sky: UFO - I wondered if this would be the 21st century "UAP" answer

7. Tube top?: CAP - ah, toothpaste, e.g.

8. Intense anger: IRE

9. "Traitor!": DIRTY RAT

10. Choose a spot in an open office: HOT DESK - never heard of this; I have been booted from several desks (workbenches, actually) at my job because I fill two roles - I am a pipe organ technician, but also the next CAD pipe organ design guy; since I painted the CAD office, my co-workers seem to think that my other work space has been 'conceded' .  Sigh.

11. Most populous continent: ASIA - Antarctica comes in a close second. . . .

12. Gumball machine opening: SLOT - meh.  There's a coin "slot", but the opening is sort of like a hinged gate, if you ask me

13. Make sharp: HONE

15. Camel in a caravan, maybe: STEED - yeah, I suppose.  I happen to like camels - I want a stuffed one to add to my Webkins collection; I have two dinosaurs and a dragon; used to play on the computer with my once-step-daughter

and it's HUMP DAY~!

18. Like some job moves: LATERAL - I would have thought splitting my time between two "offices" at work would be considered "lateral".  Bzzzt. 

19. Early web portal: AOL

24. Eager reply to "Who wants this cookie?": "I DO~!" - I was expecting "ME~! ME~!"

25. Uncomfy, casually: AWKward

26. Hiking gear rental co.: REI- Crossword staple

27. Stops and stares: GAPES

Oh, sorry, I got distracted. . . .a lucid dream about a HOT DESK~?

28. Guffaw: LAUGH

29. "I take it back": "OR NOT. . ."

32. Race car or kayak: PALINDROME - the same spelling, forwards and backwards

33. Banded gemstone: AGATE

34. Home state of Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion: TEXAS - did not know this, nor would I care.  I guess I AM getting old(er).  Filled via perps.

36. Suspicious: SHADY - I'd link Slim Shady, but the lyrics....

You've Been Warned. . . .

37. Think of fondly: CHERISH

40. Captain cook?: HEAD CHEF - har-har

44. Rented a yurt, maybe: GLAMPED - High living while "roughing it"

45. "The Bells" poet: POE - also did not know this; filled via perps

46. Hollywood hrs.: PST

48. Strive (for): VIE

51. Slight depression, with "the": BLAHS - not the BLUES, but 60% correct

53. Tiny issue: NIT

55. Cracked just a bit: AJAR

56. Mackerel relative: TUNA

57. Potent prefix: OMNI

58. Life times?: AGES

60. Wish __ a star: UPON

61. Tuts: TSKs

63. Squeeze play stat: RBI

64. Menorah liquid: OIL

65. "Aloha 'Oe" instrument, briefly: UKE

66. Granola grain: OAT - four in a row, letters three, that's all you're gonna get from me~!

Splynter

Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, Rebecca Goldstein & Rachel Fabi

SOUP & SANDWICH

 Our dynamic duo ( see 46D. ) of crossword collaborators Rebecca and Rachel has teamed up once again.  In today's theme they redefine MESS HALL as "MESS-Y" HALL; four phrases involving service items - one flatware, one glassware, two dinnerware - described as being dirty or in disarray. the word "mess" derives from the Frawnche 'mes' for "dish".  A 16 x 15 grid, allowing for two 8-letter, two 11-letter and one 12-letter spanner, plus lots of black squares, but I don't have the "deets" on what is the maximum allowed.  A handful of names, but nothing too pesky.  The theme answers:

16. Region of severe drought in the 1930s: DUST BOWL - the history

24. Diner, e.g.: GREASY SPOON - My personal favorite - Waffle House

Sadly, there is no WAFFLE HOUSE in CT

36. Rochester, New York, dish with meat, fries, and baked beans: GARBAGE PLATE - I spent a lot of my time in NY, but I had never heard of this dish before; I was going to add a picture, but it does not look appetizing at all

49. Hazard for bare feet in a beach parking lot: BROKEN GLASS - Also the title of a song; I used to hear it once a day during my retail employment tenure; I did not know it was Annie Lennox of "Eurythmics" fame who sings this

59. Army dining area, or a punny description of where to find 16-, 24-, 36-, and 49-Across: MESS HALL - perhaps the most notorious movie MESS HALL. . . .

It did get "messy"

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Day on Mars: SOL - I do the DOWNS first, but had no crossings, so this one eluded me; a "DAY" on Mars is one planetary rotation; in this case, it's just over 37mins more than Earth's

4. Crunched numbers: DATA

8. Shockingly vivid: LURID - I could find many an image, but this forum won't allow it~!

13. Clean water org.: EPA

14. Inner selves: EGOS

15. Wretchedness: MISERY

18. Structures that provide shade: GAZEBOS - a long-term goal is to build several decks and a structure down by my creek - perhaps it will be a gazebo

I could actually pull this off - note, another Rochester NY reference

19. At the ready: ALERT

20. Massive: EPIC

22. Craigslist abbr.: OBO - Or Best Offer - anyone care to make an offer on these two~?  My tractor is here, so I don't need these two any more~!

23. Actress Polo: TERI - name #1, filled via perps

28. Head physician, briefly?: ENT - Ear, "50D.", Throat; I was looking for an abbr. for "psychiatrist" e.g., "shrink"

29. Feeds the pigs: SLOPS

30. Light units: WATTS

31. Assume, as a responsibility: TAKE ON

33. Bank vaults: SAFES

39. Question type: YES/NO - my "CANOE" at 32D. led me to try NO/YES first

40. SoFi Stadium pros: L.A. RAMS

42. Actor Hawke: ETHAN - name #2, but I know this one

45. Runs up against?: ABUTS

47. Light touch: PAT

52. Cooked up: MADE - someone MADE a mess in the kitchen

53. Bluff, maybe: BET - eh, sorta - I've played enough poker to know when someone's "BET" is more likely a "BLUFF"

54. Force from power: OUST

55. Gives for a while: LENDS

56. "Doesn't look good for me!": "I'M TOAST"

62. Apt name for someone born on Christmas: NOELLE - name,ish

63. Operatic solo: ARIA

64. Narc's org.: DEA - Drug Enforcement Agency, mentioned in this song....

Smuggler's Blues, Glenn Frey - and it gets MESSY in this kitchen, too~!

65. Class: GRADE - as in K thru 12

66. Subsequently: NEXT

67. Mule kin: ASS - and ABUTS in the same puzzle~?


DOWN:

1. Hardly rowdy: SEDATE

2. Richly appointed: OPULENT

3. Activity that involves taking a shot in the dark?: LASER TAG - my brother and I had the "home version" as kids

4. Subject of a congressional ceiling: DEBT - check out this site

5. Previously: AGO - meh

6. Pull along: TOW - ah, not TUG

7. Like a limb that's all pins and needles: ASLEEP

8. "30 Rock" role for Tina: LIZ - name #4; I know TINA, did not know "Liz"

9. Employ: USE

10. Start up again: REBOOT

11. Asimov work with "Three Laws": I, ROBOT - Issac Asimov, and a movie starring Will Smith

12. Vacuums that have "dual cyclone" technology: DYSONS - I actually have two, the 'ball' and the cordless - but the latter seems to have lost the ability to retain a charge - time to get a replacement battery, I guess

15. "I Try" singer Gray: MACY - name #5, filled via perps

17. Prefix with -athlon: TRI

18. Beneficiaries of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, for short: GIs - "The GI Bill"

21. Out of style: PASSÉ

24. Gooey lumps: GLOBS

25. Journalist Farrow: RONAN - name #6; filled via perps

26. Pinky promises: SWEARS

27. Carb-loader's pre-race meal: PASTA

29. Like the vibes at a spa: SERENE

32. Style of boat first used by the Aleut, Inuit, and Yupik peoples: KAYAK - I tried 'CANOE', but this is a better answer

34. Overachiever's test score: A-PLUS - a dupe answer from yesterday

Even better than A PLUS

35. Shoes that lack heels: FLATS - I had my fill of shoe fills last week. . . . see below

37. Aspirational hashtag: GOALS - I don't "hashtag", so I had no idea; crossing the unknown theme answer didn't help

38. Savory turnover: EMPANADA

Note the "LIME WEDGES", and NOT the shoes

41. Seats for equestrians: SADDLES - we had a Kentucky Derby pool at work; I picked "Track Phantom" and "Stronghold", and neither came in win, place, OR show. . . .

Blazing SADDLES Pie Fight; another MESSY HALL

42. Receding: EBBING

43. Earthquake: TREMOR - nailed it; we felt the April 5th New Jersey quake in CT; I read there was an additional TREMOR on May 1

44. Sore throat soother: HOT TEA - ah.  LOZENGE did not fit

46. The Caped Crusader: BATMAN - Holy Crossword Clues~!

Still the coolest Batmobile ever, IMO

48. Cars that charge slowly in the cold: TESLAS - got it; I had a plug-in Subaru Crosstrek, and was aware that it would take longer to charge in the winter, as I did not have a garage at the time; it really didn't matter, since I charged it overnight as I slept, and it only took 5hrs anyway

50. Honker: NOSE

51. Word before microbiome: GUT - filled via perps

And After You Have a Garbage Plate~?

52. "It's fine": MEH - Meh.  For me, this qualifies something as less than "fine"

55. DA-to-be's exam: LSAT - crossword staple

57. Long in the tooth: OLD

58. Tap pour: ALE

60. Before, poetically: ERE

61. __-pack abs: SIX - my gym attendance has plummeted; conversely, my weight has risen - go figure; I'm just not a "gym" person

Splynter

Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, Andrew Walker

  SHOES, BUT SHOES WISELY

Indiana Jones and the Last Crew Suede~?

 A funny farce of footwear fashion; four phrases redefined as types of shoes defines today's theme ( I decided that since we started the week with "F-stop", I'd go with "F-start" ).  Some odd similarities with that Monday puzzle blogged by sumdaze, I noted.  I do believe this is Andrew Walker's first LA Times publication; congrats to you~!  A quick solve for me on this hump-day, with just a few names, all of which are pretty standard crossword fare.  Two eight-letter non-theme Down fills, but we had more than the usual three-letter words in today's grid, which caused a few "meh" moments for me, at least for a Wednesday-level puzzle; Yem Beady.  The theme clues/answers;

17. Shoes for emptying the kiddie pool?: DRAIN CLOGS - not the hair clump type, but these

27. Shoes that prevent slipping in the shower?: WATER MOCCASINS - not the Cottonmouth snake, but these

45. Shoes for attending a gala?: PARTY PLATFORMS - not the political stance, but these

They look precarious

59. Shoes that coordinate with a bright green ensemble?: LIME WEDGES - not the drinks garnish, but these

With lunchmeat~?

And Away We Go, White Rabbit~!

ACROSS:

1. Tea in masala chai, perhaps: ASSAM - the "M" was my last guess , uh, fill

6. Indeterminate but small amount: A FEW - Vague.  Get it~?  har-har~!

10. Partner: MATE - and - 6D. Partner: ALLY

14. Stockpile: CACHE - the noun, not the verb; I was thinking AMASS

15. Mischief-making Norse god: LOKI

16. "Stat!" letters: ASAP - As Soon As Possible - also the name of the band created by former - and current - Iron Maiden guitarist, Adrian Smith ( and Project )

19. Upscale: NICE - meh.

20. Avis rental: CAR

21. " ... hallowed be __ name": THY - Speaking of Iron Maiden . . .

Hallowed By THY Name - live 1984 - 85

22. Matter of will?: ESTATE - I am still waiting on one last bank account, and then my parent's estate will finally be settled

24. __ urchin: SEA

25. Ring-tailed mammal: COATI

33. Place to kick back: SOFA - we had this on Monday, too

34. Cheri who played Judge Judy on "SNL": OTERI - name, but one we're used to ( I think )

35. __ de los Muertos: DIA - Spanish lesson #1, the "Day of the Dead"

36. Catches with a lure: ENTRAPS

39. Main ingredient of 54-Across: LENTILS - didn't know 54A., so I wouldn't know what's in it

41. Barely scrape (out): EKE - crossword staple

42. Minor squabble: SET-TO

44. Plot devices?: HOES - farming plot, that is

49. Aquamarine, for one: BERYL - stumped; I did not know March's birthstone was this mineral - and if we had February/amethyst yesterday, we could have had a three-month run . . . the Wiki

50. Lucy of "Elementary": LIU - name, but pretty common in crosswords; anyone remember her from the movie "Payback"~?

51. "Deadwood" territory: DAKOTA - I start with the Down clues, so half of this was already filled via perps; I have not seen the show/series

54. South Asian stew: DAL - meh.  I'll have to remember this for future puzzles

55. "The Greatest" memoirist: ALI - name, but a standard; Cassius Clay, a.k.a. Muhammad Ali

58. Not protected by defenders: OPEN - made me think of the board game Risk

NOTE: I do believe the rules state that one cannot leave a territory "OPEN",

as seen here in "Siam"

63. Audition goal: ROLE

64. "Family Guy" mom: LOIS - another LOIS appeared on Monday

Crude though it may be, I do like Family Guy

65. Like farm country: RURAL

66. Google Play downloads: APPS

67. "Nasty!": "YUCK~!"

68. Lamp topper: SHADE


DOWN:

1. Current letters: AC/DC - has this ever been clued as "Australian rock band~?"

2. Actress Gilbert: SARA - totally did not remember her, known for her 63A. ROLE in Roseanne; filled via perps on the second pass

3. Rumble remnant: SCAR - street-gang fight, "rumble", like this one from Aerosmith

Lightning Strikes
Neither Joe Perry nor Brad Whitford were the guitarists on this

4. Bigeye or yellowfin tuna: AHI - my first guess, but I waited

5. Plato, to Socrates: MENTEE - STUDENT didn't fit, and spellcheck doesn't care for this, either

7. Egg __ yung: FOO - We had FOO in the clue on Monday - I know this has been clued as "rock band _ Fighters", but I liked it better when Dave Grohl was in Nirvana

8. Heart chart, briefly: EKG

9. Know-it-all: WISEACRE

10. Seth Rogen's "Kung Fu Panda" voice role: MANTIS - never saw the movie

11. Much of an atlas: ASIA - Dah~!  It got me - I had MAPS to start

12. Social sensitivity: TACT

13. Fencing tool: ÉPÉE

18. Leave on the grill too long, maybe: CHAR - BURN ( Monday ) was not well-done enough....

23. Spot on a shirt, say: STAIN

24. The sun, for one: STAR - a G-type yellow dwarf, if I'm not mistaken

25. Foldout bed: COT

26. Wildcat native to the Americas: OCELOT - Cougar~?  I didn't know, had to wait

27. Fictional chocolatier: WONKA - Willy~!

28. Part of a makeover photo spread: AFTER - all of my home projects are stuck in the "BEFORE" phase; I really need to get motivated to finish them - I hope to buy the tractor pictured below at the end of the week - it will help tree-mendously ( eye-roll ) with clearing the chunks of Ash still sitting in my back yard

It costs more than my car....

29. By and large: MOSTLY - I was just talking about "BUY & Large" at work, from Wall-E

Post-COVID future reality~?  I need to get to the gym more often

30. Cool beans or warm fuzzies: IDIOM - IDIOM, ADAGE, AXIOM~?  I can never tell which

31. TV's younger Dr. Crane: NILES - his brother was Frasier, the character/spin-off from Cheers

32. Lip: SASS

33. Leak slowly: SEEP

37. Until now: AS YET

38. Spirited gathering?: PEP RALLY - I was thinking KEG PARTY, or SÉANCE(ish)

40. Drive-__ car wash: THRU

43. "¿Qué __?": Spanish greeting: TAL - meh.  I keep saying I am going to learn Spanish (#2)

46. Steakhouse options: T-BONES

47. Blemish: FLAW

48. Edmonton NHL team: OILERS - they are up 2-1 over the LA Kings in the Stanley Cup playoffs

51. "The Lost City of Gold" explorer: DORA - ah.  I know OF the Explorer the cartoon, but did not know about the city, or, for that matter, that there was a live-action movie . . .

52. Per item: A POP - not EACH.  Meh.

53. Iodine-rich seaweed: KELP - I pondered NORI, waited on perps

54. Home office need: DESK - it does help, that I can tell you

55. Taj Mahal site: AGRA

56. Head up: LEAD

57. Many a Caribbean country: ISLE

60. "Payment forthcoming" note: I.O.U.

61. ASMRtist's need: MICrophone - ASMR, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, and I do get the ticklish sensation - you can try it here

62. "Like I didn't know!": "DUH~!" - Like, we're at the last clue, dude

Splynter