Friday, July 15, 2022

QOD:  To find a person inexhaustible is simply the definition of love.  ~  Dame Iris Murdoch (née Jean Iris Murdoch, July 15, 1919 ~ Feb. 8, 1999), British novelist

Thursday, July 14, 2022

QOD:  I know family comes first, but shouldn’t that mean after breakfast?  ~  Jeff Lindsay (né Jeffry P. Freundlich; b. July 14, 1952), American author

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

QOD:  Each time I think I’ve created time for myself, along comes a throwback to disrupt my private space.  ~  Wole Soyinka (né Akínwáandé Olúwolé Babátúneé Sóyíinká; b. July 13, 1934), Nigerian writer and recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

QOD:  None are so old as those who have outlived their enthusiasm.  ~  Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 ~ May 6, 1862), American essayist and philosopher

Does this make me look fat?  Each theme answer contains a "cut" carbohydrate.  Cutting or limiting carbohydrates from one's diet may help with weight loss.

17-Across. *   Performer who may wear harem pants: BELLY DANCER.  BEER

25-Across. *   People in a love-hate relationship: FRENEMIES.  FRIES

36-Across. *   Body-lifting exercises: CHIN-UPS.  CHIPS

47-ACROSS. *   Veers from the straight and narrow: BREAKS BAD.  BREAD

And the unifier:

56-Across. Dieting advice, and what the answers to the starred clues literally do: CUT THE CARBS.

Across:
1. California wine region near Sonoma: NAPA.  How Napa Valley became known for its wines.

5. Not quite: ALMOST.

11. Zamboni surface: ICE.  The Zamboni is named after its inventor, Frank Zamboni (Jan. 16, 1901 ~ July 27, 1988).

14. Nowhere to be seen, for short: AWOL.  Absent Without Leave, or Absent Without Official Leave.

15. Simple shelter: LEAN TO.

16. Prom rental: TUX.

19. Lob's path: ARC.

20. "Star Wars" heroine: LEIA.  Leia was portrayed by Carrie Fisher (née Carrie Frances Fisher; Oct. 21, 1956 ~ Dec. 27, 2016).  Sadly, she died young.

21. Taylor Swift's "__ Song": OUR.  I'll spare your ears.

22. If not: ELSE.

23. Tree frog sound: CHIRP.

27. Transmission choice for driving uphill: LOW GEAR.

29. Stockpile: AMASS.

30. Chips __!: cookie brand: AHOY. 

31. Creme Egg candymaker: CADBURY.  Everything about the Cadbury Creme Eggs, but didn't know to ask.

35. Hearty holiday drink: NOG.

37. Spigot: TAP.

40. Ambushed: WAYLAID.

41. Corn Belt tower: SILO.

42. Storybook brutes: OGRES.

45. Tracks down: LOCATES.

51. Pet rabbit's home: HUTCH.

52. Wallop: SOCK.

53. Feel crummy: AIL.

54. Carpenter's clamp: VISE.  Everything you wanted to know about Bench Vises, but didn't know to ask.

55. Source of milk for pecorino cheese: EWE.  Everything you wanted to know about Pecorino Cheeses, but didn't know to ask.

60. Time zone word: Abbr.: STD.  As in Central Standard Time.

61. Dined at a bistro, say: ATE OUT.

62. Nerd: GEEK.  Did you know that the word Geek originally referred to a carnival worker who would bite the heads off live animals? 

63. That lady: SHE.  It could have been Her, so I had to wait for the perps.

64. Tinkers (with): MESSES.

65. Avant-garde: EDGY.

An Avant-garde hairstyle

Down:

1. Capture: NAB.

2. Knock the socks off: AWE.

3. Tadpole: POLLIWOG.  Is there a difference between a polliwog and a tadpole?

4. Hay fever, e.g.: ALLERGY.

5. "Marriage Story" actor Alan: ALDA.  Alan Alda (né Alfonso Joseph D'Abruzzo; b. Jan. 28, 1936) is probably best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H.  Marriage Story was a 2019 film.

6. Actress Thompson: LEA.  Lea Thompson (née Lea Katherine Thompson; b. May 31, 1961) is probably best known for her role as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future films.  In those films, she played the mother to Marty McFly, who was played by Michael A Fox (b. June 9, 1961).  In real life, she was only 10 days older than her "son".

7. Regal home: MANOR.

8. Promptly: ON CUE.

9. Rudder's locale: STERN.

10. Only Canadian MLB city: TOR.  The Toronto is the home to baseball's Blue Jays.  Hi, Canadian Eh!

11. Firenze locale: ITALIA.  Better known to English speakers as Florence, Italy.  Did you know that Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, hence her first name?

12. Swear words: CURSES.

13. More than necessary: EXCESS.

18. Cry of pain: YIPE.

22. Television award: EMMY.

23. Tartan-sharing kin: CLAN.

Men of different clans, as evidenced by the tartans.

24. Santa's jolly syllables: HO HO.

25. Physically delicate: FRAIL.

26. Disneyland hat pair: EARS.

28. Sore: ACHY.

32. Genetic material: DNA.

33. Construct: BUILD.

34. Bun, e.g.: UPDO.  Oh, a hairstyle, not an item of food.

36. Wine barrel: CASK.

37. Giggled self-consciously: TITTERED.

38. Smart __: know-it-all: ALEC.

39. Swanky: POSH.  One of Spice Girls was known as Posh.

40. Like disappointing coffee: WEAK.

41. McMuffin meat option: SAUSAGE.

42. Think too much (about): OBSESS.

43. Old-__ forest: GROWTH.  Did you know about the Old-Growth Forest Network?

44. Ebb: RECEDE.

46. Rather smart: CHIC.

48. Cook in some olive oil, say: SAUTÉ.

49. Tugs at a fishing line: BITES.

50. Choir section: ALTOS.

54. November honorees: VETS.  We have lots of Veterans on this blog.

56. Pic taker: CAM.  As in a Camera, also known as a smart phone.

57. Shade on a color wheel: HUE.

58. Plead: BEG.

59. Big __ Country: SKY.  Hi, Montana!

Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday, July 11, 2022

QOD:  Luck is not something you can mention in the presence of self-made men.  ~  E.B. White (né Elwyn Brooks White; July 11, 1899 ~ Oct. 1, 1985), American writer

Sunday, July 10, 2022

QOD:  Start where you are.  Use what you have.  Do what you can.  ~  Arthur Ashe (July 10, 1943 ~ Feb. 6, 1993), African-American professional tennis player