Far and Away

It's hump day! However, I felt so exhausted that I decided to skip the gym tonight and relax. Besides, I need the occasional change of pace, so I will do kickboxing and Zumba tomorrow night.

Today's Newsday puzzle by Norma Steinberg is called "Outta Sight." 

20A: Exotic vacations (FARAWAY PLACES). One of my co-workers is in Tahiti on vacation. I should only be so lucky. However, I am fortunate to be part of a postcard-exchange program called Postcrossing. Although I've received just 20 postcards, I feel like I'm living in other lands, as well as other sections of our country. I enjoy receiving snail mail, so the person who thought of the Postcrossing program is a genius! 

38A: Fifth cousin, for instance (DISTANT RELATIVE). A couple of months ago, I received a Facebook friend request from a distant cousin who I hadn't seen since I was 16. I had good memories of her house in Ossining, so it was a pleasant surprise. While I'm a devout city dweller, she is living on a farm in Virginia with lots of turkeys and other assorted animals. 

Speaking of distant relatives, we found out that Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, who have been married over 20 years, are distant cousins. This was discovered on the PBS program "Finding Your Roots." I watched this for the first time last Sunday and they explored Robert Downey, Jr.'s past. I enjoyed the program very much. Remember, Franklin and Eleanor Rooosevelt were distant cousins, too.

58A: Den accessory (REMOTE CONTROL). I can't even remember what life was like without a remote control! I know that tin a previous life, we only had the three major networks, Channel 5, Channel 9, Channel 11, and PBS. For my family, that all changed in 1976 when we got cable TV. We were the first family on our block!

From 1987 to 1990, MTV aired a show called "Remote Control." It was MTV's first non-musical program and also the first to feature spring-break episodes. I was such a fan that I even had a Nintendo game. Contestants would sit in lounge chairs and select one of nine channels (or categories) on a big screen TV. They would then need to answer questions related to that category. We were introduced to Adam Sandler and Colin Quinn on this classic show. Sadly, Ken Ober, the host, passed away in 2009. Why don't we watch a little clip from the very first episode?

This show lasted only four seasons while that train wreck known as "Jersey Shore" is still running? I don't get it!


That's all for this evening. 


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Passing the Puck

Today's puzzle by Gail Grabowski is hockey-themed and is called "Pass the Puck." I don't follow hockey much, but I think the Rangers are in the playoffs.

20A: Penny Pincher (CHEAPSKATE), I went searching for current celebrities who are notoriously bad tippers. The ironic thing is that many of them are worth more than $100 million. The list includes Madonna, Barbra Streisand, JLo, and Harrison Ford. Then I found even more famous cheapskates. C'mon people, waiters and waitresses barely make enough as it is, and they have to rely on tips!

61A: Firewood igniter (MATCHSTICK). Mom always said don't play with matches! 

Seriously, though, here is the '60s classic "Pictures of Matchstick Men" by the British group Status Quo:

There are also matchstick puzzles. These are games of logic in which you have to create new space and all the matches have to be used:

10D: In a precarious situation (ON THIN ICE). Remember the song "Walking on Thin Ice" by Yoko Ono? I didn't realize Mike Mills (from REM) produced it. It's a very cool video:

36D: Source of Security (SAFETY NET)

In puzzle news, there's a tournament called Crosswords LA coming up on May 12. Constructors include Andrea Carla Michaels, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Trip Payne, and Doug Peterson. The tournament takes place at Loyola Marymount University and proceeds go to a charity called "Reading for Kids"


Sorry for the short post, but it's getting late and I have to turn in soon.


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Fast Track

Happy Monday! After a glorious week of above-average weather, we're stuck with rain for most of this week. :-(


Today's puzzle by Billie Truitt is called "Zippy." Here are the theme answers, which are not the most exciting. It was hard to find  cute commentary and videos. 


20A: Great beginning (FLYING START). British Airways and Comic Relief have teamed up to form a charity called Flying Start. The goal of the charity is to help disadvantaged children from the U.K. and around the world. Money goes to educate children and to give them a break from caring for sick family members. Dollars can also help people buy the tools they need to make money, and to provide meals to the world's poorest children.


41A: Package shipping option (EXPRESS DELIVERY). FedEx. DHL. UPS. Express Mail. These are all the options we have for quick shipping. It's expensive but convenient. Sit back and enjoy an old FedEx commercial from the early 80s (When it absolutely has to get there overnight!):

58A: Defendant's constitutional guarantee (SPEEDY TRIAL). Time for a cartoon:

Last night's "Mad Men" was a trip. Literally. Roger and Jane took LSD and ended their marriage. Don and Megan took a trip to HoJo's. Don left Megan in the parking lot after an argument. Peggy had a rough day, went to a movie, smoked pot, and hooked up with a random stranger in cool pants. This season has been so bizarre already; the best is yet to come!


It's getting late and I'm beginning to nod off. I hope the weather gets better.


Till tomorrow. . . ..


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Video Thursday!

Since I'm feeling lazy today, I've decided it's Video Thursday! Today's puzzle by S.N. (aka Stanley Newman) is called  "Nounsense." Sit back and enjoy!


17A: Hotshot (IMPORTANT PERSON). Does anyone remember a series of shorts they showed during the 70s called "The Most Important Person?" These shorts included lessons on topics from hearing to multiculturalism. I've posted one of the shorts below. This one's called "Oops, I Mad a Mistake!" It's corny but it serves its purpose.

18A: Seemingly everywhere (ALL OVER THE PLACE). In 1984, The Bangles released an album by the same name. Although the album was not a commercial success, it contained some great songs. Here's my favorite, "Going Down to Liverpool." It features the one and only Leonard Nimoy:

I hear the Bangles are back and touring this year.

60A: Argument extender (AND ANOTHER THING). Well, I couldn't find a video that corresponded with this answer, but here's a cute stamp by the stationery company Knock Knock:

All the NBC sitcoms ("The Office", "Community", "Up All Night", and "Parks & Recreation" are on tonight. It's almost time to sit back and get comfy.


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

A Great Asset to All

Today's Newsday puzzle by Billie Truitt is called "Asset Management." The theme answers are below:

17A: Real-estate sales aid (CURB APPEAL). Because I live in an apartment, I have no use for these tips. But for all you homeowners out there, there is a show on HGTV by the same name. A panel of experts will help the homeowner turn outdated and boring homes into showplaces that will make them proud. Also, Better Homes & Gardens offers tips on making that great first impression. In the real estate world, this is also known as home staging.

 30A: Redeeming quality (SAVING GRACE). "Saving Grace" was also a TV show on TNT that ran from 2007 to 2010. The show focused on Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter), a jaded Oklahoma City detective who met up with a "last-chance" angel named Earl after a night of drunk driving kills a pedestrian. The show discussed the topic of faith, and how difficult faith can be in an imperfect world.

 44A: Kids' horsey novel (BLACK BEAUTY). This was one of my favorite books to read when I was a child. Written by the novelist Anna Sewell, the book originally wasn't meant for children. Sewell wanted to enforce kindness and sympathy in the treatment of horses. Her novel brought about reforms and help abolish some of the cruel practices in treating working animals. The novel starts as a memoir by a colt named Black Beauty, which starts with his young days on a farm in England and continues through his difficult days pulling cabs. The book describes the horrible conditions of the horse-drawn cab industry in London, including high license fees and low fares. Beauty goes through several owners, some kind and others not so kind. The book was adapted into film and television several times.   

59A: Amulet (MAGIC CHARM). An amulet is intended to bring good luck to its owner. Amulets can include gems, statues, coins, drawings, rings, pendants, mugs, plants, or animals. In Judiasm, we wear a tallis to distinguish Jews from false gods. Christians wear a cross for the same reason. Other lucky charms include four-leaf clovers, a rabbit's foot, horseshoes, charm bracelets, and wishbones. 



Accused killer George Zimmerman is a fan of word games. He was allowed to purchase a crossword puzzle book and a word search book in the jail commissary. Being in prison is not fun. He's going to be purchasing a lot of books to help bide the time.

I've decided on the name of my personalized puzzle-creation biz. It will be called Puzzle Favors. Now to come up with a logo.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

A Taxing Matter

Today is Tuesday, April 17th. Have you filed your taxes yet? We were lucky this year and got two extra days because 1) April 15th was a Sunday, and 2) yesterday was Patriots' Day in Massachusetts. Today's puzzle, "After Taxes", by Sally R. Stein reflects the theme:

20A: Device that attracts iron (HORSESHOE MAGNET). I loved playing with this toy as a child. I remember the fascination that the magnet attracted everything from paper clips to coins. Common uses of magnets include recording data, encoding information for credit and debit cards, speakers and microphones, pickups in electric guitars, MRIs in medicine, and many more. They are popular in construction toys as well. If you're interested in how they're made, check out the Made How Web site.

57A: Where bandages may be kept (MEDICINE CABINET). Medicine cabinets and junk drawers can often give us information about the way a person lives. Some cabinets are neater and others are quite cluttered. One of the glass doors is broken on mine and I'm unable to open it. The basic items one should keep in a medicine cabinet include g alcohol, band-aids, cotton balls, tweezers, scissors, iodine, thermometer, hot and cold packs, sterile gauze, surgical tape, eye drops, and over-the-counter medicines. Other items may include antacids, painkillers, nail polish, cough and cold medicines, and antihistamines. I keep my contact lenses and solution in one of my two medicine cabinets. Of course, all items should be kept away from children (common sense)! An artist named Damien Hirst did an installation of medicine cabinets for an exhibition in 2010. 

49A: Chronic preoccupation (BEE IN ONE'S BONNET). Time for a cute cartoon. This one's by Bill Benzon.

That's all for today. It's another glorious day in the city and I'm enjoying it before the weather gets cooler.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Heavy Metal

Happy Monday! It was hard getting back into my routine after a week's vacation. My allergies really got to me last week and I was lethargic for much of the time. However, we enjoyed "Gatz"--The Great Gatsby done in verbatim by the performance group Elevator Repair Company. What started out as a mundane reading in a drab office turned into a very entertaining play. 

On Saturday, I attended a vintage book sale and a women's health expo. Got lots of business cards and free samples. 

Today's puzzle by Gail Grabowski is called "Bio-Metallic." 

19A: James Bond foe (GOLDFINGER). I've never been a fan of 007. However, this 1964 film is one of the best in the Bond series and also takes honors for the most original Bond-girl name (Pussy Galore, played by Honor Blackman). The film's plot has Bond investigating gold smuggling by gold magnate Auric Goldfinger and eventually uncovering Goldfinger's plans to attack the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox. It also features the first theme song by a pop singer, Shirley Bassey:

Adam Richman

36A: Indigestion-proof organ (CAST-IRON STOMACH). A good example of a cast-iron stomach is the show "Man vs. Food." In this show on The Travel Channel, Adam Richman explores the "big food" offerings of American towns and faces off challenges at local restaurants. Some of it can be nauseating, but most of it is fun. Some of these challenges include eating a very large pizza or downing or consuming extremely hot and spicy foods. Eating all this food certainly can't be healthy for your stomach or your heart. I hope Mr. Richman exercises frequently.

51A: Venomous snake (COPPERHEAD). Beautiful, isn't it? I hope to never find one of these in my house. For more facts about the copperhead snake and other types of reptiles, check out the Web site Snakes and Frogs.

My allergies are giving me a massive headache, so I'm going to lie down. 

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

What Is the Shortest Distance Between Two Points?

Happy Thursday from New York City! It started out cloudy and rainy but it turned out to be a beautiful day. We ate lunch in Manhattan and took a long walk afterward. 


Today's puzzle by Charles Slack is called "Short Distance" and these are the theme answers:


20A: First TV Western Series (HOPALONG CASSIDY). This fictional hero was created by Clarence E. Mulford in 1904. Hopalong started out as rude, crude, and tough-talking but turned into a clean-cut hero when the movie series began in 1935. William Boyd played Hopalong in the movies, and continued in his signature role when the TV series started in 1949. Boyd purchased the copyright to the Hopalong Cassidy name, along with the movies, and distributed the old films so they can be shown on the new medium. Also, Hopalong was the first character featured on a lunch box and his image appeared on hundreds of items. There was even an amusement park called Hoppyland, but it didn' last too long. Below is the intro to the series that ran from 1952-1954.

35A: What some genetic traits do (SKIP A GENERATION). Wanna know why? Click on the answer here

49A: Participate enthusiastically (JUMP AT THE CHANCE). 


I started the puzzles in Natan Last's book and I'm enjoying them so far. Will be reporting back as I progress.


Sorry to be so short, but I'm beat and I'm ready for a nap.


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Off-White Living

Today was a lazy day for me. I caught up on my sleep and I'm now ready to watch "Modern Family" and the new sitcom, "The B--- in Apt. 23."


Fred Piscop's puzzle for today is called "Not Quite White". 


17A: USS Arizona Memorial Site (PEARL HARBOR). December 7, 1941. A day that will live in infamy. We honeymooned in Hawaii, as almost every other couple did in the early '90s. A visit to Pearl Harbor was a must. Standing on the USS Arizona was such an emotional experience. You could still see an oil slick visible from the surface. The structure sags in the center but is strong and erect at both ends, a symbol of both defeat and victory.

 57A: Three Musketeers Alternative (MILKY WAY). Although 3 Musketeers are my favorite of all the Mars candies, I like Milky Ways almost as much. It's funny that Milky Ways in the U.S. contain caramel but they don't in other countries. The Milky Way is also known as the galaxy that contains the Earth. It is also the name of a 1936 film starring early comic genius Harold Lloyd. 

11D: Item of contention (BONE TO PICK). This phrase dates back to the 16th century, and refers to a dog chewing endlessly on a bone. 

28D: Academic retreat (IVORY TOWER). When I think of an ivory tower, I think of intellectuals cut off from the world in general. Also, I think of Rapunzel being locked up in that tower -- only her hair can help her escape.

Tomorrow, we take Manhattan and sort of break Passover (non-kosher restaurant but no bread).

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Sew Fast, So Easy

Today's puzzle is by Sally R. Stein (pseudonym for Stanley Newman), and it's called "Sew What?" And now for the theme answers.

19A: In charge at home (WEARING THE PANTS). I have not mentioned Sunday's episode of "Mad Men" yet, so this is the perfect time. It was called "Mystery Date" and it was about male-female relationships. You can see that the second Mrs. Draper wears the pants in her marriage with Don. She is a symbol of youth culture and represents the growth of the women's liberation movement. Megan makes Don beg for sex and says "You're married to me now" when they encounter an old conquest of Don's. Peggy Olsen challenges gender stereotypes too by becoming more "masculine" in both clothing and mannerisms.  In fact, we can see that the young are taking over SCDP. It's going to be interesting where this season takes us as we go into the late 60s, which was one of the most turbulent times in U.S. and world history.

38A; Knuckle down on a task (PULL UP ONE'S SOCKS). I found this cute cartoon that fits this idiom perfectly:

51A: Going broke (LOSING ONE'S SHIRT). On TV, some of the funniest scenes have been of people losing all their money at the casino. Examples include "Married With Children", "Family Ties" and "The Flintstones." Unfortunately, I couldn't find any videos on YouTube from these TV shows. However, I did find a scene from "A Hard Day's Night" when Paul's grandfather goes to the casino and loses everything.

I don't think there is a word feeling in the world than having to go into foreclosure. Personally, I haven't experienced this, but because of high unemployment, foreclosures have risen over the last few years. If you are at the risk of losing your house, ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Leamy gives some good advice.

Matthew and I took a long walk this afternoon. I bought Natan Last's book and I can't wait to begin solving! 

Today has been a very emotional day. One friend was expecting her first grandchild but her daughter-in-law unfortunately experienced a miscarriage. Another friend is putting her dog to sleep tonight. Poor puppy had been suffering from cancer and chemo wasn't working. It was a very tough decision for her but I know she didn't want him to suffer anymore. Prayers and love to my friends who are struggling today! 

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Today's puzzle by Gail Grabowski, called "Garden Shopping" is perfect for the season!


20A: Bright tubular lights (NEON BULBS). This history of the neon sign dates back to 1675! A French Astronomer named Jean Picard discovered a faint glow in a mercury barometer tube. There is no where that neon signs are more prominent than my hometown of New York City. There is even a digital guide in the works that will show the 100 greatest lights of Broadway and beyond. It's called Project Neon. Below is image of Times Square with vintage neon signs. My guess is that it's from the 1950s.

 

Here are the neon lights of Times Square during the early years of the 21st century. Ugly, isn't it?

 e

41A: Consumer product factories (PACKAGING PLANTS).  I associate packing plants most with meatpacking. Meatpacking plants were once very big in New York City and Chicago. The Meatpacking District in NYC has now been overrun by overpriced designer boutiques and pretentious restaurants. Many of the old-time meatpacking plants first moved to the mid-western Corn Belt states. However, in recent years, they have moved to the Great Plains and the Southeast.


As far as packaging of other consumer goods is concerned, many of the old-time plants first lost many employees to automation. Now, several plants in the U.S. are closing and sending their operations to foreign countries to save money. A very sad state of affairs. 


62A: Shape-saver footwear inserts (SHOE TREES). I think my dad still uses shoe trees. It's supposed to preserve the shape of the shoe. My dad buys the higher-quality wood shoe trees, which controls odor and absorbs moisture. 


I just heard about a fairly new x-word puzzle book that's supposed to have lots of pop culture references. I'll have to check out Word--144 crossword puzzles that prove it's hip to be square. The book is by constructor Natan Last, a Brown junior who had his first NYT puzzle published when he was just 17! Sounds like a nice alternative to the mundane "crosswordese" that you find in most papers.


It's back to the gym tomorrow after taking off for a few days. I'm on vacation this week and so far I'm bored to tears. It can't get any worse from here.


Till tomorrow. . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Saturday Stumper - April 7, 2012

Hi there! Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend! I'm back catching up with yesterday's Stumper by Lester Ruff. This one was fairly easy compared to most. Here are some of the more interesting answers:

23A: Aromatherapy Supply (LAVENDER OIL). There are many benefits to lavender oil. Its soothing scent can treat digestive problems, insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness. Lavender has also been used to treat wounds and scrapes, as well as women's health problems. It is widely used in potpourri and sachets to make rooms smell better and has also been used as a bug repellent. Lavender can even been used in baking goods, such as lavender scones.

49A: Result of some substitutions (SECRET CODE). I've always loved cracking secret codes, and I miss solving the Newsday cryptoquote. But what about the episode of "Seinfeld" when George refused to tell anyone his ATM code? He is forced to reveal it when a man is stuck inside an ATM booth during a fire. This classic scene below shows Kramer guessing the secret code:

Of course, there is a more serious side to learning secret codes, or crypt analysis. This article by Ron Hipschman is an excellent introduction. Even kids can get in on the fun!

10D: Penguin Habitat (ADELIE COAST). This is a claimed territory in Antarctica. The territory is owned by France and a scene from "March of the Penguins" was filmed there. I took my son to see this wonderful film, one of the rare outings were shared without Daddy.

24D: Course Rarity (DOUBLE EAGLE). My husband is sitting and watching golf. I don't understand the fascination of the game. Both my brothers play for both business and pleasure. I find it to be a big snooze. A double eagle is a rare score of three strokes under par on one hole. It is also known as an albatross. This rare feat occurred at today's Masters and shook Phil Mickelson's lead. Tiger Woods got into trouble for kicking his own golf club. I love seeing that "man" squirm!

On vacation this week . . . it will be a quiet one.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Say Hey!

TGIF on this most holy day! It's very rare that Good Friday and the first Seder fall on the same day.

Today's puzzle by Lonnie Burton was fun. It's called "Hey You" and all the theme answers end in the long "-ay" sound.

20A: Mortgage facilitation agency (GINNIE MAE). Originally, I had "Fannie Mae", but when I submitted my answer, it was wrong. The goal of Ginnie Mae is to find more affordable housing for low- and middle-income families. Established in 1968, it's owned within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For more information, visit their Web site.

10D: Sally Field Oscar film (NORMA RAE). This 1979 movie is the story of a minimum-wage-earning factory worker (played by Field) who becomes involved with the labor unions. She becomes involved when working in a cotton mill takes a toll on both her health and family. Watch the famous protest scene below:



I'm not going to give away any spoiler endings. . . .

37A: Walter Mitty of Moviedom (DANNY KAYE). Born in Brooklyn and Daniel Kaminski, Danny Kaye (1913-1987) was a skilled singer, dancer, actor, and comedian. He was well-known for his nonsense songs and inspired slew of imitators, including Daffy Duck and a short-lived comic superhero called Funnyman. In "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (1947), the title character escapes from his hum-drum existence by creating exciting and impossible lives for himself. However, his dreams always seem to land him in hot water. One of his most famous songs was from this movie. It's called "Anatole of Paris":



37D: "That Touch of Mink" Star (DORIS DAY). In most of her movies, Doris Day (b. 1923) has always played the girl next door and was once dubbed "The World's Oldest Virgin". She forged a wonderful on-screen partnership with Rock Hudson beginning in 1959. The first of these movies was "Pillow Talk", in which she received an Oscar nomination. Doris Day is also a dedicated animal rights activist. Space doesn't allow me to write about her career, but you can find details on her career here.


Here is Doris singing her classic song "Que Sera Sera":

Speaking of "Say Hey", here's the upbeat 2009 song by Michael Franti & Spearhead:

Of course, we all know Willie Mays as the "Say Hey" kid:

Because of the holiday, I will probably be off the computer most of the weekend.

Till Monday. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Bling Bling!

Today was a crazy day at work. The President signed the JOBS Act, which will allow small companies to go public with greater flexibility. The act will also make it easier for small businesses to get funding. This meant loading several files onto our daily SEC Web site and making sure everything checked out. I didn't get home until 6:15, but it also means that tomorrow is my last day of work before vacation!

The Irish Flag

Now onto today's puzzle, "On the Rocks", by Bruce Venzke. The theme centers around one of my favorite categories, jewelry!

17A: Killarney's locale (EMERALD ISLE). Erin Go Bragh! I've never been to Ireland but heard from all accounts that it's a beautiful country with plenty of beer, pork, potatoes, and soccer. My favorite band, U2, hails from here. And I love Irish brogues. Ireland has such a rich history this space doesn't allow me to fit it all in. The National Archives of Ireland is a good place to start your history and genealogical research. If you want to plan a trip, visit Discover Ireland for some basic tourist information.

56A: Site from Waikiki Beach (DIAMOND HEAD). Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone on the Island of Oahu. Does anyone remember the 1975 game show hosted by Bob Eubanks? Final contestants got to step into a "money volcano" and catch flying dollar bills of all denominations. I found a clip from one of the shows. Dig those 70s outfits!

11D: Grain in some soups (PEARL BARLEY). I like barley in my soup and pearl barley is the most popular type in the U.S. My mother-in-law (may she rest in peace), made a mean mushroom and barley dish for the High Holidays. I found several recipes on Yummuly if anyone would like to try one.

25D: Applebee's alternative (RUBY TUESDAY). I've never eaten at Ruby Tuesday, but I can imagine it's like every other chain restaurant such as Applebee's, TGI Friday's and Chili's. Most of these places serve food that is high in calories and contain lots of fat and sodium. However, the classic song by the Stones remains one of my favorites:

Now it's time to relax. This week off will give me a chance to do some research on writing puzzles for children and teens.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Jumping to Conclusions

Ahh, it's time for another Fred Piscop puzzle. This one is called "Conclusions."

17A: CNBC Afternoon Program (CLOSING BELL). For more on this show, check their Web site.

57A: Certain game-show contestant's response (FINAL ANSWER). "Is that your FINAL answer?" Of course, this question comes from the classic game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Wow, this game show has been on since 1998! That's a long time in TV-show years. Although this show was created in the UK, I remember the first U.S. version with Regis . . . at one point it was on five nights a week. The show was also celebrated in the Oscar-winning picture "Slumdog Millionare." Check out some final moments from this classic show in the video below. 



11D: Assembly line output (END PRODUCT). They say never to buy cars that are made on Mondays or Fridays. This may just be an urban legend, according to those myth-busters at Snopes.

28D: Subject for da Vinci (LAST SUPPER). No explanation necessary. Perfectly appropriate since it's almost Easter.

Just two more days of work and I'm on vacation! This will be a "staycation" with things planned for the day. I have not had a day off since December 30, so I'm looking forward to it (despite having to eat matzo all week).

Sorry to be so short, but it's been a hectic day!

Till tomorrow. . . . 

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Handle With Care

Good morning, puzzlers! Today's Billie Truitt offering is called "Handle With Care". My thoughts below:

20A: Skillful handling of many jobs (BALANCING ACT). Every morning on Lifetime TV, there is a TV show by the same name. Because I am flipping the remote between mindless sitcom reruns at 7 a.m., I have never watched it. The show its supposed to celebrate women in all walks of life from family to empowerment and actually looks interesting.

39A: Problem requiring tact (TRICKY SITUATION). This calls for a cute cartoon:

52A: Unstable structure (HOUSE OF CARDS). Remember the "Brady Bunch" episode when the boys and girls compete against each other for a book of trading stamps? The winners had a chance to pick out their dream prize before the redemption center goes out of business. The girls wanted a sewing machine and the boys wanted a rowboat. Talk about gender stereotypes! I couldn't find the episode on You Tube, but you can click on the link below:

http://www.tv.com/shows/the-brady-bunch/watch/54-40-and-fight-4640/

And here's a still from the episode:

 

In the end, the girls won and got a present the entire family would enjoy. How I hate happy endings!

Hopefully I can make it to the gym tonight. My favorite Zumba instructor Marsha has been out with a torn calf muscle. She is finally getting around and hopefully she'll be back soon. Her replacements weren't too shabby, but everyone misses her.

I miss the cryptoquote, too.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Wet and Wild/Thoughts on "Mad Men"

Happy Monday, the second day of April! I'm back after another brief hiatus. Just coming off a great weekend where I spent celebrating the bat mitzvah of a close friend's daughter. I had not seen my high-school friends in almost four months, and we had so much fun. We took two group pictures at the favors table, and of course, one of the frames was a Facebook frame! I created a hidden-message word-search card for the occasion, and the entire family loved it! 


Today's Gail Grabowski offering is called "Wet and Wild." Here are the theme answers.


17A: Give lots of presents (SHOWER WITH GIFTS). I am turning the big 5-0 this year. Will I be showered with gifts? One only knows.


34A: Bask at the beach (SOAK UP SOME SUN). I can think of only one thing, and that's the Sheryl Crow song of the same name. Sit back and enjoy:





I can't believe she recorded this song 10 years ago! I recently did some research on Ms. Crow as I love looking at old high-school yearbooks. She was a majorette, a track star, and member of the honor society. Her father is a prominent lawyer. Not too shabby.


55A: Want nothing more to do with (WASH ONE'S HANDS OF). I do this a lot to avoid responsibility or future blame, lol.


Finally, we are into Season 5 of "Mad Men." Last week's 2-hour premiere was great, with the new Mrs. Draper (Jessica Pare), performing "Zou Bisou Bisou" in their ultra-modern apartment.

Every man in the room except Don (Jon Hamm) got horny. Sterling, Draper, Cooper and Price hired their first African-American employee (a secretary named Dawn), and Layne Price (Jared Harris) had the '60s version of phone sex. Major battles occur between Pete Campbell and Roger Sterling (Vincent Kartheiser and John Slattery). Joan (Christina Hendricks) is a bored and lonely new mom.


Last night's episode was an epiphany: Betty Draper (January Jones) was the subject of fat many jokes on Twitter! The opening scene featured Betty unable to zip her dress, while Don zipped Megan's dress easily. Of course, January Jones was pregnant during filming, and they used a fat suit for the rest. The writers could have incorporated the pregnancy into the show or hide Betty behind bags. I thought the story line was sheer genius. The princess has a moment of vulnerability when she thinks she has cancer. When Sally announces that she doesn't want her ice cream, Betty polishes it off. I think it's payback time for all those years of torture. Also, SCDP hired their first Jew, an obnoxious copywriter named Michael Ginsburg (Ben Feldman), who still lives with his father. And there was a great subplot when two young girls trying to loosen up Don Draper at a Rolling Stones concert. Harry Crane (Rich Sommer) gets high and downs 20 White Castle sliders. He also signs the wrong band (the Trade Winds) to do a Heinz commercial.

I'm going off on tangents, so it's time to say good night.

Till tomorrow . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick.