March Madness

Who ever said March goes out like a lamb was wrong. It was a very rainy and wet weekend, and the lousy weather continues this morning with more SNOW!!!

Speaking of the "End of March," that's the name of today's puzzle by Sally R. Stein. The theme answers are below. Notice the consistent use of the digraph "ch."

16A: Gravy thickener (CORN STARCH). There are many uses for corn starch, including removing stains, making shampoo, polishing your silver, unsqueaking your floor, soothing irritating skin, and removing unpleasant odors.
24A: Roosting, as a rooster (ON A PERCH)
39A: 63 Across Used for Canoes (BIRCH), as in the tree.
48A: Room getting lots of light (SUN PORCH)
61A:  Attend Mass, for example (GO TO CHURCH)

Animal Farm:

4A: Sheep's babies (LAMBS). How ironic that this answer is in the puzzle, considering today's weather.
26A: Very fast African feline (CHEETAH)
21D: Gorillas, for instance (APES)

Made to measure:

1D: Ankle's locale (FOOT)
46A: Measures of current (AMPERES)
40D: Popular candy-box size (ONE POUND)

Alphabet soup:

20A: Cpl. or sgt.: NCO
8D: Coll. or acad.: SCH
13D: Liquid measure amts.: CCS
34D: West Coast coll.: UCLA

Also, March Madness in the NCAA is almost over, and the Final Four will be the Florida Gators vs. the UCONN Huskies and the Wisconsin Badgers vs. the Kentucky Wildcats

Today's cryptoquote is by Cassius Clay, who is better known as Muhammad Ali ("The Greatest"). He says:

Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.

Sometimes Ali's theatrics were almost as entertaining as his boxing skills. Here is the video that coined his self-proclaimed nickname:

All those blows to his head, have unfortunately contributed to his Parkinson's Syndrome. It's so sad to see him these days. :-(

The picture for the JUMBLE takes place at a comedy club (yay!). The waitress is screwing up the patrons' order big time. The caption reads: "The service at the comedy club was so bad that it was ______."

Word list:

THABC = BATCH
ZALEG = GLAZE
DEOLDO = DOODLE
SACCUT = CACTUS

Scrambled solution: BHGLALEAU
Solution: LAUGHABLE (ha, ha)

That's all for today, my friends. When I went out for lunch, the snow was finally gone and the sun was shining. It's off to the gym tonight.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Saturday Stumper--March 30, 2014

It is a cold and yucky rainy day here in the city, a perfect day to do crossword puzzles. I've finished the Sunday NYT puzzle, along with the Saturday Stumper. I still need to get through today's NYT puzzles.

Brad Wilber is a prolific contributor to the NYT puzzles and is known for his tough, themeless puzzles. I thought today's puzzle was a bit easier than last week's, and there were lots of great clues, too. 

8A: Blitz initiator (PR MAN). Interesting fact: before Kurt Vonnegut became a best-selling author, he was a publicist for GE.

15A: Crumb (SLEAZO): "He's at the top of my crumb list! Matter o' fact, he's at the bottom of my crumb list and every crumb in between!"--Greg Brady, when he finds out that Marcia has scored a date with the jerk who beat him out for the first-string basketball team.  

18A: El-Al no show? (BLT): El-Al serves only Kosher food, therefore, no bacon. Then again, you're lucky if you get a bag of pretzels on flights these days, let alone a BLT. However, El-Al has the best security of any airline in the world.

31A: What a ghost might be responsible for (MEMOIR). Some ghostwriters are better than others. If you want a quality memoir, expect to cough up anywhere from $8-$12K. Not a cheap undertaking.

33A: Turns, as a corner (DOG EARS). Personally, I prefer to use a real bookmark or post-it. I feel the dog ear does damage to a page.

41A: Cello bottom (END PIN). So that's what it's called. 

62A: Rule often disobeyed by foreigners (I BEFORE E) . . .  "except after c, or when sounded as an "a" as in neighbor and weigh."

3D: Heat, for example (NBA TEAM). This is one clue I got right away. 

6D: Uncommon GPS recommendation (U-TURN). Since I don't own a car, I have no idea how a GPS works. I'll have to remember this if we ever buy one. 

39D: Not especially edgy (VANILLA). Also referred to as plain, conventional, and boring. Maybe that's why I've always preferred ice cream flavors with a little something (rocky road, chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate fudge brown) over vanilla.

The cryptoquote for today is by the late, great Nelson Mandela:

There is no passion to be found playing small -- in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

Following our passions can be scary and they can also change. I have cultivated many hobbies over the years (scrapbooking, making origami cards, collecting ephemera). The problem has always been I'm not willing to put in the long hours it takes to turn my hobbies into passions. They all are exciting at first, but they became too time-consuming for me.

The JUMBLE was unusually easy today. I solved it before I got all the words in the list. The picture shows a truck driver asking how much it will cost to change his tire. The caption reads "The tire repairman charged a ______."

Word list:

CLEET = ELECT
KALEN = ANKLE
FOCEFE = COFFEE
TOIWUT = OUTWIT

Scrambled solution: EEALFFT
Solution: FLAT FEE

That's all for today, my friends. Looks like we are going to end March on a soggy note.

Till Monday. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Capital Ideas

Happy Friday! It looks like the cold weather will finally be gone but we are headed for a wet weekend.

Today's puzzle by Pam Klawitter--called "Adventures Abroad"--is a cute play on world capitals. The theme answers are below. I've linked the cities to their official tourism Web sites.

17A: Trip along the Rhine (BONN VOYAGE).
28A: Where to order an Indian Brunch (DELHI COUNTER)
48A: They span the Arne River (BERNE BRIDGES)
63A: Louvre.fr, champselysees.org, etc. (PARIS SITES)

State of the economy:

11D: Draining (DEPLETION), of funds, that is.
34D: Oliver Twist's birthplace (POOR HOUSE)

Alphabet soup:

10D: Oral specialist (DDS)
41D: SUV stat (MPG)
60D: Carter's alma mater: Abbr. (USNA)

I found some background info on Ms. Klawitter. A former teacher who's had over 70 books published, she only started constructing crossword puzzles about four years ago. She used puzzles as a tool for teaching. This is something I've always believed in using because they make lessons more interesting. There are plenty of free Web sites where teachers can create puzzles for classroom use, such as the Discovery Channel's Puzzlemaker and A-to-Z Teacher Stuff.

Cover of Anne of Green Gables,
First Edition

Today's cryptoquote is credited to L(ucy) M(aud) Montgomery (1874-1942), the author of Anne of Green Gables, which was first published in 1908.

Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?

I discovered the Anne books when I was about 9 or 10 and read the adventures of Anne Shriley and her friends over and over again. I also watched the excellent CBC series when it aired on PBS in the mid-1980s. Did you know that the actress who was in 1934 film adaptation was also named Anne Shirley? Anne has even been made into anime (ugh!).

I think that Anne's story is semi-autobiographical. Like Anne, L.M. Montgomery lost her parents at a young age and was sent to live with relatives. She also became a teacher and had to fend off unwelcome advances from suitors.

One of my Facebook friends actually lives in Prince Edward Island, where the story takes place. I hadn't seen her since 6th grade, and lost touch with her until she appeared on a Facebook group page for my elementary school. It really looks like a beautiful place, but their winters are extremely harsh.

Last but not least, here is today's JUMBLE spoiler:

The picture is of twin brothers clearning the pool. One is clearly pissed off that the other is mimicking him. The caption reads: "When his twin brother started mimicking him, he was _______.

Word list:

MBIPL = BLIMP
HOVES = SHOVE
FUNSIE = INFUSE
NIOIDE = IODINE

Scrambled solution: BLMSHEIFSEDIE
Solution: BESIDE HIMSELF

Nice selection of words today. I leave you with this image from "The Shining":

 

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Down and Out

It's another cold late-March day here in the city. However, things are looking up and the temperature appears to be warmer for the next few days. 

Clive Probert is another constructor about whom I know very little. He is the contributor for today's puzzle called "Downsize." The larger answers are below:

Sigmund Freud

5D: Freud, for one (PSYCHOLOGIST). There is too much to write about the man who was responsible for creating psychoanalysis. However, his terms EGO, PSYCHE, and NEUROSES frequently show up in crossword puzzles. Also, the name of his daughter (ANNA) makes for nice crossword filler as well. For further information, the Library of Congress carries an extensive archive of Freud's works.

8D: Without inspection (SIGHT UNSEEN)

10D: It may lead to a trip (BANANA PEEL). Not kidding. You can get seriously injured falling on one, like Staten Islander Manuel Cordiz can attest. This incident at the Bowling Green station last December. 

25D: Hackers' offensive (CYBER ATTACK). This has been happening too much lately. Apparently, Target didn't act quickly enough when thousands of its store credit cards were hacked by a 17-year-old. I don't shop much there anymore, not since they got rid of the Isaac Mizrahi line.

30D: Demonstrated (MANIFESTED)

33D: Marinade base (CIDER VINEGAR). Besides marinades, here are many other uses for cider vinegar--salad dressings, chutneys, food preservatives, and  more. It supposedly also helps with weight loss, but I wouldn't try it.

Alphabet soup:

6A: Cold War principal (USSR). We might as well be back at square one with the current Putin regime. 

19A: Endeavour launcher (NASA)

31A: Food safety grp. (USDA)

40A: Paramedics' org (EMS)

38D: The Big Board, for short (NYSE)

Debbie Downer strikes again:

22A: Dismissive comment (WHO CARES?)

47A: Sinister look (EVIL EYE)

53A: Perturbed (IN A STATE)

The cryptoquote for today is much more upbeat:

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Incidentally, HARMONY is also an answer in the puzzle (27A: Choir's concern).

The author of the quote is Mahatma Ghandi (1869-1948), who led India to independence and inspired the civil rights movement in the country. He was married at 14(!); arranged marriage is still a custom in India. Ghandi became a lawyer and went to work in South Africa, where he faced discrimination for his race. He assisted Indians in South Africa with voting rights and other forms of nonviolent resistance. When he returned to India in 1915, he took leadership of its Congress and began resistance against the British Raj. India became an independent state in 1947, and Ghandi was assassinated just a year later. His legacy lives on via the Ghandi Heritage Portal. 

Today's JUMBLE was sort of cute. The picture is of a man and a woman talking at a marathon race. I'm sure this happens at the NYC marathon. The caption reads "He knew he'd fallen in love at first sight at the marathon when his _____.

Word list:

CHIDT = DITCH

RIREV = RIVER

LACAAP = ALAPACA

TAYREE = EATERY

Scrambled solution: DHREACATER

Solution: HEART RACED

I must dowload the new x-word game Bonza in my iPad. It's been getting rave reviews. 

That's all for today. I hope to get to the gym tonight. I couldn't do so last night because it was sooooo windy. 

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Bite the Bullet

Good afternoon! The never-ending winter drags on as hurricane-like winds take over the NYC area today. It's even worse in New England, where they are getting a major blizzard. It's another day I decided not to venture outside for lunch.

Caroline Stewart's puzzle for today is called "They Won't Bite." I don't know much about this constructor, except she's had a few puzzles published in the Times. The theme answers are below:

20A: Carpenter's tool with teeth (ELECTRIC SAW). This tool has been used as a weapon in many horror movies (the one film genre I really don't like), especially "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" series, and obviously, the "Saw" franchise.

56A: Dinner utensil with teeth (DESSERT FORK).

11D: Grooming device with teeth (POCKET COMB). When I was in middle school, the cool thing to do was to carry a comb in your back pocket. However, it couldn't be just any comb. It had to be a certain type with the handle sticking out of the pocket (see left). It was called a Salon Styler. I always carried mine in my purse for fear of either losing or breaking it.

29D: Landscaper's tool with teeth (GARDEN RAKE). Yes, folks, this was another "fun" gift I got from my parents. Like the snow shovel, it was monogrammed with my initials. I hated, hated, hated raking leaves and having to put them in trash bags. One of the big pluses of city living is I don't have to do it now.

There was no Alphabet Soup today. :-(

I had a tough time with the cryptoquote. There were lots of long words:

The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions. 

We travel back to ancient Rome for these words of wisdom. These are the words of Marcus Tillius Cicero, simply known as Cicero (106 B.C.-46 B.C.).  In the above quote, Cicero is teaching us that body language is sometimes more important than words. We can learn so much about what a person is thinking just by his/her facial expressions and eye contact. Cicero wore many hats; he was a philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, and political theorist. He brought back the teachings of the Greek philosophers to Rome and was credited for creating the Latin philosophical vocabulary. His works influenced present-day European literature. Want to learn more? Consult Project Gutenberg for a list of his writings.

The simplicity of today's JUMBLE makes up for the tough cryptoquote. The picture contains two skydivers having a great time. The caption reads "When the instructor didn't charge for the parachute lesson, it was a ______.

Word list:

BEAAT = ABATE
COALF = FOCAL
COLPUE = COUPLE
ROVFRE = FERVOR

Scrambled solution: AFLLEFER
Solution: FREE FALL

For all those who are "between jobs," I recommend that you buy the ultimate job-search book, What Color Is Your Parachute? It's been updated for 2014, and the job-hunting process, unfortunately, is a very different one today.

That's all for today. On a personal note, I have been using My Fitness Pal as a weight-loss tool since August. I'm happy to say that I'm almost back to my goal weight (just 2 lbs. away). Using the app is very simple, and the best part is that it's free! The user just tracks his/food intake, along with exercise. There is a calorie limit that the user must maintain each day, but he/she may increase calories by adding exercise.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Monkey Business

Please forgive the mess I've made of today's puzzle. Sometimes I fill in the wrong squares. That's what I get for doing it in pen.

I've named this post after the Marx Brothers' 1931 comedy and in honor of Billie Truitt's puzzle, which is called "Monkeying Around." The theme answers are below:

17A: MONKEY business (SHENANIGANS)
61A: Makes a MONKEY out of (EMBARRASSES)
11D: Grease MONKEY (CAR MECHANIC)
25D: MONKEY wrench, so to speak (OBSTRUCTION)

Monkeys are known to be intelligent and mischievous creatures. Personally, I think they make too much noise. There have been a lot of famous monkeys throughout history, both in real life and in the movies. Many countries have used monkeys in their space programs. There are too many to list here. In literature, monkeys are featured in countless books. There was the band the Monkees (although spelled differently) and there is currently one called the Arctic Monkeys. The monkey is also a symbol of worship in Buddhism and other religions. In the Chinese Zodiac calendar, the next Year of the Monkey will be in 2016 (that's two years from now). Did you also know there was a store devoted to Curious George merchandise in Harvard Square? It's the only store of its kind. In addition, the label Paul Frank uses a monkey as its logo.

Alphabet soup:

19A: Highways: Abbr. (RDS)
28A: Police alert, for short (APB)
39A: Spanish Miss (SRTA)
62D: Qty. (AMT)

Lots of angry words today:

15A: Irritate (ANNOY)
32A: Irritating one (PEST)
36A: Deception (SHAM)
45A: Sour mood (SNIT)
46A: Cry of disgust (UGH)


These words go well with the continued cold weather and snow we are supposed to get tomorrow.

Peter Drucker (1909-2005) is the author of today's cryptoquote:

Peter Drucker

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.

Peter Drucker was a management consultant and professor who was known as the "man who invented management." He studied the ways humans organized and interacted with each other. He predicted many business developments of the 20th century, including privatization, the rise of Japan as an economic power, the importance of marketing, branding and innovation, and the emergence of the Information Age.

Today's JUMBLE shows a picture of a couple buying what looks like a Christmas tree. The caption reads "When he spotted the perfect evergreen tree at the nursery, he _____."

Word list:

DOBUN = BOUND
NORIY = IRONY
FORIPT = PROFIT
MEEALF = FEMALE

Scrambled solution = ONDIRPTFE
Solution = PINED FOR IT

Isn't it a little early to be thinking about Christmas? After all, it was just three months ago.

That's all for today. I have to catch up on postcard writing then I will veg out for the rest of the night.

Till tomorrow. . ..

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Draggin' the Line

Good morning! It is a bitter cold day in NYC, with another snowstorm on the way.

Today's Gail Grabowski offering called "Labor of Lug." As always, the Monday puzzle is the easiest and I solved it while waiting for a problem to be resolved on the subway train at the station after mine. Below are the theme answers:

21A: Hot-rod vehicle (DRAG RACER). I am not a big fan of car racing. In fact, I find it boring and I feel it's the ultimate "white trash" sport. However, one of my favorite songs as a child was the theme to "Speed Racer," one of the first Japanese cartoons to be shown in the U.S. They changed the words in the updated 1990s cartoon (boo!).

29A: Get help from influential pals (PULL A FEW STRINGS). This is for rich spoiled college kids who need help from Daddy, especially when it comes to getting a job. Most of us had to find our own jobs.

52A: Prepare to punch (HAUL OFF ON). There should be no violence in crossword puzzles. This is obviously language used by sportswriters to make it more colorful. Corresponds with 66A: Minor quarrels (SPATS).

Below is a video clip of the Shondells' "Draggin' the Line," which is the perfect music accompaniment for this puzzle (no copyright infringement intended).

Alphabet soup:

42A: Approximate takeoff hour (ETD)
36A: Written promise to pay (IOU)
52D: Medical insurance grps. (HMOS)

Oh, the places you go:

16A: Nevada city (RENO)
48D: New Hampshire neighbor (MAINE)
10A: Norway's capital (OSLO)

Other notes:

30A: Valentine flower (ROSE) crosses with 30D: Sneaky plan (RUSE)

Will Rogers

43A: Russian coins (RUBLES) crosses with 34D: Confederate soldiers, for short (REBS)

Have you ever seen "Will Rogers Follies?" It is an excellent musical based on the life and career of the humorist and performer. We saw it at Westbury of Music Fair with Gary Sandy (of "WKRP" fame). I didn't realize that Keith Carradine played him in the original Broadway version. Anyway, Will Rogers (1879-1935) is the author of today's cryptoquote:

Know what you are doing, love what you are doing, and belive in what you are doing.

Will Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee family, made over 70 movies, wrote over 4,000 newspaper colums(!), and became a star on the then-new medium of radio, all because of a vaudeville rope act that made him famous. He even "ran" for president in 1928 with a mock election campaign. People looked up to him for his defense of the "common man" and encourging them to follow their dreams to success.This philosophy is relfected perfectly in the above quote. Sadly, Rogers died in a plane crash--he was just 55.

Today's JUMBLE shows a picture of a butcher shop, which features a customer complaining that her meat was lopsided. The butcher then says that he is going to have to fire the employee. The caption reads "The butcher shop's new employee wasn't _______."

Word list:

GARTN =GRANT
TOVEC = COVET
VINTIE = INVITE
FURNIA = UNFAIR

Scrambled solution: GTCTINTUI
Solution: CUTTING IT

Wow, it's been almost five years (May 25, 2009) since Sam the Butcher (Allan Melvin) from "The Brady Bunch" passed away. He was also the voice of Magilla Gorilla and played Barney on ""All in the Family, along with its spin-off, "Archie Bunker's Place." A great comedic talent who will always be missed.

Have a great Monday, everyone!

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Saturday Stumper--March 22, 2014

I am back from a beautiful spring day in Manhattan. I did a little clothes shopping and bought a top in Century 21. Then we saw "Muppets Most Wanted," which was very funny, but I think the kids were bored. I don't think they know who Ricky Gervais is, although they would recognize Ty Burrell and Tina Fey. IMO, the funniest scene was listening to Russian prisoners singing the opening number from "A Chorus Line."

I solved the cryptoquote and the JUMBLE on my way into the city, but Doug Peterson's Saturday Stumper was another tough puzzle and didn't finish until now. I actually found the NYT puzzle to be easier. However, the clues and answers contained some interesting facts. For instance, I didn't know that the STARBURST was originally a product called the Opal Fruit (1 Across), and that the candy had its origins in England. My favorite flavor has always been cherry, but I don't eat them much anymore (no good for the teeth). Here are some of the other more interesting clues and answers:

15A: Conserve energy, in a way (HIBERNATE). I'm only mentioning this because the animals are coming out of hibernation and are making up for lost time, if you know what I mean.

10D: Antonym for "unconcerned" (PERSNICKETY). I've always loved this word. I guess I've always been a bit fussy and place too much emphasis on the trivial things. There is actually a girls' clothing boutique that uses this name, as well as an invitation design studio.

12D: Weapon first used in 1977 (LIGHT SABER). I have just two words--"Star Wars."

29D: Former X Factor Judge (DEMI LOVATO). The former Disney star has gong through some rough times, having suffered from bulimia, bipolar disorder, cutting, and self-medicating. She was also tormented in school. I didn't realize she also got her start on "Barney and Friends" (as did Selena Gomez). Poor kid. At least she is discussing her struggles in a positive way by becoming a contributing editor to Seventeen and doing charity work.


32A: Subjects for Raphael (CHERUBIM). This is a plural variation for "Cherubs." You see these figures everywhere, from clothing to ads to home decor. They are part of a much larger painting by Raphael called The Sistine Madonna.

24D: Ronstadt's only #1 single (YOU'RE NO GOOD). Originally, I had "Just One Look," but realized it didn't fit.   Here is a clip from Linda singing her hit; the year is 1976. Almost every guy I knew in high school had the hots for her. I heard she is very sick now. :-(

25A: Plastic flute (TONETTE). These instruments were once used in music lessons at most elementary schools. Fortunately, I never had to endure this and went straight to the clarinet. They were unbreakable, chromatic, and tunable. I think I used to get these as party favors, too. The tonette has been superseded by the recorder. Unfortunately, my son had to suffer through recorder classes the one year he attended private school. They were more concerned that he couldn't play the recorder than the fact he was failing math.

The cryptoquote for today is by Richard Bach (b. 1937). More good old-fashioned common sense:

The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work. 

Richard Bach is the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which was one of the best-selling books of the early '70s. I remember reading the my mom's copy. The book is about a young seagull who becomes tired of materialistic things (food) and challenges himself with various aerial feats. Because of his nonconformist ways, he is expelled from his flock and eventually joins one where the gulls love flying. I don't want to give away any spoilers, the rest is for the reader to find out.

Today's JUMBLE features a Dalmatian (yay, one of my favorite breeds of dogs!) who is getting a massage. The caption reads "The Dalmatian said this to the masseuse during her massage."

Word list:

DOTSO = STOOD
FETHT = THEFT
THAWCS = SWATCH
ECIAPE = APIECE

Scrambled solution: STOTHSTHAPE
Solution: THAT'S THE SPOT

It is late and almost time to go to bed. I hope to begin blogging the Sunday puzzle next week. I think I'm just going to veg tomorrow and work on some more puzzles.

Till Monday. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick.

"Re-duce, "Re-Use, "Re-Cycle"

Good morning, puzzle fans! Hope you are all set for the weekend!

Today's puzzle by Fred Piscop is called "Re-Pair Kit." The prefix "re" means either "again and again," or moving back to the previous position. "Re" also can be used as an abbreviation for such terms as  "real estate," "rotary engine," the game Resident Evil. "Re" is also the second note on the musical scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do), and is also the name of the ancient Egyptian sun god. The theme answers are below:

20A: Christmas-tree spray, e.g., FIRE RETARDANT. Dry and unwatered Xmas trees account for at least 200 fires each year. There are many steps that one needs to take to have a safe holiday season.

37A: Beta-test follower (SOFTWARE RELEASE). I found a Word Cloud featuring the stages of a software release. Notice that the prominent word is "testing." Testing, testing, and more testing. Very interesting.

48A: Good news for commuters (FARE REDUCTION). Ha! That'll be the day! The MTA proposes at least three fare hikes over the next five years.

Some other interesting notes:

6D: Put a strain on (TAXED) crossed with 15A: Heads for the hangar (TAXIS).
10A: Trio times two (HEXAD). I haven't really seen that term in a crossword puzzle.

The top corner actually stumped me a little bit. Initially, I thought that 1A: Scurry was SCAT, but it turned out to be DART. Made much more sense. It crossed with 4D: Fabric flaw (TEAR), which also means to take off.

Alphabet soup--not too much today:

55D: Corporation's computer exec. (CIO)

Today's cryptoquote by the actor Cary Grant (1904-1986) features good old-fashioned common sense:

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between I occupy myself as best I can.

Born Archibald Leach, Cary Grant was quite the looker and had that oh-so-suave English accent. The American Film Institute named him the second-greatest male film star of all time. Even "The Flintstones" parodied him (Gary Granite). Cary Grant appeared in such classic films as "The Awful Truth," "Gunga Din," "His Girl Friday," "The Philadelphia Story," "Arsenic and Old Lace," "Suspicion," and "An Affair to Remember." Surprisingly, he never won an Oscar or Golden Globe but was finally given an honorary Oscar in 1970.

Grant had a rough childhood because his mother suffered from depression and was placed in an institution. He was expelled from school at 16 and joined an acting troupe. Grant spent many years learning his craft on stage before heading to Hollywood the early 1930s. Once he became a top box-office attraction, he often poked fun of himself with such quips as  "Everyone wants to be Cary Grant—even I want to be Cary Grant".

Cary Grant also had quite the personal life. He was married five times: Virginia Cherrill, Barbara Hutton, Betsy Drake, Dyan Cannon (with whom he had his daughter, Jennifer), and Barbara Harris. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage followed by a stroke on November 29, 1986. 

Now it's on to the JUMBLE. An overweight, middle-aged man is showing his wife an old calendar from his college days. The caption reads "The former male model's calendar photos were _____."

Word list (on the tough side today):

ASORE = AROSE
FONET = OFTEN
TIMSAG = STIGMA
SANDIU = UNSAID

Scambled solution "OEOFTTAUD"
Solution "OUT-OF-DATE"

Do men really age better than women? At my 30th high-school reunion, this proved to be false. Most of the women looked very well. However, most of the men--even the ones who were considered "gorgeous" back in the day--were bald, grey, and overweight. Women seem to be stronger when it comes to facing life's challenges and share emotions with their girlfriends. Men are babies when it comes to being sick and/or facing relationship issues. Also, guy-talk revolves more around activities than their personal lives. This is definitely something to think about.

This weekend, I am looking forward to seeing the Muppet movie, along with planning more puzzles for my Etsy shop.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick