Back in 2012

I'm sorry I have not been posting lately. Things have been crazy between work and the holidays. I will be back in 2012 with new entries!

Keep puzzling!

Why I've Been AWOL

Sorry I haven't been posting lately. Things are really crazy here but I hope to be back next week.

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween!

Back to the Salt Mines

Yesterday, I was in meetings for most of the day, so I didn't have a chance to post anything. After two days of beautiful weather, it's another cold, dreary day in the city.

Charles Slack (a constructor whom I've never heard) is the author of today's puzzle, called "All Mine." Here are the theme answers:

17A: British megalithic monument (STONEHENGE). Do you remember the scene in European Vacation when the Griswalds visited this ancient landmark? This was one of the funniest scenes in an otherwise mediocre movie:

55A: Deceitful one (SANDBAGGER). This type of person downplays his/her ability in order to deceive someone, especially in gambling and in golf.

10D: Town near Monterey (PEBBLE BEACH). Home to one of the most widely-regarded golf courses in the world. Also the resident of Clint Eastwood, George Lopez, and Charles Schwab!

24D: College auditorium event (ROCK CONCERT). There's nothing like seeing your favorite bands play live! We attended a great event over the summer, and we're all looking forward to the Voodoo Experience this Halloween!

The cryptoquote for today is by George Allen, Sr.:

"Every time you win, you're reborn; when you lose, you die a little."

George Allen, Sr. (1885-1972) was a Virginia state senator, as well as a founder of the law firm Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen (lol!) back in 1910. They handle personal injuries and there are still several family members who are partners. I did a Google search to find out what was the oldest law firm in the U.S. . . . It turned out to be Howard, Kohn, Sprague & Fitzgerald (HKSF), founded in 1786! It was founded originally as Enoch Perkins.

Gym tonight. . . . Matthew and I celebrate our 20th anniversary tomorrow!

Till then. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Fall Into Place

Once again, I apologize for all the sporadic posts. . . . Today is Columbus Day, which means no school. It was quiet on the subway for a change.

Today's puzzle, by Billie Truitt, is called "Fall Colors." The theme is, of course, the rich and varied colors associated with fall. It's my favorite season for fashion, culture, foliage, and weather. Here are the them answers:

19A: Seedless Citrus Fruit (NAVEL ORANGE). Yum, one of my favorite fruits. It's low calorie and sweet! They say that orange is a very calming aroma too.

39A: Celebrate in style (PAINT THE TOWN RED). An answer I have seen in many puzzles before. No explanation necessary. I should add that my hubby and I are celebrating anniversary #20 this week, and we plan to celebrate in style in New Orleans! More on the upcoming trip soon.

60A: "Winter Wonderland" clergyman (PARSON BROWN). This famous song was written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934. The original bridge to the song contained the following lyrics:

"In the meadow we can build a snowman,

then pretend that he is Parson Brown.

He'll say 'Are You Married?' 

We'll say 'No man,

but you can do the job when you're in town!"

When the song was written, parsons (now known as ministers) traveled through small towns to perform ceremonies for those who didn't have a local clergyman. 


In 1953, the lyrics were changed to make the song more child-appropriate:

In the meadow we can build a snowman,

and pretend that he's a circus clown.

We'll have lots of fun with Mister Snowman,

until the other kiddies knock 'im down!

When it snows, ain't it thrillin'?

Tho' your nose, gets a chillin'

'We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland.

Today's cryptoquote is by Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915):

"The secret of salvation is this: Keep sweet, be useful and keep busy."

Elbert Hubbard was founder of an artisan town called Roycroft and one of the originators of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the United States. Proponents of the movement used traditional craftsmanship and often used medieval or romantic folk styles of decoration. Hubbard's publications included a nine-volume tome called Little Journeys to the Home of the Great and the short story A Message to Garcia. He and his second wife, Alice Moore Hubbard, died aboard the Lusitania. This was just three years after he wrote and account on the Titanic, particularly Ida Straus, wife of Isidor Straus. Mrs. Straus refused to board a lifeboat and insisted on staying by her husband's side.

Time to say good-bye for now. . . . Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Mmm Mmm Good!

It's another rainy afternoon here in NYC.

Today's puzzle, by Sally R. Stein, is called "Pair of Fives." It's a tribute to one of my favorite candies, M&Ms! 

20A: Bigwig in publishing (MEDIA MOGUL). My hubby is waiting for one Mr. Rupert Murdoch to get his comeuppance. Mr. Murdoch has been involved in a major phone-hacking scandal in England, and it keeps getting worse. The scandal put an 168-year-old newspaper (News of the World) out of business, and thousands lost their jobs. Now Rupert and his son James may be going to the big house. 

58A: Nonstop talker (MOTOR MOUTH). We used to call my mom's friends "The Motor Mouth Crew." This was especially true when they got together for their monthly mah-jongg game. That's how I heard all the neighborhood gossip! 

10D: Parking-ticket writers (METER MAIDS). In the entire time I've been living in Forest Hills, I have yet to see one meter maid. We have nasty cops who write tickets to meet their monthly quota. However, they do exist, and the politically-correct name is parking enforcement officer.

29D: Celebrates noisily (MAKES MERRY). My new-found friendships with a group of girls from high school has resulted in several parties! From a hats to Halloween, we always seem to have a good time!

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) is the author of today's cryptoquote:

"When a dog runs at you, whistle for him."

This is the dream of every dog owner. However, dogs, like humans, can be sneaky. All it takes is patience and lots of rewards to get your pup to cooperate. Yelling doesn't help.

Thoureau was best known for his essay Civil Disobedience, which is about the right and obligation to follow your conscience, and not what the majority dictates. It criticized social institutions and policies, mainly slavery and the Mexican-American War.

That's all for today. Zumba followed by abs class tonight. It's supposed to be warmer tomorrow. We'll see.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Easy Rider

My four-day weekend is over and it's back to the grindstone. 

Today's Gail Grabowski special is called "Let's Ride." You guessed it, it's about various 

Vintage Honda trail bikes

20A: Rough-terrain ride (TRAIL BIKE). A trail bike is a type of motorcycle that can be used either for on- or off-road recreation. However, a trail bike is more is not used for competition. Honda was responsible dirt-bike craze beginning in the late '60s. Up until that time, bikers were seen as outlaws and thugs. Honda's campaign slogan "You meet the nicest people on Honda." put dirt bikes into the mainstream.

60A: Yard ride (LAWN MOWER). We didn't own a riding lawn mower since our backyard wasn't big enough. I couldn't find the video from "I Love Lucy" when Lucy rides the lawn mower over her tulips. It was one of the few truly funny scenes from the Connecticut episodes.

10D: Track ride (RACEHORSE). My dad was (and still is) fond of betting on the ponies. Every day, he would buy Sports Eye and The Racing Form and go over the odds diligently. When he wasn't home, he used to make me go to OTB and place his bet. OTB was #1 on his speed dial (even over his own mother!). We teased him for it, until we discovered it was an addiction. One of my favorite songs about a horse is called "Stewball" by Peter, Paul and Mary. I didn't know the Hollies and Joan Baez covered this song too.

Vintage Corvette

36D: High-powered ride (SPORTS CAR). I owned a car for only five years. It was an Oldsmobile from 1988, what you could hardly call a "cool" car. Sports cars are lovely to look at, but I don't think I could bring myself to drive one. Insurance is too high, and with two seats only, there would be risk of an accident. However, I dream occasionally about owning a vintage, cherry red Corvette. To me, that's the ultimate sports car.

Today's crytopquote is really touching:

"Few things are more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own."--Doug Larson

Yup, they'll have to deal with the raging hormones, back talk, and requests for using the car.

Doug Larson (1926) also wrote many quotes that are widely circulated today, including "The pun is the lowest form of humor, unless you think of it yourself." He wrote a column for the Green Bay Press-Gazette called "Senator Soaper Says." 

As with all Monday, the day is dragging. Can't wait to go home!

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

This End Up

I missed yesterday . . . was extremely tired and had to wake up by going to the gym. Now, I'm not sure if I'll be posting entries tomorrow and Friday because of the holiday.

Today's puzzle, by Norma Steinberg, is called "Making Ends Meet," and contained some nice theme answers:

Sean Connery as
James Bond

20A: Film line first said by Connery (BOND, JAMES BOND). Funny, I never got into 007, but my nephew Jesse is a huge fan. In fact, it was his bar mitzvah theme. It's hard to believe the original novels were written by the same person who wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Ian Fleming (1908-1964) was from a wealthy and connected family and was a star student at Eton. He was also the architect of two successful World War II missions, Operation Mincement  and Operation Goldeneye. Of all the actors who played James Bond, Sean Connery remains the most popular. The site of the James Bond International Fan Club has tons of information about the actors, films, and the Bond Girls.

36A: Options-open adage (NEVER SAY NEVER). This was the title of an '80s song by the band Romeo Void.

When this song first came out, everyone expected the lead singer (Debora Iyall) to be a blonde, sex-kitten type (a la Debbie Harry). People were shocked at her overweight and disheveled appearance. Gotta love the lyrics, however!

52A: Words on a sample (HOME SWEET HOME). I don't do samplers and my home isn't sweet. . . .

Today's cryptoquote, by Joseph Campbell, defines the midlife crisis perfectly:

"Midlife is when you reach the top of the ladder only to discover it's leaning against the wrong wall."

Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) was best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. He also was a professor at Sarah Lawrence College, where he wound up marrying one of his students. Campbell was fascinated with Native American culture, as well as the works of James Joyce. Check out The Joseph Campbell Foundation for more information about his life and works.

Are Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore splitting up? Rumor has it . . . I hope not.

L'Shana Tova to all those who are celebrating! May the New Year bring you good health, peace, and happiness!

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Boys and Their Toys

I thought today's cryptoquote was a bit sexist:

Tris Speaker
(courtesy of Wikipedia)

"If you put a baseball and other toys in front of a baby, he'll pick up a baseball in preference to the others."--Tris Speaker

What about the girls? Do they not like sports too? 

And who was Tris Speaker? He lived from 1888 until 1958 and played for the Red Sox, Indians, Senators, and the A's. He was considered one of the best center fielders in major league history and batted .345. Speaker led the Red Sox to two world champions and carried the Indians to their first World Series title. After that, he became a minor league team manager and then owned a team called the Kansas City Blues. The Blues were affiliated with the A's but are no longer a team.

Today's puzzle by Gail Grabowski was called "Closing Words." None of the theme answers really motivated me to entail further comment:

20A: Desperate Strategy (LAST RESORT)

40A: "Case Closed!" (END OF DISCUSSION)

56A: Negotiation Step (FINAL OFFER)

Yesterday, we saw an excellent movie  at the Museum of the Moving Image called "Becoming Elmo." It's a biopic about Kevin Clash from his childhood in Baltimore to the creation of his most famous Muppet. It was very heartwarming and Kevin is a really nice guy. Also, we saw a Jim Henson retrospective, which featured puppets, drawings, storyboards, and live performances. On Saturday, we explored the Rubin Museum of Art. I have to admit Himalayan art and religion don't always excite me, but Alex has been studying it in school.

Elmo

Last night, I watched the pilot for "Pan Am." Although it dragged in some spots, it had very pretty cinematography and doesn't try to pretend to be something it's not. It was meant to be a fantasy puff piece and not a clone of "Mad Men." The latter is supposed to be dark and take on controversial themes.

Tonight the boys are seeing the Foo Fighters while I go back to the eye doctor.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Double-Quote Friday

After a couple of days of gorgeous weather, it's pouring today. :-(

In addition to the daily cryptoquote, today's crossword (by Stan "The Man" Newman), features a famous quote by Mark Twain:

20A: Start of a Mark Twain Quote (HISTORY DOES NOT).
38A: Part 2 of quote (REPEAT)
40A: Part 3 of quote (ITSELF)
58A: End of quote (BUT IT DOES RHYME).

I've always been a history buff, and lately, I've become interested in the history of my own city. Social media has made it easy to access old photos and other ephemera. I find it sad that only 20% of U.S. middle-school students (source: National Assessment of Educational Progress) are proficient in their knowledge of their own history. For example, most students knew who Abraham Lincoln was, but they didn't know why he was an important president. Many students do not know the three branches of our government and what their functions are. And these are our future voters? A knowledge of history is a must for our young people because they need to learn from lessons of the past.

And on that note, I leave you with the classic video of "History Never Repeats" by Split Enz.

Today's cryptoquote by Thomas Szasz is very simple and straightfoward:

"The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget."

Well, I was so tired that I turned in at 9:00 and missed "Project Runway." I heard that Oliver was "auf'd" Good! I'm glad he's gone . . . he did not like dressing people who didn't have perfect figures. Hello!?! About 60% of women in this country are size 12 and over!!

It's an all-museum weekend for us. Details to come!

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

The Third Rail

I missed yesterday's post . . . was extremely tired after a long day at work and a great workout at the gym.

David W. Cromer is today's puzzle constructor. Called "All Aboard," this puzzle is all about trains. I've become a train travel expert over the last couple of years, from going out to the Island to visit my friends to traveling for 19 hours to Chicago.

Remember when train travel used to mean luxurious, streamlined cars with white-glove service? The names of the classic trains, such as the Lake Shore Limited and Super Chief, are still around today, but they are owned by the greedy, corporate soulless people at Amtrak.

When Alex was little, his favorite show was "Shining Time Station." The best part was Mr. Conductor, first narrated by Ringo Starr (who got fired because he was drinking too much), then by George Carlin (of all people!). Alex loved Thomas the Tank Engine and collected the entire set.

Anyway, here are the theme answers:

17A: Finalizes a deal (TIES UP LOOSE ENDS).

39A: Miracles tune of '65 (TRACKS OF MY TEARS). Here's Smokey and the gang singing this classic hit:

62A: What speakers may lose (TRAINS OF THOUGHT).

And now for today's cryptoquote, which was by Thomas Fuller. I guess it's not worth it losing your temper over nothing.

"Act nothing in a furious passion, it's putting to sea in a storm."

Going to watch the season premier of the NBC comedies, since I can't watch "Project Runway." I'll have to wait until tomorrow for that one.

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Cop an Attitude

Good afternoon! It's raining again (for a change).

Billie Pruitt's Tuesday puzzle is called "Cop Stuff":

20A: Boy Scout's Award (MERIT BADGE). This was probably my favorite part about being a Girl Scout. It gave me an opportunity to explore music, nature, crafts, and even camping, which I hated. I had earned 12 badges but I only received six of them. I had quit the Scouts before the other badges arrived. I had to make my mom write a note to my troop leader saying that I was going to school at the Workman's Circle on Tuesdays. But they are probably more associated with Boy Scouts; there are literally hundreds. Modern categories also include the sciences, law, cultural diversity, disability awareness, and small business. And look, there's even one for dog care (awwww!). Each boy has to have a merit badge counselor and meet all requirements (no more, no less).

56A: Fitness Center (HEALTH CLUB). I belong to a national woman's fitness chain, which shall go nameless but I'm sure you can guess which one it is. I love, love, love most of the instructors, and there are two Zumba instructors whose classes I can't live without. I don't like the other members so much. For most of the members, English is not the first language. Second, many are pushy and rude. I had one member shut off my elliptical because I was two minutes over the time limit (the gym had opened late that day). But I need my four-time-a-week workout fix. If I miss a day, I definitely feel it.

10D: Conclusive Evidence (SMOKING GUN). I love this Web site! All public documents and mug shots, no matter how embarrassing, can be found here!

29D: Pet-store purchase (DOG WHISTLE). For those sounds only a dog can hear (like the "high H" note, as Barney Rubble would say).

Franz Kafka is the source for today's cryptoquote. It sparked some discussion of Facebook when I posted it this morning:

"A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us."

Franz Kafka

Kafka was saying that books are written for a reason--to tell a story, to express a meaning, and to make a difference. My friend summed it up best: "Reading is like applying an axe to the 'frozen tundra' so we can better understand our world."

Franz Kafka was one of the most influential German-language novelists of the early 20th century. He was educated as a lawyer but was always interested in writing. Many sources claimed that Kafka suffered from schizoid personality disorder. Symptoms included lack of interest in social relationships, tendency toward a solitary lifestyle, emotional coldness and an elaborate fantasy world). He is most noted for his novels The Trial and The Metamorphosis; a complete list of works can be found here.

Last night was the season premiere of the new "Two and a Half Men." Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) was killed off and his funeral was hilarious. All his exes were there and they rude, sarcastic comments. However, I'm not sure if I liked the way Ashton Kutcher's character was introduced. The show that followed, "2 Broke Girls" was pretty funny. And on "Hell's Kitchen", I'm so glad that Elise didn't make the finals! Yay for Paul, the new champion!

It's almost the end of another work day, and I'm looking forward to Zumba tonight!

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Look Book

Lexi Thompson

Gail Grabowski offers a puzzle today called "Look Into It." The theme answers:

20A: Golfer's dream shot (HOLE IN ONE). On Saturday, 16-year-old Lexi Thompson became the youngest winner of an LPGA tournament. She won the Navistar LPGA Classic and shot a 5-under-67 (whatever that means--I know absolutely nothing about golf). BTW, Lexi is the same age as my darling son.

51A: Stern enforcement (CRACKDOWN). Also the name of a popular game for XBox. Of course, it deals with the underworld and organized crime.

10D: Baseball season beginner (OPENING DAY). In the spring, I become a baseball widow. Matthew is a die-hard Yankee fan, while I remain faithful to the hapless Mets.

28D: Launching-pad vehicle (SPACECRAFT). For a description of space missions past and present, check out the Web site Planetary Science Spacecraft.

Kin Hubbard

Today's cryptoquote is by Kin Hubbard (1868-1930):

"A bee is never as busy as it seems. It's just that it can't buzz any slower."

Kin Hubbard was a humorist and the creator of the cartoon "Abe Martin of Brown County", which ran in newspapers from 1904 until his death in 1930. Hubbard also originated many political quotes that are still used today.

Yesterday we attended the Brooklyn Book Festival. We had the pleasure of listening to Stephen Baker, the author of Final Jeopardy: Man vs. Machine. This is a book about the controversial journey of the computer Watson from IBM lab to game-show podium. The computer actually sounded like Hal from 2001: A Space Odyseey, and it actually had a finger to buzz in the answer.

We also watched the Emmys last night. The show was boring and predictable, but I was glad that "Modern Family" beat the s----- out of "Glee." I was sad that Jon Hamm didn't win the best actor in a drama award, but at least "Mad Men" won again!

It's Monday and I'm tired. Season finale of "Hell's Kitchen" and season premiere of "Two and a Half Men," the first episode with Ashton Kutcher. Hmmmmm.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

The Art of the Deal

Good afternoon! I'm still recovering from last night's amazing performance by Andrea Bocelli and the NY Philharmonic. All the special guests (Bryn Terfel, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett and Ana María Martínez) were wonderful. It was a rainy, chilly night, but it didn't matter to the crowd of nearly 60,000. We heard all the opera standards, along with some Italian pop songs, and even a sentimental rendition of "Home on the Range!." The only thing that put a damper on our evening (besides the rain) were a couple of tourists who were hovering over our food. Also, we had to walk a looooong way (from 63rd St!) to get to the Great Lawn. 


Today's crossword (by Bruce Venzke) is called "Sales Rep's Steps." The theme consisted of three steps of completing a successful deal:


17A: Sales rep step #1 (HAS ONE'S WORD ON IT)
28A: Sales rep step #2 (SHAKES ON THE DEAL)
60A: Sales rep step #3 (GETS IT IN WRITING)


I hate selling. I can't sell my way out of a paper bag. I remember the annual Girl Scout cookie sale, where my mom forced my sister and I to go door to door and try to solicit sales. I managed to sell only about 15-20 boxes of cookies. That would be major chump change these days, with Girl Scouts having "pop-up" sites. Times have changed, and mommies don't want to send their kids out in the big, cruel world. Even I'm guilty of doing it. I used to bring in the sales brochure for Alex's school candy sale to work, and I would rack up about $200 in sales. I did the same for his Passover candy sale for Hebrew school.


The following video is called "The Art of the Deal" and it features a conversation between Donald Chump (oops, I meant Trump!) and Robert Kiyosaki. I'm amazed to hear how his kids actually like working for him. At lease Ivanka has a good head on her shoulders. I think Don Jr. (aka "Doofus") is used on "The Apprentice" as comic relief. Eric seems to take after Ivana in the looks department (Thank G-d). And I hear Tiffany (his child with Marla Maples) has been left out in the cold. I see 5-year-old Barron on "The Apprentice" next year.

And now on to the cryptoquote:


"Learn to dance otherwise the angels in heaven won't know what to do with you."--St. Augustine


St. Augustine (354-430) was the bishop of what is now Annaba, Algeria. There is so much information on him that I don't have room on this blog to record it all. Go to this link to read about his life and works.


TGIF!! It should be a fun-filled Saturday at the eye doctor tomorrow. On Sunday, Matthew and I are going to the Brooklyn Book Festival. Last year, it was very cold and rainy, so we vowed we wouldn't go this year if it was like that. They're predicting a beautiful day.


I hope to be back tomorrow with the Saturday Stumper.


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Working Stiffs

I'm anxiously hoping that the weather holds up for tonight's Andrea Bocelli concert in Central Park. It was raining about an hour ago, but I just heard the sun is shining now. We got a "laundry list" the other day of things you can bring and can't bring. Basically, you can breathe and that's about it. We're just going to pack a couple of sandwiches in a small backpack and buy drinks there.

The theme of today's crossword, by David W. Cromer, is a typical(?) day at work:

10 a.m. (gossiping): COFFEE BREAK. I eat breakfast at around 6:30. By 9:30, I'm hungry again, so I have my mid-morning 100-calorie snack. They have pretty good coffee in the office, so I can't complain. If I run into someone I know, I will stay and talk to them for a few minutes.

26A: Noon (networking): POWER LUNCH. I hate this term and prefer business lunch. In fact, I would prefer to have breakfast if trying to negotiate a deal. I'm more alert in the morning and I think the other party would be too.

46A: 3 p.m. (video gaming): ANGRY BIRDS. By 3:00 (unless I have a major project), my brain is fried and I'm done for the day. . . . At the bookstore, I saw a couple of plush Angry Birds. They're actually kind of cute. My tech-savvy son had to explain to me that it was an app for the iPhone and it's quite challenging. I guess you can call it the Mario Bros. of the 2010s.

58A: 4:30 p.m. (early day): HEAD FOR HOME. That's when I leave every day!!!

Nelson Mandela is the supplier of today's cryptoquote answer:

"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."

As we all know, Nelson Mandela served 27 years in prison. He was then President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Can you believe he's 93??? He's been married three times; Winnie is the most well known of his spouses. He has six children and 20 grandchildren. Did you know that in South Africa prisoners were classified by race? Mandela said that as a black man, he received the fewest privileges. For example, he was allowed only one visitor and one letter every six months. Do you remember the song "Free Nelson Mandela" by the Specials? Here's the video:

I haven't finished the NYT puzzle yet, so I'm going to try and finish that up before I leave.

Till tomorrow.

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Check It Out!

When Alex was younger, he took classes at Acting Creatively, which is a studio that is no longer around. This was interesting because the owner was the older sister of Jesse and Hallie Eisenberg, and I remember seeing them there a few times. Today, Jesse is one of Alex's idols. However, the best part is what we came across on our way to class. There were several warehouses and cheap stores around, and we always used to hear vendors yelling "Check it Out!" Under our breaths, we'd add "Stolen Goods! Right From the Truck!" Let's check out the theme answers today's puzzle by Fred Piscop:

17A: "Hmmm . . . (NOW LET ME SEE)
55A: Kid prankster's taunt (MADE YOU LOOK)
11D: Vigilant (ON THE WATCH)

Don Adams in "Check It Out"

28D: Devilish star (THE EVIL EYE)

"Check It Out" was also the name of a Canadian series that I watched on the USA network during the late 80s. This comedy followed the misadventures of a grocery-store staff, and Don Adams ("Get Smart") played the manager. Adams was such a brilliant comic actor, and I found it hard to believe he had to stoop so low. The show, however, had its moments.

Helen Rowland

And now, for today's cryptoquote:

"A man never knows how to say goodbye; a woman never knows when to say it."--Helen Rowland

This is so true whenever groups of women get together! The spouses are in the car ready to leave, and the women are still chatting away!

Helen Rowland (1875-1950) was a journalist and humorist who wrote a lot about women's issues. Her works include The Widow, Reflections of a Bachelor Girl, and If, A Chant for Wives also The White Woman's Burden. Other than that, I couldn't find much information about her.


Gym tonight and then I get ready for Andrea Bocelli in Central Park tomorrow night!


Till tomorrow. . . . 


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Excuses, Excuses!!!

Today's puzzle by Billie Truitt consists of a them in which we can all relate. The clue for all three theme answers was "Student's no-homework excuse." 

20A: I LOST MY BOOK

38A: MY COMPUTER BROKE

52A: THE DOG ATE IT (the oldest excuse in the book!)

I searched the Net and found some more great excuses for forgetting one's homework:

• "With all the turmoil going on in the world today, I can't believe you expect me to focus on something so trivial as my homework . . . I mean . . . REALLY!"
• "I was doing something more important."
• "I was too busy polishing my trophies."
• "I was attending a bar/bat mitzvah."
• "I was receiving an award."
• "I'm allergic to homework."
• "We ran out of wood so my mom had to use it to feed the fireplace (or oven)."
• "My dad used it as toilet paper."
• "What homework???"

The best thing to do, people, is to tell the truth and apologize for your error! The teacher will be angry, but he/she will respect you more.

Frank Clark (1911-1991) is the author of today's cryptoquote:

"Gossip needn't be false to be evil. There's a lot of truth that shouldn't be passed around."

Amen to that! I had to search quite a while to find out who Frank A. Clark was. He was the author of a one-panel cartoon called "The Country Parson", where he poked fun at human faults and weaknesses in a gentle fashion. At its height in the '60s, the column appeared in almost 80 newspapers. To the right is an example of one of his cartoons. His adages definitely made readers think.

I hope you're enjoying as lovely weather as we're having here in NYC today!

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Catching Up and Pit Stops

I'm back after a two-week hiatus. I was on vacation two weeks ago, and it started off on a sad note. My cousin Leslie (by marriage) passed away from lung cancer at age 53. Way too young for someone to go. The cancer had been detected only in June, and it went downhill fast from there. Also, I went to see my grandmother at her current place of residence, Sunrise Assisted Living. She's been there a year but I didn't have a chance to see her (long story). Despite not being able to see too well, she's doing fine. During the week, Matthew and I went up to the Highline and we went to see Aziz Ansari (and others) at the Comedy Cellar. On Labor Day, I spent the day on my friend Sheila's boat.

Then I had to go back to work on a cold, rainy day. We had a huge SEC release, along with online and CD review for our title M&A. I was so exhausted during the entire week I had no energy to post anything.

Today's Gail Grabowski puzzle is called "Pit Stop", which revolves around parts of a construction site. The theme answers, please:

20A: Receiving clerk's gadget (DATE STAMP). I used to love when they stamped the due dates on library cards and books. Do they even do that anymore?

50A: Teen's beard (PEACH FUZZ). Just another sign of puberty!

11D: Army Jeep color (OLIVE GREEN). Too bad last year's military look is out of style. I would have had lots of comments.

26D: Type of firecracker (CHERRY BOMB). Also the name of a video by Joan Jett's old band, The Runaways:

Pope Paul VI

And now for today's cryptoquote:

"Never reach out your hand unless you're willing to extend an arm."--Pope Paul VI

Pope Paul VI (of course, he had a long Italian name) was the leader of the Catholic Church from 1963 to his death 1978. His pontificate took place during one of the most tumultuous times in world history, which included the Vietnam War and student upheavals.. Pope Paul was rather forward-thinking and announced reforms in the Canon Law, inter-faith marriage, and birth control issues. He improved dialogue with other cultures and religions. It's a shame that his predecessors took things a step backward. This is especially true of the current pontiff, Benedict XVI.

Sorry for such a short post, but I'm exhausted and need to lie down.

Now that Fashion Week is here and the fall arts season is about to begin, I will definitely be writing more!

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

On Hurricanes and Retro Things

Good afternoon! I did not have the strength to post anything most of last week. On Tuesday, our peaceful lives were interrupted by an earthquake (on the 5.8 Richter scale) originating from Virginia. Then, we were awaiting the dreaded Hurricane Irene. It was promising to be the worst storm in 50 years. Irene turned out to be more a tropical storm than a hurricane, and yes, some of my friends are still without power. But the media made too much hype out of the whole thing. Nobody knew that Al Qaeda's #2 was killed on Saturday! Both events just made me mentally exhausted.

Matthew's place of business was insistent that he come in last night despite no subway or LIRR. He wound up taking the Q60 bus to work, and it took him two hours to get there. Fortunately, subways were up and running this morning.

Today's Newsday Cryptoquote, authored by that empress of etiquette, Emily Post (1872-1960), contained some good old-fashioned common sense:

"The single essential ingredient of good manners is a sensitive awareness of other people's feelings."

This is also known as emotional intelligence, and is unfortunately, something I see less and less these days. You can find several of these stories on the hilarious site, Etiquette Hell. There is also the matter of cyberbullying. This to me is worse than bullying back in my day. In my generation, at least the kids did it to your face. These days, these kids are cowards and hide behind their computers. I think cyberbullying has resulted in more suicides than the in-your-face kind. Emily Post's legacy still carries on through her great-great grandchildren, Anna Post and Lizzie Post, both authors of books on etiquette.

Gail Grabowski's puzzle, called "TV Prime Time," had some decent theme answers today:


19A: 1970s music recordings (EIGHT TRACK TAPES). Remember those? In the '70s, this was considered the latest in modern technology. The Panasonic recorders were so cool. However, there were several disadvantages to the 8-track tapes, the biggest is that you would have to go through an entire track to get to the song that you wanted to here. CD players made this so much easier!

36A: Social Security ID, for one (NINE-DIGIT NUMBER). There has been a crackdown on the use of SSNs as one's primary identification number, the greatest reason being identity theft. Many schools provide their students with separate ID numbers. Other 9-digit numbers in our lives include telephone numbers and ZIP codes. I don't think the 9-digit ZIP code ever completely caught on.

47A: Two-wheeler with gears (TEN-SPEED BICYCLE). I begged and begged my parents for a Schwinn Varsity 10-speed bike beginning in 8th grade. All the "cool kids" had one. But nooooo, they were two expensive with four mouths to feed! I was stuck with the bike I had had since 6th grade with the banana seat and the "sissy bar." I finally got my wish for my graduation from middle school, but I had to settle for a Ross bike. The store where I bought (Brands Cycle and Fitness in Wantagh) it is still around! Anyway, I rode the bike until I was able to get my license.

I am on a "staycation" this week, and I will be going back to my regular hours at work next week. Tomorrow, the boys and I will probably go to the Highline.

Almost time to make dinner. Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Let Your Hair Down

Today's Cryptoquote is great because it's fashion-related. I love all the fashion-related quotes. This one is by W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965):

Vidal Sassoon

"A good hairdresser can express ever mood and every passion of the human heart." 

How true this is! I enjoy going to my hairdresser. I tell her everything that's going on in my life, and I always feel so much better when I leave. The best hairdressers love to make people feel good and look great. I wish I had been around during the 60s. What I would have given to have my hair cut by Vidal Sassoon, who changed the world of hairstyling forever. My mother-in-law was one of the lucky ones. In March, we had the pleasure of seeing a documentary about his life, from his tumultuous childhood in the East End of London to his stint in the Israeli army to the opening of his first salon. The shops are still around; they're simply just called "Sassoon." He is also an activist and has worked tirelessly to wipe out anti-Semitism.

In contrast to Vidal Sassoon, we have the classless trash of "Jerseylicious." Even though this "reality show" is probably scripted, it's my guilty pleasure. Most of the "employees" don't even work for the Gatsby Salon. On last night's episode, that bee-yotch Tracy was looking for an internship with Vogue. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!! First off, she dropped out of college after six months, and most interns work for college credits. Second, Vogue would NEVER hire trash like her! You either have to be an Ivy League grad or know someone there. Third, if she showed up to work in the clothes she wears, she would be sent home by Anna Wintour herself. So she makes herself an "apprentice" for a local lifestyle magazine. How shocked she is when she finds out she has to style food! She learns a valuable lesson that it's not about the smoky eye or the right handbag!!! 

As for Somerset Maugham, he was a from a wealthy family and studied medicine initially. Real-life experience, such as medical school and his world travels, was the basis for many of his works. Maugham was best know for his novels The Razor's Edge and Of Human Bondage, both which were turned into classic movies. He was bisexual--he married and had a daughter but had a lover named Gerald Haxton. However, he showed disdain for the gay artist. He seemed to live the kind of lifestyle most of us envy--the wealthy man about town and world traveler.

You Say "To-May-To", I Say "To-Mah-To"

Gail Grabowski's puzzle is called "Tomato Cookbook." Here are the theme answers:

20A: Nightspot with Latin music (SALSA CLUB). The most famous salsa club of all was probably the Copacabana. It's still around but doesn't maintain its former glory of the '40s and '50s. The original location at East 60th Street is the club of legend. So many famous musicians have played there: Xavier Cugat, Harry Belafonte, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Marvin Gaye, Celia Cruz, Sam Cooke, etc. 

51A: Skillet relatives (SAUCE PANS). Nothing much to say. I hate cooking

11D: Full range (SOUP TO NUTS). I've always loved this expression. Origin of this phrase came from formal dinners that started with a soup plate and ended with mixed nuts. 

27D: Business-card paperstock (PASTE BOARD). I love collecting business cards.  think it's because I find it fascinating to get so many graphics and text in one small space. In fact, I belong to a group called the International Business Card Collectors. I didn't even know there was such a site until about three years ago. There are over 500 members and we do trades and round robins. 

That's all the puzzle news for today. 

I had a great time at Diane's Mad Hatter party over the weekend. The hats ranged from silly (Diane's jester hat, Adam's "pimp" hat, Vicki's tall hat) to the sublime (the homemade creations by Tara and Debbie.). Diane's husband, Dave has great taste in music and knows how to barbecue those ribs! Because her house was such a schlep, I slept over Saturday night. Diane's house is so whimsical . . . she made great use of small space!

Till tomorrow. . . . 

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick

Clear as a Bell

It's a very rainy Friday night here in Queens. The Mets were playing but I guess that game is over.

Today's crossword is called "Closing Bell." Besides being a show on CNBC, it's a sound that hasn't been in our favor lately. With plunging stocks and the jobless outlook bleak, our economy is going to the dogs. Certain people in the House gave President Obama flack for taking vacation this coming week. Hey, he has a right to take vacation as much as anyone else. I don't think the economy will get any better or worse while he's away. It's not like he's across the country or around the world. If there's a real problem, he can just get on a jet and fly to Washington.

Bernard Madoff

And now for the theme answers:

17A: Financial Crime (MONEY LAUNDERING). Who can forget the most notorious swindler in recent history, Bernie Madoff? In March 2009, he pleaded guilty to 11 federal felonies, including securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and perjury. He ripped off millions of innocent people as well as several charities. Madoff simply deposited their money in his personal account instead of investing the money for them. He made several false filings with the SEC too. And this all dated back to 1991. Why didn't the SEC notice this and the plunging stock market before? Supposedly, they were busy watching porn instead of working.

25A: Marshall Islands locale (BIKINI ATOLL). Yes, ladies, the swimsuit we so hate men drooling over is named after this island. In 1946, French engineer Louis Réard and fashion designer Jacques Heim introduced the bikini to the world. Réard was a car engineer but by 1946 he was running his mother's lingerie boutique near Les Folies Bergères in Paris. Heim was working on a new kind of beach costume. It comprised two pieces, the bottom large enough to cover its wearer's navel. In May 1946, he advertised it as the world's "smallest bathing suit". Historians assume Reard termed his swimsuit the "bikini" because he believed its revealing style would create reactions among people similar to those created by America’s atomic bomb in Japan just one summer earlier. Bikini Atoll was one of the islands where the atomic bomb was being tested. (Source of text: Wikipedia). 

43A: Singer dubbed "King of Soul" (OTIS REDDING). Good old Otis (1941-1967) . . . so talented but his life ended much to soon as the result of a plane crash. Otis Redding was discovered while he was playing guitar with a local band in Macon, GA. He wrote a lot of his own music, as well as Aretha Franklin's "Respect." Countless artists have covered his most famous number, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." Otis would have been 70 this year; he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

55A: Factor in successful commercials (EMOTIONAL APPEAL). I can be a cynical person sometimes. However, any commercial featuring a puppy tugs at my heartstrings. There are so many good commercials (as well as bad) out there, that it was hard to narrow it down to just one. However, I love this classic Coke commercial from that stars Mean Joe Green.

Today's Cryptoquote is by Thomas Fuller (1608-1661), a writer known for his Worthies of England:

"Learn how to refuse favors. This is a great and very useful act."

Fuller was also a preacher and a noted wit, and served briefly as Royal Chaplain. I wonder if any of our modern-day politicians have read this quote.

Sorry to be cutting it short, but I'm getting tired.

Tomorrow night, I'm attending at hat/garden party. This should be interesting.

Singing off,
The Puzzlechick

Wasting Away the Idle Hours

Today's Newsday puzzle, by Clive Probert, has another great theme. This one is called "The Idle Hours." The three clues are the same: "Something to do in idle hours." The answers, please:

17A: SING IN THE SHOWER. I don't think anyone wants to hear me sing in the shower; he/she would need ear plugs. However, they say that singing in the shower is supposed to enrich the sound of your singing voice. Barney Rubble proves this theory in the episode "The Flintstone Canaries."

33A: POP BUBBLE WRAP. All right! Bubble wrap is the stuff that protects valuables in shipping. I love popping it just to annoy people I don't like. But did you know there are 1,001 uses for bubble wrap? BTW, January 31 is Bubble Wrap Day!

55A: STAY IN PJs ALL DAY. I wish I could.

Eric Idle

However, the most famous Idle of all is Eric of Monty Python and Rutles fame. On Python, he often played a character obsessed with speech and language and his sketches dealt with more contemporary issues than the other members of the troupe. He wrote "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" for Life of Brian and also penned the play Spamalot (IMO, one of the funniest Broadway shows of all time). In the Rutles' documentary, All You Need Is Cash, Idle played the Paul McCartney-like character of Dirk McQuickly.

Today's cryptoquote is by John Buchan, and it's a great one.

"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable , a perpetual series of occasions for hope."

John Buchan

John Buchan (1875-1940), also known as 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, was a prolific writer and politician most famous for his classic novel The Thirty-Nine Steps, which would go on to become a classic Hitchcock film. He also wrote lots of non-fiction on historical subjects. Buchan was Governor-General of Canada and a member of Parliament. 

That's all for today. "Project Runway" episode 4 tonight. Tonight they have to design a dress for Nina Garcia, aka Dragon Lady.

Till tomorrow.

Singing off,

The Puzzlechick

Bellow, Bulow, and Harlow, Oh My!

Welcome to my 60th post! I was too tired to write anything yesterday . . . if I'm going to talk about puzzles, I have to do it daily.

Today's crossword puzzle, by Fred Piscop, is called called "Bass Trio."  The theme answers are famous names and all end in the word "low."

Saul Bellow

17A: Herzog author (SAUL BELLOW). The author, who lived from 1915 to 2005, was Canadian-born and won both the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes. Many of his novels were set in Chicago, where he moved when he was nine. He graduated from Northwestern with a double major of sociology and anthropology. Bellow was married five times and taught at several colleges. For a complete list of his works, see the bibliography.

Sunny von Bulow

36A: Jeremy Irons, in Reversal of Fortune (CLAUS VON BULOW). Most of us know who Claus von Bulow (b. 1926) is, and not under the greatest circumstances. In 1980, he was accused of murder of his wife, Sunny by supposed administering an insulin overdose. She lived in a vegetative state for 28 years until her death in 2008. This trial seemed to go on for ages, and the lawyer Alan Dershowitz represented him. Although he initially was sentenced to 30 years in prison, von Bulow appealed and was found not guilty in the second trial. It was discovered that Sunny died from an overdose of drugs and alcohol. Why, Sunny, why? According to this synopsis of the case, she seemed to have everything.

56A: '30s film superstar (JEAN HARLOW). Before Marilyn and Madonna, there was Jean Harlow. Jean Harlow was considered Hollywood's first blonde bombshell. Born Harlean Carpenter in 1911, she would live only until the age of 26. Her films included Hell's Angels, Dinner at Eight, and Red Dust. Plagued with health problems throughout her life, she died from kidney failure in 1937.

Now for today's cryptoquote:

"Clear thinking requires courage rather than intelligence."--Thomas Szasz

Thomas Szasz, born in 1920, is a psychologist who is best known for his book The Myth of Mental Illness (1961). He is professor emeritus at the SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse. In this controversial work, he declared that mental illness is not a disease, but rather is created by cultural controls. Just by observing homeless people and criminals, I see what he means.

Well, I'm tired from working out, so it's time to turn in.

Till tomorrow.

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Rain and Male Bonding and Maxims

Rain, rain go away!

In the past two days, we've had 10 inches of rain. Yesterday was one of those days when we just didn't feel like doing anything. I stood outside the gym waiting for Zumba to start and of course, the manager was late. There were all kinds of problems on the subway and on the roads.

Today's crossword puzzle by Gail Grabowski was called "Male Bonding." The theme answers are below:

20A: Candid Critics (DUTCH UNCLES). This is an English term and is used for someone who issues frank, harsh, and severe comments. While Googling this term, I came across a band from Manchester with this name. Here is their debut video called "Face In."

John Adams and some of the Founding Fathers

And now for something completely different. 38A's clue is "Ben Franklin, John Hancock, etc." The answer is FOUNDING FATHERS. These were the men responsible for the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and Constitution in 1787. Hey, we even got a musical out of them called "1776."

52A: Fraternity Mentors (BIG BROTHERS). Read this article on what being a big brother is all about. Notice how hazing is not in the equation. Both my brothers belonged to frats and they both had good experiences with them. There have been quite a few movies about fraternities. Some are hilarious (Animal House) and others end tragically (Fraternity Row). I was unable to find footage from the latter movie. Of course, several TV shows, such as Family Ties and Happy Days had episodes about frats. In the Family Ties episode, the fraternity members use Skippy as "The Big Stooge"; they make him go through all the pledge tasks but blackball him anyway. Of course, who can forget the KEG House from "90210"? Class clown Steve Sanders was a member and always got into lots of trouble.



The cryptoquote for today is by some obscure French writer, François, Duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680)

"All our faults are more pardonable than the methods we resort to hide them."

de la Rouchefoucauld was a writer of maxims and morals. His work Maximes contains many proverbs about human nature and interaction. Almost all its writings depicted people as self-centered and vain. Here is a list of his works.

I'm getting sleepy, so it's time to turn in.

Till tomorrow.

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick