Eats, Shoots, and Blossoms

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Back to work after a great four-day weekend. You couldn't have asked for better weather. It's hot and humid here in the city today.

Today's Newsday Cryptoquote is by Vivien Leigh (1913-1967): "Dear Lord, I'm so grateful I'm still loved." Although Leigh was English, she won two Academy Awards for playing Southern belles: Scarlett O'Hara (of course!) in Gone With the Wind (1939) and Blanche DuBois in Streetcar Named Desire (1951). She also was known as Mrs. Laurence Olivier from 1940 to 1960. Olivier was hubby #2. I didn't know she suffered from what is now called bipolar disorder, as well as tuberculosis. Leigh was considered one of the most beautiful actresses in her day, and sometimes felt that her beauty hampered her career.

Today's crossword puzzle was called "Growing Concerns" (Billie Truitt). Here are the theme answers:

20A: Flowers on a mah-jongg tile: PLUM BLOSSOMS. Although I have never played the game, mah-jongg was very much a part of my life. My mom and her friends played on Wednesdays, and they were very loud. I would find out all the neighborhood gossip through her games. It also was the only time we were allowed to have candy. . . . we would allowed to take one or two pieces before her friends came. The next day, we were allowed a piece of the Entenmann's coffee ring or chocolate cake.

40A: Small cabbage-like veggies: BRUSSELS SPROUTS. Many people I know don't like these Brussels sprouts. I loved the way my aunt made them every Thanksgiving. She roasted them and added garlic and olive oil. They are also said to high in folic acid, which aids in fertility.

51A: Chinese stir-fry ingredient: BAMBOO SHOOTS. To me, bamboo shoots are mindless filler . They are very bland and they do nothing but take up space. Just give me the protein, rice, and veggies and I'm fine!

Lately, I've been trying my hand at puzzles from constructors' Web sites, mainly Brendan Emmett Quigley's "May I Have a Word With You?" (www.brendanemmettquigley.com) and Trip Payne's "Triple Play Puzzles" (www.tripleplaypuzzles.com) I love BEQ's clues because they are fresh and modern.

On the gossip front:

Snooki was taken into custody again, this time in Italy! She crashed into a cop car. Way to go! (Note: It wasn't a "formal" arrest).

On a sad note, Gary Carter has inoperable Stage 4 brain cancer. One of the all time great players (Expos, Mets), he seemed to be a genuinely nice person.

Almost time to go home. Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick.

In Honor of Our Fallen Heroes

I hope that everyone is having a happy and safe Memorial Day. When I was growing up, I was proud to march in my local parade each year--with the Girl Scouts in the earlier grades and with the band from 5th grade to my senior year of high school. I would like to remind you all that this day means more than a day at the beach or a sale at [insert name of store here]. It's self-explanatory in today's cryptoquote by Congressman Doc Hastings (1941-   ):

"The spirit of this day has not changed. It remains a day to honor those who died defending our freedom and democracy."

FYI, I just read that Hastings was recently hospitalized. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

The theme of today's puzzle is called "Powerless." Doesn't sound too empowering, but these are the theme answers:

20A: Soda-fountain order: ROOT BEER FLOAT. This delicious drink is also known as a black cow or  a brown cow. Here is the link to a root-beer float recipe by the one and only Bobby Flay: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/root-beer-floats-recipe/index.html.

37A: "Understand?": DO YOU GET MY DRIFT?

50A: Eastern seashore: ATLANTIC COAST. I bet many of you are at the beach along the Atlantic Ocean today! Although many of our beaches are beautiful, I've never been much of a beach person. When it's super hot, I feel like I'm in a sweat pit. Then there's the sand that gets all over you. I much prefer a cool afternoon at a museum or a movie.

We had a great time at my friend Debbie's barbecue yesterday. The food and company were great, and we had a lot of laughs as usual. It's funny that I wasn't close to anyone in the group back in the day, but we've all become very close over the last year and a half!

We're chilling out today and trying to stay cool in the 90-degree heat.

I will be back later with the Sunday puzzle solutions (I'm slightly behind).

Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Random Saturday

I took the day off from blogging yesterday, so here is the Newsday cryptoquote for Saturday, 5/28:

"I had to live in the desert before I could understand the full value of grass in a green ditch."--Ella Maillart (1903-1997).

The Swiss journalist Ella Maillart was one of the renowned travelers of the last century. She was also the sole female sailing competitor in the 1924 Olympics. Maillart's travels included Lebanon, Turkey, India, Russia, and Nepal. For more information about her life, consult her official Web site: http://www.ellamaillart.ch/index_en.php.

The Saturday Stumper had some interesting clues and words. For example, I had no idea that the ZAMBONI machine (40-Down) was inducted into the 2009 Hockey Hall of Fame. Do you remember Eddie LeBec, Carla's second husband on "Cheers"? He was working as a skating Pittsburgh Penguin and met his demise with a Zamboni machine!

In 1-Across, the clue was "Heater in the Park." Originally, I thought the answer was GAS GRILL, but it turned out to be FAST BALL.

Courtesy of www.southeastroads.com/Jackson

16-Across: Natchez Trace Parkway Headquarters: TUPELO (as in Mississippi, birth place of Elvis Presley).

8-Down: End of a run: LAST LIP. Initially, I had LAST LEG, so this turned out to be a surprise.


We went out to dinner last night to a restaurant in Island Park called Shogun. This was a typical Hibachi restaurant in which the chefs put on a show. I had Hibachi steak and salmon, which included soup, salad, and a shrimp appetizer. The one drawback is that they get you out early. After dinner, we took a walk along the boardwalk in Long Beach, where it was freezing! We then went to the International Cafe in Rockville Centre for dessert. I had "Double Dough" gelato, which was chocolate ice cream with cookie dough and brownie pieces. Awesome!

Today we are heading out to my friend Debbie's for a barbecue. She hasn't been feeling well so I don't know how she can be up for it.

I'll be back with today's big Newsday Crossword and Quote Acrostic.

Signing off for now,
The Puzzlechick

Being Pedantic

Courtesy of IMDB

Good evening! It's another glorious day here in NYC!


The word of the day is PEDANTIC. Its definition is "Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules." We saw the movie Midnight in Paris, and one of the characters was a know-it-all in all subjects from wine tasting to Monet paintings. The main character, Gil (Owen Wilson) called him a "pedantic." The word appeared in a crossword puzzle only once on October 14, 2001 in The Washington Post. . . . The movie itself was quite charming. I have a new-found respect for Owen Wilson. Rachel McAdams reprises her Mean Girls role as the rich biatch.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Today's cryptoquote is by Princess Anne (formally known as Princess Royal): “Golf seems to be an arduous way to go for a walk. I prefer to take the dogs out.” Anne may not be the most attractive woman, but she is dedicated to charitable works and is a keen equestrian. She is the only British royal to have competed in the Olympics. Anne is also interested in the study of lighthouses. She was almost kidnapped in 1974.

The crossword theme (by Fred Piscop) was "Lead Filled," which I didn't quite get. Here are the theme answers:

16A: Suds element: SOAP BUBBLE

58A: Diva's requirement: TOP BILLING

10D: Dive preceder, perhaps: DEEP BREATH

28D: Fall out of pace: DROP BEHIND

RIP, Jeff Conaway. After being in a coma for two weeks, he was taken off life support today. So sad that such talent was wasted during the last years of Mr. Conaway's life. We remember him with this video from the classic movie Grease.

One of my favorite episodes of "Seinfeld"--with Keith Hernandez--was just on.

I'm giving myself a pedicure right now, so I'm signing off for tonight.

The Puzzlechick

Coming Apart

Today's puzzle theme is called "Coming Apart" (David O. Cromer). This one had some decent theme answers:

19A: Devices for multi-room viewing: CABLE SPLITTERS . . . Remember the episode of "Seinfeld" when Kramer arranges an illegal cable hook-up for Jerry?

36A: Electric safety devices: CIRCUIT BREAKERS. Here's how they work: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/circuit-breaker.htm'

52A: Marx Brothers Film: ANIMAL CRACKERS. I love the Marx Brothers' early films. The musical number "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" is from this classic movie. It was used as the theme song to "You Bet Your Life."

Courtesy of Wikipedia

The quote "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know." appears in the AFI's top 100 movies quotes at #53.


The cryptoquote is by the painter Edouard Manet (1832-1883): "There are no lines in nature, only areas of color, one against the other." Manet was a pivotal figure of Impressionist movement/ Many of his paintings of cafe scenes, social activities, battles and flowers.   

Happening in the world:

Dominique Strauss-Kahn is under house arrest in a swanky $14-million Tribeca townhouse. Most good citizens like you and I don't live this way. Life isn't fair!

Kim Kartrashian is engaged to Kris Humphries following a 6-month courtship. Whoop-de-doo! Her bling is 20.5 carats and is estimated at $2 million! The engagement will probably last a minute, just like all her others. She and her genius sisters are also writing a novel and we get to name it! The novel is a fictionalized account of their real lives. I hope they hire a good ghostwriter.

I heard that Oprah's finale and "American Idol" were both as exciting as "watching paint dry." I've also heard that Lauren and Scotty are now a couple.

Last night's "South Park" episode was a little more tasteless than usual. Cartman started a league called the Crack Baby Athletic Association. This was a spoof on those sad ASPCA commercials and the NCAA. At the end, the crack babies get their own orphanage, thanks to "Vünter Slauche (aka Slash)".

I am off from work tomorrow and we're going to see Midnight in Paris. Looking forward to seeing the latest by Woody Allen!


Till tomorrow . . . .


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Good afternoon! It finally feels like summer here in the Big Apple! It almost makes me want to smile, which is the topic of today's cryptoquote. The source is Mother Teresa (1910-1997): "Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." Here is Mother Teresa's official site: http://www.motherteresa.org/

The crossword puzzle theme was "Play Along" by Billie Truitt. Here are the theme answers:

20A: Detective's destination: SCENE OF THE CRIME (This is the Web site to Sofitel, where a maid accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of raping her: http://www.sofitel.com/gb/home/index.shtml. Pretty swanky place).
40A: Kindly gesture: ACT OF FRIENDSHIP
54A: Where a football is snapped: LINE OF SCRIMMAGE


Today is Oprah's final show. Adios and good riddens! I always thought she was a self-absorbed biatch, although she did have some funny moments (e.g., Tom Cruise's couch scene).

Kirstie Alley came in second place on "Dancing With the Stars." She lost 50 lbs. and 38 inches. Plus she's received four movie offers. Way to go!

Tonight is the "Idol" finale. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! I don't get home until 9:30 anyway. I leave work at 5:30 then head to the gym for Zumba and Yogatone.

Back to work. Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

There is No One Alive Who Is Youer Thank You!

Today's Newsday Cryptoquote is by the one and only Dr. Seuss (1904-1991, aka Theodore Seuss Geisel). It reads: “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” This quote teaches us to embrace our uniqueness and to respect the qualities that makes each of us different than others. . . . For most of my childhood and young adult life, I tried so hard to fit in with the "cool" people because they all seemed to live perfect lives. I spent too much time wondering what others thought of me. I actually liked reading and playing word games, but I played it down because it wasn't considered "cool." During my mid- to late 20s, I spent thousands of dollars on designer clothes. I figured if I looked better on the outside, others would accept me more. However, the real reason I shopped was because I was lonely and filling a hole. . . .I am much more comfortable with myself these days. I still like to shop, but I also like doing puzzles, going to cultural events, reading, and traveling. I also like to collect things, especially ephemera and anything "Peanuts."


A friend of mine brought up the point that Dr. Seuss may have been the world's first rapper. I say this is true when I hear the rhyming in his works . . . just add music and voila! Dr. Seuss was also a great philosopher who taught us about empowerment and following your dreams. 

The crossword theme (by Sally R. Stein) is called "Wear Your Food." The theme answers are:


19A: Beef cuts (SKIRT STEAKS). Used for making fajitas and Chinese stir-fry. Sometimes called a Romanian Steak. My FIL (RIP) used to order this from the diner.


56A: Salad-Bar Fare (BOW TIE PASTA) (the correct name is Farfelle, which is derived from the Italian word Farfella (meaning "Butterfly"). I love kasha varnishkes. It's just buckwheat with bow-tie noodles!


10D: Make more pleasant (SUGAR COAT). I found an ad from 1922 that features "sugar-coated" electricity. It's too big to paste here so here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/3jhp3tm


33D: Doughnut-shaped burger topper (ONION RING). I love, love, love onion rings but they are laden with fat! I eat them only when I want to splurge. My favorite is the onion loaf at Dallas BBQ (www.dallasbbq.com). 


Nothing much going on today, so it's good-bye until tomorrow.


Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

PC People (New York Magazine Puzzle, 5/30/11)

I've just finished the New York puzzle of the week. The theme was "PC People" (first name begins with "P," last name begins with the letter "C". A bunch of interesting names turned up.


23A: Painter célèbre: PAUL CEZANNE (1839-1906). Cezanne's works can be defined in four periods: The Dark Period, where he used primarily dark colors and lots of black; The Impressionist Period, which included lots of landscapes; The Mature Period, where Cezanne painted many scenes of Provence, including mountains; and Final Period, where he withdrew further into his painting and became obsessed with death. His relationship with his family also became stormy during The Final Period.Cezanne also painted lots of self-portraits.


25A: Panelist/Comedian: PEGGY CASS (1924-1999). I remember Peggy Cass mainly as a regular panelist on "To Tell the Truth." I loved that show. She was also a renowned stage and film star. Her work includes Auntie Mame (for which she won a Tony and an Oscar), Don't Drink the Water, Plaza Suite, and One Touch of Venus. She also appeared on an early Fox Show called "Women in Prison."

37A: Power Couple half (Javier Bardem's wife): PENELOPE CRUZ (1974-  ) who of course is the acclaimed actress. She won an Oscar in 2008 for Vicki Christina Barcelona. The film (one of Woody Allen's best) also appeared on many top-10 lists that year.

56A: Platinum collection musician, 2004: PHIL COLLINS (1951-  ). Phil Collins is best known as the lead singer of Genesis. Did you know he also was a child actor? His mother June was an agent. Phil appeared on the London stage as The Artful Dodger in Oliver! He also was in extra in A Hard Day's Night and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (in a scene that ended up on the cutting-room floor). He almost got a role on the show "The Bugaloos" (remember them?) . . . I loved the music he wrote for the film Tarzan.

59A: With 70-Across, _____ performed country: PATSY CLINE (1932-1963). One of the great female voices of the 20th century, Patsy Cline mentored a number of country singers (e.g., Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Dottie West, and Brenda Lee) who were looking for their big break. In 1961, she was involved in near-fatal car crash and rededicated her life to Christianity. Her biggest hit was "Crazy", which made the top 10 on both the country and pop charts. In 1963, Cline died in a plane crash following a benefit concert in Kansas City.

71A: Private College founder (East Village, 1859): PETER COOPER (1791-1883). Cooper developed some of the earliest railroads and later invested in real estate and insurance. Despite his wealth, he lived a modest life. In 1876, he ran unsuccessfully for president. Cooper is most famous for the school he opened in 1859, the Cooper Union (www.cooper.edu). Cooper is one of the leading schools for art and engineering in the United States. Tuition is free, so competition to get in is very tough. My MIL (may she rest in peace) went for two years but had to drop out because she got sick. Not long after that, she got married and never finished. I think she always regretted it. My friend Austin got in despite having no formal training in art. 


89A: Parisian Courtier: PIERRE CARDIN (1922-  ). I didn't realize he was still alive! If you go to his Web site (http://www.pierrecardin.com) you can see a timeline of his fashions from the 1950s to the present. Many of the designs are gorgeous! I just remember him lending his name to a bunch of moderately-priced garments in the 1970s and 1980s. I had a couple of pieces. He also owns Maxim's restaurant in Paris. . . . there used to be one in New York. Today, you can order gift packages featuring candy, coffee, scarves, and champagne.


103A: Popular Crooner: PERRY COMO (1912-2001). I thought he was still alive! Como was from the era of the "crooner" (mid-1940s) and the teenagers were just as wild about him as they were about Frank Sinatra. He also performed in five films for Fox, but he felt uncomfortable with this medium. He hosted three TV shows: "The Chesterfield Supper Club") from 1948 to 1955, "The Perry Como Show" from 1955 to 1959, and "Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall" from 1959 to 1967. Here is a video of one of his most famous hits:

Finally, in 101A, we have the clue "______ played cello." The answer is PABLO CASALS (1876-1973). One of the most greatest cellists of all time, he was highly opposed to Francisco Franco's regime in Spain and declined to appear in countries that recognized the government and lived in Paris. However, he made an exception when he accepted an invitation from President Kennedy in 1961. At the age of 80, he married 20-year-old Marta Montañez y Martínez and together they founded the Casals festival in Puerto Rico.


I'll be back later with the Newsday puzzle comments.

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

New Zoo Revue

I took off from blogging yesterday. It was a cold, rainy, lousy day. I spent the morning at the gym and the afternoon catching up on the NYT and Newsday puzzles.

Yesterday's Newsday puzzle used common animal metaphors:

23A: Go-getter (EAGER BEAVER) (Note: Eager they weren't, but "The Angry Beavers" was one of my favorite Nick cartoons. Here is a video of the classic episode featuring the Barry White bear. No copyright infringement intended).

25A: Cowardly one (FRAIDY CAT) (Note: I was a notorious fraidy cat as a child. I was scared of my own shadow). Here is some interesting trivia about the Cowardly Lion's (Bert Lahr) costume from "The Wizard of Oz."

45A: Usurer (LOAN SHARK)
76A: Courtroom whiz (LEGAL EAGLE)
84A: Experimental subject (GUINEA PIG) (Note: My parents would often tease me that I was the experiment that failed. Very nice, mom and dad! As an animal, however, guinea pigs are so cute!).

105A: Person above criticism (SACRED COW)
107A: Easy mark (SITTING DUCK) (See below Michael Bedard's famous lithograph). I didn't realize there was a book and a TV series based on this lithograph.

I'm still working on the quote-acrostic, which is nearly impossible. I will report on it when I'm finished.

Today's Cryptoquote is by Robert Frost (1874-1963): "Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired." I looked up his bio on Wiki (not always the most reliable source) but he was prolific poet! His most famous poem probably is The Road Not Taken. There is a collection of his poems at the Jones library in Amherst, MA. For more information:

http://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/findaids/amherst/ma181_main.html

A more detailed bio of Frost is posted here: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/robert-frost

Gail Grabowski's crossword theme was "Air Force", which had nothing to do with the armed-forces branch:

20A: Energy for a new effort (SECOND WIND)
40A: Has a chat (SHOOTS THE BREEZE)
60A: Early-stage manuscript (ROUGH DRAFT)

Saturday night there was a surprise party for my friend Vicki's birthday. I went to middle school and high school with Vicki but didn't know her very well. She is one of the most positive people I have ever met and she never complains about anything. Vicki married her life partner Flo in Connecticut almost a month ago.

John Rich won "Celebrity Apprentice" last night. This season was not the most exciting, but there were some very colorful characters (Gary Busey, Star Jones, Nene Leakes). Marlee Matlin's interpreter should get his own show!

Also, I watched the clowns from "Jerseylicious." It's all so phony and fake but it's a guilty pleasure. The best scene from last week was Christy jumping down Alexa's throat for not asking her about her pregnancy or her child. . . . Gayle (the salon owner) wants "world domination" and they tried to get into Guinness World Records for the most haircuts in an 8-hour day. The geniuses don't know how many centimeters are in an inch. Alexa compares the Gatsby to a used car lot! Last night they started a medispa and the employees told Gigi she needs like $100,000 in procedures. Needless to say, the medispa didn't go over too well. . . . Olivia made 2 snide remarks about Tracy's clothes (go Olivia!). . . . Filippo (the Gatsby's intern) got accepted to beauty school. There goes the neighborhood!

Jeff Conaway is still in a coma, and there was a story going around that George Clooney fell off a cliff (a hoax)!

Today at Loehmann's I bought the matching jacket for the workout pants that I bought on Friday, along with a matching t-shirt (TJ Maxx purchase).

We are finally getting our kitchen sink fixed. The pipe was all corroded and we need a major part. Our bathroom sink needed a new washer, which was repaired easily. No more drip, drip, drip.

On that note, have a great night everyone!

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

It's the End of the World and We Know It (and I Feel FIne)

The world is supposed to come to an end at 6:00 today. I'll bet everyone is playing this classic video by REM:

Of course, it's all a bunch of bull. . . .

Today's Newsday cryptoquote is the third one by Elie Wiesel (born 1928) that I've seen this year: "Hope is like peace. It is not a gift from G-d. It is a gift only we can give one another."

As usual, the Saturday Stumper, which was authored by Doug Peterson was a toughie. Here are some of the tougher clues and answers:

17A: Universal-joint application: AXLE GREASE
15A: Extra Source: CENTRAL CASTING
56A: Tiara Winner for 1991 and 2000: MISS HAWAII (This was the toughest of all. I looked up Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America. I still don't know the source of this answer).

***************************************

As usual, the sound system at the gym wasn't working right away this morning. At least the bully who intimidated me a few weeks ago wasn't there today. This biatch shut off my elliptical in the middle of my workout, with just two minutes to go.

Got new luggage for our upcoming Chicago trip. On June 25, we will be spending 19 glorious hours in an Amtrak coach. The purpose of our trip is musical: Eddie Vedder plays on Tuesday. On Wednesday, June 29, we move on to Milwaukee, where Peter Gabriel will play Summerfest. The next night, Kanye West plays (I'm skipping that one).

Tried coloring my hair this morning with a semi-permanent hair color. Not all of the gray was covered up; I'm really bummed!

One of the most nosy busy-bodies in our building passed away this morning. Good riddens!

Matthew got into a fight with a Wendy's manager a little while ago. She told him to F---- Off. Whatever happened to "service with a smile?"

On that note, I'm going to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day.

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

The Medium is the Message

Newsday's Friday puzzles and crytoquotes are a bit more challenging than during the week, and today was no exception.

Today's Cryptoquote reads: "Control over change would seem to consist in moving not with it but ahead of it."--Marshall McCluhan. Who the heck is he?

Marshall McCluhan (1911-1980) was a Canadian philosopher and scholar and a pioneer in the study of media theory. He was responsible for coining the phrases "The medium is the message" and "the global village." The Medium is the Message is also the name of the best-selling book McCluhan published in 1967. He saw the media as extensions of our bodies and our minds. Man's views of the world were changed by the adoption of new media, particularly television. With the latter term, McCluhan predicted the Internet 30 years before its existence.

The crossword was authored by "S.N.", the initials of Newsday crossword editor Stanley Newman. Today's theme was "Where's the Beast?"

Theme answers:

20A: Treacherous one: SNAKE IN THE GRASS (also a shady conniving person). I know many snakes in the grass, LOL.
36A: Sure thing: BIRD IN THE HAND (Moral: It's better to to have a small real advantage than the possibility of a greater one.)
53A: Orator's annoyance: FROG IN THE THROAT (The origin of this phrase came from an advertisement for some medicine: "The Taylor Bros. say that 'Frog in the Throat' will cure hoarseness. 10 cents and box." Source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/143825.html).

One clue that stumped me was 6D: X-Ray Discoverer. The answer was Wilhelm ROENTGEN. Here is an excellent account regarding his discovery of the x-ray.

http://www.bl.uk/learning/artimages/bodies/xray/roentgen.html

* * * *

Today's News:

Tomorrow is the apocalypse. Several of my Facebook friends have made funny comments about the Rapture and looting.

Pete Doherty (from Babyshambles) gets 6 months in jail for drug possession.

Wrestler Randy Savage was killed in a car crash earlier today. He suffered a heart attack and lost control of his vehicle.

For beer lovers everywhere: because of a shortage in grain production, the price keeps going up. :-(

We're now on five days in a row with the rainy weather. Sigh!

Till tomorrow

Signing off,
The Puzzlechick

Lighten Up!

Hello Mr. Sun! You have been missed! Today's Newsday crossword puzzle is aptly titled "Lighten Up." The them answers are:

17A: Epitomes: SHINING EXAMPLES
35A: Expressions of Delight: BEAMING SMILES
52A: Major Blunders: GLARING ERRORS

In Hollywood news, Jeff Conaway (from "Taxi" and "Grease") slipped into a coma from an apparent overdose. He had been addicted to drugs for years and tried to redeem himself several times. Very sad news.

As parents, my husband and I we try our best to set a "shining example" for our son. I guess that's not true if you're a Hollywood celebrity. It turns out that the "love child" of Arnold Schwarzenegger was born 5 days AFTER his youngest son (with Maria Shriver) was born. I'm sure he paid off both his former maid (the alleged mother) and the child to keep things secret.

As an editor, I often cringe when I see "glaring errors" in all types of media from newspapers to Web sites. I was going to put some of these online, but it proved to be too much effort. There are a couple of excellent sites devoted to typos and grammatical errors. "The Proofreaders' Hall of Shame" hasn't been updated in a few years, but I found some hilarious goofs. Here's the URL: http://www.zone38.net/phs/

For more hilarious slip-ups, check out Sharon Eliza Nichols' book I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar: http://www.amazon.com/Judge-When-Poor-Grammar-Disconcerting/dp/0312533012

Today's cryptoquote is by Charles Dickens (1812-1870). It reads "Every baby born into the world is a finer one than the last." I found a cute onesie with this saying in Cafe Press: 

http://www.cafepress.com/bigfatgear.159501360 

Kickboxing and more Zumba tonight! I just can't get enough of Zumba! Tonight will be the first class I take with the new kickboxing instructor. I heard she used to be a drill sergeant. 

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick