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