Kiss My A---!

Cyrano de Bergerac

Happy Valentine's Day! The pressure is on this day to hook up with someone and do something romantic. It's also one of the most over-emphasized holidays when it comes to the card printers and candy makers. Technically, it's a Catholic holiday so we don't make a big deal of it in our house. However, even the puzzle creators jumped in with today's cryptoquote:

A kiss is a rosy dot over the "I" on loving.

The quote is from the author Cyrano de Bergerac (1619-1655). He was known for his fictional works based on his life story, and was often portrayed with a very large nose. In the play by Edmond Rostand, Cyrano pines for his distant cousin Roxanne but she is infatuated with Christian, a fellow guardsman, and Cyrano wants to bring them together. He offers to help Christian win Roxanne by writing eloquent letters and signing his name to them. I think you know how the story ends. Rostand's play has been adapted into many stage, screen, and TV productions.

How many songs can you name that have the word "kiss" in the title?

Today's Newsday Puzzle, by Billie Truitt, has nothing to do with hearts and kisses. It's called "At the Races" and here are the theme answers:

20A: Gymnastics apparatus (POMMEL HORSE). I loved gymnastics, but I hated like the pommel horse. We had to jump over it, and I never managed to do it as I was scared to get hurt. When gymnasts do stunts on the horse, they make it look so easy.

51A: Much-traveled route (BEATEN TRACK)

Fatboy Slim

11D: San Francisco bridge (GOLDEN GATE). San Francisco is on my bucket list of places to visit in the U.S. This bridge has been declared on of the "Wonders of the Modern World". Connect to this Web site to learn more about this beautiful structure.

28D: Radio station employee (DISK JOCKEY). The days of the classic disk jockey--Alan Freed, Cousin Brucie, Scott Muni, Pete Fornatelle, Wolfman Jack, Casey Kasem, etc.--are long gone. Now the DJ is concentrated in the clubs, my favorite being Fatboy Slim. As Norman Cook (his real name), Fatboy Slim was a member of the Housemartins, one of my favorite bands in the 80s. Unfortunately, I missed seeing him at Voodoo in New Orleans because it conflicted with the Raconteurs

I've been watching the Westminster Dog Show. So far, three of my favorite breeds--a German shepherd, a dalmatian, and a Dachshund--are in the finals. It all ends tonight with "Best in Show."

As a final note on this Valentine's Day 2012, the most important person you can love is yourself!

Till tomorrow. . . .

Singing off,
The Puzzlechick