I such a difficult time solving today's cryptoquote that I had to finish it during my commute. I couldn't even find it online. But here it is:
"Fortune loves to give slippers to those with wooden legs, and gloves to those with no hands."--Théophile Gautier (1811-1872)
Théophile Gautier
Who was Théophile Gautier? He was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, art critic, and literary critic. He was part of "La Bohème", circle of artists and writers who led an unconventional life. Gautier coined the phrase "art for art's sake" as he was the first writer to publish this phrase in 1833.
My favorite Newsday constructor, David W. Cromer, wrote today's puzzle. It's called "Have No Fear." All three theme clues are "Ask riskily":
20A: SKATE ON THIN ICE. This is a favorite phrase that teachers always use on students who are just squeaking by. It was also a short-lived reality show on Australian TV in 2005. In this show, nine celebrities learned to skate and the winner would perform with Disney on Ice.
41A: WORK WITHOUT A NET. As a kid, I remember going to the circus and watching all those performers like the trapeze artists and the tightrope walkers. They always used a net for safety. The same thing applies to business. The self-employed must never take a freelance job without a signed contract. Second, they also need to be covered for health insurance. Third, they should always have back-up space for all their major projects.
60A: WALK A TIGHTROPE. See the cartoon on the right for an explanation.
Sorry to be so short today--I'm just tired and irritable.
I love, love, love today's cryptoquote! It's by Norma Jeane Baker, known to all of us as Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962):
"Give the girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world."
I love shopping for shoes. The right shoes can make or break and outfit. With the right shoes, any outfit can look like it stepped out of Vogue. They can also tell a lot about a person. Here is a list of 10 shoes that all women should own.
In 1985, the author Mimi Pond published a book called Shoes Never Lie, which was extremely funny. I know I attended the promotional book party at The Palladium, but I don't remember what shoes I wore (gasp!)
And who can forget Imelda Marcos and her infamous shoe collection? See picture on the right-hand side. She would collect shoes (3,000 pairs!) on her travels while her people from the Philippines were living in extreme poverty. Marcos also had 15 fur coats, 1,000 handbags, and over 500 gowns. There was no way she was going to wear all those shoes!
Then there's 5-year-old Suri Cruise, whose shoe collection is worth about $150,000, but she doesn't have any real friends her age. That's more than my husband and I make combined. I can't imagine those high heels would be good for her feet.
Of course, this post wouldn't be complete without a few words of wisdom from everyone's favorite shoe salesman, Al Bundy:
Finally, you can link to this Web site for all you wanted to know about the divine Miss Monroe.
With all this talk about shoes, I forgot about today's crossword puzzle. This is by Fred Jackson III and is called "The Way It's Done." The theme answers, please:
20A: Hotels, at times (CONVENTION SITES). For a large city like New York, the Javitz Center is such an eyesore. It's also way out of the way (11th Ave. and 34th to 38th Street). There isn't even any parking there; you have to go to one of the nearby overpriced garages. I've been there only once, but I'm sure the food is overpriced too. They're supposed to extend the 7 train to the Javitz Center by December 2013. I'll believe it when I see it.
37A: Personal message on a ring (CUSTOMER ENGRAVING). Things Remembered, a chain store with tacky personalized gifts. I did get two nice boxes when I was on the Parents' Association at P.S. 175, but of the items will collect dust.
52A: Rehearsal (PRACTICE SESSION). During the time when I played three instruments (clarinet, guitar, and piano), I hated rehearsals and practice. It was constant drilling of notes and scales. That's probably why I didn't play as well as I could have. However, I loved play rehearsals at drama club, which were always fun.
Thanks to water on the tracks, the subways were all screwed up and I didn't make it to Zumba class last night. Will attempt to try again tonight.
Today's cryptoquote is by the renowned actor Alan Alda (1936- ):
"It's too bad I'm not as wonderful a person as people say I am because the world could use a few people like that."
Born Alphonse Joseph D'Abruzzo in the Bronx, Alan Alda is best-known for his work on the series M*A*S*H. He won 6 Emmys for his role as Hawkeye Pierce and eventually became producer and creative consultant. His father, Robert, was a famous actor too. When Alan was 7, he contracted polio and was treated with hot wool blankets and muscle stretches (yikes!). He graduated from Fordham in 1956 and married his wife, Arlene Weiss, a year later. His list of TV and film credits is too long to mention, so I will just link them here. He also has appeared in many Broadway shows.
Today's puzzle theme (by Billie Truitt) is not one of my favorites. It's called "Three Chores" that I hate doing:
20A: Parent's morning request (MAKE YOUR BED)
39A: Parent's after-supper request (TAKE OUT THE TRASH)
53A: Parent's before-supper request (SET THE TABLE)
To the left are some Stepford children helping Mom with chores. . . . Chores are supposed to help children learn responsibility, blah, blah, blah. There are even chore charts out there so the duties can be divided between the kids. (insert snorting with laughter here). Growing up, the request for chores from my parents usually turned into a screaming match. When I was in high school, I remember having to clean my room for the cleaning lady (Wait! Isn't that supposed to be her job?). I would come home from school and my room stunk from cigarette smoke. . . . I was neater in college because I was living with others in confined quarters. Now I'm so lucky to to be working during the day so I can trick my house husband into doing everything. I came home yesterday and the carpets were all vacuumed and the floors were all clean. Gotta love him!
It's pouring out but that won't stop me from going to Zumba!
When I read today's cryptoquote, I thought it was more appropriate for spring.
"I like to think of thoughts as living blossoms borne by the human tree"--James (Jim) Douglas
There are a million men with this name out there, but I found the correct one. This James Douglas is a four-time Vermont governor and is currently the executive in residence at Middlebury College. He was the first governor to meet President Obama, and the initially vetoed the same-sex marriage bill. The House and Senate of Vermont overrode him, and it became a law in 2009.
Today's crossword by Gail Grabowski is called "Watch List." Here are the theme answers:
21A: Romantic songs, informally (SLOW NUMBERS). I find most romantic songs sappy and I simply can't listen to them. When I was in 5th or 6th grade, there was a boy in our class (Joe, where are you?) who would sing along to "My Love" by Paul McCartney. . . .Give me some Barry White any time! His numbers could melt even the iciest person.
48A: Get a new owner (CHANGE HANDS). I can imagine in this economy how many companies have been reorganized.
3D: Formal event music group (DANCE BAND). When my brothers celebrated their bar mitzvahs, dance bands were the big thing. I think they're still popular at weddings, but DJs are in vogue for major celebrations these days. Watching "I Love Lucy" over the weekend brought back the days when dance bands and night clubs were big business. Those were the days when people got dressed up and went out in their finest clothes.
32D: Emotionless look (POKER FACE). I've been waiting for this answer for the longest time! It gives me the excuse to air Cartman's hilarious performance of the Lady Gaga hit:
A good friend of ours finally got a job after being out of work for over three months. He has been in and out of jobs for a long time; I hope this one lasts!
Sorry for another short entry, but it's a busy day at the salt mines. Till tomorrow.
Sorry I've been away from here for a few days. Things were hectic at work and at home.
Yesterday I competed at Lollapuzzoola 4. This is a smaller version of ACPT and a lot more fun. Brian Cimmet and Ryan Hecht--two very funny guys who used to run a blog called "Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords"--started Lollapuzzolla three summers ago with about 30 people. The tournament initially started in Jackson Heights, at a church where the first Scrabble game was played. Well, the tournament outgrew its space and this year it moved to All Souls Church on Lexington Ave. Over 170 people participated, along with I don't know how many at-home players. Unlike ACPT, there are no money prizes, but the top 10 finishers in each division (Local and Express) get puzzle books, and the top 3 get trophies as well. Patrick Blindauer took over Ryan's spot as co-host this year.
Yesterday's puzzle constructors were Mike Nothnagel, Elizabeth C. Gorski, Andrea Carla Michaels, Tony Orbach, Doug Peterson, and Byron Walden. I will not post any spoilers here because there are people competing at home. All I can say was that puzzle #5 was by far my favorite because I loved the theme and the way it was constructed.
Upon registering, we were handed a card with a person from a famous group or family. I got "Homer", which meant I had to hook up with The Simpsons for a game we played at the end of the day. This game was created by Neville Fogarty.
I sat next to Ellen Ripstein, who won the ACPT in 2001 (I think). She was featured in the movie "Wordplay." I had a very nice conversation with her, and the other people at my table were nice too.
I don't usually check the standings because I know I was near the bottom. Instead, I measured how I did against past performances. I finished 3 out of the 5 puzzles yesterday, and came close to finishing puzzle #2. Puzzle #4 was virtually impossible. I was happy with my performance, but I need to practice with a timer.
Jeffrey Harris was the winner of the Express division. The Express division consists of people who finished in the top 20% in either ACPT or Lollapuzzoola. The Local division winner was Andy Kravis (in his very first tournament!). The Pairs division title went to Amy Goldstein and Evan O'Donnell (who I think is only 13 or 14). Joon Pahk had the dubious distinction of having the worst handwriting (they give out the best handwriting award at ACPT).
We are watching the "I Love Lucy" marathon on the Hallmark Channel in honor of Lucille Ball's 100th birthday. They just showed the very last episode. "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour", her follow-up show done in the late 50s, was nowhere near as funny. You also could see the marital discord between Lucy and Desi. I posted this link on my Facebook page yesterday on why Lucy still keeps us laughing.
We did "old school" music at my Zumba class this morning. Otherwise it was a quiet day, except for the altercation that Matthew had with a cashier at Wendy's. The oven was down and they were unable to grill chicken for his salad. Then they told him that the oven would be fixed and it would take about 5 extra minutes . . . 20 minutes later he was still waiting. The oven was still down . . . no salad. They didn't even offer him anything else. He got his money back, but he was told to stop arguing. This is the second time it's happened with the same cashier. I don't think we'll be going back there for a while.
Emile Zola (1840-1902) is the author of today's cryptoquote:
"If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you that I came to live out loud."
Émile Zola was a prolific French writer and one of the most important figures in the naturalism literary movement. He was also known for his involvement in the Dreyfus Affair of the late 1890s. This political scandal began when a French agent stole a letter to a German military officer. The commanders of the French army decided that Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish soldier, is a spy within the French top army staff. He is imprisoned and awaits many years for trial. It is discovered that another soldier is actually the spy, but he gets sent to a distant post instead. Dreyfus's wife pleaded with Zola to take up this cause. Zola publishes a letter in a newspaper with the heading J'Accuse (I Accuse). He is brought to trial for libel and is imprisoned for a year. A new army administration finally admits that Dreyfus is innocent, but Zola dies of carbon monoxide poisoning the day before Dreyfus is exonerated. For a complete list of Zola's works, see http://openlibrary.org/authors/OL32772A/%C3%89mile_Zola.
Today's puzzle (by Norma Steinberg) is called "I Got Your Back." The theme answers:
20A: Minimal uncertainty (SHADOW OF A DOUBT). This is also the name of 1943 Hitchcock thriller. In this classic film starring Theresa Wright and Joseph Cotten, a teenager named Charlotte "Charlie" Newton is visited by her favorite uncle. However, "Uncle Charlie" is not the man he appears to be and has some very dark secrets. No spoilers!
40A: Child's Game (FOLLOW THE LEADER). This morning, the "Today" show featured 2,000 Zumba instructors led by their guru, Beto Perez. One of my favorite Zumba songs happens to be "Follow the Leader" by the Soca Boyz. Here are the boys in a live performance:
55A: Be behind, with 30 minutes of football left (TRAIL IN THE HALF). I don't think we will be seeing football for a while. They're on strike. Good riddance!
Jessica Alba appears on the September Lucky. She looks fabulous!
Bought skinny cargo pants from Loehmann's today. Next up, trying to find a hot pink sweater to go with my new black-and-white dress. There's always turquoise.
Good morning! I was moving really slowly yesterday and I didn't have the energy to post an entry.
The cryptoquote today is by someone I have never heard of, Aneurin Bevan (nicknamed "Nye"). It is very straightforward:
"We know what happens to people who stand in the middle of the road. They get run over."
Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960), son of a coal miner, was a long-time of the leader of the Labour Party and a member of Parliament. He spent most of his political career championing for the rights of the working class. His followers were called Bevanites and were influenced by Marxism but preferred a more democratic socialism. Their main objectives were a (1) a free system of health, welfare, and education; (2) state control of the economy; (3) housing for all; and (4) full employment. For a list of Bevan's contributions, see http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-aneurin-bevan.
The crossword theme for today is "3-D Viewing" by Billie Truitt. The theme answers are below:
20A: Nutritional needs diagram (FOOD PYRAMID). The food pyramid was introduced to the United States in 1992 and was divided into sections to show the recommended intake for each food group. It replaced the "Basic Four" food groups that I and a lot of baby boomers were educated on. "My Plate", a much simpler diagram, replaced the Food Pyramid in June 2011. For more information on the new guide, see http://www.choosemyplate.gov/.
41A: World of government (POLITICAL SPHERE). This is one world I do not want to be a part of, lol! After watching John Boehner ("the whiner") and President Obama battling it out over the debt ceiling issue, I am so disgusted! Case closed.
57A: Road repair marker (TRAFFIC CONE). Do you remember the episode of "The Brady Bunch" when Greg and Marcia competed to see who was the better driver? They had to complete an obstacle course without breaking an egg. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the video online for this episode, but it was one of the few funny episodes of the show's last season.
The old biddies of Nassau County voted down the new arena for the Islanders. This probably will mean "Goodbye Islanders, hello low-income housing project." What a shame. Nassau Coliseum is the biggest eyesore in Nassau County. Their acoustics are outdated and the building is just plain ugly. Also, there is no public transportation, which means you have to pay $6 for parking. Had there been a new arena, not only would there have been new jobs, but the businesses around it would have benefited. I feel bad for Charles Wang, who has proposed so many innovative new ideas. The old biddies don't want change; they just don't want to pay any new taxes.
Joel Grey in 1966
Last night, we saw a conversation between Joel Grey and Jon Robin Baitz at the Museum of the City of New York. They're good friends so the banter between them was very amusing. Joel talked about his career both in the theater and as a photographer. He is coming out with his third photography book and is currently starring in Anything Goes. Not bad for a 79-year-old!
This week, I am practicing for Lollapuzzoola 4, which is this Saturday. This year, the tournament moves from Jackson Heights to Manhattan (Whoooo!). This tournament is much more informal than the American Crossword Tournament. And Will Shortz has been making an appearance each year. The organizers give out "Google Tickets" if you need a hint to an answer (theme answers don't count).
My love affair with puzzles started when I was 10 years old. My grandfather bought me a book of word-search puzzles and introduced me to Scrabble and Boggle. In college, my roommate had a subscription to Games magazine and I became hooked on crosswords. During my commute to work, I would solve the Times puzzle as well as others. I even worked briefly for a puzzle magazine publisher. As much as I enjoyed the job, I thought I needed to have more "marketable" skills, so I learned desktop publishing and copy editing.
After seeing the movie "Wordplay," I decided to attend the American Crossword Puzzle tournament. This year will be my fifth year in the tournament. During these last few years, I've become familiar with constructors' styles and am now attempting to construct puzzles as well (it's not easy!).
I live in Forest Hills with my husband and son. My interests including postcard and business-card collecting, theater, going to museums, attending concerts, traveling, reading, dining out, and shopping.
41A: WORK WITHOUT A NET. As a kid, I remember going to the circus and watching all those performers like the trapeze artists and the tightrope walkers. They always used a net for safety. The same thing applies to business. The self-employed must never take a freelance job without a signed contract. Second, they also need to be covered for health insurance. Third, they should always have back-up space for all their major projects.
