Lake life

One for the CRAPPER. Too many clues where the answers could be anything in addition to words and phrases that are rarely (if ever) used. I found myself missing the cleverness that makes a crossword puzzle great. Oh and to anyone saying that one just needs more practice to do well here? I’ve been solving daily for years and know a puzzle that’s lacking when I see one.

Just no. Slogged through every single clue and left in a bad mood. Nothing witty or fun about this one.

What a slog from start to finish. I could not have enjoyed this puzzle less.

Slog all the way through and not enjoyable in the slightest. This puzzle tried too hard to be clever.

I guess it’s time to brush up on my Italian, French, Spanish, and Greek so I can solve these puzzles again… not a big fan of this one.

I was today years old when I found out that it’s not Holy Cannoli. Fun puzzle- nice work!

I must have needed some of the octopi’s neural wiring today. Too many clues I didn’t have any background knowledge on. Not my favorite Tuesday solve but I can see that it was clever!

Oof. I don’t speak Italian, Persian, or Mandarin. Top right corner was a beast! Fun theme but didn’t love 3 different language answers in one area. Made it impossible to suss out.

A joy all around. Clever and fun!

Epaulet? Spoor? Definitely did not beat the clock on this one. Fun puzzle for a Tuesday but definitely felt more like a Thursday puzzle to me.

Tried to do this with my husband. Upgraded the app and now it won’t show the clues when we screen share. Very clever theme but really complicated. We’re experienced crossword solvers and even when we knew the answers we felt like a couple of Rama-lama-ding-dongs trying to piece together how to enter it in. I’m both impressed and annoyed.

Fun puzzle with a clever theme! Solved in under 10 minutes but got a little stuck in the NE corner… always tough when 2 names intersect and I don’t know either one!

Once I confidently put SANUKS in for comfy shoes I was, as the kids say, cooked. Slog from start to finish with too many obscure clues. Not my favorite.

Meh. Theme was ok. Some of the answers were a bit of a stretch and not very rewarding to fill in. Slogged through it but overall not a satisfying solve.

As soon as I realized the longer clues were Latin words I lost interest. Not my favorite but appreciate that it was unique

Overall fun but spiraled out of control with the extra L in 47A. Yes I’m aware it’s technically acceptable but not commonly used and still a reach.

Far too many name crossings for a Monday. Am I the only one that had PALINDROMES instead of VANITY PLATE? I think my Monday brain needs more coffee…

Gotta love when your only clues left are obscure names and a random duck term no one is familiar with. Doubling back for more coffee after wrestling this one.