DRH

Ok, the theme made me laugh when I discovered what it was. Very enjoyable! (I solved the Thursday 2/20/2025 New York Times Daily Crossword in 13:16 .. much quicker than my usual time!)

It was unique. Just a minor quibble, if that's ok. Siege doesn't fit the pattern. It's pronounced seej, not seezh. (I'd never heard actually anyone say "zhuzh up" but maybe that's just me!)

I don't just go ham, I go ham and cheese. Maybe even with mustard if I'm feeling crazy.

Thanks for the reminder that I'm "still single" in one of the clues! (I'm joking. I have no desire to not be.) A more genuine thanks for the reminder of my favourite chocolate (i.e. sugary) childhood cereal. My mom always let me have it. I do miss her.

Nice theme, but it took me a long time to figure it out. (Sorry.) (I solved the Wednesday 2/26/2025 New York Times Daily Crossword in 25:59! --> Slow!)

I enjoyed this one, but also didn't understand why ELFIN was an answer. Oh well. I've heard of the Platte River (even as a Canadian ;⁠) but I am a geography fan. Recently, I saw an episode of the British quiz show Pointless (on YouTube) about British rivers - not so much an expert on that. But, it's good to keep learning - you never know when it'll be useful in something like a crossword!

The three place names could also have been Charlottetown, Thunder Bay, and Moose Jaw as well. Canada also uses the "our" spellings. (But I'm guessing Ipswich, Derby and Manchester are more well-known.)

I thought of "IT IS SO" at first as an answer for the "doubling down assertion" clue. I guess I was so doubled down that I thought, what on earth does ID ID SO mean?! :)