Wendy P
Conway, Arkansas
A puzzle with the flavor of BLACK SABBATH, devilishly clever as it is. Feeling MOPEY today, with a definite urge to POUT! Grateful, like several who have already commented, for a community attuned to the beauty, subtlety and power of language, used in other forums to enhance critical thinking and and deepen the understanding of humanistic values. That's the LONG AND SHORT OF IT!
I can't believe I did the whole thing!š
I can't believe I did the whole thing...!
Deb, Thank you for sustaining an international community of language lovers seeking intellectually challenging titillation and relaxation! Your columns swept us ACROSS a puzzling and intersectionally connected plane of clues and DOWN a corridor of delightful and (at times) damningly difficult solutions! Regards, Wendy (a 5-letter proper noun / character from Scottish author J.M. Barry's 1904 play, PETER PAN)
Wednesday's puzzle has a charming edge, Like a Flexible Flyer racing down "la neige"! Throughout, underlying its mystery, The work of a soul with a "bel esprit"! Joyeaux Noel!
@RichardZ I was the type of stiff and proper child who would have said "Give me five". š I failed to use the nicknames of other children. A real stick in the mud!
I enjoyed it! Unusual in a stimulating way!
Not a cross word amidst this entertaining exercise in crowd funning!
@Ken Finishing the puzzles quickly also has little appeal to me. Neither does taking forever. The fun for me is in the increasing challenge offered by each day's puzzle, and the ability to complete the most difficult occasionally!
Enjoyable puzzle -- warts and all!
Clever and teasingly edgy. Bodes well for the weekend! Nice, satisfying puzzle!
Ugh! (Euphoric when I completed it, however!)
Over the (pop) top! Devilishly difficult phrases constructed from ordinary words provided the pleasure! Exercised my brain in Burpee-esque ways! Thanks!
I needed a puzzle that surprised and delighted me with unexpected answers that required reworking to arrive at the solution! The brain exercise and my ability to finish made a not-so-great day better!
Tough! A real workout!
Totally worn out!
@Andrzej Again, I consider your answer for "Jack of Diamonds" fine, even inspired! There have been many baseball players named Jack. Choosing the classiest and most courageous of baseball "Jacks" was enlightening (even if accidental) and @Francis's comment served the genuinely educational nature of these comments mentioned earlier!
ThIs puzzle puzzled me, and its creator seemed PIT-iless, until a greater focus by me on the CORE clue bore FRUIT and warned me to remove the PITS from the FRUIT-FULL clues!
Feel like a Gold Medalist in completing this one! Stimulating and satisfying!
Er...make that J. M. Barrie.....
Thought that "yen" was only a noun, although it was my solution so as to complete the puzzle. Interestingly, most definitions found in googling "yen definition" only show first and second meanings to e nouns. When you click to obtain the rest, "yen" as a verb shows up on some. It is a legitimate solution, although not often used these days, I think!
@Fact Boy Picky, picky! The big picture is important here. TSARS and USSR is fine, and preferred. Former history teacher.....
Correction to earlier comment: Idio-m-etaphorical euphoria!
On a tightrope throughout the puzzle!!!
Almost drove me nuts to finish it -- to the point where I might accuse it of "dotting the i"!
Can't believe I completed it! Sly, subtle, and surprisingly substantive puzzle (e.g. not GLOSSY).
Evil! Cruel! Clever! "Licit" elicited a groan. "I'd have to kill you" coaxed from me a chuckle of appreciation. "High art"'s marijuana leaves left me moaning in pain. "Unicorn startups" sent me to Google (after I completed the puzzle). Added an unexpected lilt to my day! Warm regards, Wendy
@Gary Congratulations! It seems like an impossible task!
@Harry A remarkable cyber-community of which to be a part!
@Peabody I like these. Changes in these utterances mark the evolution of guttural sounds over time, and it is likely that different sub-cultures employ different such sounds!
@ĪĪ±ĻĻĪ½ I agree that the difficulty is in the life and mind of the solver!
@Lewis Good description of puzzle solving mood swings! š
Idiom-metaphorical euphoria!
Really enjoyed, especially for a Wednesday puzzle!
@Steve Demuth Great articulation of the essence of this puzzzle!
Stymied by STARlight!
@B Same with me on Almodovar! As I am a good speller, this was a welcome correction! Loved THE FLOWER OF MY SECRET! Have seen few other films by the fine director!
@Kathryn Thanks, Kathryn,! Will do!
@Barry Ancona I am used to seeing more commonly used secondary and third definitions up front, Barry. The use of "yen" as a verb deemed more obscure than the uses of other words as verbs. Not a major point.....
I found this easier than usual. Hmmmmmm.......
"Slow and steady wins the race" -- or solves an intellectually complex and delightful Saturday NYT crossword puzzle! Thanks!
Correction: (i.e., not GLOSSY) instead of (e g. not GLOSSY)
@Petrol Indeed! I participate in few other online communities!
@Wendy P I am actually grateful for FactBoy's gloss on the topic, but believe it would have been gracious to acknowledge the "big picture."
@Andrzej Idioms and colloquialisms are tough for non-native speakers! I wonder if Joseph Conrad mastered many in his English-language fiction and non-fiction!