Elizabeth
Ottawa
I was stuck for ages with a bass sax, moving forward only once I allowed myself to peek at today’s article. Ah yes. BARI sax. The other four letter low sax starting with BA- 😆
@Ιασων If you've made it thus far in life without knowing of GORP you're likely just fine to continue as is. But just in case this becomes critical knowledge - GORP is a trail mix type of snack. Blends vary widely but it is generally some combination of nuts, raisins, other dried fruit, and chocolate and/or candy all mixed together and carried in a snack bag. Part of the fun is picking out pieces one by one, or combining different pieces for different flavour bites as you eat. There are commercial brands/versions available. Can be bought pre-made (lots of versions out there) or mixed at home with preferred ingredients. Its energy density makes it a favourite of campers and hikers, though that has never prevented me from eating it on a regular day at home. Some suggest GORP stands for "good old raisins and peanuts" (the most basic version of the snack), but others feel this is a backronym. I don't know what determines whether a snack mix qualifies as "GORP" versus "trail mix", but my gut tells me that there is some difference. Perhaps I will remember after I finish my coffee. Either way, it's delicious :)
ohhhhhh... Wand-ers! lovely friday puzzle :)
Ooof, what a noodle-scratcher! After several passes through the clues with little to show for it, feeling very similar to when I started puzzling, I allowed myself some look-ups. 😆 It brought me back to when I’d learn all sorts of new things while trying to solve a puzzle, by having to look up people and terms and ideas. I’d get lost in rabbit holes and while it made for slower puzzling, I enjoyed expanding my views. This is how I learned about some common crossword topics like the Harlem Renaissance, WNBA teams, and different types of tides. What fun! I would have been immensely frustrated had I been in a rush this morning. But it was a lovely puzzle that used such clever wordplay that I couldn’t hold a grudge (after a few searches of names of matriarchal societies in Africa, none of which fit the grid, I realized - HYENA - and my reaction reminds me that I could never be described by the clue for 65D).
Really enjoyed this one! Thinking a bit differently first thing is the morning is probably very good for me. Lots of good clueing and wordplay, but it was 18A that made the corned of my mouth upturn in to a smile.
@The X-Phile Agreed! A very thoughtful puzzle that sent me to google a few times, but with such good clueing and satisfying answers it was really enjoyable. (My rule for myself about googling is that it is ok, as long as I learn something new. And wow, am I ever excited to learn more about Octavia E Spencer after today's puzzle).
@deborah Same here! Not an uncommon problem for me - you'd think I'd know by now that when I'm stuck on a clue my first step should be to go back and read it VERY carefully :)
@DocP Yes, and it's been stuck in my head ever since.
@The X-Phile I knew someone here would have an opinion! :) The wikipedia article claims that they are - gasp! - synonymous. We may be witnessing the dawn of the next big internet debate.
@Briana Welcome :) If you are solving on desktop, you can use the esc ket to toggle in to and out of the rebus function.
@Crevecoeur OOO is short for "out of office"
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