Sue Barnet

So I xcited! Just read the clues, filled in the squares, heard the happy music. First time that’s happened. Started doing the puzzle in July 2022. What a difference 18 months of daily crosswording makes!

Just loved this puzzle. Burst into laughter at the unexpected Giddy Up!

Very happy! Got the “-“s right away so had lots of fill quickly. Made for a (for me) fast solve!

As a former player and lover of the oboe, I’m pleased to see many references to my favorite instrument. I’m considering taking up playing again, but piano practice, gardening, quilting, and crosswords take up all my time. Retirement is very busy!

I like the EMUS making an appearance in this puzzle!

I thought the answer to Galaxies was “old Fords”. My defense is I’ve always had iPhones!

Well, I liked this puzzle, NERTS and all!

Just delighted by the “missing” letters spelling out passages. How did he do that???

Best constructor comment ever!

In Seventh Heaven wi Dantean. Recently watched an excellent PBS two-parter on Dante and The Divine Comedy. Read it in college, but highly recommend this vivid, intelligent, explanatory drama/documentary.

I waited in vain for “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” to be included!

It’s “That dog don’t hunt” in rural Central Alabama. The first time I heard this expression, it was used to describe a failed car repair attempt. It means doesn’t do the required job or is useless. Great phrase right up there with “ease on down the road”,

It’s time to address haggis prejudice. I would bet large amounts that the naysayers have never eaten haggis. It’s a very tasty combination of lamb offal, steel cut oatmeal, suet, onion. Most people buy it ready to steam. Traditionally it’s served with mashed potatoes and mashed turnips. You can also get a chip shop haggis which is battered and deep fried. Both were very warming winter foods much enjoyed when I lived in Dundee. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

So happy to see the reappearance of OBOEs. But has my favorite instrument replaced OTOEs? It’s been a while since the last sighting of the midwestern First People!

Throughly enjoyed this clever puzzle. Thank you Laura Dershewitz!

I learned the word elide from doing a recent crossword. I didn’t know it and looked it up. Voila! Here it is again. And although it didn’t solve to Duke Kaboom of Toy Story fame, I love that such a marvelous word made an appearance!

I so wanted the first President to have a car to be Ford!!!

Disappointed to see Arnold Schwarzenegger in Todays crossword. Although it’s been fourteen years since his adulterous affair with his housekeeper and the existence of their son was revealed, nothing can change how badly Schwarzenegger acted. He betrayed his wife and children with his affair. He lied to them for years. There is also the unequal power relationship of employer/employee with his housekeeper to consider. No amount of contriteness can make up for this kind of misogyny.