Ginny

Un-lurking because I need to have my say. I've done the NYT xword for several decades. While working I mostly ignored Thurs & Sat because I didn't have the time to figure them out. Now I'm retired I do the puzzle every day. I enjoy the solve & learning things that I didn't know. I have my favorite constructors & I am in awe of all you new puzzle creators, your brilliance, whimsy, & creativity. I'm grateful to Will Shortz & staff for the many years of guiding this cultural institution, & for the emphasis on diversity that has brought so much freshness the past few years. Until recently, I've enjoyed coming to the comments after completing, for the sense of camaraderie & to enjoy others' insights & observations. Lately, the comments are so full of complaints about the hard-easy level that I can no longer enjoy it. I don't care to have my sense of satisfaction or enjoyment of a theme killed by finding out that my experience was apparently stupid because I didn't think it was too easy. I wish that those of you who feel strongly about this would write directly to the puzzle team & let the rest of us enjoy the community that is now buried under the constant stream of complaints. OK, I've had my say & I'm out. It's Spring & I'm sure I can use the time back for more productive pursuits than reading complaints. I'll miss the fun comments that I used to enjoy from some regular commenters -- looking at you, Cat Lady Margaret & Mean Old Lady 🙂. Wishing you all the best. PNW out.

I hardly ever comment but I loved this crossword in so many ways! I just have to join the chorus of praise for this delightful debut. I learned the love of crosswords from my dad, and on our summer camping road trips, we loved playing the license plate game with him. I remember learning the Perry Como states pun song, and singing it in the car. But my first thought on getting FLOOR IT, DUH! was oh, these answers are So Much Better. :-D Dad has been gone for 20 years now. I still miss him all the time and this one made me so wish I could do the puzzle with him today.) I don't think I've ever laughed out loud and, yes, even snorted, over a puzzle so much. Thank you for a delightful start to my Sunday, @Ginny Too. Your father sounds delightful and I wish I could hang with your family. :) (I do agree that the Virginia pun was the must forced, but as a fellow Virginia, it had to be there! I loved it.) <3

44D might be my all-time favorite clue ever! @Marshall Walthew, thank you for that lovely story. It made me happy.

The northwest corner is quite a stumper if you remember the wrong 5-letter Aristophanes comedy. :>0 Fun puzzle!

I wonder if anyone else in my age bracket confidently filled in Phisohex for 29D? :)