Kelly H

Deb, Thank you for sharing your selfless DAY TO DAY inspiration with all of us. I always appreciate the humble, empirical wisdom you bring to your columns. Thanks, also, for the special shout-out to Stephen Colbert who has been providing"night to night" inspiration over the years for so many of us.

What a clever puzzle with 24K at the center and discovering 24 K's sprinkled throughout the grid! I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Good luck, Jackson, on the start of your undergrad experience at UNC - I hope you enjoy every moment and that you'll have time to offer us more fun grids!

Congratulations on a fine debut, Stephan -- I hope we see more of you! I also enjoyed your insightful and reflective constructor notes! A humbling experience regarding PLAY-DOH: While attending graduate school some years ago, I had an in-demand (and, fittingly, demanding) professor whose words always had us at the edge of our seats. During my first class with him, I could not make heads nor tails of what he was talking about until he said what I THOUGHT was, "Take PLAY-DOH for instance ..." I thought, "Well, finally, some kind of connection to my (un-evolved) brain" and added it to my notes. He spoke more at length and then said, "On the other hand, Aristotle ..." I quickly put my hand over my notes and quickly got caught up on my philosophers!🙄 Happy Thursday, everyone!

Thank you, Jeffrey, for a fun, final grid for 2025! At first I was expecting the hats and balloons to explode into confetti, but then sat back and admired the colors among the symmetry of black squares. While perhaps not intended, I'm now viewing this grid as a hopeful metaphor that there will be more color & joy to come in 2026 as we leave the dark behind. VIVE LA PAIX! Wishing all of you a peaceful, happy and healthy New Year!☮️❣️

Thank you, Peter, for a "little" melodic start to the week -- I enjoyed this grid. Welcome, Jo -- your commentary brought delightful pre-gaming levity! Happy MLK Jr Day, everyone. He would have been 97 years old and, no doubt, outraged by what is happening over 57 years since his death. His words: "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends," once again, ring so true. I'm grateful for our little global community here where we must stay vocal and strong in the name of peace and justice. ⚖️☮️🫶🏼

Thank you, Mark, for a very enjoyable Sunday grid. Your clever misdirects had me chuckling and that's saying something amidst so much sad and scary news. Stay safe and warm, everyone, and let's be sure to LOOK IN ON one another. ☮️ 🫶🏼

Even though it took me a little longer than usual, I really loved this theme - here's to No ICE! Thank you, Kareem, for such a brilliant theme - I hope we see more from you!

Congratulations on a fine debut, Patrick! I enjoyed your clues, as well as your humble constructor notes. Your perseverance certainly paid off and I (not i), for one, find myself to be a grateful solving recipient. I hope to see more from you!

Deb, what a treasure you have been as you have guided and beguiled all of us while we tackled, arguably, the most challenging grids of the week. Thanks to you, I have gained confidence and skill (more like luck!) with Thursdays and Fridays. As I've shared before, because of your kindness and encouragement, I no longer break out into hives upon seeing the word "rebus."🤗 Sending my very best to you, Deb -- I wish you much good health and happiness on the years ahead.💖

Thank you for this fabulous grid, Alex. In my view, starting with Sylvia PLATH and ending with YENTE made for a perfect Sunday. As a theater lover, I found the clues to be clever, yet attainable, with many of them very laugh-out-loud-able. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your mom and thank you for sharing with all of us your lovely tribute to her. 🫶🏼

Wonderful grid and so fun! Thank you, Ginny and Avery -- I hope we'll see more collaborations from both of you! As a loyal Steely Dan fun, I loved the nod to AJA which is one of my favorite albums of all time. Can't Buy a Thrill is another of their great ones, but I digress and won't Do It Again.🎶

You'll hear no compliment INFLATION from me -- I thoroughly enjoyed this grid from start to finish! Thanks for a Dabulous Brossword, Mallory and Zhou -- I hope we see more collaborations from you! A+ to a great team (including you, Mr. Shortz) ~

What a very ɸne Sunday grid -- thank you, Mr. Schiff!! So clever in every way with lots of sparkling gems even beyond SAPɸRE and TOPAZ. 💎🫶🏼💎 Happy Sunday, everyone!

Congratulations, Daniel, on a fine, clever debut! I chuckled at memories of shaking my MAGIC EIGHT BALL as a child until it provided my desired (and, surely, scientifically accurate) response. Your lovely comments about constructing a crossword for your wife each year have given me an incentive on ways to be more creative with future gifts for my husband (who always says he doesn't need anything). Thanks for a fun Wednesday, Daniel - hope to see more from you again soon!

Oof, a Sam Ezersky puzzle for a challenging, perfect Saturday! One clue that threw me a bit so I'm open to others' thoughts was for 46D. Those are usually purchased at nurseries in fall for immediate planting to overwinter and bud/bloom in the spring. Did I miss something in the clueing or is this just a northeastern gardening phenomenon? Also, BROEY would never past muster in the Spelling Bee (or on Fraternity Row), but I'll give it a try next time when the letters present themselves!

Such a fun and nostalgic way to start the week - thank you Andrea & Christina! It brought back a sweet memory of receiving a favorite gift as a child -- a stuffed Bugs Bunny with a pull cord that had him repeat over and over, "Eh, what's up doc?" that I never seemed to tire of listening to (much to my parents' chagrin).

What a fun Sunday puzzle! I'm usually not (like, hardly ever) a fan of rebuses, but with my favorite candy bar as the theme, I was all in today.😂 Congratulations on an impressive construction, Adrianne -- no small feat for you, I'm sure, as a current chemistry/climate major. Hope you're enjoying your experience at Harvey Mudd -- best of luck to you and hope to see more puzzles from you!

That was a really fun puzzle and a very impressive debut - I hope we see more from you, Kyle! Now, Deb -- onto your big news. . . While I am bereft that we'll soon be losing your erudite wisdom couched in what I've come to adore as your unparalleled, witty Debisms, I could not be happier for you. My husband and I recently retired and it is bliss. Not only does it free us up for traveling, etc., I now can complete most of my NYT puzzles most mornings and not at day's end when I was exhausted and teetering on losing one of my godforsaken streaks! Congratulations on such an amazing run and thanks for the early heads up -- I know we'll all savor your remaining columns.❤️

Congratulations on a fine and clever debut, Andrew -- I hope we see more from you! I loved every bit of it, especially EGGANDSPOONRACE for the win! 🥚🥄🏅

Thank you, Nate, for a very fun and clever Tuesday solve! I wish you and your husband all the best as you settle in to your new home -- may all your INSIDE (and outside) VOICES be happy ones!

Wowsa -- congratulations, Zachary on an extraordinary debut at the ripe old age of 16!! Constructing, let alone completing, a Sunday puzzle is no small feat -- I hope we see many more from you! I especially enjoyed your constructor notes. Kudos to you for reaching out to John and, additional kudos to you, John, for spotting such talent and agreeing to collaborate! Happy Sunday, everyone!

Really enjoyed this Friday puzzle -- thank you, Hemant! Like others, I confess to going dark on "Swim with fishes?" I somehow wanted to squish in DAVYJONESLOCKERED or CEMENTSHOED, but, alas, the space and tense did not allow for me to go all Godfathery (new word not yet surfaced on Jeopardy). Deb, as others have shared more eloquently, thank you for your kindness, wit and wisdom that has guided us through our Fridays and Saturdays (and a few other weekdays as occasional treats). Your humor and humility have provided me with greater end-of-week crossword courage and to no longer endure a hives outbreak when I see the word REBUS. My best to you for a well-earned, happy and healthy retirement. 🫶🏼

Thank you, Geoffrey and Will, for such a cleverly-constructed Tuesday -- I hope we'll see more collaborations from you!

Thank you for a delightful puzzle, Adrianne and Happy Birthday! I hope your next trip around the ☀️ is a great one and includes more puzzles from you! I really enjoyed the theme, as well as the clever soft (egg) clue of "Day for hunting"🐰😉 Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I really enjoyed this grid and the constructor notes -- thank you, Adam! I have long admired Newberry Medal award-winning author LOIS LOWRY (Number the Stars, The Giver, and so many more gorgeous stories) and was so pleased to see her featured in today's puzzle. Happy Saturday, everyone!

Congratulations on a great debut, Dario! So clever and so fun!

Thank you, Jill and Michelle, for a very clever Sunday puzzle -- I really enjoyed it! It must have been such a blast to construct this one together -- I hope you'll bless us with more grids from WHERE [your] WILD THINGS ARE!😉

Really fun Friday today! It's a bluebird sky day up here in Maine so I especially liked the cluing for LEMONADESTAND and rock('s) alternative PAPER that both enticed me to get outside and play!

Just WOW! Congratulations, Bryan, on a spectacular first puzzle -- and a themeless Friday, at that! Everything that Deb described was here and so much more for an impressive 14 year old constructor's debut! While I may be in the minority, the animal lover in me loved seeing STAR-NOSED MOLE featured as it's such a fascinating little creature. I also love PESTO on any kind of tomato, particularly the late summer/early fall variety we have right now in the northeastern US. Thanks for a great start to the weekend, Bryan - well done!

Congratulations on a fine debut, Brian, and thanks for sharing your inspiring submission perseverance. Your ability to stay the course offers us all hope on so many levels!

Thank you, Nicole and Brad, for such a clever and thought-provoking puzzle! I loved every bit of it (even the part when I was trying to figure out who the other Seth could be on late night before I finally inserted the pivotal rebus!) I especially loved your joint constructor notes and seeing your father-daughter collaboration come to fruition with such an ambitious puzzle. My beloved dad passed away a few years ago at 93 years young. I miss him, but will always be grateful for the strong, loving relationship I had with him my entire life. I wish the same for both of you and hope we can look forward to more of your collaborative puzzles! You may already know of this wonderful children's picture book titled "Duck! Rabbit!" by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld. The story and illustrations make for a delightful romp using OPTICAL ILLUSIONs that's fun for all ages!🦆🐰😊

Presidential term X 2 EIGHT IS ENOUGH

Wow! What a fabulous debut, Joyce -- and a Friday, to boot! Congratulations on your first appearance and on constructing some very, very clever clues. I look forward to seeing more from you! Like many, I need to learn how to spell Ayo Edebiri without assistance as she is fast becoming a regular fixture in these puzzles. She's also a very fine actress so, hopefully, her performances will continue to far outshine her appearances in the crossword! Happy Friday, everyone!

Thank you, Robert, for a very fine, clever grid. I scored my best Saturday time, but really think it's because I was enjoying myself so much. I really loved STILL MOOING and, as a lover of rare beef on rare occasions, shall consider requesting it be prepared that way while dining out.🐮😉 Happy weekend, everyone!

Lovely Monday grid, Lynn Lempel -- thank you! Here's to safe travels for everyone, whether by land, sea or air~

Thank you, Greg and Glenn, for a lovely Friday grid! Such a nice range and clever clueing! I actually just finished a fictional PAGETURNER that I'd like to recommend: The Correspondent, a debut novel by Virginia Evans. The story is told through a series of letters, involves both sides of the pond and I could not put it down! I do not know Ms. Evans nor do I receive compensation for my (amateur) recommendation, but I always like to pass along a good read by a debut novelist when they emerge! Happy Friday, everyone!

Thank you, Rena, for such a fabulous Sunday theme -- as 122A states: I LOVED IT! It's particularly impressive that you even have the time to construct such a strong grid (or ANY grid!) as you complete your studies at Washington University. With seven puzzles now under your belt, I look forward to seeing others that you may have in store for us. Best of luck to you as you complete your undergrad studies -- have fun and please keep constructing when your time allows!

Thank you, Hannah, for a very fine Monday grid! I didn't best my RECORD, but it had just the right DEPTH for the start to the week. Natan, I also enjoyed your nice commentary comparing a puzzle to a constructor's personal mixtape -- Hannah's playlist was perfect and could have included The Mamas & the Papas chestnut, "Monday, Monday."🎶 The 30 mph north wind is rattling the windows right now as I look out at our blizzard conditions. Stay safe & warm, northeast friends! ❄️🫶🏼❄️

Oof - this was a captivating, but tough one for me in more than a few places. I especially enjoyed the clue for BARD crossed with the R/DAZZLE!

Thank you, Colin, for a very sweet Friday crossword. I enjoyed every bit of it and completed this puzzle in my best Friday time while still learning new facts that far exceeded BAR TRIVIA! Happy start of the weekend to all!

That was one spicy, BOSS LEVEL puzzle for a Wednesday! Not being versed in many woodworkers' tools nor some of the wide ranging trivia, this one took me longer than my average Wednesday time. For me, the best part was today's constructors' comments! I would love to see more of this Nick-Christina collaboration, but please give me time to study in advance. Today's teamwork deserves an A PLUS, for sure!

Awesome debut, Chad Hazen! I'm so glad you persisted, and I hope to see more from you. You and Jeff make a great team! Thanks, also, for sharing your submission journey with us. What a fabulous example of perseverance! Happy, happy Wednesday, everyone!

I enjoyed every bit of today's puzzle so, thank you, Mr. Ross! A couple of personal connections for me today: My dad's birthday was on March 15th so that quote always garnered a lot of mileage in our family as we would remind him what was fast approaching! Also, as a recently retired (elementary) school principal, I greatly admire your xword construction success and wish you many more fruitful years ahead!

Congratulations on a fabulous first time construction, John! The clueing was so clever and I also enjoyed reading your constructor notes -- I hope we see many more from you!

Challenging one for me, but fun enough to work up an appetite for later today!🤪🦃 Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate -- I'm thankful for this wise and supportive community!

Very fun themeless solve this morning, Adrian and Christina - I hope we see more collaborations from the two of you! Alas, I missed matching my personal Saturday Best by 40 seconds due to an untimely, non-emergency distraction in my household! Needless to say, it HIT A NERVE!😩😂