Shelby

Merry merry Christmas, friends. This place is a light in the darkness (even when we argue;)

My book group likes to tease me about loving every book I read (which is absolutely not true, but years of running book discussions for surly teenagers trained me to tease out the positive). This always makes me self conscious about coming here to declare that I loved a puzzle, but I loved this puzzle! Terrific debut! I loved yesterday’s too. I am who I am.

There is no H in Dalai Lama There is no H in Dalai Lama There is no H in Dalai Lama Someday it will sink in for me

This satisfying puzzle, Cannonball Adderley’s Autumn Leaves, and a strong cup of coffee was a perfect start to the day. Happy fall, y’all.

PlayDoh really does smell fantastic. And it tastes good, too. (Yeah, I was THAT kid. Now you know everything.)

Always happy when SALT-N-PEPA comes up in any context. Here I go, here I go, here I go again…

I loved this puzzle. I don’t have anything clever to add, I just loved it. Happy to be here.

Deb, I hope you have so much fun in your retirement, you’ve fostered so much fun here. What will this ragtag group of curmudgeons do without you?

I was able to call up Woody’s last name immediately— resigned to the fact that information has a permanent home in my brain but I can’t remember my neighbor’s fiancé’s name to save my life. I’ve met him MANY times. Maybe I’ll start calling him BOYD.

In the spirit of “begin as you mean to go on,” I did this delightful puzzle curled up on my cozy couch with my sweet dog and a strong cup of coffee while the wind blusters outside. I could do this all year. What responsibilities? Happy new year, friends! Here’s to more learning from puzzles and less complaining about them! (just kidding, reading your complaints is part of the *experience*) xo

This puzzle was a real challenge, but I got to solve it on my porch, in beautiful weather, with a cup of coffee. Bless those French kissers, they made me smile.

BUNGEE and INNU and TEE delayed my solve time because I for the life of me couldn’t figure out what BUNGEE could be. Then, duh. Can only be grateful basic cluing trucks still trip me up, otherwise what fun would this be? Lovely puzzle!

I always love when the grid gives me some inspiration for my solving soundtrack. Listening to Rhapsody in Blue and being transported, not to the jazz age, but to hearing those American Airlines commercials that were always playing on the Weather Channel in my family’s kitchen while I got ready for school. Anyway, loved this puzzle.

I always laugh at the reaching and rationalization I do when I solve the whole puzzle without getting the theme. “I’m SURE there’s ice on the Riveira? Like a shaved ice stand? That’s probably it.” This was a challenge but I enjoyed it!

I painted myself into some silly corners with wild guesses on this one. Not as smooth as my usual Monday, but in a nice way. I guess I had to create obstacles for myself to get my brain cracking this morning!

I loved this puzzle, and not just because I’m a former librarian.

My only real complaint about getting LUDOVICO EINAUDI on the crosses near the end is that I couldn’t look him up and listen to his music while I solved. Wow, gorgeous.

This gave me a little more resistance than a usual Monday, which was very welcomed because it meant I could spend more time sipping coffee in the morning light without feeling like I was putting off the start of the day. But now, work :( I loved this puzzle. Toe beans.

Under two blankets in front of my freshly cut and trimmed tree, I appreciated this theme! Although I made myself blush assuming 69A might be FLIRT— before realizing you’ve likely advanced past the flirting stage if eggplant emojis are involved. Out of practice!

I solved this one all on the crosses. A small win, but much needed after a difficult weekend. Hopefully things will only GO UP from here!

This puzzle reminded me of learning about iambic pentameter when I was a sophomore in high school, and hypnotized myself by reading Romeo and Juliet in a steady syllabic rhythm. It was fun to admire my finished puzzle with a head-nodding “consonant VOWEL, consonant VOWEL..”

Loved the Carmen MCRAE clue as it inspired the perfect soundtrack to finish the rest of the puzzle.

I really enjoyed this puzzle. The solving soundtrack inspiration in the DINAH Shore clue and the beautiful fall-like day made it even better. Love it when puzzles help me set a mood.

I feel like I should have outgrown the appeal of a nice crispy -CHICKEN -TENDER by now, but I definitely have not. (I don’t know the difference between a -TENDER and a -STRIP. I could take or leave a -NUGGET) A breezy solve on a frigid morning. Solving soundtrack: Phil Cook’s Appalachia Borealis

45D… *chef’s kiss*