Paul Geoghegan

The GULF OF MEXICO clue would send the president into a tirade. Good idea hiding it in a Thursday NYT crossword!

Colin Adams created a Friday puzzle during his last semester in college. (I couldn’t even FINISH a Friday puzzle when I was in college!) Congratulations, Colin, on the NYT debut AND the upcoming graduation! Happy Friday, everyone!

Wow. This one was tough. After reading all of the clues once, I think I had filled in only three answers- and one of those was incorrect! I picked the puzzle up and put it down numerous times throughout the day and began to come to grips with the fact that all streaks have to end some where. Then, one by one, the answers fell. And when the piano jingle finally sounded I think I may have actually danced to it. Thank you, Sam.

Bravo, Kevin Curry! If I were grading this crossword puzzle, I think you know what I would give. Have a great day, everyone.

The guys who constructed this puzzle made it fIEndishly difficult. I don’t belIEve we can be frIEnds.

This is a perfect Saturday puzzle. The first time through all the ACROSS clues, I had less than 5% of the puzzle completed. But I chipped away and before I knew it I heard my favorite piano tune! Thank you to everyone who works to bring the puzzles to us. You guys give me a mini-vacation every day. I appreciate all of you.

I read through all of the ACROSS clues and told myself that today’s puzzle might be a streak-ender. But then I read the clue for 7-DOWN, and I was suddenly back in high school with that book on my desk. It’s amazing how some trains start rolling.

26:07!!! (I am not bragging, but let me just STATE how proud I am of myself.)

Numismatist? Nematode? Come on! It’s WEDNESDAY! I wish I had an extra thumb so I could give this puzzle THREE thumbs down!

Brutal. I solved the puzzle with no lookups, but it took me a very long time. I don’t know how long my crossword-solve-streak will survive. I suspect that when it dies, I will have Byron Walden to thank/blame. Happy Saturday, everyone.

I had FAKETAN, instead of BASETAN, and since I am not a “gamer” I was unfamiliar with the term BOSSLEVEL. I was stuck for a while with this one. My solve time was more than double my average for a Wednesday. And now I have Thursday to look forward to! Lol

Instead of BECHAMEL, I guessed “BERNAISE”. And, let me tell you, I found myself in the sauce! Happy New Year, everyone!

“… the puzzle editors were GNEISS enough to make the crossings merciful.” That’s outstanding! We do not deserve you, Deb Amlen.

Deb, Caitlin, Joel- Are you guys on strike? I would hate to lose my crossword and Wordle streaks, but I am not one to cross a picket line?

What day is today? This puzzle is beating me up!!!

When I was in the 3rd grade my teacher waited until 2:30 in the afternoon on a hot day to introduce us to Roman Numerals. My 8-year-old-mind was blown. To be fair to Mrs. Inman (may she rest in peace), she probably mentioned that while we did in fact have to learn Roman Numerals, we would really never have to use them. Until TODAY, that is! Thanks a lot, Yitzi. But congratulations on your debut.

I solved it. Is my nose bleeding?

This one was not my favorite.

The Northwest Corner is killing me. I understand that Fridays and saturdays are supposed to be head-scratchers, but I have a problem with any puzzle that has one segment that is considerably trickier than the rest of the puzzle. (I also can’t stand run-on sentences, but I use them all the time…)

Today is my 60th Birthday, and my 605-day win streak is going to end on a WEDNESDAY PUZZLE! I haven’t seen GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, so I don’t know that character’s last name. And I wish I was more learned in the New Deal tree-planting plan, but I’m not. The center of this puzzle (a Wednesday, no less!) has me stumped! Seven empty boxes are going to ruin my 60th birthday.