Chris

@Asky But what if I don’t want to get off your lawn?

@Lewis Thank you for this bonus column on a fun crossword!

@CCNY That they want to come home AND bring friends is a big compliment to the home you created. Good luck during the transition — and after!

@Roberta I love that the editors included this puzzle. It was not a slog for me, especially compared to the last two puzzles. To each their own

@sotto voce I came to the comments in search of a comment like this to “recommend.” It was indeed a beautiful tribute by Mr. Byrne, who is clearly a kind human. I am a caregiver to a spouse with a severe TBI; a life-altering event in many ways. I’m tickled that Mrs. Byrne has progressed so nicely & pray it continues. Oh - and I loved this puzzle! Just the right amount of challenge for my skill level.

@Niall you’ll get there! This was an unusual Wednesday in my opinion. Walking away can help a lot when you’re frustrated. I hope it continues to be fun for you, more often than not, at least

@Nancy J. Love it - well done!

@Cal Gal If you notice that the goal is to make words without the Ys, (like “classmate” & “fishhook”), “handbell” becomes more satisfying

@Francis Good definition, although I would say that it’s almost always to Boop a dog’s nose. But both are nice!

@SP I started reading your comment before I started Wordle today. I closed the app in a bit of a panic. Do I start with Trope? Will I get a 1? Will that be cheating? Tried to do the puzzle in my usual way bc I’m too much of a rule follower. To anyone who has read this far, SP’s post is not a spoiler

@Once a Marine How lovely! Inside tip: consider putting puppy to bed when LandShark mode arrives. They play tough when they’re tired, which is almost hourly in their early months. I miss it though. Have fun!

@Steve L Eh, I agree with both of you. I often work these with my kids, sometimes printing a copy to leave on the table. They’re old enough to know the world has f-bombs, but I’m not yet awake enough to tackle the level of intimacy if they ask about the Goods

@Lewis oh gosh I’m still tired! I was pleasantly surprised to read that Pedro Pascal had these other talents. Time for more coffee. Good luck to Paolo!

@Ms. Billie M. Spaight An amuse-bouche is a single, bite-sized taste of food to whet your appetite at the start of a fine dining experience

@Marshall Walthew Yes, this is me as well! My opinion turned around several times. While I didn’t adore the puzzle, I was impressed by it. And I am patting myself on the back because it’s my first Sunday solve without any look-ups. Over my average time, but not embarrassingly so

@Bob T. Excellent observation. I loved Parks & Rec (skip season one, imo) and Offerman’s beautiful character portrayal in Last of Us is even better when you have the comparison. I loved season one of the Last of Us, but Offerman’s focal episode is the one that sticks with me. For this crossword however, Ron’s voice is loud & clear. IF he would ever tease about woodworking!

@MaryEllen I agree with Katie. To which fad do you refer? A playful, creative, trickster-style puzzle is a tradition for NYT Sundays. It’s nothing new.

@Mean Old Lady it is nice that the author’s note specified they were already out to immediate circles, including family

@Linda Jo You reminded me of an elementary school teacher of mine. Upon finding a possum playing dead, she had us gather in a circle & count off, “I One the opossum, I Two the opossum…” until we got to the unfortunate & unsuspecting second grader who said, “I Eight the opossum.” Such silly laughter as the pun dawned on us!

@Nancy not every book suits every person. But Jane Eyre was my all-time favorite book until I read East of Eden. (Since then my favorites continue to evolve)

@Ivan that clue/answer made me laugh out loud! If it was a stretch, I thought it was an excellent one

@Nancy Ha! I penciled in “DAD” with my “_ _ D”

@Rahul Every time I hear “up and at em,” I think of a character on The Simpsons over-enunciating “up and at them!” Still makes me laugh

@Andrzej @Francis I love these stories so much! I wonder what my kids will say about me someday. My daughter seems convinced I was a saint as a teen. She has very high moral expectations of herself, so I am gently trying to disabuse her that misunderstanding. I’d love her to behave better than I did, but she’s so hard on herself. How do I show her that it’s good to be a little bit wild? Break a few rules…safely? Ahh parenting is an adventure for sure!

@Xword Junkie A rare day for me - I figured out the theme bird with its first across clue. Punny but also on the nose

@Rich in Atlanta Can’t help but wonder if that someone could be you! It’s a great idea

@Jane Wheelaghan You might want to Google Bill Nye. I would think he’d be right up a primary school teachers alley!

@Rich in Atlanta I hope you’ll be back soon, too! And I hope it’s a fantastic facility. I know there’s a big range. The ombudsman and Congresspeople are your friends, if needed.

@Art I see the little plastic insert that allows me to play my 45rpm record

@Linda Jo I don’t know Mr. Tod, but Swiper is the fox in the children cartoon Dora

@Bill Fascinating info & shared w/ my teenage daughter. That same child has helped me see that people sometimes choose to be referenced using mixed pronouns. I prefer she/her, but another might prefer she/they. My guess is that some use it to show openness and acceptance & others are tiptoeing into gender fluidity

@Scott From the constructor: “I confided and found support with small circles, individual friends and family before making this puzzle, and this won’t be the last time I have to come out to new circles.”

@Amir This one made me smile repeatedly! Not easy, but a fun challenge. A relief after two hard puzzle days. I guess it was my wavelength today - that and I slept better!

@HeathieJ Thank you so much for typing it out. Adding here that this is Emily Dickinson’s work, for those who might not recall

@Cat Lady Margaret I tried first tooth , first steps… Oreo pie saved me

@Remi Goats

@Banjo Nelson I don’t think it’s as fancy as that. TEN is a card in a deck…and it’s being greeted (HI)

@Kristopher That’s precisely why it made me chuckle (after I found my way)

@Liz Evans Sometimes style and lyrics are more important than vocal quality. (Looking at you Bob Dylan! Please note I’m not actually comparing the two.) I have never connected with TSwift. But I have been advised to watch her Era’s movie so that I can try to understand the excitement, rather than turn my nose up the way my grandparents did with Beatle mania

@Sam Lyons visit a Christian church in the holiday season. You’ll find that handbell choirs are commonplace

@Francis I have a magic trick for you – bypass season one! I was given that advice and it turned into one of my all-time favorite shows.

@Andrzej Not a fan of pudgy baby fingers? You probably don’t care for dimpled hands either. I thought I related to you but now… Well, Nie ma róży bez kolców 😆

@C I put my subscription on hold for about a week and look what I missed! I was expecting to hear about a December holiday, not emu interventions. I’m glad it’s not a full blackout. I very much enjoy auditing his classes After touring the Baltics and getting a sense of life where the walls have ears, censorship by emu takes on a new gravity

@Bill Can’t tell you how grateful I am to read about (pet peeve) "intervocalic vowel mergers.” Knowing it’s a regional variation will greatly ease my silly despair

@Lily Congratulations! I thought I was on that path as well, then realized I misspelled kebab & had pouf for poof. Oops!

@Clare I did not know the song or the reference. Thank you!