Marcia Fidler

Well, I had "are you alive?" for the longest time.

I drink tons of red wine and have never heard of syrah. But, I'm cheap and my wine comes in a box. it's my Cardboardeaux.

My 8th grade language arts students had to write a position paper on just about anything they chose, giving at least three arguments in favor and two against. The main purpose was to teach them how to research and use citations. One young man's position was that Star Wars was better than Star Trek. At the end of my one-page analysis of his paper, I couldn't help myself from writing, "Oh, you poor deluded boy. Haven't you ever watched "The Trouble with Tribbles"? He still got at A.

As someone who drinks cheap red wine out of a box, my "cardboardeaux," these fancy drinks were a mystery to me. But, slowing the fill gave me enough clues to solve it. What fun, and what a blast!!! Literally.

As I started this puzzle and saw so many clues I'd never heard of, I thought to myself, "I'm too old for this." And there it was!

I just loved this puzzle, but as I did it, I thought to myself, "Oh, wow, non-Americans are going to find this a tough one." As a baby-boomer, I find most clues that have to do with movies, songs, rock stars etc. of the 21st century tough. I don't complain.

Took me an hour, but I loved it! I am in awe of people who can create such masterpieces.

The first time I make deviled eggs, I used a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon of salt. Talk about a disaster!

Having chessboard instead of royal court certainly slowed me down!

I adore musicals, have seen more than 70, and directed several middle school musicals. When my son was a sophomore in high school, he got in some big trouble and was given the choice of being grounded for two months or trying out for the school musical. He got the lead in "Anything Goes."

Here's just a fascinating fun fact of absolutely no historical importance whatsoever. The favorite ice cream of Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison was oyster!

Sam,.thank you so much for your comment. Things have gotten so negative, and I've been made to feel so stupid, that I've almost decided to stop reading the comments page. Ask me anything about the Russian tsars or the American revolution, and I'll know it. Bu7t at the age pf 76, I am clueless about modern music, movies, technology, etc. Again, what is easy for some is hard for others, and vice versa.

Well, now I can't get that song from "Bye, Bye Birdie" out of my head. "Kids, I don't know what's wrong with these kids today. Kids, who can unterstand anything they say." etc

I did ever I could for Monday's puzzle. Everything was correct. Finally pressed the reveal. Everything was correct, but one square was highlighted as incorrect. It was correct. I lost my streak of almost 1000 and am so distressed. Dealing with a spouse with severe dementia. This is the fun I have. It's been ruined.

To Andrzej: I so enjoy reading your comments, and knowing your mastery of English, thought you would be interested in the book, "Enough is Enuf. Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell," by Gabe Henry. It is full of fascinating fun facts and hilarious. I guess only English- speaking countries have spelling bees for children. A bunch of you crossword solvers will love it, too.

Am I the only goofball who confidently typed in Russian dressing?

I have done every Sunday puzzle since 1993, and this was, by far the hardest, at least for me. Having never seen a Pixar film didn't help. Whew!!!

How ironic. I completed this puzzle the day after my husband and I hosted a party to celebrate the wedding of our grandson. Since the wedding was at Gulf Shores, many of our huge family couldn't attend; It was a blast, just like this puzzle.

Having legal instead of licit and cab instead of car slowed me down, but finally figured out my mistakes. Whew.

Because my furnace has not been working properly since Thanksgiving even though repairment have been here twice, and it it now 60 in my house, this was the perfect Monday puzzle!!!

So nice to read so many positive comments for a change. I was about ready to quit reading the comments page,

I didn't remember the term "Matryosshka" dolls, but got a set in Moscow in the 70's that have Soviet leaders stuffed inside each other. Pretty funny.

All I can say after losing my streak of almost 1000 yesterday through no fault of my own is that the clue for "previous passenger" made me laugh.

Having cookie monster sure did slow me down.

So, that first clue, beat at chess, got the musical "Chess" going through my head. For those of you who like musicals, For those of you who like musicals, this is one of the best.

A fascinating fun fact of no importance whatsoever--Carmel, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, population 104,000. has more round-abouts than any other city in the United States. I hate round-abouts.

Deb, you've obviously been reading too many comments from Mike in Munster!

Well, I had "drunk" party for the longest time.

I should have gotten "two birds with one stone more quickly than I did, since I taught both Larry and Sue's two children.

Let's not forget Dr. Mallard, aka Duckie, of NCIS.

Just had to grab myself a Reese's Piece! Yum/

Well my streak of 1055 is ended. Can't log on. Have called. Talked with tech support. Nothing has helped. I've worked so long at this and am more than depressed.

Speaking of misquoting Shakespeare, if anyone wants to see or listen to an absolutely hysterical musical, consider "Something Rotten."

I got the "tricky" clues. but the theme was beyond me. I wasn't just born in the wrong century, I was born in the wrong millennium,

Ivan IV was often called Ivan grozny, which translates loosely to Ivan the Awe-inspiring.