Marcia Fidler
Indianapolis
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.
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!
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.
@Times RitaI know what you're going through. It's tough.
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!!!
@Times Rita Hey, just because they were easy for you, doesn't mean they were easy for all of us. I had a difficult time with all four, but was finally able to solve them.
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!!!
@suejean I'm with you there! Still wearing stuff that's 20 years old.
@Linda Jo As an 8th grade history and language arts teacher, I taught diagramming sentences. One activity I did was to divide the class into groups of four and have them diagram "Twas brillig. . . outgrabe." So much fun!
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.
@NESB is Still thinking Whenever we kids would act up, our grandmother would call us an old so and so. Her other expression was good grief Gertie.
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.
@kkseattleFor me it was 999! So close.
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.
@Jhamje Georgia was the easiest for me, I but I taught history and geography.
Deb, you've obviously been reading too many comments from Mike in Munster!
Well, I had "drunk" party for the longest time.
@Teresa I've always tried to live by the rule that if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it.
Let's not forget Dr. Mallard, aka Duckie, of NCIS.
@EmptyJ Not me! I'm just happy to solve it. I
@DT I'm starting to worry that i may be getting senile.
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."
Ivan IV was often called Ivan grozny, which translates loosely to Ivan the Awe-inspiring.
@CB As a student in Vienna in 1970, a bunch of us visited Krakow. We were warned to first speak English, then French, and then German as a last resort to make it clear we weren't German so that the waiters didn't spit in our drinks or "accidentally" spill the soup on top of our heads.
@Bonnie My husband and I ALWAYS have mint jelly with lamb.
@Sam Me, either. Glad I'm not the only one.
@Lisse It has never occurred to me that the word Slav could be offensive. In 1969 I studied in Yugoslavia, the land of the South Slavs.
Loved this puzzle! It's just too bad they couldn't include the word "Indianapolis," since we're the Crossroads of America.
Thank you. FYI, I read your comments all the time.
The theme of this puzzle was certainly appropriate for Indy today with all the weather alerts we've had. Everyone stay warm and safe.
@Geoff Offermann I also had a lot of trouble seeing the circled letters and agree with you.
@Kenny Whew. Thought it was just me.
@HEK I did the same thing.