CCNY

Solid. Sunday. Construction. Lovely. My son is getting married in May. He identifies as cis, and his pronouns are he/him. My soon-to-be daughter-in-law was born female and presents as female. But their abusive and misogynistic upbringing led them to prefer they/them pronouns. Years ago, I was an eye-roller. Why make it so *complicated*? But now, we’ve had so many lovely, gracious humans in our home who have unique and personal reasons for the pronouns and prefixes they identify with, most accurately. And what have we, the former eye-rollers learned? It has taken *nothing* from us, and gifted us with some of the most sensitive, empathetic houseguests that we have come to adore. Do I sometimes get their pronouns wrong? Yes. Often? Yup! And I’m only met with gratitude that I’m trying. Because it matters to them. Just sayin. Happy Sunday all!

Oh, my heart. I am bad a so very many things. I am good at a few, and great at *one*. One thing. Claw machines. My boys would always be allowed a quarter at the diner we went to quite often. The claw machine was in the entryway. They started giving me their quarters, because they preferred to get a cheap toy than to actually play. But I’m too good. (My record was getting 3 toys with one grab.) But the toys began to collect in the back of our car. So the rule was that whatever we won had to be given away, immediately. They’d look around the restaurant, find a child or two, an elderly man, our waitress… Presenting strangers with little surprise gifts became the best part. Then, as they grew, they both surpassed me with their skills! Now, both boys are nearly 30. Neither can pass a claw machine without popping in a quarter, and leaving a toy for the next child who happens to pass by the machine. Would I have liked for my supreme talent to have been, I dunno, balancing a checkbook? Running marathons? Keeping a spotless house? Finding cures for diseases? Yes! A million times, yes. But I got claw machines. So, I feel like today is My Day. Fantastic debut Shaun. You get me. Happy day, all!

Deb, I remember you sharing the news of your diagnosis a few years back. Your lively, brilliant professionalism makes it easy for me to imagine it just *poof* went away, or that it’s not a great burden for you. I know better, but you make it easy for me to sugarcoat. I’m so very thankful that you’re here. A friend who greets me as I sip my tea, ever a ray of positivity, charm and wit. What a gift you are to us all. Looking forward to *many* more years of days with you.

So…I don’t like to brag. But. I just had a cosmo here in Paris where I’m ON VACAY. Ergo- (I think you’re picking up what I’m putting down) the puzzles are about…*me.* I didn’t see that coming either, but here we are. In a roundabout way. But, guys. I want you to treat me like I am an average person. (And I’m not even gonna *mention* that I saw a picture of Michelle Obama today. It’s beyond eerie.) [ *shiver* ]

Driving 1,207 miles to get my youngest settled in to his first med school apartment, I got three straight days of hanging out with by boy. He’s magic, btw. We used Waze for most of it, and somewhere in the final 100 miles he noticed he could customize the voice to his own. As I drove, I listened to one of my favorite voices on earth record the phrases into my phone- “…in half a mile…” “…turn right at the next light…” And instead of saying that I’d “arrived at my destination”, he said, “Now get your smelly feet out of the car.” There’s an audible chuckle as he says it. He still lives in Florida. Now a resident. He’s not moving back. But for five years his mamma has used Waze to drive to the grocery store, tool around town… just to hear his voice. And to his silly voice tell me to get my smelly feet out of the car.

Fantastic. Years ago, a freshman at Bennington, I had a professor who was Chinese. She taught me that we do not identify feelings, events, emotions…when we don’t have a word for them. In Chinese, she said, there is a word that means, “the very moment the chaos of a flock of birds taking flight all at once, suddenly shifts to what appears to be one perfectly synchronized wave, or ribbon of perfect unison..” She explained that it was what I’d described when I finally saw my paper coming together, and was able to complete, while hours earlier, I felt I had nothing. I think about it often. Cooking dinner, or a busy, stressful day suddenly opening up and simply gliding into evening. That’s why I love Friday/Saturday. For that moment that the dissonant grid becomes melodic. Lovely! Thank you Alex!

I love pizza I love pie I love Thursdays And this is why 🍄‍🟫 🍕 🫑 🧀

I think I liked this puzzle. I may have hated it. It’s possibly the best ever in the history of ever. Shattered my ankle. Surgery last night. On morphine. Nurses helped me. I think I cried at one point. Then slept. Came back and somehow fisished. Got lucky that the waventh and trivial answers are all in my house of wheels. Don’t shatter your ankle.

I asked my husband, “Ever heard of Dorothy Gale?” “Nope. The only ‘Dorothy’ I know was in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’” I said, “Well that’s no help.” Nice Wednesday. Fell together in quite a smooth way. Themers were oddly easy to get with a few letters. 👍

Was about to comment how charming I found this theme, and enjoyed a bit of a crunchy corner. But scanned the comments, and wow! I didn’t know APPA or DESI, But I got SINAI, APE, and LIPS. So , just needed the first letters and MAD worked. The crossings were just so generous, weren’t they? Thinking of the grid I’m constructing now, and it seems like things-I-didn’t-know are getting more and more infuriating to some folks. Isn’t it fun to learn? With the crosses *teaching* us? This is a sincere question.

Cute. But- as a *bona fide* empty-nester, I have a grand nit that I shall pick. First, sure- everyone is in the nest. Then, one goes off for about a month, calls asking for money to come back to the nest for a weekend and brings every single article of clothing he owns to wash. Returns a few weeks later for a week at Thanksgiving. Again, the laundry is his travel companion. What seems like three days later, he returns for a month to celebrate the holidays in the nest. His friends' nests don't have as much food, so they join him at his parents' nest. Repeat at February break, spring break, and the three months of summer. He leaves in August but with only 1/4 of the stuff he brought home. Demands nothing be tossed out! Repeat. For three more years. Second child ventures out of the nest during this time. He too, returns every other weekend. He too, leaves at least 3/4 of his stuff at home every August. Nest now needs an addition for the accumulated stuff. With a door. For the smell. Empty-nesters give up, put a sign in the yard, and get a nest in Tampa. Accuracy. Can't believe this puzz got past the editors...

Oh, Ho Ho!! Way to make us left-to-right, top-to-bottom solvers dance!!💃 Got WORMHOLE, figured circles would expand answers… One at a time, they fell into place, and there it was, like an evening sky, STAR COMET NOVA hovering above the puzzle. That’s not just construction, that’s ART. Wowza. Beautiful. Thank you!

One fun tidbit- About 20 years ago, we pulled our boys out of school at Christmastime, rented a Winnebago and cruised the country for four months. One very rainy night, we were heading into San Antonio and decided to get a hotel room. I had a cell phone and called at least 10 hotels- all fully booked. No room at the inn(s)! Finally, we got one. Almost $400 for the night, but we needed a room. It was late. It was stunning and we tucked the boys in, and all fell asleep on Egyptian cotton clouds. Woke at dawn a few hours later to bombs going off! Repeatedly!! We all ran to the windows and looked out. We had rented a corner room directly overlooking The Alamo. On March 5th. So we woke up on…March 6th. We had very expensive front-row seats to the reenactment. So, there was the boys “home-schooling” for the day. Croissants, strawberries, and guys shooting each other and falling down dead just feet away. You betcha they remember The Alamo.

Okey-doke. ( Now I’ve read the comments.) Seriously? Wassup with the negativity? Now I gotta add- I like-liked this uber-whimsical smooth-as-silk word-salad chock-full of riddle-like clues, fresh-and-frivolous fill, and Grade-A cleverly-constructed craftiness! —————————

A gentle, friendly Saturday. During lockdown, our youngest lived at home. A gentle, lovely gem of a human. He showed me the game GeoGuessr (I think?) which plops you somewhere, *anywhere* in any country on the planet, via Google Earth. The game is to figure out where you are. Little nuanced clues like striped roadside posts or the types of animals or trees by the roadside telling you it looks like Cambodia, but must be, say Laos, or something like that. If it looked like Africa but the street signs were in English? Bam! (Usually) Ghana or Gambia. We’d sit on the kitchen couch and play as we learned, learn as we played… Just hanging out. *deep mamma sigh* Match Day was a week ago and he matched with his first choice of hospital. 1,000 miles away and beginning residency. Pretty sure “residency” means something about “living there.” But those many days in lockdown, learning to distinguish Estonia from Latvia will remain one of *the* fondest memories of my entire life. It’s funny how a memory of something so random can envelop and fill one’s entire heart to the brim. Have a beautiful Saturday all! Hug ‘em if you got ‘em!

I kinda wish we had two comment sections. One about the construction, theme, clever clues… (Nice one Kevin! And happy birthday!) And a *separate* one for the droning cacophonies of “What day is it?” “27 seconds. Pb.” “Babies could do this…” I, for one, would skip the latter altogether. Not offended by it, just don’t find it interesting. Happy Thursday all. The Friday of Fridays.

Things I’m grateful for: Home from the hospital! Pain is manageable! Puppies are respecting my metal-filled ankle! Grocery delivery! And this beauty of a Saturday puzzle. It felt like a gift. The cabs here Sound of a flute (or something) Fly catcher Thank you, thank you!

Why is QUART is one of my favorite words? That’s a great question. I’d love to tell you. My dad was a quiet, stoic sort. And he travelled for work, so we didn’t much time with him. When I was eight, he took us all out for ice cream. Huge. Deal. Standing in line, my dad asked my older brothers ( I’m the youngest of four ) if they knew why a quart was called a quart. They shrugged, but I lit up like a Christmas tree and asked, “Is it because it’s a quarter of a gallon?” The look of surprise on his face, my brother’s and sister’s faces… Bliss. Better than ice cream. I floated home. And, yeah. I’m *totally* still talking about it 50 years later. Bliss!

I cried a little, but not because of this splendid puzzle. Every morning, I’m so lucky to get to hang out with my dad. We do the crossword and he heaps praise on every little square I fill in, no matter how obvious the clue. “Man, you’re a smart one, CC! WOW!” “How did you get that so fast?” He died in 1991. But he’s here with me and the puppies, grandsons, and son-in-law he never knew. But I think he does. He knows it all. Deb, my tears are falling on my iPad as I *promise* you- he’ll be here, peeking over your shoulder, every single day. How lucky we are. And I’m so incredibly saddened and sorry for your loss.

As an American boarding a flight to Paris, this one was mine. All mine! Loved every minute. I’m exhausted. Need to sleep. Excited. But I saw myself in the puzz and that’s all I need. Beauty! Bon soir!

My dad showed up this morning. To be fair, he is *always* sitting next to me as I solve peering over my shoulder and marveling like a proud papa does, cheering me on for being *far* more clever than I actually am. But today I heard him chuckle and say, “I eat my peas with honey. I’ve done it all my life. It may seem kind of funny, but it keeps them on the knife.” He found it hilarious, for the millionth time. So, that was cool.

No way I was the only one who heard Mr. Gordon’s evil snicker as answers *finally* revealed themselves. No. Way. Woodstock artist. Name on ID tags. Present time. So. Many. Misdirects. Double-misdirects, actually! Fan. Flippin.’ Fabulous. My brain hurts. This is what I pay for. Ahh…

Wow, Owen. Just…wow. I love so much about this puzzle, but your note got me good. Keep doing this. You’re fantastic at it. And please don’t stop representing your authentic, brilliant self. How lucky we all are to have an Owen in our word world! 👏👏👏👏👏

Nate, Rarely do I wish I'd read the constructor's note *before*I solved. The whimsy of this puzzle against the backdrop of your ensuing year are a sobering, tragic, and ultimately somewhat hopeful image. So happy to think of you arranging your new home, with all the promise, potential, and endurance it represents. Thank you for sharing your puzzle and your story.

Fun theme! Spent 14 years of my life watching TaeKwan Do classes. My youngest, only a few years in, was sparring. Poor buddy was (is) such a pacifist. Had to go against Master’s eldest. A girl. Two years younger than my son. And his friend. And she was better and faster. We were all yelling for him to “Get her!” “She’s tough, don’t be afraid to kick her!” Even she paused and said, “Bring it on! I know you’re going easy on me!” My little buddy dropped his shoulders and landed a HEEL KICK just as she dropped *her* head to spin kick. His foot. Her jaw. She went down. He had to kneel, facing away from her. She was so tough, but he was *so* not. Trying to keep tears from pouring down his face, sneaking looks over his shoulder to check on her. Her brother went over and talked him through what was happening and tried to calm him. So many lessons learned that day. He’s about to graduate from med school, and she is flying home *today* from Hong Kong after competing on Team USA in the World TKD Poomsae Championships! So, I think it all worked out. Happy Tuesday all!

Beautifully balanced puzzle that allowed common sense (and some stabs in the dark) to reveal names I did *not* know! From 4th to 9th grade, our youngest let his crewcut grow into a *shocking* fauxhawk. With liberty spikes. 13” spikes that I had to spray glue gel and blow dry *every* morning. For 4 years. It was so unlike him. He was the most shy, gentle boy. He never called attention to himself in any other way. Never, ever got in trouble. His nickname in martial arts was The Gentle Warrior. We said he was a turtle born without a shell. But people would (obviously) stare, point, ask to touch it, take *so* many photos… I swear he just didn’t notice the spectacle. Oddly, very few of the looks were negative. If I did see a raised eyebrow, ready to judge, I’d smile and rub his shoulder or put my arm around him. (He didn’t notice the leering, he was just a snuggler.) I learned to see our local, adolescent scruffy boys in such a different way! When people asked (constantly) how long we thought he’d keep it, I always said, “I think the it’ll be the day he doesn’t feel he’ll disappear without it.” That day came, and he’s looked like he’s on his way to an interview at a bank ever since… Happy Friday all!

I didn’t not like this puzzle. And, I wouldn’t not be disappointed if Jeffrey did not offer us more fun puzzles. I don’t plan to not have a good day, and hope you all do the same! Not a bad Tuesday!

Grid looked so scary! But this one was was like standing atop a *huge* hill, fresh with white snow, starting slowly and then, wheeeeeeeee! careening down that puppy with exhilaration. Loved it. Thank you Shaun! And this weekend, to all the mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, those who hope to have a child, those who are celebrating the moms in their lives, Happy Mother’s Day. But also- to those who are missing their mother, didn’t get to keep them for as long as they’d wished, or didn’t get the mom they deserved - I do hope someone stepped in and made you feel safe and loved. Happy Saturday all!

On the wall across from where I sit on my kitchen couch and solve the puzzles, is a Rumi poem my son wrote on a piece of paper when I was having a rough day, overwhelmed and filled with angst and self-doubt. It was waiting for me on the counter, next to a cup of tea. I know it by heart, but I’ll never take down that (framed) piece of notebook paper with his scribbled writing… This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Woke up to this light and breezy puzzle, and the coolest husband on the planet, who I married 30 years ago, today. As I walked in to the kitchen, Bruce Springsteen’s “I Wanna Marry You” was playing. It’s a *very* good day for this lucky gal. Thank you Paul! Happy Tuesday all!

Tried the front door. Went around to the side and finally crawled in the window. But I got here! Love a puzzle that stares at me, with just…white, empty squares. Then just one- NOLTE, and it all opened up! Woo-hoo!! I reached the summit! Or should I say, the…never mind. Lovely challenge. Solid clueing. Fantastic.

CRISSCROSS APPLESAUCE is just plain fun. AND THERES MORE…so *much* more to love in this puppy. And if you don’t love FONDANT, I’m not sure we can be friends. Hubby was doing okay per his last text at 11 last night. Don’t love waking up without him here, but he is in very good hands and covered with wires to keep his heart monitored. Thank you all for the kindness, prayers, and support yesterday. Just writing that makes my eyes leak a little bit. I appreciate you all. Hug ‘em if you got ‘em.

I know it’s tomorrow, but- Happy New Year to all of you, my daily huddle of language laborers, word-nerds, grammar geeks, puzzle patrons, clue connoisseurs, and oddly, my morning friends who have offered this quirky stranger support, shared your own triumphs and struggles, and continue to return here, to do what we do, every day. Our smultonställe, ( or “field of wild strawberries”) which some may remember is a Swedish word meaning a special place discovered, treasured, and returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness. Thank you to all. I’d list you, but the list is long… how blessed am I for simply that? Wishing each and every one of you health, contentment, and whatever else you guys wish for, from llamas to gardening to giant poodles… Happy, happy, happy new year!

So much Wednesday crunch! I do like me some crunch. Leaving for the airport in an hour to fly to younger son’s graduation from medical school tomorrow. Then Friday night we fly back with him, because older son’s wedding is Saturday afternoon. 1,000 miles apart. 45 hours between events. And our flights keep getting changed. And flying makes me nervous. And the wedding is a bit of a circus. And… Wish me luck? Trying to enjoy these big, happy events and look past all the chaos that is surrounding them! But bringing my iPad. Not doing this week without my puzzle! Not no-how! Happy hump day all!

Get. This. My dear nephew and his wife zoomed to the hospital late last night when her water broke. Baby girl is just a few hours away, at most. I don’t do the Mini, but her name is *in* the Mini. As she’s coming into the world!! Wowza!

Eye liked it.

Oh, I love it here. Life has been life-ing, lately, and I’m trying to ease the burdens of people I adore that are simply too heavy for me. But I can come here. Every day. Y’all know I love me a good word. Today it’s smultronställe. Like me, it’s Swedish. A noun that means -a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness. ( I think it’s literally, “place of wild strawberries.”) I’m so eternally thankful to wake to this welcoming smultronställe every morning. Thank you *all* for allowing me to join you in our field of wild strawberries! 🍓

For twelve years we owned an ice cream parlor. Made our own cream. It was heaven. The cream, that is. Sixteen percent butterfat. “Super Premium” cream. It was lovely to have it For the first twelve years of our boys’ lives, but man- that was hard work. Thirty-two teenaged employees ( the drama!). Seventeen pieces of machinery to clean and maintain. Around eighty gallons sold to over 1500 customers on a nice day. Seven days a week, 15-20 hours a day for eight months straight. And still, relatives would ask, “Do you still have the ice cream *stand*? *STAND*?! Them’s fightin’ words.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! And to the folks who are grilling their dad a burger, or just hoping to get in a good phone call to catch up today. And especially to to those who didn’t get to keep their dad for nearly as long as they expected, and to those who wished to be a father, but carry the grief of it not being a reality. And if you didn’t get the dad you so deserved to have, I hope someone stepped in and made you feel loved and protected. I realized this morning that at 57, I am the age that my father was when he passed. How bizarre that he was just a man my age. Hug ‘em if you got ‘em.

It occurs to me that - while I’ve only attempted, and never completed construction of a puzzle - it must be a unique challenge to make an early-week puzzle interesting. Thursday is a game, a puzzle, a trick, a riddle… Friday and Saturday are crunchy and chock full of misdirection… But to craft a fairly simple-to-solve puzzle that is clever and entertaining…well, that can’t be simple at all. Kudos Mr. Barocas. You nailed it.

Loved it. We are empty-nesters, but when the house was full, most Friday nights were Movie-and-Pie-Night. We took turns choosing a movie and a pie that (somehow) related to the movie. Moneyball and apple pie. Casablanca and Key Lime. Halfway through the movie, we’d pause, fill plates and bowls with pie, and finish the movie. But once a year it was *Double-Movie-and-Pie-Night” 3/14!! Pizza pies (usually, though once shepherd’s and once chicken pot pies) at the start of the movie, the dessert pie halfway through. Then, carb comas with everyone snuggled on the couches. I believe all agree it’s our favorite family tradition. We still keep it up, though it’s rare to have the brood home… Happy Pi Day, all! Double-pie if you dare!

Caaaaaaaaar was awesome. Reminded me of a Far Side cartoon. Cows in a pasture, standing upright, smoking cigarettes and drinking. One yells, “Car!” Second frame, the car is diving by ans someone yells, “Cows!” Cows are all back on all fours, chewing grass. Happy Tuesday all!

Woke up sad. Bunch of dreary, rough stuff going on in my little world. Needed something to get me out of bed. Hoped for a Friday that twisted, turned, tested, taught, and tried me. And I got it. Shocked when the gold star and music played. But this is precisely the feeling that keeps me coming back, picking up the puzzle every morning for decades, to begin my days. I needed this today. Thank you, thank you, Mr Judge. Please, let this be just the beginning of your CLASS A cruciverbalizing.

When our boys were teens, I got tired of spending *so* much money and two days cooking Thanksgiving dinner to watch them eat rolls and macaroni and cheese. So we called a family meeting. We all love dim sum? Agreed. Dim sum it is! I was thrilled. Everyone was so happy! (The servers looked confused, assuming we just didn’t know what day it was.) It was delicious. Simple. Peaceful. On the drive home, our younger son said, “So, we’re just having our real Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow?” He actually cared. It meant something. We both said, “Yep!” And scrambled that Friday to find a half-turkey and all the fixins and we set the table and did the whole thing. They ate rolls. But with gravy. And stuffing! That was the day our tough teenaged boys outed themselves as sentimental, family-tradition-loving softies. But, tonight? Dim sum.

My OCD insists I Complete puzzle Go to comments (do not read) Comment Read comments Today I went crayzeeee and read before commenting. Um, seriously? The revealer was so revealing! EIFFEL TOWER pretty much filled itself in so “parasite” was pretty clearly “Paris site/sight.” I think I come here for a different reason than some others. I like to be humbled, and then thrilled with the AHA!! I think some do the puzzle to feel a bit smarter than the constructor. Like, “Thought you were clever? I knew what you were up to from the start…” And any hitch that slows that down makes them angry. I don’t get it. No, I’ve never used the word CATDOM, but it did not hinder my solve. I wouldn’t call it “rod shaped” but I still got it. I had aMEND, but crosses told me to change it. I’m going back to not reading the comments before I say anything. This was so enjoyable and crunchy for me. I loved it. Thank you Damon. Keep ‘em comin.

Fun and fast! Ron Swanson might be my favorite character. A couple Swanson-isms, There’s only one thing I hate more than lying: skim milk. Which is water that’s lying about being milk. The less I know about other people’s affairs, the happier I am. I’m not interested in caring about people. I once worked with a guy for three years and never learned his name. Best friend I ever had. We still never talk sometimes. Have a great Saturday all!

This is why I love a Friday puzzle. Tough…until it’s not. Sealed shut, until it busts open. Slow…until it fills itself in, all chuffed and giddy-like. And that having played hide-and-seek and knowing OFF THE GRID, “taught” me to look into Grace Hopper! Thank you Willa and Erik! Happy Friday all!