Maggie

This is about as perfect a puzzle as I can imagine. Lots of fun fill, but I suspected something was up in the southeast corner when I couldn’t fit anything in for Unpaid debt. I’ve learned to be patient and just keep going, while staying alert for a rebus. This is Thursday after all. Once I got the long revealer, the jig was up and I romped through the rest. I especially like when the theme helps keep solve other clues. The last to fall was EARNER. Thanks for the great fun!

Absolutely loved this puzzle. Was actually disappointed when I finished it since I was having so much fun! Loved the clever trick and smiled when I got ONE OFF and solved the rest of the puzzle. Fabulous debut.

Very enjoyable and edifying. I like learning something new (NO TRUE SCOTSMAN). I also enjoyed figuring out the other fallacies. Good chance for us all to improve our thinking since you hear a lot of fuzzy arguments these days.

This definitely falls into the category of, “How did they think of that?” So fun. Congrats to the Matz brothers.

Loved this puzzle! When my (now) husband and I were a couple of weeks into 2 years in the Peace Corps, we found ourselves walking back to our lodging "arm in arm." It just felt so natural -- we clicked. We call that the beginning of our life together. Enjoyed the misdirects! I'm a singer so I really noodled on "Singers do this." Chuckled when I finally realized it was that other Singer.

Was totally stumped by SYN as the answer to 33A. Thought this was some new internet slang I didn’t know. The big aha when I realized it just meant SYNONYM! Fun puzzle but gave up early and used check puzzle. Even so was amazed at how a few answers jumped out at me after a break.

When I finished the delightful if tough puzzle (for a Wednesday), I looked back over the steps. Wait, the numbers are in Spanish for a site in Italy! Oh right, of course, that’s because they are the SPANISH steps. I got a good chuckle out of that. Very clever and fun. Congrats for the great debut, Casey!

Wonderful, fun puzzle. I always love it when I figure out the “trick” and that helps me fill in the other clues. As a former oboe player, I agree that 125 across is hilarious. Thanks to Scott and Katie!

Fabulous puzzle. I am wildly happy that I solved it without lookups! I took a few breaks but delighted in figuring out the answers. Yippee!

Loved this puzzle although it took me many breaks to get through it. What a charge of excitement when my brain finally comes up with an answer to a tough clue. Laughed out loud at ISPEPSIOK!

Delightful puzzle. So much fun once I caught on to the pattern! I love it when one “trick” helps me solve the other ones. And this is a debut?!?! Wow, congrats Stacey! Favorite answer: Give it a go. More please!

Marvelous puzzle. I love a rebus so I was happy to have one on a Wednesday. I agree with other commenters that today’s rebus is a good way to learn and get comfortable with them. Thanks for the fun, Kareem!

Delightful puzzle I’m so proud of myself for solving a Thursday! Loved “curling” up with a good book, which is one of my favorite activities.

Fun puzzle but who can explain the GAS - BUTTER (UP) bit? I don’t get it and I can see that others are confused also.

Fun puzzle. Got a laugh from the long answers, and delighted in the bonus of the yellow sticky at the end. Glad John’s first puzzle finally got published!

Loved this puzzle although like many others, it took me a few runs at it (and some lookups to break through). Learned a bunch and adored the misdirects. Laughed when finally grasped PREZent time as NOEL. Still don’t get SEED for PULSE and don’t see any explanation. Help please?

Superb puzzle. Had to take the usual Friday break to let my brain rest. Came back and finished up the SW corner in seconds. Amazing how well that works. So proud! Such fun.

Wonderful puzzle. Some tricky clues but a smooth solve. Favorite clue: 2D. Thanks fur sharing your talents and your scary story — and telling us about EMDR. Good to know there is a helpful therapy out there. Wishing you and your girlfriend a good recovery.

Fun puzzle and enjoyed the tree at the end. As for what kind of tree? Whatever you like! I’m feeling very nonjudgmental these days. There are infinite ways to celebrate the season if you do celebrate it. Express yourself. Do something different each year. We no longer have kids at home so we get a little tree from Whole Foods. Works great for us. And then we compost it. Happy Hanukkah for those who celebrate it, starting tonight!

Way over my head but an enjoyable solve with lots of help. As a musician, TUTTI was a gimme. But FLUTESOLO was my final solve and I agree, is a hilarious answer to WIND UP ALONE.

Brilliant puzzle that really cheered me up as soon as I saw the words to the National Anthem. They jumped out to me right away, maybe because I’m a singer. Gave me a nice feeling of patriotism today. Fun cluing. Favorite was PINKIE for 2 out of 10. Great misdirect!

Loved this puzzle for many reasons. I sing in a chorus so of course loved the theme. Plus I matched my best time! Thanks to Sarah and Amie.

So much fun. Took a bit to figure out what to do with the funky clues. Once I caught on, it was a romp to finish the rest. Thanks, Jesse!

Whoa I finally got it this evening after taking a break. Follow Directions! Of course! So clever and fun. Love Zoe Saldaña. What’s a “hemi” engine? Thanks for the fun puzzle!

Fabulous puzzle. Light, friendly, accessible. Also interesting, fun, just the right challenge for a Monday. You did it, Adam! Thank you!

Enjoyed the change of pace with the fun drawings. Got a special charge out of COR ANGLAIS as another instrument in the mix. Well done, Esha!

Wonderful puzzle. Wildly proud of myself for finishing. Took me about four runs at it but I got there in the end! Once I finally got TROOPER the SW corner fell. Congrats on the great debut!

Finished this delightful puzzle with no lookups. Yay me! Wanted to put DRYCREEK instead of DIRTROAD.This puzzle was a GREATIDEA, as my 2-year-old grandson likes to say. Thanks, Rafa and Sarah!

What a fun puzzle and fantastic debut! Now I’m thirsty for a cocktail!

Wow, great puzzle! TIL about Junipero, Niobe and the Radiohead song, but that just expands my horizons. So proud of myself for solving this one. Took me a few stabs at it but I got it in the end. Great fun. Thanks, Robyn!

What a well-constructed puzzle! Congrats on your excellent debut, Kelly. Just my cup of tea. I’ve started drinking brewed iced hibiscus tea for my health. Refreshing in this hot weather.

Amazing achievement with the theme! And lots of fun with the lively fill. Thanks, Daniel!

Happy New Year, everyone! Enjoyed today’s puzzle and achieved a personal best time. Congrats to Harry on your fun and playful debut! Well done!

Excellent puzzle! Fun theme that made me laugh when I figured it out. Clever cluing and smooth solve. Wow, well done, Nate! Thank you.

Fun and wonderfully constructed puzzle. What a pleasure to solve!

Brilliant, fun puzzle, Jeff. Thank you!

Brilliant puzzle! So fun!

Congrats to the constructor on this great debut. I persisted in solving with many breaks. But I couldn’t figure out what to do with the “ripped abs” until I came to the column. I thought I had to modify the SOLUTIONS, not the CLUES. That was a surprise. But lots of fun!

Wonderful puzzle. Fun and just crunchy enough for a satisfying solve. So many new and surprising clues and solutions! Did most of it before a nap and then had the usual breakthroughs after the sleep. I love the way the brain solves while I’m resting.

My kind of puzzle! Took a couple of breaks to get through it, but enjoyed the chewy solve and was delighted to finish with no lookups. Will have to check out Comte cheese. Favorite clue, just as Deb said: 30A.

Tough one but satisfying. Adored the clue leading to SOLVERS. Stretcher bearers was so clever. Laughed out loud. Years ago we escorted Laura Esquivel to a book event. The lovely author of Cómo Aqua Para Chocolate, a book I love. A phone call came for her from some company I’d never heard of but she was eager to talk with: Miramax — about making a movie out of the book!

Fun puzzle and surprisingly hard for a Monday. Thank you, Kenneth!

Fantastic puzzle. Loved the 10-letter stacks and the fun seed entry. What a good collaboration that was!

My favorite kind of puzzle: a fun and clever theme that helps you fill out the grid. How did this idea come to Jared on his hike? A brilliant brainstorm. Thanks for the satisfying solve!

One of the most enjoyable puzzles in recent memory. Just hard enough that I had to take several breaks to get through it. I understood that I should ignore the special clues until I had more fill. Once I got the “trick,” it was fun to try to figure out each one. Brilliant! Thanks, Kevin!