23. Hitching post?: WEDDING OFFICIANT.
33. Fair trade?: CARNIVAL BARKER.
60. Cold calling?: POLAR EXPLORER.
70. Inside job?: INTERIOR DECORATOR.
82. Power station?: PRIME MINISTER.
107. Instrumental role?: CONCERT PIANIST.
121. Scoring position?: BROADWAY COMPOSER.
Across:
5. Practical jokers: WAGS.
9. Ankle-related: TARSAL.
15. Kindergarten recitation: ABCS.
19. McFlurry cookie: OREO.
20. Inside scoop: INFO.
21. "The Heart of the Matter" novelist: GREENE (Graham)
22. "Sounds like a __!": PLAN.
26. Pennant __: RACE.
27. Vision correction tools: LASERS. We also have 62. Ophthalmologist, informally: EYE DOC. Anyone had LASIK on our blog?
28. __ Grande: RIO.
29. Like rainforests: LUSH.
31. Revolutionary Guevara: CHE. He visited China in the 1960s. Here with Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai.
32. Social group: CLUB.
38. "Pipe down!": SHH.
40. Tiny parasites: LICE.
42. Erin of "Happy Days": MORAN.
43. Wax-wrapped cheese: EDAM.
44. Try to win over: WOO.
45. Freud's "The __ and the Id": EGO.
46. Shoulder muscles, briefly: DELTS.
48. Two-syllable foot: IAMB.
51. Cry to a cap'n: AHOY.
53. Not much at all: A TAD.
57. Snooped (around): NOSED.
59. Hankook product: TIRE. Based in South Korea.
64. Some Himalayan residents: NEPALIS.
66. Beam: RAY.
67. Far from port: ASEA.
68. Pigeon coop: COTE.
69. Inexact fig.: EST.
75. World Series mo.: OCT. Here's Boomer's Eucharistic Minister Bill and his wife Margaret. I really like them, so kind and sweet. Bill hopes that I can become a Catholic so they can still see me regularly in the future.
77. Genesis locale: EDEN.
78. Hardships: ILLS.
79. Agcy. with a taxing job: IRS.
80. Peanut butter Girl Scout cookies: DO-SI-DOS.
88. Notable times: ERAS.
91. Any second now: SOON.
92. Exude, as charm: OOZE.
93. Actress Ward: SELA.
94. __-turvy: TOPSY.
96. "60 Minutes" network: CBS.
99. Ornate flower pot: URN.
100. Lava __: LAMP.
103. Agree to join: OPT IN.
105. Casual conversation: CHAT. I talk with Carmen almost every day. She's going to be a grandma soon.
106. Purr former: CAT.
111. Maui's scenic __ Highway: HANA.
113. WC: LOO.
114. "Falling Skies" actor Wyle: NOAH.
115. "Life Is Good" rapper: NAS.
116. Poet Gorman who read at President Biden's inauguration: AMANDA.
119. Give off: EMIT.
126. Lhasa __: APSO.
127. Many a profile picture: SELFIE.
128. Mystery novelist Paretsky: SARA.
129. One of the Three Bears: MAMA.
130. "Those people?": THEM.
131. Dangerous African fly: TSETSE.
132. Cash drawer slot: ONES.
133. "Sounds good to me!": I'M IN.
Down:
2. Field of expertise: AREA.
3. Inst. that features clinical rotations: MED SCHOOL. Partner with 85. Froot Loops mascot: TOUCAN SAM. Brilliant pairs.
4. Prototype: MODEL.
5. Hits the jackpot: WINS BIG. I put in a $10 bill when we went to Mystic Lake for Boomer's birthday. Almost lost all my money, then I got this.
6. "Life of Pi" director Lee: ANG.
7. Fighter pilot's sensation: G FORCE.
8. "Lost in Translation" director Coppola: SOFIA. Daughter of Francis Ford Coppola.
9. __ Fridays: TGI.
10. Continuing storyline: ARC.
11. Big name in outdoor gear: REI.
12. Putty, caulk, etc.: SEALANTS.
13. Invalidate: ANNUL.
14. Doesn't bother: LETS BE.
15. Bank loan abbr.: APR.
16. Extortionist: BLACKMAILER. Partnered with 70. "They're not saying anything worth listening to": IT'S ALL NOISE. We don't often see pair of 11's as fill.
17. Secret stash: CACHE.
18. Scornful look: SNEER.
24. "Go, me!": I RULE.
25. 79-Across document: FORM.
30. Possessed: HAD.
34. Agreement from a silent partner?: NOD.
35. "Lost in Yonkers" Tony winner Worth: IRENE.
36. Bravery: VALOR.
37. Yogurt-based condiment served with hot curry dishes: RAITA. Cucumbers are cooling. Yin food.
38. Exchange: SWAP.
39. Hostess cream-filled cake: HO HO.
41. Sweet-talk: COAX.
47. Spanish title: SENOR.
49. 3D diagnostic tools, briefly: MRIS. Also 105. Diagnostic tool, briefly: CT SCAN.
50. Second to none: BEST.
52. Story: YARN.
54. Singer featured on Flo Rida's "Low": T PAIN.
55. Additionally: ALSO.
56. Action figure?: DOER.
58. Hold up: DETAIN.
61. Evaluated: RATED.
63. Diameter halves: RADII.
65. __ dish: PETRI.
68. Pink cocktail, familiarly: COSMO.
71. Start anew: RESET.
72. Majestic trees: ELMS.
73. Geppetto's goldfish: CLEO. In "Pinocchio".
74. __ buco: OSSO.
75. "To a ... " poems: ODES.
76. Apple discard: CORE.
81. Sci-fi writer Asimov: ISAAC.
82. Longstocking of kid-lit: PIPPI.
83. Worshipper of Jah: RASTA.
84. Inseam unit: INCH.
86. Political commentator Klein: EZRA. He co-founded Vox.
87. Tenant's expense: RENT.
90. Contract ambiguity that may be exploited: LOOPHOLE.
95. Half a cosmic whole: YIN.
97. Commonwealth off Florida: BAHAMAS.
98. Notary public's device: STAMP.
101. Fellows: MEN.
102. "Survivor" host Jeff: PROBST.
104. "I Put a Spell on You" singer Simone: NINA.
107. Sole mate?: CLEAT. Great clue.
108. Vim and vigor: OOMPH.
109. Shipping weight deductions: TARES.
110. Final word: SAY SO.
112. Two-time Australian Open winner Osaka: NAOMI.
117. __-glace: rich sauce: DEMI.
118. Isles off the Irish coast: ARAN.
120. Hall of Fame pitcher Seaver: TOM.
122. Toward the rudder: AFT.
123. Prefix with content and belief: DIS.
124. Miniature: WEE.
125. Smelter's input: ORE.
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A few extra notes:
1) Happy birthday to Big Easy (George), husband of Louisiana Tennis Hall of Famer Diane! Guess what, George understands my English.
Big Easy and his wife Diane
2) Boomer now has stomachache whenever he gets up to pee or just moves. He's still adamantly against a hospital bed, so we'll have to continue to struggle with the one set of stairs every day.
We did have some highlights. On Tuesday, the hospice sent Jeffrey to give Boomer a sponge bath in his life chair. Jeffrey spent two years teaching English in Jiangsu, China. He returned to the US after COVID hit. It was fun speaking some basic Chinese with him.
3) My book "Sip & Solve Easy Mini Crosswords" will be published on May 9, 2023. It's edited by Francis Heaney. The book is now available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The grids are all 10x10, all themed. I think you'll like it. Very me.
C.C.
