Ryan solves the NYT, Wed 8-27-8
So far I’ve seen two online reviews of Lollapuzzoola. One by PhillySolver who posted it on JimH’s xwordblog. And the other one by someone I know only as Señor Orange Pants who talked about his experience on his Live Journal page. Luckily, both seemed to have a good time although Señor Orange Pants was irritated by a few aspects of the competition. I did get a chance to chat with PhillySolver and it was great to have him there. It was great to have Señor Orange Pants there as well although I have no idea who he was. I don’t remember anyone wearing orange pants. Thanks for the write ups and thanks for attending.
On to Donna Hoke Kahwaty’s puzzle. The theme for this was “Normal Phrases But Then You Repeat the First Part of the Normal Phrase to Get a Phrase That’s Not Normal”.
20A. Some fruit still lifes? (PAWPAWPRINTS). A pawpaw is a fruit related to a custard apple. You may also know the custard apple as a bullock’s heart. Although you’re probably more familiar with the tree that bears the bullock heart fruit, the Annona Reticulata. Or you may be like me and gone your whole life without hearing of any of these.
26A. Showy dance intro? (CANCANOPENER). Can you dance the Can Can to any other piece of music besides the one that immediately jumps into my head any time someone mentions the Can Can?
41A. Gobbler in a powwow musical group? (TOMTOMTURKEY)
47A. Chocolate’s journey? (BONBONVOYAGE). Move over Bon Bons. Hello Dibs. They are delicious. I don’t believe there’s any possible way I could stop eating them until there aren’t any left. Perhaps we can get a picture of Brian eating some Dibs this week.
You know what else is delicious? 36A. Chocolate-caramel candies (ROLOS). Check out Episode #2 of Fill Me In: A Crosspod Wordbag to hear me eating rolos.
39A. Actor Rutger ___ (HAUER). You’ve got to hand it to Rutger Hauer. He’s never been a big star but he’s worked like crazy since the 70s and been in some pretty good movies over the years including, of course, Blade Runner.
9D. 7-Eleven cooler (SLURPEE). I love Slurpees and I love 7-Eleven. When my friend Max and I drove across the country we stopped there first and I got a gigantic refillable mug. It held something like 143 ounces and cost maybe 83¢ to refill. Brilliant. A few years later I lost the mug somewhere in Oregon while on vacation with my wife. I can only hope some other thirsty traveler picked it up and was quenched not only in body but in spirit as well.
36D. Japanese bowlful (RAMEN). Remember when you found out a bowl of instant ramen had more fat than a Big Mac? Remember how that didn’t stop you from eating it?
48D. Penthouse asset (VIEW). This answer kind of works even for those who thought of the magazine and the various assets that can be viewed within its pages. (Wasn’t me though. I only thought of apartments. Really.)
Next stop, Thursday
