TUESDAY, February 23, 2010 — Joy C. Frank

Theme: People that Like Something (this is how tired I am) — The second word of the two-word theme answers is a synonym for someone that really likes something (and again with the tired).

Theme answers:

• 17A: Devotee of a Sistine Chapel feature? (CEILING FAN).
• 24A: Devotee of green ice cream? (PISTACHIO NUT).
• 44A: Devotee of thunderstorms? (LIGHTNING BUG).
• 54A: Devotee of a classical language? (LATIN LOVER).

I'm exhausted. Completely beat. I got very little sleep this weekend up at the crossword puzzle tournament (more than Orange, but still). Saturday night around 1:00 I got up from my chair in the lounge, said good-night, and was about halfway to the door when Doug Peterson caught me: "You can't leave now. Ryan and Brian are still here." He makes a good point.

Best story of the weekend for me? I left my phone in the bathroom at the hotel bar and really the only reason I got it back is because Andrea Carla Michaels gave Elizabeth's chicken to a blind man on the subway. That's the kind of crazy weekend it was. I must remember next year to take the Monday off as well. I could have definitely used another day to recover before going back to a place where people expect me to work hard and be efficient. I intend to do a full write-up of the tournament for you all, but there's no way I can do it today.

The puzzle? Frankly, I enjoyed it very much. (See what I did there? Too much Merl.) Awesome, awesome theme. I don't recall seeing it before. Okay, CEILING FAN isn't the most exciting entry, but for some reason the rest of them tickled me.

Just poke me if I start snoring:

• 1A: Have status (RATE). Ya know who has some serious status after this weekend? That's right: Dan Feyer. It was amazing to watch him tear through that final puzzle. The man is a freak of nature.
• 38A: Top of the glass (BRIM).



• 2D: Suit toppers (ACES). Suits as in clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades.
• 6D: Special lingo (ARGOT). I always have trouble with this word. It seems like it should mean something else. Like some kind of snail or maybe a small piece of treasure. (Random!)
• 13D: Best man's offer (TOAST). I tried rings first.
• 33D: Rock star Clapton (ERIC).



• 35D: Metal band's equipment (AMPS). I believe several other types of bands use AMPS as well.

Crosswordese 101: I usually only do a round-up when I'm super short on time, but today, I swear, every word I thought was a candidate for CW101 is one we've already covered. Plus there were two CW101 words in the clues. So, let's review:

• 19A: Charles Lamb's nom de plume (ELIA).
• 39A: __ out: barely make (EKE).
• 42A: Capital where "Aida" premiered (CAIRO).
• 49A: Fish eggs (ROE).
• 4D: Sushi choice (EEL).
• 8D: "Bambi" doe (ENA).
• 9D: Oater landowners (RANCHERS).
• 55D: Class clown, often (APE).

Everything Else — 5A: Less adorned, as walls (BARER); 10A: Wordless singing style (SCAT); 14A: Land parcel unit (ACRE); 15A: Big gig venue (ARENA); 16A: Heading for a chore list (TO DO); 20A: Sixth sense, briefly (ESP); 21A: Carnival city (RIO); 22A: Portage vessels (CANOES); 27A: Final furniture coat (FINISH); 30A: Round at the tavern (BEERS); 31A: Pennsylvania Dutch group (AMISH); 32A: Buddy of Tom and Dick? (HARRY); 33A: Important time (ERA); 36A: Pop choice (COLA); 37A: Numbers after the decimal point (CENTS); 40A: Tadpoles' milieus (PONDS); 41A: Like fresh celery (CRISP); 43A: Trained animal's repertoire (TRICKS); 48A: Idolizes (ADORES); 50A: In the style of (ALA); 53A: Hand, in Juárez (MANO); 58A: "Beg pardon" ("AHEM"); 59A: Express a view (OPINE); 60A: Uncooperative contraction (WON'T); 61A: Annoyed (SORE); 62A: Looks after (TENDS); 63A: Stopping points (ENDS); 1D: Meet event (RACE); 3D: Vacation option (TRIP); 5D: Send into exile (BANISH); 7D: Arbiter with a whistle (REF); 10D: Workers with pads (STENOS); 11D: Punctuation in play dialogue (COLON); 12D: French farewell (ADIEU); 18D: Joyce's countrymen (IRISH); 23D: Like a screened porch (AIRY); 24D: Tower city (PISA); 25D: Leave high and dry (ABANDON); 26D: "Two mints in one" sloganeer (CERTS); 27D: Confront (FACE); 28D: "No harm done" ("I'M OK"); 29D: River where baby Moses was found (NILE); 32D: Artist Matisse (HENRI); 34D: Insurer's exposure (RISK); 37D: Vending machine feature (COIN SLOT); 38D: Place to hold mutineers (BRIG); 40D: Cracker spread (PATÉ); 41D: Inhumane (CRUEL); 42D: Auto trim (CHROME); 43D: Rare orders, perhaps (T-BONES); 44D: Eastern priests (LAMAS); 45D: Potato source (IDAHO); 46D: Casualty (GONER); 47D: Nine-to-five routine, to many (GRIND); 50D: Ringer of many bells (AVON); 51D: Allow to use for a while (LEND); 52D: Creative fields (ARTS); 56D: Anchovy holder (TIN); 57D: Be in the hole for (OWE).