Monday, November 16, 2020, Jennifer Nutt

0:04:28

It was, perhaps, inevitable that after I dismissed crossword puzzle themes in yesterday's review, there would be a particularly fine example to greet me on Monday morning. Today's puzzle is practically the equivalent of looking at photos shown by a proud parent. Look, there's the baby! There it is rolling. And oh look, it sat up! ...

No, but seriously, it's not a bad theme. And just like with looking at those photos, it seems to go on forever. 

JELLYROLL 

HOUSESIT

PUBCRAWL

MICSTAND

CAKEWALK

BABYSTEPS 

 

It's a natural progression, as I've been told, and each "container entry" is perfectly normal. 

In non-theme, it's always nice to see the source of the praenomen, as it were, in my nom de blog - the poet who wrote "carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero," HORACE. His OPUS is impressive. 

Elsewhere, DOGSTAR (Sirius ... or Lassie, for example?), DAMASK (Tablecloth fabric), and SACHETS (Scented bags) provide interest. SPRINGTIDE (Shore phenomenon around the time of the new and full moons) might require a few crosses for many. From the N.O.A.A. website: "A spring tide is a common historical term that has nothing to do with the season of spring. Rather, the term is derived from the concept of the tide 'springing forth.' Spring tides occur twice each lunar month all year long without regard to the season." Interesting.

So OK, themes are fine. I didn't realize what was going on while I was solving, but looking at it after the fact, it's a nice set. I still maintain that I do not need a theme to enjoy a puzzle, but I don't mind it, and I know others enjoy it, so I'm not going to continue to bERATe the idea. If you can include such a dense theme as this, while still keeping the puzzle interesting and free from junk (and looking at it now, this one is very clean!), then by all means, theme away.

- Horace

p.s. This is Frannie's week, and she'll be back tomorrow, but she has a final in her Chinese class today, among other things, and chose to turn in another of her "Get Out of Blogging Free" cards, so here I am again.