Saturday, October 28, 2023, Ryan McCarty

Greetings, dear Reader (heh). Frannie here to comment on the final puzzle of the week. I am late to the keyboard again today because A. I couldn't finish the puzzle on first attempt, and IIc. I had to go shopping with Horace for his Halloween costume. After that refreshing sortie and a delicious lunch, I looked at the puzzle again and was able to complete the remaining empty squares. Too bad they don't allow that type of thing during the ACPT. I would slay! Kidding, of course. I am never going to slay at the ACPT. But, except for Puzzle 5, it's still fun. Well, Puzzle 5 is ABIT fun when it's over and you can rehash it with other survivors. I digress. A discussion of my relative capabilities at the ACPT is almost certainly not why you called me here.

Anyhoo, despite/because of the initial setbacks (described in more detail below), I enjoyed the challenge of today's puzzle, especially after yesterday's relatively easy Friday. Today's C/APs run the gamut from amusing to arcane. "Head covering?" (TOILETSEAT) was funny. SAMTHESHAM ("Singer on the 1960s hits 'Wooly Bully' and 'Li'l Red Riding Hood'") is an oldie that is new to me. "Had kids on a farm?" (LAMBED) might be a little of both. :)

Back to the trouble spots. The toughest corners for me were the southwest and the northeast. In the southwest, I was duped by "Himalayan resting place." It took me forever to think of the cat breed instead of the mountain range. Also, although I've watched and enjoyed the comic stylings of ARI Eldjárn, I couldn't remember his first name. Derp. The short and pluralized form of TREXES for the amusing "-saur subjects?" also took me a while to figure out. 

My biggest area da crapo, however, was the northeast. I didn't easily guess - but particularly liked MOBSCENE ("Complete pandemonium"). I did guess LOAN for "Word like 'cafe' or bazaar,'" but my confidence in it was low. Also, I'm not sure what strings a RAINHAT has, beyond maybe a way to tie it on? Maybe I should Google it. I realized I had heard of an FMRI ("Scan in neuroscience research, in brief") as soon as the answer appeared thanks to the Downs. EDIFY!

Other entries of interest include "First base?" (STARTERHOME), "Cut corners, perhaps?" (MITERED), "They signal a delivery" (LABORPAINS), and "Nonsensical movement" (DADA). 

LANDUP as a way to say "Ultimately arrive (at)" sounded odd to this solver, but that was the only odd duck in a pond of long-necked swans like TWITTERRANT, CHOKEARTIST, TIRELESSLY, and FOISTED. 

If I could press the BACKBUTTON and do this week all over again, I wouldn't. I know you will be in better hands with Philbo next week. Until next time, dear Readers.

~Frannie.