May 28, 2023

Title: DOG DAY (FREESTYLE)

Constructor: Rachel Fabi

Editor: Erik Agard

Freestyle: This is a themeless puzzle. The title, DOG DAY, is a nod to NO BONES (39A: "Noodle and the ___ Day" (book about a floppy pug)).

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• AKEELAH (16A: "___ and the Bee") AKEELAH and the Bee is a 2006 movie about an 11-year-old girl who participates in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. The movie features outstanding performances by Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett, and Laurence Fishburne.
• NO BONES (39A: "Noodle and the ___ Day" (book about a floppy pug)) Noodle and the NO BONES Day is a 2022 picture book inspired by a pug named Noodle. Noodle, who was 13 years old at the time, went viral on TikTok in October 2021, when his human, Jonathan Graziano, began posting a series of videos about him. Each day, Jonathan would lift Noodle by his front legs and see whether he was having a "BONES day" (standing up) or a "NO BONES day" (flopping back down). The message of the book is that it's okay to not feel 100 percent all the time. Sadly, Noodle died in December 2022 at the age of 14, but his legacy lives on. 
• HONEY POT (40A: Container that Winnie the Pooh gets his head stuck in) Oh, bother!
• OUI (43A: Possible response to "tu aimes les mots croises?") and YES (46A: Translation of 43-Across) "Tu aimes les mots croises?" is French for "You like crosswords?" If you solved this puzzle, I'm guessing the answer is "OUI!" ("YES!")
• EYES (53A: The windows to the soul, it's said) Here's an article to check out if you'd like to explore the origin of the saying, "the EYES are the windows to the soul."
• WIKI (2D: Online encyclopedia, for short) Shout out to Wikipedia - WIKI, for short! Although I realize its limitations, I am thankful every day for the amazing amount of information readily accessible at my fingertips.
• FREESTYLE (4D: Final stroke in an individual medley) Hey, look! It's the word FREESTYLE in a FREESTYLE puzzle! Great move. This clue / answer also reminds me of the first puzzle of Rachel Fabi's that I blogged about (not her first puzzle by any means, but it was shortly after I started this blog). 
• TANGERINES (10D: Relative of clementines) This is fun - just two days ago we saw TANGERINE at this exact place in the grid. The fruit has multiplied and now we have TANGERINES!
• NELLY (24D: "Whoa, ___!") The phrase, "Whoa, NELLY!" is used to express surprise, particularly in response to a sudden burst of speed. The phrase is thought to have its origins in a phrase said by someone riding a mule or horse named NELLY. The phrase may have experienced increased popularity after the airing of The Roy Rogers Show (1951-1957). Pat Brady, Roy Rogers's sidekick, drove a Jeep named Nellybelle, and frequently uttered the phrase, "Whoa, NELLY!" in reference to the Jeep.
• OOO (34D: Abbreviation in an away-from-work message) OOO = out of office
• OB/GYN (35D: Provider of reproductive care) This is a great opportunity to once again remind you about the These Puzzles Fund Abortion 3 fundraiser. There are just two days left to get a great set of crosswords while supporting a great cause!
• TOE BEANS (38D: Cat's paw pads) Willow gives this puzzle the TOE BEANS stamp of approval for including a cat reference!

  

  Willow

  
  

Geography review:

• ENG (22A: One of Canada's official languages (Abbr.)) Canada's official languages are English (ENG.) and French.
• RITA ORA (58A: Pop star who is an Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo) Kosovo is a country in Southeast Europe. In addition to Albania, Kosovo shares borders with Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. It has gained recognition as a country by 101 of the 193 members of the United Nations. RITA ORA was born in Pristina, a city that was in Yugoslavia at the time, and is now the capital of Kosovo. In 2015, RITA ORA was named an Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo. While we're talking about Kosovo, here's another fun fact. There is a Consulate of Kosovo in Des Moines, Iowa. I know this because my husband and I walk by it every time we attend an event at the Des Moines Civic Center.
• SEOUL (31D: City in "Crying in H Mart") Crying in H Mart is the 2021 memoir of Michelle Zauner, the lead vocalist of the band Japanese Breakfast. In the book, Michelle Zauner discusses her relationship with her mother and her grief after her mother's 2014 death as a result of pancreatic cancer. The book is being adapted into a movie. One of the things discussed in Crying in H Mart are the trips Michelle Zauner and her mother made to SEOUL, Korea every two years to visit their family.

Two FREESTYLE puzzles in a row - a nice weekend treat! This puzzle is filled with great answers. ALL-NIGHTER, SWOONING, and FACEDOWN are a few I haven't mentioned yet. Definitely NO REGRETS about spending time solving this puzzle. I was delighted to meet Rachel Fabi in person at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT) earlier this year. Thank you, Rachel, for this puzzle that was a fabulous way to start my Sunday.

Rachel and me at ACPT