October 1, 2023

Title: ORCA SIGHTINGS

Constructor: Rafael Musa

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

LIQUOR CABINET (20A: Place to store alcohol at home)

INDOOR CAT (38A: Kitty that doesn't leave the house)

WINDSOR CASTLE (60A: Royal residence outside London)

Theme synopsis: Three ORCA SIGHTINGS here, as the word ORCA is found in each theme answer.

Things I learned:

• ERICA (16A: Actress Mena) ERICA Mena has appeared in multiple hip hop vides, and on the reality TV shows Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami, Love & Hip Hop: New York and Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SZA (28A: "Ctrl" and "SOS" singer) Ctrl (2017) and SOS (2022) are the two studio albums released by singer-songwriter SZA. The title track of SZA's second album, "SOS," debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
• INDOOR CAT (38A: Kitty that doesn't leave the house) The life of an INDOOR CAT

  

  Willow

  can be so strenuous. After all, there are so many naps to take. Willow would tell you about it, but she's sleeping. RAFA has an INDOOR CAT named Georgia. You can see a picture of Georgia on the Cats of Sally's Take page. This is an appropriate time to remind you that if you ever need a smile, the Cats+ page has a number of smile-inducing pet photos. (There's also information at the bottom of the page on how to submit photos of your pets to be featured on the blog. I love pet photos!)
• SIRI (45A: Assistant that might read your iMessages) This clue made me smile. I do let SIRI read my messages sometimes, particularly when I'm driving.
• RAFA (54A: Nickname that drops the "el") Clever RAFA! I am always delighted when a constructor manages to work their name into a puzzle. 
• MASALA (58A: Garam ___ (spice blend)) Garam MASALA is a spice blend whose composition varies by region, but may contain bay leaves, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, mace, cardamom, ground cumin, coriander, and/or chili powder.
• WINDSOR CASTLE (60A: Royal residence outside London) WINDSOR CASTLE was built in the 11th century. It was not a royal residence initially, but has been used as such since the reign of Henry 1 (1100-1135). The present-day WINDSOR CASTLE, created over the years by a series of building projects, sits on 13 acres in the town of WINDSOR in Berkshire County.
• BURQA (4D: Garment that covers more than a hijab or niqab) A BURQA is a garment worn by some Muslim women that covers the body and the face. In contrast, a hijab is a head covering, and a niqab is a veil that covers the face, leaving only the eyes uncovered.
• TL;DR (6D: "Here's a summary" initials) TL;DR = too long; didn't read. When appearing at the end of a long piece of writing, TL;DR is followed by a short summary.
• PTO (23D: Vacation and sick days, etc. (Abbr.)) PTO = Paid Time Off
• DRAWERS (42D: Undies, or places to keep them) This clue made me chuckle.

Geography review:

• OSLO (32A: Capital on the Bygdoy Peninsula) OSLO is the capital of Norway, and the country's most populous city. OSLO is located on a fjord - the OSLOfjord - along the coast of Norway. (A fjord is a long narrow inlet of water with steep sides.) Additionally, 40 islands lie within the city limits. The Bygdøy Peninsula is located on the western side of OSLO. Although the Bygdøy Peninsula is mostly a residential area (containing some of the most expensive properties in the country), it is also home to parks, beaches, and five museums. The Viking Ship Museum, which I have written about previously, is one of the museums located on the Bygdøy Peninsula.
• ITALIAN (46D: Like people from Milan) Milan is the second most populous city in Italy. (Rome is the first.) Milan is located in northern Italy, and is the capital of Lombardy, one of Italy's 20 administrative regions.
  

I thoroughly enjoyed whale watching while solving the puzzle today. It was fun to spot each ORCA as I uncovered the theme answers. You might say I was RIVETED (11D: Engrossed). I certainly wasn't AT A LOSS (2D: Totally confused). Thank you, RAFA, for this puzzle that was an excellent way to start my Sunday.