February 14, 2024

Title: TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (Freestyle)

Constructor: Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Freestyle: This is a themeless puzzle. TERMS OF ENDEARMENT is a nod to BE STILL MY HEART (20A: "I am so freakin' won over right now") and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH (42A: Deep words of affection).

Things I learned:

• NIGEL (25A: ___ Thornberry ("The Wild Thornberries" dad)) The Wild Thornberrys is an animated TV series that portrays the life of the Thornberrys, a family of wildlife documentary filmmakers. It originally aired on Nickelodeon from 1998-2004. Sir NIGEL Archibald Thornberry is the dad of the family and the host of the nature documentaries. NIGEL is voiced by Tim Curry. (Note: Although "Thornberrys" is spelled with an "-ies" in the clue, the TV series uses the "-ys" spelling,)
• A.P. BIO (4D: Sitcom set in a H.S. science class) The TV series A.P. BIO is set at the fictitious Whitlock High School, and centers on the staff and students of the school. Glenn Howerton plays the role of Jack Griffin, a philosophy professor fired from Harvard, who ends up teaching A.P. BIO in his hometown.
• O'DAY (44D: Jazz great Anita) Anita O'DAY (1919-2006) was a self-proclaimed "song stylist," and a jazz singer known for her sense of rhythm. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ACK (4A: Exclamation in a "Cathy" comic) This clue made me smile! Cathy is a comic strip written and illustrated by Cathy Guisewite from 1976-2010. The title character's struggles with the four "guilt groups" of work, food, love, and mom often led her to exclaim, "ACK!" (or "AACK!")
• EAU (16A: ___ de Luna ("The Smell of the Moon" fragrance)) "EAU" is the French word for "water." The word is used in many perfume names. I have previously written about the  fragrance EAU de Luna and its counterpart, EAU de Space.
• AVA ("Origin" director DeVernay) Origin is a 2023 movie based on the life of Isabel Wilkerson, the author of The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration (2010) and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents (2020). The movie, which was written and directed by AVA DuVernay, follows the author's life as she writes the book Caste.
• RAMA (28A: Avatar of Vishnu) RAMA is a deity in Hinduism, and is the seventh avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu (one of the principal deities). 
• DEAR (53A: "...and Ben Platt, who plays ___, he gave everything") Ben Platt originated the role of Evan Hansen in the Broadway musical DEAR Evan Hansen. The quote in the clue, "...and Ben Platt, who plays DEAR, he gave everything" was said by RuPaul, who was discussing seeing the show, and referred to the character as DEAR.
• CARL (5D: Ellie's love in "Up") CARL is the protagonist of the 2009 Pixar film, Up. Ellie was the love of his life, his wife who died before the events of the movie take place. The opening scenes of Up, when CARL is remembering Ellie and their life together makes me tear up every time I watch it. 
• INDYA (7D: "Pose" actor Moore) The drag ball culture of the 1980s and 1990s is the focus of the TV series, Pose. INDYA Moore plays the role of transgender sex worker Angel Evangelista, who leaves the House of Abundance, and joins the House of Evangelista.
• IPAD (42D: Device a kitty might play Catch the Mouse on) Catch the Mouse is an app you can download so that your cat can play the game on your IPAD. I have not downloaded this app for Willow, but I'm thinking I might need to do so!

  

  Willow

  
  
• HORN (47D: Word after "English" or "French") The English HORN is a double-reed woodwind instrument that is shaped like an oboe. The French HORN is a brass instrument with a circular shape. Here's a site that talks more about the similarities and differences of these two HORNs.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• BEERGARITA (10D: Corona with tequila and limeade, e.g.)
• TASTEMAKER (11D: Person who determines what's currently fashionable)
• THIS ONE'S ON ME (21D: "Put your wallet away")
• AIRPLANE MODE (22D: Phone setting sometimes used when traveling)

Geography review:

• IDAHO (23A: Neighbor of Oregon and Montana) In addition to being a neighbor of Oregon and Montana, IDAHO is also a neighbor of Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Washington, and the Canadian province of British Colombia. The capital of IDAHO is Boise.
• DINARS (38A: Kuwaiti currency) Kuwait is a country in Western Asia. Kuwait borders Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and the capital of Kuwait is Kuwait City, Kuwaiti DINARS are used as the country's currency.
• OSLO (50A: Norwegian capital nicknamed "The Tiger City") OSLO is the capital of Norway. There are no tigers in OSLO, but the city is sometimes referred to as "Tigerstaden" – "The Tiger City." The nickname was inspired by an 1870 poem written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. In the poem, the nickname was used to refer to the city as a cold and dangerous place. In 2000, for OSLO's 1,000-year anniversary, a bronze statue of a tiger was unveiled in the city.
• STATE (52A: California or Oaxaca) California is a STATE along the west coast of the U.S. Oaxaca is a STATE in southern Mexico. Fun fact: California is the STATE today's constructor, Amanda lives in. (It also happens to be the STATE I am currently visiting. Hello from California!)
• KIEV (34D: Capital of Ukraine) KIEV is the capital of Ukraine. The city's name can also be spelled Kyiv. Why the two spellings? Kyiv is a transliteration of the Ukrainian name for their capital, while KIEV is a transliteration base on the Russian name for the city.
• KYOTO (40D: Japanese city where Aoi Matsuri is held) KYOTO was the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868. The name "KYOTO" means "capital city." The current capital of Japan is Tokyo. KYOTO is known for its many shrines, two of which – Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigano Shrine – are celebrated during the festival Aoi Matsuri. Also known as the Kamo Festival, Aoi Matsuri is held on May 15 each year. 

This is a lovely puzzle for Valentine's Day, complete with a heart-shaped collection of black squares in the center. In addition to the obvious love-themed answers of BE STILL MY HEART and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, we have a few love-related bonuses in the previously mentioned clue for CARL, as well as KNELT (6D: Got down to propose) and LIMO (35D: Car that might have ice buckets and bottles of champagne in the back seat). Thank you, Amanda, for this lovely puzzle. Happy Valentine's Day, all!