February 15, 2026

Title: LIFE CHANGES

Constructor: Mark Budovitch

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• COFFEE FILTER (20A: It prevents grounds from getting into a cup)
• SELF IMPROVEMENT (39A: Bookstore section in which you might find "We Can Do Hard Things")
• HOW TIME FLIES (58A: "Seems like just yesterday!")

LIFE CHANGES: Each theme answer contains an anagram of the word LIFE: COFFEE FILTER, SELF IMPROVEMENT, and HOW TIME FLIES.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• THAI (17A: Like sriracha) Sriracha is a hot sauce made from chili peppers. It's named after the town where it originated, Si Racha, Thailand.
• MILE (18A: One of 6.2 in the Skiathlon event) Skiathlon is a competitive cross-country skiing event. As the clue notes, the race is 6.2 MILEs long. There are two styles of competitive cross country skiing: classical and freestyle (or skate skiing). The two styles use different techniques and different equipment. The skiathlon is the only competitive cross country event that combines both styles of skiing. The first part of the race is classical. Skaters then enter a transition zone where they change their boots, skis, and poles (while the clock is still running). The final part of the race is freestyle.
• CAT (25A: Garfield, for one) Garfield is, of course, the CAT of comics created by Jim Davis. Did you know that Garfield holds the Guinness World Record for the most syndicated comic strip? My CAT, Willow, is delighted to see Garfield mentioned in the puzzle. Enjoy this throwback photo of Willow from ten years ago, taking shelter under my husband's umbrella.

• SLOTS (28A: Horseshoe Las Vegas machines) Horseshoe Las Vegas is one of many casino hotels on the Las Vegas Strip located in Paradise, Nevada.
• SELF IMPROVEMENT (39A: Bookstore section in which you might find "We Can Do Hard Things") We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life's 20 Questions is a book by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle. The book is based on their podcast of the same name and is marketed as a "guidebook for being alive."
• ELDEST (46A: Like Ashley, among the Olsen sisters) The Olsen sisters are twins Ashley and Mary-Kate and their younger sister Elizabeth. Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen are former actresses who are now fashion designers. I wrote about them last month when we saw the answer TWIN SISTER clued as [Mary-Kate Olsen, to Ashley Olsen]. Elizabeth Olsen is an actress known for her portrayal of Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch in the TV miniseries WandaVision (2021).
• SOS (51A: Palindromic ABBA song) ABBA is one of the many groups with a song titled "SOS." ABBA's "SOS" was released in 1975. "So, when you're near me / darling, can't you hear me? / SOS..."
• ULNA (67A: Longer of the forearm bones) Humans have two forearm bones, the ULNA and the radius. The ULNA, located on the pinky side of the forearm, is usually slightly longer than the radius, located on the thumb side.
• TEAL (70A: Color similar to turquoise) Do you remember how the color TEAL got its name?
• BALI (6D: Island east of Java) Indonesia is a country consisting of over 17,000 islands, two of which are BALI and Java. 
• MEME (32D: Spider-Man Pointing or 6-7, e.g.) The Spider-Man Pointing MEME is exactly what it sounds like: a picture of two animated Spider-Man characters pointing at each other. The photo has been used as a MEME since 2011, and has appeared in a variety of forms and with many different captions. The original image is from the 1967 animated Spider-Man series, and appeared in an episode called "Double Identity." The episode featured a criminal named Charles Cameo who dressed up as Spider-Man and then attempted to steal art, but was apprehended by the real Spider-Man. The numbers 6-7 have been all over social media (and in real life – the numbers are particularly popular with young people) recently. The 6-7 MEME has its roots in the song, "Doot Doot" by Skrilla.
• BELLA (34D: Model Hadid) BELLA Hadid, who has been modeling since she was sixteen, has appeared on numerous covers of Vogue. Time magazine included BELLA Hadid in their list of "The 100 Most Influential People of 2023."
• SLED (35D: Skeleton and luge, e.g.) In the winter sliding sport known as skeleton, a face-down, head-first person rides a small SLED down a frozen track. The rider gets a running start at the beginning of the race. Skeleton was an event at the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, but wasn't added permanently to the Olympic program until the 2002 Winter Olympics. Skeleton racers can reach speeds of up to 81 mph. The sport of luge also involves people on a small SLED sliding down a frozen track. In luge, athletes lie on their backs and travel feet first. In double luge, two people are stacked on a single SLED. Luge has been a sport at the Winter Olympics since 1964.
• TIBIA (55D: Knee-ankle connector) A second bone reference today. In humans, the TIBIA is the largest and strongest of the two lower leg bones. The other lower leg bone is the fibula.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• HOTTER (23A: Like temperatures at the Summer Games compared to the Winter Games)
• CASTLE (53A: Sand ___)
• ALOHA (66A: "Welcome to Maui!")

The word CHANGES in the title is serving as a hidden anagram indicator. I especially liked that two of the theme answers – SELF IMPROVEMENT and HOW TIME FLIES – somewhat relate to LIFE CHANGES. Thank you, Mark, for this enjoyable puzzle.