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Constructor: Robyn Weintraub
Relative problem: Medium (3/4 very straightforward, 1/4 one thing a few frog????)
THEME: none
Word of the Day: ROSA Bonheur (53A: “The Horse Fair” artist Bonheur) —
Rosa Bonheur (born Marie-Rosalie Bonheur; 16 March 1822 – 25 May 1899) was a French artist identified greatest as a painter of animals (animalière). She additionally made sculpture in a realist type. Her work embrace Ploughing within the Nivernais, first exhibited on the Paris Salon of 1848, and now within the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, and The Horse Fair (in French: Le marché aux chevaux), which was exhibited on the Salon of 1853 (completed in 1855) and is now within the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. […]
Bonheur was brazenly lesbian. She lived together with her accomplice Nathalie Micas for over 40 years till Micas’s dying, after which she started a relationship with American painter Anna Elizabeth Klumpke. (wikipedia)
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Well this all got here all the way down to the frog clue. I do not know if you understand how brutal that clue is for those who do not simply *know* that the Latin American model of Kermit is “La Rana RENÉ.” It’s not simply that I did not know his identify. I do not know numerous names, most names, and I handle to push by means of them daily. ROSA Bonheur! Didn’t know her, however I knew I used to be on the lookout for a human identify (key!) and the crosses have been very obliging. But with La Rana RENÉ, I’ve completely no thought I’m on the lookout for a human identify. I do know it says “Kermit’s identify” proper within the clue, however I figured it was “identify” within the sense of “factor we name him,” one thing adjectival!!!! Like “The Sad Frog” or “The Slow Frog” or “The Depressing Frog.” And as I do not know a lot Spanish, I used to be completely lifeless within the water, as a result of so far as I used to be involved, that adjective might’ve been something (“What’s Spanish for ‘inexperienced’!? Isn’t it VERDE?! Why will not it match?!”). And then it wasn’t even an adjective—only a random identify! “RENÉ the Frog!” Sigh. So I had -ENE and nil ****ing thought. Worse, I had no thought what 23A: It’s equal to a cup (TROPHY) was getting at. Just none. (“Equivalent to a cup? … TWO PTS”!?!? Wait … [counts on fingers] … that is not proper” and so on.). And then that RENÉ / TROPHY part linked to the NE, which I botched for causes that have been 95% my very own DOM fault. Here’s what I used to be observing on the finish of my resolve:
I do know the time period TRASH PANDA very properly! So I do not know why the clue [11D: Raccoon, humorously] made me consider literal precise pandas, but it surely did. And GIANT PANDA match completely, “fortunate” for me! So dumb. All the Acrosses up there would’ve been onerous *with out* my mistake, however with it, yeesh. I do not know why it took me so lengthy to actually take a look at 10D: Shipment which may embrace a notice saying “Miss you!” I believe that in my first go at it, I solely picked up the “Shipment” half and since I already had PACKAGE, I did not have the required data. Sometimes I fail to learn to the tip of the clue. Mostly this works simply high-quality. With CARE PACKAGE, it was disastrous. Anyway, I received all of it labored out through CARE PACKAGE—modified CTRS to CTRL (10A: Part of many instructions: Abbr.), discovered what dumb Vegas lodge we have been coping with, discovered what the LAPS clue was making an attempt to get at, what instrument appeared like a zester, and so on. the tip. Anyway, this was an ideal, zoomy, whoosh whoosh puzzle semi-ruined by a really onerous and clunky nook there on the finish. The frog clue was malevolent. But the difficulty with TRASH PANDA was fully my fault. So I’m half mad on the trash frog and half mad at myself for an excellent, breezy puzzle semi-spoiled by late disagreeable fumbling and awkwardness.
But earlier than that, it was pure Robyn goodness, ALL OVER THE MAP! (25A: Here, there and all over the place). The second it actually kicked in got here early, after the NW went in easily after which the primary exhilarating drop got here with the good clue/reply pair at 8D: Roger’s relative? (“COPY THAT!”).
From right here I had bother seeing any of the “COPY THAT!” crosses (and naturally the silly frog subsequent door), so I simply saved going, down down down, all the best way to the underside of the grid, after which I cleaned up down there:
After that, it was “HERE WE GO AGAIN” throughout the grid to the SW, after which, in fact, the aforementioned brutal final stand within the NE. It actually was a perfect Friday fixing expertise till in regards to the 80% mark.
- 39A: A glengarry is one within the form of a ship (HAT) — properly now I wanna know what the form of a Glen Ross is! Hmmm … properly, here is the form of a Glenn Ross:
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| Glenn Ross (born 27 May 1971) identified by his nickname “The Daddy”, is a Northern Ireland former International Strongman and Powerlifter who has represented Northern Ireland and the UK in a number of World’s Strongest Man competitions and numerous World Grand Prix and European Team competitions. (wikipedia) |
- 56A: St. ___ (vacation spot in a rhyming riddle) (IVES) — wished to spell it YVES. I believe we have now some facial scrub within the bathe that is St. YVES model … nope, that is IVES as properly. No thought why I’m spelling it like YVES Montand.
- 21D: Title for a Benedictine monk (DOM) — wished FRA at first, which will also be a title for a monk, however is extra intently related (I believe) with friars.
- 45A: Spent a while within the Outback, maybe (DROVE) — liked this. Double misdirect! Me: “LOL what’s the five-letter phrase for ‘Ate a Bloomin’ Onion’!? But it wasn’t Outback Steakhouse, it was the Subaru Outback. Nice.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
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