The New York Times Crossword

CROSSWORD BUFF By Brad Wiegmann / Edited by Will Shortz 1

Brad Wiegmann is a lawyer for the Department of Justice. While solving crosswords on vacation, he wondered if he could make one himself. You’ll want to put on your silly-puns hat before you begin.

ACROSS

1

7 14 20

21 22

23 24

26 27 29

30 31

35 38 41

46 47

49 50

51

52 54

55 56

59 60

62 63

64 65 67

69 71 73

77 78

81

82 83

84 85 86 88 91

92 94

95 96

Man who had all the answers?

Some baggage

Fillet, say

William Howard Taft or William McKinley

“It’s just me’’ First-aid item for allergy sufferers

Shared with, for a while Leadership style of the nudist-club president? Like a senior year Dates

Steamboat Springs alternative Pint-size

Like Ahab’s pursuit of Moby Dick

Winter driving hazard Ascribe to, as fault When the nudist club was founded?

They hit the sauce a lot “There’s another good point’’

“Hold on!’’

Home to the world’s three highest capital cities Nicolas who directed “The Man Who Fell to Earth’’ Puffs Graduation wear for a University of Hawaii student

Place for a throne

New members of the nudist club?

Pans for potstickers Time’s Person of the Century

Lit into

Two are named after Douglas and Fraser

Big name in tennis balls Weigh in

School with a 15th-century chapel

It comes straight from the horse’s mouth “Raspberry ____’’ (Prince hit)

Liquor with a doubleheaded eagle logo

Polo course?

What happens in the standup show at the nudist club? Robert who played A.J. Soprano

Pro wrestler Flair

John for whom the Voting Rights Advancement Act was named

Slangy contraction Rock genre

Soon

Taco Bell slogan

Its size may be measured in liters

Hours spent by the pool at the nudist club? Popular hiding spots in hide-and-seek Virtual currency Sensitive subject 20 23 99 100 103 104 108

113 115

116 117 118 119 120 99

Mimic

“Cómo ____?’’ Strong desire

Not a joke, say

How people returned from a week at the nudist club? Mountaineer’s tool 2006 World Cup champion, to native fans Popping up Follower of high or dry Goal of some workouts Break between workouts Symbolic gestures

DOWN 1 2

3 4

5 6

7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 95 31 87 32 83

109

27

78 110

93 100

Travel expense Largest South American bird

A quarter of vier Where the nudist-club orchestra plays its concerts?

Graze

Site of the Minotaur’s Labyrinth Feelings in the room, informally

Build up Choreographer Lubovitch Mont-Saint-Michel, e.g. Not in debt One-named Irish singer Final Four game, e.g. Thieves’ hide-out Cleanup grp. Conference with five University of California schools

‘60s TV kid

Child, in Chile 116 119

19 25 28 32 33

34 36 37

38

39 40 42 43

44

45 47

48 51 53

56

57 58 59

61

63 65

66 68

69

Part of the U.K.: Abbr. “What’s more ... ‘’ Poetry night? Humbugs?

A negative has a reverse one

Acid container Joneses

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Slaughter

Element of Freddy Krueger’s glove Hawaiian house feature Recipe direction

“Hey, man!’’ Balrog’s home in “The Lord of the Rings’’ Techies and Trekkies, stereotypically Elevator innovator

You might skip it if you’re in trouble

Self starter?

L.G.B.T. symbol Statistic in football or basketball

Kylo ____, “Star Wars’’ villain

Signed i.o.u.’s Published

Victory in the annual nudist-club 1K?

Face card’s value in blackjack Supporting Question that introduces doubt

Muscle above an ab “____ So Sweet to Trust in Jesus’’ (hymn)

Big name in windshield 70 72

73 74 75 76 77

78 79 80 83

85 87 89 90 91 93

94 97

98 99 101 102 105 106 107 108 109 110

111 112 114 104 106 wipers

Need for a jailbreak Nellie’s love in “South Pacific’’

Behaves badly

Many a goody, they say Fighter’s fake Releases

The lake in “lake effect’’ snow

Whale constellation

Not as unruly

Small inlet Vanderpump of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules’’ Privy to

Tenor Andrea

In relation to

Punk cousin Supercilious sort Syngman ____, first South Korean president

Sin’s counterpart

First name on the Supreme Court

Like babies’ legs, often Thermostat setting Permanent marker? High-tailed it Minimal effort Neural transmitter Common prescription item In shape

Dark side

Criticize constantly, with “on’’

Is, in ancient Rome Divest

Many a golden-parachute recipient, in brief

My friend’s mother has been nice enough to let me rent out a room in her home. I’ve been staying with them for a few months now, and

I pay only a few hundred dollars each month for rent — a great deal considering I live in Los Angeles.

The only issue is my friend’s older brother does not clean up after himself at all. We have to share a bathroom, and he leaves it a complete mess every time he uses it. I’ve cleaned the bathroom by myself way too many times. I’ve asked him if he could at least keep the countertop clean; he promises that he will, but he never does. I can’t continue to live in filth. What should I do?

— Clean It Up

eiAR aLiAN IT UP >> This may be a grin-and-bear-it experience. Clearly, your roommate’s mother has not required that he keep the bathroom clean. Otherwise, it would be. You can continue to ask him to do his part, but he has already demonstrated what his inclination is.

What you may consider doing is collecting his belongings and putting them in his room, including the toiletries that get strewn on the counter. But basic cleanliness may not be part of his routine, and you may not be able to get him to step up his hygienic practices. Bottom line: For the discounted rent, you may have to live with this inconvenience. Save your money so that you can move as soon as you are able.

eiAR HARRIiTTi >> I’ve been considering getting grief counseling to help me cope with the recent loss of my dog. I’ve had my dog since I was about 13 (I’m now 28), so this loss is hitting me hard. I feel like I’ve lost my best friend or a family member. I’m a little worried that it may seem a bit extreme to some people, but I know it could be helpful to me and my current mental state.

I’ve had no experience with therapy or any type of counseling in the past, so I’m not sure what to expect or how to go about this. Do you think that grief counseling is a good idea for someone in my situation? Should I just wait it out? I’ve never experienced a loss quite like this before.

— Grieving

eiAR GRIiVING >> Your grief is real. Treat it as such.

Start by researching a professional grief counselor who can help you through your feelings of loss. Avoid talking about your grief with friends or family members who are not compassionate. Not everyone can be there for you during this tender time. Don’t make the mistake of attempting to turn an unwilling loved one into a thoughtful listener. Be intentional about how you handle your grief.

Most important is for you to allow yourself to experience whatever you are feeling. I know friends who have held funerals for their pets, and select friends attended. Others have immediately gotten another pet to help reduce the pain of loss. Still others have suffered in silence. Choose the way forward that brings you the most comfort. Grief counseling could be your perfect solution.

Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DreamLeapers, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

s AR R As RS >> Every year during this timeIstepaway from my column to work on other creative projects. I hope you enjoy these (edited) “Best Of” Q&As from 10 years ago.

Today’s topic is: Unsocial media.

I also invite readers to subscribe to my weekly “Asking Amy” newsletter, at Amydickinson.substack. com, where I post a favorite Q&A, as well as commentary about what I’m reading, watching and listening to.

I’ll be back with fresh columns after next week.

s ARAMY>> My daughter-inlaw “Wendy” uses Facebook to complain about her job, her boss, how much she feels cheated by being a working mother, and even about the shortcomings of her new husband (my son), who apparently failed to buy her a lavish enough Mother’s Day present.

These posts create a kind of online persona that makes her seem vicious, and she really isn’t. But the really embarrassing part is that she is Facebook “friends” with everyone in my family, and, believe me, her posts are a topic of not-too-flattering gossip.

— Concerned Mother-in-law s AR mONm RN s >> When your daughter-in-law posts her complaints, selfishness or negativity on Facebook, she runs the risk of ruining her personal and professional reputation. And that’s her business.

When her whining veers into family territory, that’s your business.

A gentle and respectful “heads-up” (to her) is in order, and then you should back off, adjust your settings (both metaphorically and on Facebook) and stop reading her posts.

(September 2011)

s ARAMY>> I’ve known a dear friend’s father and stepmother for many years. Recently my friend’s father “friended” me on Facebook. I was happy at first, but he writes diatribes to almost anything I post and has used (somewhat “coded”) obscene language.

It’s really weird and disturbing. I asked him not to use the language, and he seems to have backed off a bit, but he spends way too much time on Facebook and way too much time “challenging” me on political and religious stuff.

Without offending my friend, how can I stop it?

— Facebooked

s AR yAm kOOK s >> You could “unfriend” or “block” him but if you feel this would cause additional unpleasantness, you could limit his access to your posts. You two would still be Facebook friends, but if he doesn’t see your posts, he won’t have much to push against.

(August 2011)