LA TIMES CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Curly’s replacement in the Three Stooges
6 Canal spot
9 Files that can’t be
opened
14 Bar mitzvah scroll 15 Name of the T. rex at Chicago’s Field Museum
16 Short exile? 17 State known for
huckleberries
18 Canine care org.? 19 Actress
Witherspoon 20 Movie with lots of
pan shots? 23 Language suffix 24 Actor Chaney 25 Ramble
27 Missing criminal who inspired James M. Cain’s “Rainbow’s End” 32 Limburger feature 33 “Wowzers!”
34 Trojan War figure 36 Pathway stone 39 Dip
41 Movie with an
iconic long shot? 43 Antioxidant-rich
sorbet base 44 Measure out 46 Berlin’s “Blue __” 48 Goof
49 Capital on the
Persian Gulf 51 Orange garnish
for sushi
53 Some Cassatt
works
56 Ryan’s “La La
Land” role
57 Little dickens 58 Movie with lots of
reaction shots? 64 Not as flushed
66 Regret
67 River that feeds
Utah Lake 68 Stage
69 Spleen
70 “Yeah, sounds
like”
71 Affectionate
letters
72 30-Down, for one 73 “It’s Gonna Be
Me” band
DOWN
1 Shift slightly
2 TV host Kotb
3 Proof word
4 Island “thank
you”
5 Camera setting? 6 Genesis twin 7 Bavaria-based
automaker 8 Sphere
9 Enjoys a favorite
novel, say
10 Felling tool
11 Movie with lots of
zoom shots? 12 So five minutes
ago
13 Use a wheelchair’s joystick, say 21 Commensurate
(with)
22 Zodiac lion 26 Home of the
NBA’s Pels 27 Pancake served
with chutney
28 Cereal dish 29 Movie with lots of
dolly shots?
30 Mythical archer 31 “Casablanca”
cafe 3/1/24 Thursday’s Puzzle Solved 35 Hardly pore over 37 Staple in African
cuisine
38 Country led by
the Taoiseach
40 Academic
42 “Gimme a break!” 45 Math proposition 47 Wake up late
50 Swiss peak 52 Sporty Fords 53 Longstocking of
chapter books 54 “__ and the Night
Visitors”
55 Thyme piece
59 Vision prefix
60 Shortage 61 Stage name of electronic musician Richard Melville Hall
62 Not odd
63 VMI program
65 Self starter?
Dear Abby: My husband has a poor relationship with our son and his wife. They want nothing to do with him and don’t want him around the grandchildren because of how he acts. My husband tells me I should stick up for him and tell them what they’re doing is wrong, and that he would never do or say anything bad in front of the grands. My son and his wife have made their decision. If I send them a text or visit them, it causes fights in our house because he is not welcome. Now my husband is demanding that I choose: Stand by him and have nothing to do with the kids, or choose the kids and have nothing more to do with him. How fair is it to have to make a choice like that?
Torn in Florida
Dear Torn: Fairness has nothing to do with it. Your husband is trying to blackmail you into running interference for him with your son. It’s time to decide which is more important – having a relationship with your son, his wife and your grandchildren or remaining with your controlling, unpleasant husband. Keep doing what you’re doing and call his bluff, because disengaging from you could be more complicated – and expensive – than your husband realizes.
Dear Abby: I am writing because my wife has lost interest in her appearance. I love her, but I cannot figure out a way to tell her she has become obese. She seems to think her appearance is just fine.
I know I can’t say anything without her getting extremely upset, so I’m in a quandary about how to get her to understand that obesity is not only a danger to her health but also looks awful. Can you suggest a way to approach a woman without getting in deep trouble with her? I’m sure other men (and women) have this similar situation. Please advise. Worried Husband
Dear Husband: The message might be less unwelcome if you concentrate solely on the HEALTH aspect of her weight gain. Encourage her to see her doctor, begin exercising (with you, if necessary) and adopt a healthy diet for BOTH of you “because you love her, and want to enjoy many more happy years together.”
Dear Abby: A relative recently moved to my state and wants to get together more than I care to. This person had more than a year to prepare for the move, but didn’t plan ahead and now is overwhelmed, needy, whiny and complaining constantly. I’m now being asked for information regarding many of the personal services I use. My relative talks over me and doesn’t listen, so conversation is difficult. Aside from not initiating calls or answering my phone, have you any suggestions about how I can limit my interactions with this person?
Keeping to Myself
Dear Keeping: If your relative has a computer or cellphone, email or text a list of resources they can use to acclimate to the community. (I’m thinking pharmacy, dry cleaners, specialty stores, etc.) And after that, be “busy.” VERY busy.
Contact Abby at DearAbby.com.