CROSSWORD PUZZLE
“GETTING CONNECTED” By C.C. BURNIKEL
1 Abbr. for an
unfilled slot 4 Limber 9 Literally meaning “stick,” it’s the first word in a California city named for a 1,000-year-old redwood Bowler’s edge Hotfooted it Merged oil giant Contentious encounter Soft leather Omaha Steaks Private Reserve product “Love it!” Dealt __: devastated One doing a bank job? Protest topics: Abbr. 2009 recession response #1 thriller on AFI’s “100 Years...100 Thrills” Stepped to the plate Thick carpet Bloomingdale’s rival Folk legend Joan Mom in the woods 37 Boiling state 40 Start to sing? 43 Gillette razor for
women 47 Hustle 49 Celsius, e.g. 51 Blond shade 52 Try to quiet, as a persistent squeak Jamaican spirits Caesar’s land Poorly paid workers Parks on a bus Best Play, e.g. Morphine is one Sailor’s guardian Easygoing sort Dockside activity Shower with flowers, say Incline to a higher level Let loose “Knock that off!” Artemis’ twin brother Private place? Subj. for a future vet Enclose, as livestock Work outfits for many 13 17 18 19
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35 36 54 55 56
59 60 61 63
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82 84
ACROSS
85 86
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96 97 98
100
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117 118 Pop foursome formed in Stockholm E! Online subject “Get it?” Development areas Unfocused images Eponymous explorer of the Aleutians Oft-chewed item “You got it!” Children’s advocate LeShan Will of “The Waltons” Indian bread Shakespearean deceiver Bewhiskered test subject Cue Department of Commerce division Look good on Taverna sandwich Type of daisy Readily available 119 121 122
123 124
125 126 127 128 1
2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 Apple Store support station Basilica recesses Can’t stop loving Itty-bitty bits Periodontist’s org. Like many a cause Madre’s hermanos Brightest star in Cygnus “I’m an idiot!”
DOWN
“The Sound of Music” family name Ruinations Ticked off Morning hrs. Lose it all “Yeah, right!” Polygraph blips, perhaps Tolkien race member Prize administered by Columbia University 10 11
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42 Cartoon style Party headed by Netanyahu First-year J.D. student Two-time Masters champ Watson Sacred conviction Much-loved star Kitten cry Cowboy singer Tex Military bands Lines at Walmart? 9-5 automaker Troop entertainment gp. Dig in Air rifle ammo Easy A, say Paine and Hugo, philosophically Lopsided win Crafts website These, to Luis Won every game Not something to kid about 44 45
46 48 50 53 57 58 62
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78 79 81 83 Puts to work Architect Saarinen Madhouse Give the willies Close in Clapton classic Eye of __: “Macbeth” witches’ ingredient Regatta racer Pioneering computer Wear a long face Lifestyle website targeting female millennials Palais des Nations locale Extreme Assume as fact “Ignore this change” Many a Sunday magazine Coliseum section Crib sheet user __-bodied Baba or a boxer “Fat chance, Friedrich!” 87 91
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112 113 114 115 119 120 Sources of irritation Seamless changes Colorful wrap Steady Part of a preschool schedule Peruvian pair Yuletide drinks Until now Day after dimanche Mischievous droid, familiarly “Sorry about that” Home of Velázquez’ “Las Meninas” Holy scroll Its burning is a major source of Beijing smog Fair Place for a row Big bash Aware of Roam (about) PC connection found in this puzzle’s eight longest answers
I am fit. Correction: I am super fit. Not an easy feat for a 52-year-old mother of four. I work out every day. I eat as healthy as possible.
I am obsessed with this indoor cycling place near me. It plays loud music. The instructors are gorgeous. It’s so different from the last gym I belonged to. It was depressing. There were lots of people my age or older who were out of shape and desperately trying to get back in shape, and it was clear that was never going to happen.
My only issue at this new cycling place is my fellow riders. Oftentimes, I look around and think to myself, “I am the oldest person in here by two decades.” I see a sea of 20-somethings with tight, pre-baby bodies and can’t help but feel self-conscious. I find myself buying cute outfits and wearing makeup. Makeup. To a workout class.
I am fine with my age. As I said, I look good and feel great about my body. It’s just difficult when I am surrounded by people straight out of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. I also love this boutique spot and don’t want to be banished to doing circuit training at Curves. Any advice?
— Wonder Woman Dear Annie
First, stop the cycle of negativity. The less you judge other people the easier it will be to have compassion for yourself.
Second, if your fellow riders are looking at you and thinking anything, it’s probably, “Wow, I hope I stay as fit as she is.” And even if they’re thinking something negative, why does it matter what some random stranger in your cycling class thinks of you? Focus on what you think of yourself. You’re only as old as you feel, and it sounds as if you feel pretty young.
When my husband and I first met, one of the first things I noticed about him was his pair of colorful basketball sneakers. I thought they were charming.
A couple of years later, when he started working in the corporate world, he started dressing more like a grown-up, with more practical shoes. I could tell he was bummed out, and I felt bad. I encouraged him to be himself and buy what he wanted to buy. Well, he really took that advice to heart.
It started off slowly — a pair here, a pair there. But over the course of the past few years, he has bought more and more, and now he probably owns 200 pairs of sneakers.
We live in a tiny apartment. Half our kitchen cabinets are full of sneakers. I barely have room for any of my own stuff in the closet. For years, we’ve talked about saving up money and buying a house, but our savings account never grows.
I wish he would give this up, but I don’t want to hurt him. How do I get him to ditch the habit? — Sneaker Wife
It can be tricky to tell whether a loved one’s hobby has become an obsession. But when something has taken over your lives to the point that it’s spilling out of your kitchen cabinets, it’s safe to say there’s a problem.
Before you’re accidentally preheating Jordans you didn’t know were in the oven, talk to your husband. If he’s receptive to your concerns, he might consider ways to have a healthier relationship to the hobby. Perhaps he could sell the shoes on eBay (which would also help with the house fund).
If he refuses to hear you out and he denies there’s a problem, you may need to seek professional help. There could be an underlying mental health issue causing his compulsive shopping.