Sundays are so tough because you can get something wrong and hunt for it for forever. And ever. This one was crazy-long for me, though most of it was not dedicated to the crossword.
I pulled out 47A “O mio babbino caro,” e.g.: ARIA and 107D Daughter of Ned Stark on “Game of Thrones”: ARYA because I’m irritated at ARIA and ARYA happening in the same place.
The title of the puzzle is Familiar Surroundings, and the theme clues were enjoyable to me.
23A Prisoner accidentally causes a power outage?: CONCONFUSESFUSES.
37A Southern university beefs up campus security?: ELONELONGATESGATES.
54A Fellow imposes a strict palm fruit regimen?: MANMANDATESDATES.
78A Actress de Armas writes “Mr. Gas” and “Ms. Rag”?: ANAANANAGRAMSGRAMS.
94A Smartphone advises on poker bets? APPAPPRAISESRAISES.
112A Doctor acquires antibiotics?: PROPROCURESCURES.
It’s like a before and after.
I’d write more, but I have to get the Spelling Bee post done, and this has taken me a while.
| Day | This Wk | Best | Average |
| Monday | 4:06 | 3:49 | 9:30 |
| Tuesday | 7:36 | 5:52 | 13:44 |
| Wednesday | 18:32 | 7:38 | 17:43 |
| Thursday | 16:41 | 13:09 | 29:42 |
| Friday | 56:13 | 16:23 | 36:24 |
| Saturday | 27:43 | 27:43 | 32:43 |
| Sunday | 2:17:29 | 15:11 | 1:00:46 |