I pulled out 22A Like neon gas: NOBLE because I had written INERT because it fit and worked, except that it turned out that it fit but didn’t work.

Theme!

17A Athlete who rarely gets sacked or has a pass intercepted: STARQUARTERBACK -> S|TAR|QU|ART|ERBACK.
29A Run-down places: RATTRAPS -> |RAT|TRA|PS.
33A Figure to aim for, according to personal trainers: TARGETHEARTRATE -> |TAR|GETHE|ART|RAT|E.
42A Pastry made with an orchard fruit: PEARTART -> PE|ART|ART|.
56A Political group symbolized by a donkey: DEMOCRATICPARTY -> DEMOC|RAT|ICP|ART|Y.

37D Various creative mediums … or a hint to variations found in the shaded squares: ARTFORMS. Because they’re A-R-T in different forms. Yay.

Finished this one in 7:41.

Day	This Wk	Best	Average	4-Wk Avg	Streak
Monday	7:41	3:49	9:23	5:39	79
Tuesday		5:22	13:13	9:53	2
Wednesday		7:38	17:03	15:57	19
Thursday		12:12	28:20	26:54	5
Friday		10:29	30:58	17:30	19
Saturday		20:11	32:48	31:59	19
Sunday		15:11	52:41	40:33	6

I pulled out 55D Jacket fastener that’s not a button: SNAP because those can be amazing. I wish I had those on my kittel–the white robe used in some Jewish holidays. Also worn by grooms on their wedding days, as I experienced just yesterday. NBD. The kittel that my wife, Calah, had gotten for me has the buttons on the wrong side. It was the first time that I’d attempted to fasten wrong-side buttons. It was mess. Much respect, women out there.

There was a Monday theme!

16A Universal code of ethics: NATURALLAW.
30A Quick-minded sort: SHARPCOOKIE.
45A One who says that you’re not on the ball?: FLATEARTHER.

63A Speaking of which … or where the starts of 16-, 30- and 45-Across can be found?: ONTHATNOTE.

16A A natural note is a note that isn’t altered in any way by a flat or sharp.

30A Sharp: A note that is half a step up.
45A Flat: A note that is half a step down.

Finished this one in 6:52.

Day	This Wk	Best	Average	4-Wk Avg	Streak
Monday	6:52	3:49	9:27	7:31	70
Tuesday		5:22	13:39	11:41	12
Wednesday		7:38	17:31	18:03	10
Thursday		12:12	29:06	22:53	10
Friday		16:23	34:43	33:08	10
Saturday		27:43	35:10	33:18	10
Sunday		15:11	55:13	40:49	10