I pulled out 14D 17-Across (Moles are found in it: TAQUERIA) offering: QUESADILLA because quesadilla is frequently cooked in the Raab household. It’s just so good. Also the use of mole to mean the food is a fun thing to do in Codenames. When I get to do this, I am happy.
No theme in this Saturday puzzle.
Finished this one in 13:50. A new record!
I pulled out 18A Font akin to Helvetica: ARIAL because it’s not exact, but it’s kinda close? They’re both sans-serif fonts that are clean and easy to read. I also prefer Arial to Calibri. I don’t know if it’s because I was raised with Arial or what, but it’s true.
Also the #raabidfun T-shirts are in Helvetica.
Theme! Today’s has down clues rather than across clues. Weird.
3D M.L.B. record-holder for most career home runs: BARRYBONDS. *
11D Singer profiled in the biopic “Walk the Line”: JOHNNYCASH.
29D N.B.A. commissioner starting in 2014: ADAMSILVER.
20A Sort of investment suggested by the ends of 3-, 11- and 29-Down: PERSONALFINANCE. Bonds, cash, silver.
Finished this one in 4:25–a new record! The old record was 5:22 that I had set back in July of this year.
| Day | This Wk | Best | Average | 4-Wk Avg | Streak |
| Monday | 4:13 | 3:49 | 9:18 | 5:01 | 84 |
| Tuesday | 4:25 | 4:25 | 13:06 | 11:45 | 8 |
| Wednesday | 7:38 | 16:51 | 11:55 | 24 | |
| Thursday | 12:12 | 27:50 | 22:16 | 10 | |
| Friday | 10:29 | 29:23 | 18:18 | 24 | |
| Saturday | 16:33 | 30:33 | 21:26 | 24 | |
| Sunday | 15:11 | 50:57 | 38:30 | 11 |
I pulled out 12D Fountain fare: MALTS because Calah and I got an ice cream maker for our wedding, and although we haven’t yet used it, malts will be something we will be able to create once we do. I men malteds are way better than regular mikshakes. The malty flavor elevates milkshakes to a level far beyond.
I don’t think there was a theme to this Saturday puzzle.
Finished this one in 16:33.
| Day | This Wk | Best | Average | 4-Wk Avg | Streak |
| Monday | 6:12 | 3:49 | 9:18 | 5:05 | 84 |
| Tuesday | 10:51 | 5:22 | 13:06 | 11:45 | 8 |
| Wednesday | 11:42 | 7:38 | 16:51 | 11:55 | 24 |
| Thursday | 14:23 | 12:12 | 27:50 | 22:16 | 10 |
| Friday | 14:59 | 10:29 | 29:23 | 18:18 | 24 |
| Saturday | 16:33 | 16:33 | 30:33 | 21:26 | 24 |
| Sunday | 15:11 | 50:57 | 42:39 | 11 |
I pulled out 8A Bright night lights: NOVAS because my friends Cat and Nick have a dog named Nova. Nova is very big and very friendly. If Nova ever sees this blog post, hiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Honorable mention clue: 15A “Sorry if you were offended,” e.g.: NONAPOLOGY because Calah and I were talking today about nonapology apologies and how annoying they are.
No theme for this Saturday puzzle, but the time was something exciting for me. I bested my personal record of 20:12 on July 24, 2021 with a new record of 20:11. I had to scramble to find when the prior record was, but I got there. So it bears mentioning again:
Finished this one in 20:11.
| Day | This Wk | Best | Average | 4-Wk Avg | Streak |
| Monday | 4:41 | 3:49 | 9:23 | 5:15 | 78 |
| Tuesday | 9:11 | 5:22 | 13:13 | 9:53 | 2 |
| Wednesday | 15:34 | 7:38 | 17:03 | 15:57 | 19 |
| Thursday | 12:21 | 12:12 | 28:20 | 26:54 | 5 |
| Friday | 17:33 | 10:29 | 30:58 | 17:30 | 19 |
| Saturday | 20:11 | 20:11 | 32:48 | 31:59 | 19 |
| Sunday | 15:11 | 53:28 | 43:22 | 5 |
Holy smokes! I wanted to get the crossword post out before I watch Twin Peaks through Netflix Party with some friends. I start it at 7, so I don’t have a lot of time. I looked at the clues and just went for it. I started at the top left and ended at the bottom right.
I know there is a theme in this one because some answers had to do with a theme, but I figured out the answers as I went through without ever considering the theme. I’ll look back on it later to see what that was, but this post goes out first.
This is the first time I’ve done a Wednesday this fast. I did the whole thin in 7:55 with no errors. For me, that’s amazing. I’m still stunned. I have more than 10 minutes until Twin Peaks.