I Don't Care if Monday's Blue

Ya know, I try to be a positive person. I don't want to hate Mondays, but these Mondays where I have to wait for the Sun are a pain. I never know what time they're going to be posted, but I know I'll be at work. And although my priorities are in order and I'm not going to let my job interfere with my crossword blogging, still the cursing from my boss and the whining from my co-workers can be distracting. Scanning is a major operation, and Blogger is often wonky on my work computer.

And I see they only put one week's worth of puzzles, so I'll have to do this again next Monday.

Oh well, let's do the SPOILER WARNING: Don't read any further until you've done today's New York Sun Crossword Puzzle. New York Sun puzzles are every bit as fun and challenging as the more well-known New York Times, and they're indisputably better in one way -- they're free. You can download this puzzle and join in on the fun here.

I realize it's just because I'm crotchety, but 1 Across seems pointlessly verbose -- Hits hard, as a fly (in the insect or baseball sense) (SWATS). Wouldn't this clue work just as well on a Monday without the part in parentheses? I mean if I interpret "Hits hard, as a fly" to refer to insects and you think baseball and we both get "SWATS" out of it, why say more? Also, I think if I hadn't had to wait for this puzzle, the crossing of ET AL (8D: endnote abbr.) and EL AL (21A: Airline with the Israeli flag on its planes' tails) might not bother me but today it kinda does, and so does being reminded that there was a Yankee player on the baseball stamps from a year or so ago (37A: Player honored with Campanella, Greenberg, and Mantle on "Baseball Sluggers" postage stamps: OTT).

Enough negativity. I actually liked "Noteworthy Reminder" by Gary Steinmehl. The theme here is "Every Good Boy Does Fine" is a mnemonic for EGBDF, the lines of the treble clef.

17A: From time to time (EVERY NOW AND THEN)

26A: What the road to hell is paved with, according to a saying (GOOD INTENTIONS)

38A: Young studs (BOY TOYS)

48: Robot's response, maybe (DOES NOT COMPUTE). Slight quibble here. Every robot I've ever known speaks in complete sentences without understood subjects, so I think they would say "That does not compute.)

63A: Manipulatives help develop them (FINE MOTOR SKILLS)

By the way if you don't like "Every Good Boy Does Fine" here are some others that might help you remember your treble clef:

Elephants Get Big Dirty Feet

Elvis's Guitar Broke Down Friday

Empty Garbage Before Dad Flips

Even George Bush Drives Fast

Every Good Bird Does Fly

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

Every Good Boy Deserves Football

Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

Every Good Boy Deserves Fun

Every Green Bus Drives Fast

My favorite clue was 10D: Cat burglar's target (PET SHOP) but I also appreciated being reminded of one of my favorite movies 6D: Gum-chewing girl in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (VIOLET) and less so of one of the most overrated movies of all time 16A: "_____ Rider (1969 Dennis Hopper Film) (EASY).

Gotta get back to work. I might add a couple more thoughts or a scan if I get a chance. Otherwise I'll see you on Tuesday.