Shrink-Wrapped Puzzles

Output has been low, work has been busy, also I've been lacking in ideas for puzzles, so I'm going to veer towards cryptics for a bit!  PDF Version    PUZ Version

 Good news- I'm not dead! Life was just a little bit busy the past couple of months. Here's a new one, maybe it will be 3 months before my next one, maybe not, I'm all unpredictable like that.  PDF Version    PUZ Version

 OK, here we go, back in the groove, three puzzles this month, feeling good. No theme, no problem. What's my favorite clue of this puzzle, you ask? Probably 28-Down.  PDF Version    PUZ Version

 Maybe one day I'll make a themed puzzle again. But that day is not today! PDF Version   PUZ Version

Since my last post, my computer's hard drive died, so I had to get it fixed, then I had to try to redo all of my word lists, then I had to get a snack, then I had to mow the lawn, but anyway, here's a themeless offering to slake your puzzle lust.  PDF Version   PUZ Version

 A super-sized themeless for your solving pleasure. Can't wait to see what mistakes I made in this one! PDF Version   PUZ Version

More themeless action for you. You're welcome.  This puzzle is brought to you by....THE CRUCIVERBALAXE! (Yes, it's real. No, you can't have it. It's mine.) PDF Version   PUZ Version

 My output has slowed, and I have no excuse. I made this one a while ago and meant to post it around July 4th since it is sort of thematically related to that day...but then I forgot...and then I forgot some more. Whatever. **UPDATE: As noted in the comments below, one clue has been updated in the applet, but not in the PDF or PUZ file secondary to laziness. 39D should read "Actor Jason (if you spell it wrong...oops)" PDF Version    PUZ Version

 It's been awhile! In case you were worried that I was dead or grievously injured, I am not. It is merely a result of a lack of work ethic (and a vacation). Back now with a themeless featuring some medical jargon and references to late 90s/early 2000s pop music, so, you're welcome.  PUZ Version   PDF Version

Extra big themeless for you today. I think it's on the hard side, but I don't really know because I don't have any friends so no test-solvers :(.  PUZ Version    PDF Version

When is Billy Idol going to drop a new album? I hope it's tomorrow... Anyway, that has nothing to do with this puzzle. Enjoy! PDF Version    PUZ Version

Thought I'd switch it up with a cryptic crossword this week, our state-wide mask restrictions got lifted this weekend so I figured it's time to go nuts. Is it a good puzzle? Maybe. How hard is it? I dunno. Is life meaningless? Almost certainly. Don't know how to solve cryptics?  Here's a guide. PDF Version   PUZ Version   Answer Explanations

 Just sound it out! PDF Version   PUZ Version

 Take a wild guess as to what the seed of this one was.  Also, the clue for 8-down is not, strictly speaking, a "real" word, but it is used all over the internet and I think we can all agree that it is quite clear what it means. My crossword, my rules. Just don't try to play it in scrabble. There are a couple of iffy entries in this grid, but such is life.  Final thought; where does "The Wedding Singer" 's Glen Gulia rank in the all-time list of movie villains? Probably just behind Darth Vader and Hannibal Lector, right? Right. This guy sucks.  Anyway, that has nothing to do with this grid, but here we go, please enjoy.  *UPDATE: clue for 54 Across has been corrected in the applet; not yet correct in PDF or PUZ (should say THREE, not TWO. Numbers are hard.) PDF Version   PUZ Version

Was the pinnacle of my life that time I collected 760 coins in a game of Mario Party 3 (N64 = the GOAT)? Maybe... Oh, I'm sorry, you came here looking for a puzzle? Fine, be that way, here you go: PDF Version   PUZ Version

If you haven't noticed, it's not uncommon for the comments on my posts to be people pointing out spelling errors, grammatical errors, and grid entries that are just plain wrong. Though I wish that those were all part of some Meta puzzle, they are sadly not. Thus, this puzzle pays tribute to the most distinctive feature of my puzzle-making  PDF Version   PUZ Version

An exiting week in Crossword-land; I'm fresh off a personal-best 169th place finish in the ACPT this weekend with a themed puzzle for your human brains. I'm even pretty sure there are no typeos in this one! (I'm also pretty sure I'm wrong about that).  Side note: I changed the clue to 22-Across slightly for the applet version but the original remains in the PDF and PUZ versions because I am lazy. I think you can all deal with that, and if not, you have some more important questions to be asking yourself. I recommend developing your mindfulness practice a bit more.  *UPDATE: I was informed that, with regards to 41-Across, the airline in question changed its stock symbol in 2013 (apparently, no one scours crossword clue databases to check for accuracy...). Applet updated, PDF and PUZ versions still have the error.... PDF Version    PUZ Version

Wait, has it really been over a week since my last post? I'm sure all of you have been very worried. Anyway, here's another Themeless puzzle using the grid I stole from  QVXwordz . I'm still going to call it Themeless even though two of the 15-Letter entries are certainly thematically related to my day job.  PDF Version   PUZ Version Serious question, though; what's the best 80s saxophone solo? I'm tempted to say it's "Hungry Eyes" from the Dirty Dancing  soundtrack, but Hall & Oates' "Maneater" is close. Nominations accepted in the comments. 

 Dolla dolla bills y'all. PDF Version    PUZ Version

 Time for this weeks game of "Spot the grid entry that the constructor didn't notice was a lame entry until it was too late and he was too lazy to fix!" (Hint: it's 29-Across). Also, re: 41-Down...at my first ACPT in 2016, I had one perfect puzzle destroyed by my inability to remember whether Cambodian money was RIEL or RIAL (RIEL = Cambodia, RIAL = Iran/Oman/Yemen), and for that reason it is my least favorite unit of currency.  Wait a minute....maybe a theme puzzle about currency would be good? Final thought: I saw "Godzilla vs. Kong" this weekend. It is a work of fine art; shut down the Oscars race now, it's over <cut-away to interview with my fiancee: "Yeah, it was ok"> ***Update- 55-Across has had its pronoun corrected, I cant change the PUZ/PDF files from work but that will come this evening! It should read "Her", not "His"*** ***Update #2; PDF and PUZ now updated!*** PDF Version    PUZ Version

The fact that I got engaged this week is 100% irrelevant to this puzzle, but it is true nonetheless.  **Update: 1-Across has been edited in the online version; corrections to PDF and PUZ to come, but it should read "Predecessor", not "Successor".  ***Update #2: PDF and PUZ now updated!*** PDF Version   PUZ Version

 Who doesn't love being reminded how old they are? I know I do.  PDF Version   PUZ Version

As a society, we need to go back to the days when everyone had a name that described what they did, or at least something interesting about themselves, maybe their favorite breakfast cereal? Mine is Count Chocula, in case you were curious.    PDF Version   PUZ Version

 This was harder to do than I thought. The grid is kind of ugly but it's a good person on the inside!  PDF Version    PUZ Version

I stole this grid from Quiara Vasquez at  QVXwords ; it has more words than a typical themeless but allows for six nice, meaty, fifteen-letter answers. Anyway, her site is one of my new favorites so make sure you check it out for some smart and highly entertaining puzzles.  PDF Version   PUZ Version

I guess I'm into Themeless puzzles recently. Perhaps the creative juices haven't been flowing quite as freely. Whatever it is, hope you like it!  PDF Version   PUZ Version

Two puzzles in three days? What's gotten into me?!?!? Leave a comment if you like it, my narcissism must be fed! PDF Version    PUZ Version

I've decided to start numbering my themeless puzzles, but I don't know what number I'm on so this is now #8. Counting is hard.  Shout-out to my wonderful girlfriend; I turned to her and said "Give me a funny word for a crossword" and without missing a beat she gave me 1-Across, and it all flowed quite nicely from there.  I think this one is on the hard side, but maybe it's not, I don't know. Life is a meaningless void anyway, so just go for it! PDF Version   PUZ Version

 A super-sized themeless puzzle for Monday morning. Enjoy.  *Updated 2/23: PUZ file now doesn't have all the answers filled in. Oops. PDF Version   PUZ Version

I've also played around with larger versions of this puzzle since there are so many potential theme entries to use, but here's what I ended up with. Maybe one day there will be "Not My Error II".  Also, big thanks to Matt Gritzmacher, who recently added me to his daily digest of internet crosswords, which seems to have quintupled my reach! I highly recommend signing up for his daily updates  to get various meaty crosswords in your inbox every day. So, if you're checking me out for the first time, welcome. Feel free to comment if you like the puzzle. If you don't, I suppose you're still free to comment, though if you spend your free time posting negative reviews on crossword blogs, it may be time to rethink your life a little bit.  PDF Version    PUZ Version

 I really like this puzzle. So, if you don't, keep it to yourself because it will hurt my feelings. PDF Version     PUZ Version

 I hear that there's a sporting event this weekend, but I'm not sure what it is. Anyway, this is a puzzle that totally has nothing to do with that sporting event, whatever it is. Because I don't know what it is.  PDF Version    PUZ Version

This puzzle is a troll. Don't blame me; the idea for this puzzle was someone else's, but I will protect her identity. PDF Version   PUZ Version

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It's been a solid year since our band played which is very sad, so this puzzle is my coping mechanism.  PDF Version    PUZ Version

Hope you're on your game... PDF Version     PUZ Version

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 In memoriam of everyone's favorite show getting booted from Netflix... PDF Version      PUZ Version

 A themeless puzzle to end the year.  PDF Version     PUZ Version

 Meant to post this yesterday but I didn't. Oh well. Sorry, you have to download and print it because of the format. Actually, nope, not sorry.  Christmas Tree 2020

 Something tells me that these won't be on church organists' playlists this week, which is disappointing.  PDF Version    PUZ Version

 Some familiar friends show up in this one.  PDF Version   PUZ Version

 The good news: only 66 clues! The bad news: lots of good vocabulary words in this one. You're welcome.  PDF Version   PUZ Version

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 Nom nom nom. PDF Version    PUZ Version

 I'm exceedingly fond of the clue for 6-Down. And I'm very sorry for the clue for 20-Across.  PDF Version   PUZ Version

 An extra large 17 x 17 puzzle; turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream... PDF Version    PUZ Version

  A bonus holiday puzzle for which to be thankful! PDF Version     PUZ Version

  Some of these clues are a bit diabolical, but at least there's one special clue for those of you who were Sega Genesis people back in the day... PDF Version    PUZ Version

Whether or not you're going somewhere this holiday season, here's a travel themed puzzle for you. You're welcome.  PDF Version    PUZ Version