Chainkeen Exchange-Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Me Time

There are Chainkeen Exchangespoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Me Time

Constructor: Michael Berg

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Comments from Today’s Crossword Constructor

Michael: This puzzle is all about the title! I hope that solvers will get to have some "me" time today, whether it's solving this puzzle or doing whatever other activities they enjoy.

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• NANCY (36A: Character in some Olivia Jaimes comics) The comic strip NANCY was first published in 1938, based on a character that first appeared in a comic called Fritzi Ritz. Ernie Bushmiller drew NANCY from 1938 until his death in 1982. Since 1982 NANCY has been drawn by a number of artists. In 2018, Olivia Jaimes (which is a pseudonym) began creating NANCY, updating the strip with a modern perspective. NANCY now uses a smartphone and attends robotic classes. I was familiar with NANCY, but not with Olivia Jaimes, and I was happy to learn about her.
• MIA (64A: Singer Martini) MIA Martini (1947-1995) was an Italian singer-songwriter. She represented Italy at Eurovision in 1977 with the song, "Libera," and again in 1992, with "Rapsodia."

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• ARIA (13A: Solo that becomes a font if you add an "L" to the end) ARIA (a solo) becomes Arial (a font) when an "L" is added to the end of the word. I enjoyed this clue that links two words that often pop up in crosswords.
• MARCH EQUINOX (19A: It marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere) The MARCH EQUINOX is also known as the vernal EQUINOX in the Northern Hemisphere, and the autumnal EQUINOX in the Southern Hemisphere. The MARCH EQUINOX is one of two times during the year when the sun is directly over the equator. (The other time is the September EQUINOX.) The MARCH EQUINOX usually occurs on March 20, though it can also occur on MARCH 19 or 21.
• DELI (33A: Place to buy schmaltz) Schmaltz is rendered poultry fat (usually chicken or goose). Schmaltz is a staple of traditional Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine. It can be used to make chicken soup, latkes, matzah balls, and other dishes.
• RAFAEL (41A: Tennis champ Nadal) RAFAEL Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam men's single tennis titles. RAFAEL Nadal and tennis players Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are sometimes referred to as the "Big Three." Collectively they have won 66 major singles tournaments. Of those three, RAFAEL Nadal is the only left-handed player.
• MIDSUMMER'S EVE (43A: Seasonal celebration in June) MIDSUMMER'S EVE is the night preceding MIDSUMMER, the date of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. MIDSUMMER, which falls between June 20-22 each year, is the longest day of the year (the day with the longest period of sunlight) in the Northern Hemisphere.
• ESTA (47A: "Donde ___?") Depending on context, the Spanish phrase, "Donde ESTA?" might mean, "Where is it?," "Where is he/she?," or "Where are you?"
• MESOZOIC ERA (57A: Stretch of time aka the "Age of Reptiles") The MESOZOIC ERA lasted from about 252 to 66 million years ago. It is further divided into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods. As the clue informs us, the MESOZOIC ERA is known as the "Age of Reptiles." This was the time of the dinosaurs, and also the time when the supercontinent Pangaea began to break apart into separate continents.
• EDEN (68A: Lilith's garden) In Jewish folklore, Lilith was Adam's first wife. It is said that she fled EDEN to gain her independence.
• HAIM (1D: "Summer Girl" rock band) The rock band HAIM is comprised of sisters Alana, Danielle, and Este HAIM. "Summer Girl" is a song released by HAIM in 2019.
• DANCER (4D: Person who may krump or foxtrot) Krump is an expressive street dance style characterized by high energy and dramatic movements. Four basic movements used by krump DANCERs are stomps, jabs, chest pops, and arm swings. The foxtrot is a partner dance characterized by long, flowing movements. The foxtrot was developed in the 1910s, while krump developed in the early 2000s.
• IRAQI (6D: Mosul resident) Mosul is a city located in northern Iraq along the Tigris River. It is the second-most populous city in Iraq after Baghdad. The ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh are located in Mosul.
• ROTI (8D: Thali flatbread) Thali refers to an Indian-style meal that consists of a number of dishes arranged and served on a round platter called a thali. ROTI (a flatbread) or rice occupy the center of the platter with a number of side dishes around the edges.
• TAXI (15D: Yellow Cab vehicle) The original Yellow Cab (with capital letters) Company was a TAXI company founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1907. The presence of yellow cabs (with lowercase letters) on the streets of Paris and London dates back as far as the late 1700s. In 2015, Yellow Cab of Chicago filed for bankruptcy, and the company split into a number of TAXI companies nationwide that have the Yellow Cab name.
• POEM (28D: Work by Ada Limon) Ada Limón is the current Poet Laureate of the United States. You can read her POEM, "A New National Anthem," on the Poetry Foundation website.
• ERMA (34D: Gospel singer Franklin) I have previously written about gospel and soul singer ERMA Franklin (1938-2002).
• VALERIE (45D: TV host Bertinelli) VALERIE Bertinelli is a TV host on the Food Network. Among the shows she has hosted are VALERIE's Home Cooking (2015-2023) and Kids Baking Championship (2015-2024). I remember VALERIE Bertinelli from her days portraying Barbara Cooper Royer on One Day at a Time (1975-1984). It's been fun to see her occasionally pop up on the Food Network when I'm binge-watching cooking shows while on vacation.
• LORAX (52D: Kid-lit character who confronts the Once-ler) The LORAX is a 1971 children's book by Dr. Seuss. The LORAX is a character who "speaks for the trees," and confronts the Once-ler, a business person causing environmental destruction.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
  • EERIE (22A: Like an empty road at night)
  • ASSEMBLE (40D: Build, like a Lego structure)
  • EYE ROLL (46D: Reaction to a dad joke, maybe)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• MARCH EQUINOX (19A: It marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere)
• MIDSUMMER'S EVE (43A: Seasonal celebration in June)
• MESOZOIC ERA (57A: Stretch of time aka the "Age of Reptiles")

ME TIME: Each theme answer references a specific TIME, and has the initials M.E.

While solving I noticed that all the theme answers have the initials M.E. It was only later that I realized all three theme answers relate to a TIME period of some sort, the EQUINOX, an EVE, and an ERA. That made for a nice "Aha!" moment. Thank you, Michael, for this delightful puzzle.

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