Cryptoquote Spoiler – 09/08/21

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”   —   Judy Garland

(Since I was a little kid, I’ve been in love with Judy Garland, as Dorothy Gale!  I feel so bad that she struggled with so many demons, and fell into a life of substance abuse, that ultimately killed her at such a young age.  Stupid studio executives!  That Hawaiian dude did a nice version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, but I’ll always love the original version.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Image courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Sal Valentino, of The Beau Brummels!

Jumble Spoiler – 09/08/21

Visual Description:  Not exactly my kinda brew.

ETLYS  =  STYLE,  XMMAI  =  MAXIM,  RMHEPA  =  HAMPER,  OTTPIE  =  TIPTOE   —   Giving us:  STEAXERTPE

Clue/Question:  She sold Earl Grey, Oolong, Darjeeling, etc.  Her customers really enjoyed her – – –

Answer:  “EXPERT–TEAS“

(Kind of a trendy Jumble pun.  Lots of folks are into teas these days.  Even I have actually taken up drinking green tea.  I like green tea with lemon, or green tea with mint.  I was drinking mainly Bigelow Tea, because it’s a New York favorite, and it’s relatively cheap.  But I really prefer when I can catch a sale on Twinings Tea.  It’s a smoother/less harsh brand of tea.  I guess I have to hand it to the Brits, when it comes to tea.  As a matter of fact, they’re also very good with my favorite brews . . . beer and ale!

All familiar old clue words today.  And yet, all of their jumbles are coming up as new.  The only one that I had to look at twice was “ottpie”.  Those compound words always kind of freak me out a little.  The answer letter layout was a tender ten letter jumble.  Sufficiently cryptic.  The final answer slots, with the quotation marks and the hyphen, made for a quick solve.

Fun little tearoom scene cartoon.  I know that some people REALLY take their teas seriously.  Store bought teas, in a bag, just won’t do.  They have to get actual tea leaves, and use those strainer things.  That’s just too much work for yer uncle.  When I was a kid I used to love the Red Rose Tea commercials.  They used to use chimpanzees in them.  They were hilarious!  Aah!  Simpler times.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Images courtesy of Google

Happy birthday to Aimee Mann, formerly of ‘Til Tuesday!