CROSSWORD #697: Give ‘Em The Bird

GIVE ‘EM THE BIRD: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF] 
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This Thanksgiving, I’m finally making good on an idea that I’ve been talking about/threatening to do for years now. Liz and I will be doing a fun run in the morning. Four miles around Somerville. Easy peasy. And of course Tabitha will be there, and likely I’ll probably be the one pushing her in the stroller. Good times. But why stop at just one first-time event? Can I get another? I can. Another first on deck for today is I’m cooking the meal. Well, correction, I’ve cooked plenty of meals, even Thankgiving dinners in the past. just not a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Hope I don’t barbecue the turkey.

Thanksgiving also marks the first day of the end of the year BEQ drive. As always, the site remains free. You are never expected to pay. That isn’t happening. Two puzzles, every week, by yours truly, from now until Armageddon or I drop dead. Whichever comes first. But even then, I still might try and find a way to get puzzles to you. And you can quote me on that. Besides, I’m qualified to do nothing else on this earth except for three things: be a lovely husband to Liz, be Tabby’s dad, and write puzzles. I think I do all three things pretty darned well, if I say so myself.

Now regulars to the site know the drill. Anyone who can tip at least $10 between now and January 5th will recieve some bonus puzzles: one Sunday-sized themeless, one Sunday-sized themed puzzle, and one regular-sized Marching Bands puzzle. Three freemium puzzles by your favorite puzzlemaker. How awesome is that? On top of that, I’ll pick one random name out of the hat of all donors and they’ll get a year’s subscription to both the AV Club and Fireball, as well as all three of my most-recent books: Marching Bands, Sex Drugs and Rock And Roll Crosswords, and Diagramless. What a steal. What are you waiting for? Tip now so you’ll have something to do during commercial breaks in today’s NFL games! Or stuff ’em in your pocket and pull ’em out when your sick of fighting crowds shopping this weekend.

Have a good Thanksgiving. Share the puzzle. Tip if you can. New one on Monday.