Spring Cleaning
Spring Cleaning -- Mark Keathley
-----------------
Monday, April 21, 2008
Puzzle by Janet R. Bender, edited by Will Shortz
CLEANSLATE (18A. Symbol of a new start); SCRUBOAK (20A. Low-growing tree found typically in rocky soil); SWEEPHAND (33A. It indicates the seconds on a clock face); DUSTDEVIL (40A. Small whirlwind); WASHSALE (52A. Stock transaction done at a loss for tax purposes); VACUUMTUBE (57A. Old radio part) are the inter-related entries of this Monday back-to-work puzzle.
Getting one's surroundings in order, of course, is more complex than just cleaning, scrubbing, sweeping, dusting, washing and vacuuming, but spring cleaning days are here, and on the eve of Earth Day, this crossword is an appropriate reminder of chores to be performed. Recycling, of course, is an important consideration, as is conservation and preservation. Let’s clear out this crossword by using it's words!
Spring's in the AIR and there are SEEDS to be planted, later to REAP, remember, no ALAR -- perhaps cleaning the EAVES, watch your STEP, oh and do the GLASS -- in a LULL catch a few RAYS, wander through ARDEN with a NET or be one that SWIMS. Perhaps ESCORT your SWAIN to your respective ZOOS to espy some ROOS, or go to a SPA.
The IRS has your return for the YEAR, hope for no audit, just APERCU by a HARD nosed accountant somewhere in PERU. Our banks are now SITED o’er the ATLAS we fear, tax forms floated by NAVIES ASEA with a shiploads of HAZMAT and ETAIL. Yes, your bank accounts’ RIFLED, but that’s knowledge at ERST.
Visitors are here with one DRACULA by GASLAMP, issuing a REEK and RUIN. At the NABES we might find EVA, AUDIE or EWELL. MESTA may have a guest or two, perhaps ALOU, the MAGI who'll perform ALOES with ADAIR, then serving everyone MEALS done MEDIUM, EARS, and PECAN, all sprinkled with SENNA, by an outgoing EXEC, ALLIED in oil.
No time or room left for such as ERIE, ARAL, DEED, PLANE, RDS, AXLE or NINE -- for where they’d fit in, we’d need ESP!
So get out that AJAX in the corner with AJAR, go into a SPATE, turn on the TAP -- don’t be a WUSS, clear off that SHELF, get everything SITED; SEVER from clutter without BIAS, get to the PITH of what LAGS in your world, no more of the SAME --RESEAT!
With that, I EXIT -- PSST, Earth Day tomorrow!
-----------------
For today’s cartoons, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
