Find Your Inner Child
by Elizabeth C. Gorski
edited by Mike Shenk
November 13, 2009


Full answers available on WSJ's crossword puzzle page or with the following week's puzzle on WSJ's online Lifestyle page.


Theme: ----KI + D-----
Who knew that English had so many words ended in -ki? I knew our language adopted words from other countries but 5 international origins for 7 words verges on the profligate.
SUZUKI DEALERSHIP {22A Its business is going through cycles} Japanese origin
KHAKI DRESS {34A Safari-inspired weekend wear} Indian origin
KABUKI DANCE {44A National Theatre of Japan offering}
CHICKEN TERIYAKI DINNER {67A Bento box entree} Japanese
SKI DOWNHILL {95A Compete in the Super G} Norwegian origin
TIKI DRINKS {101A Samoan Fog Cutter and Day Tripper, e.g.} South Pacific origin via California at the original tiki bar
PULASKI DAY PARADE {119A Annual fall event on Fifth Avenue} Polish origin. One of those clues that's easier if you live in NYC, as the parade was held the previous Sunday, November 7, but not held on General Pulaski Memorial Day, October 11.
KID {127A Child in seven of this puzzle's longest answers}


Miscellaneous Internet tidbit: Pictures of chic CRUMB containers {6A Silent butler's catch}


Commentary: Since I still inhabit that zipping, buzzing world unique to cough syrup, we will continue to ignore my performance. Instead let us ponder what puzzles tell us about their constructor. Coincidentally, this Sunday's New York Times's puzzle was also by Ms. Gorski. From what I have read of the puzzle industry, constructors may submit puzzles months before they are published. Therefore, it is sheer happenstance that the downs in one helped me with the acrosses in the other.

WSJ - PEACEKEEPER {18A Mediation pro}
NYT [11/15/09] – MEDIATED {17A Helped settle an argument}

WSJ – ILER {51A Robert of “The Sopranos”}
NYT – ditto {31A}

In the total absence of data, one wonders about Ms. Gorski's need for mediation. Is her life that turbulent? Perhaps the lives of those around her roil in chaos and she lies at the still, calm center playing PEACEKEEPER. If it is anything like my family's issues, I wonder if she also is tempted to lob a few oxymoronic Peacekeepers.

Furthermore, what is her obsession with Mr. ILER? Is the attraction in the cast of his features or in the arrangement of his consonants?

While we are baselessly speculating on Ms. Gorski's life, here is one of her alter egos.


Katherine Walcott
Puzzle Fan