ACROSS 1 Exclude 5 Cheer squad? 9 Microwave’s

“Done!”13 Route14 Drink brand

with a wintry logo

15 Pale purple16 Ending for

“teen”17 Fashion

journalist Garcia

18 Spot seller19 Valuable

designation for a collector

22 Zoning unit23 How many

’00s mixtapes were stored

24 Prepare to order a drink

32 One-named Irish singer

33 Negative conjunction

34 Not just punctual

35 Boxer Nico ___ Walsh

36 Requirement when buying booze

39 Outdated40 North Pole

resident42 Write43 ___ gras (duck

delicacy)44 Balancing

daredevil48 Printer paper

unit49 “___ we there

yet?”50 Creature

comforts? ... and a hint to the words that bookend 19-, 24- and 44-Across

57 Indifferent58 Main point59 “Ah, gotcha”60 Drink with

a pumpkin spice variety

61 Water, for a Super Soaker

62 Gluttony and greed

63 Great Basin indigenous group

64 Fiefdom laborer

65 ___ it out (settle a beef)

DOWN 1 Libra’s birth-

stone, often 2 Travelers to

Bethlehem 3 Romantic duo,

in a tabloid 4 ___ in Manila

(iconic 1975 boxing match)

5 Optimize with small adjustments

6 LSD 7 Hawaiian

goose found in “pine needles”

8 Personal watercraft brand

9 “I wouldn’t do that”

10 French bread?

11 All tied up12 Liveliness15 Paired20 North Pole

product21 Football turn-

over: Abbr.24 Godzilla,

for example25 Zhou in

Chinese his-tory (A-LINE anagram)

26 Being deceitful

27 ’90s collectible disk

28 Von ___ (“The Sound of Music” surname)

29 Small stream30 Nickname that

sounds like a passageway

31 Winona of “Stranger Things”

36 Library penalty

37 Director Spike38 Needing

41 Pushes forcefully

43 Dutch dialect spoken in Belgium

45 U.K. military flyers

46 High-end watches featuring a Greek letter

47 Singer Grande, familiarly

50 Fence component

51 ___ Modern (London museum)

52 It’s worth two nickels

53 Whispery video genre, for short

54 Himalayas’ home

55 Camera part56 Group

hangout, slangily

57 ___-ray discANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD

It’s a Zoo Out There by Tomas Spiers 9/13

Dear Abby: A friend of 40 years is always saying what she can’t afford, yet she owns prop-erty, has a 401(k), always finds additional work in her field and buys the cheapest grocer-ies. She won’t spend a dime, even when it’s necessary.

In a recent text she was going on again about money. When I (jokingly) quipped, “You’re probably a millionaire by now!” she jumped on me as if I’d called her the B-word and went off on a rant. I was dumb-founded. I apologized because she felt I’d badly offended her by calling her a “millionaire.” When she didn’t respond, I left it alone. This was a few days ago. This morning I got a text from her as if nothing happened.

I’m no longer feeling like I’m her “friend.” Looking back, she was never a good hostess when I flew out of state to visit her. Nor has she ever treated me for lunch or dinner, although I was happy to treat her to lunch when she came to visit. I don’t feel the caring, generous, giving aspect that usually goes with long-term friendship. When she was down financially, I offered. I haven’t experienced the same from her. I feel shot down and ready to call it quits. Your expert advice is most appreciated and needed. — Falling Out of Friendship

Dear Falling Out: Before ending a 40-year friendship, please TELL this woman she hurt your feelings. Then ask

why your casual comment trig-gered such a strong reaction. Her response to your reason-able question will tell you everything you need to know about whether your relation-ship is salvageable.

Dear Abby: I am a stay-at-home mom of a 4-year-old son who is the light of my life. I truly enjoy our days together. For various reasons, my hus-band and I have decided he will be our only child. He will soon be in school almost full time and I will be returning to work. When I think about it, I get depressed. These have been the best years of my life, and I think I made a mistake letting my son become my “reason” for happiness. I know we will make many more memories together, but I feel like it’s kind of the end of an era and I’m not sure what to do with myself. Can you advise? — Mommy Moving Forward

Dear Mommy: This may be “the end of an era,” but it is also the beginning of a NEW one. Your son is about to experience the first of many growth spurts, and you along with him. In addition to his academic les-sons, he’s going to learn how to become independent and relate to other children. Both are vital to his development as a person.

Rather than dwell on your sadness, consider this a time of growth for yourself as well, and focus on the positive. If you can help out at your son’s school, volunteer if you have time out-side of work. Depending upon your child’s extracurricular interests (like sports, per-haps?), you may find yourself involved with those and busier than ever. Because he’s starting school doesn’t mean your role as a mother is done. Quite the contrary.

DEAR ABBY

Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Friendship takes stark turn over finances

JEANNE PHILLIPS

WORD GAME

1 showing no interest (9) ___________2 chains (8) ___________3 results of breaking rules (9) ___________4 unimportant and unknown (7) ___________5 big payoff (7) ___________6 Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower (9) ___________7 make less dry (10) ___________

Saturday’s Answers: 1. CLINICIANS 2. CREDIBILITY 3. HOSTILITY4. SKYDOME 5. PRESUPPOSED 6. EUNICE 7. INVITES

Find the 7 words to match the 7 clues. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in each solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.

KLES

JAC

KPOT

PE

NAL

MOI

OBSC

URE

IC

DM

ET

ARKS

AP

TIES

ST

LAN

ATH

SHAC

URI

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021

Blue

Ox

Fam

ily G

ames

, Inc

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ist.

by A

ndre

ws

McM

eel

CLUES SOLUTIONS

9/13

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 6 without repeating.

The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Ken

Ken

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a re

gist

ered

trad

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k of

Ken

Ken

Puz

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LLC

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2021

Ken

Ken

Puz

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LLC

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tion

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9-13

-21

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Invest in learning, expanding your interests and spending time with supportive people who share your beliefs and opinions. Eliminate whatever stands between you and what you want. Don’t give in or give up; do your own thing.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): If you want something, take the initiative and make it happen. Refuse to let anyone step in and take over. Show your strengths, and you will come out on top. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When in doubt, take a pass. Too much of anything is a warning sign. Protect your reputation, health and the rela-tionships that are important to you. Put your energy into securing your future. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): There is nothing more exciting than discovering something or someone who gives you food for thought. Engaging in talks will lead to a fun day filled with hope. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Getting out and sharing with people you enjoy is fine, but don’t compromise your health and well-being. Curiosity can lead to something new and exciting. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be observant, and you’ll avoid getting dragged into an unsa-vory situation. Take a greater interest in events or activities that make you think and give you access to people who have something to offer mentally and emotionally. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Tell it like it is, and you’ll forgo an onslaught of negativity and setbacks. Know what you want, and don’t be afraid to put your plans into action. A change will motivate you to protect your reputation. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Bring up topics of discussion that require resolution. Your input and persuasive charm will help swing someone’s opinion regarding an issue that needs rectification. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Dial it down and focus on what’s important. Put your emotions aside to do what’s necessary to sustain the life-style that brings you peace of mind. Set priorities when taking care of other people’s affairs. It’s time to put your needs first. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Do what’s necessary to move on without getting hung up on trivial matters.

Look at the big picture, and you will see a clear path to the destination of your choice. Use intelligence to get your way, and bypass outside interfer-ence. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Put your energy into something that offers stabil-ity. Make changes to lower your overhead. Learn through observation, and refuse to let emotions cloud your vision or take you down a path that leads nowhere. Simplify your life, and gain peace of mind. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Trust what’s tangible, not hearsay. Gather facts and make decisions geared toward saving and clearing up any financial, medical or legal problems that might jeopardize your chance to achieve your goals. Don’t fold under pressure. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take better care of your-self. Spend more time on fit-ness, diet and resolving issues that can set you back finan-cially. Discuss your intentions with someone who has some-thing to offer in return. Handle partnerships with care to avoid emotional backlash. 2 stars

HOROSCOPE FOR SEPTEMBER 13

By Eugenia Last

PREVIOUS SOLUTION

Directions: Complete the gridso that every row, column and3x3 box contains every digitfrom 1 to 9 inclusively.

SUDOKU