Who is this woman and what does she have to do with today’s puzzle?

She’s Breeana “Bree” Walker and she’s a bobsledder from Australia. The clue that raised the issue today at 38A was “Sledding event that debuted in the 2022 Winter Olympics.” The answer was MONOBOB. That is, a one-person bobsled race. Bree won Olympic gold in the event in 2022. It’s a women-only event.

“What’s that disease that is spread by kissing, Fran?”

“Mono, Bob.”

“Oh, yeah, thanks — now put those lips away.”

It was in the puzzle because “bob” is a hair style and the puzzle was a big joke (mis)using the singer Harry Styles to seek an assortment of “hairy styles.” So theme answers besides MONOBOB were BASKETWEAVE, PRETZELBUN, and THE RED PONY. There was some grumbling about whether PONY is really a “style.” Some also questioned the cluing of PRETZELBUN as a “gourmet” item. I really like them, but I wouldn’t call them gourmet. The complainers offered a brioche bun as a gourmet item. Ooh, these look good!

I do love a nice pretzel bun, and consider them a great advance in Bunworld. How much do I love them? I think I opted to pay an extra buck for one once on a burger. I wouldn’t go as high as $2 extra though. Let’s not get crazy.

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The puzzle started us off with a knockout at 1A: The clue was “‘Twilight’ heroine” and the answer was BELLA. If you are a fan of that series (or even if not), Bella is played by the incomparably beautiful Kristen Stewart. Phil got this shot of her when she wasn’t even trying.

Kristen’s mom was adopted by a Jewish couple, and a DNA test showed that one of Kristen’s maternal biological grandparents was Jewish. So let’s claim her.

She’s bisexual and was advised once not to appear affectionate with her girlfriend in public because it could hurt her chances of landing certain acting roles. “I don’t want to work with people like that,” she said.

Kristen (35) married Dylan Meyer (37), a screenwriter and film producer in April. Dylan’s name at birth was Rachel and she’s Jewish. Her dad is Norman Meyer, a very successful writer and director. He won an unusual award in 2023: the Future of Life Award for reducing the risk of nuclear war through the power of storytelling. Good luck with that, Norm.

Here’s Dylan:

Mazel Tov, ladies!

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This poem by Paige Lewis, pictured below, was the Poem of the Day for The Poetry Foundation. It’s called “You Can Take Off Your Sweater, I’ve Made Today Warm.” I’m not sure it’s right for Owl Chatter. I read it several times and understand it maybe 10%. See what you think.

Sit on the park bench and chew this mint leaf.
Right now, way above your head, two men

floating in a rocket ship are ignoring their
delicate experiments, their buttons flashing

red. Watching you chew your mint, the men
forget about their gritty toothpaste, about

their fingers, numb from lack of gravity.
They see you and, for the first time since

liftoff, think home. When they were boys
they were gentle. And smart. One could

tie string around a fly without cinching it
in half. One wrote tales of sailors who

drowned after mistaking the backs of
whales for islands. Does it matter which

man is which? They just quit their mission
for you. They’re on their way down. You’ll

take both men — a winter husband and
a summer husband. Does it matter which

is — don’t slump like that. Get up, we have
so much work to do before —                          wait               you’re going

the wrong     way               small whelp of a woman!         this is not

              how we     behave                       where are you going

                                                                                              this world is already       willing

to give you anything                  do you want to know Latin

                                                                                                         okay             now everyone

here knows Latin            want inflatable     deer               deer !               i promise the winter /

summer children will barely hurt                   dear        i’m hurt   that you would ever think

                                         i don’t glisten to you         i’m always glistening

   tame your voice       and               turn around

the men are coming                    they’ve traded everything for you               the gemmy   starlight

              the click                          click                                  click

                                                                                                              of the universe   expanding

                                                                                                  stop

                   aren’t you known              aren’t you
                                                                              known here

how can you be certain that anywhere else will provide

                                                                                    more pears than you could ever eat

                           remember the sweet rot of it all

come back             you forgot your sweater

                                        what if there’s nothing there when you —

                                                                         you don’t have your

                                                                                                                 sweater

                                                                                                                                 what if it’s cold

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Kudos and thanks to Owl Chatter friend Norrie for being the first to refer to New Paltz as New Plotz. How could I have missed that?? Excellent!

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Thanks for dropping by.