Hello Chatterheads! Long time no blog. We have relocated 600 miles west, in sunny Annie Arbor MI. Our suite in the aptly named Sonesta Suites a few miles south of town is perfect, with a small kitchenette and everything else that works, although housekeeping has been a bit spotty. We deposited the owls at Sam’s so they could visit with Worthy for the week. Here they are in our room at the brilliant Royal Motel in Hermitage PA, our first stop. We could walk from there to an excellent Indian restaurant for dinner.

The place looked quite creepy from the outside, see below, but turned out to be one of the best cheap dumps I’ve ever found. Very nice Indian fellow in charge and the room was very clean, quiet, and comfortable. All for $64! It’s in Hermitage, PA, very close the the Ohio border in Western PA.

With GPS guiding us, it doesn’t matter what you do, you’ll get there the same time they predict. The GPS lady knows me so well she anticipates my every move. E.g., say she tells us we’ll arrive at 4 pm. I could speed like crazy, driving 90 mph for an hour, and we’ll still arrive at 4. Apparently, she knew I’d speed and builds that into the ETA. Same result if I lollygag at 40 mph — she knew I would! How does that happen?

Get this. Yesterday we were driving in town and she said: “At the light, you must turn right.” Then she repeated it a moment later: “At the light, you must turn right.” Then, without missing a beat, she said: “If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit.” Amazing.

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Sunday’s puzzle was all about the classic video game Mario. It generated 234 comments on Rex’s blog, with many folks unfamiliar with the game, furious. Here’s one defense: “After seeing so much hate for this very fun and clever puzzle, I feel compelled to comment to give the constructor the praise I believe she deserves. I don’t know why so many are acting as though the Mario Universe is some obscure area of knowledge. It’s no more obscure than Batman or Star Wars or 1950s MLB stars or any number of other pop culture references that dominate the NYTXW.”

And: “The hand-wringing about the theme here is kind of absurd. I’m 48-years old and played this game as a child, it is very old and has been very much a part of our culture for four decades. If I can learn about actors whose heyday was 20-40 years before I was born to solve puzzles, older solvers can learn about things that happened around them while they were alive — even if it’s not something that interests them personally.”

As it happens I could not complete the puzzle, but not because of the Mario material, which is foreign to me. I couldn’t get MOW for “Razor blades.” D’oh! Turns out razor is a verb, and blades are grass.

The hardest clue, which I solved from the crosses, was “Total heat content of a thermodynamic system.” Answer: ENTHALPY. SRSLY?

One of the theme answers was IT’SA ME: MARIO, which anagrams to Marisa Tomei, it was noted. MT’s a Brooklyn girl, and 61 now. Ouch.

Phil broke in and woke her up for this shot, but she loves him and was okay about it.

Today’s puzzle included EMIR and VIAGRA.

My favorite Viagra joke: What do you get when you combine Viagra and Rogaine?

Answer: Don King.

For EMIR, I came up with: “To the leader of Qatar, bribing Trump for favors cost EMIR bag of shells.”

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We bid a very fond Owl Chatter farewell to Aussie Curtis Mead, traded by the Gnats to the Bostons for pitcher Connelly Early. Hate to see such a good young bat go, but we do need the arm. Love the name. I look forward to much good (and timely) punning on “Early.” (Hi Carl!)

The Gnats bats continue to rage. CJ and James Wood each popped a pair in a crucial win over ‘Zona yesterday to claim the series 2-1 and move one game out of the final playoff spot. Up 10-5 going into the ninth, the pen, as usual, turned it into a nail-biter. Matt Krook walked the first (and only) three batters he faced, the last on a pitch clock violation. Yikes. Clayton Beeter had to be summoned to douse the fire, but only after two ‘Zonians crossed the plate and the tying run came up to bat. Good job CB.

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We’re off to the movies and dinner now. Report to follow.

Thanks for popping by! Good to be back!