New York Times, Thursday, June 25, 2020

We're very happy to have our puzzle published today. We're also very grateful to the editorial team and everyone involved in getting these puzzles out. To stay positive and encouraging in this challenging time is truly an admirable feat. A big thank you to you all. We also hope you puzzlers out there are staying safe and healthy.

Some notes:

• POLICEHORSE was in the original grid but then replaced in a revision to make other parts work better. We were very sad to see it go so we're absolutely delighted it made its way back into the final grid!
• PLAYMAT is another bit of fun fill and very appropriate as our living room is dominated by a colorful one of these. The clue came to us in one of those lightning bolt moments and we're so glad they kept it and added the "?" for clarity.
• SOY: We love this clue that the editing team wrote — Impossible burgers are amazing!

If you're an aspiring constructor, do reach out to us via amandakarlxword@gmail.com to talk shop. Working with others is so refreshing and inspiring. Be well everyone!

Prime fodder for JOTS (Jeff Overthinks Things Severely). Each week when Jim Horne and I chat, my favorite moment is when I see that little grin of his, as he struggles to hold back peals of laughter. This time the corner of his mouth pinched upward when I said, "But is the LIMB really OUT ON A LIMB?"

Right? Wouldn't GO OUT ON A LIMB imply that there's something physically on top of the limb? Like OUT would be outside the grid, right atop an ARM that's also outside the grid?

That's when Jim usually sighs before saying, "Only Jeff."

We had a fun in-depth discussion:

• Is a WING a limb? Does it belong with ARM and LEG?
• Isn't that one awkward creature, a single WING, lower than its one LEG?
• If you're going to include WING, should you use a phrase that's more colorful than the oddly tensed WHISTLE BLOWING? Did anyone else figure it was supposed to be WHISTLE BLOW, with just a W hanging out?
• Would the puzzle have been better with two ARMs and two LEGs sticking out instead?
• It's a shame "go out with a limb" isn't a phrase, because that would have been perfect.

To be clear, these were all my musings, while Jim fought to fall over as he cackled in the background.

Jim returned the favor, making me crack up as we discussed the grid. "GAWKY is just … gawky," he deadpanned.

I've seen a ton of "letters outside the grid" puzzles over the years, so it's tough for me to get excited about them unless the raison d'etre is spot-on. I did like the concept, though, GO OUT ON A LIMB a solid reason to go outside (at least for non-serial-overthinkers).

And in the end, I decided that including WING was fun, although it would have been better as part of a phrase like LOTTERY DRA(WING) or THE KING OF S(WING).

You can stop laughing now, Jim.