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Mary Lou Guizzo author page

30 puzzles by Mary Lou Guizzo
with Jim Horne comments

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Mary Lou Guizzo

Mary Lou worked for many years in hospital transfusion services and blood centers, processing and reference labs, and a paternity lab. She graduated from the University of Dayton and has a Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) certification. Her hobbies include photography, reading, bicycling, hiking, swimming, and traveling.

29 daily crosswords by Mary Lou Guizzo

Fri 10/7/2022
ZEBRACLEAVAGE
APRONSHANGERON
ISAWITESTEEMED
ROVEOFFSRASP
EMERALDOMGDAL
KERRATTILA
KETANJICOOLLY
BOGOBROWNELIS
ANGORAJACKSON
CABLESASHE
ICEDEFTEASHOP
LOAMEPEETUBA
LATEGAMESHAMES
USERNAMEEILISH
STREUSELMEDEA

Mary Lou Guizzo and Jeff Chen win the "first to include KETANJI BROWN JACKSON's full name" race. The new Justice was sworn in on September 30. The Andy Borowitz headline in The New Yorker was Ketanji Brown Jackson Bravely Infiltrates Shadowy Alt-Right Group.

We have yet another crossword co-constructed by Mr. Chen. I presumed he made so many with partners because he was too lazy to fill the whole grid himself, but it turns out Jeff genuinely loves team-constructing, both with established constructors like Mary Lou and with newbies.

In the NYT alone, Jeff has puzzles with a record 51 collaborators. His 92 crosswords trails only the great Nancy Salomon, who paved the way for so many new constructors, including Wordplay queen Deb Amlen. Other familiar top collaborators include Andrea Carla Michaels, Erik Agard, Brad Wilber, and Doug Peterson — all respected practitioners of the art. Some constructors like Erik, Brad, and David Steinberg are also editors. You could argue that every puzzle they publish on their respective venues is a collaboration too.

Building puzzles with friends is fun, but so is solving with friends. If you're a competitive solver, you might barely remember struggling through a mid-week puzzle, bouncing ideas off someone you love, and cheering together when a tough answer breaks through, but it's a joyful activity. I don't have real data, but I suspect most solvers work with others. Try it yourself if you're used to struggling on your own. Or even if not.

Tue 3/8/2022
BOGIEIMACREVS
ADELENAPAUNIT
NELLYSACHSRODE
BOAHITMAKER
GERTRUDEELION
SIREYESSR
IRANRNACAMEO
DONNASTRICKLAND
ENTERCDRAMID
BSAYUPADS
BETTYWILLIAMS
EMISSARYSRA
NADAMARIECURIE
TIERPRIMEVADE
OLDSYMCALEGAL
Sat 2/12/2022
COMBOCLAPTRAP
APERYHESAREBEL
METALETHNICITY
ERRSLEISPADER
LAOLATTEPERE
STACEYABRAMS
PIROGIEASEBAS
ICEBATHSCROOGE
NSATOADELMORE
CONTEXTISKEY
ABBAELGINDEA
PRANCETACPEAS
PENTAGRAMPEABO
SATESAUCEHELLO
DURANGOSOLSEN
Sat 11/20/2021
FRESHSAKEBOMB
LEXIEALPHAMALE
ENTRYIMHUMBLED
WOREPDADARTED
AVAELANDESPY
KAMALAHARRIS
ITISNTCOENNBC
TOLKIENPESKIER
ERENAANBEAGLE
YOUVEGOTTHIS
ISEEYOLKSTEC
MILORDNASCOVE
ALAMAISONARWEN
NOTAFRAIDRELIT
SENATORSTESTS
Fri 2/7/2020
SANDPSUPERAPS
UHURATREXAURA
NAKEDLUNCHSTUB
SEAMANIPHONE
MASTERBREWER
JEWELSQUIERO
AVEDASUITSRAE
PERKATANASKIA
ERESLOBSREEDS
AWHIRLDEFRAY
IBLAMEMYSELF
CALVINPLEATS
ELSEAPPALACHIA
USERTOESSEALS
PATSEXAMEDITS

The print version of this puzzle was published with a typo at 17-Across. The correct spelling of the author's name is Burroughs.

Wed 1/15/2020
SCOTACERSPIED
CHAILOWEMACED
HITBELOWTHEBELT
UMBERAAAS
SPARRINGPARTNER
SSRDOLESANO
ERITUANNUL
THEGLOVESAREOFF
HANGSPANSY
ATTKIOSKTMC
THROWINTHETOWEL
LOLLENOLA
PULLONESPUNCHES
AVOIDTHUGUIES
CAGEYSETHETSY
Wed 3/6/2019
WHIMLIONICANT
PENAOMOONOVAE
MARCHOFPROGRESS
REARSEXDRAT
SITWEBBEXPO
KOHLSLIMNANGER
EDIEDELILABILE
WINTERWONDERLAND
EDGILYXIIIENID
RESTSLIMBBUTNO
SATEASTIPOT
TAILATLOKRA
SPRINGHASSPRUNG
ASADAALAIANDY
RENEWLAMBMEAN
Thu 12/27/2018
CAROMETNAJAW
ALONGALOOFEPA
TOTEMSKYWRITER
AHABSESSIONS
WATCHTVTTOP
BOOEYEDERMA
AERIALRECREEL
HRECESIAGO
EMOTICYOYOMA
SLOPCTAINER
TELECROSESBAM
AGETOALLITALO
GIRARDIARTISAN
GEAROILNAILSIT
STALEDESTINY
Thu 11/15/2018
HEROIBMPCNOSE
ALOUTIARAODIS
DUBISHONORTOAT
STEINEMMADONNA
TEDELEACOR
PEPGRACISME
STARRFEESSTAY
LANESENDABUSE
ACDCCADSTINTS
WHYIGHTAPOG
SEASVENIMO
ZINGERSALADDIN
OBOEMICROLOANS
REAMENVISTHEE
ATMSROSSISORT
Wed 2/14/2018
HAGSALEC
GERUNDPLENUM
BOATYARDGRANDPAS
LORIPURSUESTIRO
ANTSYMEATYNADIA
CASTERWITHOBSON
KSTREETNEVERLAND
OPRYPORTRAYERRS
URIPOPOVNYMROO
TENNISTASACROSS
EGONLILACJAWS
STATESENATORS
ITWASNTTOBE
APPETITES
SERIALS
DINGE
EEO

Non-rectangular grids are rare. Past examples include squares that pop out of the top (another top) or the bottom, a DNA molecule, cut corners, and a delicious chocolate chip cookie.

Sun 12/24/2017 MAKING A FAST BUCK
STPCARIBLOPESSEC
HOLEERODEEGRETGILA
RUMARBYSFLOORREVS
SAMBASBLEATEDIMAGES
HELLENEELKIMPEDES
ALDERCOEGAYLE
CRAZYEIGHTYSIXDAMON
OENOTREEHEIREINE
PLINTHSNUGLISEAGLES
LASSOESESIGNJINGLES
AXEOMYASSAYINKIAM
NETLONGUNOMDENRA
DREWSCOTTNOLIESEEN
SAINTPROPOSEECARD
SOFAYOUREPROD
SAVEPARKNTHOTRODS
ALIEMILATHEIFSNOT
NBCOASISPAULAALA
TAUTOUUNICORNLIQUOR
ANNALSRUDOLPHLOTTOS
YARDSEXESCROP

The Elizabeth Gorski year-end connect-the-dots puzzles is the greatest tradition in NYT crosswords. Liz is caught up in her own delightful weekly puzzles now, so Mary Lou and Jeff have taken up the tradition, at least for this year.

It seems like a good time for a Liz Gorski Year-End Visual Crossword Retrospective. Her year-end puzzles include:

There's more write-on-the-grid creativity on our Visual Puzzles page.

Sat 9/30/2017
VOWEDPHSCALE
ABIDESGETTAKEN
RANDRYMAMABIRD
IMEANREALLYMOI
EARSDJSABUT
TEAARGOPHLOX
ARCBEERBRAT
LAKSHMIAIRSICK
COINSTARDEA
KMARTTOMYANT
MOABVANARTE
AMYRIJKSMUSEUM
GOBLONDEOBISPO
IDEALGASPEDALS
COSPLAYREYES
Sat 3/4/2017
SGTSTREVISTUB
PIAFHERONARTI
ANYONELISTENING
YULEPEEHEAPED
SPORCLELEGAL
RICOPECSEPI
ITSNOTFAIRAWOL
HACKTANGOLOOS
OCHSHIGHSIERRA
PHINITSSPUD
LEACHTHATSIT
INLUCKSEASCSI
SHIRLEYCHISHOLM
ARNONEUERARIE
TAGSSATESREPS
Sat 11/19/2016
RANARISKSETTO
ANOMALIESUNHIP
MADAMEPRESIDENT
PLANESRTAINGE
YANGYINNEED
SKAUFWSLAW
LOTTFRATSTYLI
ULTRAFASTIDIOUS
MAHALUHOHERGO
ENIDIPOKEN
PCBSIBNPSST
AUELLOGSANISE
NBAALLSTARGAMES
DICTANOGOAREAS
ACHEDNOBLESSE
Fri 10/28/2016
SAMOANARMPIT
WHOAWHOADIVIDE
HARDSELLREPAID
ONTMOLTENNOT
LIAMSHIPBOLA
LASERBEAMREBEL
RIOLIFEHACK
LORDVOLDEMORT
LEFIGARONIL
EMCEEIWONTDOIT
NOORLOSTSYNE
GNUMINETASTE
TORTESVERBOTEN
HISSATEREADERS
SLEETSSAYERS

They don't let me award POWs around here but this was my favorite puzzle this week.

"Certain logic gate" is a tough clue for NOT but every once in a while it's nice that mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists or logicians get to have something to feel smug about.

Tue 10/18/2016
CLOGAQABADESC
AEROVOCABREBA
VIETNAMERAARAL
HISBADGIRL
ANTICTARUSERS
BARCELONAMETRO
RIOAGERTE
ARIZONAMEMORIAL
INKOVODRE
CAPTAINAMERICA
WALDOOENSWOOP
ONEREEDIMA
ROTIMIDDLENAME
SLAVANNULDOUG
TAPEJEANSALSO
Sat 9/24/2016
STARMAPSLIPPER
ORLEANSCORDITE
MALALAYOUSAFZAI
ELKTICKLESZIN
HAILSHIPSCALS
OLDASONTTOMEI
WADDEDGOSHDARN
IDEESRARER
PINEDFORPURGED
ANGRYLEMMEHTA
ESASTOTEMDEEM
LTSSEMINARRRS
LAIDITONTHELINE
ANDIRONORBITAL
STEPINSRESEALS
Mon 6/6/2016
PBJTAMPAASFAR
LIEHASONUTILE
ENDRESULTTARSI
ASIANLIGHTSON
MERCLOST
ATHROOSTERBET
TWELVENOONKERR
BYAGEMARAGGIE
ALDAREVERTBACK
RAHMINERVANAS
OHIOOSLO
BANISTERALTOS
LUCREREDUNDANT
OTHERINERTSTY
GOODSKOALASOX
Sun 2/14/2016 ALL YOU NEED
LMEDOSHUNSPARBEMYL
BARICTAPEAEROADIOS
UNAPTOGEEILIABINGE
GETSAROUNDDEALWITHIT
VALENTINESDAY
ABASEDONOCAREER
NOMASCMDLCABREUNE
ZOOMBRIEFDAREDPLOP
ALUMLADLEERTESLOCO
CANYOUFEELTHELTONIGHT
TCMTATTOOERSICI
RESANDRETURNSAGASSI
ISTHISLSIGNSLLETTER
NEONATALPHSSTARESAT
CEOLHOR
LTAKESTIMETOSIRWITHL
SILENTUINLETARABIAN
ONELIRACREAMNAVARRE
NIXGELRAISEGTEABS
GEEMALOGLESLETDOT
SRIAMYNEARSEDOERS
Fri 2/5/2016
GAWPODICUNGER
ACHEHORANAOMI
GRANDSTANDSEATS
AETNASENATTSK
MERCENOLA
AMODESTPROPOSAL
MARDIARYSONDE
PREVSKIRTNADA
ASCIIEMORYILK
SHAILENEWOODLEY
NILLAUKES
ANIBEBOPEXPAT
JESSICACHASTAIN
ABAFTCHINECRU
ROYCEKOLNREST
Wed 12/30/2015
PROBMANTACHEZ
JIMIIBEAMABLE
SAGONERVENOSE
PAULDIRAC
VCHIPSICEBOX
PRECISEPCCLONE
SEAAIRBOATBAD
ALANGREENSPAN
AMTSNEATOENDS
MEHTADTSENDOR
FRYERSPRAWNS
GREASYNEALE
MALIVIOLATART
APOXORDERYVES
NEWYEARSEVE
Fri 12/25/2015
BOARDSAIMSNIP
ALHIRTRCAMOTH
SEAMONSTERALSO
KGBSPIESXROAN
CTATOKE
OHMSHALFCOCKED
WEIOPERACAPE
LASCALAENTRAPS
REHEARSEDSEE
ENDOFSTORYMSRP
POURMIC
SECTAADAGENCY
OVALTELENOVELA
NITEALIERASER
SLEDDISSENTON
Fri 11/20/2015
SWAGALIAADAGE
CADILLACSBYCAR
OLDFOGIESSERBO
USEFORCECOLORS
THRONESPELOSI
RENSTRUTTED
DIDDYBERETILE
RTESCOLASACLU
USSTRUMPBUSES
MACARENAMUS
SHREWDRAMPART
SHARESPATRILEY
CANISMEDIACLIP
AMEBAGOINPEACE
RELAPSNOGSHEA
Wed 10/21/2015
ACDCGPSSMARTS
OHOHOOPKODIAK
LETAFOOLINIDLE
HOLDHISTONGUE
SIBTOOLEST
IMPTAZSWIT
TALERAGUTOLL
DUELSMREHUEYS
SALEBUMSTALL
EXPOEARKEY
KOASANETIA
ANDHEWILLPASS
PERILSFORASAGE
PAELLAIKEAVOW
ALMOSTNIPYEOW
Fri 4/17/2015
GNAWHIMOMCERT
ROSAOCULIILIE
OFTHESAMESTRIPE
SURNTHSTARZAN
SNOWDENSERIA
KRISSTROBAG
CLEANSWEEPRENO
HOOPTAXERETNA
OAFSWHERESTHAT
OMGBIOSSLAW
ECONOTIEGAME
NANOOKBEDERAS
ONINTIMATETERMS
STUDEFRONMEME
ESSOSAINTONYX
Fri 10/31/2014
ROCKBANDSJACK
WHALEBOATTOPOL
ADVISABLESEPIA
NEONSRAWTALENT
DARKRAISETAC
ARTLEIAWEIGH
COGNOSCENTE
BURIEDALIVE
HORRORSTORY
LOOSENETSCDS
APBAMISHTREE
METALLICAKOALA
OFUSEMOUSEOVER
NOBISINCARNATE
TRESCOEXISTED

Shameless plug for the free radio play I Might Be Edgar Allan Poe.

Wed 10/8/2014
RAMICETSTATS
USADAZEOHTHAT
BANERINTRUETO
IDIOMNCOINDEX
KAFKAEONLEE
ERNEMEALSRI
ASSADSMONACAB
JOTASHANTIEVE
ANDREININONIT
RYEESTDSMUT
SACUMPATOMS
TUTTOPERNAFTA
STIRUPNEHIMIX
PANINITOILADE
HYATTSPCANAS
Sun 5/4/2014 JOINED SIDES
BARRELEDAGENTHEADER
AGUILERARAMOSORSINO
SINCLAIRIRATEPISANO
SLOSCENARIOVIETNAM
OENSEASONLUDENS
OLIVERSTONETEATAHAT
NYNEXOKAYSELONGATE
GELDEAPCESTA
DAMSIESTADEBUTALBUM
ILIAESCALEDESIREE
PASTDOUBLEEDGEDSERB
SHTETLSOBLADISNEE
TITLEROLESBETTESSOD
AREELTADORTO
KEPTATITGOADSIBMPC
ESSEARAMCLEARTHEAIR
DNALABTAROILGOO
BOOLEANGATORADEINS
OWNINGAPSOSPERCALES
NIENTESIENAENROLLEE
DECKERHELIXSTANDARD

2013 was a step up from the previous year when there were only seven Sundays by women.

Thu 4/17/2014
GOONJOTEACH
AMNOTAWETYCHO
WALSHREXHEROS
PROWESSTSELIOT
WENTPAID
ARIASEND
COTTONYILOSTIT
HUHOKEMUSHAY
ETEFASTONEEMP
SHOTTHINKROSE
SOHOTACEDUROC
GUERRECANADA
ASAOLDPROSNES
MERTHROUGHKAT
ESTITEMSSDS

1 Variety puzzle by Mary Lou Guizzo

Sun 10/23/2016
HST
APE
VET
JAYSEELBARQ
NASALACEICEUP
JACKMURPHYSTADIUM
UNOSGALETTEOCTA
MOBPASEOKOS
PSSTBINAMCZAPS
RELACEDARTISTE
OCAPTAINMYCAPTAIN
PODAUTOBAHNSWOE
ENDSSYNAPSEPINT
DEEPHENS
RAISINGASTINK
LANTERNFISH
FOOTRACES
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