Author: by Jimmy Peniston
Across
| Pack (down) | TAMP |
| Sounds of satisfaction | AAHS |
| Pirate’s vessel | SHIP |
| Star-nosed lawn pests | MOLES |
| Unpredictable venture | CRAPSHOOT |
| *Communications field in which you spin a tale? (Hint: An apt word appears backward in each starred clue’s answer) | PUBLICRELATIONS |
| Chow | GRUB |
| Get better | HEAL |
| Sound boosters | AMPS |
| Fingernail treatment, casually | MANI |
| Goal | AIM |
| “Ms. ___-Man” (arcade game) | PAC |
| *Extreme infrequency in which you’ll see a turn of events? | ALMOSTNEVER |
| Game with Wild cards | UNO |
| Overused expression | CLICHE |
| Taken-back auto | REPO |
| Nemesis, say | RIVAL |
| Star Wars Day’s month | MAY |
| Harmonizes, as devices | SYNCS |
| Romantic couple | ITEM |
| Apt anagram for “listen” | SILENT |
| Ballet pivot point | TOE |
| *Christmas singer who sometimes does a hair flip in her music videos? | MARIAHCAREY |
| “___-a-me, Mario!” | ITS |
| Pool stick | CUE |
| Wishing spot | WELL |
| Ilhan reelected in 2022 | OMAR |
| African nation whose flag is nearly identical to Romania’s | CHAD |
| Sunrise direction | EAST |
| *Reality show featuring a role reversal? | THEBACHELORETTE |
| “Lay it on me” | IMALLEARS |
| Played a role | ACTED |
| “___, ___, Crocodile” | LYLE |
| Surprisingly dairy-free cookie | OREO |
| “That was close!” | PHEW |
Down
| Museum guide’s offering | TOUR |
| Piece of art accompanying music | ALBUMCOVER |
| Peach ___ (dessert) | MELBA |
| Air pump letters | PSI |
| Hundred ___ Wood | ACRE |
| Geometry calculation | AREA |
| Word after “city” or “study” | HALL |
| Mud bath site | SPA |
| Glistening | SHIMMERY |
| Round earring option | HOOP |
| Charged particles | IONS |
| NBA score units | PTS |
| Fuel efficiency abbr. | MPG |
| Splotch | STAIN |
| Laid-back, informally | CHILL |
| Salt, to a chemist | NACL |
| Gobbled up | ATE |
| Jewish “Feast of Lots” | PURIM |
| “Speaking Truth to Power” author Hill | ANITA |
| Imitate | MIMIC |
| Florida city near Silver Springs | OCALA |
| More timid | SHYER |
| 20-ounce Starbucks order | VENTILATTE |
| Florida theme park | EPCOT |
| Thorny flowers | ROSES |
| Friendly | AMICABLE |
| Eye ailment | STYE |
| “Isn’t ___ Lovely” (Stevie Wonder hit) | SHE |
| Fresh haircut | NEWDO |
| Hearing-related | AURAL |
| Parisitic person | LEECH |
| “Holy cow!” | OHMY |
| Breakfast or brunch | MEAL |
| Lightly burn | CHAR |
| Roll call response | HERE |
| “Plus …” | ALSO |
| Sancocho or etouffee | STEW |
| Bear in a 2012 film | TED |
| As late as, for short | TIL |
| Boardroom VIP | CEO |
| Bad Bunny’s genre | RAP |
