The REVEAL:
“The best laid plans of mice and meta constructors oft times go astray”
So easy I said, this is leap year so a puzzle on February 28th with an appropriate “hook” should be a snap!
What to do, OK, use 8 instance of a leap associated word (and use different ones so it is not TOO obvious). Great, I can work 4 instances of HOP and 4 instances of JUMP in without a problem, and though in order, they do not have to be symmetric because the HOP/JUMP gives them away.
Yeah, but LEAP YEAR is not enough, people will expect that…Oh, I know, normally on the 28th of February the month is done, but this year we will have one day more! Hey, wait a minute, “One Day More” isn’t that a song from the widely popular and wildly famous Les Miserables musical? I mean that shows up in Crosswords SO often it is almost an ALI or OREO answer!!!
Well, that was my thinking at least, good grief was I wrong! First of all I was surprised to hear how many folks had not heard of the musical or most of the music; being a devoted Misophile that was incomprehensible. But, and this is the biggest surprise, I did not realize how many other titles might fit, or that I unwittingly gave nudges to one of the best alternates!
I mean my first clue references Little Orphan Annie and later on I have something about Lizards scattered among all the “leaping” (well hopping and jumping) references. This widely popular and wildly famous musical “Annie” has a hit number “Tomorrow” and why would I not reference that in a Feb 28th meta which spells out LEAP YEAR.
My thanks to those who stuck with it after Crosshare rejected their entry (making them Les Miserables I’d imagine) and went further to ONE DAY more, perhaps spurred on by the graphic that was stolen directly from the Les Mis movie of Javert (Russel Crowe) ready to leap to his death.
Tomorrow was accepted – how could I not – but I am such a fan of Les Mis I promised to play One Day More for every Tomorrow I received (there have been about 6).
Thank you to
@Hector for pointing out my song bias, I was blissfully unaware of the trap I had lain for myself or, to circle back, how much I had gone astray. Now, in one day more (that is tomorrow) you will be treated to a BirdLives puzzle (yes TWICE this week) and it is a fun one! See you in a week and one...well you know the rest