Q:
Take the phrase "Wholesome Hempstead Rodent" from the off Broadway musical remake of Disney's "Ratatouille." Rearrange the letters to name three fierce competitors.
A:
The title of this puzzle is a reference to Simon and Garfunkel's song "El Condor Pasa" which includes the line "I'd rather be a hammer than a nail."
The three squares approximate the store colors of the correct answer.
Wholesome Hempstead Rodent
Lowes The Home Depot Menards
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI have enough of an answer to permit me to sleep tonight, and faith that the rest will be supplied.
Good night, Tom.
After tilting with mills over and over again, I'd rather be a gardener.
ReplyDeleteNicely done, Tommy.
I surely would. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have been further off, and my respect for the workmanship of the puzzle still remains.
ReplyDeleteThought you had it, Paul. "Over and over again" is part of a Simon and Garfunkel song as is "I'd rather be a ..."
ReplyDeleteHaving no Menards nearby, and being a Googler, I quickly mistook the three colors as a reference to the band "I, Mother Earth". Gardening could be a "mother and child reunion" of sorts, or it could be something else. Please note that "workman" and "still remains" also figure in a S&G song. Are you beginning to see the "loop" for which you "knocked" me?
ReplyDeleteHaving found The Home Depot and Lowes, i assumed the colored squares referred to "big box" stores. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the leap from MRDEANS to Menards!
ReplyDeletePaul's initial comment had me trying late night TV (The Late Show, Letterman) and hotel chains (Starwood, Hampton, Homewood, Sheraton).
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ReplyDeleteSorry for leading you off course, Lorenzo; I was expressing literal fatigue. After nearly crashing the Internet Anagram Server I latched onto Del Spooner from "I, Robot", portrayed by Will Smith (with mills), and convinced myself I was onto something and could call it a night. I hoped to take on (James) West and Muhammed (Ali), perhaps, with some help from Voltaire (or an AI revolt), but that was beyond my reach, and I decided, Candidly, to cultivate my own garden.
ReplyDeleteFrom Mrs.Lorenzo.....yes, I saw a Menard's once when I visited my Illinois relatives, but I didn't think I could ever go in without thinking,"if you change the d for another vowel, you can anagram something they sell to make your tomatoes grow better".
ReplyDeletePaul, I see the "Boxer" reference. Please tell me you're not really Paul Simon.
ReplyDeleteLorenzo, the only reason I know of Menards is because there is one in a town where my wife's cousin lived - Saginaw, MI, yet another incidental reference to Simon and Garfunkel.
Paul, I have reconsidered. Please tell me you are really Paul Simon.
ReplyDeleteSimon, unSimon...tomayto, tomahto---whenever Spring arrives, the troops would find the horses helpful.
ReplyDelete