YTUNT = NUTTY

TINNH = NINTH

IDTEGS = DIGEST

OSMCSO = COSMOS

CARTOON ANSWER:

HE THANKED HIS MIME TEACHER, BUT WAS TOLD —

NTTNINDIETOMO = DON’T MENTION IT

Good Thursday morning, my friends.  COSMOS was the word that stumped me this morning but it was “mime” own fault!  I wasn’t able to get the word right off the bat so I tried to memorize the letters and think about it during my morning routine.  When nothing came to mind, I went back and looked at the word again.  I memorized two C’s instead of two S’s — rookie mistake!  Once I figured it out I was determined to finish the puzzle swiftly.  DON’T was my guess for the contraction so I penciled it in.  ME seemed like a good choice for the two letter word but I couldn’t figure out a 7-letter word with the leftovers.  I erased ME and added it to the front of my letters.  After doing that,  MENTION hit me like a sack of potatoes and IT was left for the finish.  Jeff did a great job with the mimes but it wasn’t until after the puzzle was completed that I was able to realize just how brilliant an illustration it really was.  Given my passion for comic books where the illustrations are just as powerful as the words, I felt silly not being able to figure out the final answer based on their body language alone.  Overall, it felt great having a challenge after a relatively easy week of puzzles.  Another snow storm brings another school delay.  It sure looks beautiful until you have to shovel!  Have a terrfic day and I’ll see you tomorrow.  😀