(AISHA) TYLER, SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS — Here's the thing. I am uniquely, and occasionally quite stupidly, fearless. I have never been... truly afraid. ... I like to shoot first and ask questions about why there is a bullet lodged deeply in my own foot much, much later.
Here's the thing. I am uniquely, and occasionally quite stupidly, fearless. I have never been afraid. Well, not truly afraid. I have had moments of trepidation, acted tentatively on occasion. Tiptoed toward my fate timorously, doubts creeping, internal alarms blaring. Occasionally, I exercise a bit of caution. But more often, and to my sustained chagrin, I run sprinting toward my own demise, without consideration or forethought. I like to shoot first and ask questions about why there is a bullet lodged deeply in my own foot much, much later.
| A. | Tune that Pee-wee Herman danced to in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" | TEQUILA |
| B. | Artful use of pitch changes | YODELING |
| C. | The lightest of metals | LITHIUM |
| D. | Not fixed; band of clothiers? | ELASTIC |
| E. | E. L. Doctorow novel featuring a pianist | RAGTIME |
| F. | What some people do to think? | SHUDDER |
| G. | Pop fly or routine grounder to first (2 wds.) | EASYOUT |
| H. | Contents of a doggie bag | LEFTOVERS |
| I. | Act as a casting director? (hyph.) | FLYFISH |
| J. | Crossword puzzle attribute | INTERLOCK |
| K. | Observer getting no help (2 wds.) | NAKEDEYE |
| L. | Group of seemingly random collaborators (2 wds.) | FLASHMOB |
| M. | Since a little while back | LATELY |
| N. | Make do with what's on hand | IMPROVISE |
| O. | Tending to exclude outsiders | CLIQUISH |
| P. | Important figure in horse racing | TRAINER |
| Q. | "The Great," for example | EPITHET |
| R. | Iowa city named for a Québécois pioneer | DUBUQUE |
| S. | Loaded | WEALTHY |
| T. | Noteworthy number at certain stations | OCTANE |
| U. | Still resolute despite hardships | UNBOWED |
| V. | World capital located on the island of New Providence | NASSAU |
| W. | Gale known for blowing out of Kansas | DOROTHY |
| X. | Longest river in Ireland | SHANNON |