| A crossword editor has to be very careful when changing one--unlike this puzzle's editor, who was careless four times herein |
| First word across in the first-ever crossword (1913) and the first of a dozen appearances of the word in this puzzle's grid, written word search-style (left, right, down, and diagonally) ... Can you f |
| Like St. Nick's "little mouth," in "The Night Before Christmas |
| Archaic "before |
| Letter before gee |
| All, e.g., for this answer's last six letters? |
| Actor in "Before Sunrise," "Before Sunset" and "Before Midnight |
| Actor Hawke of "Before Sunrise," "Before Sunset," and "Before Midnight |
| Football player Jackson drinks water before a game? |
| Activity suggested by this puzzle's theme entries |
| Possessive words before "oneself |
| Annual cause of losing an hr.'s sleep hidden in this puzzle's 10 longest answers |
| Mixture brushed onto pastry dough before baking |
| Animated movie released in 1998 shortly before the similar "A Bug's Life |
| Partially obscured (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| Letter before theta |
| Alternative title of this puzzle, in view of what can be placed in front of the answers to the 10 asterisked clues |
| Nights before Christmas and New Year's Day |
| Soldier's request before entering a firefight |
| Video game that comes out today (9/9/09), whose songs/levels are referenced in this puzzle, with "The |
| Alternate title for this crossword? |
| Like a "before" versus "after" photo subject, say |
| Abbreviation before a person's name on a business envelope |
| Actor Hawke of "Before Midnight |
| Crowning moments |
| Agriculture giant celebrating its 175th anniversary this year |
| Cackling cry from a mad scientist before unleashing havoc on southern California? |
| Before: taking some off the top? / after: craft involving tiny objects |
| Asleep ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| Alternative words used as alternatives for each other in this puzzle's theme answers |