SwordplayBest title of the year! 
Lawyer’s thing RES
Garden party? EVE
It isn’t right LEFT
Simple guy SIMON
Certain king’s proclamation? ROAR [king of the jungle]
Walking aids LEASHES [dog walking]
Pen pals’ exchange? OINKS
Theme: wordplay (homophonic) beginning with the letter S (silent): see title
Schusser’s name traced in the snow? SKISIGNATURE [as in music]
“Alas” and “Ah, me”? SIGHOPENERS
Surveillance satellite? SPYINTHESKY
Geckos that don’t set their alarm clocks? SLEEPINGLIZARDS
Pilots’ milieu? SPHEREOFFLYING
Like a porterhouse
BONEIN [not buying it --
bone up and
bonehead, yes;
bone in, no]
Doce meses ANO [clue is needlessly in Spanish; ano- is a comb. form or “Give me an O!”]
RATING:
Three grins = Excellent: Loved it; Two grins = Good: Enjoyed it; One grin = Satisfactory: A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Unsatisfying: No fun
