A drab over in Oklahoma (5)

(From yesterday's Guardian)

Now why did this make me think of you?

Bryan

Ranby,

My, what a clever clue!

For those who are still scratching their heads, the answer is Tulsa.

A drab is a slut (one meaning of "drab" is "prostitute").

"Over," in crosswordese, generally refers to anagrams or word reversal.

"Tulsa," spelled backwards, is "a slut". And there we have it.

Regarding the curious matter of why this would cause someone to think
of me, I'd like to think that it is because I am known to be a native
of the town in question. Or possibly because "a drab" is an anagram of
"a bard," and I have been known to be a cranker-out of verses.

Not long ago I had a whirl of haiku in my head, and it appears that
there is one left:

Some rather cross words
A mixed-up halcyon burg
This tickles me pink

===============================

Bets graders,
pridefunk

Truly Marvellous, Pridefunk 

(I do hope that you have no objection to my spelling words the truly
English way) ...

I do assure you that it was the Okie reference that started me thinking about you.

Alas, I have struggled with today's Guardian puzzle - which was set by
Araucaria, my favourite, although I am puzzled how he came to choose
his soubriquet. I don't think that he's a monkey.

In fact, I do know that he is a defrocked priest. Really!

And many thanks for the added value in the shape of the haiku.

All the Very Best

Bryan

Bryan,

Thank you for the added value in the shape of a tipperoonie! Regarding
your primate friend, the defrocked monkey-puzzle, I wonder if his name
might be a play on words. Araucaria = a row carrier?

Pink

There is nothing finer than the great monkey puzzler...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,438558,00.html

That was a great link, Thither, I hadn't seen the article before ...

I always go straight to the chase and ignore the waffle.

Yesterday, I only managed about half ...

I guess that he must have forgot to send that one to his checker but,
in my defence, I was rather busy with other things ... like asking
this Question.

How did you get on?

Bryan

Stop the presses!

An urgent communique from Kemlo informs me that the correct answer is
not "Tulsa" as claimed, but rather "Altus". He provided this link:

http://www.ok.gov/osfdocs/cities.html

as proof, accompanied by several pages of backup documentation from
his new "spelling corrector".

"I greet Araucaria with a warm glow on his every appearance." - Margaret Scott 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crossword/subscribe

Really? Then obviously you have no need for self-esteem.

He really is a gem and nobly carries on a tradition of torment. After
all, one of the progenitors of the cryptic chose the sobriquet
"Torquemada" which, of course, means (all apologies to Monty Python)
we will never again be able to say:

"I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition."

Have a good day.