Fond of rumpots, crackpots, and how are you, Mr. Wilson?

Thank you! If you're ever interested in giving crossword construction a go, Patrick Berry, one of the absolute best in the business, wrote a book called Crossword Challenges for Dummies, which contains a bunch of his puzzles, but also a how-to section on constructing that is hands down the best guide I've ever seen. It's out of print now, but you can buy the handbook part as a download at his website.

I did October 1, 2020 today, that I think is yours, along with a coworker friend....

Yep, that's mine, and hoo boy, you sure picked a gnarly one. Very brave of you, and thanks again!