LIKELY EXCUSES
Credit: Washington Post Crossword
Cathy Millhauser (#1-7)

Q. Why couldn't the architect come to the party?
A. He had made other plans.

What about.......................................

1. The lunatic?
2. The carpenter?
3. The Brink's truck driver?
4. The used car salesman?
5. The escape artist?
6. The actress?
7. The entomologist?
8. The basketball player?
9. The meteorologist?
10. The gambler?

Answers:

1. He was already committed.
2. He missed his plane.
3. He was held up in traffic.
4. He was out of commission.
5. He was tied up in a meeting.
6. She was in a cast.
7. He caught a bug.
8. He was traveling.
9. He was under the weather. 
10. It wasn't in the cards