Quiet night at home
Marty is preparing to go out of town on Sunday for a long, two week trip. As the reality of his upcoming absence sets in, he wants to spend some time with all of us. Last night was my turn.
"Honey, what do you say we kick back for a little bit and watch some Grey's Anatomy. The part of the episode I watched last night looked pretty good, and I know you like it," he said after the kids were in bed.
"Well," I said, "I sent it back today and we won't get another one until tomorrow."
"I saw a movie come in today, maybe that's it," he said, pointing to the Netflix envelope on my desk.
"No, actually, it's a documentary. On crossword puzzles," I explained.
"Oh hell no. You're joking. Where's my documentary on bricklaying. Let me see that." I handed him the movie and he read the synopsis on the sleeve. "Will Shortz, who's that?"
"What do you mean? Will Shortz! The Puzzle Master. You can hear him on NPR all the time. He's the crossword puzzle editor for the New York Times. Look, I bought this book just because his name was on it."
And, as a testament to his undying love for me, we watched it. He made it twenty-eight full minutes into the film before he fell asleep. Despite the fact that this film confirmed all of my geeky goodness, I really enjoyed it. Within minutes of the opening of the film, all of the facts I had told Marty about Will Shortz were featured in the film. Bill Clinton, the Indigo Girls, Jon Stewart - they were all in it and they were all doing the New York Times Crossword. In the background of one of the interviews I saw part of the exhibit I begged Marty to take me to New York to see.
And I had NO idea that people could finish an entire crossword puzzle in two to three minutes. I mean, sometimes it takes me that long just to fold the puzzle properly. I can see that this may be the beginning of a new challenge for me (one in which I can probably recruit my mom, dad and sister-in-law Carrie) - to put myself in marathon-style training. Maybe at first I'll just try to finish the puzzle. Then maybe I'll try to do it in ten minutes or less. I doubt I'll ever get into the category of those puzzle competitors, but maybe I'll be able to ace out my parents. And that would be good enough for me.
"Honey, what do you say we kick back for a little bit and watch some Grey's Anatomy. The part of the episode I watched last night looked pretty good, and I know you like it," he said after the kids were in bed.
"Well," I said, "I sent it back today and we won't get another one until tomorrow."
"I saw a movie come in today, maybe that's it," he said, pointing to the Netflix envelope on my desk.
"No, actually, it's a documentary. On crossword puzzles," I explained.
"Oh hell no. You're joking. Where's my documentary on bricklaying. Let me see that." I handed him the movie and he read the synopsis on the sleeve. "Will Shortz, who's that?"
"What do you mean? Will Shortz! The Puzzle Master. You can hear him on NPR all the time. He's the crossword puzzle editor for the New York Times. Look, I bought this book just because his name was on it."
And, as a testament to his undying love for me, we watched it. He made it twenty-eight full minutes into the film before he fell asleep. Despite the fact that this film confirmed all of my geeky goodness, I really enjoyed it. Within minutes of the opening of the film, all of the facts I had told Marty about Will Shortz were featured in the film. Bill Clinton, the Indigo Girls, Jon Stewart - they were all in it and they were all doing the New York Times Crossword. In the background of one of the interviews I saw part of the exhibit I begged Marty to take me to New York to see.
And I had NO idea that people could finish an entire crossword puzzle in two to three minutes. I mean, sometimes it takes me that long just to fold the puzzle properly. I can see that this may be the beginning of a new challenge for me (one in which I can probably recruit my mom, dad and sister-in-law Carrie) - to put myself in marathon-style training. Maybe at first I'll just try to finish the puzzle. Then maybe I'll try to do it in ten minutes or less. I doubt I'll ever get into the category of those puzzle competitors, but maybe I'll be able to ace out my parents. And that would be good enough for me.
my parents did crossword puzzles every day for as long as I can remember. One of the things I have from their house is an old, beat up crossword puzzle dictionary. Not that they had needed to even use it anymore. If you get into them, I might have to give you this well worn and loved copy.
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Hah! Sounds like a challenge to me!
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Us financial people really like timing ourselves to do NUMBER crosswords. Tried Sudoku?
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Yes, and I liked it. But only the really easy ones. And, the first three I did I was convinced that I had found a flaw in the puzzle...until I realized that I had made an error. Words come easier to me than numbers, that's for sure.
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