topic Re: Crosswords in Community Chat

Crosswords

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 19:42:26 GMT

I'll admit it I'm a crossword geek. My favorite is the NYT Sunday puzzle. It is by no means the hardest, but still a challenge for me. I do them in ink, but I use the pilot pen with eraser. LoL. I'm addicted, are there any other crossword fans here. I will add , I hate doing them online, old school I guess.

Re: Crosswords

Krimpette — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 19:47:56 GMT

I enjoy crosswords, although I'm not smart enough for those like the NYT crosswords! I've been a bit disillusioned of late with those in the Washington Post, since more and more require phrases, rather than single words in the answers. That just seems more prevalent now than it used to be. Not a fan of that type of crossword. Doesn't stop me from trying sometimes, however!

Re: Crosswords

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 19:54:09 GMT

@Krimpette wrote:
I enjoy crosswords, although I'm not smart enough for those like the NYT crosswords! I've been a bit disillusioned of late with those in the Washington Post, since more and more require phrases, rather than single words in the answers. That just seems more prevalent now than it used to be. Not a fan of that type of crossword. Doesn't stop me from trying sometimes, however!

I hate it when the long answers are just a long joke or limerick , I do them , but I prefer single words.

Re: Crosswords

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 20:03:02 GMT

Another fan of the NY Times Sunday puzzle. Also like acrostics when I can find them.

Re: Crosswords

pigletsmom — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 20:35:15 GMT

I used to do them everyday when I got the newspaper. I've been meaning to get going on them again. Maybe I'll get it together tomorrow. I do get the Sunday paper so it has 2 crosswords and one is the NYT.

A while back I bought a lap table sort of thing just so I could start doing them again and alas it's just been sitting by my couch. Thanks for the motivation!

Re: Crosswords

candyagain — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 20:47:50 GMT

I love crosswords, always have. Right now I keep a hard copy subscription to our local papaer just for the crossword. I have digital access, too, but I like the paper copy. I use a black ball point pen and I'll cross out when I need to.

Dislike puzzles that are a bunch of long, long answers. I don't mind the multi answer riddles as I can usually figure them out.

Out of the habit with the NYT Sunday crossword. I might pick it up again now. I would download the puzzle and print it out....not a current fan of the NYT paper.

Very interesting topic! BTW, there is an on-line crosword puzzle clue site that I like. I never "cheat" until the very end if I'm truly stumped. I don't have the link on this computer. I'll post it later.

Re: Crosswords

Hilery — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 21:40:14 GMT

DH enjoys crossword puzzles in daily paper. I found excellent selection of pencils from CWPencil Company. They have a set of six different pencils marketed as Crossword Pencil Set. It makes a nice stocking stuffer for Christmas. DH favorite is Palomino blackwing. The pencil company also has extra erasers that are reinforced and will not split when placed on end of pencil.

Re: Crosswords

IMW — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 22:22:15 GMT

I too love the NYT puzzles. Sunday is my fave, many times I can't finish it. I love Monday---- the easiest.

A few years ago my son bought me an online subscription to the Times and the puzzles.

One of the best gifts ever. $20 for a year of puzzles----- a bargain. I've gotten used to reading the paper and doing the puzzle online. I really prefer it now, after a

definite learning curve.

Re: Crosswords

kaydee50 — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 23:21:38 GMT

@QVCkitty1 Yes, I love doing crosswords especially the NYT. I have subscribed to their "spelling bee" and "letter boxed" puzzles also. They had a "special" subscription for $20 for the entire year to access these puzzles and well worth it, IMO!

Re: Crosswords

jellyBEAN — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 00:13:45 GMT

I njoy doing crosswords also. My Dad got me hooked on them as he always worked the puzzle on his commute home on the train from his job in NYC. He always did them in pen, and as do I. I remember him watching me trying to do a puzzle, and he'd ask me "What are you stuck on?" For some reason I always remember that.

I don't get the NYT, but I do get our local paper here, and my gosh, the puzzle is the hardest puzzle - every week - that I've ever encountered. I don't think I've been able to complete more than 1 puzzle in two years! Where do they get these words? A lot of them are foreign words - for example: Sweden's dominant phone company or Mongolian coinage. They use a lot of abbreviations but don't state its supposed to be an abbreviation. Its a puzzler how they come up with some of the odd clues and answers. There is no name given for the creator of the puzzle and I wonder if sometimes a lot of it isn't just made up.

I don't go online searching for the answers I don't know. I wait til the following week and then fill in accordingly hoping I will learn something. But the words are usually so bizarre I don't remember them. It's very frustrating but I try every week. I once even cancelled the newspaper subscription because I just couldn't take it anymore.

Re: Crosswords

blackhole99 — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 00:23:07 GMT

I'm not a crossword puzzle fan, but years ago when I worked as a ward secretary at a community hospital, the nurses and I would take turns on our break, trying to solve the crossword puzzle in the Sunday paper. I seem to remember, we never finished a puzzle.LOL

Re: Crosswords

lovesrecess — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 00:53:37 GMT

I love crosswords, but have had to move to large print ones because these old eyes just can’t do the NYT tiny print any longer. I also use erasable ink pens because it shows up better than pencil. I also don’t like doing them online. Pen and paper is best for me!

Re: Crosswords

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 00:59:16 GMT

@lovesrecess wrote:
I love crosswords, but have had to move to large print ones because these old eyes just can’t do the NYT tiny print any longer. I also use erasable ink pens because it shows up better than pencil. I also don’t like doing them online. Pen and paper is best for me!

I understand, I use a magnifying glass.

Re: Crosswords

Luvtuna — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 01:02:53 GMT

I'm also addicted to crossword puzzles. I always have one going. My favorite is the Sunday Washington Post magazine puzzle. It's a little challenging and tricky at times. There is also a L.A. times puzzle in the Style section that I do. Hope this keeps the old brain functioning.

Re: Crosswords

pigletsmom — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 01:09:17 GMT

I have to add that the name Uta Hagen will forever be stuck in my head thanks to the NYT crossword.

Re: Crosswords

alicedee — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 01:22:08 GMT

Yes, I love crosswords! My grandson gave me a book of them last year for Christmas.....I have just a few left to finish. He also included a crossword dictionary!

I used to do the NY Times puzzle when I got the Sunday paper...,,loved doing it, but seldom was able to complete without help....the foreign words always get me!

I find them relaxing, and easy to put down and then come back to later.

Re: Crosswords

halfpint1 — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 01:32:45 GMT

I do them too. Buy books once in awhile. Some are too hard for me but I try. I gave up taking the newspaper but still get Sundays.. Helps me fall asleep too.

Re: Crosswords

Twoaces — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 02:03:34 GMT

If you have a printer at home, you may be able to enlarge the newspaper puzzles to an adequate size. Many printers have an enlarging feature now. I frequently enlarge knitting patterns, but I’m ok with crosswords so far!

Now, a general response to the thread: I started doing crosswords a few years ago and was so pleasantly surprised that most answers are reasonably common words, prompted by cleverly written clues. For me, that’s what makes it the most fun, getting my brain to think sideways, or upside down. There are many odd words that are common answers, too, that I have learned over time. Koan and nail come to mind.

thanks for starting this thread! Have fun tomorrow....SUNDAY New York Times!

Re: Crosswords

AuntG — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 02:18:21 GMT

Our paper publishes the LA Times crossword. I also do a word jumble, sudoku, and a word search (which is my favorite).

Re: Crosswords

Eileen in Virginia — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 02:39:27 GMT

@Luvtuna wrote:
I'm also addicted to crossword puzzles. I always have one going. My favorite is the Sunday Washington Post magazine puzzle. It's a little challenging and tricky at times. There is also a L.A. times puzzle in the Style section that I do. Hope this keeps the old brain functioning.

I do these puzzles, too. We get the Sunday Washington Post on Saturday morning. I work the Sunday crossword puzzle in ink on Saturday, then check it online on Sunday.