Withdrawal symptoms
OK, I admit it: I’m truly addicted to crossword puzzles — especially the New York Times puzzles.
Last Saturday I participated in the Westport Library’s annual crossword puzzle tournament. (See prior post on this subject.) It was most enjoyable. But the puzzles used in the tournament were this week’s Monday through Thursday puzzles from the New York Times. So each day this week I was deprived of solving a fresh puzzle as I went through my morning routine with the Times.
I didn’t think I’d miss the puzzle that much. After all, I still have 3 or 4 other puzzles I can solve online, and it’s a chance to actually spend more time on articles in other sections of the newspaper that I enjoy. All that’s fine, but now I realize now how truly addicted I am to that ink-on-paper puzzle near the back of the Arts section of each day’s New York Times.
I wonder if Will Shortz realizes that he’s not so different from the pushers who prey on drug users in our neighborhoods. He simply makes puzzles available for people who enjoy the mental challenge, but in the process he feeds a habit that’s hard for many of us to break. And perhaps he’s complicit in encouraging our addictive behavior.
My pen and coffee cup are ready for the Friday puzzle, so I can resume my former morning routine — including the crossword puzzle in the [hardcopy] New York Times.
February 12, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I too suffered from withdrawal last Monday through Thursday after the contest at the Westport Library. Yes, I could still complete the sudoku and LA Times puzzzles provided by the Norwalk Hour, but my morning cup of joe was not quite as enjoyable without its daily companion, a fresh NY Times crossword. My jones for the Times crossword was so intense that I went through the motions of inking in Monday’s squares. I did not repeat that hollow exercise the following days since it only emphasized the challenge I was missing. By Friday, my mind felt mildly dulled by the four day hiatus. I am thrilled to be starting a new week–complete with an unknown New York Times puzzle each morning…
July 2, 2007 at 1:27 am
I have been a crossword puzzle addict since the mid 1970’s when the great jazz pianist Jimmy Rowles introduced me to the intoxicating diversion. We went so far as to have two copies of the NY Times delivered to our Greenwich Village digs each day to prevent a battle over who would get to work the puzzle. I discovered that many jazz musicians and singers shared this passion.
Since the inception of my Blog and other distractions, I’ve been stashing a small mountain of delights to printed out for pool side fun.
-Carol Sloane
November 14, 2007 at 7:44 pm
My own 12 Step Program began just recently when I started a blog about my addiction. Check it out. http://www.xwordblog.com
January 6, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Are you going to update your postings for 2008?
Thanks. Enjoy your site.
hmtroy@aol.com
January 6, 2008 at 9:23 pm
HT: Thanks for the reminder. I’ve done the update (see new post).
It’s a neat coincidence that you reminded me when you did, as I had intended to get to the new post today, having been reminded by seeing former President Bill Clinton on C-SPAN just a short while ago and thinking that he is perhaps the most famous crossword regular around!
Anyway, thanks again. Hope you enjoy the 2008 crop of puzzles as much as the 2007 batch.