Yes, I do really like crossword puzzles. When it comes to crossword puzzles you're either a rabid fan or you hate them. No inbetweeners.
I started with crossword puzzles after I finished high school. I could take them or leave them. Later on it became absolutely necessary to do the daily crossword puzzle. I've also been know to do a crossword puzzle book or two.
Crossword puzzles give many benefits. First I find crossword puzzles very relaxing. You have to concentrate so your mind leaves the things that stress you out. You have to have some basic knowledge of definitions, general knowledge, history, art, performing arts and more. Most puzzles throw in something from another language so if you have a background in another language it comes in handy.
I like a crossword puzzle that is of medium difficulty. Too easy..I don't do them. Too hard and I'm not that patient. I don't like mammoth puzzles. I like something that is short enough to finish in 20 minutes or so. I sometimes will come back and finish later.
There are many varieties of puzzles to keep everybody's interest. Some topics can be very obscure as in plants.
I have tried online crosswords but haven't got to like them. You can't work at it for awhile and then drop it. only to pick it up later.
On some occasions I used crossword puzzles with my middle school students. I had a book of easy crossword puzzles. We would do one as a class with everybody hollering out answers. Then they got to work in partners to do a second crossword puzzle. So some of the kids really liked the puzzles and others hated them just the same as adults.
So at this stage of my life you will find me doing the crossword puzzle right after breakfast since we get our paper in the morning. You have to get your day off to a good start.
i used to do crossword puzzles every day! saved that section from the daily paper. sundays with 2 big puzzles, always slowed me down. eventually i had a stack of sections of the paper waiting for me to get to them. blogging began to steal my time, and i finally threw away a year's worth of crosswords! i'm a lover of them, though!
ReplyDeleteI can see where a blog would take your time and something's gotta go.
DeleteI like crosswords but can't say that I'm a rabid fan. So just to be difficult, I'm an inbetweener.
ReplyDeleteI also like jigsaw puzzles.. with that same degree of inbetweeness.
Maybe I'm just wishy-washy. ;)
I also like jig saw puzzles. Used to do one every Christmas holiday.
ReplyDeleteRed there's nothing like a good crossword puzzle, I too love doing them but just haven't made the time to get any done since I've been back in the classrooms. I wonder if I've gotten any smarter and can finish a med-hard one now? After 5 years of studies I would hope so but when I pick up a crossword book I'll start again with the easy-med. just to get warmed up again, I'm a wee bit rusty!
ReplyDeleteThat's a fantastic idea to have a classroom participate in solving puzzles, good thinking!
Have a wonderful week, cheers.
After five years of study you will probably find them easier. Live dangerously.. Do the med-hard.
DeleteI like them but rarely have the patience to do them these days. My mother still does them every day, including cryptograms, and she will be 81 this month. She says it is a way to keep her mind sharp.
ReplyDeleteRemember your Mother's statement"It keeps her mind sharp."
DeleteMy Mum did the crossword puzzle in the paper every morning. I guess I picked up the habit from her. I love em. Our household also loves jug saw puzzles - actually know quite a few "Young" people that enjoy them too. Thanks Red, this was very interesting. I enjoyed it. Have a great day.
ReplyDeletep.s. any thoughts on how I can add a reply button like yours or where I can find how to do it?
Interesting that many readers put crosswords and jig saws together.
DeleteEmail me on the reply button you're asking about.
I am not a fan, although I love word play. I find them frustrating and filled with all kinds of words nobody ever heard of! I like word jumbles much better, or scrabble. :-)
ReplyDeleteWith your busy schedule I'm surprised you could do any of these. both the physical and mental exercise are necessary.
DeleteI am not a fan of crossword puzzles. I do like the puzzles that have 500 to 1000 pieces. Any more than that and I get bored with it.
ReplyDeleteI also like jig saws. You can have them on the go for a long time. My brother always has a jig saw on a table in his kitchen.
DeleteNever mind the jigsaws, and never give me a word search, love crosswords. I like doing them on paper with writing implement, not so much online versions, but I will if that is what is around.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a word search fan but I do like the crypto quotes.
DeleteI used to do crosswords years ago from the TV Guide. Back then shows stayed around awhile and they puzzles were fun. When shows started coming and leaving soon after I lost interest because I couldn't answer the questions.
ReplyDeleteI now do the Sudoku puzzles which I'm addicted to. :)
I have never got interested in Sudoku. Again some people are great fans and others don't even know it's there.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad got me into cryptic crosswords, although I can rarely finish one. He did them every day. Crossword puzzles are good for your brain! :)
ReplyDeleteI like any kind of puzzle..crossword, logic, sudoku and jigsaw..all will keep me busy. I do play some online crosswords too..I think it keeps your brain going:)
ReplyDelete