Eat My Shortz

[littlebeast13]

I got in the habit about 3 years ago of working the Sunday crossword puzzles on my lunch hour at work. At first, I only used to do the local puzzle, but after getting it done quickly one time, I decided to work on the New York Times puzzle, which was on the same page. I didn't get very far..... in fact it was pitiful... so I didn't try again for awhile...

But I did try again, and soon got to where I could at least get half of it done.... then got good enough to where most Sundays I could get it almost completed. Over the last year, I'd say my average was 10-15 missed blocks... and twice I got just one stinking letter wrong in the whole damn thing. It sucked to be so close.....

Well, I finally broke that Monday night, nailing this Sunday's NYT puzzle letter for letter! I said a long time ago to everyone who watches me work them on lunch that if I ever got the whole New York puzzle, I was going to take it home and frame it. Well, I did remember to bring it home..... not sure if I'm really going to frame it or not.....

But yay for small victories...... woohoo!!!!!

lb13

[christie1111]

Congratulations!

It is good to have a goal and to acheive it.

Now what are you going to strive for?

[MarleysGh0st]

Well, I did remember to bring it home..... not sure if I'm really going to frame it or not.....

Certainly, you should!

Or maybe ES can work it into one of his artworks...

[littlebeast13]

Congratulations!

It is good to have a goal and to acheive it.

Now what are you going to strive for?

World peace....

Or maybe straightening out the CT post offices.....

Nah, better stick with world peace....

lb13

[Bob Juch]

Congratulations!

It is good to have a goal and to acheive it.

Now what are you going to strive for?

WoF I hope!

[kayrharris]

Way to go. Goals are always a good thing and even better when you accomplish them.

kay

[Odyssey]

It is definitely all about the small victories! Way to be tenacious lb!

[SportsFan68]

Well done!

The only time I seriously tried it, it took me all day and a Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. That was my last attempt, serious or otherwise.

[littlebeast13]

Well done!

The only time I seriously tried it, it took me all day and a Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. That was my last attempt, serious or otherwise.

Thanks Sprots!!!

lb13

[MarleysGh0st]

Or maybe ES can work it into one of his artworks...

That didn't take long!

[christie1111]

Love the new avatar!

(Sorry Sprots)

I like how ES's nose is just over the table.

[SportsFan68]

Well done!

The only time I seriously tried it, it took me all day and a Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. That was my last attempt, serious or otherwise.

Thanks Sprots!!!

lb13

YOU'RE NOT WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HERE I AM ALL NICE TO YOU AND COMPLIMENTARY AND YOU MAKE UP SOME NEW FABRICATED HORRIBLE SQUIRREL AVATAR WITH SOME HORRIBLE SQUIRREL IN THE SAME PICTURE AND JUST ALL FULL OF UNCOMFORTABLENESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KEEP THAT MANGY RODENT AWAY FROM ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





(Did I capture the rogue's tone just a bit, I hope? Sometimes I try for a Wintergreen tone, but that just wouldn't work here . . .)

(I gotta go do today's LS whilst I'm still in that tone.)

[littlebeast13]

Well done!

The only time I seriously tried it, it took me all day and a Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. That was my last attempt, serious or otherwise.

Thanks Sprots!!!

lb13

YOU'RE NOT WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HERE I AM ALL NICE TO YOU AND COMPLIMENTARY AND YOU MAKE UP SOME NEW FABRICATED HORRIBLE SQUIRREL AVATAR WITH SOME HORRIBLE SQUIRREL IN THE SAME PICTURE AND JUST ALL FULL OF UNCOMFORTABLENESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KEEP THAT MANGY RODENT AWAY FROM ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





(Did I capture the rogue's tone just a bit, I hope? Sometimes I try for a Wintergreen tone, but that just wouldn't work here . . .)

(I gotta go do today's LS whilst I'm still in that tone.)

Wow! I think she likes it!!!!!!!

lb13

[FannyHeartsNene]

Good for you! My first brush with crossword greatness was when I was a kid and I found a hardbound book of crossword puzzles laying around the house. My grandma always had crossword magazines on her nightstand that she'd work before bed and I decided that my goal would be to complete the book.

I selected one, found the corresponding answer puzzle in the back and labouriously copied it letter by letter onto the blank grid. I was very proud of myself until I showed off my work to my dad and found out that wasn't exacty how one went about working a crossword......ha!

I toted around that book for years (it was a big hardback book!) and I eventually did finish all the puzzles. The regular way......

[littlebeast13]

Good for you! My first brush with crossword greatness was when I was a kid and I found a hardbound book of crossword puzzles laying around the house. My grandma always had crossword magazines on her nightstand that she'd work before bed and I decided that my goal would be to complete the book.

I selected one, found the corresponding answer puzzle in the back and labouriously copied it letter by letter onto the blank grid. I was very proud of myself until I showed off my work to my dad and found out that wasn't exacty how one went about working a crossword......ha!

I toted around that book for years (it was a big hardback book!) and I eventually did finish all the puzzles. The regular way......

Reminds me of the time I showed off to my Mom that I solved the Rubik's Cube...... after carefully peeling off all the little colored stickers and placing them all into the right places....

lb13

[FannyHeartsNene]

Good for you! My first brush with crossword greatness was when I was a kid and I found a hardbound book of crossword puzzles laying around the house. My grandma always had crossword magazines on her nightstand that she'd work before bed and I decided that my goal would be to complete the book.

I selected one, found the corresponding answer puzzle in the back and labouriously copied it letter by letter onto the blank grid. I was very proud of myself until I showed off my work to my dad and found out that wasn't exacty how one went about working a crossword......ha!

I toted around that book for years (it was a big hardback book!) and I eventually did finish all the puzzles. The regular way......

Reminds me of the time I showed off to my Mom that I solved the Rubik's Cube...... after carefully peeling off all the little colored stickers and placing them all into the right places....

lb13

What a coincidence! That's the same technique I used to solve a Rubik's Cube......

[littlebeast13]

Good for you! My first brush with crossword greatness was when I was a kid and I found a hardbound book of crossword puzzles laying around the house. My grandma always had crossword magazines on her nightstand that she'd work before bed and I decided that my goal would be to complete the book.

I selected one, found the corresponding answer puzzle in the back and labouriously copied it letter by letter onto the blank grid. I was very proud of myself until I showed off my work to my dad and found out that wasn't exacty how one went about working a crossword......ha!

I toted around that book for years (it was a big hardback book!) and I eventually did finish all the puzzles. The regular way......

Reminds me of the time I showed off to my Mom that I solved the Rubik's Cube...... after carefully peeling off all the little colored stickers and placing them all into the right places....

lb13

What a coincidence! That's the same technique I used to solve a Rubik's Cube......

If only we could use that brainpower to solve all the world's problems.....

Which brings me full circle to my stated next goal of achieving world peace.....

lb13

[SportsFan68]

Good for you! My first brush with crossword greatness was when I was a kid and I found a hardbound book of crossword puzzles laying around the house. My grandma always had crossword magazines on her nightstand that she'd work before bed and I decided that my goal would be to complete the book.

I selected one, found the corresponding answer puzzle in the back and labouriously copied it letter by letter onto the blank grid. I was very proud of myself until I showed off my work to my dad and found out that wasn't exacty how one went about working a crossword......ha!

I toted around that book for years (it was a big hardback book!) and I eventually did finish all the puzzles. The regular way......

I bought a book of fiendishly difficult Sudoku puzzles by Wayne Gould, and it took me about two years to finish them. I would work on one puzzle for maybe a week at a time at odd hours. When I got totally stuck, like having two 8s in the same row, I would have SteelersFan check the answers, but only to correct the mistake.

I too have a hardbound crossword puzzle book somewhere that I inherited from my grandmother. She died long before she finished it, and that could happen with me, too . . .

[FannyHeartsNene]

Good for you! My first brush with crossword greatness was when I was a kid and I found a hardbound book of crossword puzzles laying around the house. My grandma always had crossword magazines on her nightstand that she'd work before bed and I decided that my goal would be to complete the book.

I selected one, found the corresponding answer puzzle in the back and labouriously copied it letter by letter onto the blank grid. I was very proud of myself until I showed off my work to my dad and found out that wasn't exacty how one went about working a crossword......ha!

I toted around that book for years (it was a big hardback book!) and I eventually did finish all the puzzles. The regular way......

I bought a book of fiendishly difficult Sudoku puzzles by Wayne Gould, and it took me about two years to finish them. I would work on one puzzle for maybe a week at a time at odd hours. When I got totally stuck, like having two 8s in the same row, I would have SteelersFan check the answers, but only to correct the mistake.

I too have a hardbound crossword puzzle book somewhere that I inherited from my grandmother. She died long before she finished it, and that could happen with me, too . . .

Hey, maybe it was the same book! I've never seen a hardbound one before or since. It had a tan cloth cover and I think it was totally blank except for "crossword puzzles" or something like that on the spine. And one of the crossword grids was in the shape of a heart. (Now that I think about it, maybe there was a puzzle for each day of the year and the heart one was February 14's puzzle.) Actually, I might still have it in a box in the garage somewhere........

[SportsFan68]

Good for you! My first brush with crossword greatness was when I was a kid and I found a hardbound book of crossword puzzles laying around the house. My grandma always had crossword magazines on her nightstand that she'd work before bed and I decided that my goal would be to complete the book.

I selected one, found the corresponding answer puzzle in the back and labouriously copied it letter by letter onto the blank grid. I was very proud of myself until I showed off my work to my dad and found out that wasn't exacty how one went about working a crossword......ha!

I toted around that book for years (it was a big hardback book!) and I eventually did finish all the puzzles. The regular way......

I bought a book of fiendishly difficult Sudoku puzzles by Wayne Gould, and it took me about two years to finish them. I would work on one puzzle for maybe a week at a time at odd hours. When I got totally stuck, like having two 8s in the same row, I would have SteelersFan check the answers, but only to correct the mistake.

I too have a hardbound crossword puzzle book somewhere that I inherited from my grandmother. She died long before she finished it, and that could happen with me, too . . .

Hey, maybe it was the same book! I've never seen a hardbound one before or since. It had a tan cloth cover and I think it was totally blank except for "crossword puzzles" or something like that on the spine. And one of the crossword grids was in the shape of a heart. (Now that I think about it, maybe there was a puzzle for each day of the year and the heart one was February 14's puzzle.) Actually, I might still have it in a box in the garage somewhere........

That would be fabulous! But darn it, I know it's not. The cover was turquoise, and there was a picture of a crossword puzzle on the front. I think this one was probably thinner that yours too -- there were a lot less than 365 puzzles, maybe about 50. There was nothing on the spine.

[Bob78164]

Congratulations!

It is good to have a goal and to acheive it.

Now what are you going to strive for?

This, of course. --Bob

[mcd1400de]

Congratulations!

It is good to have a goal and to acheive it.

Now what are you going to strive for?

This, of course. --Bob

The details for this year's tournament, which runs Feb. 20-21, can be found here.

Anyone else going?

[TheCalvinator24]

Gee, I wonder if anyone will accuse lb of lying about this like was done to me when I once posted that I had once (and only once) successfully completed a Sunday NYT Crossword.

[TheCalvinator24]

Oh, and congrats lb. It is truly a great accomplishment.

[kayrharris]

Gee, I wonder if anyone will accuse lb of lying about this like was done to me when I once posted that I had once (and only once) successfully completed a Sunday NYT Crossword.

I can also guarantee if it were on this board, someone could come up with exact post.
Are you saying we have a double standard here?

I used to do the daily crossword in our pitiful local newspaper, but quit when I could almost do it with my
eyes closed. I never did move on to bigger or better challenges. Prolly should have.

kay