Many of you know that I live in the Chicago suburbs. We receive the Chicago Tribune, and each day there is a crossword puzzle in the Tempo section. Elegante Mother used to do them in ink, and it never occurred to me to make a copy of the puzzles so that we could both do them. I discovered that the Monday through Saturday puzzle is available on-line, with the added bonus that the program tells you if you have entered an incorrect letter. (Master solvers have the option to do it without the assist.)
I’ve become addicted. I take my mug of tea and head for the computer at 5:30 in the morning. With the computer’s assistance, I can finish almost all the puzzles. Without the “wrong-letter” clue, I’d probably have to Google for some of the answers. I’m really glad to return to this form of entertainment. I used to do the Dell crosswords that were edited by Eugene T. Maleska. He designed “expert” puzzles. Of all the expert crosswords, his were the ones that I was most likely to solve. I think you find someone who “hears” words as you do, or perhaps has the same life experiences, and their clues are more likely to make sense.
While I was looking for crossword sites on-line, I also discovered a blog for those who do the Tribune puzzle. The blogger gives the answers for the current day’s puzzle, comments on the construction of the puzzle and quality of the clues, and those of us who are also doing the puzzle respond in the comments. It’s as though I’ve found a family! Some of them are my age, and some are younger. Both men and women participate. Some of the solvers have science backgrounds; others are more experienced in the arts.
The group is a nice cross section of puzzle solvers.
If you’re interested, join us. You can find us at the “Star Tribune Crossword Corner.”