Friday, January 18, 2013

Focusing on Life - 3 of 52

Last week, it seems, was all about action:  our words for the year.  So many of our words suggested that we take charge of our lives and set out to achieve our goals.

This week, Sally reminded us that even in the midst of all that action, we still need to take a few minutes to sit and recharge.  She asked us to take a few minutes just for ourselves.

I've always enjoyed word puzzles and games.  I look forward to my daily crossword as a way to escape from the day.

Some time ago, I switched from doing the crosswords from the newspaper to doing them on my iPad.  However, it just isn't the same.  This week, I bought a newspaper and completed a crossword by hand.


Yes, I do my crosswords in pen.  I wish I could say I was some sort of crossword super solver, but really, I use pen because I can't see pencil on newsprint.  (My dad is the same way.  It was he who taught me to always have a bottle of white out near by.)

Sally, thank you again for a wonderful challenge.  I look forward to next week.

Please take a few minutes and visit the other participants on Sally's blog, the Studio Sublime.

To everyone who left such wonderful comments on my last post, thank you so much.  I cannot  express how much your kind words and encouragement meant to me.

42 comments:

  1. Tanya, I love your photo and I'm sitting here smiling because of how honest you are about why you use pen instead of pencil! :) There is something so wonderful about folding over the paper and stewing over a puzzle, like you said it just doesn't feel the same when you do the crossword on the ipad or readers.

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  2. Oh, Tanya, I'm impressed! I think I have a decent vocabulary, but I am just NO good at puzzles; doing that would be so stressful for me! Isn't it lucky we're all different people?

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  3. Love that you went back to the "old school" puzzle for your photo. Makes me want to sit down with my newspaper version!

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  4. Love your photo and story...leaving here with a smile.

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  5. I can't even imagine doing a crossword...so envious of people that are able to fill them out...and in PEN! Awesome shot...and reminds me of my mother...she is a crossword queen too!!!

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  6. Love this exercise-your-brain-the-old-fashioned-way-to-recharge-method. Its da best!

    While I am very proud of my command over English, I have only every solved very simple crossword puzzles in my native Indian language, Gujarati. Which is funny, because they did not teach me how to read and write in that language in school. My sister, with really really bad grammar, taught me. Life is so full of ironies, haha :)

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  7. Wow, I don't think I've ever done a crossword in pen! When I was growing up we took a lot of road trips and I always got one of those crossword books to have in the car. Your post brought back some great memories!

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  8. i haven't done a crossword for years... but what a fun way to take time this week...
    great photo btw :)
    [no. 13 this week]

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  9. I too haven't done one in years, but I have done the word finds with my grandchildren and still love them as well. I enjoyed teaching my granddaughter how to look for the starting letter of each word and then following the trail to see if it made the word in any direction. So cool that it links you with your Dad. Traditions can be so simple and lasting! Great post

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  10. Your crossword puzzle is complet in this picture - I AM SO JEALOUS! :) I use a pen where ever pencil would be better too - my current favorite white-out product is white out tape - I don't even have to wait for it to dry! :) Glad you found time for yourself!

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  11. Ooh not done one of those for ages but always love them when I do. Great that you find some time everyday too - I need to work on that.

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  12. What a great way to take time for yourself while excersing your brain at the same time! I love to do crossword puzzles, and in the last few years I became hooked on the Sudoko puzzles.

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  13. Tanya - great post! I love Sudoku, and totally agree! I put the app on my phone so I could do it on the train, but it just isn't the same as scribbling on newsprint. I also do my puzzles in pen :) and not because I don't make mistakes - LOL

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  14. What a great picture! I have never been any good at crosswords, so I admire you for being able to do that, and in PEN no less! And I'm with you, there are just some things that need to be done the old fashioned way. What a wonderful way to spend time on yourself.

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  15. Isn't it funny how with all our technology these days that some things are just better the old fashioned way - love your photo! Wish I had the courage to even try a crossword these days,...pencil or pen!

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  16. Love your photo and that brings back so many memories of my grandparents sitting down at night doing crosswords while my brother and I would watch TV. Grandma would do some of it and then give it to grandpa to finish it. I am always amazed at people who can do the crossword (I suck!). Thanks for sharing!

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  17. Tanya - lovely post! I love cross-words too, but it's impossible for me to complete them in English, you have different rules and sometimes the references make no sense to me (as I don't have the history behind). I do miss them tough!
    What I love is Sudoku - and I do them in pen for the same reason, in pencil I can't see anything on the newspaper.
    Your photo is gorgeous! Like you, I prefer the paper feeling =)

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  18. Great shot! I agree, sometimes old school is the way to go!!

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  19. LOL Tanya, use to do crosswords in pen too, never thought about white-out. Smart Dad. Now its soduku when I have a chance. Guess I need to make more time!

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  20. I haven't done a crossword in ages! My husband and I used to like to do them together, taking turns reading the clues. What fun!

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  21. Great picture and fun way to spend some time!

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  22. I am so jealous. I love crossword puzzles, I should start again. I wonder if they have an app for the nook. Our local paper does not have the crosswords.

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  23. I love crossword puzzles and cryptoquip puzzles but haven't done either one in ages. The puzzle section of today's newspaper just happens to be right next to my computer, so I will work on them throughout the weekend in Extreme Puzzle Solving fashion ... in bright blue ink! Thanks for the inspiration Tanya!

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  24. That photo reminds me of my grandmother and I working on crosswords together from the paper when I was a kid! I can definitely see how doing a crossword on the pad would NOT be the same. That is a great way to take some quiet time to yourself. : )

    Tracy

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  25. Fun pic. I would never do my crossword puzzles in pen as I make too many mistakes. Your choice of relaxation sounds great. I man just have to do one for old times sake.

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  26. What a great take time subject. I love crosswords too and also do mine in pen and on my iPad, which I confess I do like since it allows me to change my letters as many times as I need! Between beading and puzzles, you must a very well-exercised brain!

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  27. Hi Tanya,
    It is nice to learn something new about you. This post reminds me of how much my Grandfather loved to do the daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper.
    Therese

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  28. Hmm, I haven't tried a crossword in forever! My Dad always did the cryptic crosswords. He'd cut them out and there was a designated clipboard. Quiet afternoons you would suddenly here "Ha!" or the like as he'd get a tough one. I used to love logic problems, I should find some again!

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  29. Love the photo, and I agree nothing like doing a crossword in the newspaper and I too use pen. The white out is a great idea.

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  30. I haven't done a crossword in ages. I used to love them when I was a teen.

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  31. I haven't worked on a crossword puzzle in a while. What a fun way to spend some time; challenging and rewarding!

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  32. A great way to take time for yourself and keep mentally fit. Thanks for sharing how you do them, esp the pen. Pencil never does show up well enough.

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  33. Crosswords are great - but I always just get so frustrated with them b/c I can't figure them out in one go! Good to you though for doing them...in pen...with whiteout! Love that :)

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  34. What a great way to relax!

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  35. I haven't done a crossword puzzle in like forever...good for you to take the time and finish it. Have a great week! Suzette

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  36. Fun! I love doing puzzles and word games especially. I have been seeking them out on my phone and found one that I like and that my daughter can do as well. Something with bees. Can't remember the name. And to think that you do that in pen! Fearless, is what you are. And confident. (But not afraid to make mistakes, as evidenced by the white out!)
    Enjoy the day. Erin

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  37. A crossword puzzle in itself is impressive but in pen, too. My mom does them in pen, too. A great way to exercise the mind.

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  38. I also like doing crossword puzzles and also do them ink for the same reason.

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  39. Wow does that sound like fun. I haven't done a crossword puzzle in a while. They are so good for the mind too. There is something so appealing about paper isn't there? Good for you!(Now come clean-did you peak? :D )

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  40. Tanya, that was an interesting revealation! And a good thing to do for yourself.. It reminded me that I havent touched a 'Sudoku' for a while now!! And isnt those little 'Idiosyncrasies' that make each of us so special and interesting!! I liked it!

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  41. I love crosswords! I always feel old fashioned because I prefer good old books to the Nook or Kindle,,,just not the same! ...pen away!

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  42. Loved your post. I know many people( even in my family) who are avid cross word puzzlers, who will sit down with a cross word puzzle ( Sunday newspaper) like you, for their special time and spend away the whole day. This hobby did not attack or embrace me, so I can't tell. But I can see the fun you had.

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