By age 11, I began to drink coffee (black, except for lattes) and haven’t stopped. (When I later found out about my food sensitivities, I said I was willing to give up anything except coffee.) Also at about 11, I began trying my hand and brain at crossword puzzles, inspired by my dad’s expertise with the New York Times puzzle each day. This pair has been my guilty pleasure ever since, now joined by Wordle–although not strictly a crossword, a perfect complement. Whether while procrastinating on a work day or enjoying them on a Sunday, coffee and crosswords: a winning combo!
This pair has been my guilty pleasure ever since ...
//RetroFlash 100 words
MarianI have recently retired from a marketing and technical writing and editing career and am thoroughly enjoying writing for myself and others.
Characterizations:
been there, right on!, well written
Definitely a good combo, Marian. Good to know that your food sensitivities weren’t affected by coffee. Lounging around, drinking coffee and doing word puzzles seems very chill.
That’s about the most chill I get these days, Betsy, and I treasure the time.
Wonderful Flash, Mare. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I do love crosswords, especially the NYTimes puzzle.
My friend Barb who was my teaching colleague years ago also loved the puzzle and sometimes at lunch we’d do it together. One day another colleague who proclaimed himself a crossword whiz challenged us to a puzzle contest.
We sat opposite him, yelled Go, and we worked on ours and he on his. I don’t even remember who won, but what fun!
Great contest, Dana. Some puzzles go faster than others for me, so there would be an element of luck involved.
Yes, same here Mare. The only NYTimes puzzle I can always complete is Monday’s, the easiest of the week supposedly!
My husband would agree with you 100%. While I am reading/commenting on Retro stories, he’s on his third crossword.
Fred’s the man, Laurie. I tend to spread the puzzles out for a couple of days for mini breaks and a fresh brain if I get stuck.
That sounds delightful Marian, I note as I loll in bed enjoying a cappuccino and newspaper with puzzles and reading Retrospect.
Yes, Khati, now Retrospect can be a weekend guilty pleasure!
I’m with you, Mare, love both coffee and crosswords. Ed and I are great on crosswords together, because he gets the sports and science clues, and I get the literature and pop culture ones. I don’t think you should feel any guilt whatsoever about enjoying those things!
Sounds like a great crossword puzzle team, Suzy. I need to improve on my pop culture because sometimes I’m mystified by clues from the younger crossword puzzle constructors.
I’m exactly half way with you, Marian. I have been semi-addicted to crossword puzzles since I was a kid. But coffee? I tried – especially in college where it was cool to pull all-nighters and basically mainline coffee. But it just didn’t take. Just never liked the taste, even if I lived the affect. Still, a terrific RetroFlash on your perfect pleasure combo.
Now, Diet Coke, on the other hand….
To each their own, John. Never was a Diet Coke fan, but I started on coffee so young (age 11) that the taste is just “baked in” now. Crossword puzzles rock, as so many Retrospect folks have indicated.
When I realized how much I was spending at Starbucks, even with free refills, I mostly gave up coffee. Once a week now on Sundays. Bring my Kindle to DD and sip and read for about 30 minutes or so.
That seems like a perfect guilty pleasure, Kevin. Mostly I brew my own coffee, which is an expense but not like Starbucks, so I’m willing to spring for it.
Marian, I did crosswords forever. Until Words with Friends came along. Now the crosswords are reserved for long flights.
I understand, Jim. I spend about 15 minutes a session and do them on lunch and coffee breaks. Works fine.