This is going to make me sound like a jerk, but I am convinced that I am completely justified. That probably makes me even more jerky. So be it.
Every Sunday I get the the New York Times. We don’t even have home delivery here so I pay a guy named Scott to deliver it. I don’t know where he gets it, but who cares? I get my Times. Some weeks I recycle most of it because I don’t get a chance to read it. Some sections stack up for weeks (Style!) so I can read them when I do have time. But I always, always read the magazine, and I always, always save the crossword puzzle. I may not do it right away, but I will carry it around with me until I can do it.
And when I am, finally, doing the crossword puzzle: I do not want any help, nor do I need any. Okay? It’s nothing personal. Jo wants to help by “just writing the letters” for me. This seriously disrupts my flow. When I come up with an answer, I want to write it down. I don’t want to dictate it to a secretary (one who refuses to use capital letters, which is completely unacceptable in a crossword puzzle).
I do not want my husband to look over my shoulder and try to help. (Unless I get really stumped and I specifically ask for suggestions.)
And I for sure do not want some random mother at the karate school to harass me–repeatedly–about how I can possibly work a crossword puzzle without crossing out each clue once I’ve solved it. I JUST CAN, LADY, OKAY?
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That’s when you wish for those ostentatiously large earphones that you pull over your ears to more boldly illustrate ignoring her.
It is my firm opinion that every mom needs something that is hers and hers alone. Other karate moms should recognize that.
Good lord. What is the matter with people?
Well, jeez– who’d have thunk you do crossword puzzles because you like to puzzle over them? And why would someone want to rob you of your moment of victory by writing in your answers for you? Sounds like the same sort of person who swoops in with the punchline of a joke after you’ve done all the set-up.
I have that issue when I play Solitaire. I have to keep reminding the people who look over my shoulder that the game is called Solitaire for a reason.
I think they just can’t help themselves.
My mom used to always read over my shoulder when I was at the table or computer…no matter what I was reading. Drives. Me. BONKERS! After many years of flat out telling her to stop, she finally got a clue. Sheesh. See, I feel your pain
Ha. I always do my crosswords in lower case. This really bugs my brother in law. Each to their own
Preaching to the choir, sweetheart!
My honey is always offering to help so sometimes I will sit and call out the clues and if there is no response within a sec, I say, moving on. No thinking, I race through and do the ones I know and then go back to fill in.