I found one of those long-ago threads:
Start at post number 6. That’s where we all join in with twickster’s challenge. She critiques as the thread moves along.
Here’s a new one. I know it’s not perfect, but I hope it’s closer.
And it’s pretty short. I think my definitions are easy to medium.
I’m not an expert - I’m just trying to find something fun to do.
ACROSS
1. Featherless birds.
2. In the year of the Lord.
3. It’s bad luck for a ship if you do this.
4. To come down.
5. A slow critter.
6. To make sense of what they say.
DOWN
7. A messenger.
8. Used by Chicago commuters.
9. An addict.
10. A slow movement.
11. A cheat that allows you to see (abbrev.).
12. To throw a fit.
So, what does this look like?
I’m sorry, but I made a mistake which I have to correct.
ACROSS
1. Featherless bipeds.
2. In the year of the Lord.
3. It’s bad luck for a ship if you do this.
4. To come down.
5. A slow critter.
6. To make sense of what they say.
DOWN
7. A messenger.
8. Used by Chicago commuters.
9. An addict.
10. A slow movement.
11. A cheat that allows you to see (abbrev.).
12. To throw a fit.
How do #2, 5, 8, and 11 go across blank squares?? Maybe I need more coffee…
I apologize for my lack of clarity. Definitions 2, 5, 8, and 11 refer to the two-letter words between the black squares.
ACROSS
1. Featherless bipeds.
2. In the year of the Lord (abbrev).
3. It’s bad luck for a ship if you do this.
4. To come down.
5. A slow critter.
6. To make sense of what they say.
DOWN
7. A messenger.
8. Used by Chicago commuters.
9. An addict.
10. A slow movement.
11. A cheat that allows you to see (abbrev.).
12. To throw a fit.
Just trying to make it more legible. To make it work.
ACROSS
1. Featherless bipeds. [6 letters]
2. In the year of the Lord (abbrev). [2 letters]
3. It’s bad luck for a ship if you do this. [6 letters]
4. To come down. [6 letters]
5. A slow critter. [2 letters]
6. To make sense of what they say. [6 letters]
DOWN
7. A messenger. [6 letters]
8. Used by Chicago commuters. [2 letters]
9. An addict. [6 letters]
10. A slow movement. [6 letters]
11. A cheat that allows you to see (abbrev.). [2 letters]
12. To throw a fit. [6 letters]
I’ve been working backward through all the NYT crosswords, and there have been a couple puzzles in which some squares are used only once. And there have been numbers as well.
Now it makes sense - thanks! Unfortunately, I’m stumped. I’ll bet other people will do better, though.
I’ve just realized that my experience with solving crosswords is different from that of a “typical” American person from more reasons than just language and local rules. In Eastern Europe (such as Greece, Turkey, and the Balkan area in general) there is a traditional way of life similar to what people in the West identify as “the slow food movement” and “siesta.” Wikipedia defines “siesta” as follows: The siesta is historically common throughout the Mediterranean and Southern Europe and Mainland China. It is the traditional daytime sleep of Spain and, through Spanish influence, the Philippines, and many Hispanic American countries.
I am the type of person who wakes up at 6 on Sunday, when everybody else will get out of bed at 8 or 9. Actually, it is Sunday today and I got out of bed at 6 as usual. When I was a boy, I had an aversion toward all the “lazy” people who slept late, including my family. Now I know better.
Anyway, probably it is because of this lifestyle that certain local people around the world play dominoes or backgammon for hours. In my country it was rummy, played like this:
When I met my wife’s family, her father, her brother, my wife (who was my girlfriend at that time) and I played a long game of rummy. It was an especially difficult version of the game at which they excelled. I had a lot of fun and I felt accepted too, but in the back of my mind I realized I was being tested too.
So, back to our crosswords game, I’ve just realized that this local lifestyle must be another reason why there are people in my area who enjoy solving puzzles that take a long time, rather than easy stuff. They tend to appreciate a long game just the way somebody may prefer a long session of sex to a brief one.
I hope I didn’t bore you too much.
Not at all, I appreciate all the effort. I’m still pondering the puzzle. All I need is one word to crack it wide open… Maybe @Spoons will come along and solve it.
Wait, I’m halfway done. Sometimes it just takes one word for everything else to fall into place.
@PlaceboTarget, I pm’d you with a solution question.
What are you hung up on, needscoffee?
My answer to #11 seems off…
I"ve just answered the question.
Haha! I’ve never heard of that!
But I solved it, finally!
Hooray!
PlaceboTarget, you’re getting there. Although I’ve done crosswords for years, I’ve never constructed one. Good on you for trying it!
I like to make stuff. My father and brother can be considered real craftsmen. My father was able to fix almost anything and he could carry out various kinds of home improvement projects all by himself. My brother, who is an American citizen, is an engineer who can build a house from scratch (including plumbing and electric networks) or make a computer.
I am a little different in that I can make games, compose songs, write stories or draw sketches. Despite all these inclinations, I lead a practical existence because I want my family to enjoy the middle class comfort and I am not a fan of what people typical regard as an “artist’s” lifestyle. I prefer to let my talents be just hobbies.
I glad my puzzle was a little better this time. I’m still wondering how a functional crosswords thread would really work…
Well, maybe like the Caption Contest thread: find something that exists elsewhere, and we all try to solve it. It may be a little clunky at first, but we’ll work things through.
For example, here’s a puzzle in a free crossword site. It’s American-style (notice the symmetry), and it’s fairly easy. 1A is “ACRE,” for example, and 2D is CANAL. Here you go:
Great suggestion. I’ll be chewing on it during the breakfast that my wife is preparing right now.
