(no subject)

I've become hooked on the newspaper crossword puzzles. I used to limit myself to the days when I would visit my mom, but since I've been prone a fair bit over the last month she's been saving them for me every day. I find my attraction to these things kind of funky. I can't be getting meaningful satisfaction from solving clues like: 3. - Tin Tin It almost reminds me of a mild version of some of the tics or compulsions I read about. Must. Fill. In. The. Blanks. Must. Solve. I think it's the same funk that makes me love to use Excel for everything. The same brain wiring that leads me to enjoy doing taxes and filling out forms. Now it's just a harmless personality trait, even a useful one, but knock me over the head in the right spot and perhaps it would reveal itself for the strange irrationality that it is. I find myself amused that this is the most active use I am currently making, and indeed have probably ever made, of the body of facts I have acquired during my long and expensive education. Not to say I think it was a waste of time, I think the more intangible benefits have made it more than worthwhile. Being ignorant doesn't look like any fun. In fact, it looks to be often painful. (Unrelated Note: at this moment I have Connor on one knee and am bouncing Aidan on the other. Talk about multi-tasking. Now add talking on the phone.) Now I'm wondering how the puzzles are made. I notice that there are some words that they use over and over again. One is Uma Thurman's first name. Becoming crossword framework is apparently one of the many dangers of being part of pop culture.