Okay, so, I’ve been trying to get into these New York Times crosswords lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a trip. Today’s puzzle was all about this word, “amigo,” and it got me thinking about how many different ways they can clue the same word. It’s like a little mini-adventure every time I pick up one of these things.
I started off like I always do, filling in the answers I knew right away. You know, the easy ones that just pop into your head. But then I got to the clues for “amigo,” and I was like, “Wait a minute, I’ve seen this word before.”
- First Encounter: “Bud”
The first time I saw it, the clue was something simple like “Bud.” And I thought, “Okay, that’s easy enough, it’s probably ‘PAL’.” I wrote that in, and it fit, so I moved on. No big deal, right?
- Second Encounter: “___, amigo”
But then, another clue popped up a few days later, and this one was “___, amigo.” And I was stumped for a second. I mean, there are so many things you could put in that blank! But then I remembered seeing something about “Goodbye, friend!” being a possible clue for this, so I tried “ADIOS.” Lo and behold, it worked! I felt like a genius, let me tell you.
- Third Encounter: “Not good, amigo”
Now, today’s puzzle really threw me for a loop. The clue was “Not good, amigo.” I was scratching my head on this one for a while. I was like, “What could this possibly be?” I tried a few different things, but nothing seemed to fit. Then, after staring at it for what felt like forever, I remembered seeing somewhere that “NOBUENO” could be an answer. So I gave it a shot, and bam! It worked. I couldn’t believe it.
- Reflecting on the Difficulty
These puzzles are supposed to get harder as the week goes on, and they definitely do. It’s like, Monday’s puzzle is a gentle walk in the park, and by Saturday, you’re climbing Mount Everest. But that’s what makes it fun, right? It’s a challenge. I’ve been tracking my times, and it’s taking me about 9 minutes on average, all told, I’ve probably spent like 14 days of my life on these things. Can you believe that? It’s crazy!
- Looking for Patterns
I’m starting to see some patterns, though. Like, when a clue is in brackets, it usually means it’s some kind of nonverbal thing. And quotes usually mean it’s something someone would say out loud. It’s like a secret code or something.
Conclusion
Anyway, I just wanted to share my little crossword adventure with you all. It’s been a fun way to keep my brain busy, and I’m learning new things every day. Who knew that one little word like “amigo” could be so tricky? I’m excited to keep going and see what other challenges these puzzles throw my way.
