One word, in between two rounds of 3 puzzles each, and an evening of "fun" and "games" -- or really, it's a number: 521. That's my ranking out of approximately 680 contenders, after scoring 4 puzzles. But that's without the score of #5, on which I got, I think, 27 answers out of about 151 possible words -- word on the corridor is that it was the hardest #5 in memory, and #5s are always the hardest puzzle of the tourney. Dan, for his part, is NOT LAST. And we still have smiles across our faces, and we're going to go down a few drinks to celebrate! More tomorrow! Good night, Gingyville.

ACPT Day 1

OK, I'm in the lobby lounge with my coffee & my laptop, the PA is playing an all-funk XM radio station -- "Flashlight" anyone? As for the tourney, I don't even know where to begin. It's a little like being at an MIT reunion, because geek meter is WAY over in the red section. And yet, these geeks are speaking a language I can actually understand -- I'm down with what they're trying to put across, if you get my drift. So does that make them different, or does it, come on, admit it, make me a geek too? If so, I guess I'm picking up that banner and waving it proudly (what choice do I have? I'm a registered participant!). Anyhow, here's the deal so far:

We didn't get in until about 9:00, which we will know for next year is a little too late, because there was a first round of puzzles starting at 8:00, for which prizes were awarded at the wine & cheese reception starting at 10:00. However, we hadn't stopped for supper on the way, and Dan learned the hard way what it is to come between a Capricorn and her primary needs. When he suggested that maybe we could make do with peanuts at the bar until the food at the reception, I think the tone of my voice ("Are you KIDDING?!!!") caused his whole life to flash before him. A quesadilla and some delicious short rib sliders later, all was well in Gingyville. On to the reception....

Actually, too much for words -- I think I'll let the pictures do the talking (and forgive any misalignment -- I'm new to this formatting, but am loviung the opportunity to publicize my life a little too much!) (Dan, on the other hand, just wants to make sure I don't ever use his last name, so he can't be Googled -- can't be too careful in the age of gotcha journalism!).

Stacks of crossword puzzles at the reception desk -- we know we're in the right place.

Our room at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott -- very lush, I must say: a pillow top mattress and extremely high thread count sheets (that post's for you, Martha).

My peeps...

The Bartholomews, the first people we talked to -- super nice. They live in Brooklyn, so they walk over to observe only: "The puzzler, in its natural habitat...."



Dan, ready to give it his all!

What's a 7-letter word for a Saturday puzzle?

Tyler Hinman, champion of the last 4 tournaments, including the one in "Wordplay" -- he won one of the puzzles and chose the "KenKen" bottle of sake for his prize -- still a frat boy at heart.

Ohmygodohmygodohmygod OHMYGOD it's WILL SHORTZ!

Merl Reagle, puzzlemaker extraordinaire (and shorter than he looked in "Wordplay").

So that's it for now. Must go pick up registration packet, wake Dan up, and start firing up the little grey cells. More to follow, denizens of Gingyville!

Off to Brooklyn!

So Dan and I are set to roll out to Brooklyn, to the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (http://www.crosswordtournament.com/), hosted by Will Shortz of the NYTimes Puzzle & NPR, and featured in the delightful 2006 film "Wordplay" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492506/). I'm nervous, but pretty psyched to hang out with people who share my somewhat fanatical devotion to the NYTimes crossword puzzle -- people who know what orts, efts, and the Villa d'Este are (if you have to ask...). I'll try to update as we go along, and if nothing else, the puzzle has already sucked me into the blogosphere, so I suppose that's progress. Or is it the Borg? Hmmm....more to come!