Crossword Puzzles
I've taken to doing crossword puzzles lately. It's just a phase, I'll grow out of it. I was anxiously picking up the latest copy of Alibi and doing those, and then I realized that an entire magazine full of them can be purchased at the local supermarket. So now I'm expanding my vocabulary of obscure words, and encountering a few mysteries along the way.

I'm learning about monetary units (RIALS are coins in Iran, and a DARIC is from ancient Persia). I'm getting familiar with some French and Spanish words and abbreviations, and also letters of the Greek alphabet. Other useful words to the puzzle-makers are OGLE, EGGED, and HEMAN. That last one being a bully at the beach. We also must not forget the First Name in Household Humor (ERMA).

For mysteries that I haven't had the inclination to solve, there is a woman named Ruby. In one clue her "acting" husband is OSSIE, and in another puzzle her "radio hubby" is AMOS. It sounds a bit scandalous, but I'm sure they're all good friends, whoever they are. Another pair that shows up is Damson and his "cousin" or "kin" SLOE, and I don't know who those folks are either.

It's a harmless enough way to pass the time, and sometimes it seems like that's what it all boils (or simmers as in egg) down to.