SNAP #27 – I THINK I CAN, WE THINK WE CAN, OF COURSE WE CAN
#31 ACROSS – Nancy Pelosi was the first person ever to have this title in Congress.
12-letters
Most of us know that, in 2007, Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. Twelve letters, S-P-E-A-K-E-R-H-O-U-S-E.
#26 DOWN – Leader of the House of Representatives , 1977-87.
3-letters
That’s T-I-P (O’Neill).
But, to make that work correctly in the Up/Down puzzle squares, I must flip #31 ACROSS, so “P” is the seventh letter in the word.
W-O-M-A-N-S-P-E-A-K-E-R. Those doesn’t mesh with future clues.
M-A-D-A-M-S-P-E-A-K-E-R. Bingo!
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Welcome to my new early-morning Coffee/Crossword morning-routine. While this might not seem strange to you – many folks begin each day by working through a crossword puzzle – it’s totally weird for me. Even weirder? I like it.
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper Photo by margotmagowan.wordpress.com
For more years than I can remember, most of my life, in fact, I’ve been a 5 a.m. early-morning-rise-and-shine type of gal. Mornings are my cup-of-tea, uh, make that bold coffee, French Roast, no additives. Before the sun climbs over the horizon, I have usually knocked an hour of exercise off my list, shampooed and showered, glanced at the newspaper over breakfast and am ready for work, errands, appointments or chores, whatever my busy day might offer. That’s a full day and translates to an 8:30 to 9 p.m. bedtime.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Welcome to a perfectly normal American lifestyle.
For me, what Year 2012’s all about is “slowing this train down”, a phrase adopted by my family. The train they seem to be referring to is me. I’m trying not to take offense at that but only if I can still remain the engine. It’s coming up for a vote at our next family meeting!
That’s why, these days, I’m all about Bathrobe-Coffee-Crossword. Throw in an extra hour of sleep and that may make me a downright slob!
Here’s the SNAP. Whether it’s a Crossword Puzzle, Sudoku or a daily dose of Jeopardy, it’s necessary and age-appropriate for us to choose some, any, a myriad of, mind-games-of-choice. Ten-thousand Baby Boomers are retiring each day. While that’s phenomenally exciting, there’s no gold watch awaiting our Brain.
Do you remember author Watty Piper’s bedtime story, The Little Engine That Could (it was a She, by the way)? That little engine chugged along, never gave up, but needed help and assistance. That’s how I like to think about our Brains!
Our family meeting convenes Sunday night. I’m bringing the book.