Is anyone else addicted to this puzzle? I have only recently discovered it but I am finding it lots of fun. Some of the harder puzzles can be quite fiendish to figure out. I am going to take a book of sudoku puzzles, a pencil and an eraser on our upcoming cruises. I think it will be a great sea day pasttime.

Sudoku site

Basically, you get a 9x9 grid with some numbers in some cells. Each column, row, and 3x3 box must all contain the digits 1 - 9 (there is no room for repetition of a digit). This is not a math project. The numbers are just symbols and only logic is required.

Marcia,

I am addicted. I first heard about it in early spring - it's very popular in England. You can buy little paperback books full of puzzles at Heathrow. It keeps me entertained for hours at a time. After I finish my work on the plane, I alternate between Sudoku and knitting while traveling. It helps to keep me from going stir crazy during the long rides to Asia. Plus you can only make so many scarves....

Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen, next time we cruise together, do you think you could teach me to knit? I never learned and so far I don't have enough scarves.

I take some kind of needle work on the planes to pass the time too. I have a baby blanket that got too big to take (crochet) and I am bringing some yarn to knit a scarf for ME. Maybe I will finish it before we land and I can wear it in Italy.

I will probably pack a Sudoku book too. Those puzzles are very addicting. I used to do those word search puzzles on planes. This might be more challenging. I've been afraid to start the daily ones in the newspapers because between reading LCT in the morning and the LA Times, I might never get to the office at a reasonable hour.

MarnaLou, If you haven't learned by MUSH (I think you are going?), I can teach you.

Thanks for introducing me to Sudoku. I guess "Birds of a feather flock together." I, too, knit & crochet. It's great when I find myself confined on an airplane. When I have the time, it works, also, to break a bad habit. So happy to know those who do the same. Will be knitting "whatever" & fitting in a puzzle or two now enroute to Italy, Friday. Thanks so much! - Michele

David and I are both addicted to Sodoku, he more than I. We just do the ones in the papers, he made a blank grid and brings a bunch home from the office every few days.

Maybe on our next trip we'll get a Palmp-based game to bring along, but for now paper is the limit of our addiction.

i'm addicted. I've been playing for several weeks now and was going to post here about it, but didn't want everyone coming after me for getting them addicted. :p <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

um that last post and this one are from Arlene. I haven't gotten Gil addicted yet.

Arlene, I was willing to take the risk. Addicts love to find other addicts.

My devotion to sudoku is so extreme I have purchased an electric eraser like people who do drafting use. I also bought a mechanical pencil with a very narrow lead. George was nice enough to mass produce some grids for me using Photoshop.

I am also a Sudoku addict. I started them about 8 months ago as they are very popular in England where I currently live. They are available in all the daily papers and they even have a contest in "The Times" with a bottle of champagne for the daily prize!. Cheers, Pam

My son was describing this puzzle to me just last week on 007, and because he has a higher level of the math gene than me, I wasn't interested, as good crosswords are a challenge to me. Now I will have to look. MarnaLou, I hope Brice and George get to cruise one day together, as George could teach him a thing or two, and bring him down a notch needed once in a while for a new 30 year old.

Olivia we'd love to meet and sail with any member of your family. However, I don't think either of us can bring a young adult down a notch. Hasn't worked with either of our 20-something sons!

Marsha....now I'm hooked! Spent the last hour trying to get my times down to a more acceptable level. It is great fun - I haven't played on paper yet, just the computer, but I now see how you can really get addicted.

We'll have to compare notes on SPINN!

You're on, Margo! I'm bringing a ton of puzzles and my now infamous Sudoku kit, the one that makes George roll his eyes when I haul it all out.

Marsha...I can't wait...I may have to invest in the "kit"!

Thanks for telling me about a new game to play! I've never heard of it before, but have been having fun with the version I downloaded to my Palm. The real challenge would be to do a non-electronic one!

I am totally addicted to it. Have a small group to see who can finish it first. Starting time is different for each day. It is fun.

Got hooked a few weeks ago. Our newspaper is now running it also.
Jan

Marsha...this was the totally wrong thing to start when getting ready for a cruise...I just keep sitting down to play one more game...and another...and another! Somehow it really does become addictive.

Margo, I know what you mean. I did two puzzles on the short flight to Phoenix yesterday. The time just flew by.