Have no fear...Crosswords are online (printable) for most papers. Or interactive useing a Java platform. And Good Luck with NYT puzzle hailed as the hardest. grin. Neo~

I wish I had more time to! I have still yet to completely finish one... closest is two squares left! They are definitely fun!

Hi Amy: It is sad to see the demise of the newspapers, but in this electronic, instant information age, it was sadly inevitable. I can find a variety of puzzlebooks--Suduko, Word Search, and crossword at my local dollar store. My kids like to do them with me as well. I am encouraged to see my parents ( around 70 years old) doing them too. My entire family loves to play Scrabble on " Family Game Night" too. There are other ways to get your puzzle fix, and you can carry crossword books with you in your purse or tote.

I remember when I worked for the state in the late 90s, someone would start the paper, and as people took their breaks, they would fill it in, or turn it into a group effort. I myself prefer trivia type games. Perhaps you'll just have to evolve Amy, and start carrying around trivia cards, and not only think of the answer, but think of how they are spelling it, too. Or, force yourself to think of two other pieces of trivia connected to your answer. (kind of like a "six degrees of separation" game played mentally) for instance, if the answer to your trivia question is global positioning sat, then try to think of two other items related to space, like sputnik, and what year the first shuttle was flown unpowered off the back of a 747. that keeps me entertained for hours when I can't read the ages old magsin the waiting room! I agree though- some very happy memories were doing a crossword with friends over coffee on break on a spring day on the patio!

I'm a HUGE fan of Suduko!!!

It's sad about the demise. It won't be the same, but you can buy puzzle books, and I am certain there are puzzles on-line.