My first Lollapuzzola was a blast. It was a fun gathering of like-minded smart people who decided it would also be fun to do a few puzzles together.
Brian Cimmet was a Master of Ceremonies par excellence. The getting-to-know-you "People Bingo" game was inspired...you had to run around the room filling out a bingo card with things like "Someone wearing purple"; "Can name all six Friends"; Can speak more than one language"; Can make a sound like a fire alarm (make them do it)". Getting you entire card filled out with names earns you a prize. But of course, it was jsut fun to have a completely inane excuse to walk up to total strangers and strike up a conversation.
I liked that it was very relaxed - the rather loose time frames gave us time to talk with old friends and make new ones. Because face it, most of us** are there for the camaraderie, not to make it to the finals! A few other group games kept things loose and kept us from having our brains fried by the really challenging puzzles.
For the record, I am the 99th greatest crossword puzzle solver in the world*!
(I've decided that from now on, my ranking will be reflected by either 1) my most recent competition, or b) my highest ranking, whichever is highest...)
Oh yeah - Joon Pahk and Glen Ryan won!!!! Congratulations! See the official writeup
at Brian's site.
*
"World" in this context is defined as all the people that were at Lollapuzzola 5...a grand total of 122 folks!
**
With the exception of some of you - you know who you are - who actually ARE right up there in the stratosphere...
P.S. Really liked that there is a Pairs competition - might convince puzzle husband to join in...
Only disappointment was missing out on some of the zaniness that I heard about from the previous years - maybe if we all clap really hard, they'll bring it back for next year!
Well, of course I can't resist, so beauty sleep be damned, full speed ahead!
