Are we having fun yet?

 I and several of my friends and my spouse like to play computer/phone games published by the New York Times every day. 

We compare results on Wordle and Connections and I usually am competitive with everyone else.  So that's ok.  I do enjoy the games. They are part of my morning routine.  I used to enjoy doing the Mini crossword puzzle but they have recently put a lock on that, at least for us, and we will need to subscribe to play that any more.  We shall see.

On the other hand, NYT has introduced a new game called Pips. I thought I would really like this game because I enjoy Mexican Train and other domino games and the pieces in Pips look like little dominos. The goal of the game is to arrange several pieces on a grid provided in such a way as to satisfy established guidelines.  For example you may put a double five in place if two adjacent spaces are supposed to add up to10.  There are three levels that you can play every day Easy, Medium, and Hard, and each level is timed.  

My wonder spouse is doing very well at this game. I claim it's because he spent so much of his early career designing circuit boards.  Very occasionally I have bested him at the easy and medium levels, but never at the hard level.  He can usually solve the hard level in about 3 minutes while it takes my up to 25.  But I am stubborn, if not speedy and do eventually solve the puzzle.  And yes, I admit it, sometimes I turn to my wonder spouse for a little hint. 

I may be stubborn and proud but there comes a time when you just have to get on with life.