Do You Sudoku?

I am proud to say that I completed my first sudoku puzzle the other day. Sudoku is one of those things that's all the rage now (along with Crocs, North Face jackets and Uggs) that I've managed to resist up until now while everyone around me is indulging. Granted, the North Face jackets and Uggs are not in my closet purely because of cost, and I did break down and buy a Lands End version of Crocs on sale because the dusty camp parking lot trashes my flip-flops, but still...

I was in Building 19 the other day and saw a couple perusing Sudoku puzzle books (78¢!!!) and the woman said to her husband "Put those back, those are TOO EASY!" I confessed to her (because that's what I do, strike up conversations with strangers and insinuate myself into their discussions...) that I have tried to do Sudoku and have quit because:

1) They are impossible for me
2) My brain can't do logic like that
3) My brain HURTS when I try
4) I end up feeling stupid.

Kind of like those bar puzzles where you have to unlink two steel knots, or a Rubik's cube (FYI, my older sister KICKS ASS on the Rubik's cube, can do it in like one minute!)

Anyway, the woman assured me that if I started out with the easy ones, I would get the hang of it. I bought the book (78¢ and the answers in the back!!!), brought it home and went to work. I love how the puzzles all have a little space at the bottom to write down how long it took to complete.

TWO HOURS LATER...

Warding off helpful hints from my logic-savvy husband and the temptation to peek at the answer, I was FINALLY able to complete the puzzle. I didn't feel stupid, but then again I didn't feel smart. There are about 80 more puzzles in the book, should I ever decide to attempt a SECOND try...

I think I'll get a Rubik's cube instead.