So, Mikix and I decided we wanted to play a game of Go and do a jigsaw puzzle today (simultaneously). The idea behind this is that Go is a good game, but it is slow. When it is not your turn, it’s good to have something else to do. Also we really like jigsaw puzzles.
We headed to Target to buy a puzzle. Now, Mikix and I are both strangely hardcore about our jigsaw puzzles despite the fact that I don’t think either of us has touched one for quite some time. Anyway, we decided that we wanted to do the puzzle without knowing what the picture looked like, for added challenge. Unfortunately, we had to buy the damn thing and you can’t very well pick out a puzzle from the shelf without looking at the cover.
This is when we got creative.
We picked out a bunch of acceptable puzzles with the same box size and shuffled them around on the shelf with our eyes closed. Then Mikix picked one out, eyes still closed, and held it behind his back. In this way we made it all the way to the cashier without seeing the box. It was rather awkward trying to purchase an item without ever looking at it, especially when the cashier for whatever reason decided to make small talk about the picture on the puzzle box. She mentioned something about the box saying “Big Ben” but there appeared to be no Big Ben in sight in the picture and wasn’t that weird! “I wouldn’t know,” replied Mikix. I felt awkward so I explained to her that we were trying not to look at the box, which I think just made everything more awkward.
We still needed a way to open the box when we got back to our parking lot, and unfortunately the thing was rather well-sealed and the picture of the puzzle was on every side of the box except the bottom. In yet another wacky solution, I blindfolded myself with my shirt and proceeded to knife the box until it came open. I handed the top of the box (with all the pictures on it) to Mikix who was in his position: outside of the car, facing away from me, hands behind his back. He delivered the box cover safely to the dumpster and then we were finally in the clear.
As of now, about 12 hours after we bought the puzzle, it’s about 10% finished and I still have no idea what the picture is supposed to be except that it involves trees and some houses or something. I have a slightly out-of-date picture here.
Actually, my mother digs jigsaw puzzles, and I usually help out when I’m home. So I have a competitive jigsaw advantage.
Also, you should put that picture on flickr.