Ali is Puzzled
What's your name?
Alison Cone
Where are you based?
San Diego, California
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
I currently run my family business. I work from home which allows me a lot of time to work on puzzles, to foster kittens and working around the house. Most days I get up and go to the gym, play with my current foster kittens and work on my puzzles.
How did you get into the world of puzzling?
I have always loved puzzles as a kid and even as an adult, I puzzled on occasion. In 2019, I went on a cruise where they had a puzzle out every day that you could work on. When I got back from the cruise trip, I started doing puzzles regularly which carried on during Covid. My puzzling really picked up in 2021, when I found the San Diego Puzzle Community on a Facebook group that did puzzle swaps and trades when we were finished with them. And that same year I started doing competitions in San Diego.
What makes you keep puzzling & how often do you puzzle?
I love the stress relief that puzzles provide and the community that it's introduced me to.
What is your favorite type of puzzles?
I tend to puzzle anywhere up to 1000 pieces. I’m not big on larger sizes. I love bright colors and matte finishes.
During puzzling sessions, do you listen to anything or puzzle in silence?
Generally have the TV on with a rerun of a favorite TV show, so I can sit down and pick up the storyline when I’m taking a break. I like watching Bones, NCIS, Pysch or 911.
If you were to describe what puzzling means to you, what would it be?
Puzzling is a way to relieve stress and relax after a hard day. It also works my brain, which I try to do as I get older, because Alzheimer’s runs in my family.
Tell us about your other interests & joys.
I like to read and swim, watch sports and going to the games. I love to travel- I’ve been to every continent, including Antarctica. I bring mini puzzles when I travel. One of my favorite things to do while cruising to Antarctica was doing puzzles while looking at the glaciers and icebergs. It was incredible to see the colors of the ice and the penguins swimming while doing puzzles with penguins in them. I love to bring mini puzzles for the people I meet on the cruise so we can enjoy them together. Last summer I took a cruise from Greenland to Alaska and left puzzles with the communities there, since entertainment isn't as varied because of how isolated they are.
Do you have anything you want to share?
Follow along with my puzzling journey on my Instagram :)