Author Archives: Ellen Ross

Ripley

… So four years ago, I was a member of a class action suit.  Publishers Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan and Penguin had settled several antitrust lawsuits about ebook prices that had been deemed too high.  Because I had bought … Continue reading

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Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Eskimo

This is a portrait of our dad, Ben Roffe.  It was drawn in 1940 by his bosom buddy, Bay Kaufman and he would have been twenty-one years old. Before Pearl Harbor. Before he met our mother. Before he dreamt of … Continue reading

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Posted in Father's Day, Fathers, Fathers and Daughters | 10 Comments

Gosh Darn It!

This post is dedicated to the memory of Anthony Bourdain.  A fellow writer and one cool cat.  He always knew how- and when- to swear.  RIP, man.  We will miss your honesty. When I was a kid, I never swore.  … Continue reading

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Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Best And Worst

…So the other night TBF was reminiscing about a day he spent playing hookey when he was about sixteen. His story reminded me of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off– if Ferris had grown up in Pittsburgh and had been more of … Continue reading

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Posted in Divorce, Marriage | 4 Comments

Happy Days

Does this sign make your mouth start to water?  Does it make you want to rev up your Bel Air Chevy and head on over? If so, make room on the bench seat for me. The warm weather is finally … Continue reading

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Posted in Chicago, Childhood, Drive Ins, food, Hamburgers | 8 Comments

Just Sign Here

JICYMI: That’s DJT and his one-time paramour- and now big headache- Stormy Daniels. Taken in happier (for him) days. JICYHBLUAR: (Translation: Just In Case You Have Been Living Under A Rock)  DJT did-or did not- give Stormy $130,000 in consideration … Continue reading

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Posted in Dating, pop culture | 6 Comments

Amy, I Beg To Differ

In case you don’t recognize her, that’s the Wicked Stepmother from Walt Disney’s Cinderella. When I saw the movie, Lady Tremaine’s cruel and unjust behavior toward poor Cinderella upset me terribly.  And naturally, the word “step-mother” became a hated and … Continue reading

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Posted in Divorce, Grandparents, Step-parents | 4 Comments

Bubbles

Happy Memorial Day Sunday, Dear Readers!  It’s great to be back from Boston to share this long holiday weekend with you. I had a wonderful time. TBF accompanied me and together we explored Beantown from the North End to the … Continue reading

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Posted in Grandchildren, Grandparents | 4 Comments

Seattle- One Bite At A Time

As you may know, Dear Readers, I love Seattle.  It’s one of my favorite cities.  My son and his family live there and I was just back in that neck of the Pacific North Woods to pay an early Mother’s … Continue reading

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Posted in food, Restaurants, Seattle | 8 Comments

Random Access Memory

Happy Mother’s Day, Dear Readers.  It’s great to be back from Seattle to celebrate this happy occasion with you all. In case you don’t recognize them, that’s Natasha and Nick (and a sculpture by Margot McMahon) in our back yard … Continue reading

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Posted in Mother's Day, Parenting | 3 Comments