Category Archives: Memoir

Klara’s Riddle

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Ellen Ross

Do you like riddles? I do. I like codes and puzzles and anagrams and acrostics- any kind of brain teaser. And one day, my housekeeper, Klara, told me a good one. Here it is… Klara is Polish. She was … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Memoir | 20 Comments

Cover Girl

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Ellen Ross

First a quick Superbowl Shout Out: Congratulations to John Elway, Peyton Manning and my adopted home team of the Denver Broncos on their victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday. Yeah! I wore orange all last Sunday. (It’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, hobbies, Memoir, Movies, pop culture, Stamp collecting | 8 Comments

Special Delivery

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Ellen Ross

Last week, it was colder here in Chicago than it was in Siberia. (You know it’s cold when Lincoln Park Zoo keeps their polar bear, Anana, inside.) And as the temperature plummeted to a nippy eight below zero, my thoughts … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, pop culture | 6 Comments

GK

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Ellen Ross

In case you don’t know, that nice guy smiling in the picture above is my brother Kenny. He’s sitting with his two granddaughters. Eliza is the spunky brunette with the peanut and Susannah is the natural blonde swigging the Diet … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, pop culture | 10 Comments

Sister Wives

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Ellen Ross

It occurs to me that nowadays, if a man is rich enough, he doesn’t have to be a Mormon to have plural wives. Splitting hairs (and heirs) on the technicalities, if any guy can afford the divorce attorneys, alimony and … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, pop culture | 6 Comments

Andy

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Ellen Ross

I have been re-reading Scott Elledge’s great biography of the even-greater E.B. “Andy” White. White, as I’m sure you know, wrote for “The New Yorker” and “Harper’s” magazines. He was also a dedicated farmer and livestock keeper, an avid sailor, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Dogs, Memoir, Tributes | 12 Comments

For The Record

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Ellen Ross

Author’s Note: This post is dedicated to my friend Rickey Freeman. BIG vinyl collector. In the immortal words of Duke Ellington, “I love you madly.” Happy 2014, everyone. This new year I’m all about Spotify. You know, the mobile app … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Music, pop culture, Tributes | 26 Comments

Resolution

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Ellen Ross

I’ve never much cared about New Year’s Eve. It’s always been kind of a non-holiday for me. In fact, as I thought about this post and tried hard to conjure up a memorable one, I was rather stymied. I did … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, pop culture | 8 Comments

St. Nick

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Ellen Ross

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM ELBA ANNOUNCEMENT: I am taking Thursday, December 26 off, you guys. Let’s just call it a mini Christmas vacay. (Or I’m celebrating Boxing Day. Or Kwanzaa.) In any case, I’ll see you all back here next Sunday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir | 14 Comments

“Oh yeah. You blend.”

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Ellen Ross

If you don’t recognize the quote in the title of today’s post instantly, let me help you out. It’s a line of dialogue from one of my all-time favorite movies, 1992’s My Cousin Vinny- played with fantastic comic gusto by the inimitable Joe … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Movies, pop culture | 10 Comments