Author Archives
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STORM STORIES – BY ELLIN CURLEY
There are many interesting storm stories in my family history, starting with my Mom as a young woman. Sometime in the mid-1940s, before she married my dad, my mom and her friend Ethie were staying at my father’s summer house… Read More ›
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UNDERSTANDING DEMOCRACY STARTS EARLY – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I never thought that parenting practices could have a direct effect on the health and functionality of our democracy, yet that was the thesis of an article in the Sunday New York Times (Sept. 1, 2018). The article, by Jonathan Haidt… Read More ›
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FINALLY, THE ELECTION IS HERE! By BY ELLIN CURLEY
I became a news junky around the time that Donald Trump began his campaign for President in 2015 because I felt he was an existential threat to our government and to our society. I didn’t know the half of it!… Read More ›
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THE COVID PSYCHE – By ELLIN CURLEY
Covid 19 has changed me, or at least the Covid lifestyle has changed me, on a deep level. First let me explain that I am in the high risk population for Covid. I’m over 70, I have only one kidney… Read More ›
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ARE ANTI-MASKERS NARCISSISTS? — by ELLIN CURLEY
We all know by now that Trump is a malignant narcissist. He’s an anti-masker. He’s anti social-distancing. He downplays the danger and severity of Coronavirus even though he has had it himself. He makes fun of people who are responsible… Read More ›
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THINGS THAT GO BUMP, THE EPILOGUE – By ELLIN CURLEY
I recently wrote a blog called “Things That Go Bump In The Night”, documenting our search for an invisible rodent making noises and leaving acorns in and around our bedroom. Last night we saw him! He ran across the kitchen… Read More ›
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THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I live in the woods so I’m no stranger to the little woodland creatures I share real estate with. So when I entered my bedroom the other night, I wasn’t totally surprised to see that something was off. A vase… Read More ›
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ALCOHOL ABUSE AND PRIVILEGE – ELLIN CURLEY
Since Brett Kavanagh, the Supreme Court nominee, now Justice, has been in the news, so have discussions about excessive drinking among teenagers. Apparently, there are studies that show that rich, privileged teenagers are more likely to abuse alcohol. An article… Read More ›
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DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENTS – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I’ve recently read two interesting memoirs about mind bogglingly horrific parents who were both malignant narcissists and bat shit crazy. Despite horrible, abusive behavior, the two children who wrote their memoirs spent a good part of their adult lives trying… Read More ›
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CAPPUCCINOS CAME TO TOWN By ELLIN CURLEY
I live in Easton, Connecticut, a small town of about 8,000 people. We are proud of our rural, suburban character and our many acres of protected fields and woods. Many of us cling to our strict residential only zoning laws… Read More ›
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FAMILY TOLL OF BIPOLAR DISORDER – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I never paid much attention to the Kardashian family and I certainly never thought I had anything in common with them. But now I suddenly have a connection with Kim Kardashian – we have both experienced the chaos of life… Read More ›
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LIFE AS AN EXTROVERTED INTROVERT – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I learned a new phrase recently, ‘extroverted introvert.’ I’d never heard it before but I instantly recognized that it applied to me and even explained some things about myself that had always puzzled me. I have extrovert qualities but at… Read More ›
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TORNADO WARNINGS By ELLIN CURLEY
I live in southern Connecticut, an area usually immune from extreme weather events. We get an occasional hurricane, usually the tail end as a storm meanders up the Atlantic coast. Occasionally, it’s a serious one — like Hurricane Sandy in… Read More ›
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SERVICE DOGS FOR VETERANS By ELLIN CURLEY
I’ve always been fascinated by service dogs. I can barely get my dogs to sit, stay and come on command. So the idea that dogs can be trained to do complex tasks for the disabled seems like a miracle to… Read More ›
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THE FREEDOM TO BE SELFISH – BY ELLIN CURLEY
So what is the problem with the anti-maskers? I understand that many of them believe that the entire Coronavirus is a hoax or a greatly exaggerated hype to sully Trump’s sterling reputation and political fortunes. But why are they arguing… Read More ›
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TRUMP MAKES ME MEAN – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I don’t consider myself a mean spirited or a vindictive person. I avoid conflicts with others and I don’t think about revenge when someone slights me. My friends and family consider me a nice, decent, even sweet person. I even… Read More ›
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DOGGY DISCRIMINATION – BY ELLIN CURLEY
The TSA uses about 1200 dogs at airports to screen passengers and baggage. These dogs are from seven breeds, two of which have pointy ears, including German Shepherds. But four out of five of the recent additions to the canine… Read More ›
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MUSINGS ON TIME – BY ELLIN CURLEY
Recently I’ve been more aware of the passage of time in several different ways. Since quarantine began, every morning when I look in the mirror and start brushing my teeth, I think, “I remember yesterday morning when I did the… Read More ›
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HOW THE DISCOVERY OF GERMS CHANGED SOCIETY – BY ELLIN CURLEY
In ancient societies, people thought diseases were caused by an imbalance of body fluids or by angry Gods. Centuries later, scientists suspected that illnesses might be transmitted through air or water but they weren’t sure how. Then, in the mid-19th… Read More ›
SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 