Anne Marie Rosado

Solitary Refinement grew from closely observing demanding neighbors: superficial people armed with vicious, gossip-heavy conversation; morning driveway divas gathering with alcohol-infused coffees; gaggles of one-uppers congregating at the country club and golf course; and the cult-de-sac patrol zealously hunting for violations of the covenants and restrictions. Those scenes, voices, and little power plays became the…

People ask about the origin of my storylines and if the characters are modeled after real people. While ideas are often borne of creativity, they’re generally shaped by life experience. Not factual accounts, but a fusion of people, personality quirks, places, and events that meld together to create narratives. And in the case of fictional…

My paternal grandmother was a hard-edged soul and from a young age, adversity was etched into her daily life. Although she bore the weight of the world, giving up was not an option. “We’ve got stickability,” she’d say with regularity. By the time I came along, my grandmother was aged and worn down by a…

The thought of cartwheeling into bed fully dressed has its appeal. But I opt for the more responsible choice of washing my face, brushing my teeth, and putting on pajamas. This nighttime ritual is performed in haste, for taking too long has consequences. My dogs are needy but responsible for their own inner peace. As…

I arrive at Costco as soon as they open. Because bananas figure prominently at the top of my list, I immediately head to the produce section. With great trepidation, I cautiously round the corner as the yellow fruit comes into view. Surprisingly, no one is loitering in front of the bananas. With a full and…

Nothing says summer fun like driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic as millions of travelers hit the open road. Nothing says “I live in a vacation mecca” more than sitting in gridlock with gawking sightseers, returning snowbirds, and established residents just trying to make it through the day without incident. Preparing for my trip, I’ve packed all…

459 years ago, William Shakespeare was born. Brilliant poet, playwright, and actor. Bard of Avon. Bane of my existence. Shakespeare used Iambic pentameter in many of his sonnets and plays. The very thought gives me a headache. I was taught that you’re either a starry-eyed Shakespeare fan, or you politely pretend to enjoy his writings.…

Is it a coincidence that the acronym BM stands for both Belgian Malinois and Bowel Movement? I think not. The Malinois is a working breed and can power through pain for a very long time. This includes tummy trouble. Here at base camp Maligator, we operate on the theory of Fig Newton’s Law: What goes…