http://clarkcountydiva.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Elizabeth Madrigal en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:38:26 GMT 2010-01-08T07:38:26Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977962140 It isn’t until Thanksgiving that we start celebrating the holidays in earnest. As we hang holiday wreaths, string our banisters with evergreen swaths, decorate Christmas trees or polish the silver . . . Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:45:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977962140 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-12-24T21:45:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977943073 After a certain age there is nothing we feel the need to prove. We are who we are... that is until we go home for the holidays.  As we bring our improved selves to family gatherings, some of us . . . Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:20:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977943073 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-12-11T21:20:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977890086 Hello friends.  It has been a while since I posted anything new, but this morning I had to share an experience.  Twitter, of course, is for those people who can say meaningful things in 140 . . . Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:28:12 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977890086 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-11-07T18:28:12Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977681604 Lately I have spent a lot of time feeling grateful for the people in my life.  So many encouraged me when I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue a new career.  I am going into the non-profit . . . Sun, 17 May 2009 21:22:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977681604 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-05-17T21:22:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977648222 As the Christian world readies itself for extra masses, spiritual observance and ultimately glorious celebration during Easter Week, the concepts of charity and forgiveness seem to be missing in Florida. . . . Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:39:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977648222 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-04-06T21:39:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977646829 While visiting family in the Northeast I discovered a cultural and culinary warp when I found myself sandwiched between the white bread and flour tortillas.  Yes, my friends, the Land of Essex . . . Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:31:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977646829 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-04-05T22:31:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977642204 Everyday someone tells red meat eaters how we are going to die a grisly death.  Colon cancer, heart disease, diabetes... the list is endless.  Hence there is no peace for the committed carnivore.  . . . Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:35:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977642204 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-03-31T05:35:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977619654 Ye of little faith, shame on you. Still don't believe in miracles? Look around you. Have you noticed a rose bush in bloom? The sun rise and set? The taste of a garden tomato or the power of art?  . . . Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:45:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977619654 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-03-10T18:45:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977612430 The horrible part about getting older is that we rarely can use the excuse, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't know ."  Yes, my dear compatriots, general aging has an inflated price-tag . . . Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:32:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977612430 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-03-02T23:32:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977609073 A few months ago I noticed a site, http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/news/pr/RadioAds.asp , that thrilled this lapsed Catholic.  On it I discovered that there were many Roman Catholics like me . . . Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:56:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977609073 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-02-28T00:56:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977608960 Yes, I'll say it again.  My son, Alexis Madrigal. I make no attempt to claim objectivity here.  It is every parent's right to blatantly brag about their children's accomplishments.  . . . Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:24:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977608960 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-02-27T20:24:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977607018 Last night as I listened to President Obama outline his plan for the impending Great American Recovery, I was entranced, inspired, saddened, proud, called out and most of all, hopeful .  Of course, . . . Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:51:44 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977607018 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-02-26T02:51:44Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977596677 Last night I dreamt that my namesake, the Queen of England, had invited my family to the next coronation.  Prince Charles, by the way, was suspiciously absent.  Anyway, we arrived at Windsor . . . Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:21:50 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977596677 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-02-16T20:21:50Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977593739 I suspected that if my title was 'Middle-aged woman vicariously living through, while spying ,on children',  many might find this post rather unappealing.  I couldn't help myself.  . . . Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:14:48 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977593739 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-02-13T20:14:48Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977576719 It may have started with the neighbor lady five houses down.  She had some of the loveliest gladiolas, camelias and irises I have ever seen,  but it is her roses I still remember fondly.  . . . Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:48:55 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977576719 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-01-27T23:48:55Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977565264 Hello everyone.  I am shamelessly promoting my daughter's new blog, It's Easy Eating Green , and invite you to 'taste' one post on an incredibly delicious Mexican-themed recipe . . . Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:07:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977565264 Elizabeth Madrigal 2009-01-16T20:07:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977541920 Rarely do I find the mainstream culture reflecting what I believe, as I get a little out there sometimes.  Maybe not up to a Woo-Woo level, but when I am feeling particularly desperate I have been . . . Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:26:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977541920 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-12-21T22:26:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977541497 We are planning a central Mexican (gourmet) cooking fest over the holidays when the family gathers, so in preparation I have been perusing Diana Kennedy's fantastic (and very authentic) Mexican cookbooks.  . . . Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:13:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977541497 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-12-21T06:13:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977538372 This post isn't for those thrifty, efficient people who started buying presents back in August during the first series of sales, but for My People .  You know who you are.  December 17th . . . Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:29:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977538372 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-12-17T22:29:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977533109 Feeling sorry for myself isn't really my style, although lately it has been a challenge to remember that.  So here is my gratitude list today. First of all I have a new grandchild on the . . . Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:26:45 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977533109 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-12-12T05:26:45Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977531776 Lately don't you need somebody, even a stranger, to tell you everything is going to be all right?  I know I do. Every day there is some other crisis of even grander proportions that completely . . . Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:41:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977531776 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-12-10T21:41:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977529608 There are few things that could terrify me more than designation as an 'Enemy Combatant' by our current administration, but China's current detention policies almost rival ours.  They . . . Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:04:24 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977529608 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-12-08T22:04:24Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977522104 Greed is a character defect to which most of us would rather not admit, but it is a part of human nature.  Hence we are all potential con victims.  We all have heard the quote, if it sounds . . . Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:34:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977522104 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-12-01T00:34:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977505850 Normally I do not follow fashion with anything other than a mild curiosity.  New England bred, I would choose to be over-dressed rather than under, but I now live in the Northwest.  With ten . . . Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:04:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977505850 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-11-13T18:04:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977504127 Am I just that much brighter than other people?  More specifically, let me address this question to the current administration's economists. When I watched Alan Greenspan's cratered . . . Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:28:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977504127 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-11-11T21:28:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977498282 It is probably not real for me yet, as I am still feeling that first stage of grief, disbelief.  A blogger on Huffington Post put it very succinctly.  Paraphrased he said, 'Democrats are . . . Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:10:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977498282 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-11-05T08:10:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977496642 Yes, that was the first thing I read this morning in the New York Times, courtesy of Douglas MacKinnon, a man who lives in an alternative universe. http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.c... Like . . . Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:58:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977496642 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-11-03T19:58:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977495776 This is Sunday and I cannot believe that in two more days I will actually have a life again.  The rain started pouring down here today - late for the northwest  where I live - and all I could . . . Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:46:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977495776 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-11-02T22:46:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977492455 My darling daughter called just before Obama's half hour infomercial.  "I hope he says everything right..." she almost whispered as her voice trailed off. "Of course, he . . . Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:01:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977492455 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-10-30T03:01:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977491375 My parents did not agree upon most things but politics were the exception. Fervent republicans, they proudly voted against John F. Kennedy and quietly gloated about it, even after his death.   They . . . Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:26:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977491375 Elizabeth Madrigal 2008-10-29T01:26:52Z