Website Designed by Det. Barry Frost

Games We Play

Published December 26, 2012 | By Angela

Welcome back to “That Very Special Relationship,” my series of blog posts exploring the relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild. One of my readers recently wrote in:

Dear Angela,

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog! It's my fave! I was wondering: What are some activities that you would recommend I do with my grandchildren? (They're coming to visit me three weeks from now.)

Josephine DiChiaria

Hi, Josephine. So

glad you asked! I love the activities that allow for

a lot of one-on-one face time. With my grandchildren, I look forward to playing card games. I just know they will love playing Gin Rummy. Card games will help me teach them long-lasting lessons about being a good sport and always playing fair. And it will allow us

to bond over a shared interest.

Looking for other activity suggestions? Here are five:

  1. Paint watercolor portraits.
  2. Set up a lemonade stand.
  3. Build a birdhouse.
  4. Teach him or her how to play marbles.
  5. Stare at clouds.
zp8497586rq
Posted in That Very Special Relationship | Tagged , , , , ,

First Grandmas!

Published December 19, 2012 | By Angela

Welcome back to “That Very Special Relationship,” my series of blog posts exploring the relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild. One of my readers recently wrote in:

Dear Angela,

Here's my question: We hear all the time about the First Lady and her children. Has there ever been a First Grandma?

George

Hi, George! Thanks for your question. The answer is yes! There is a long history of grandparents living in the White House. Ulysses S. Grant's father-in-law lived in the White House, as did Woodrow Wilson's mother-in-law and Harry S. Truman's mother-in-law.

According to the U.S. Census, at least 5.7 million American grandparents live in the same home with their grandchildren. We should all be so lucky!

Though I

am not the First Lady and none of my children are the President of the United States, I would love to live with my kids and grandkids one day. Of course, my daughter Jane still lives in a so-so one-bedroom apartment by herself, but I think she's finally coming around buy viagra no prescription

to the idea of settling down. There are several young men in her life who would make wonderful fathers. If only she would choose one already! ( … And trust me. I know a thing or two about what makes a good husband. Maybe if my ex hadn't been a two-timing louse, I wouldn't be spending my golden years breaking my back as a waitress.)

Anyhow. There are a number of reasons why I believe it makes sense to have different generations living under the same roof. Nowadays, lots of women work outside of the home, and instead of paying a stranger to take care of your children, why not have family do it? Who's better equipped to raise my grandchildren than me?! Also, I can do chores around the house like light cleaning and cooking. All I really need is a small bedroom. I could even live in the children's room until they are a little older! And if a dinner invitation comes up unexpectedly? You've always got a babysitter on hand if Grandma is at home. You may not live in the White House, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be treated like First Grandma!

zp8497586rq
Posted in That Very Special Relationship | Tagged , , , ,

Organic Shmorganic

Published December 12, 2012 | By Angela

Welcome back to “That Very Special Relationship,” my series of blog

posts exploring the relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild. Another one of my readers recently wrote in:

Dear Angela,

Terrific blog! My granddaughter Jessenia is coming to stay with me next weekend. Her mother insists on an 8:30pm bedtime and only organic food. At Grandma's house, do I have to enforce the same rules? ;-)

Lorena G.

Hi, Lorena! Great question. Parents are parents. And grandmothers are grandmothers! If, for instance, my daughter Jane had a daughter—let's just call her Rosie—then when Rosie came over to my house, Rosie would have to follow Grandma's rules, not her mother's rules. I'd be allowed to give Rosie candy. I'd be allowed to let Ro

sie watch an extra hour of television. And I'd be allowed to

play board games with Rosie until the wee hours. That's just what grandmas were made for!

I remember the first time that Jane had a sleepover at her Grandma's house. Jane was so excited. My mother took Jane on the Orange Line from the North End to Chinatown and let Jane order whatever she wanted! And when they got home, Jane and her grandmother drank hot chocolate and played chess until late. Well, I heard about that sleepover for weeks! In comparison to Grandma, I felt like the evil stepmother from a fairy tale! My own mother had showed me up! And Jane kept talking about how Grandma's house was the best! But that's when I realized: It's all part of the job description … Grandmas don't have to follow the rules!

zp8497586rq
Posted in That Very Special Relationship

Forming the Bond

Published December 5, 2012 | By Angela

Welcome back to “That Very Special Relationship,” my series of blog posts exploring the relationship between a grandmother and

her grandchild. One of my readers recently wrote in:

Dear Angela,

I love your blog! Here's my question: It seems like my grandson Josh is always busy playing video games! He just doesn't seem interested in me. What can I do to form a closer relationship with him?

Jenny

Hi, Jenny! Thank you for your question! Kids sure do love their video games. Well, it may seem like you just can't compete, but guess what? You've already

won! You are Josh's grandmother!

I remember when Jane was a little girl. She was always so interested in sports. My buy cialis mother hardly knew what to do with this little tomboy! So they started with jump rope. (Jane did love to jump … She became a star in track and field in high school.) Well, they had a ball and were out on the sidewalk playing until dark. Then, the next time, my mother started teaching Jane how to play chess (my mother had learned how to play from her grandfather). Before we knew it, Jane didn't want to jump rope or watch sports, she just wanted to play chess with Grandma!

zp8497586rq
Posted in That Very Special Relationship | Tagged , , ,

The Importance of Grandmothers

Published November 28, 2012 | By Angela

Everyday, customers come into the Division 1 Café and order something to eat … but I know that sometimes, they need more than just food. So as I pour them a cup of coffee, I ask them how they're doing. Customers usually love to talk about their families. (And why not? For many people, family is the most important thing. It is for me.) So, out come the baby photos, the Communion pictures, the Sweet 16s. I LOVE them all! When customers talk about the people they love,

it

makes them feel better, and that's the point! But the photos I love the mos

t are the photos that grandparents show me of their grandchildren. For me, the relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild is a very, very special bond. It's a simple relationship. It's a loving link made up of respect and caring. And when it's time for Grandma to go home, she goes home! L.O.L.! This relationship (if you are lucky enough to have grandchildren) is a way for everyone to see the importance of family and the passing on of traditions.

Do you have a special grandchild in your life? What traditions will you pass on?

zp8497586rq
Posted in That Very Special Relationship | Tagged , , ,

Grown Kids

Published August 15, 2012 | By Angela

There are times when I miss having little kids at home. I hate to admit just how much I loved being a mom of little kids. It was great when they depended

on me to guide, counsel or chastise. When they needed me to reassure them everything was going to be okay, when they needed a friend, a hot fudge sundae or just a hug from mom. The good ol' days.

Now, my children are adults.

Grown children are an entirely different story – you'd be surprised just how much they react and respond to things just like their younger selves, only now they have to 'prove' they're adult enough to handle what life throws at th

em. It's funny, most of the time.

I can almost predict what each child – er, excuse me, each adult child will do when presented with something they don't have a ready answer to.

Jane, my oldest, will complain, make wise cracks and solve the problem. My middle son will look to his big sister for guidance before making a decision, and the youngest … well, let's just say the youngest still has difficulty making the right choices.

Still, I'm grateful that they're all relatively happy, and still trying to live their lives to the fullest. What more can a mom ask for? Except grandchildren!

zp8497586rq
Posted in Divorce After 50 | Tagged , ,

Time for Vacation!

Published August 15, 2012 | By Angela

One of my favorite parts of work is … when I don't have to do it, A.K.A. VACATION! Now, I know that a vacation with your coworkers does not sound like a vacation at all, but when you work with your family, you don't have much of a choice.

I'm not saying that a family vacation is work, but as I've blogged before, each member of the family has their strengths and weaknesses. So when it comes time to go on vacation, certain people should be in charge of the planning, and other people should not.

I'm usually in charge of the planning. I'm the one who decides where we go, where we stay, and what we eat. The men in the family are in charge of carrying the luggage. And if unforeseen circumstances arise, it is always good to

have them on call!

One vacation in particular comes to mind. It was 1991, and we were down in Florida. We were just settling into the hotel room. There was a little kitchenette in the corner, and Tommy went over and turned on the faucet. Suddenly, water started shooting out of the pipe from under the sink! Tommy started yelling at the top of his lungs, and before we knew it, we were all standing in an inch of water. The Rizzolis did not miss a beat. Before I could call the front desk, Tommy ran to get a bucket. Frank and his father wrapped a

towel around the leaking joint. And Jane followed the pipe to the main valve and shut it off. Whew! Those were a long five minutes, but the Rizzolis rallied, as usual. Our hotel could not have dreamed of better

guests!

zp8497586rq
Posted in The Family Business | Tagged , , ,

My Identity

Published August 1, 2012 | By Angela

Who am I? How did I get here? How many times have you asked yourself those questions? How many times has a life-altering event changed everything you know about yourself?

Hopefully, not many, but for the events that shake everything up, you've got to put your big girl panties on. And wear a belt – don't want 'em to fall down during a crisis.

I see myself in the mirror every day … see what time has placed on my face, and I'm not scar

ed – okay, I'm a

little fearful about what's ahead, but I know who I am. I'm tough – I gave birth to three kids with no drugs, this I know. I'm capable, on most days confident, and I like to look on the bright side of things.

That's not so bad, right?

So, when I start asking myself those pesky little questions about how I got here, who am I …

? I just tell myself, I'm here because I want to be here, and that's okay.

zp8497586rq
Posted in Divorce After 50 | Tagged ,

Cold Cuts

Published August 1, 2012 | By Angela

If you are an organic health nut, you might want to skip this installment of “Buon Appetito” (Dr. Isles, if you are reading this, that includes you). This blog entry is all about Italian deli cold cuts, and if you don't like cold cuts or think they're bad for you, well then – save it! (Everything in moderation I always say. Besides, what good is life if you can't have a slice of salami once in a while?) Now, besides being delicious, cold cuts have a very special place in my heart because I've eaten them at nearly every important event in my life – whether it was a wedding, a birthday, an anniversary, a holiday … you get the point. In fact, after I gave birth to Jane, I was lying in the hospital bed and the only thing I could think about was a “Joe DiMaggio” sandwich (cotechini, hard salami, hot capicola, and provolone) from the Mona Lisa Deli. So that's what my ex-husband went out and got me and

I ate – while he held Jane!

Posted in Buon Appetito | Tagged , , ,

Starting Over

Published July 25, 2012 | By Angela

When I was a younger woman, I used to think about my future a lot. Usually in terms of being a wife and mom. Once I had those jobs, I loved every single thing about them. Taking care of people is something I know how to do, and do well. It made me feel good, needed.

I really didn't consider the possibilities of my kids getting older and leaving home, or the fact my husband would some day no longer want to be married. Once

those re

alities became my reality, I had to start over and change the way I valued myself, looked at the world and where I now fit in.

I'm making some progress. I work outside the home now, feeding people. Something I've always enjoyed. And while I still don't have all the answers, I'm closer to where I was say

a year ago. And that makes me feel good, stronger. Starting over, once you get past the fear, can be a good thing.

zp8497586rq
Posted in Divorce After 50 | Tagged ,
← Older posts

ABOUT

Welcome to "Angela's Café & Crime Blog"! My name is Angela Rizzoli, and I work at the Division 1 Café, located in the lobby of the Boston Police Department headquarters. I am a recent divorceé and the proud mother of three: Detective Jane Rizzoli, Officer Frankie Rizzoli, and Tommy Rizzoli.

View Complete Profile

FOLLOW US

RSS Feed



Fatal error: Call to undefined method s2class_upgrade::get_usermeta_keyname() in /home/division1cafe/division1cafe.com/wp-content/plugins/subscribe2/classes/class-s2-upgrade.php on line 292