Non-blogging grandmas like comments, too!

Here in the blogosphere, it's sometimes easy to forget that not all grandparents have blogs, that there are more grandparents out in the real world than the relative few represented online. Many of the grandmas I feature as grilled grandmas have websites of one sort or another, and I do love showcasing them and their sites, doing my little bit to promote the grandparenting presence on the web.

Yet Grilled Grandmas isn't only about grandmas who blog and tweet and Digg and Stumble. It's about all grandmas, whether they have a blog or not, all the fine women who make a difference in the lives of those around them, especially the lives of their grandchildren.

This week's Grilled Grandma, Sandy, is one of the latter, making a huge and happy difference in the lives of two wee ones named Liam and Mary. In describing her experience with her grandkids, Sandy also makes a difference in our lives, with the bits of wisdom she shared in thoughtful responses such as this:

"Grandkids are for having fun. Don’t sweat the small stuff like stains on your carpet or marks on your table. Those things are temporary but love is forever."

Read Grilled Grandma: Sandy for more words of wisdom from this week's featured grandma. Don't hesitate to leave her a comment while you're there, too. Even though comment love pales in comparison to the love she gets from Mary and Liam, sweet words from the Grandma's Briefs gang will surely warm Sandy's heart -- something folks in most parts of the country can certainly appreciate during our recent cold snap.

Holiday question of the day:

During the rush of the holiday season, which regular chore, activity, or discipline do you tend to neglect the most?

Triple G

Gabriele with Lou Ferrigno.Three reasons I adore this week's Grilled Grandma:

ONE: This long-distance grandma knows exactly how I feel. One example of her words that resonate to my very core:

"I try to be there for the big, important times, like birthdays and dances, holidays, etc. But to hear a knock at my door and have it be one of them, on just an ordinary day - would be a dream come true!"

TWO: She created what had to have been the most awesome raw food Thanksgiving feast ever!

THREE: The woman gets around. Folks wearing her exquisite hand painted designs run the gamut from Michelle Obama to Hilary Clinton to Nancy Grace to Paula Abdul, Kathy Smith and Lou Ferrigno to Harrison Ford, Joely Fisher and more.

Sound like an interesting woman? For sure!

And an incredible grandma? Without a doubt!

Meet Gabriele by reading Grilled Grandma: Gabriele (hence the Triple G post title). Then, get to know her better -- and view her beautiful artwork -- by clicking on the links to her blog and her website, noted at the end of her grilling. I have no doubt that you will adore her, too.

Holiday question of the day:

What has been the greatest blessing in your life since last Christmas?

Telling it like it is: This week's Grilled Grandma

This week's Grilled Grandma, Ellen, is straightforward, matter of fact, and to the point. And I love that, admire that. Mostly because I'm so not that way. I tend to take three times the verbiage necessary to get to the point of something, hemming and hawing all the way through.

So today I'm going to follow Ellen's lead and get right to the point. That point? Go check out Grilled Grandma: Ellen! It's worth it. Her words are worth it. Her photos are worth it. She's worth it. And a visit to her blog is worth it, too.

(How'd I do? Straightforward enough?)

Today is Dec. 1 and for the month of December I'll be posting holiday-themed daily questions. Some of the questions will come from holiday books or games I have, some of the questions will be made up. To kick things off, here is today's:

Holiday question of the day:

If you could magically return to Christmastime at any previous age, what age would you return to and why?

This ain't no turkey

While many have turkeys on the brain -- brining, roasting, deep-frying (or sculpting, as one healthy and amazingly creative grandma I know recently did) -- I'm leaving the turkey roasting to Megan this time around and grilling up a grandma instead. Just for the sake of the blog, of course.

This week's Grilled Grandma, Janet, is another of those huge-hearted grandparents who went through raising children and is now raising a few of the children of those children. It's a challenge I can't begin to fathom, but Janet -- and so many other grandparents in the same situation -- rise to the challenge and seem to focus primarily on the many perks of the position: the daily hugs, smiles, laughs they wouldn't otherwise have been privy to.

Check out Grilled Grandma: Janet to find out who she's raising, how she does it, what makes her smile and more. Be sure to leave her a comment to let her know you stopped by, too.

Also, if you know of a grandma who's ripe for grilling, don't hesitate to let me know. All I need is her first name and e-mail address and I'll do the rest. I'm a good griller that way. Far better at grilling grandmas than I am at deep-frying -- or sculpting -- turkeys!

Today's question:

What's on your mind today? What's making you happy, mad, joyous or sad ... or all of the above?

Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road

One of the interesting things about being a grandmother is that you have this feeling -- or at least I do -- that you're going through the grandparenting phase in a vacuum, with few others who know exactly how you feel, few others who think and do exactly as you do. I often think I surely must be the only one in the world so totally in love with my grandchild, so consumed with the desire to do and be the very best that I can be, for my kids, for my grandkids. Do you other grandmas feel that way, or is it just me?

This week's Grilled Grandma, Vicki, makes it clear that it's not just me, that my experience is one shared by many grandmas. The majority of Vicki's responses to my Grilled Grandma questions resonate and replicate what I think I might say ... and think ... and feel if I were answering such questions.

Read Grilled Grandma: Vicki to see if you agree and to learn great things about this special grandma ... who's so much like you ... so much like me.

Just gotta say: These Grilled Grandma profiles continually underscore that we grandmas are more alike than we are different. Clearly, when it comes to grandparenting, we're not alone. We walk this road together. And I love that.

I hope you do, too.

Today's question:

It's a Hump Day Free-for-All! What's on YOUR mind today?

Grilled Grandma/Hump Day Free-For-All

Grandmas share a deep, dark secret, one most of us don't like to admit to, one we hope others never learn. We're a little ashamed of it, but we can't help ourselves. This week's Grilled Grandma, Laura, has no qualms about admitting it, though.

What might that secret be? As Laura reveals in her grilling: "I'm not very good at sharing."

Now, Laura's not talking about sharing shoes or dessert or driving duty on long road trips. No, she's talking about sharing her grandchild ... with the "other grandma."

I'm willing to bet my briefs that's the case with most grandmas. It's certainly the case with me, and I applaud Laura for admitting out loud something I struggle with in secret. (Well, sort of in secret. I'm not that great at keeping such things secret, I've been told.)

I applaud Laura for lots of other reasons, too. She's a brave and interesting woman and you'll learn much about her in Grilled Grandma: Laura. But there's far more to her than what she lets on in her replies to my questions, so be sure to visit her blog -- which she's been writing for about SIX YEARS now -- to get the full story on Laura. It's a good one! You'll find the link to her blog at the bottom of her grilling.

As I've done the past few Wednesdays, today is yet another Hump Day Free-For-All when it comes to comments. What that means is you can let loose on anything that's on your mind. And today, the day after Election Day, you just might have lots on your mind, lots to let loose. Maybe? Let's hear it!

Today's question:

What's on your mind today -- good, bad, happy, sad, snarky, sweet or silly?

Dishin' and a grillin'

Wednesdays are made for grilling up grandmas and dishing up whatever's on your minds. In other words, today I give you the next Grilled Grandma and the Hump Day Free-for-All.

This week's Grilled Grandma is Camella. Besides having all kinds of wonderful things to say about grandmahood, Camella shares the most precious of photos of two little girls with some of the best little girl names I've heard of in a long time: Althea Clare and Dorie Jean. Sounds like perfect names for a picture book duo. Coming from a grandma with the lovely name of Camella, I'm not surprised by the unique names bestowed upon her sweet granddaughters.

Read about Camella, Althea Clare and Dorie Jean in Grilled Grandma: Camella. Don't be shy in leaving this special lady comments while you're there.

Next up is the Hump Day Free-for-All, where you can spout anything and everything that's on your mind today. Have at it, ladies! Cut loose and comment!

Happy Wednesday!

Today's question:

What's on your mind today? Confessions? Complaints? Compliments? Do dish -- we'd love to hear it!