Sid's top 11 most favorite dog toys

Well — actually this is a list of all of Sid’s toys. Nicely cataloged here in case an insurance claim is needed or burglers thieve away what Sid considers valuable in the middle of the night. (Every noise heard outside is presumed to be these burglers and Sid barks loudly to scare them away.)

The important qualities Sid looks for in his toys are durability and chew-ability. And bonus points if it has a squeaker! They must taste good after multiple chewings and hold up to constant tug of wars without loosing parts. So far the following have stood the test of time.

1.Purple Lizard
Sid won this at Pug-O-Ween with his Yoda costume.

2.Tennis Ball
Fun to chase and squeaks when bitten. It gets hidden often though, due to incessant squeaking whilst chomping.

3.Mr. Hopkins Greenfrog
Definitely one of Sid’s favorites. Mr. Greenfrog is the victim of many attempts to rip is limbs off in tug of war.

4.Purple Chomper
A favorite for fetch. Like a football, it bounces in random directions when it lands and is easy to grab on the run.
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Top Ten Old School PBS "Do It Yourself" Shows

1. Bob Ross — “The Joy of Painting”
The king of painting shows, everyone is instantly familiar with this afro-wearing, Demerol-voiced squirrel lover. Reminding us that here, “We don’t make mistakes, we make happy little accidents.” And ending each show with “I’d like to wish you happy painting, and God bless my friend,” with his little hand-flutter wave.

I always thoroughly enjoyed Ross’s show (although I’d get irritated by the 5 minute segments of him cooing at a squirrel or baby deer.) Get back to your art, damn it! Anyone who’s ever tried to paint has done their best to emulate Ross’s style at least once. My early acrylics were an attempt at this, though with not nearly as nice a result.

Links: BobRoss.com, Wikipedia — Bob Ross, IMDb — The Joy of Painting

2. Norm Abram — “The New Yankee Workshop”
The woodworking icon. Tim Allen’s co-host, Al, on “Tooltime” wore flannel because Norm did first. (Is there anything else in his closet?) It didn’t matter because he taught us the fundamentals of fine woodworking and how easy it all is when you have the best tool for the job. “And remember this. There is no other more important safety rule… [Norm points to his glasses.] …than to wear THESE… safety glasses…”

I think my favorite Saturday morning indulgence, I’d watch Norm’s show like a baptist watching the 700 Club. My own motley collection of childhood Craftsman and Dremel power tools were no match for Norm’s Deltas or Milwaukees, but I did my best and certainly learned what to have in my dream-list. Lucky to grow up with a very handy woodworking Dad and excellent shop teachers, I put their tools, my own and Norm’s teachings to good use and churned out many projects from 2x4’s and scrap wood. And now that I’ve acquired that dream-list of tools, Norm’s knowledge and the right materials — the sky’s the limit.

Links: The New Yankee Homepage, Wikipedia — Norm Abram,
IMDb — The New Yankee Workshop read more »

The Rules of Sid

1. Ham and/or Meatballs are the best substances on earth. They must be inhaled immediately until no further trace remains.
2. The white creature known as “the cat” must go up the stairs.
3. The back yard territory must be checked and re-marked on a schedule of at least once every fifteen minutes.
4. Tolerance of the small pink monkey known as “Mira” is required for now. Revenge shall be mine when I’ve grown bigger.
5. Chew on things only when the pink monkeys aren’t watching. Otherwise chew on sanctioned toys only.
6. Chewing on “the cat” is okay if no one is looking.
7. Chewing on my own genitalia is comforting and necessary for proper function.
8. Any movement outside must be brought to the attention of the pink monkeys by barking. This includes squirrels, birds, leaves, the neighbor and my own poo piles.
9. Anything found on the floor is edible and should be consumed before the pink monkeys discover it.
10. The “tail” is my nemesis and shall be destroyed once I catch it.
11. When the pink monkeys say, “Sid, no! Bad dog.” It means try again — harder.