In This Corner: Sherman the Shredder

Not much to report on behalf of the dogs this week; they've been surprisingly quiet. I can't decide whether it's the sudden increase in temperature — we went from low 50s F to mid-70s and rising — or Sherman's having yet another growth spurt and the other three are taking advantage of the brief calm.

Which is not to say the week has been without incident. A few bicyclists have been lunged, a few plants have been broken, a few saucers punctured — but all outside, thankfully. (We don't get many bicyclists indoors.) And of course, we've had the weekly Repairing of the Plush ritual.

Sherman has several plush toys — some purchased for him, some commandeered from his siblings — but his favorites are a flock of ducks and one no-longer-recognizable hedgehog.

Actually, maybe "favorites" is the wrong term; maybe they're really the ones he likes the least, because apparently Sherm has decided it's his mission to disembowel each and every one of them. Repeatedly. It usually goes something like this:

Cary: "Sherman, what are you doing? Sherman. Don't you shred that duck; don't you —"

(sound of fabric ripping)

Cary: "Sherman, goddamnit! Look at the mess your mother has to clean up!"

After he's shredded three or four plush, I restuff and stitch them up as best as I care to, then return them to the dogs' toy bin. But within minutes, Sherman's ripped one open again and is happily frolicking in the fluffy white goodness he's liberated.

I would get mad at him, but they ARE dog toys and we DID give them to him, and if they keep him from shredding my Teddy bears, well, I guess they're worth the extra effort. Now if I can just hold that thought as I tackle the next round of mending...