Hi All, Thanks for the ... um ... spirited debate so far. I've been far too busy to respond to each of your messages. I'm very much a part-part-part-time gardener. I've learned a lot from your posts, however. I understand that there are no definitive answers, and every point of view has pros & cons. Part of my problem is that I'm not 100% sure on what I want and when I think I know what I want, I don't have the time or the money to get it done that way. Upon one of your advice, I had a local landscaper deliver a big load of mulch (for free), and started spreading that around a part of the yard. That seems like a good way to keep weeds down w/o using chemicals. I'm not particularly afraid of the chemicals' toxicity -- but all else being equal I'd prefer that fewer chemicals be manufactured and used. I also bought a Hound Dog Cultivator to give it a try, and as someone noted above, it doesn't work all that well on rocky soils like mine. If I could afford it, I'd probably buy a used tiller. But I can't. Nor do I have the space to store it. My 1-car garage is jam-packed. So, my plan right now is to spread mulch to keep weeds down, and once I figure out what to do w/ a particular part of the yard, clear the mulch and plant stuff there. Thanks all, and if you're in/near San Diego, come right over and help me garden! There's a cold six pack and some hot dogs in it for ya.

I always hated getting that one back x-ray with the film. It always hurt. But I got through it. Now, they have digital x-rays. There is no film. It's a big plastic thing that has no give to it and hurts like heck. This thing made me cry. It was so painful. I could not even do it. And they kept trying and trying and it was cutting the bottom of my mouth. They made me feel really stupid and were very threatening because they said, well your insurance isn't going to cover it unless you take this x-ray. So here I am in the car crying and trying to find out if anybody else has this problem. Of course I should know by now that if I have a problem a lot of people have a problem. It's never just me. Has anyone experienced this digital x-ray bs? How do I get through this? I asked for a smaller one. they said they didn't have one. They only had one size. I said how can that be when everyone has different sized mouths?

The size of your dog doesn't matter as much as his chewing determination. My pointer chews much more aggressively than any of my 100+ lb dogs. I always buy the largest toys/bones/chews available. Don't make the mistake of buying small - especially with things like soup bones. Bigger is better. What kind of Nylabone did the dog destroy in minutes? In all my years, I have NEVER had a dog destroy a regular classic Nylabone - gummabones and dental chews, yes, but never a regular Nylabone. Here's an example of a regular Nylabone http://www.petedge.com/Flavored-Nylabones-TF178.pro I buy them in souper size for the 60 lb dog. For aggressive chewers, the Extreme Kong is great - I've NEVER seem a dog destroy one. The Classic Kong is pretty good - I have one that is 15 years old and it was still fine until the GSP started on it. He may have been OK with a newer one. They are pretty boring on their own, but I've never had a dog ignore a stuffed one. Working to remove the food, especially when it's the only food he is going to receive, should work. Plus, he'll be learning that toys aren't for tearing up. The Kong dental stick and dental jack are worthless - both broke into large pieces within minutes and they are only available in red. Kong treat balls (stuff-a-ball) were also quickly destroyed. The biscuit ball lasts longer, but still wasn't suitable. Air Kongs are glorified, expensive tennis balls and met the same fate as their cheaper brethren. Kong balls are nice and the dogs seem to especially enjoy the bounzer ball. Kongs supposedly have a replacement guarantee, but I wasn't particularly impressed with Kong's customer service after contacting them about the dental stix. Puptreads are made from recycled tires and have the advantage of being available at Walmart, Tractor Supply etc. Vigorous chewing did rough them up, but only small rice-sized pieces are missing. I have this particular one http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem-category-Ethical___Spot_Pup_Treads_Rubber_Bone_Dog_Toy_(6_Inch_H)_Dog_Supplies_Toys_Rubber___Vinyl_Toys-vendor-Ethical-SearchStr-treads-action-view-idProduct-EU04963-idCategory-DGTOVI.html but they come in a variety of shapes and were pretty cheap. How about balls? Not tennis balls - there's something about that covering that is just irresistible to the aggressive chewer. And the "tough" tennis balls especially for dogs aren't any better. Chuck-It Ultra balls http://www.petedge.com/ChuckIt--Ultra-Rubber-Balls-ZX482.pro last much longer than any other ball except Kong balls. The advantage of the Ultra balls is that they bounce better and are great for indoors as they are light. I've heard that raquetballs are similiar, but don't have personal experience. Also, goughnuts! http://www.goughnuts.com/ They're a little heavy for indoor play, but the dogs enjoy carrying them and chewing. So far I'm impressed. They do come with a replacement guarantee and, should the need arise, I hope I'll have a better experience with them than i did with Kong. Finally, if your dog likes to chase a larger ball (like a basketball, volleyball or soccer ball) you can look into something like this http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751746 I haven't tried it because I have a connection with a soccer coach who gives me his dead balls. I can't leave the GSP alone with them but the free balls are adequate for chasing around for a day or two until they are truly "dead"

Thank you for the info about the Ace electric stapler ($31.99). I have an Ace Hardware store nearby so that is convenient. The Arrow Fastener ET155 ProShot 3 at Amazon ($220 new, $74.46 used) as well as the Maestri ($167.14) are also good options to know about. Some of the posters who have access to an air compressor and a pneumatic (air tool) staple gun say that they would not want to go back to using an electric staple gun. I've never used either electric or pneumatic, so would not know the difference. I'll need to weigh the pros & cons including prices. I also have limited storage space in my home & garage, so will need to look into how bulky an air compressor is for storage. I glanced at Home Depot's site for "portable air compressors" and linked it below. Anyone who has one of these compressors?...which one? Items I need upholstered: 2 full size sofas, 1 small sofa, a wing back chair, and another chair that's not wing back but has a fabric seat & back. Do you think I could get by with an electric staple gun as opposed to a pneumatic staple gun and air compressor? Laurie Here is a link that might be useful: Home Depot Portable Compressors