As you are reading this, one of the biggest events in America has come and gone — my birthday.

That is the day when Mike fires up the grill, tosses on the steaks, bakes some potatoes and serves me a helping of each. Normally crowds of folks arrive to chew on the steaks — kinda like ants headed to a picnic. (I can eat all the steaks if they do not come, har har!) My list of stuff I wanted was short this year. When the dog gear and dog catalogs have arrived, I believe Mike hides those so I don’t place orders, har har! That’s OK, because I have the major retailers and dog goods suppliers stashed in a special page on his cellphone — and his credit card number. When he leaves his phone on the couch, I can press a few buttons and then a few days later the boxes start arriving on the front porch. I just love shopping!

I’m a well-recognized pro at online shopping, har har! I know what I want and how to get it. More important is that boxes of stuff arrive with my name on the label. Life is good, and life is better with more stuff, har har!

I need to start ordering now so I am prepared for next year’s birthday party for me. One final note, when Mike ever leaves the closet with my large collection of stuff open, I am finding that geeky birthday hat he makes me wear and tossing it in the huge trash can. That is one annual birthday party tradition I can live better without, har har! Now, let’s eat more cake! —Cameron