When I get the text from Bittle, it's fairly obvious that he has something planned for my birthday. I would have been surprised if he hadn't. Still, I don't really know what it is that he's planning. I just put on a nice shirt and put the dogs in their finest collars, with a bow for Macha and a bandana for Shannon, and head for the pond.

"Find Bits," I tell the dogs as we walk. Soon enough, they start whining and straining at the leashes. It's probably more the fact that we just got close enough for them to smell Bits than it is them understanding my command, but I'm still proud. A grin splits my face when I see the set up and I shake my head a bit as I come up to Bits, holding the leashes tightly so they don't trample the picnic.

"Hard to miss a set up like this," I say with a fond laugh, leaning over to give him a kiss. "This looks incredible, Bits."