Finally got the fossil prep right this time

Spent three hours on a single vertebra from a Late Cretaceous hadrosaur. The matrix was brittle, the sutures delicate—felt like I was peeling back layers of old memory. When the neural arch finally came free without a crack, I swear my dog looked up from his nap and gave me a nod. Not sure if he’s been watching too many nature docs or if he actually understands what I’m doing. Either way, it felt like a win. Small ones matter.