With All My Love

 Dear Elder Schenewark,

Hola! That is probably the extent of my Spanish repertoire. But I know how to say everything else in English. Having a common language is a plus in life. I was with your Dad on a walking / see what downtown Granbury is doing date night. We had heard it was the first Oink Oink Festival - where several pigs were roasted and served as plates to purchase from Ketzlers. While trying to find a parking space we saw the pig roast - behind the main building. We met a man hand sewing leather briefcases and purses with a steam punk vibe - think copper pipe art deco included. We walked to the baseball fields and back to downtown - a three mile walk - and got a bag of vendor caramel popcorn. While walking back to the car we passed the vendors again, and heard the patio area warming up for live music: "Music check, check, check. Music check, check, check." Your father says, "I thought this was a German festival, not a Czech one. It was hilarious. And one of the vendor's we passed was coughing water out her nose laughing so hard. Good times

I spent Saturday morning on a Dallas PD bone search. A skull was located in a field, surrounded by residential areas, about a week ago. My new team, TexSAR was called out to find the rest of the bones of the body. Because of my experience I was assigned as a flanker for one of the three dog teams. This one drove up from the gulf coast area to assist. We were assigned a four person ground unit - meaning they covered areas the dog wasn't interested in - used lots of machetes to clear the area so we could pass through, etc. I borrowed one of the ground crew, as the handler wanted them to stay about five minutes back. But we needed his bulk to push down on old barb wire fence lines we had to cross - so the dogs could get over safely, needed a machete on the front line, etc. Often we had to literally get down on hands and knees to get through thick growth, thick enough to pull off my waist pack. He retrieved it for me, as well as a battery pack cord, my phone, a map...I kept dropping everything. That is why I now wear my keys around my neck. I've had those pulled out of my pockets as well, and had no back up. He had my six.

The handler worked both of his dogs at the same time. He was very vocal about my flanking skills - and said once word got out, I'd be in high demand from other dog handlers. Yeah! Leaving that other team was a good move. And, I found the bones. I heard one dog give a huff, kind of like Wagner gives, when you're trying to get him to bark, and told the handler, who was slightly deaf, who had missed the cue. Some dogs bark and others sit, when they find the bones. I had asked ahead of time, and was told they both sat. But the noise was unique enough for me to ask, and figured it was kind of the dog's way of saying, "Hey, I found it, follow me!" I stumbled upon half of a jaw bone, orthodontic corrected teeth included, and he found a small arm bone. Then we found both femurs, two pelvic bones, a handful of vertebrae, an old tennis shoe, and we knew we found the original site. We found a rib sticking out of the ground that was attached to a back pack buried in the ground. 

We got the rest of the ground team down there to mark the perimeter with flags, and then the bones with flags, got the drone over us to record the site from above, and waited for the DPD Detective that requested the search as well as the medical examiner's office.  It was a good day. Although I have contracted a case of poison ivy / poison oak - at the end of the glove line and sleeve line - it will be along two weeks. I did clear my skin two times with alcohol but should have done more.

Got back into Granbury in time to see Sawyer, his date, his friends and their dates, take lots of pictures before heading off to prom. This entailed a bus "limo" ride arranged by Rylan's parents, a dinner in Fort Worth, the prom event in Glen Rose, and then an after party that went until 6:30 a.m. I heard him come in, head to bed, and I got up for ward council. I have to admit I was surprised to see him in church. Dad gave him five minutes at 8:30 to get ready and he made it. He said he didn't want to miss church.

Monday Miller got to play with the varsity basketball team in the spring league. There's only four games - this was number one. He was last to go in but increased in playing time and position. It's fun to watch him play.

Sawyer is continuing to work on his leather work - his new orders consist of wallets, hat patches, etc. He was interviewed at school for a scholarship by the Lions Club.

Breyer had her play Tuesday. She did great. We worked out a deal with the music teacher for two reserved spots in the front row - as I was coming from Dallas and Dad was doing pick up. We all were together. Fifth graders acting are hilarious. We were told not to take pictures or video as it's copyrighted but the teacher said the school was allowd to film for school purposes and she's trying to get us a copy. We'll see.

I hope your new apartment is bug free. I hope you love your short lunch with the Bachs. I hope you enjoy your new companion - and the work you're able to accomplish together. This Sunday is Easter. My mother's favorite holiday.

Love,

Mom