Lets take a break from the wheelchair thing. A guy came up to me the other day and said " I really know what you are going through " I thought, hmm, I'm trying to decide on beef and bean or beef frozen burritos. Did not think I was really going through anything nor did I think my indecision was that apparent. Than he hits me with the fact that he spent 4 months in a wheelchair while his broken leg healed. And I thought he was going to help me pick out burritos. I get this stuff all the time. We can be sitting somewhere eating lunch and someone will come up and say, " do you know so and so, the guy in the wheelchair "? Like because I'm in a chair means I know everyone else in a chair? I guess it just goes with the territory loke all blondes know each other. Something like that.

Anyways, Immigration reform is back. I wonder, if a person breaks into the local 7-11 to steal a case of Bud and while there decides to knock over the lottery machine and steal a bunch of tickets. Than while sucking down his bud he starts scratching off those lottery tickets and finds a big winner. Should that person be allowed to keep the winnings that he earned from an illegal act?

One of the big arguments with Immigration Reform is that folks illegally entered the United States for a better life. Was not the guy riping off the 7-11 looking for a better life? How about those Illegal Immigrants who have children born in the United States? The children are now US Citizens we should not split up families should we? Mr. 7-11 and his winning stolen lottery ticket. Should he have to give up the winning ticket because he got it by doing something illegal?

So its not as black and white as I think it is. Everytime I see some crying child on the news who has to have a translator to tell us his mom or dad has been taken away by the mean government it makes me wonder. Were these people that errogant that they really thought they were not going to get caught? So many have not even tried to learn English or blend in. How long was the government supposed to look the other way?

OK here is my reform plan. First streamline how the visa system allows folks into the US. Make it easier. We had a friend who wanted to visit from Mexico but he could not get his papers because the embassy folks ( US ) did not feel he would have any reason to return to Mexico. Forget that his family was in Mexico and his business. We lived in Mexico for 3 years. It was common conversations among the natives how they planned to sneak into the US. Only for a couple years than back to Mexico. We met several looking to improve their English skills before the trip. I knew one man who would come up to the US establish a small yard service business hire other illegals and after 3-5 years he would leave the business for someone to run and return to Mexico. 5-7 years and his routine would start again. So its easier to sneak into the country than follow the rules. That is why we need to streamline the process.

In Mexico there are 3 types of visas besides the simple tourist one you fill out on the plane. FM3, FM2 and Fm1. FM3 allows a visitor to stay in Mexico for a year. Cost anywhere from $300 on up depending on how corrupt the officals your dealing with are. FM1 allows you to vote. You basically have purchased your citizenship at this point. My first 2 years in Mexico I had my FM3. My final year in Mexico I was denied the renewal. My " attorney " had already paid $700 in non refundable " renewal " fees but it wasn't renewed. Basically you have to have an attorney to handle everything for you. There are no duplicate documents in English nor does the Immigration office provide translators for those who do not speak the language. So these " attorneys " are a pretty good cottage industry down there. My " attorney " said that the folks at the immigration office wanted me to come in so that they could " explain " to me why my FM3 was not being renewed. Like I was going to go there!! During the whole process that had covered a span of a year I knew all to well that I was illegally living in Mexico, and could be deported at any time. Translation, you get picked up tossed into an immigration holding cell until you or someone ( not the Mexican government ) can come up with a plane ticket out of there.

OK so the illegals. Lets face it those with children born here is a big problem. No one wants to see families split up. So instant deportation is out of the question. However, folks like me don't think amnisty is right either. I propose that a period of one year be opened for all those who have illegally entered the United States to " voluntarily turn themselves in ". At this point they can be given identification indicating their illegal status but working to correct that. Those who do not take advantage of the one year amnisty program face immediate deportation. With ID in hand the illegal immigrant can then be given 1 year to complete the required steps to gain a legal immigrant status. The immigrant must fill out all visa requirements including any applical fees. They must also be working. Also, although English is not the national language ( I believe it should be ) they should be able to pass an English competincy test of at least middle school level. If the requirements are met than they can be here as legal immigrants renewable every 5 years. Someone who entered the United States illegally should not be allowed to gain citizen status.

We need to fix the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Simply crossing the border and popping out babies should not automatically qualify the child as a US Citizen. Especially if the parent/parents are here illegally. We've seen many border states that face the problem of immigrants crossing into the US just to give birth in an American hospital.

Those who come to the US illegally after this should be deported immediately.

I suppose a lot of folks will find flaws in all that. Perhaps I should stick with begging for wheelchairs?

No, that is not snow. For those of you who have never been there, this is White Sands National Monument. Ian and I had just got off the boardwalk and decided to roll on over into some deep sand. Never would of come close with the old chair. In fact, I'd probably be sitting in the car watching. The boardwalk was cool. Goes out over the sand a couple hundred feet allowing those with impaired mobility a sense of what it is like out on the dunes. Gotta warn you, if you go out on the boardwalk in a chair be prepared for static shock. The " boards " are actually a hard reinforced plastic that appear to be in 10 foot assembled sections. Where to sections attach a metal strip covers the joint and prevents folks from tripping. My wheelchair built up static charges rolling on the boards and than would discharge them when I crossed the metal strip. Every 10 feet I got zapped by a slight static charge. I did not notice, but it does warn about the shocking experience on the sign at the start of the boardwalk.

I did drive up partially on one of the Dunes but the angle was steep enough that I was concerned about tipping backwards. I've got it on video, I'll try to post it here as soon as I figure it out. Ian had a blast sledding on the sand.

From the hot hot hot White Sands we moved up the mountain side to Cloudcroft. We are seriously considering a move up here mainly because of the cooler temperatures being high desert. And I do mean cooler! While it was well over 90 degrees at White Sands, Cloudcroft had barely broken 70 in the shade. We really enjoy Cloudcroft. It is very green, with lots of trees. Having lived in places like Vermont and Oregon than moving to the desert, we sure missed the green landscape.

This trail was supposed to lead to the old Trestle Railroad bridge. Unfortunately, it wasn't the correct trail. I guess following the signs wasn't the best plan. :) We got into the woods about a mile and a half when we came across a big old tree root that ran across the trail. in the uphill side of the root it was an easy roll over. However directly behind the root on the downhill side was an 8" drop off. The chair is rated for 6" although I probably could of handled it. We thought of using some of the numerous rocks in the area to build up a " step " behind the root. But my wife checked down the trail and found that the forest service folks had blocked it off. So we turned around and headed back up the trail.

At the top we found the correct trail, got about 1/2 way down before it started raining. We had to turn back and shelter at the rangers station for a little whle. We met a couple of guys from Germany stationed at Hollowman Air Base with the German airforce. They were taking pictures of these 4 fun loving humming birds that were going to town at the humming bird feeders someone had setup. By the time the rains had stopped it was late so we opted to do the Trestle trail on another trip.

Our day ended at the ice cream store. Than it was back to the hot brown desert.

Well we still need to pay for the chair, but I've been very impressed with my new extended range..........................