How Did The World Become Crazy?

In Community of Hope, many people live safely while they deal with many issues.

Bear, a disabled person, needed a New Mexico ID card issued by New Mexico MVD to get benefits since he cannot work.

Bear was a firefighter, a first responder. He was born in Alaska and now resides in Las Cruces, NM.

Las Cruces is a very humane town in many ways. Nestled on the edge of The Organ Mountains and the desert, it has both a small town charm combined with cosmopolitan atmosphere.

All was well until he went to the MVD. He had his State Issued Alaska ID, his official Alaskan birth certificate, and all the numerous documents MVD required.

You'd think his biggest problem would be the crowded office and the long wait we all expect in any state. You would be wrong in that assumption.

In short order, his genuine documents were declared forgeries, he was handcuffed and detained by ICE in the rear of their car.

An American citizen, informed his home state wasn't a state, his papers declared a forgery, and issued an alternative identification as an undocumented farm worker.  I was laughing hard at first, and then it hit me...this could happen to anyone of us.

I'll continue to follow this story here in Las Cruces as it evolves.

Alaska Not A State Says NM MVD

truly stranger than fiction, a friend spent half an hour in handcuffs in the rear of ICE car.
His crime...according to a MVD supervisor, being an undocumented alien, forged documents.

My friend Bear was born in Alaska, has a valid birth certificate from Alaska, had a valid Alaska State ID card. He now has an undocumented New Mexico alternative ID from the State of New Mexico.

Apparently, New Mexico State Motor Vehicle Division supervisors don't recognize Alaska as a state. I was laughing thinking it was a joke until I actually saw the id.

Bear is now eligible for many programs assisting migrants and I will be following up with a blow by blow description of the many benefits he is offered.

To my friends and family in Alaska...i truly don't know what to say.

Musings From My Van

As most know, i recently purchased a conversion van. I get a lot of questions about how I'll modify it or built-ins.

As far as I'm concerned, this van needs almost no modification. I threw in my two 3-drawer plastic units, stuffed canned goods under the bed, put my stove and aquatainer water jug by the back door.

I'll be removing the car top carrier shortly as soon as I have both time & energy.

My challenge in minimalism is that I carry my jewelry making items and my sales set-up in my van. It will take serious thought and trying out new arrangements to get things just right.

So far, I've only removed one seat on the driver's side middle. I may remove the other middle seat and store it in my travel trailer. I'm planning a wooden credenza style set of drawers to go behind driver's seat reaching back to the rear seat. I keep the rear seat folded down into a bed.

Before I worry about inside modifications, I want the van perfectly mechanically sound.

Two of the plastic panels by windows in the door need repair. The driver's side electric window motor needs replaced. The rear door latch needs replaced. The sidelight on the driver's side front needs its plastic cover replaced and the dent pounded out. These are all minor things I can fix myself.

The paint is starting to show signs of sun damage, so I'll learn the art of painting a vehicle. Some new clear coat won't go amiss.

She's like me, good bones but showing signs of age. She's pretty though, comfortable, and travels well. The pups love her too.

My Dream Home

I was looking at vans, trying to find an E150 I could afford.  This Michigan is built Ford tough. :)

Up pops my dream van on craigslist. It was a 1999 E150 for $1000. What the add didn't say was that it was a beloved conversion van with a beautiful interior.

I went to look at it, offered $800 and drove away in my new home.

Great big windows with the pretty white factory blinds, comfortable chairs that recline, the rear bench seat folded down into a bed.  Absolutely no body rust.

I was even offered the original tv and vcr that came in it. I turned it down. Life is nice when you don't own a tv.

Granted, she has a few issues. The driver's side window no longer works. It was a struggle to figure out how to keep it up. Two auto parts stores and neither had the needed part nor the correct repair manual.

Someone broke a spark plug off. That will be a heck of a pain to fix.

A minor dent and lens on the front parking light is also on my list to fix.

Let me tell you I'm in van heaven. I am almost totally moved into her. It will be days of rearranging and organizing.

The plastic drawers and totes will be replaced down the road with a nice dresser and custom built shelves. I'm also thinking some custom built underbed units for less frequently used items.

For me, this van is one I've dreamed of, but never thought I'd afford. I'm in love with my new van. It's also puppy approved.

The minivan had overheating issues, so this van came right on time. A friend loaned me the money I needed to buy my dream van.

Life can be really funny at times. Tonight, i sleep in my comfortable van.