Do your homework folk!

For those of you who love to smash bang the President (whether its this one or past), I suggest you read the Constitution of the United States and see for yourself what his duties are. He DOES NOT make the laws, he can only submit PROPOSED laws or actions. The Congress and Senate approve and reform them into law. And at the present, the Republicans rule BOTH houses. So it's pretty much whatever the Republicans want, they get. So blame the right people, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
If this explanation is not enough, read the following excerpt from the Constitution.

United States Constitution: Article 2, Sections 2-4 excerpt (Duties of the President)

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

SECTION 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur, and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law, but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.

The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session

SECTION 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he s hall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States.

SECTION 4. The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Slow progress

I typically spend 5 to 7 hours nearly every week day wiring my latest hot rod build. Laying under the car, laying inside looking under the dash, leaning over the fenders into the engine compartment, lacing wires through tiny holes and bundling wires so they are out of the way and look semi-neat/organized. And that is to run one wire. My fingers hurt.
EZ Wiring is NOT easy. It starts easy but there are things they don't put in their EZ instructions. I called their tech support to clarify some wiring labels and the guy spit out four papers of technical jibberish in about 5 seconds. I had to stop him and tell him I was old, talk slowly. He started over.
Now just two days before Christmas, I have decided to stop and let my aches and pains heal. My hands look like an ad for BAND-AID.
The next few days will be busy with parties, family dinners and riping gifts open. No to mention the most important, celebrating the reason for Christmas.
I always take time to say thanks for all I have and the pray for others who are not as fortunate. We have been VERY blessed in life. Yes we worked hard for what we have and done. But I have so many to thank for their help too. Love ones, family, friends, co-workers and mostly Jesus. THANK YOU!!!
And Merry Christmas to all that visit this... and VERY Happy New Year to you all.

Great weekend!

It's always a little hassle going ready to show off your wheels. The wiping and waxing, and sweeping. More than just cleaning the family car, because this car is special. This weekend was the 14th Annual Southwest National Good-Guys Car Show in Scottsdale. Big show. They thought there would be a little over 2000 entries, and there was...on Friday. BUT, on Saturday, there was nearly 3000 entries and even more attendees. It was jammed and a little cramped. With that many vehicles, it's hard to see them all, plus hundreds of vendors too.
Mine 36 it the dark blue one in the center of the photo, taken on Friday. On Saturday, they parked in the drive, in front of the parking spots.

Just out of the paint shop

After being in paint and body shops for several months, my 51 Chevy finally came home. It's not nearly finished, but at least I can start doing some work myself. Insulation, sound deadening, wiring, chrome, just to mention a few things. That's OK...I love to see my progress and watch it evolve into my vision. Like all of my cars, it will be subtle. It will look sort of like the original, but different.
This is also the first time I named a car a female name. It's name is "SUGAR PLUM", which I think captures the color. Don't you? Come back and see the finished product in a few months.
Tell me what you think.

Koch brothers are killing the US workers!

If you don't believe me, watch this video.

Another project car?

We use to be a Jeep driving family, but somehow got away from it. It was fun to go into the desert and see what was down that dirt road. After building custom cars and restoring several others, we decided to get another Jeep... or something similar.
I found this 1954 Willys Station Wagon on Craig's List in Northern AZ. It looks rougher than it really is. Get some surface rust and the biggy is... IT RUNS! Sure there's still a lot of work, but for $900 I could not go wrong.

September 11, 2001 - NEVER FORGET!

Nearly 10 years ago, I was still on the Phoenix Fire Department in my final months. It was a quiet morning as I sat in my office at our retired Historic Station 8. I was listening to the radio and doing some paperwork.
At first I did not clearly hear the beginning of a report from New York City. I turned the volume up and sit there glued to every word as the reporter said. “The North Tower of the World Trade Center was just hit by an airplane.” I was stunned, but not devastated. After nearly 26 years on the fire department, I was use to calls to disasters. Most of the time, its media hype. I leaned back listening to the rest of the story. A few minutes later, they reported a second plane struck the other WTC tower. Now I was devastated. This was no accident, or pilot error, it was intentional and deliberate. But why, and who? The answer became obvious as I sat there hanging on every word and scene from the old TV I scrambled to hook-up and tune in to live news. Pictures of the two towers burning intensely more than 70 to 90 stories above ground level were burned into my memory. It was tho; someone punched me in the gut. People were running away in panic, while others staring skyward toward the burning towers. I could not move.
Nearby fire stations responded immediately and began to enter the buildings guiding occupants down the stairs, as they climbed upward. Police Officers herded the street crowd in directions away from the towers. I heard of one firefighter called his father, sobbing as he ran up the staircases.
Within a little more than an hour of the first crash, the South Tower started to crumble and collapse. Dust fell to the ground and rolled through the streets in a wall of gray-brown dust. People dashed in any doorway to escape the engulfing wave. Falling debris crushed fire trucks, car and people. About 30 minutes later, the North Tower crashed to the ground too. I prayed out loud for all the occupants and firefighters to get out safely. But they did not.
Minutes before the South Tower collapsed, the Pentagon was hit by a third airplane. Then, it was announced Flight 93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, after the passengers rushed the terrorist. We would later learn all four airlines were hijacked by a group of radical Middle Eastern terrorists connected to Al Quaeda, headed by a man called Osama Bin Laden. We would hear those names numerous times in the next few years.
In the days that followed, the personal stories captured every minute of our lives on radio and TV. So much that some people thought we were at war and Al Quaeda was invading nationwide. I was concerned about relatives and friends close to New York City. I started calling to check on them.
Search and rescue of survivors started immediately. Firefighters, Police and volunteers began to dig in the rubble. Search and Rescue teams from every fire department in the U.S. began to organize their deployment to NYC to assist. Rescue dog teams responded to help the searchers.
The site of the twin towers was acres of smoldering concrete, steel, glass floating dust. It was not a safe environment for anyone, but the searchers did not care. They dug in, turning over concrete and steel bits, yelling in hopes of hearing a survivor’s voice and scanning the rubble for life.
Days passed slowly as Americans were hypnotized to the TV watching more of the story evolve. More rescuers arrived to join the already an army of rescuers. Firefighters piled into their vehicles and drove straight through to New York City to help their brothers. Several of my retired FDNY friends hooked-up with active members to drive to their old hometown. I was assigned to organize the logistics for our department Search & Rescue Team deployment. Added to my responsibilities, Historic Station 8 became the drop-off location for citizens to donate dog food, gloves, goggles, socks, flashlights & batteries and energy bars for the rescuers. Phoenix and the entire country rallied with the display of thousands of American flags and supported NYC in its dark day.
The hands-on physical search for survivors lasted for days before it became obvious no living people could be found. The heavy equipment moved in and slowly started to dig into the piles. Temporary morgues were sat up to perform the monumental DNA testing for identification of victims. Many bodies would never be found and some there were only pieces. Anytime a body part or an article was found, machines stopped, and the vicinity was searched. A very slow, ponderous process. Everything was performed with respect for the victims and their families.
Over 3,000 Americans died on September 11th. 343 of those were firefighters who knew they may not come out of those towers alive, but went in anyway. They knew they may never see their loved ones again, but they went in anyway. They knew their families and friends would suffer due to their deaths, but they went in anyway. Those firefighters, Police Officers and a few good citizens made the decision to risk their lives so that others might survive, and many did.
Being a hero is not something you suddenly decide you are going to be. You just do what is needed to be done, and never consider the final cost.
Now 10 years later, the site of the twin towers has been cleared. Their original footprints are a memorial to those who died. A museum as a reminder of the event and new towers are being built close by. New York City is back. The city and the country are stronger, but with a scar they will NEVER FORGET. I know I will not.

Bob Cat visit

Yesterday afternoon, my wife yelled, "OH,OH!" I said, "What's the problem?" "There's a Bob Cat on the patio." "Inside the patio?" "Come look!" I did, and it was laying next to our screened-in patio. I opened a window, yelled at it and scared it away...but not far. It went about 50 feet to our outdoor kitchen (Ramada) and laid under an over hanging counter top bar. I shot this from about 125 ft. away. I did not want to get really close. Even tho it looked young, they're still nothing to mess with. Eventually, later that early evening, it went away into the desert without saying good-bye.

Western RV trip

Just getting back from our most recent RV trip, I must reflect the beautiful views and great time we experienced.
We started traveling north through Northern Arizona into Utah. After a day layover in Nephi, we continued North through the edge of Idaho to West Yellowstone, Montana, where we stayed for four nights. We met with some friends and toured Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife abundant and lots of super hot bubbling mud. Next, we continued East to Cody Wyoming, and visited the Buffalo Bill Cody Museums. This guy was a true American icon. Then we turned south into the west side of the Rockie Mountain National Park. Soaring mountains, more wildlife, buffalo-jams and really steep hiking.
Next, we kept going South and East to the Denver area to meet with some of Nancy's relatives. Great visit! Then back onto the back roads to southern Colorado/Northern New Mexico for a fun ride on a historic steam-powered train.
The last stop-over was in Grants, New Mexico to experience the local Indian lore, ruins and breathtaking canyons and parks.
The last day was heading home through the high country of Eastern Arizona and the "Rim country".
I REALLY condensed the description. It was a lot to see in just three weeks, but glorious. From Old Faithful of Yellowstone, to standing just yards from a mother Moose and her calf, to riding the highest narrow-gauge steam operated train in the world. This is a trip we will never forget. After these trip, I always take time to thank God for being so fortunate to be able to travel like this, and to see the beauty of our great country. We are VERY blessed, and know it.

They do what we do.

Yesterday, Tina drove out with all three kids to visit and leave Cody cause he spent the night. Grady (15 days old)cried cause he was hungry, so Tina covered up and began to breast feed him. Emily (4 years old) pulls up the child's rocking chair rises her blouse and places her baby doll to her chest. i ask Emily, "What are you doing Emily?". She replies, "Feeding my baby like Mom." We covered our faces and giggled silently. How much they emulate us simply amazes me.

MY BABY!

Yesterday, Nana and Papa went to see Grady after he was brought home. Of course there was diaper and feeding duties... I can't do the feeding since he is breast fed. I got to burp him, which was fine. A little male bonding.
Grady is still getting settled in his new environment with siblings hoovering around him. Big brother Cody wanted to hold him and big sister Emily wanted to check out all the baby body parts and help change diapers, and then report back on the progress. Both call Grady as "MY BABY". I am sure that will wear-off when he grabs something of theirs.
Tina is just relaxing as John fills in for any jobs that arises like dinner and laundry. Nana and Papa enjoyed the time holding the little guy... and burping him.

Just before the fireworks

May I introduce our seventh grandchild, Grady Anthony Bauer, born on the 4th of July at 8:33 PM and weighing 8.4 lbs. and 20.5 inches. Mother and child are doing fine and resting comfortably.

Taking the Chevy to get painted

After nearly two years of body work, welding, modifications and planning, my project car (51 Chevy hardtop Bel-Air) is finally loaded and on its way to the painter.
The paint color will be a candy red on the body and a cream looking white on the roof. This is about the halfway mark. There is still a TON of work to done before I can finally drive it. Can not wait.

Give the firefighters their due!

For the last week, due to an unattended campfire, more than 3000 firefighters have been fighting the second biggest fire the the history of Arizona. Over 300,000 acres have burn, 24 homes and thousands of beautiful trees.
Those firefighters have worked furiously 12 hour shifts, hiking up and down mountainsides, over boulders and dead tree trunks, carrying axes, hoses and chainsaws, without showers or proper rest breaks. And for that they get only $10 a hour? According to some politicians, that's too much. AND, they don't believe the firefighters should have a proper pension either. They believe firefighters and police officers are cheap public servants that are over paid and over funded. I guess those politicians never heard about the 343 firefighters who ran INTO the WTC on September 11th to save lives while the building where collapsing around them.
I suggest those politicians switch jobs with a firefighter, carry 75 lbs. of gear into a burning house, pull furniture and people out of the fire, do mouth-to-mouth on a woman who is throwing-up from too much smoke, pull a drowned child from a pool, stand in the middle of a busy street working on an accident while cars whiz by... and do that for $10 an hour, a very small pension, and probably no Social Security. That OK, after all WE ARE CHEAP LABOR AND OVER PAID, right?

Cody's promotion ... to 1st Grade

Sometimes, as grown-ups, we make things for kids...I don't know...more grown-up, than a simple event.
My grandson, Cody, advanced from Kindergarten to first grade the other day and the school calls it a "PROMOTION". It's like a job promotion or a higher rank in the military, or something. When he entered Kindergarten from Day Care, they had a "GRADUATION". I realize it a celebration of his advancement in knowledge and aging, but cap and gowns in Day Care? Of course it all has changed a lot since I and even our kids were in school. No matter...I am proud of Cody and Emily and Nicole and our three grand kids in Florida too, as a Grandfather should be. They keep me smiling and happy. And I love to be a Grandfather. They are a joy beyond belief.
The program the school put on was really special. This was the last song. You got to love the sunglasses.

A new Adventure to the East

On April 18th, Nancy and I embarked on another adventure to...CHINA. Yes, the country many of us grew up watching over our shoulders. The country of Mao, and the Red Army. Well, it's not as bad as I once thought. It is changing FAST! It is a beautiful country that is changing quickly toward capitalism and opening its doors to all. There is still a little of the old China visible. Maybe a little more or less than we know.
Besides the battle with an exploding population, very visible pollution problem and cooping with massive traffic expansion, China will treat you well.
Our trip was a 12 day whirlwind taste of some major cities and cultural emulsion into the Chinese history from past to present. Our guides were extraordinary. From the Forbidden City, to the enormous graves of the Terra Cotta Warriors, to the Vegas style dinner theaters, (and my highlight)a walk on the Great Wall. China was the last place I thought my lovely wife could convince me to go, but I loved it. Yes, I complained about the crowds and the Chinese food, but HELL, I was in China. Cities with 27 million people and not the flair for cooking western foods. Thank God for McDonald's and KFC spotted everywhere. Yep, commercial capitalism is doing VERY well in China. I guess we have polluted the world with that.

Rescue the Rescuers

This is not a new story. It is happening all around the country, not only in Arizona. Legislators want to cut our (firefighter retirees) pensions, cut our COLA (and we do not get Social Security), which equals to about 1/3 of my income. We did not cause the economic down-turn, but now we are the target. And we are not the only ones...teachers, Police and many other state workers. But, if a legislator serves for 4 years, they get the Medical insurance paid for life. Mine cost me $800 a month. They get a pension which NO ONE can touch. Mine is managed by the Legislature.
Maybe I should run for office.

Day Trip to Mt. Ord

Nancy and I love to explore. So, today we drove to Mt. Ord, which about 100 miles from home. It was toward Payson but we turned off about 40 miles from Payson onto a dirt road. It's narrow, and steep, but beautiful. We probably got 95% up the mountain before we came to a lot of snow and ice, so we had to turn around. It was still worth it.
Nancy and I yearn for the old days when we had a 4X4 Jeep to explore the back roads. I can see another project vehicle in the future!
Anyway, it was great day trip for Nancy, me and Scooter. Plus, we explored Rio Verde and Needle Rock before coming here. What a day!
After more than 34 years in Arizona, we are still amazed at the beauty in this state.

3rd Annual camping trip with friends & family

It is so fun to get together with friends and family and go camping, whether it be in a RV or tents. I guess it's just to do something together that we have in common.
Three years ago, Nancy and I rediscovered one of Arizona's biggest lakes and the campground they built since we were there some 30 or so years ago. So Nancy thought, what fun it would be to invite friends and family members there for a weekend of chat, hiking, boating, biking and sitting around a campfire. It has been great ever since. This year was not so widely attended, but just as fun. The final night after our Pot-Luck dinner, and we were ALL fat and happy. The girls caught-up, the guys checked out some odd camping vehicles (see the photo of ALL the toys near us), the kids made mud pies, and the five dogs played too. And I just chilled. I love camping.

Snow on the mountains

Last night, we had a rainy front move through and the temps dropped into the 30s at our house. But on the mountains around us (at about 3000 to 4500 ft.) it got colder, as you can see. We desert rats do not see this often, unless we travel north into the high mountains. Of course, it does not last long. But it's pretty to look at... as long as I do not have to shovel or scrape it.

Hail or Snow?

We, in the central desert part of Arizona don't get much hail or snow. But lately, we have. We knew we were going to get a considerable amount of rain yesterday and today, but never figured in this. In about 24 hour period, the VALLEY OF THE SUN (HA! HA!)received nearly 3/4 inch of rain and this stuff. I am NOT complaining. I know our friends and relatives in the east are getting a lot worse. Have fun shoving. Ours will be gone in 30 minutes.

Update on my USA project car

A few weeks ago, I brought home my 51 Chevy from the body/paint shop. They did the final bodywork, primed the body and "jammed" (painted the door jams) the doors.
The next step was for me to install things which had to have on the car before they finish painting the entire car, like doors, trunk lid, and check the fit of front fenders etc. & etc. I could also check body clearances...and the list goes on.
There seems to be a lot to do and remember to do...and there is. There is a certain process to building a car or truck and I am still a freshman in this school.
Yesterday, I and some of my friends, visited with another friend who has built HUNDREDS of hot rods in his 65 year life. He is our encyclopedia for car building. Plus, he has all the cool tools. He (like all of us) have learned from mistakes, but have excelled through innovation. That is the great thing about America. That ingenuity has push the United States ahead in the world technology base. But then we let it slip through our fingers and other countries make it cheaper. Maybe that is why so many students in our Universities are from foreign countries. I know we are a global economy, but sometimes I wish we could keep it here and help those in OUR country. Help the homeless, help the unemployed, boost education, help small businesses and our economy.
I know one thing ... my hot rods are NOT going overseas. They are going to stay here in the good old USA.

Another grand child coming!

A few days ago, I was informed our daughter, Tina, is pregnant with her third child. She had just gotten home from an ambo-test to check on the baby and find out the sex. IT'S A BOY!!! Or, it will be in mid-July. Both are doing fine.
I will have to admit, I was a little surprised to hear this news because I was under the impression, two was it for John and Tina...but, I guess I was wrong.
Seven grandchildren...I am really starting to feel old. Two boys and two girls in Arizona and two boys and one girl in Florida. The cousin's table is going to be packed, if we ever all get together. That would great to see them all together. What happy chaos.
Oh, by the way, Nancy and I booked a tour to China in mid-April for two weeks. No biggie...just thought I'd mention it. Seven? WOW!

Super Bowl teams decided

Sunday afternoons are MY time, to get my blood pressure up while I yell and exhale for every missed catch and great interception which results in a touchdown. Yeah, I am a Sunday football Dad. I love it. And the owners know all about guys like me. That is why there are more games and a stretched season.
Football has evolved SO much since it first was televised. Passing basketball and baseball in popularity and attendance, football owners have almost priced the seats out of the budget of the average people and become a corporate sport. Basketball and baseball are learning to do the same.
When football started to be publicly viewed, it was not on TV, there was no beer served, usually played in public facilities like a fairgrounds or parks. The game was not frequently viewed by females and little padding was worn by the players. What a difference from today.
On February 6th in Dallas Texas, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers will determine who emerges the World Champions... after four hours of discussing the game strategies, one hour of Puppy Bowl, two hours of interviews and more strategy discussion, two and a half hours of actual playing football and two more hours of post game discussion. Not to mention the multi-billion dollar commercials, which next to the actual game, are the best part. They are even previewing those too. That pretty much sucks-up all of the daylight here in Arizona, or anywhere else too.
But, back to the teams. Neither team had a WINNING season. Who were those teams? Oh yeah...New England and Atlanta...remember them? The two MOST WINNING teams are NOT in the Super Bowl! Does that sound right? But the owners do that are a reason. To stretch the season by having more games... play-off games, so the leaders could possibly get knocked off and a 3rd or 6th seated team could go to the Super Bowl. They know people love to root for the underdogs, and will pay to see them play, or buy a jersey to show their support. I am not condemning commerce, but the rules the owners control all of us addicts. If a team is the top dog all year long, they should get the privilege of play the the Lombardi trophy. Don't you? It's just not right! But what is REALLY no right is the price you pay for a sports ticket. A Super Bowl ticket is in the thousands, plus airfare, hotel and transportation. What factory worker can afford that...thus the TV production of the game and the money made on endorsements.
Well there you go... you have just wasted your last five minutes reading some guy rant and rave over commercialism. I honestly am not against it, just the greed of it which hurts the average family of "being there".
I did go to a Super Bowl once. Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, AZ. I was a driver for some Coors execs. They rented an entire Mexican Restaurant across the street from the stadium. Me and other drivers sat there eating from the free buffet with our feet up, watching the whole game on a big screen TV inside the warm, snug restaurant. The execs sat on hard stadium seats in an usually cold,windy desert day. I walked away with $$$ in my pocket and a full belly. They came back to restaurant to find the food was cold and so were they. Maybe watching the game at home is a better deal. It's free...for now.

Hate Politics

This last week, we ALL (as Americans) suffered from the shooting of Representative Gifford and many other innocent people around her. It is not the standard, any more, to merely debate a disagreement on politics. The believers of the "shock political jockeys" feel they must resort to violence. To shoot someone just because you don't agree is animalistic and inhuman.
Hate politics has gained popularity in the past years due to shock aspect and ability to get ratings on radio and TV. AM talk radio is doing a great job of getting people pumped up to the point of blood boiling arguments between friends and relatives. People believe these radio and TV jockeys without checking to see if their rhetoric is true or not. They automatically believe, if it does not come from their party, or opposite from their view, it must be wrong. WHO SAYS YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT?
The jerks that rant about how bad things are in the USA, or how bad people in official offices are performing their jobs are just exercising their First Amendment rights, right? That is fine, but just get the facts right and be prepared to present your facts for debate WITHOUT stating people should be crucified or shot. There are some mental lacking folks roaming the streets that may take you literal. And I hate to admit, the State of Arizona maybe the start of some of those hate feelings. Maybe it's the border situation, or the wild west attitude, or the open gun laws, or ... who knows.
Here's my rebuttal to the Nye-Sayers... if you don't like things here, go somewhere else. If you don't like the politics here, try Russia or Africa or China. Maybe they will listen to your line of s---! Otherwise, shut-up and work to make it better. Get involved without cocking your gun or ranting and bad-mouthing everything (without verifying your facts) from politicians to pizza.Try a little love instead of hate.

Big Bend & Las Cruces

On December 28th, Nancy and I left for the southeast and an area we never explored before.One night lay-over in Las Cruces, New Mexico and the next day we arrived in Big Bend National Park. More than 250 square miles and one of the newer parks in the national park system. Awesome rock formations and expansive deserts bordered by the Rio Grande River on the south, and Mexico. The river cuts through a 1500 foot wall of rock into the park and then cut out of the park at the other side, more than 50 miles away. This give way for two glorious canyons to hike and explore. Not to speak of the echos. Mexican Nationals from a small village across the river, ride horses across the low flowing river to, hopefully, sell you small trink-its or painted walking sticks for the trails. They are friendly and very courteous.
After four days there (and several miles of hiking under our belts), we left for Las Cruces again. The site of the signing of the Gadsden Purchase plus the oldest adobe and brick buildings in New Mexico. The old town with GREAT Mexican food and quint shops. Next day we drove to Alamogordo where the first atomic bomb was developed. The International Space Hall of Fame was awesome. On the way back to Las Cruces, we visited White Sands National Monument and did a quick drive through. It not sand after all...it's gypsum and it really sticks to your car.
In exactly one week, we covered 2000 miles and got a quick but educational glimpse of the old Mexican southwest. Given the proper opportunity, I'd go back to Las Cruces for an extended stay.