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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #113
June 7, 2002
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Dear Subscriber:

My newsletters are so peppered with animal stories I'm sure
many of you think at least some of them have to be made up.

I assure you, when you have 4 dogs, 2 cats and when you live in
a neighborhood and a village with pet-lovers aplenty, there is
no limit to the number of real animal stories.

Peg and I were making our regular trip to the dump Sunday.

A SIDE-BAR--We had a dumpster in our subdivision years ago, but
because of bad pick-up service and the attraction skunks and
other varmints have to dumpsters, our property owners'
association decided to dispense with the depository and haul our
own refuse to the village dump 2-1/2 miles away. We've had the
do-it-yourself refuse disposal system for over 6 years and it
has worked well, thankyouverymuch--

The dump was closed. Our village dump consists of two large
roll-on containers that fill up fast. It's always a special day
when the dump is open and the containers are empty.

It was unfortunate for us that the dump was closed, but it was
Moppy's lucky day.

As I was turning the pickup around, Peg spotted a little hairy
poodle-looking thing hanging around the dump area.

He saw us about the same time we saw him. He decided escape was
the better part of valor and he started trotting up the road.

Normally, you would assume a little dog like that was just
snooping around and, after being "made" by a couple of humans,
decided to head home, but there were no homes in the direction
he was headed.

Peg said, "Follow that little guy." I was going to anyway, but
the determination in Peggy's voice took away any doubt in our
mission.

The little stray ran ahead along the road and stopped to see if
we were following. We were. She ran ahead a little farther and
stopped to see if we were still there. We were.

It reminded me of the scene from "Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid" when Butch and The Kid were running away from
the posse. The little stray had to be thinking, "Who
ARE these guys?"

We followed him into the fenced area surrounding the
communications relay station above the village. There were two
men working on a generator at the station that told us yes, they
had seen the stray before and no, they didn't think he had a
home.

With the help of the station workers we cornered the little dog.

He decided he wasn't going to give up without a fight. He
barked. He snarled. He growled. Boy, were we scared. He was
5 pounds of double trouble.

He finally got tired of the game and let Peggy pick him up.

He was a gnarly mess. No collar. No tags. He chose his last
stand against us in an ant bed, so we spent a while clearing
his knap of ants.

So now, what do we do? We had 4 dogs of our own and had decided
long ago that that was too many. We decided to check with Beth.

Beth is a reporter for The Mountain Monthly and a professed
animal lover. She had recently rescued a stray in the downtown
village area.

We drove to the Mountain Monthly office, but Beth was off for
the weekend. Instead, we talked to Tiffany.

When we told her our sad story, I could see the lights go off
in Tiffany's eyes.

Tiffany came out to the pickup to meet Moppy (a temporary name
we gave the little runt). Tiffany told us her mother had just
lost a beloved Spaniel that had died of old age. Moppy would be
a wonderful replacement.

When we drove away from the Mountain Monthly office, I could see
Tiffany through the open door. She was talking to the stray. I
could only assume she was telling him things were going to be a
lot better from now on. The last thing I saw before I pulled
away was Moppy licking Tiffany's nose. Mr. Tough Dog we
captured at the relay station had become putty in the hands of
a pretty girl.

Mission accomplished.

Tiffany promised us a picture of the little guy for posting on
the Cloudcroft Online Newsletter...after he had been
appropriately bathed and groomed.

Why do people abandon pets?

I've seen homeless people with dogs. The dogs are invariably
better fed than their owners. Why? Because even in their
economic straits, they realize the dog is the best friend they
have.

It's true with homeless people. It's true with Fortune 500 CEOs.
It's true here at the Vanlandingham house.

It's the people that take that devotion of pets lightly that I
don't understand. What REALLY bothers me is grown-ups that will
teach their children through example to disregard their pets by
dumping them on the side of the road.

To me, that's a twisted definition of the term "grown-up."

I had a friend that abandoned her dog. She said it didn't fit
in her lifestyle anymore. She's no longer my friend. She
doesn't fit my lifestyle anymore.

When we all get to heaven, give me a place next to the dogs and
cats...

...and, if it's not asking too much, near the first tee box and
the hospitality tent.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE NEWS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP--GARY MACK REAL ESTATE
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- DIRECTIONS
5. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
6. COMING EVENTS
7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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Still pitifully little moisture. Cloudy with a little rain
today (Wednesday) with a forecast of more possible moisture in
the next couple of days. Severe fire restrictions still in
place. Highs in the mid-70s. Lows around 40.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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A new water well being drilled by the Village of Cloudcroft is
showing some promise.

Meanwhile, water-use restrictions continue in the village. No
automatic sprinkler watering. Outdoor hand watering between 6pm
and 6am. No washing of vehicles or other equipment.

-o-

The highway department is re-surfacing Highway 82 between
Cloudcroft and Alamogordo. It amounts to a round-trip delay
between Cloudcroft and Alamogordo of about 1 hour.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- GARY MACK REAL ESTATE
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We've got what you want at Gary Mack Real Estate. We will take
care of all your real estate needs. We offer quality service
because our customers are our top priority. 

For more information, see the link to our web site on the
Real Estate page of Cloudcroft.com:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/real.htm

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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- HOW TO GET TO CLOUDCROFT
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Not sure of the best route from your town to Cloudcroft?

http://www.earthamaps.com/default.asp

Click on Directions and then enter your starting and ending
locations.
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - The US Forest is closed to campers around Cloudcroft. Is
there any camping on the Mescalero reservation near Cloudcroft?

A - No. The Mescalero Tribe has also shut down all camping on
the reservation. The Inn of the Mountain Gods is still open as
usual.

Even during the dry conditions, there are many activities
available to visitors. The Forest, while dry, is still green, 
cool and fragrant. Lodging in and around the Village of
Cloudcroft is available offering all the comforts of home.

Click on the Lodging button of Cloudcroft.com for lodging 
listings:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/lodging.htm

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COMING EVENTS
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June 7, 8 -- Miss New Mexico Scholarship Pageant. Flickinger
Center. Alamogordo.

June 7, 8 -- Melodrama (CLOC). Open Air Pavilion, Zenith
Park.

June 8 -- Kiwanis Bingo. Community Center

June 9 -- Big Band swing. Alamogordo Ballroom. 2-5pm.

June 9 -- Father's Day brunch. Call (505) 682-2566 for details.

June 14-16 -- Western Roundup. Parade, pie auction, BBQ.
Street dance Saturday 7-11pm.

June 15-16 -- Cherry Festival. High Rolls. Arts, food.

June 28-30 -- Bluegrass Festival. Music all day.
Open Air Pavilion, Camp Chimney Springs.

July 4 -- Celebration of Independence Day in Cloudcroft.
Check with the Chamber of Commerce for events. (505) 682-2733.

July 6 -- July 4th weekend celebration. Zenith Park

July 7 -- Crystal River at Cloudcroft United Methodist Church.
This will be a patriotic service. 10:45am.

July 7 - Crystal River Return Engagement. Pavilion in Zenith
Park, 2pm.

July 12-13 -- Melodrama. Covered Pavilion.

July 13-14 -- July Jamboree.

July 13 -- Flower Show at the Community Center, l-5pm.

July 14 -- Street Dance. Burro Avenue.

July 27 -- Train Load of Talent. Covered Pavilion.

July 27 -- Chili Cook-off. Ski Cloudcroft.

August 16, 17, 18 -- Singing in the Clouds.

August 31-Sept. 2 -- Labor Day Fiesta.

August 31 -- Street Dance. Burro Avenue.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the second Sunday of each month,
2-4pm, in the Old Red Brick School House. Call (505) 682-2494
for more information. (Note day of the month change.)

Cloudcroft Gallery & Gifts is offering Pastel Workshops by
Norma Riley June 3-7, June 10-14, and June 17-21. For more
information, ask in the Gallery in the Burro Street Exchange
or call (505) 682-2630.

Mountain Garden Club meets every third Monday of each month.
Call (505) 682-2910 for more information.

Senior Van from Timberon to Alamogordo leaves the Timberon
Lodge promptly at 8:30am every Tuesday morning.

Free Vitals Clinic. Second Saturday of each month, 11am to 1pm.
James Canyon Fire Department, 2346 Highway 82.

If you have news of public events in the Cloudcroft area, email
us.

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For an online calendar of area events, click the Events Calendar
link in the left column of our home page:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/index.html

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

We must have had the same boss at different radio stations. 
(Like in a parallel universe.)

I worked at KAVE radio Carlsbad, NM in 1971. The station manager
(name not listed for my protection) was less than friendly. One
day after playing a song he didn't particularly like, the phone
rang and I was instructed to take the record firmly in both
hands and introduce it to my knee, SHARPLY.

When something went wrong (frequently), then the tirade would
begin and you spent the next hour with your eyes averted to any
place Frank wasn't. (Oops, said his name.)

We were a MOR station during the day. For those of you who don't
know what that stands for, try Middle of The Road. So, as a hip
21-year-old, I got to play such greats as Andy Williams' MOON
RIVER, or some off-the-wall instrumental that no one knew.

Now, I love Andy Williams, but as a 21 year old, I would have
rather been playing Ten Years After or Bob Dylan. Our evening
rock guy had the best tour. I even sold advertising for the
station and did the news. More than a few times I made slip-ups,
so I have sat in that same chair across from that manager and
had that same conversation.

You do better as a newsletter editor. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

Philip Duncan
The Woodlands, Texas, by way of Carlsbad, NM

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Dear Newsletter:

We've been reading and enjoying your letters for a couple of
months now, ever since we discovered Cloudcroft by a path too
circuitous to spend bandwidth explaining. My wife and I will be
up there in a couple of weeks; maybe we can buy you coffee and
say hello.

Your newsletter #112 sounds so much like the path my uncle Ben
Greenhaw followed in radio. He started in a little town in
Arizona (OK, they were all little towns back then) when he was
about 18 and followed radio, then TV around the country.

He settled in Detroit, did everything under the sun for WJBK
(you wouldn't believe what that stands for), then WJBK
television, taught broadcast journalism at Wayne State
University in his spare time, picked up a Fullbright Scholarship
he couldn't use (can't leave family and job behind to study
in Europe).

He's happily retired now, alternating residences between Detroit
in the winter time and Phoenix (pronounced FEE-nix) in the
summer; wait, that sounds backwards, maybe it's the other way
around.

At any rate, thanks muchly for the gifts of humor and insight
that come with the newsletters; see you in a couple of weeks.

John MacMurray

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Dear Newsletter:

I too, am a career radio guy. I've spent 25 years in the
industry and it gets in your blood like cholesterol. Mine has
been in the sales and advertising end of the radio business.

However, I understand how much underpaid, overworked, and under
appreciated that the air and programming staff is by management.
And most of the time, air staff would take out their
frustrations on the sales staff. The jocks would perceive the
suits as being overpaid, under-worked, ignorant, plus our
Moms dress us funny.

The air staff was always motivated by the audience and their
egos were usually big enough to eat off of when their paychecks
permitted little else. But they were always some of the most
entertaining, funniest, most memorable people you'd ever want
to meet. Without them, we sales people had nothing to sell, and
our audience would have nothing to listen to.

Jimmy McDowell

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Dear Newsletter:

Your newsletter brings back memories.

Journalist all have "word weakness," at least that is my term
for it. Mine was the word "morning." Reporting the times for a
local convention, I said the "mourning" session started at 9am.

One of the convention officers later told me that he found it
rather humorous and I was probably close in my assessment. To
us, however, it just stands out like a lighthouse beacon in a
stormy night. We are sure every eye is looking for it.

We are drowning in rain in Texas, two years ago, we were drying
up. Lets hope you all don't have to wait that long. My daughter
in Los Angeles says they are behind 10 inches for the year.
Rationing is looming on the horizon and the prospect of a very
bad fire year for them also. Lets hope it all evens out one of
these years and we all just have a good year.

Marcia Scott,
Arlington, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

I noticed your newsletter and see you have spent a "few" years
in radio!

I am a 67-year-old, semi-retired radio engineer living in Macon,
GA. In 2001 I was Chief Engineer for a 5 KW full-time AM in New
York City.

I noticed from the FCC database that KTMN FM (97.9) in
Cloudcroft is off the air. Alas!! A shame, as it is 100,000
watts and probably covers Alamogordo perfect and may even get
into part of El Paso.

We'd like to get KTMN back on the air. Are you with me!!

Let's do it!

Meyer Gottesman
Macon, GA
W6GIV

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Dear Newsletter:

Once again a great, enlightening, newsletter. Please don't
quit, as it gives us occasional visitors the means to keep up
with current events and a good dose of humor. 

Reading your intro this evening, something you wrote struck me.
Did you really intend to say you worked for a liberal, Kansas
radio station, or was it a radio station in Liberal, Kansas?
I know, I know - yet another critic. Well, I've know both
liberal Kansas residents and the radio station in the town. 

My wife and I recently purchased some retirement property in
the Cloudcroft area, and your newsletters are our way of staying
close until the time comes when we can actually build a home
there and move to the mountains. 

Best regards, 
Bill Hanson 
Plano, Texas

[The Cloudcroft.com Webmaster changed Liberal to liberal while
spell-checking the newsletter--a mistake that shows his huge
knowledge of Kansas!]

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Dear Newsletter:

You'll be happy to know that you weren't the only one that
stated all campgrounds were closed. There was a broadcast on the
radio last Thursday stating all campgrounds in and around the
Ruidoso/Cloudcroft area were closed due to the extreme fire
hazards and hopefully would reopen after the Memorial Day
weekend. An article also came out in the El Paso Times. So I
don't want you feeling bad about this, okay? My husband will
have another weekend off soon and we will be on our merry way--
we like having a campfire anyway. 

Is there actually a waterfall (Bull Springs) near Deerhead? Is
it within walking distance and how do we get there?

I enjoy your newsletter very much--keep up the good work!

Christy L. Moya
El Paso, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

I really look forward to your newsletters every week. I never
know what to expect. They're very interesting to read. You're
an all around person. You have been there and done everything.

Don't worry about the mistakes; we all make mistakes. Just keep
sending newsletters.

I sure hope you guys get some rain soon. We haven't got much
rain here either.

Thanks for the newsletter!

Shirley Myers
Amarillo, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

I'm writing you from west-central Wisconsin where, thank
goodness, the rain has finally stopped and we can squeegee off
the gardenspot long enough to get some planting in. We've got
our plane tickets bought to come down and dry off at our winter
home in High Rolls during the Cherry Festival, but knowing a
little bit about the topography of the area, wonder where the
"arts and food" entertainment will be hosted. Do tell!

Sunny and Jim Laskin
Glenwood City, WI

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Dear Newsletter:

You are an excellent writer. Depending on the story, you reach
all my emotions. Most of all, you are enjoyable and one cool
dude! 

Mike Gerrick 
Carlisle, PA

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Dear Newsletter:

I'm a lucky man.

Awhile back, I was logged into Match.com. What's a married
guy doing cruising a dating web page you might ask. From what
I can tell, that isn't that unusual, men are pigs! Or so I am
told daily by one of the seven women in my life. No, I'm not
that kind of guy! But if I told you why I was cruising a
"dating" web page, my sister would kill me. Now I didn't mention
any names and I have three sisters so I think I'm safe in saying
that. Of course Judy and Ruthann are still married, but then
you don't know that. Yeah, I'm safe in saying that, there is no
way you could know that I'm talking about Wanda (OOPs). You see
it's like this, I like to surprise my sister with interesting
attachments when I e-mail her.

Anyway, after checking out some potential guys (there's
something I hope I'll never have to say again) I thought I'd
see what it was that the ladies are looking for in a man. You
see, I've been married for 30 years and surrounded by females,
so of coarse I haven't a clue what women like in a man. All I've
learned so far in life, is a few of those things that will keep
me alive, even though I still mess up occasionally. But my
loving wife, who doesn't hit me very hard anymore, told me that
it was okay for me to mess up from time to time, it helps her
remember that I'm a guy.

So, after reading only three or four of the wish lists posted
by single women, it became very apparent that luck played a big
part in my finding a wife. I don't know about the rest of you
husbands out there, but not one of the things listed by these
women described me! Maybe I came close to a few, but I'm sure I
haven't pegged any of them.

A few of the attributes needed to become Mr. Right are as
follows: integrity, confidence, good sense of humor, romantic,
kindness, intelligence, imagination, playfulness, openness,
spiritually aware, good conversationalist, sensual, successful,
good looking, in shape and loves to dance.

It's no wonder men lie to women. Who could stand up to that
description? It sounds as if the lady who posted the above was
looking for another woman.

As a public service to unmarried women, I have composed the
following list of characteristics with a realistic counter-
proposal that a single lady might actually be able to find in
a male, without having to look outside the human species.
Please, check with your married lady friends and you'll learn
that this is a more realistic list. 

MR RIGHT -- MR GOOD ENOUGH

Integrity -- (Lies sparingly and only about the little things.)

Confidence -- (In everything but his relationship, you don't
want him fooling around.)

Good sense of humor -- (This one is attainable, but requires
a woman's control.)

Romantic -- (At least tries to be.)

Kindness -- (Again attainable, but needs to be groomed.)

Intelligence -- (50/50 chance of getting this.)

Imagination -- (Attainable, but be careful here, this one can
affect the integrity part.)

Playfulness -- (We all come with this one, but you run the risk
of having a big kid to care for.)

Openness -- (This is a tuff one. If you have read the "Men are
from Mars and Women are from Venus" books you know about the
"Cave.")

Spiritually aware -- (This is cake, all men know they're doomed
to burn.)

Good conversationalist -- (Note for the men: this one actually
means good listener.)

Sensual -- (This usually require a woman's input, most men can't
be this on their own; if they could, they'd all be playboys.)

Successful -- (Depends on your interpretation. If you mean rich,
these guys usually love themselves too much for a relationship.
If you mean hard-working providers, they're out there and
attainable, but need a woman's push.)

Good looking/in-shape -- (This one is subjective, you need to be
more specific. Example: Not ugly and has enough energy to take
out the trash.)

Loves to dance -- (I guess this one is okay, as long as it isn't
"CAN DANCE.")

Bill White
Phoenix, Arizona

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