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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #120
July 26th, 2002
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Dear Subscriber:

I guess I was about 10 when I got my first dose of reality.

An older kid came up to me after school and said, "Nice bike.
Mind if I take her for a spin around the block?"

"No. Go ahead." I said.

Two hours later when the kid and my bike were still gone, I
sensed I wasn't being treated with the honesty and respect I
felt I was due.

I have learned similar lessons over the years. Don't pay cash
up front for magazine subscriptions. A 69-dollar automobile
paint job is going to look like a 69-dollar paint job. Someone
who tries to sell you something based on a sad story is, in
effect, insulting your intelligence.

It is not at all fair to describe me as an insufferable cynic.
I have a deep and abiding trust in my fellow man, generally
speaking, but it sure doesn't hurt if my fellow man has two
current forms of ID.

Peg and I are different that way. She trusts people with the
wide-eyed faith of a deer in the cross-hairs.

We had some property for sale. A man called and said he would
like to buy it but would we be so kind as to carry the financing
because his credit rating had been messed up by some mean old
people at the bank.

I said no way. Peg said c'mon, you old grouch. I stood by my
guns. If the man can't get a loan, no sale.

Peg said "OK, but God's not going to like it."

Why did she have to bring The Big Guy into this? We're talking
about a business decision and suddenly the future of my mortal
soul is in doubt.

At the risk of sounding gender-biased, I think men are a little
less willing to render inalienable trust in others than are
women.

My proof is the hand-shake. Men shake hands more than women.

Did you know that the hand-shake originated when two men decided
to prove to each other they were being honest and above-board by
shaking each other's hand, thereby making it apparent that
neither was concealing a weapon?

Trust me on this.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. SPECIAL -- CLOUDCROFT FROM SPACE
3. VILLAGE NEWS
4. INSIDE THE SHOP -- PONDEROSA PINES GOLF COURSE
5. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- NEW MEXICO SKIES
6. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
7. COMING EVENTS
8. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
9. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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The rainy season is in full song. Forest restrictions have been
lifted. A hard rain is falling as I write (Wed). Still more
moisture is needed to reverse the conditions the early summer
drought has brought about.

Highs in the mid-70s. Lows in the mid-50s.

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SPECIAL -- CLOUDCROFT FROM SPACE
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Here are some great satellite images of Cloudcroft.

http://www.cloudcroft.com/photos/space.htm

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VILLAGE NEWS
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All fire restrictions have been lifted in the village of
Cloudcroft.

-o-

Due to the resignation of Jeff Farmer from the Cloudcroft School
Board, there is a board position open. Persons interested
should file a letter with the Superintendent's office by Aug 5.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- PONDEROSA PINES GOLF COURSE
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Ponderosa Pines Golf Course offers cool, beautiful mountain golf
at affordable prices. Located 9 mi. Southeast of Cloudcroft on
Hwy 130. Call (505) 682-2995 or email ponderosapines@zianet.com
for more information.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- NEW MEXICO SKIES
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Designed for the dedicated amateur astronomer. Near Cloudcroft.

http://www.nmskies.com/

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - Since the Cloudcroft area is getting much needed rain, has
the Forest Service opened up any areas for firewood cutting?

A - At least one area is open for firewood harvesting. Check
with the Sacramento office (505-682-2551) for more info.

There is also a large amount of firewood in the Cloud Country
area. We are told it is free if you cut it yourself. Contact
Stan Johanson (505-682-2896) for specifics.
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COMING EVENTS
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July 27 -- Train Load of Talent. Covered Pavilion. 7:30pm.
Proceeds benefit the victims of the Rio Penasco Fire.

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

August 1-4 -- Gathering of Circles. For more information see
www.GatheringOfCircles.com or phone (915) 550-3302.

August 3 -- Otero County Electric Coop annual meeting.
Cloudcroft High School Gym. For more information, call
Eddie Little at (505) 682-2521.

August 10 -- Otero County Fair Parade. Alamogordo. 4pm.

August 14-17 -- Otero County Fair. Otero County Fairgrounds.
For more information, call (505) 437-6120.

August 16, 17, 18 -- Singing in the Clouds. High School.
For more information, call (505) 682-2733.

August 25 -- Music Night, Ice Cream Social, and Silent Auction.
Cloudcroft Methodist Church, 5pm. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

August 31-Sept. 2 -- Labor Day Fiesta. Burro Avenue.
Sidewalk sales, street dance, entertainment, games.

August 31 -- Street Dance. Burro Avenue. 7pm.

August 31 -- James Canyon Volunteer Fire Department Labor Day
BBQ, Auction, and Dance. Dinner 5pm. Auction 7pm.
Dance (live band) 9pm. Call (505) 687-3960 for more details.

September 7 -- Methodist Men's Auction, 9am-5pm at the Covered
Pavilion in Zenith Park.

September 15 -- Governor’s 10K Run/Walk. For more info, call
(505) 682-2733.

September 21 -- Lumberjack Days. Chainsaw and ax competitions.
Zenith Park. For more information, call (505) 682-2733.

September 28-29 -- Aspencade tours (fall foliage at its best).
For more information, call (505) 682-2733.

October 5, 6 -- Oktoberfest. Juried art show. Zenith Park

October 5, 6 -- Aspencade tours

October 19, 20 -- High Rolls Apple Festival. High Rolls, NM.
For more information, call (505) 682-1151.

October 26 -- Harvestfest. Pumpkin carving, hay rides.

October 31 -- Trick or Treat. Burro Avenue. 5-7pm.

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.

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. Third Tuesday of each month starting at 6pm
and last Thursday of each month starting at 12pm. 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:

Reading your story on cutting wood made me think of all the
people that could use some free firewood. That's right, free.
Right here in Cloud Country.

We are cleaning up our lots and we have plenty of free firewood
for the taking. So, let people know about it, thanks.

Stan Johansen 

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Dear Newsletter:

Your argument with your wife concerning who's working the
hardest reminds me of my life back on our family farm in the
'50's. My brother and I had this argument, often.

We finally agreed, if both are steadily working, doing physical
work, the amount of work done by each of us is equal. We agreed
also that if one's work is more physically demanding, then that
person is actually working harder.

Then, we argued which was the most physically demanding, the
work I was performing, or that which he was performing.

On many occasions, I had to quit what I was doing, sit down,
with a glass of cold spring water in hand, wipe sweat from my
forehead with a handkerchief soaked in the creek, and observe
that which he was doing in order to make an accurate analysis.

Sometimes, it would take a considerable amount of time for me
to process all of his efforts so that a final analysis could
be made.

I recall once, when we were cutting sprouts growing from roots
of trees that had been removed in "new ground," I found it
necessary to study the way he swung his bush ax to determine
if he was obtaining maximum proficiency. (Gosh, there goes that
guilty feeling, again.)

Your wife may wish to take on my old role.

Al Denard
Abilene, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

You and your wife are a team together. Those who play together
stay together.

I love the mountains and the fireplaces in the winter time.

This is a real neat newsletter.

Glad to hear that you guys are getting some rain there. If you
get too much, you can send some this way.

Thanks for the nice newsletter.

Shirley Myers
Amarillo, TX.

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Dear Newsletter:

I was driving down the hill last night about 7 o'clock and got
caught in a rain storm that even impressed me.

Those big rocks falling from the walls before and after the
tunnel really got my attention. I had white knuckles and a
locked jaw! It felt like driving through a mine field! These
were big rocks, bordering on boulder size.

Have you heard any falling rock stories? I would warn your
readers about hanging out near the tunnel in a bad storm.

So give me the bears and keep the rocks! I have seen a lot of
rocks fall there over the years, but not like last night!

Cliff McDaniel

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Dear Newsletter:

We just got home tonight after spending a week in Cloudcroft,
and the first thing I had to do was read the newsletter.

We had a wonderful time, and it was very special, since a year
ago my wife was diagnosed with a serious disease while we were
in Cloudcroft. After her surgery at the Mayo Clinic, the
doctors said we could give the altitude another try.

She made it fine and when we go back for her final checkup in
January we are hoping they will tell us the altitude will not
have any long-term affects on her lung and heart condition. If
that happens we will be buying a cabin as soon as possible since
the heat and humidity of Texas really gives her problems. We
are hoping and praying to be at least part time residents next
year.

One other thing. Before our trip we checked out the official
New Mexico travel site on the web and were amazed to find not
one word about Cloudcroft except for the scenic road to Sunspot.
We were upset at first, but upon reflection maybe it is best
to keep that little part of heaven a secret.

Regards,
David and Sandy Hanebutt

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Dear Newsletter:

Did any of the rest of you have withdrawal symptoms?

By the end of Thursday when by 3 pm (central standard) I had
not received my newsletter I began to have a disease known as
"Vanlandinghamish" withdrawal.

What would I do if my Thursday escape form the big city did
not arrive? How could I face Friday knowing that I had not
heard news of the place where the world was at peace (at least
most of the time).

I was beside myself. I paced, I cussed, I swore up and down
that I would stop reading this stupid newsletter that I have
injected into my life vein like a drug addict. This Don guy
who's antidotes and stories are so refreshing and relaxing and
heart moving must absolutely GO. I wonder with how anyone could
be so inconsiderate of other people.

(4:45 pm) WAIT. THANK GOD. The newsletter just arrived. Just in
the nick of time I might add. I could breathe again. All was
right with the world. I only had one thing to say to Don for
future reference. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN. Some of us out
here are depending on you.

(Keep up the good work DON.)

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

[Thank you for the kind words. The Cloudcroft webmaster, who
is responsible for mailing out the newsletter, worked on it
until 2am Thur morning, slept 2 hours, got up and drove 10 1/2
hours. As soon as he got to where he was going, he plugged in
his laptop and sent out the newsletter. That's why it was
later than usual last issue. Please note, however, that we
always date the newsletter on a Friday. We try to get it out
on Thursday, but do not consider it late until after Friday.]

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Dear Newsletter:

It is no mystery to me this fascination with yogi. Everything
you have written about him was written comedy at its finest.

I only hope that we don't lose the free newsletter when you are
discovered by some miserable executive sitting behind a desk
wishing he were "cuttin and splittin".

Sandi Perdun
Brandon, Florida

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