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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #165
June 6, 2003
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Dear Subscriber:

Thousands of young people all across the country graduated this
week, be it from college, high school, or welding school.

No matter what level one has graduated from or what the age of
the graduate, graduation is the epitome of success. It's another
step to being who you want to be. Of all Americans that have
graduated from anything, you won't find many of them on the
welfare rolls. Success is the opiate of the future leaders of
any country.

When one thinks of graduation, one visualizes the hats flying
in the air at the Naval Academy or the long-winded speeches by
persons that think they have something important to say while
the graduates mostly want him or her to shut up and hand out
the diplomas.

Have you noticed that luggage is a popular gift for Graduates?
It's a practical gift, but it's also a gift with a message.

"Congratulations! Now you're a grown-up. Pack your stuff in
your new luggage. We need your room for the new pool table."

As if you Graduates haven't heard enough preaching in the past
few days, I have some words of advice.

Your life just got harder. Sure, Mom and Dad will be there when
you need them, but you are expected to take care of yourself
for the most part.

Case in point: Laundry.

The clean socks and underwear that miraculously appeared in
your bureau over the years won't be there anymore, unless you
put them there.

You must take your dirty clothes to a place called a laundromat.

You must wash them, dry them, and then place one sock with
another sock that bears close resemblance to each another.
"Wash and wear" is a bad joke perpetuated on consumers by the
"Big Laundry" industry. Nothing actually comes out of the dryer
ready to wear. Therefore you may have to buy an iron. An iron
is a device that makes clothes look like your mom made them
look. To make it work properly, it must be plugged in, kinda
like your stereo system.

Then there's meals. You'll have to do that yourself, too.

No longer will you be able to wake up, run a comb through your
hair and walk to the breakfast table to a feast of flapjacks,
eggs, bacon and your choice of juices.

Here's a suggestion: McDonald's.

Finances.

Probably the toughest battle you have to face. You will be
introduced to words you never heard before, like "rent" and
"easy payments".

My Dad gave me good advice after I left home. He said, "Son,
divide your budget into two categories; food and beer. If
you're short of money at the end of the month, cut back on
your food."

Funny, Dad.

Fact is, Graduates, you've just lost your position as a
"dependent". If you don't already know how to budget your
money, you'd better learn quick, or you might end up like me
when I was fresh out of school and on my own...eating Rice
Chex and Vienna Sausages for breakfast...and lunch...and
dinner.

I wasn't asked to give a speech at a graduation ceremony
this year, so I can be square with you.

You Graduates have just entered a stage of your life that
you may have never visited. It's called "reality".

Good Luck.

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 -- MOUNTAIN DOVE REALTY
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- CLOUDCROFT SENIOR CENTER
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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Another exceptional week in the Sacramentos. Lots of humidity
and clouds and a few light rains. There were reports of as much
as a quarter inch of rain, but it came in cells. Other areas
close by the village didn't receive as much. Warmer toward the
end of the week.

Highs in the upper-70s. Lows in the low-40s.

It has been enough to help keep the fire danger in check.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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The official burned acreage count in the Walker Fire last month
is 2690 acres.

The most damage was in the 16 Springs Canyon area. About 200
acres burned was private land. The rest was National Forest
and Mescalero Apache Reservation acreage. A little over 100
acres of damage was on the Reservation.

An investigation continues into the possibility that the fire
was intentionally set.

Three residences and 16 other structures were destroyed. No
injuries reported as a direct result of the fire.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- MOUNTAIN DOVE REALTY
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Since 1991, serving the last frontier of the Rockie Mountains
in the heart of the Lincoln National Forest. A step ahead of
the crowd, catering to your heart's desire. A year-round
moderate climate. Land, mountain properties, cabins, ranches,
and commercial. Call 1-800-494-3683 (toll free) or 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 -- CLOUDCROFT SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER
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See our website for future activities.

http://mtnseniors.com/Events.htm

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - We just moved to Cloudcroft. Do we need to get our
vehicles adjusted to the new higher altitude?

A - It wouldn't hurt. The newer vehicles aren't as sensitive
to altitude changes as the older ones, but your mechanic can
adjust your fuel injectors or carburetor for optimum
performance.

The altitude affects vehicle performance mainly in the winter,
when cold temperatures can lead to sluggish starting. Again,
older vehicles are more susceptible.

Q - Do you use a Thesaurus program when writing the newsletter?

A - Never. I do use spell check. I'm an awful speller.
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COMING EVENTS
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June 7 -- National Trails Day.

June 7 -- Miss New Mexico Day Parade.

June 7 -- Miss NM Golf Tourney at The Lodge. $40 per person or
$160 per team. You get golf, a cart, prizes, and lunch with
the 23 contestants all for just $40! For more information or
reservations, call (505 )682-2733 or (505) 682-2566.

June 10 -- "Godspell" by the youth group from 1st UMC, San
Angelo, Tx, 7pm, at the Cloudcroft United Methodist Church. No
admission charge and everyone is invited.

June 13, 14 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion

June 20, 21 -- Western Roundup

June 21, 22 -- High Rolls Cherry Festival.

June 27-29 -- Chimney Spring Bluegrass Festival. $5.00/Friday
only, $8.00/Saturday only, $12.00/weekend pass. 10 bands
scheduled, plus open stage time on Friday and Saturday.
Call (505) 687-3520 for more information.

July 4 -- Burro Avenue celebration.

July 4-6 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion

July 5 -- Street Dance. Burro Street.

July 11, 12 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion.

July 12, 13 -- July Jamboree.

July 12 -- Street Dance. Burro Street.

July 18, 19 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion.

August 7-10 -- Gathering of Circles.

August 30, 31, Sept. 1 -- Labor Day Fiesta.

September 1 -- Lumber Jack Day.

September 19-21 -- Healing Hearts.

September 21 -- Governor Johnson's Run/Walk.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the second Sunday of each month,
2-4pm, in the Old Red Brick School House. Call (505) 682-3004
for more information and details on the Cloudcroft Summer Art
Workshops.

Would you like to help deliver meals to the homebound around
Cloudcroft? Monday through Friday deliveries. Call the
Cloudcroft Senior Center at (505)-682-3022. For information on
other Senior Center services, see their web site, listed on the
Cloudcroft.com Links page.

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

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 8:30 every Tuesday morning.

Free Vitals Clinic. Cloudcroft Senior Citizens Center, every
Wednesday. High Rolls Senior Citizens Center, first Thursday
of each month.

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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:

I only recently subscribed to your newsletter, but I have
really enjoyed the three issues I have received. We live in
Las Cruces and really enjoy day-trips to Cloudcroft in all
seasons.

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate receiving
your well-written comments.

Anne Coleman

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Dear Newsletter:

As the newest residents of Silver Cloud we thoroughly enjoyed
the meeting last Saturday, and met many friendly residents.
Your wife gave us several good hints on how to deal with the
moths that had found a home in our cabin. And the food was
outstanding! It was evident people take pride in the good
water situation that has been set up.

We enjoyed the Tipper story. We have our own dog-human. Her
name is Cindy and we got her at the pound. She is a black lab,
and my wife (an elementary school counselor) takes her to
school every day. She is great with the kids and roams the
halls for someone to pet her. There are always many people
willing to oblige.

At home she goes with me to play golf at the local course and
loves to jump in every water hole along the way. The few times
I can't take her, she really lets me know about it. She's about
12 or 13 now and doesn't run along side the golf cart much
anymore, but she loves to go with me.

We are looking forward to getting back to Cloudcroft the middle
of June.

David and Sandy Hanebutt
Stephenville, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

Couldn't agree with you more on the summers in Cloudcroft,
while I lived in Alamogordo there was a time that I worked
nights. This gave me the perfect excuse to throw a blanket on
the back of my motorcycle and ride to the Cloudcroft area to
sleep in the cool air under a pine tree during the day. The
best Beauty Rest made is a poor second!

One thing I did learn early on, if you're going to try to
impress a young lady with an evening ride to Cloudcroft on a
motorcycle, don't forget a warm jacket! We nearly froze to
death in the middle of the summer (I don't think she was
impressed at all). Even though the desert around Alamogordo can
still be very warm at 10:00 pm, Cloudcroft isn't.

Thanks again for your wonderful newsletter.

Charlie Smith
Mason, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

My sentiments exactly Don. The summers are to die for. My two
favorite aromas: the smell of the desert after a rainshower
and the smell of Cloudcroft after a rainshower.

B. A. Nogales
Round Rock, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

I have been reading all the letters from subscribers tonight.

I have laughed at some and cried at others. The lady that wrote
in about the chocolate lab that really makes me sad. I can
relate to this because we lost a cocker spaniel. We really
grieved for a long time. Even today we still miss him.

Thanks for the letters. Keep them coming.

Shirley Myers

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Dear Newsletter:

Last year, along about Christmas, our computer crashed along
with your email ID and we have missed the news from Cloudcroft.
A friend of ours that resides in Cloudcroft 1/2 of the year
just forwarded your most recent Newsletter and I have again
subscribed and look forward to the news and stories.

My wife and I have been coming up to the Cloudcroft/Ruidoso
area for a few weeks in the summer for the last several years
and we do enjoy the cool mountain air and the wonderful
hospitality. This year we will be in Ruidoso for a week in the
middle of July, but will be visiting in Cloudcroft too.

Again, we enjoy your Newsletter and look forward to the next
one.

Elroy & Gail Tachirhart
San Antonio, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

On Thursday May 29, 2003 after returned home from work, I
crawled into my home after putting in a relativity short,
13-hour day. Grabbing a towel to remove the dry heat from my
body, and just prior to taking a dip in the pool, which is
usually a refreshing 90 or 95 degrees, I found the message
light blinking on my phone. Hitting the replay button I was
assaulted verbally by my sister’s voice.

"ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN HUH!"

It got all the way up to 73 degrees here before the temperature
started to drop."

This was the entire message. The return phone number displayed
on the identity box was to her cabin just outside of Cloudcroft.

"%$&#@"!" was the first word I muttered, but then "Lucky %$&@"
was my second thought. Oh well, maybe in the first part of
July.... Maybe, if I’m a luck %&# um %$&#@.

I apologize for my language.

Bill White
CC Property Owner,
Trapped in Phoenix, Arizona

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