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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #193
December 19, 2003
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Dear Subscriber:

Maybe it's a symptom of aging.

I remember when my parents and their friends were my age, they
expressed an edge of anxiety about us members of the next
generation.

They seemed less than assured by our adoption of attitudes and
clothing styles different from theirs. It was difficult for
them to appreciate the social significance of Iron Butterfly
postures, black lights and bell-bottom pants that made us look
like we were walking with our legs in a couple of teepees.

As for us, we were equally as befuddled by our folks' lack of
broadmindedness and tolerance.

Thirty-five years later I find myself not nearly as broadminded
or tolerant and I probably wouldn't wear a pair of those bell-
bottoms even if GQ Magazine said they were cool again.

I'm also experiencing an attitude I used to look down my nose at
my parents for. It's a kaleidoscope of thoughts, but they all
begin with the question "What's with kids nowadays?"

I'm speaking specifically of an apparent dwindling of the work
ethic among adolescents. Like I say, maybe my attitude is being
colored by my age, but do youngsters want more reward for less
elbow grease than they used to?

Obviously you can't lump them all together, but statisticians
tell us that, as a group, there's less academic accomplishment
among our youngsters than there once was.

In a recent survey participants (18 to 22) were shown 5
pictures. A little more than half recognized George Bush. Less
than a third recognized Dick Cheney. Every one of them
recognized Micheal Jackson. Analyzing these results, either
Micheal Jackson should run for office or Dick Cheney should
learn how to do The Moonwalk.

Here comes the "when I was a kid" line.

When I was a kid (a lot younger than 18), I knew who Dwight
Eisenhower was. I knew who Richard Nixon was back when he was
Eisenhower's Vice President (before "Tricky" became his most
recognized nickname).

Is it true that too few kids today care? Is it true that too
few kids' parents care whether or not their kids care? Could
be the dwindling recognition of the work ethic in our society
is more the parents' fault than the kids.

From infancy we demonstrate to kids that life's goodies will be
handed to them just for the asking...sometimes even without
asking.

"C'mon, Sweety-pie. Just one more bite. Don't you just love
mashed up carrots? Sure you do. Open wide. Here comes the
train into the station. Oh, isn't that cute? You have carrots
coming out of your nose! Harry, where's the cam-corder? We
have one here for America's Funniest Videos. You rollin? OK.
C'mon, Sweety-pie. One little bodily function noise and Mommy
and Daddy make a cool ten grand."

Then the kid grows older. For the first 12 or so years of their
lives they've had it pretty cushy. Clean clothes have
miraculously appeared in their closets. Meals (after the mashed
carrots days) have been hot, tasty and on time. Then suddenly
there's a word presented to them that they don't understand.

"No?" What do you mean, "no"? All my friends are wearing
Zipps. Zipps shoe strings glow in the dark. You can't expect
me to wear shoes that don't have glow-in-the-dark shoe strings.
They're just $120 a pair. What do you mean, "no"? That does
it. Guess I'll just have to call the Child Abuse Hotline.

Which brings me to a question...do they still make Keds?

My parents taught me an appreciation for the Work Ethic. When
I was 16 I worked all summer in construction so I could buy my
first car. I paid $250 for a 1955 Chevy (that was back when a
'55 Chevy was just an old car and not a collector's classic).

I loved that car. I slept in it the first three nights I had
it. I washed it once a day. I loved it for two reasons. It
was my first car, and I paid for it myself. I fussed a lot
about it at the time because I knew kids that drove brand new
cars that Mommy and Daddy gave them, but looking back, I'm glad
my parents had that attitude.

It wasn't just my parents that influenced me to believe
pay-your-own-way was cool.

There was a kid that lived in our little town. He was about
three years older than I. His family was well-to-do...high on
the social and economic ladder. They could afford to give this
guy anything he wanted, but they didn't. He worked after school
and on weekends to make money to buy what he wanted. He studied
hard and made good grades. He excelled in athletics. He was a
star basketball and football player. He was considered a
natural athlete, but like most natural athletes will tell you,
a heckuva lot of sweat and practice went into his successes.

By example, this kid taught me hard work was not just rewarding,
it was also an attribute others admired.

So, if there are any young guys reading this newsletter, here's
a little bug in your ear:

If you want something, don't ask for it. Work for it. You'll
appreciate having it a lot more and the girls will think you're
awesome and without even knowing it, you might be influencing
some nerdy little underclassman to be all he can be...

...and if you don't know who Dick Cheney is, go look it up.

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 -- FIRST NATIONAL BANK
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- SANDIA SKI AREA
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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Windy and cold this week. Highs in the mid-30s. Lows in the
single digits. No new snow since late last week. As of
Wednesday, accumulations had largely melted away.

Snow alerts will be posted on Cloudcroft.com if there is
significant accumulation.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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Lisa Thomassie was named the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce's
Citizen of the Year at the Chamber's annual banquet last month.

Thomassie is General Manager of The Lodge of Cloudcroft.

-o-

Gary Wood told The Newsletter he will be a candidate for re-
election to the Cloudcroft Village Council. Final filing date
is January 6. We have yet to hear from Brad Rasch, the other
incumbent in the election.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- FIRST NATIONAL BANK
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If your account is big or small, you're special with us! A
full-service community bank. We serve families and businesses
throughout Otero County, New Mexico, Holloman Air Force Base,
and beyond.

Six locations to serve you--10th Street, 1st Street, 9th Street,
and White Sands Mall in Alamogordo, 300 Central Street in
Tularosa, and Burro Street in Cloudcroft.

COMMERCIAL LOANS, MORTGAGE LOANS AND INSTALLMENT LOANS. Local
approval for all loans!

FAST CASH VISA DEBIT CARD - NO FEE - withdraw from checking. PC
BANKING: Secure and convenient! DIRECT INFORMATION ANYTIME LINE:
(505) 437-3425 (437-DIAL). CHECKING ACCOUNT OPTIONS TO FIT YOUR
NEEDS. Make us your home town bank! For more information see the
link to our web site on the Finance page of Cloudcroft.com:

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

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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- SANDIA PEAK SKI AREA
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Near Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

http://www.sandiapeak.com/

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - Are Digital Subscriber Lines available in Cloudcroft?

A - Yes. DSL is available through the phone company. It is
expensive, but if you are using a dedicated phone line for your
dial-up internet service, the change-over to DSL eliminates the
need for the extra phone line so the monthly cost difference is
a wash. Add to that a much faster service and DSL is a pretty
good deal.
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COMING EVENTS
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December 20 -- Christmas in Cloudcroft. Zenith Park.

December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 7pm.
Cloudcroft United Methodist Church

December 28 -- Lake Lucero Tour. White Sands.

January 7 -- High Noon Book Discussion Club, Cloudcroft
Library. Noon. The book being discussed is Mystic River by
Dennis Lehane. Bring your lunch and enjoy the discussion.

February 20-22 -- Cloudcroft Mardi Gras.

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. The Cloudcroft Art Society will not be meeting in 
December or January. The next meeting will be the first Sunday
at 2pm in February. 

Cox Canyon Volunteer Fire and Rescue is organizing an
auxiliary unit. If you would like to help support this group
of dedicated men and women, call 682-3084, 682-4664, 682-3719
or 682-3234.

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 button.

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:

Well better late than never.... I just wanted to tell you how
much I enjoy your newsletter and especially the late October
article in NEWSLETTER #185, October 24, 2003 on Miss Daisy.

Well I can say that my husband and I have a Miss Daisy also...
she is a golden retriever, who originally hails from West
Texas, has a sizable tennis ball collection and ropes, has
only 3 legs, big ears and soulful brown eyes. She too "rides
herd" on our other two goldens....it has to be the name Miss
Daisy.

Your article was very touching I have to share the photo of my
3-legged wonder gal.

http://www.cloudcroft.com/photos/snowball.jpg

Some day we hope to relocate to your area. We very much enjoy
your newsletter.

Golden Wishes for a Joyful Holiday Season,

Mary Paluszek-Pirc & Dale Pirc
Miss Daisy, Aspen and Saguaro Sandy

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Dear Newsletter:

My wife and I were having a difficult time the other day trying
to identify exactly what it was about Cloudcroft that we loved
so much.

Could it be the friendly folks or the wonderful stores on Burro
St.? How about the beautiful geographic setting amidst the
mountains of southern New Mexico?

After we got back from our last trip up there with our friends
from Austin, Texas, we decided what we like about Cloudcroft
the most was the sound of the wind in the pines as we sit on
the front porch of the cabin we usually rent. What a wonderful,
peaceful retreat for the soul!

We will be back in February for our next installment. Please
arrange for us to have some snow as well. We don't get much of
that white stuff down in Central Texas.

Harry & Pat Guillote
Temple, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

I emailed you with the news that our family was going to get
to vacation in your little village a few days before Christmas.

But as you would know it, things have changed and due to an
"unexpected" problem we had to cancel our reservation for our
cabin. 

Both my husband's mom and mine became gravely ill, both with
lung diseases and things where looking pretty bad, so with my
husband having to miss work one week to be at the hospital with
his Mom we lost our ticket to the beautiful Mountains.

While my heart is sad and disappointed I know that things just
happen. Maybe we will get to still come before the snow goes
away in the Spring.

And on a brighter note, both Moms are doing a lot better now.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Stay warm.

Debbie Webb
Abilene TX

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Dear Newsletter:

Christmas-Season is here again. And of course our first trip to
start it off is visiting Cloudcroft! A 2-day visit turned out
to be 4-day visit (happens every time). We had so much fun
visiting with friends and enjoying ourselves.

Tip for first-time visitors: Ladies, drop your hubby off at the
Western Bar (they are safe there, especially if you stay in
one of the nice town motels) and then hit the shops!

I already shop for Christmas in Cloudcroft in October, so this
December-visit is always just for me.

A special treat every time is the awesome food in the Western
Bar/Restaurant! Especially the once-in-a-lifetime treat with
Sammy's Asado. (Still dreaming...)

And to top it off, we get our Christmas-tree with a permit from
the Forest Service.

Now tell me, how much better can life be, then having this
beautiful Christmas-tradition!

Merry Christmas to all of Cloudcroft and especially you, Mr.
Vanlandingham and a Happy New Year for Cloudcroft, the Mayor
and Police

*Think Snow* 

Christina Stock

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Dear Newsletter:

Seeing the remark about how difficult it is to build charcoal
fires in Cloudcroft reminded me that we've tried (without much
success) TWO different vacuum cleaners in our cabin in Robin
Hood. Neither one seemed to suck up the beautiful New Mexican
dust that blooms from that blessed New Mexican mud...any
suggestions?
 
It's a little after 05:00 hours here in Houston. I'm about to
take my daily morning walk with the dog. We always imagine
that the stars under which we're walking are shining on our
most favorite spot--Cloudcroft.
 
Thanks for keeping us in touch.
 
The Sunjka's

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Dear Newsletter:

Well I remember the telephone when I was in Junior High, (shoot
that was just yesterday, 1955 wasn't it?). The phone was out
on a 4x4, one that supported the carport. This was in Sarasota,
FL.

This was also the business phone used by my father. Yup, I
remember. I got 3 minutes to talk, and my father always reminded
me of those three minutes. Contrary to what you men out there
think, I just could never use the phone as a social device, and
can't to this day.

Anyway, my husband and I are staying in Cloudcroft this year
for Christmas. I told him I would really like to go away for
Christmas this year and he said "Let's do it."

Well, I really don't think he expected me to make the
arrangements so quickly. But I did, and was lucky to get a
cabin (a cancellation) at The Cabins of Cloudcroft" and
hopefully our Christmas will be a White Christmas. 

I picked Cloudcroft because on our way to Pargosa Springs in
Colorado in September we drove through Cloudcroft, (I planned
it all along) and we both liked Cloudcroft. We asked a lot of
questions in the bar. That's where you always find out
information, well we had a couple of drinks, that's what we
do in an area that we want to learn about. Ok, got some more
ornaments to put on the tree. See you in a week or so.
 
Elaine Jolley
Santa Fe, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

I have also pondered the rapid onset of the 'benefits' of
technology. I feel that it is akin to the story of the
'Monkey's Paw' which advised caution on what you wish for.

Several times in the past years I have answered what I thought
was a polite query from a stranger only to find that they were
using a cellphone. Those incidents usually earned me a strange
look or a one of alarm if they were overly concerned with
stalkers. I have had one person chide me saying that her
conversation was 'private'.

If talking on a cellphone in a public venue carries with it an
issue of privacy then public restrooms may become an outmoded
concept. In southern Italy and parts of San Francisco that
already seems to be the case.

The reaction I got from replies to questions not posed, makes
me long for a gentler time when it was customary to exchange
pleasantries with a stranger. Those times also allowed kids to
play on the neighborhood streets with confidence that the
neighbors would watch over their safety and, usually, rat you
out to your parents if a window was broken. It was common to
not lock the doors of your house, to take a shortcut across a
neighbor's property, or, when suffering a fall on an icy
sidewalk, having the owner rush out to offer help and comfort.

Today we lock our doors, are careful to not trespass, and shun
help for a spill on the advice of the insurance companies,
police departments, and lawyers. To do otherwise could result
in ongoing legal problems.

We live in a society were no one has accountability for their
actions, 'It isn't my fault I fell. I slipped on a label on the
ladder rung saying the rungs could be slippery when wet.' Hey!
Let's sue the ladder manufacturer and Sir Isaac Newton.

I know that cellphones have saved lives, especially in the
remote areas surrounding us. I think that people have become
addicted to them, however. People appear obligated to report on
the most mundane activities on a regular basis. Telephoning
someone to report that you are currently shopping at WalMart,
which I have observed, is beyond absurd . . . unless you are in
a Witness Protection Program or reporting to your Probation
Officer.

I have even had a surgeon, during a recent operation under
local anesthesia, ask me to turn my cellphone off, if I had
one. Since I was lying under a sheet dressed only in a
hospital gown, my imagination took off thinking of places where
a cellphone could be stored.

Joe Boyle
Mayhill NM

P.S. I have found Miller Moths crammed into the smoke
detectors in my house. They seem attracted by the infrared
device used to detect smoke particles.

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