++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #195
January 2, 2004
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Subscriber:

If you're like me, you have to concentrate a little for a while
when writing the last digit of the new year on your checks.

It seems a very short time ago that we were all worried about
Y2K. Hard to believe that was 4 years ago.

Time is tenacious and it seems the older you get the faster time
goes by.

-o-

Not much going on in January, but it is the best time of year
for TV commercials...the shameless attempt to sell you aids for
your new year's resolutions. Lots of fitness equipment to help
stock future garage sales. There is even an increase in ads
hawking computer dating services (in case you want to replace
your husband this year).

We're getting a taste of increased commercial fare now, but the
Big Daddy of commercial assaults is on Super Bowl Sunday. The
commercials are often better than the game. They're a lot
better than Superbowl half-time when cap-toothed rock stars lip
sink songs while a thousand or so extras dance around. There are
so many pyrotechnics that it takes halfway through the third
quarter for the smoke to clear.

"There's a flag on the play. No. My bad. It's just another
pom pom left over from the half-time show. Time out on the
field. We'll be back in an hour after these messages."

Half time is the armpit of Superbowls. My idea of a great
Superbowl half time show? The Marching Band Allstars.

Take a few of the best musicians from each college marching band
in the country...organize them into the Mother of all Bands and
let them put on a show at the Superbowl. Be sure and include
lots of different camera shots (The Trombone-cam...The Tuba-cam
...etc.).

Marching bands and football go together. The rock stars don't
know a football from a Frisbee. Getemoutathere.

Oh, well. I complain but I'll be watching. Who knows? During
all the commercials and cheesy ceremonies maybe a good football
game will break out.

-o-

So, what was the year's biggest event? The war, I guess but
other things happened too:

Politics got meaner. Micheal Jackson got weirder. TV got
duller (I have 100 channels and I still catch myself watching
"Leave it to Beaver"). Burgers got Bigger and, as a result,
cows got madder.

-o-

I enjoyed the holidays but I'm relieved they're over. Too many
expectations chasing too few realizations.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

----------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
----------------------------------------------------------------
1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE NEWS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- MICHELLE MEYN
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- SNOW STATISTICS
5. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
6. COMING EVENTS
7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8. CONTACT INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------------------------
LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
----------------------------------------------------------------
Very cold. Around 5 degrees for a low this weekend. Warming
back up by mid week (around 50 for a high Tuesday). About two
inches of new snow New Year's Day.
----------------------------------------------------------------
VILLAGE NEWS
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Village Council has voted to increase the Village Judge's
salary from $4000 to $5,500 per year, beginning March 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
INSIDE THE SHOP -- MICHELLE MEYN
----------------------------------------------------------------
Serving the Sacramento Mountain area for over 5 years, including
Cloudcroft, High Rolls, and Laborcita Canyon. From townhomes to
log homes, part-time to full-time residences, building lots to
acreage, it´s easier than you think to get into the home of your
dreams and I´d like to help! "Ich spreche deutsch."

For the most current real estate information or a free
relocation package, email michelle@michellemeyn.com, call 
(877) 430-0664 (toll free) or (505) 430-0664 (locally), or see
the link to our web site on the Real Estate page of
Cloudcroft.com:

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

----------------------------------------------------------------
CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- SNOW STATS
----------------------------------------------------------------
Up to date information on North American Snow statistics.

http://www.snowstats.com/

----------------------------------------------------------------
Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
----------------------------------------------------------------
Q - Does Cloudcroft have an airport?

A - No. The nearest airport is in Alamogordo. The nearest
airport serviced by major commercial airlines is El Paso...about
90 miles from Cloudcroft.
----------------------------------------------------------------
COMING EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
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.

----------------------------------------------------------------
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

----------------------------------------------------------------
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

My sweetie and I want to wish you and Peggy a Merry Christmas.

We appreciate very much, your support of our military. My career
in the USAF was a little over 30 years. Our oldest son is
retired from the USAF, and our youngest son is headed back to
Baghdad next May. He recently received the Bronze Star for his
service during the last conflict. He is also USAF (Lt/Col with
17 years.)

We enjoy your newsletter very much, and look forward to
receiving it each week. We try to come to Cloudcroft each year
and love camping in the Lincoln National Forest. My wife loves
all of the little shops, and I got a round of golf in this year.
Lovely course!

You are one of Cloudcroft's treasures. I truly enjoy your
writing style and most of the subjects that you chose to write
about. 

Our best to you, Peggy and all of your pets for the New Year.

Sincerely,
Carl & Jeanine Robinson
Austin, Texas

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all our friends in 
Cloudcroft...and to all the folks we have yet to meet. Can
hardly wait to get back after the holidays, sometime soon, I
hope.

We certainly enjoy the Newsletter...thanks.

Marion and Dan Fossler

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

MERRY CHRISTMAS (not "xmas") and a Happy New Year to you and
yours!

Thanks much for such a wonderfully delightful and entertaining
Newsletter.

Larry & Jacquie
Faithful readers
Cabin owners in Cloudcroft
Live in Phoenix, hearts in Cloudcroft

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

It too bad you think of the rest of the world as clowns.

The world really is a beautiful place and we (the rest of the
world) are under threat from American WMD (depleted uranium
bombs and junk food). Cultures are in jeopardy, if we want our
cultures to survive and thrive, rejection of the American
individualism and materialism are a necessity.

Why are American values the only ones that are important in the
world as often stated by George Bush? Why should countries
which don't value the practices that American do be considered
enemies and clowns.

Why is there so little critical thought taught in schools,
especially regarding the consequences of American foreign
policy, think of the recent unprovoked US supported attacks 
on the Venezuelan leader because he tried to increase the value
of oil in his country.

It is almost too late because most of this generation of
teachers is poorly educated and thus cannot hope to pass on a
more advanced education to future generations.

All well enough rambling, certainly your newsletter both
entertains and provides a sociological study of segments of the
American population for me.

Thank you, Merry Christmas,
Gwen Bridge

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

I've enjoyed your newsletter a few short months now. Thank you!

Wondering what people will read, huh? I guess we read your
newsletter 'cause you're down to earth. You tell it like it is,
you have great stories, and for heaven's sake man....you live in
Cloudcroft. God's heaven on earth *smiling* I look forward to
your Newsletter and read every word.

My entire family reads your letters and on and on it goes.

I wish you, Peggy and the dogs a Very Merry Snow White
Christmas! I'll be in Clovis enjoying...well, I'll be in Clovis
with my family.

Stormie

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

Thank you so much for your newsletter.

We brought two of our grandsons to Cloudcroft last year after
Christmas. They were nine and eleven at the time and neither
had ever seen snow. It was as much of a thrill for us to watch
them enjoy the snow as it was for them.

The older one never misses reading your newsletter and guess
what they want to do after Christmas? We may have started a
tradition!

Thanks again and we love reading your newsletter.

Linda Williamson
Victoria Texas

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

I have read the comments about the younger generation. I am
sure my parents did not think my generation was worthy to take
control of the world.

But before we all despair, please remember our military and
what they are doing for us and for people they do not know.
This is our younger generation--an all volunteer military.

I am proud of them. Someone must have done something right in
raising them.

Peggy Baker
Fort Worth/Cloudcroft

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

The last movie we saw (at theater) was the Patriot. Now, we are
looking forward to COLD MOUNTAIN. We have read the novel and it
is of epic proportions.

Bought the book at Mt Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway of the
Appalachia mountains in North Carolina, a few miles up (or down)
the road from "Cold Mountain" (the mountain - not village).
It appears from reviews that the director is holding to the
novel very closely.

Betty & Allen Johannes

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

Pop your own pop-corn and sneak in in the theater in your
wife's over sized purse. It works every time.

Regards
Lyle Hanftm, father of Wendy Mack in CC.
El Paso

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

My 2003 was brightened every time I received the Newsletter.

Isn't it great when someone thinks like you do and they are
right?

A reader in Texas, and sometime (not often enough) visitor to
Ruidoso and Cloudcroft. Thanks for your efforts. I forward them
to everyone who thinks as we do (and some who may not and need
the education)!

MJ

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

Thanks for the honest-to-God "Merry Christmas" instead of the
good old "Happy Benign Non-Threatening Generic Money Spending
Tinsel And Plain White Lights Holidays" you tend to get these
days. One good thing about the wonderful live-longer-today
drugs besides their out-of-this-world price is the fact that
we can all now survive life long enough to reacquire what
Shakespeare once referred to as "guts". Maybe it was Patton....
 
Anyway, thanks for having the guts to say plain old "Merry
Christmas". God is proud of you for standing up for Him, and so
am I. Merry Christmas to all you fine people in Cloudcroft. I
hope it snows so much that the village is paralyzed for a week
and has to import snow plows from Detroit to clear the streets.

That's in Michigan, which is a state far, far away.
 
Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with 2004.
 
Dick Day
Biloxi

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

May you and Peggy have a most Blessed and joyous Christmas.

We look forward to being in Cloudcroft the first few weeks in
August.

Betty & Allen Johannes

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

This is the old guy from Las Cruces still hoping to find a
place in Cloudcroft, maybe next year.

I truly enjoy your newsletter. It brings you so close to the
people that are lucky enough to receive and read it. I've never
had a brother (always wanted one) and sometimes you come close
enough to be one to me.

I pray that your family have a magnificent Christmas (we still
celebrate it that way) and a wonderful New Year. I've said this
before and I will continue to say it. Keep those wonderful
newsletters coming!

Thanks again.
Dominick Fiumara,
Las Cruces, N.M. 

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

I am a recent subscriber and enjoy reading your newsletter.

My wife and I will be visiting Cloudcroft in mid-January for
a week. Could you please tell this flatlander from South Texas
whether I need to purchase snowchains and bring them with me
on our trip?

Thanks,
Jim Ellington

[It's a good idea.]

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year! Thanks for the
Newsletter. I enjoy reading everything that you write. Keep
up the great work!

Richard Wallace
El Paso

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

And...Merry Christmas to you too. You can't possible know how
much your readers enjoy your newsletter. Thank you!

I work through email with my business. I often receive up to
100 emails a day and so I delete as much as possible. When I
am busy I will save your newsletter until I have time. I would
never delete you! I am curious, just how many subscribers do
you have?

Cynthia West

[A few less than 5000.]

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

From NYC, or about as close, Clifton Park.

I lived in CC about 20 years ago and I really enjoy this
newsletter. I was (in CC) a bit of an infamous character so I
will keep my identity concealed, however, I must say, I am
tired of the politically correct thing to say.

I am a social worker and am instructed to say "Happy Holidays".
I love my Jewish friends. I still say "Merry Christmas". I
refuse to succumb to being PC. God founded this nation. I work
in a VA.

Thank God and our soldiers, I know freedom is not free!

Hello from New York,
A former bartender for the Red Dog.

PS: Hi Foss

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

I have read your newsletter faithfully for some time now. I
must respond to this one.

I recently finished a 40 day study entitled "The Purpose Driven
Life: What On Earth Am I Here For." Many Christian churches are
reading it as a church wide project. Mine was a project of one,
stimulated by my wife who had read it.

This nation was founded on Christian principles. Our early
leaders were God fearing people. During the early years of our
history, Christians were zealous and sometimes militant in their
effort to convert people to Christianity. It has become
politically incorrect to express Christian views in pubic. I
applaud your effort and encourage you to do it more. You have
a good audience and the opportunity to use it for Gods purpose.

I have a personal web site (hosted with Cloudcroft Online) where
I try to share with others my family and life. I have had the
occasional compliment on some of the content. My passions in
life are God first, followed by family, work and play. I
sometimes must remind myself of the proper order. As I get
older, family and play become more important. I am frequently
reminded that God is in charge and I am just here for His
pleasure.

Keep up the good work. I will keep on reading.

Bill Crutcher
Dallas & Chalet Camper Village

================================================================
CONTACT INFORMATION
================================================================
TO UNSUBSCRIBE
To unsubscribe, email: unsubscribe@cloudcroft.com
You MUST put Unsubscribe in the Subject line.
----------------------------------------------------------------
TO SUBSCRIBE
To subscribe, go to
http://www.cloudcroft.com/subscribe.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------
BOUNCED EMAILS
If email to an address bounces (returns to us), that email
address is automatically deleted from our mailing list. If you
cease getting this newsletter suddenly, probably your provider
bounced your newsletter. This can happen when a provider is too
busy or is shutdown for some reason. If this happens to you, 
just revisit our site and re-add your email address to our list.
----------------------------------------------------------------
SUGGESTIONS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
If you have comments or suggestions for this newsletter, please 
direct them to: newsletter@cloudcroft.com
You MUST put CC-Editor in the Subject line.
----------------------------------------------------------------
PAST ISSUES
http://www.cloudcroft.com/newsletters.htm
================================================================
Please feel free to pass this newsletter along to your friends.
However, we ask that you keep it intact and forward it in
its entirety.