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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #229
August 27, 2004
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Dear Subscriber:

If you have been a long-time subscriber to The Newsletter, you
have probably noticed my propensity to relate to television.

I am guilty of constantly referring to things I saw on TV. I
use TV stuff in this column for a couple of reasons.

First, many of us may not like to admit it but we all watch TV
...some more than others. Secondly, Cloudcroft is an isolated
area. Not a lot of theater or live concerts or canasta clubs
around here. Sometimes our choices are limited to satellite TV
or watching the hummingbirds. Hummers are fun to watch but
their dialogue can become monotonous and you can't change the
channels.

I'm an admitted news and current events junkie. I thought it
was cool when we started getting all these TV news outlets on
cable and satellite.

Now I'm not so sure.

I'm tuned in to Fox News right now. I have a small TV set in
my office and it has been my background noise for writing for
the past hour. In that hour I've witnessed a 3-person panel
discussing the murder of a pregnant wife in California, four
experts talking about the alleged assault of a woman in 
Colorado by a basketball star and an interview with a movie 
star espousing his viewpoints on politics.

I'm sorry but an Academy Award nomination does not qualify one
as an expert on geopolitical affairs.

Question: Why do news networks continuously interview actors
about politics? Answer: It's the path of least resistance.
Actors are always available for an interview. "No comment" is
not a part of an actor's vocabulary.

It was an hour of pure flap.

I used to work in radio news. I know how hard it is to fill a
5 minute newscast with substantial news every hour. I can
imagine the challenge of delivering meat-and-potatoes news 60
minutes every hour, 24 hours a day but, c'mon...there are very
few of us out here in TV land that give a rat's behind what 
kind of tie Scott Peterson wore in the courtroom today.

To me, political news is good. I want to know more about who's
leading the country and who wants to and what their reasons 
are. It's the perfect reality show. Bush and Kerry don't eat 
worms but sometimes they come real close to it and in November
one of them will be booted off the island.

David (my brother-in-law and the Webmaster of Cloudcroft.com)
and I have a sustaining difference of opinion. Sometimes when
he visits we'll be watching TV and he'll want to mute the
commercials.

I tell him I think the commercials are sometimes the best part
of the shows. I usually win because it's my house and my TV
and I hold the remote in a death grip.

I wonder how many times cops are called to homes on a domestic
disturbance call involving a TV remote.

So, is Scott Peterson guilty? Did Coby Bryant assault that 
lady? Was there a second gunman on the grassy knoll?

Hand me the remote.

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 -- EMERALD FOREST REAL ESTATE
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- SALINAS PUEBLO MONUMENT
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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Reporting period Thursday, August 19 through Wednesday, August
25th.

High -- 72 (noon Monday 8-23)
Lo -- 43 (6am Friday 8-20)

Total precipitation for the reporting period: 0.05 inches.
Total precipitation since Jan 1: 14.9 inches

For an up-to-the-minute look at Cloudcroft weather, go to
Cloudcroft.com. It's updated every 10 minutes and it's free.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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As of Wednesday, state approval for the trucking in of water to
the village of Cloudcroft had not been received. A spokesman
for the village said paper work and the results of testing on
the well to be used as a water supply were the hold-ups.

The village has tied into the pond reservoir near the ski area
for emergency supplies. With the water restrictions, there has
been enough water to meet demand.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- EMERALD FOREST REAL ESTATE
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We at Emerald Forest Real Estate constantly strive to live up to
our motto in listing and selling real estate of all types and
sizes. Our customers feel we are SUCCESSFUL. Bill O´Brien the
Qualifying Broker specializes in the listing and selling of
ranches, having ranched all his life. We at Emerald Forest Real
Estate want to be of service to you in any way we can, not only
taking care of your real estate needs, but also in helping you
enjoy time spent in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. For more
information, see the link to web site on the Real Estate page
of Cloudcroft.com:

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

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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- SALINAS PUEBLO MONUMENT
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http://www.nps.gov/sapu/

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - Is there a leash law in Cloudcroft?

A - Yes. Cloudcroft adheres to most ordinances established by
Otero County. There is a leash law in effect for the county
including the village.

There are many dogs in the area that are considered "pickup
trained". They travel with their masters in the bed of the
pickup and are trained to stay in the truck unless commanded
otherwise by their owners. While many of these dogs are
unleashed, it is a gray area of the leash law and "pickup
dogs" are usually considered in compliance unless they show
aggression to others.
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COMING EVENTS
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September 1 -- High Noon book club. 12pm. In the library. Bring
your lunch and join us in discussing THE RED TENT by Anita
Diamant.

September 3 -- Cloudcroft Labor Day Fiesta

September 4 -- James Canyon Auction & BBQ. Party Barn in
Cloud Country Club (Highway 82 near mile marker 27). Dinner
begins a 5pm, Auction at 7pm, and dance at 9pm.

September 11 -- White Sands Star Party.

September 18 -- Lumberjack day. Cloudcroft.

September 18, 19 -- Run to the Aspens Car Show. Cloudcroft.

September 18, 19 -- White Sands Hot Air Balloon Invitational.
7am both days.

September 19 -- Gary Johnson’s Cloudcroft Run. World’s highest
certified 10k run. For more information call 505-687-2133.

September 25 -- Mountain Garden Club Style Show.

October 2, 3 -- Oktoberfest. Cloudcroft. Aspencade tours.

October 16-17 -- High Rolls Apple Festival. Over 50 arts/crafts
vendors, local apples and apple products, food, kids' stuff, 
and entertainment. Admission, parking, and ambiance are free.
For further information visit www.highrollsfestivals.com or 
call (505) 682-1151.

November 27 -- Beginning of Christmas in Cloudcroft and Santa
Land.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the second Thursday of each month,
5:30-7pm, in the Old Red Brick School House.

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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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

Well, I thought I was the only one who thought the dual roles
as City Administrator and County Commissioner were a problem.

My awareness of this happened the summer after I bought my
house in Cloudcroft (July 2001) -- Had major sewer problems
out in the street two houses down and I had to fix it myself!

I would call the county to report Cloudcroft had allowed raw
sewage to run in the streets and then I learned I had to talk
to the same person that had not helped me in Cloudcroft! 

I understand special permission was granted for this conflict
of interest and double emolument for this local civil 
servant. I can't believe some of the locals can't see how many
problems this presents.

Anyway, so I try to have as few dealings with the Village as
possible so I can enjoy my house without the stress. I have
enough of that in Houston!

How about those Texans beating the Cowboys? You didn't mention
it in you newsletter!

Becky Virtue
Houston, Texans

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Dear Newsletter:

I am sorry for your frustration. I hope things get better. I
am sorry you caught the Olympics at a bad time. Even though
the audience is small, the action is wonderful. I send you
loving and beautiful thoughts. Don't forget the beautiful
place you live. Hauling water might not be too bad.

Carol Dawn,
Summer visitor

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Dear Newsletter:

Good afternoon -- I am proud of you for switching to the 
Animal Channel. These news channels have become venues for
editorializing instead of giving the news -- "just the facts,
ma'am, just the facts." What happened to this philosophy for
reporting the news.

Thanks for your letters. Still enjoy them.
M. G.
Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

I always enjoy reading the Newsletter, but I especially love
to read about your pets.
 
One of your issues had a poem for a lost pet. It was in the
Newsletter not long after we had lost our family pet of 14
years. I have kept it at my desk and I still read it 
frequently. Recently some friends lost their pet of many 
years. I sent your poem to them. It is heartwarming.
 
Thank you for the uplifting stories.
 
Terry L. Faubion
San Angelo, Texas

[For those who missed it, here is the poem again.]

TEARS

(These thoughts for Laurie.)

I kept the small leather thing,
with the metal tags,
this proclaimed my good dog.

One night, years ago, it is hard
to tie down that day as
it floats in the mist of my thoughts.
The Vet handed me that leather thing,
It was still warm.

My life times are best counted
by all the good dogs I've had.
They were all good dogs.

Years have passed and my life moves on.
As I cleaned out my stuff, accumulated
through the years, I found that leather thing,
with the metal tags.
I held it up to my face,
It was still warm.

--Lanty Wylie

http://www.lanty-wylie.com/

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Dear Newsletter:

Another dog story!

We lost a cocker at age 16 due to cancer and he was put to
sleep.

My wife waited a year until she felt the need for another one.
For months we looked, until 31 May 2003 the Animal Shelter had
a white cocker mix.

He was just laying in his cage and no amount of talking would 
he show any kind of emotion. He could have cared less about any
animal or anyone. 

Then a woman from the shelter came over and asked if my wife
was interested in Jack. He had been with them 6 months and on
the no-kill list. But his time was running out. He had been to
6 weekend shows for adoption of pets and always came back solo.

Jack's paws had been damaged due to a fire. After two hours of
being on the lawn with Jack, my wife took Jack home. But first
he must go to Pet's Mart for his new stuff. The employees and
customers treated him like King Dog for the day. 

Today Jack is a part of the family and will be for the years 
to come. A Vet donated surgery so his paws could be fixed. I 
have no idea why no one wanted him.

But it was a blessing we got him and thank heavens for that.

Wayne 

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