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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #255
February 25, 2005
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Dear Subscriber:

The first heart-to-heart conversation I remember having with my
mother was when I was about 4.

Mom laughs when I say that. Kids don't remember when they're 4,
she says.

I do.

I remember she was cooking supper and I was standing in the
kitchen bugging her. She says I was an inquisitive kid. A
nice way of saying I could be a pest.

"Mom, when I die, how long will it take me to wake up?"

Mom said you don't wake up. That was a shocker. A 4 year old
boy thinks he's bullet proof.

For the first 17 years of my life, Mom was my dictionary, my
encyclopedia and my ego booster.

Mom had her hands full. My sister Vicki was born with cerebral
palsy. Besides being me and my brother's biggest fan, she was
the proverbial wind beneath my sister's wings. I remember her
spending hours exercising Vicki's weakened limbs. She sang
little songs to her while they exercised. Songs about little
lambs and little rabbits that couldn't walk but one day they
would.

The doctors said Vicki would probably not live to see her 20th
birthday. Mom didn't give up. Every day was exercise day. I
watched and I knew some of those exercises had to hurt. The
no-pain-no-gain thing...but Vicki just giggled. When I got
older I tried filling in as the exerciser but Mom was Vicki's
favorite. Some have the magic touch and some don't.

When Vicki was 6 years old she took her first steps.

Mom laughed and applauded while tears ran down her face. Vicki
giggled. I remember the day like it was yesterday. The
sunshine poured into the living room.

Vicki is 53 years old and she still has that giggle.

I left home in '68 to seek my fortune. My brother left also.
Doctors convinced Mom that Vicki would be better off in a
place where she could get constant attention to her problems.
Mom and Dad were divorced in 1971. While my brother and I were
busy living, Mom looked after Sis.

What a load that had to be, but I don't remember Mom ever
complaining. I take that back. I remember her complaining
once. She complained about my hair growing down my back in
the flower-power days.

In 99 I got sick.

I've been told that after my brain surgery I was pretty much
comatose. The doctor marched in the family to try and get a
rise out of me. He told them I was near death.

When Mom came to my side, I've been told, she said "Wake up,
Don."

For the first time I woke up and said "Mama?".

Mom says she lost it and left the room.

That was six years ago. I'm doing fine. Vicki's doing fine.
Mom's in her 70s and conducting exercising classes at her
retirement village in Lubbock. I tell her she looks younger
than I do. I'm only half kidding.

Everyone's mom is special. My mom is specialer.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. PICTURE OF THE WEEK -- SNOWY SUNRISE
3. VILLAGE NEWS
4. INSIDE THE SHOP -- LOG CABIN REAL ESTATE
5. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- HUBBARD MUSEUM
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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6-8 inches of snow last night and this morning (2-24).

High for the reporting period 50.5 degrees at 11:05am (2-18).
Low for the same time 29.1 at 6:38am (2-21).

Total precip for 2005, 5.71 inches.

For current Cloudcroft weather conditions any time of the night
or day, go to Cloudcroft.com. The service is free.
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PICTURE OF THE WEEK -- SNOWY SUNRISE
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http://www.cloudcroft.com/pics/cloudcroft19.jpg

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VILLAGE NEWS
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The Far Side Cafe in Cloudcroft has closed. The space is said
to be taken over by Amigo Real Estate.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- LOG CABIN REALTY
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For a professional helping hand with all of your Real Estate
wants and needs, we at Log Cabin Realty will give you courteous
assistance through each step of purchasing or selling property.
We believe in doing things the "old fashioned way" by giving the
best possible service and letting our Customers make the
decisions without any pressure. As a member of the Ruidoso Board
of Realtors and Multiple Listing Service we have access to all
properties in Southeastern New Mexico whether you are buying or
selling. We are located at 1601 James Canyon Highway, in the
A-Frame at the Alta Vista Chalet Motel. For more information,
call (505) 682-3717 or (877) 230-0483, email
info@logcabinrealtynm.com, 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 -- HUBBARD MUSEUM
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http://www.hubbardmuseum.com/

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q -  How's the skiing in Cloudcroft?

A -  Due to a warmer than usual February, the snow around is 
here today, gone tomorrow.  The good news is, it's here today
and should be plentiful through the weekend.

6 to 8 inches of new snow Thursday morning (2-24).  Tubes and
other snow play gear are available for rent at various 
locations around the village.  If you're not traveling in 
a 4-wheel drive vehicle, it's prudent to bring along tire
chains for off-pavement.

Ski Cloudcroft is not open, but many of our regular winter
visitors lodge in the solitude and quiet of Cloudcroft and make
the short drive to Ski Apache for skiing.
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COMING EVENTS
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February 25 -- Annual Rails to Trails meeting. FNB-Alamogordo.
(505) 682-3040.

February 26 -- Luma: Theater of Light. Flickenger Center
(505) 437-2202

February 27 -- Lake Lucero Tour. White Sands. (505) 679-2599.

March 26 -- Easter Egg hunt. Cloudcroft.

March 26 -- Easter Bonnet parade. Cloudcroft. 2pm.

May 6-7 -- 2005 Organ Mountain Film Festival. New Mexico Farm
and Ranch Heritage Museum. 4100 Dripping Springs, Las Cruces.
http://www.riograndefilm.com/filmfestival.html

May 7 -- Old Timer's reunion. Cloudcroft.

May 28, 29 -- Mayfest. Cloudcroft.

June 17, 18, 19 -- Western Roundup. Cloudcroft.

July 9 and 10 -- July Jamboree. Cloudcroft.

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 Wednesday 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:

Regarding your 'no cellphone' sticker...

You probably haven't seen the funny and informative TV series
'Myth Busters', whose hosts delight in blowing things up. The
focus of the show is debunking urban myths like the cellphone
one.

They completely 'busted' this myth. There's no way that a
cellphone can cause a gasoline pump fire. In the process, they
did discover that static electricity causes most such fires --
and that women are more likely to be responsible than men. I'll
leave it to you to discover why that's the case.

Jim Mack
Plymouth, MI

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Dear Newsletter:

When I searched google for "fire+cell+phones" I got 139,000
hits. Some of the articles sound for real.

Chuck

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Dear Newsletter:

I really enjoy your letter and the pictures. I have a question
about the latest picture. I see many kerosene lamps hanging on
the side of the building. Are they for decoration or something
special? It's a beautiful picture.

Also, about cell phones and explosions. I was watching the 
"Myth Busters" on TV and they did a program on this "BS" about
cell phones and gas stations. They definitely "busted" this
myth. It's really a very entertaining program as well as
educational.
 
Thank you for your wonderful letter and the time you contribute
to it. I'm sure glad my friend in Alto subscribed for me.
 
I wish I could be living in Cloudcroft or the surrounding area.
But it will have to be in my next lifetime I guess.

H. Harwood
Walnut Creek, CA

[Decoration.]

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Dear Newsletter:

I don't exactly know who you are but I love your message. The
Moody Blues can have that effect on a person. Sometimes it's
good to think about things which annoy you and get them over
with. I'm afraid I'm weird and actually enjoy that. But things
do go away leaving room for the rest! 

Donna Evans

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Dear Newsletter:

Don, keep up the good work!

Reference your February 18th article. You forgot Lake Mead.
Some water is still impounded despite the continually "boiling"
Colorado River range war (water rights).

For Lisa F. Stungis from the Garden State. Timberon is a
wonderful choice for a second home. Your search for "peace and
quiet" will be ended and multiplied a hundred fold! One of the
rewards of Timberon is being able to visit Cloudcroft and each
time it's an adventure!
 
Lewis & Nelda Isenberg
Joshua, Texas & Timberon

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Dear Newsletter:

Don, you tickle me pink! You managed to make me chuckle out
loud and now my 8 month old baby, who is at my feet, thinks
her mother is in need of a psych eval. The look on her face
is priceless and now I am laughing so hard I must go. 

Laughter is good medicine, and contagious... as now Jalan is
smirking at me.... Thanks for the medicine "doc" -- I mean,
Don! 
 
Yvette Massey
Basin Native

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Dear Newsletter:

The family and I were in Cloudcroft this week and watched what
looked like a water well drilling rig from Hobbs drilling a
"hole" on Burro Ave. in front of the mall. 
 
Do you know what they were up to?
 
Ronny Green
Houston, Texas

[The drilling was done to sample the soil in that part of the
street. There used to be a gas station on that site years ago
and there was some concern the holding tanks may have
contaminated the soil. I don't know if the drilling was
conducted by the state or the village or what.

That's all I know about it. -- Don]

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Dear Newsletter:

I am a new subscriber. I really enjoy my first Newsletter which
was forwarded to me from my cousin. We both have summer cabins
in Cloudcroft and have been going to Cloudcroft all our lives,
and my Grandparents lives, and their parents lives! I love it,
love it, love it!
 
I was surprised to read that the" Far Side" Restaurant may be
closing. Is this true? My entire family and friends love going
there. The food is home cooked and fantastic! Could you please
let me know what is going on with it?
 
I also enjoyed the "winter curtain" picture from the Feb 18th
Newsletter. I made a copy of it and showed it to many people
here in El Paso, many who have never seen ice cycles!
 
Thanks for all your hard work. I love keeping up on the news
in Cloudcroft, especially the winter months when we are here in
El Paso. Ours is only a summer cabin. I even remember the 
"Tally Barn" and the Drugstore on the corner!
 
Looking forward to the next Newsletter.
 
Sandi Clutter

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