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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #28
October 6, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

Autumn days in the Sacramento Mountains continue to be
inspirational. The afternoons are warm with brisk breezes
here and there to compromise the sun's lingering glare. The
landscape is really putting on a show. Just to drive down the
road looking at the colors makes you want to whistle a Barry
Manilow tune.

This past week was also a rewarding one for me as a consumer
and an American.

About three years ago I bought a new toilet for the master bath.
Nothing wrong with the old one except (I was told) the color was
outdated which dictated a return to white from almond. Little
did we know that the federal government had decided it was best
qualified to establish the size of the flush in American toilets.

We discovered our new toilet had pitifully little flushing power.
In an attempt to save the country's water supply the Feds had
decided to make the American toilet so water efficient that it
would have to be flushed several times after one use to do the
same job the bigger toilets used to do with one flush. The
result: an even higher use of water. Installation of toilets with
bigger tanks were, simply, against the law by Federal edict.
Don't remember ever having a chance to vote on THAT one.

Fast-forward to last Saturday. Providence would place me at a
garage sale where there was a lonely old Eljer toilet sitting
beside the sidewalk like a lonely puppy at a pound. I snatched
that baby up for 5 dollars. I rushed home and replaced my
government issue pansy-toilet with that for-real Flush Master.
Peg was skeptical. She ripped off about 15 feet of TP, wadded
it up and threw it in. Standing back and folding her arms she
said "Give her a whirl".

I engaged the handle and the paper was gone in a flash in one
flush. The Maelstrom was so powerful it was almost scary.
I took the plumber's plunger from the closet and heaved it into
the trash. I had become much too familiar with that thing over
the past three years what with the wimpy flushes of the old
privy. I danced around the bathroom, pumping my fists in the
air in my best Rocky Balboa impression and with a maniacal laugh
I said to Peg "I love beating the system". Peg said "You're
sick" and left the bathroom.

Now that I've gone public I'll probably receive an official
letter from the WTB (Wimpy Toilet Bureau) informing me that I
have violated some code. They'll likely send guys dressed in
dark trousers, Plexiglas face masks and windbreakers with WTB
in big yellow letters on their backs into my house at 3 am to
confiscate my beloved old Eljer... but at least I will have
known I fought the good fight.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE POLITICS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- HUMMINGBIRD NEST
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- TULAROSA VINYARDS
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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Temperatures in the mid 70s during the warmth of the afternoon
and dropping into the upper 30s at night. No appreciable
moisture in the past week. The foliage changes are a sight to
see. Total precipitation for the month of September was under
an inch.
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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The Cloudcroft School Board had been discussing the possibility
of the village annexing the 40 acres of land in Lost Lodge that
belongs to the school. The School Board has decided now that
they will table that request until after the December school
bond election.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- HUMMINGBIRD NEST SCHOOL OF ARTS/CRAFTS
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There is an artist or craftsman in all of us and Hummingbird
School of Arts and Crafts can bring that creativeness out.
Based at a century-old farm house just outside Cloudcroft,
students work with highly qualified instructors in several
mediums. Wait no longer to unleash your talents! Call (505)
687-3631 or see their web site under the Activities button on
Cloudcroft.com.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- TULAROSA VINYARDS
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A variety of wines produced from vinifera grapes. Picnic area,
tastings and tours. 2 miles North of Tularosa, off Highway 70.
For more information call (505) 585-2260.
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - How old is Cloudcroft?

A - Before there was a Hobbs. Before there was an Artesia.
Before there were many towns in the Southwest there was a
Cloudcroft. Cloudcroft celebrated it's 100th anniversary last
year. It was founded by the owners and operators of the
railroad that was built through Alamogordo. As a matter of fact,
Alamogordo is only a year older as a community than Cloudcroft.
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COMING EVENTS
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October 6, 7 -- CLOC Melodrama 7:30 pm. Open Air Pavilion

October 7 -- Otero County Farm and Livestock Bureau Barbecue.
6pm. Ski Cloudcroft. Highway 82.

October 7, 8 -- Oktoberfest. Zenith Park activities. Sales and
special events in downtown Cloudcroft.

October 7, 8 -- Aspencade Tours. Call the Cloudcroft Chamber of
Commerce for details.

October 14 -- Fire Prevention Parade. 40 fire-fighting vehicles
on display. 9am in downtown Cloudcroft. Firefighter games in
Zenith Park following the parade.

October 21, 22 -- High Rolls/Mountain Park Lions Apple Festival.
Food and Craft Booths, 9am - 5pm.

October 23 -- Mountain Garden Club Style Show

October 28 -- Harvestfest

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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:

Just a note from a fairly new resident of Cloudcroft. What a
wonderful experience I am having and I love writing about the
scenic beauty that surrounds us.

Since I am going to be unable to be with my online chatter
friends of Seniors.com, other friends and family at Christmas,
I have asked each of them to send me a flag of their Country/
State/City. I will encase these in plastic and together with
Christmas lights, they will decorate the spruce tree in my
front yard. I Have so many flags arriving from many different
countries and states. Hopefully, I will start the decorating
process soon. I did check with the Chamber of Commerce here
to see if Cloudcroft has a city flag that I can send my friends
in return. Unfortunately, they do not but I will look into
ordering Cloudcroft Bears flags. Why not have a contest to
design a flag for our beautiful village?

My best to you for a great job on the Newsletter which I share
with family and friends.

Bernita Williams

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Dear Newsletter:

I've really enjoyed reading your newsletter. Thanks for keeping
us informed. The photo by John McColgand of the Bitterroot
Valley fire was exceptional. I could almost feel the heat!

William J Johnson 

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Dear Newsletter:

Have been getting your newsletter for several months now and
enjoy it so much! We have been coming to Cloudcroft for over 20
years. While I was teaching we could only come in the summers,
now that I am retired we come as often as we can. The early fall
is a beautiful time in the mountains.

The picture of the fire you included this time (issue 27) was
truly spectacular. Is there any way we could get a print?

Keep up the good work! We love hearing about what goes on in
Cloudcroft.

Bo Fryar
Big Spring, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

A lot of people look at bikers as trouble. Over the past few
years they have gotten in to some nice programs: helping the
older folks, working with youth groups and raising money for
programs. They are good for business, your shop owners should
get to know the post office. Purchases can be mailed back home
wherever that maybe. 

Have a good off-period 

M. Euliano 
Erie, PA

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Dear Newsletter:

I am happy that Cloudcroft had its share of biker visitors this
past weekend. 

I arrived in Ruidoso at the beginnings of biker weekend. In fact,
I was involved in one event in which I was able to visit with a
number of the biker folks. You are right about the fact that
they don't make bikers the way they used too. You see, there was
this one biker fellow that looked so mean and scary that he
really frightened me. As he approached in the serving line in 
which I was working I got so tickled when I read the word below
his name on his name badge... it said EVANGELIST.

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Dear Newsletter:

Really impressed by the photo of the Bitter Root Valley fire
in Montana. If you haven't seen *Wildfire* at the Clyde Tombaugh
Theater in Alamogordo, I highly recommend it. It puts you right
in the middle of fighting wildfires! 

I think it's still showing down there. If it is, you really
should not miss it.

Barbara Hardison

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Dear Newsletter:

Thanks so much for sending regularly the CCNL.

We recently visited your little mountain city to celebrate our
41st anniversary and enjoyed our visit so much. We visited the
hot-air balloon show and it was as fantastic as ever any
fireworks show ever was. My husband got to realize a long time
dream and play golf on The Lodge golf course and even beat his
all time score!!!

Hoping our next trip will not be so far away.

Jerry and Melba Robinson,
Brownwood, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

My wife and I have enjoyed Cloudcroft for many years; we have
not found the home we are looking for yet!!!! But we shall... 
This is probably the best kept secret of any area, and we hope
that it will not turn into another Ruidoso! 

Such friendly people in Cloudcroft. Once we find our residence,
we hope to become very active residences in this area.

Thank you again for your email of the area--it makes our day!!!!

Alan & Susan Booth

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