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Cloudcroft Online Newsletter #39
December 22, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

Just when you thought it was safe to open this newsletter
without reading something about toilets...here we go again.

We were faced with the problem of "slow rotation" in one of
our thrones this past week. As you may know, slow rotation
leads to less pulling power which leads to clogs. This is
despite the fact that we have a large capacity tank on this
particular potty. Outside of a car wreck, there's no worse
experience in life than a toilet clog.

We discovered the culprit. Our water hereabouts is pretty
hard, containing a significant amount of sediment (I've heard
it described as "gravel"). I know that this probably spoils
your image of the "Pure, Mountain Spring Water" concept of
the Sacramento Mountain area, but facts are facts. This
sediment clogs the little holes located around and underneath
the rim of the bowl. It is these little ports that create the
cyclonic affect when you flush. If they are stopped up,
there's not enough cyclonic effect, which leads to "Honey,
where's the plunger?"

So if you have noticed a slow-down of your cyclonic reaction
(wasn't that the name of a sixty's rock song?), you might try
cleaning out the little holes around the rim.

Don't thank me, thank Anthony. He's the plumber that gave me
the seminar on the subject.

Now, wasn't that better than some half-hearted sugar sweet
make-your-teeth-hurt Christmas story?

Happy Holidays from:

Don Vanlandingham (Peggy, Phoenix, Tipper, Pogo and Misty)

And our webmaster:

David Thomas

Cloudcroft.com and the Cloudcroft Online Newsletter

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE POLITICS
3. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- SIERRA BLANCA VISTA
4. Q AND A (BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW)
5. COMING EVENTS
6. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
7. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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The snow that fell last week has been under constant attack by
a great deal of sunshine this week. Still, there are spots
where there is pretty good tubing and sledding. The snow play
area is open and Ski Cloudcroft will be open this coming
Saturday for tubing (and skiing if we get lucky with another
snow-fall).

Highs have been in the mid-50s with lows getting down to the
low teens (clear skies contribute to much colder over-night
temperatures).
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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Honey is gone. Honey was Lee Wilson's Labrador Retriever. She
died last month.

According to the Mountain Monthly, Honey was the only dog
banned from the village's annual Christmas pet parade.
Imagine...18 years of the pet parade and only one dog fight!

I had the pleasure of making Honey's acquaintance and she was
everything but aggressive. I think her infamous altercation at
the pet parade probably evolved from her fine-tuned talent as
a judge of character. She had no tolerance for boorishness. I
wasn't there for the dog fight, but I bet the other dog started
it.

Good-bye, Honey. We'll all miss you (except for that one dog
at the pet parade that will probably always hold a grudge).
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- SIERRA BLANCA VISTA
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One of the nice byproducts of the widening and improvement of
New Mexico 130 between Cloudcroft and Cox Canyon is the new
scenic view area established about two miles from the village
affording motorists with a breathtaking view of Sierra Blanca
Mountain.

While the view has always been there, it was impossible to stop
and enjoy the sight without endangering one's self and others
on what used to be a narrow and hazardous road. Now there is
plenty of room to stop and enjoy.
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - I'll be visiting Cloudcroft soon, but the cabin where we
are staying has no phone. How can relatives back home get in
touch with us if there's an emergency?

A - Use these numbers for emergencies only ("Dad, can I borrow
your golf clubs while you're gone?" is not an emergency). The
Cloudcroft Police Department number is 1-(505)-682-2101. The
Otero County Sheriff's Office number is 1-(505)-437-2210.
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COMING EVENTS
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December 23 -- Caroling in the Clouds. 4pm, beginning on the
East end of Burro.

December 24 -- Christmas Eve church services. Cloudcroft Baptist
Church, Ascension Episcopal Church and Cloudcroft United
Methodist Church. 7pm.

December 26 -- A Candle-lit Christmas. 5 to 8pm. Museum.

December 31 -- Torch Light Parade. Ski Cloudcroft (weather
permitting).

No special events are listed for January. If you have an event
of a public nature you would like listed in the newsletter,
please email us.

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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:

Congratulations to the people of Cloudcroft and their children.
My wife and I were hoping the bond issue would pass. In our own
school district, EPISD, El Paso, Texas, we saw a whopping defeat
of almost 2 to 1. We really need the bond to fix up some schools
that have been around way too long and are in dire need of
repair. We are happy that Cloudcroft is able to forge ahead
into the future with plans for renovation or expansion.

Good luck. Also, glad to hear about the snow.

David and Deane Burks

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Dear Newsletter:

Just a note of thanks for expanding my dream. I am a self-
employed grain broker and currently live in Kansas. I visited
your town several years ago on a whim, as I do some free lance
Photography on the side and felt like your scenic community
would provide some wonderful shots, and was not disappointed.

Ever since then I have had the dream of moving to Cloudcroft
and living the idyllic life of a mounting family. Your
newsletter along with your humor and whit are unfortunately
the only link I have to my dream, so thanks, keep up the good
work.

God bless you and your family and have a merry Xmas.

John Woodworth

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Dear Newsletter:

We were so happy to learn the Cloudcroft school bond passed.
Thanks to the Cloudcroft school board and to School
Superintendent, Glena Goodwin, for the fine job they did in
informing the public on the issues involved in building the
new school.

We own a home in Cloudcroft and spend our summers there each
year. It is a wonderful community to be a part of.

We enjoy your newsletter and the information you provide.

Have a Merry Christmas. We will see you next summer.

Larry and Nelda Perry
Lake Palestine, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

I have been enjoying your newsletter for several months now.
I was amazed to find that you were the editor, as I knew you
from your radio days in Lubbock. I lived there from 1990-1999.

Thank you for the news and word pictures from beautiful
Cloudcroft. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas
and a New Year blessed with peace, good health, and happiness.

Saludos from Fort Worth,
Kate Fields

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Dear Newsletter:

Just a quick question:

What time does the sun rise & set at this time of year?
I can't help but notice the 4 pm start time for the Caroling
in the Clouds. 

Wishing I was there,
Renea Thomas

[See our General Information page for a link to our page
giving Cloudcroft Sunrise/Sunset times.]

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