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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #84
November 16, 2001
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Dear Subscriber:

There's a pretty healthy snow storm going on outside my office
window. I am dividing my attention between writing this news-
letter and keeping the fire stoked in the living room stove
(Peggy says, irrespective of my obligations to you readers, the
fire in the stove is still MY JOB).

There's even a little thunder mixed in. Thunder-snows aren't
that uncommon around here, especially when the temperatures are
a little above freezing, as they are this afternoon.

It's our first wet day in about 3 weeks. Things were beginning
to get pretty dry.

The weather in the Sacramentos is about as unpredictable as the
Dallas Cowboys. Tomorrow morning we could be breaking out the
rubber boots and shovels or we could be going for the sun-block.
We just won't know until then.

In another 30 minutes...if it is still snowing...I imagine it
will be declared a "six pack" day.

Tourism is the largest industry in Cloudcroft, but arguably the
second largest segment of the economy is the construction
business. Those engaged in outside work such as framing,
roofing, etc., can't work in the wet weather. Often the foreman
will call it a day and let everybody off if there are no signs
of the weather breaking.

When Peg and I ran the cafe on the boardwalk, we called such
days "six pack" days. After a sustained shower or snow, we
observed workers pulling into town and heading for the bar or
for the package store in pursuit of a six pack.

On a six pack day, in the middle of the day, in the middle of
the week, the bar can become as rowdy as any given Saturday
night. House rules about loud talk and cussing are soon
belayed.

The revelry seldom gets out of hand, though. It's probably
because everybody knows everybody in a town this size, and it's
best that you get along. There are a few sore-heads that live
here, but you generally won't find them at the bar on a six
pack day. If you do, they're usually sitting by themselves at
the end of the bar wondering what the heck everybody is so
happy about.

On a six pack day, the laughter is contagious. Close friends
and co-workers become closer...but there's something a little
wicked about being in a bar in the middle of a weekday
afternoon. There you sit with suds in your moustache and
sunlight is still coming through the window and Oprah is on the
TV over the blaring jukebox. It's a little like playing hooky
from school.

At least...that's what I've been told.

It's still snowing outside. Definitely a six pack day.

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 -- FIRST NATIONAL BANK
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- MUSEUM OF THE HORSE
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 have been above normal. Highs in the 60s. Lows in
the upper-30s. The snowfall today (11-14) notwithstanding, the
area is still generally dry.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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School enrollment for Cloudcroft this year is near 500.

-o-

US flags are in short supply in Otero County since the 9-11
terrorist attack. That is disquieting news to Cloudcroftians,
where the daily display of the Stars and Stripes at homes and
cabins has been a tradition for many years.

If your flag has become tattered, high quality flags are being
offered by Moore's Trading Post for $10. That has to be close
to wholesale. Moore's is located on Highway 82 in Alamogordo.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
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If your account is big or small, you're special with us! The
First National Bank is a full-service community bank that
serves families and businesses throughout Otero County, New
Mexico, Holloman Air Force Base, and beyond.

There are 6 locations to serve you--10th Street, 1st Street,
9th Street, and White Sands Mall in Alamogordo, 300 Central
Street in Tularosa, and Burro Street in Cloudcroft.

For more information, see their link on the Finance page of
Cloudcroft.com:

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

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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- MUSEUM OF THE HORSE
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While horses and their role in the taming of the west are the
focal point of this exhibit, there is much more to this
attraction. See their website at:

http://www.zianet.com/museum/

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - I'm having trouble finding information on Ski Cloudcroft.
Will they be open this season?

A - It was announced a couple of weeks ago that the lease-
holders of Ski Cloudcroft and the Village of Cloudcroft have
come to an agreement over differences they had concerning the
lease, and the ski area will be open this season if there is
enough snow.

Ski Cloudcroft and Mother Nature have been at odds for the past
few years. Since Ski Cloudcroft is the Southern-most ski area
in the US, snow is not always guaranteed. When there is
adequate snow, it is one of the greatest places to ski in the
country...mainly because it is not widely publicized and is not
overly crowded, even when the snow is good.

Ski Cloudcroft usually shoots for a Christmas opening. We will
post more specific dates in the Newsletter when they become
available.
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COMING EVENTS
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November 23 -- Santa Town. Zenith Park, 5-7pm. Refreshments,
bonfire, and games.

November 24 -- Late Night Shopping. 5-7pm.

November 30 -- Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Middle School.

December 1 -- Christmas Parade. Alamogordo, 6pm.
For more information, call (505) 437-6120.

December 2 -- First Baptist Church Open House. 5:30pm.

December 8 -- Pet Parade. Burro Avenue. 2pm.
For more information, call (505) 682-2733.

December 9 -- Community Cantata.
Cloudcroft Methodist Church. 11am.
For more information, call (505) 682-2266.

December 12 -- Preschool Christmas Program.
Cloudcroft Methodist Church. 6pm.
For more information, call (505) 682-2266

December 15 -- Santa Town. Zenith Park, 5-7pm.

December 16 -- Community Cantata. "Do you Hear what I Hear"
Cloudcroft Methodist Church. 4pm.
For more information, call (505) 682-2266.

December 21 -- Santa Town. Zenith Park, 5-7pm.

December 21 -- Late Night Shopping. 5-7pm.

December 21, 22 -- Cloudcroft Light Opera Company. Free!
For more information, call (505) 682-3317.

December 22 -- Caroling in the Clouds. First Baptist Church.

December 22 -- Santa Town. Zenith Park, 5-7pm.

December 24 -- Christmas Eve Service.
Cloudcroft Methodist Church. 7pm.
For more information, call (505) 682-2266.

December 28 -- Cloudcroft Museum Open House. 6-9pm.

December 31 -- Torch Lighting Parade. Ski Cloudcroft
For more information, call (505) 682-2733.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the first Sunday of each month,
2-4pm, in the Old Red Brick School House. There will NOT be a
meeting in December or January. The February 3 meeting subject
is "Perspective." Call (505) 682-2494 for more information.

Community Cantata practice meets at the High School Music
Room from 5:30-6:30pm every Tuesday. For more information
call Bob Myers at the high school.

Senior Van from Timberon to Alamogordo leaves the Timberon
Lodge promptly at 8:30am every Tuesday morning.

If you have news of public events in the Cloudcroft area, 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:

Loved the hair dying (sorry, that should be dyeing) story.
Whatever. I haven't dyed my hair since I was a kid and tried
making my blond locks blonder using hydrogen peroxide. For a
male, it was NOT good to be a peroxide blonde, even then.

My hair began turning its present color when I was in my late
forties. I guess one could say it began 'dying.' Now its pure
silver! Nary a gray hair in my head, but at least I still have
'most' of it. Now, platinum being more precious than silver,
I wonder...platinum blonde...hmmmm!

Cheers,
Jack Schuller
Ruidoso

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Dear Newsletter:

Yes, Mr. Don Van-Lan-Ding-Ham, I want to wish you a very Happy
Birthday! I can remember when you were just a small lad with no
hair that showed anyway. You wore a burr-hair cut just like me,
and my brother, and your brother. 

I also remember your brother and mine picking on you because
you had a much more handsome head than they did, almost
perfectly round. I knew they were jealous of you because they
were always calling you Ball-Headed-Round-Face. I told them to
quit it, but they just kept on. Nothing but pure jealousy it
was!

Anyway cuz, look who has the hair now!

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"

Love ya cuz,
Clifford Dale 

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Dear Newsletter:

Very Cute. I lost my Charlie, many years ago. and I can relate.
Really, love is blind. You guys let us do anything to you
because you love us. At the same time, we are proud of our mate
and just want them to 'SHINE.'

Bye now.
P. L.

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Dear Newsletter:

I just wanted to say a big thank you!

I read in the last issue about your "step" daughter and your
relationship with her. I want to congratulate you. My husband
and I have been married for three years. We both have kids from
a previous marriage.

After about the second year, my husband's kids and I became 
very close. I have a 4 year old son and a 6 year old daughter.
My husband and my son get along great, but my daughter, well,
that's another story.

My children have not seen their biological father since the
divorce, by his choice. Both of my children call my husband
"Daddy," and they all say I love you, but he feels that my
daughter distances herself from him. Even though she hasn't
seen her father in that amount of time, if you mention him, she
tells you she loves him and he is her father.

I told my husband that it may take more than 3 years for them
to get close. He kind of had the attitude that if it hasn't
happened yet, it never will. That is, until he read your story
about you and your step daughter. He has completely changed his
way of thinking, and I think just that has made them closer! So
thank you! 

James and Brandy Fannon

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Dear Newsletter:

Glad to see you and your wife still having fun.

Just got back online since moving from Erie, Pa to Hereford, Az.
I just had to get the newsletter once again. I enjoy it.

Thanks for keeping it going.

Hawk

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Dear Newsletter:

Just a note to let you know that the wonderful and enjoyable
newsletter is coming in bright and clear, here in Dallas.
Thanks for the time and effort.

I know now (after prowling the Albuquerque Journal) why there
are no more football scores. Poor Bears...maybe next...2005?

Stay away from the "bottle." Try a crew cut?

See ya,
Bert N Shipp

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Dear Newsletter:

The 80 acres needed by the Village of Cloudcroft represents
about 3% of the public lands that are the habitat of the
Checkerspot Butterfly, according to the Center for Biological
Diversity's own figures.

There is no evidence that the activities planned for the
acreage will have much effect on the butterfly. Doesn't anyone
have any common sense any more?

Best regards,
Peter Chase
Alpine, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

I just returned from a trip to Cloudcroft.

There are so many nice people there to make you feel right at
home.

But you have one very special "Knight in Shining Armor", that
I would like to point out. When I arrived there last weekend,
I had just came from the funeral of my Uncle in Artesia and
needed some peaceful time. I arrived at my little home late in 
the evening and nothing seemed to work. It was cold and I had
no heat or lights.

I bundled up for the night and then drove into Cloudcroft the 
next morning to see if I could find someone who could find the
problem. I do not know many people there since I just purchased
my place last summer.

I stopped by to see the person who had found the place for me
to say "hello" and ask who I should call. When he found out
that I was having problems, he first called around to find that
no one does repairs on weekends. He then insisted on looking
for the problem himself - Please understand that my place is a
small place and this person did not make a killing on his sales
commission and certainly did not owe me anything, but there he
was, literally standing on his head, checking circuit breakers
and such. He did the repairs himself and all turned out great.

David Sanchez of Gary Mack Realty did not have to waste a
glorious Saturday doing maintenance for an "almost" stranger -
but he did because that is the kind of person he is - that is
the kind of people who make up the Village of Cloudcroft.

David has a beautiful wife who has the "Change of A'Dress" shop
on the main boardwalk - would you tell her what a great 
guy her husband is and give David a pat on the back?

Thanks for everything.

Patricia
Austin, Texas

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