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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #160
May 2, 2003
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Dear Subscriber:

Peggy and I drove to Las Vegas, Nevada last week.

I brought home enough thoughts about that place to write a
book, but I'll try and condense them.

It's not the first time we've been to Las Vegas (people that
want to appear worldly shorten it to "Vegas," but I'm not that
worldly), but it is the first time we stayed in the downtown
area of the city instead of "The Strip."

It's like two different worlds. The Strip is very tourist-
oriented and normally very crowded. That's where The MGM Grand
and Circus Circus and Caesar's Palace are (places you see in
the movies and on TV all the time). Downtown Las Vegas is a
little more laid back. The patrons tend to be older. I think
the restaurants are better and a little less expensive and, if
you like to play the games, the odds are more attractive.

Peggy and I enjoyed 99.9 percent of our trip. I'm taking off
.1 percent because of my morning ride down in the elevator
Wednesday with an extremely drunk person who spilled his drink
on my sneakers. He was the only obnoxious drunk I saw all week.

Las Vegas is a melting pot. The Been There Done That folks from
the East Coast converge with the Golly Gee's of the Heartland
and mix with the West Coast types that are seeking some kind of
Karma. Meld them with the Outlanders (those from other
countries) and it's worth the cost of the trip just to people-
watch.

You'd think you would see a lot of bums in Las Vegas, but no. I
think it's because the bum business is pretty slow there.

People that go to Las Vegas are rewarding themselves for their
hard work. They're not interested in giving away their money to
a panhandler. The visitors and locals in Las Vegas are
uncommonly friendly, but "Buddy can you spare a dollar" is not
well accepted as an opening line.

Las Vegas is, truly, a City That Never Sleeps.

I was walking through a casino when one guy asked me if I knew
what time it was. I looked at my watch and said, "It's 15 'till
3."

He asked, "Is that AM or PM?"

True story. Except for the exits, there are no windows in the
casinos.

I like Las Vegas. Great food. Lots of lights. Lots of smiles
and things to do.

It was the first time we drove there instead of flying. I liked
that, too. We visited Hoover Dam. We ate in some pretty neat
roadside places. Bought some hats and tee shirts along the way.

I drove and Peggy navigated. The only time Peggy drove and I
navigated, I got us lost.

You may be wondering if we gambled any.

Hey, we spent a few days in Las Vegas!

You may be wondering if we won or lost.

You don't ask a gambler if they won or lost. If they won,
they'll lie about how much. If they lost, they'll lie about
how little.

I was glad to come home, though. Now I can rest.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. SPECIAL -- INDICATIONS OF AREA GLACIATION
3. VILLAGE NEWS
4. INSIDE THE SHOP -- CANYON TREE HOUSES I AND II
5. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO
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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Warming days. Breezy and still nippy when the sun goes down.
Highs in the upper-60s. Lows in the upper-30s. No new precip.
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SPECIAL -- INDICATIONS OF AREA GLACIATION
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Glaciation? In southern New Mexico? South of Cloudcroft?

Normally, geologic discussions and papers relating to
glaciation in New Mexico are almost exclusively confined to
the mountains closer to the Colorado border, but the southern
slopes of the Sacramento Mountains in Otero County show all
the indications of having been subjected to glaciation during,
at least, the Pleistocene Age (probably within the last
10-12,000 years). 

Many papers have been written about the Tularosa Basin and the
White Sands found therein, and various papers have been
written in detail covering the geology of the Sacramento
Mountains. But glaciation is seldom, if ever, mentioned. The
crest of the Sacramento Mountains, immediately east of the
Tularosa Basin, is along a gentle geologic arch which lies
above an elevation of 2744 meters (9,000 feet) on a north-south
crest extending for about 32 kilometers (20 miles). The town
of Cloudcroft is near the southern end of this arch. 

Along the southern slope of the Sacramento Mountains is found
evidence of glaciation at some time in its past geological
history.

Are you interested in reading up on this, and possibly making a
visit to Timberon to see for yourself?

The geology is there. It remains to be correctly interpreted.
For a more complete report, including maps and photos, and
further discussion on the subject please click on the following
link... and enjoy.

http://woodwardranch.tripod.com/glaciation.html

Tommy Woodward

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VILLAGE NEWS
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May and June are considered the most dangerous period in the
Sacramentos for wildfire.

The danger is considered somewhat less this year than in the
past few years due to late winter moisture, but the propensity
for forest fire remains.

The village has prepared an emergency evacuation plan if fire
does threaten. You can pick up a copy of the plan at the
village office, the Cloudcroft Fire Department, or the
Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- CANYON TREE HOUSES I AND II
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Canyon Tree Houses I and II are conveniently located for your
summer and winter activities. They are comfortable, beautifully
decorated, fully-equipped homes.

Canyon Tree I has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and sleeps up to 8.
Canyon Tree II has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath and sleeps up to 4. Both
have phone, TV, VCR, BBQ grills and nice decks. Everything you
need including linens, toiletries, firewood, dishes, spices and
small appliances are supplied. Reasonable prices with reduced
rates for monthly and weekly rentals. Call 505-687-4114 or 
707-786-9654 or see the link to our web site on the Lodging page
of Cloudcroft.com:

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

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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO
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http://www.museumofnewmexico.org/

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - I'm worried that Cloudcroft may become over-developed. I
hope it doesn't become another Ruidoso.

A - You've expressed a typical concern.

There is little chance Cloudcroft will be like Ruidoso.

That's taking nothing away from Ruidoso, but many people
think Ruidoso has become too commercial as opposed to the small
secluded village it was 30 years ago.

With regard to population, Cloudcroft is about the same size
today as it was in the 60s. There have been marketing studies
conducted by various franchise businesses with an eye toward the
possibility of opening in Cloudcroft but, up to now, they have
considered it less than feasible.
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COMING EVENTS
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May 3 -- Smokey's Revenge mountain bike race.

May 10 -- Old Timer's Reunion. (505) 682-2932

May 11 -- Cloudcroft Art Society Mother's Day Show and Sale.
Red Brick School House, 11am - 4pm. (505) 682-3004.

May 17, 18 -- High Altitude Classic bike race (505) 682-1229.

May 17-18 -- Annual Art Society Miniature Art Show and Sale.
Red Brick School House, 11am - 4pm. (505) 682-3004.

May 23-24 -- Mayfair.

May 23 through the 25th -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion.

May 24-25 -- Annual Art Society Miniature Art Show and Sale.
Red Brick School House, 11am - 4pm. (505) 682-3004.

June 7 -- National Trails Day.

June 7 -- Miss New Mexico Day Parade.

June 13, 14 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion

June 20, 21 -- Western Roundup

June 21, 22 -- High Rolls Cherry Festival.

June 27-29 -- Blue Grass Festival. Camp Chimney Spring.
(505) 687-3520.

July 4 -- Burro Avenue celebration.

July 4-6 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion

July 5 -- Street Dance. Burro Street.

July 11, 12 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion.

July 12, 13 -- July Jamboree.

July 12 -- Street Dance. Burro Street.

July 18, 19 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion.

August 7-10 -- Gathering of Circles.

August 30, 31, Sept. 1 -- Labor Day Fiesta.

September 1 -- Lumber Jack Day.

September 19-21 -- Healing Hearts.

September 21 -- Governor Johnson's Run/Walk.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the second Sunday of each month,
2-4pm, in the Old Red Brick School House. Call (505) 682-3004
for more information and details on the Cloudcroft Summer Art
Workshops.

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.

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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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:

I missed your usual wit in the last newsletter but understand
completely that you and Peg need some time off. When we in the
outside world need a break, we head for Cloudcroft! When you
live there year round, you need a break somewhere else.
However, don't think that I have any sympathy for you, living
in my favorite place on earth every day.

I don't mean to sound unfriendly, but I enjoyed one of the
letters in last week's newsletter from someone who said that
he was NOT moving to Cloudcroft.

People are great and everything, but too many of them can mess 
up a good thing. I want Cloudcroft to stay just the way it is
for my lifetime, even if I just admire it from afar for the most
part. The last thing I want is for it to become like that other
village in the southern New Mexico mountains. So for all of you
who love Cloudcroft, visit, spend your money supporting the
locals, but then go home!

We love you Don. Thanks for sharing your home with us.

Lee Phillips

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Dear Newsletter:

The letters of thanks that I read each and every week in my
opinion are a great reward that is much better than anyone one
could ever imagine

Keep up the good work you little devil!

Todd Harloff
S. Pasadena, FL

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Dear Newsletter:

You're just tooooooooooo funny! Thanks to your clever writing,
I could picture the whole little episode in my mind!

Thanks, 
Connie Jackson 

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Dear Newsletter:

I have had the pleasure to receive your newsletter since 2
years. I guess everybody needs a holiday now and then. I hope
you will hit the jackpot with the Angel's money.

My husband brought me first to Cloudcroft 3 years ago and it
has become "our" get-away in winter, when the sun burns Roswell
in summer or too many ET's are invading. This Saturday my mom
is coming from Germany and, of course, we will go for a visit
to Cloudcroft. My husband David and I hope you come home
refreshed and happy (and win something!).

Although you may not be as popular as a film star... you are
very popular with your "fans."

Christina and David Stock
Roswell

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Dear Newsletter:

Right on.... You do need to get away for awhile. Hope you
enjoyed it.

You do a fantastic job with the "Newsletter." Just take off
once in awhile and get away from it all; Las Vegas or where
ever. I haven't had the angel on my shoulder yet. But since
your newsletter I've been thinking. "Sin City, Decadence,
Graft, Corruption?" We plan to leave for Washington, DC May
6th.

I think it runs a close race with Las Vegas. Main difference
is: In Washington, we have a man making effort to clean up
our country. It appears that there may be hope to return us
to the things that made this country great and the foundation
upon which it was established. But, we also need to also get
rid of influences against being an American in America. 

Elmer & Wilda Ratliff
Midland, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

I must commend you for always taking the time for your
Newsletters, regardless of some of the negative comments your
readers at times send you.

I do take the time to read the episodes of your life. Your
debate with the devil on one shoulder and an angel of good on
the other was funny. Just wanted you to know it doesn't go
unnoticed. 

Some one up there is watching over you. For you have been richly
blessed with a loving wife, who cares for you and you for her
and you live your life to the fullest. 

I loved Cloudcroft. Had a summer place in Twin Forks, but had
to move back to El Paso and, believe me, I miss the mountains.

Why not publish some of your outstanding experiences you have
had in Cloudcroft in a book. Heaven knows you had quite enough
stories to fill a book, some sad, some humorous, three years
worth of newsletters. Have you kept them all?

Best wishes, 
Pat 

[All past issues of the Newsletter are available here:]

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

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Dear Newsletter:

Every time I sit down here to read this newsletter, I miss
Cloudcroft just a little more... OK, a LOT more! The pictures
by Kit Richards are sure hard to take, 'cause it makes me
wanna' get in my car and head for the mountains. 

My grand-Angel, Sadie, and I took a drive down into central
Texas the other day to a place called Fredericksburg. A few
miles north of there, we found a little road called "Willow
City Loop". Two cars can barely pass on it, because it's just
a paved lane going through the country.

We were so pleasantly surprised by what we found out in there
that we had to stop and look closer several times. Our first
thoughts and comments were that it reminded us so much of "our
mountain" at Cloudcroft. A more beautiful place in Texas, I've
never seen.

There were creeks running here and there, and we'd stop on the
little bridges and look down into the ponds and see fish
swimming everywhere. There were high rock cliffs that stood
majestic over the tall oaks and creeks. The bluebonnets were in
full bloom, and in some places I know they were standing at
least 18 inches high.

It was a beautiful drive and a great way to spend the day. AND,
it was only a couple hours away from home, here in Rising Star,
Texas. But, it sure made us homesick for Cloudcroft. Seems it
may be awhile before we'll be able to get back out for a visit,
so I've just gotta' say "thank you" for the pictures you post
by Kit.

And of course, your unmatchable wit is always an added bonus
each week. God bless the USA, and God bless us all, no matter
where we call home.

Mike McGinn
Rising Star, Texas

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