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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #169
July 4, 2003
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Dear Subscriber:

Pogo is my buddy. He's lying on the floor beside me as I write
this. Pogo and I are the only men in this house.

He's our only male dog (out of 4 dogs). He's your basic dog.
He's arguably the homeliest of the 4 (short ears, crooked teeth,
a prematurely graying long snout and a purple tongue). A brown
short-haired mutt.

He doesn't have many redeeming physical features (I think
that's why Peggy brought him home from the animal shelter 4
years ago...because she knew if she didn't no one else would.)

While our other 3 canines are constantly vying for our
attention in their individual ways, it seems Pogo is just happy
to be here. He takes a back seat to everyone else. He's the
last to eat, the last to find a place to sleep at night (after
all the good spots are taken) and waits his turn to be petted.

Boy does he love to be petted. Pogo loves to be treated like a
dog.

Pogo's position as dog #4 began the first day he came to live
with us. Tipper and Phoenix attacked the little pup. It wasn't
a "to the death" attack. It was just a "know who's boss"
attack. It only happened once. From then on, Pogo has had no
desire to lead anyone or anything. He has no self-esteem. He
doesn't want any. As I said, he just wants to be a dog and he
does a dang good job at it.

It probably didn't help that we gave him such a dumb name. I
claim no responsibility for that. While I named the other 3
dogs, Peggy named Pogo.

At first we called him "Lucky". He was due for euthanasia the
next day if Peggy hadn't found him.

But he had this silly habit of bouncing up and down on his hind
legs...like a pogo stick. He named himself. He hasn't done
anything right since.

He's like the nerd everyone has had at least one date with. He
wants so badly to please, but he doesn't know how. He has long
toenails. He won't let us trim them. He won't even let us
touch them. He actually chews his nails. No kidding. What a
nerd.

He tries to roll over on his back so I can scratch his chest,
but he has a funny center-of-gravity build and he rolls all the
way over. Can't stay on his back. Kind of a nerdly build.

I feel like I have to watch him closely. If he got sick or had
ear mites or hurt his foot I don't think he would complain. He
would be afraid that if he caused us any trouble we'd toss him
out with the old pizza.

I guess we could take him to a doggy psychiatrist, but I don't
have much faith in PEOPLE psychiatrists, so why would I subject
Pogo to such an insult?

There has been some progress. He refused to give up his chair
to Phoenix the other day. There was some growling, but Phoenix
backed off. I was proud of Pogo.

What a dumb name.

Pogo is taking a nap beside me right now. He's probably
dreaming of rescuing Peggy and me and the other dogs from a fire
and receiving an award from the Mayor and having a parade in
his honor and seeing his ugly face on the cover of TIME.

Probably not. Knowing Pogo...he's probably just dreaming of
being petted.

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 -- GREEN MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- NEW MEXICO TRAVEL
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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The rainy season is here. Good afternoon rains every day this
week. The dust and allergies are beginning to subside.

Forest restrictions should soon be canceled. Contact the
Forest Service (505-682-2551) for updates.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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After 2 years, the Aspen Restaurant and Motel is open again.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- GREEN MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE
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GREEN MOUNTAIN offers a complete package of real estate needs to
the public. Our operation consists not only of property sales,
but also a full-time property management team, the largest, most
active construction firm in the area, a land surveying service,
a home design staff, a complete custom cabinet shop, a retail
lumber and supply facility, and most recently, Custom Concrete,
a six-day-a-week concrete service. Two of our most notable
accomplishments have been the development of Bear Park
Subdivision and the construction of the Burro Street Exchange in
downtown Cloudcroft. Considering these services, and combined
with in-house financing ability for customers, people agree that
we are the most comprehensive real estate firm in the Cloudcroft
area. This has made us a dependable, steady leader in the field
of real estate. See the link to web site on the Real Estate page
of Cloudcroft.com for more information.

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

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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- TRAVELLING NEW MEXICO
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http://pw2.netcom.com/~wandaron/nmex.html

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - We've been waiting for the opening of the new Lowe's Home
Improvement and the new Home Depot in Alamogordo. When are they
opening?

A - Word has it Lowe's is supposed to open the 3rd of July. No
official word on the opening of Home Depot.
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COMING EVENTS
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July 1-4. Mescalero Apache Ceremonial Dances. Mescalero.
(505) 464-4494.

July 4 -- Burro Avenue celebration. Cloudcroft.

July 4 -- Independence Day Parade, Alamogordo.

July 4-6 -- Melodrama. Open Air Pavilion. Cloudcroft.

July 5 -- Street Dance. Burro Street. Cloudcroft.

July 5 -- Independence Day Parade and Celebration.
Timberon.

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

July 12 -- Tailgate Concert. Bert Dalton Trio. 8pm.
Museum of Space History parking lot. Alamogordo.

July 12, 13 -- Cloudcroft July Jamboree.

July 12, 13 -- Full Moon Nights. White Sands Nat'l Monument.

July 12 -- Street Dance. Burro Street.

July 18 -- Pirates of Pensance. Flickinger Center. Alamogordo.

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

July 25 -- Miss Otero County Pageant. Flickinger Center.

July 26 -- Lace Lucero Tour. White Sands National Monument.

July 26 -- Tailgate Concert. Mike Pritchard's Blue Note Thunder
and Lightning Horns. Space Museum Parking lot.

August 1-3 -- Oklahoma. Flickinger Center. Alamogordo.

August 2 -- National Kid's Day. Washington Park. Alamogordo.

August 2-3 -- Robin Hood Days. Timberon.

August 7-10 -- Gathering of Circles. www.gatheringofcircles.com.

August 9 -- Otero County Fair parade. Alamogordo.

August 13-16 -- Otero County Fair.

August 16 -- Model rocket launch. Veteran's Memorial Park.
Alamogordo.

August 23 -- Larry Fox Memorial Fun Run. Alamogordo.

August 23 -- Tailgate Concert. Bayou Seco. Space Museum
parking lot.

August 30 -- Alamogordo Amateur Radio Club Hamfest.
Fairgrounds.

August 30, Sept. 1 -- 13th annual Cottonwood Arts and Crafts
Festival. Alameda Park. Alamogordo.

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

September 1 -- Lumber Jack Day. Cloudcroft Zenith Park.

September 19-21 -- Healing Hearts.

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

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. For information on
other Senior Center services, see their web site, listed on the
Cloudcroft.com Links page.

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 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:

In last week's Newsletter (#168), your hamburger memories
reminded me of a loss I suffered recently. I'm sorry to report
that the little No Name hamburger stop, along I-10 at exit #116
(see photo link) is no more. I haven't verified the information
yet, but I received it from a reliable source (my sister) that
the place has closed down. I learned of this recently as I
planned my July visit. 

In the past, I wrote to tell of the outstanding hamburgers,
cheeseburgers and freedom fries they served at this restaurant.
The taste took me back to the days of the old A&W Drive-In
restaurants. I used to look forward to stopping there on my way
over to visit and then again on my return home from Cloudcroft.

It's hard to imagine my getting over this loss. Had they served
frosty mugs of root beer, I probably wouldn't have been able to
handle it. It just won't be the same!

I guess the coffee and apple pie stop in Wilcox, Arizona will
just have to last me until I reach Cloudcroft, sniff-sniff.
Maybe two slices. What do you think?

Bill White
Phoenix, AZ

http://www.cloudcroft.com/photos/exit116.jpg

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Dear Newsletter:

Hamburgers...?

Life without them would be unBEARable!

If you like blue cheese...make a thin pattie--put a pat of
butter & a slice of blue cheese in the center, cover with
another thin pattie & seal the edges all the way around... 
HEAVEN is just a grill away!

I do love smiling cows!

Carole Arnold 
El Paso, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

No, no you have it wrong. It isn't the burger that is the
problem. It's the bread. Remember, Dr. Atkins died from a head
injury, not obesity, heart failure or high cholesterol. Perhaps
the cows are not smiling after all.

But neither are the flour manufacturers. But I am. Frankly, I
am looking pretty good for 40-something and the burger is a
favorite part of my DIET.

Cynthia West

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Dear Newsletter:

"I tried grilling some of my other favorite foods, but the
cheese cake kept falling through the grate. Grape Jell-O on
>a sesame seed bun just doesn't cut it."

I have the perfect alternative for you Don. Grilled salmon
steaks! I close the grill and add plenty of hickory chips so
that the smoke permeates the fish while its cooking.

Just don't put it over an open grill - place it on a cookie
sheet covered with foil or something similar so that the
juices stay under the slabs of salmon as they cook.

I leave for 15-20 minutes on each side, turning once. Believe
me - it's addictive - like hamburgers!

Cheers,
Jack Schuller
Ruidoso

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Dear Newsletter:

I enjoy the new letters every week and now I have a need. I
read the information on how to rid the moths from the cabin,
and have filed it in nowhere land. Can you please relate the
information to me again? Thank you.

Ella Glover 
Lubbock, TX

[See issue #166 and the letters in subsequent issues.]

http://www.cloudcroft.com/news/news166.htm

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Dear Newsletter:

For those who are not able to get cable or off the air TV,
satellite service is a good option. I have "Dish TV" service at
my rural residence near Las Cruces. When we go to our cabin at
Cloud Country or in our motor home, we take the receiver from
our home and use it at the cabin or the motor home.

We have a Satellite dish on the cabin and one on the motor home.
Directions are available on how to sight the dish at the
satellite. It is not hard to do. You can also find portable
dishes for more diverse uses like beach parities or camping.
Search the internet for "portable satellite dishes."

This works great. We just got back from the Deep Canyons near
Silverton, Colorado and had all the channels that I have at home
except for the off the air local stations. It costs nothing more
once the dish is purchased. (Radio Shack or Camping World) 

Robert McPherson
Las Cruces, NM

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Dear Newsletter:

I really enjoy reading your newsletter. Your sense of humor
comes through loud and clear, and you convey a lot of
information in a fun way.

My wife and I are coming to stay in Cloudcroft for the month
of July. And with all the knowledge you possess about the
community, you can probably easily answer a question for me.

We have online service with AOL. Is there a local access number
for AOL in Cloudcroft, and if so could you provide it to me?
Keep the newsletter coming, and by the way, I agree with you on
the hamburger issue!

Danny Lemon

[To my knowledge, there is no local AOL number.]

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Copyright © 2003 Cloudcroft Online
The Travel and Visitor's Guide to Cloudcroft, New Mexico.
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