Hi Fans!

Promised you more tour news, so here we go. While attending the RIAA (Record Industry of America Association) dinner, Richard and Karen had the pleasure of meeting Paul Anka and Roger Williams, as well as numerous presidents of record companies. At the party afterwards, tons of peanuts in the shell were in abundance, and before the party ended, the floor was covered wall-to-wall with peanut shells!

In Baltimore, Maryland, Richard and Karen spent the first night at "Bear's" home, where they were treated to a hard shell crab feast which they devoured happily. The next evening found them at Baskin & Robbins famous Ice Cream (31 flavors) shop where "Bear" formally worked. Once again he donned his Baskin & Robbin's cap and served the duo.

Spartanburg will forever live in their memories for several reasons. It was there that they (and no doubt numerous other persons) were the recipients of a most unusual wake-up call. At 11:00 a.m. a friend buzzed their hotel room from his plane to let them know it was time to get up. That was some alarm clock! Karen said it was also in this city that they rode to the gig in a funeral limo. This in itself was not too unusual, but the little old chauffeur is endeared in their hearts. Most of his jobs featured funeral trips at 15 m.p.h so their jaunt to the gig was at the same rate of speed, resulting in a ten minute ride taking 45 minutes. To Richard who loves to do his own driving, it seemed like 45 years!

In Gainesville, an airport limo took them to their venue where there seemed to be a shortage of dressing rooms, and all the performers had to share the same dressing room. Karen, with the aid of a huge blackboard, managed to construct her own private corner. (She was a true Carpenter in every sense of the word).

On stage, after finishing Cinderella Rockafella with Doug, Karen crossed to the other side of the stage to render Superstar. Unaware of Richard's amused reaction, a pair of workman's gloves had been carelessly left on stage, which had been caught up in Karen's microphone, and were mysteriously following her across stage like an invisible glove-wearing-individual walking on their hands. Laughter erupted from all areas of the stage.

The Regency Hyatt House, with a lobby 20 stories high in Atlanta, was a very impressive building. Richard and Karen enjoyed their brief stay there very much. They were also impressed by the Abbey which, in it's day was quite a church. Care had been taken to keep it resembling the original structure, including the pews. After the show there, an all night "oldies piano contest" was held between Richard and five other guys. Richard was the winner, easily remembering and playing songs that were written before he was born.

A very impressive event for all concerned was a luncheon at the White House. Richard and Karen were among the invited guest who dined with Presidential assistants James Cavanuagh, Ken Cole and Ron Ziegler. Our twosome later had the pleasure of meeting the President's daughter Julie Eisenhower.

President Nixon was meeting with Dr. Henry Kissinger, so they did not meet him, but were invited back at a later date. They were given a tour of the White House, and were very impressed with the Cabinet Meeting Room which housed an extremely long table and huge chairs with name plaques displaying the name of each member. At the end of his term of office, the member is presented his chair as a gift. When Karen heard of this, she quipped "Just like the Carol Burnett Show", which brought smiles to the faces of the solemn dignitaries. Karen was reminded of the lovely director's chairs she and Richard were gifted with, each bearing their own name, after their appearance on an earlier Carol Burnett Show.

Hoping to give you news next month about the Australian and Oriental tour.

Rap later, EV.

Last changed: Sun May 29 13:33:33 EDT 2005