Hi Fans:

The softball game on the 4th July was a sizzler for the Carpenters who were whammed by the WCAU personalities 12-0. I have no details on the game yet, except that Karen was the pitcher. More on it in next newsletter.

We go to New Orleans where the French Quarters was home to Richard & Karen during their stay there. They settled into same lovely rooms, and when they ordered snacks to be sent up to them, they were flabbergasted to find the 'snack' was enough to feed 20 people. Dinner that night was at the Plantation. The road was excellent, The Corpus Christie concert audience was very receptive, and their responsiveness was much appreciated by Richard & Karen. The concert sponsors gave them an after-show party in their hotel where a professional hairdresser was among the guests. He kept touching their hair, and asking Maria all about it. It was so soft and silky, he couldn't believe it was their own. Richard said the Brownsville audience was the best they had ever played to. They not only gave Richard & Karen a standing notation but honored Skiles & Henderson in the same manner. Karen said she'll never forget the heat there and the HUGE insects, truly Texas size!

For dinner that night, they drove across the border into a pretty little Mexican town. They remember Abilene for the limo driver who gave them quite a fright when he drove in the wrong direction on a one way street. Later he was told to take Richard & Karen to a restaurant, but instead, followed the first limo that was transporting the rest of the group back to the hotel which was on the opposite side of the town.

In Lubbock they had shower trouble. Seems there was no water pressure. Then they found themselves and their abundance of instruments and equipment overflowing a minute stage but of course, the show went on. Amarillo was another fun place. For a change of recreational pace, the group purchased Frisbees. They also managed to play a game of softball in the concert hall before the gig, which was a sell-out. They enjoyed shopping in a huge mall. But lost track of their rented car in the sea of parked vehicles that had surrounded it. They searched for some time, and when the others gave up, Karen & Bill continued the search and finally located it.

Tornadoes, thunderstorms and rain plagued them throughout Texas. One of the jokers in the group called Tony and told him to go to a shelter because a tornado was due. Poor Tony packed his suitcase and was on his way before discovering it was just another practical joke.

Richard & Karen enjoyed the Texas tour, and were impressed by the lovely white limos that transported them back and forth to concerts.

Oklahoma City offered a lovely concert hall, and the shows performed there were received by very appreciative audiences. The concert sponsors served Chinese food to all show personnel backstage. The hotel they had made reservations with was 'something else'. They arrived amid pouring rain and gusty winds, to find the hotel had lost their reservations and had no room for them. They finally settled in at a Holiday Inn.

The Holiday Inn in Missouri was a huge complex with doors that jammed. It was here that the Roadies decided to pull a practical joke on Bear. They knocked on his door, enticed him to step into the hall, then slammed his door and took off. So there he was, locked out of his room in his underwear.

Just received word on the Wallingford softball game. Better news this time The Carpenters won that match 15-3! Other games scheduled are Holmdel, New Jersey July 19. Pine Knob, Michigan July 28, and Universal City, California August 8. Will keep you posted on scores.

Unhappily we report that Tony Peluso is temporarily absent from the group due to illness. He is now out of hospital. recuperating at his home.

I'm sure we all wish him a speedy recovery.

Will pick up the group in Columbia, Missouri next month, and, will rap with you then. EV.

Last changed: Tue Jun 7 15:03:33 EDT 2005