A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANNUKA & JOYFUL HOLIDAYS TO EACH WONDERFUL FANCLUB MEMBER!

That means you! This is a personal message from the Carpenter family. They are very sincere in their wish for you that the coming Holidays will be the best ever. By the time you read this. your favorite roadie-Sugar Bear- will be married. Bear, whose real name of course is Mark Rudolph, will be married Saturday, December 1, The lucky girl is Janet Chambers of Valley Forge. Pennsylvania. I'm sure you all join me in wishing them much happiness.

Our duo's stay in Acapulco was quite a holiday. They were engaged by IBM to stage two performances for the company's salesmen's convention, otherwise the remainder or the time was their own. They spent a great deal of time relaxing by the pool acquiring enviable sun tans. A Dodge Dart was at their disposal, and they were assigned a most beautiful circular house atop a hill overlooking a magnificent bay in Las Brisas. There were no phones to answer and their round the clock household help assured them complete relaxation. The living room had no outside wall, and the gentle ocean breeze circulated throughout the house. They slept late. then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the outdoor terrace overlooking the bay. A great attraction proved to be the swimmers diving from the high cliffs by the light of the moon.

A private sight-seeing tour was conducted by a friend of Sherwin's who owned one of the big dress shops there. On several occasions Karen & Richard took a 30 minute drive to the peninsular to feast their eyes on the huge waves and fantastic sunsets. On the agenda was boat rides, water skiing and of course a party or two! One party featured a water ball party in the pool with Marie as goalie (until site was hit on the nose!). Richard had to settle for the position of referee-out of the water-because of his cast. For refreshments, one of the roadies cooked a tender, juicy delicious pig Hawaiian style over hot coals deep in the ground.

On Thursday Mom & Dad flew in to join them for a brief respite, and they enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere. When they returned the following Sunday evening, they all looked like buttered toast with their spectacular tans.

Their Southern tour started in Atlanta, Georgia where they played to a sell-out crowd who gave them an instant ovation. The Regency Hyatt House which was home to them that night was quite impressive. Inside the lobby they could see to the top of the building. Beautiful hanging plants were suspended all around. and the glass elevators in the center of the building afforded the riders an opportunity to view all facets of the unique building. They dined in a restaurant which had been converted from a church and what was once the altar is now a bar. Dinner music featured a harpist, appropriately!

Quaintness and nostalgia were the words they chose to describe the restaurant they dined at while in Chattanooga. Tennessee. It was previously an old train station and the old cars were transformed into beautiful nostalgic rooms with gas fires and picturesque fountains. Also a lovely pool which the group enjoyed when they went for a swim in the wee small hours of the morning to cool off after the hot Chattanooga concert.

It seemed lightening had struck the air conditioning system at the auditorium knocking it out of commission, and it wasn't long before the group was wringing wet on stage. When they played there two years previously they were the first group ever to sell out at the auditorium. This time they repeated that same record.

Looks like I boo-booed my lines up. Seems like I looked at page 2 of my notes and had them start their tour in Atlanta. Actually it began in Lake Charles in the State or Louisiana. They flew there frown Houston where they picked up their charter plane. At Lake Charles they played before 74,000 people. Tony who had been left behind in a sick bed, managed to tape record the DJ segment of the concert he does so well in order for the show to go on as usual. Though the taping went real well, everyone was happy to see Tony return when he was well. A weary K & R signed a jillion autographs while waiting for their dinner to be served. Next month will mention Shreveport and Birmingham, then head for Knoxville for sore capers.

The Carpenters and fan club staff wish you all Happy Holidays.

Rap next year. EV.

Last changed: Tue Jun 7 15:23:33 EDT 2005