Week ending May 24, 1997 A.D.-
Mercedes Grand Opening,
ATO Auburn, Beta Auburn, Fiji Ga Tech,
Montgomery Jubilee

Memorial Day

Dear Diary,

How sweet the feel of my rumpled pillow after a 5 day siege. Bodies are strewn everywhere, most notably ours, in the aftermath of a very eventful week.

Day One was our first corporate event, and boy, was it a great opportunity for us. As I'm sure you are aware, Mercedes Benz had the Grand Opening of its first plant outside Germany in its Vance, AL. The event organizer, Carabiner Communications, did a killer job unveiling the new M-Class vehicles- we must tip our hats to Mindy, Vicki, Lila, and the rest of the C-Crew. It was like the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, a hypefest PT Barnum would have been proud of. The Rolling Stones Steel Wheels stage was used to bring the car up from below, there were jugglers, a woman on stilts, a Dixieland Band, the best fireworks I have ever seen, aquatic acrobats, Mel and the Party Hats, and about 5,000 people from all over the world. We played on the Main Stage out in front of a lake there on the complex (the building itself is an unbelievable, tres tres chic structure). By the end of the night Hans and Rolf were boogying right next to Buck and Jared, Esmerelda and Charles, Luigi and Rudolf. Take notes, UN.

Several people from places as far away as Vancouver promised us work, and if they are lying my faith in humanity will be restored.

Day Too was the ATO house in Auburn. It was a Viking party compete with a Viking ship and horned Norsemen. And a very impressive sail. There was a good crowd who made it there, and we want to thank the ATO's for having us.

Day Three. I was starting to misspell my name on all charge receipts until we arrived at the Beta Dome in Auburn for Beta Lay (Lei), a luau type deal they have every year. That got me going again. We had the largest crowd (4-5,000) we have ever had at any party anywhere there last Fall, and while this one was closed to the public, we had just as much fun this time. The chapter and house is just great, and we have played there enough for me to know many of the members there, who also happen to be my brothers as I am a Beta myself from SMU. What can I say, guys? You are the BOMB!

Day Four was deja vu all over again- for the 10th (!) year in a row, we played Fiji Island at Georgia Tech. We plan our whole May around this party every year because it is such a special show for us. I probably know more people from this frat than any other we have played, as I see alot of them at the Chameleon and other clubs we play. For the first time ever, rain forced us inside and away from the the monolithic structure these crafty engineers built for the party. But neither rain nor rain nor rain can keep the Mel from coming through when it's before these guys. A very sentimental moment in our history.

PS The bros showed me their "Beat It" performance for the talent show at Tech, and it was a killer.

Sunday- well, I thought the old tank was empty before we climbed on the Coca Cola Stage at Montgomery for our first appearance at the Jubilee. But seeing Bill Miller and his girlfriend from Auburn and many other familiar faces who braved the beautiful weather before us gave us the kickstart right in the butterooni. We had a super duper time in our hour set and later palled a little with Vertical Horizon, who are really nice guys and very good. Leon and the New Era people who booked us there, along with the festival organizers, were very cool, and we have already gotten some fanmail from people who saw that show on our Guest Book page.

This Friday- back to Bham and 5 Points, then the National Cheerleading Convention in Memphis. Can't wait.

Later, mon.

Mel

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