30,000 auto dealers converge in the desert.

Did Las Vegas know what it was in for?

Friday

3:00pm- Flight out of Louisville. Even the most "reluctant flyers" among us are too excited to be nervous.

8:00pm- Arrive in Vegas after dark to see the lights of the city blooming in the desert. Quickly settle into the hotel and go out to meet the town. I have heard a rumor that they have drinking and gambling here. (I can resist anything but temptation.)

4:00am- Bedtime. Pockets feeling much lighter now.

Saturday

6:00am- Who said people need more than two hours of sleep?

8:00am- First day at the booth. We get visits from dealers from all across the country, and meet wonderful new people. I've never considered NADA a convention. It has always been much more of a reunion to me. The booth was as busy as ever- everyone wanted to make sure they got their pass to the J&L party tonight!

5:00pm- Back to the hotel to rest. Well, maybe a quick look at the strip.

8:00pm- J&L party at the House of Blues. Dancing to good music with 2,000 of our closest friends. I can't imagine a better time. It is our mission to bring old-fashioned Southern hospitality to the wild west, and it seems to have worked. Made for a great party, anyway!

Sunday

6:00am- That alarm clock can't be right.

6:09am- I said snooze!

6:15am- Wake-up call? No, that can't be right, I don't want to wake up.

7:00am- Breakfast of a seven-dollar muffin and a twelve-dollar cup of coffee.

7:30am- Bump into a gentleman in the lobby who is holding onto his cup of coffee for dear life. As a representative of J&L Marketing, I am blamed for his headache. I have a blurry memory of seeing him on the dance floor the night before. I think he spilled his drink then, too. He may be groggy now, but he seems to have had a good time.

8:00am- Back at the convention. Not very busy this morning. I think everyone is sleeping in.

12:00pm- Now it is hopping! We get to say hello to more of our old friends, and are introduced to new friends. The best part of the entire event is talking face-to-face with people and being able to give them solutions to the issues they are dealing with.

3:00pm- Back to the hotel to rest. Well, maybe a quick look at the shops. Did you know they have a whole store of M&Ms?

10:30pm- Take the red-eye back home. Long flight, a little bumpy in Chicago. Cold, too. I think I've gotten use to Vegas weather.

Monday

8:30am- Back in Louisville, and back to work. No rest for the wicked. There is no way we can top this NADA. Although... next year's show is in New Orleans. Hmmmmmmm.......