this   
   was an unexpected expense that none of the team was prepared, but God was   
   with us and each person came up with $50 (which had to be on a credit or   
   debit card; no cash) and we clawed our way up to the third floor of the   
   hotel (which looked more like a motel to me) and into our rooms.  Hunter   
   and I were excited to be there since it was our first time to see Las   
   Vegas.  Right beside our hotel was the Las Vegas Monorail so we got to see   
   it go by every once in a while.   
      
   Gabriel and his friend Adrian (who also came on the trip (sorry, I forgot   
   to mention him)) immediately sacked out while Hunter, Tim, Lenard, and I   
   headed over to 1 Main Street to the Plaza Hotel and Casino where the   
   CommVEx was being held with all of Lenard's Commodore equipment he brought   
   for show and tell.  Friday was the "Meet and Greet" for all of those who   
   were going to attend the show and also set up day.  I got to meet for the   
   first time the event coordinator, Robert Bernardo, and was shown where   
   Lenard was suppose to set up his equipment.  Since Hunter never got to see   
   a Commodore computer before, Lenard gave him the opportunity to set up the   
   machine with all its drives and a monitor.  Hunter and I were fascinated at   
   how many cables and other little devices it took to make this simple single   
   board computer run.  It took Hunter 15 minutes with Lenard coaching to get   
   the unit up and running, booted, and ready for the start of CommVEx 2015   
   the next day.   
      
   Saturday came.  We started the show and the event coordinator had several   
   drawings and door prizes to give away.  Lenard did not have time to make a   
   copy of his software to put as a giveaway and besides, Lenard said to me   
   that his software was not ready for people to use yet.  I was exempt from   
   the drawings because, hey, I'm a dog.  No harm, no foul to me; I was there   
   for the games anyway.  Most of the stuff talked about and shown at the   
   CommVEx was way over my head, but I did make a few new friends there and   
   that was the fun part.  One guy, who's name escapes me at the moment,   
   occupied the table behind Lenard and I.  He was selling tons and tons of   
   Commodore games at super reduced prices.  I stuck my nose into the piles   
   and piles of software and found games that I have never heard of for the   
   Commodore computer like "1,000 Kung Fu Maniacs" and "Super Space Invaders"   
   I enjoyed talking with the gentleman about different Commodore games and he   
   even let me buy a couple.  He was a big draw to the younger crowd, which   
   was about three or four of us.  Most of the Commodore users and programmers   
   were well into their 40s, 50s, and early 60s.   
      
   One guy was there who's name does not bear repeating since he was such a   
   pickle head to me and Lenard.  Tim, Lenard, and I explained to this   
   individual that we were making a video of the show to broadcast on You Tube   
   for the children back home.  He didn't even look up at us and gave us an   
   emphatic "NO!" When Tim went around taking pictures of the show to put on   
   Lenard's website, this son of an excrement eating cat started grilling Tim   
   about this like, "Why are you taking pictures?" and "Did you just take a   
   photo of my program?" Tim handled him with decor and demeanor but I wanted   
   to bite him on the ankle and go to the bathroom on his Commodore.  It's   
   people like him that gives Commodore a bad name.  For crying out sakes   
   Commodore is a computer to enjoy not a thing to get all bent out of shape   
   over.  Sheesh!  When it came to this person giving his presentation I   
   didn't listen but took a short doggie nap under Lenard's table.   
      
   How did Lenard do on his presentation?  Let's just say that he wasn't as   
   prepared as he could have been.  I've known Lenard to go on for a while   
   about what he has done on the Commodore, but this, the one day out of the   
   year to extol himself about the Commodore, and he blew it, not once but   
   twice.  During the whole weekend Lenard had a chance to make good on the   
   Commodore and make some sales and he just let everything go to the wayside.   
   He gave a lousy presentation and told some crummy jokes.  It looks like   
   Lenard saves his best humor for the kids back at church.  I know this   
   little embarrassment will be broadcasted over the Internet so be wary,   
   viewer.  It's not the best of Lenard Roach in Las Vegas so be ready for a   
   disappointment.   
      
   The best presentations came from Commodore 128 creator Bil Herd and the son   
   of the late Jack Tramiel, Leonard Tramiel.  Bil was hilarious when he told   
   stories of his time at Commodore Business Machines and doing stuff like   
   sleeping at the job and bashing a hole in the wall so he can get into his   
   lab.  Leonard spoke about his dad a little and some of the truths and false   
   statements in some of the latest Commodore history books that had just been   
   released.  Bil talked with Lenard a little bit and during video time, Bil   
   made a video of me videoing him.  He was fun.  I hope to meet him again   
   soon.   
      
   By Sunday afternoon towards evening the show came to an end.  Names and   
   phone numbers were exchanged by several attendees and a group photo of the   
   club officers of the Fresno Commodore User Group was taken, of which Lenard   
   was a part.  Bil Herd was a part of the photos too and he and Lenard took a   
   "gangsta" stance for the second shot.  Let's face it; some people speak   
   well but write horribly while others write well and speak horribly.  Lenard   
   is the latter, but he will have to start honing his speaking skills if he   
   ever wants to go on book tours and share with all his adoring fans (I think   
   he has three; I'm not sure).  Well before the end of the show the team   
   (that Lenard calls "The Roach Center For BASIC Commodore Studies") had the   
   Town and Country loaded up with our gear and was waiting at the third level   
   parking deck of the Plaza Hotel to take on the Hunter's Commodore   
   equipment, Lenard's software, and Tim's video collection, which was packed   
   quickly.  Down the ramp and a $2.00 parking bill later, we were on the road   
   heading back to Kansas City, where again, the GPS took us through the   
   desert Southwest to go first to Tulsa to drop off Hunter and his new/used   
   Commodore 128 and respective gear.  Again, not much to report except that   
   the GPS was a little more accurate this time in getting us on east   
   Interstate 40 to north Interstate 35.  A detour off the interstate and onto   
   north US 169 and we were at Hunter's abode, dropping off all of the   
   Commodore 128 equipment and saying "goodbye." Hunter will look into his   
   schedule to see if he will be attending CommVEx 2016.   
      
   The good thing about US 169 is that, even though its maximum speed limit   
   was 65 miles per hour, it was a direct shot from Tulsa to Kansas City.   
   Again, the GPS said to cut through our hometown to take Tim back to   
   Keytesville, but we weren't stupid and stopped by the RC4BCS HQ to drop off   
   all of our clothes, gear, and equipment.  This left only Tim's suitcase and   
   his video implements.  I rode along because I would just be sitting at the   
   center sleeping and being disturbed by Lenard's crazy cats.   
      
   Tim treated us to dinner at a small diner in a little city in Missouri   
   whose name I can't remember, but boy talk about food; burgers, ice cream,   
   cake, malts, fries.  I have to admit, I put on about a good five pounds   
   just eating there because it was all good.  It was here that Tim's wife   
   Anne stopped in and picked Tim up so we wouldn't have to drive all the way   
   to Keytesville.  After dinner Gabe, Adrian, Lenard, and I headed back to   
   Kansas City.  The adventure came to an end at 10:00 pm on Monday, July   
   21st.  We all dragged ourselves into the house and flopped into our   
   appropriate beds.   
      
   I stayed the rest of the week at Lenard's while Gabe and Adrian got the   
   Town and Country ready for return to the rental place later that Tuesday   
   afternoon.  Lenard had to report to work at 5:30 am Tuesday at the   
   convenience store while Gabe and Ardian had the day off.  Gabriel reported   
   to work Wednesday while Adrian was smart enough to take the whole week off.   
   I slept, played the occasional video game, and tried to get alo   
      
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