I’m out of the hotel and packed for the road, but I’m not on the road just yet. I’ve decided to spend at least a couple of hours at Buffalo Wild Wings before heading west. The restaurant closes at 5 for Christmas Eve, and won’t re-open until Monday at 11 am. 

I had planned on staying until 5 then driving home, but that would mean almost all of the drive would be after dark. Molly is bartending today, and she suggested I leave earlier. If I wanted to get home before dark, it would mean me leaving at 2 and arriving at 6 or a little after. I’ve already gassed the car, so the only thing I would have to worry about is using the restroom. 

I almost left early yesterday. I don’t know why, but I got down when I thought back to Louisiana. I sent out a bunch of Christmas cards to people I know, but I seriously doubt anyone will reply. It makes me sad to think I’ve been totally forgotten. Time marches on, but I don’t want it to mean I’m nothing more than a nameless, faceless stranger. 

The problem is, I remember too much. My memory is too much for my own good a lot of the time. There are times I won’t remember someone I met a day or two ago, yet I can recall the name of someone I knew in the 1990s. Or earlier. 

I was packed and ready to go just after 4 yesterday afternoon, but I decided to go to the patio and keep playing trivia. It was chilly, but nowhere near as cold as it has been recently, and I had my parka on, so it wasn’t that bad. Robb came out to see me and couldn’t convince me to come inside, but Dawn did. It must have been because I beat them at trivia while I was outside. Just kidding. 

I’m glad I came inside. Skyler Reed, who plays with Robb, Dawn and I sometimes, finally got time off from his busy job with Cerner Corporation to join us. His mother, Corinne, was visiting from Iowa, so it was nice family time. They left at 6:30 with Robb and Dawn, and I stayed. 

I’m glad I did. 

I got to talking to a couple who has seen me here plenty, but just never got around to talking to me. Anna and Justin are California natives who moved to Kansas City five years ago with their son, who is now 16 and attends Park Hill High, which is just down Barry Road from Buffalo Wild Wings. The whole family are huge San Francisco Giants fans, not a popular team in Kansas City after what happened in the 2014 World Series. I did not mention the 49ers. Anna and Justin aren’t basketball fans, but I didn’t mention the Warriors anyway. 

I ended up staying until 9. It’s foggy out there right now, so it’s a good idea to let it break. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy, more appropriate weather for Easter than Christmas. There is a chance of severe thunderstorms in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. The best chance of severe weather extends to Salina, but not Russell.

It turns out Kansas City’s record rainfall for Christmas was also in 1973, the year New Orleans got five inches. Tomorrow afternoon is a good day to be running around in shorts. Not for the Chiefs game, but in the afternoon, yes.  
I’ve got writing to do when I get home. I’ve got to be ready to come back Thursday after my session with Crista. Whether that trip also includes an excursion to Columbia remains to be seen. If I didn’t have the appointment with Crista, I might have come back Monday, but it’s not worth it with that appointment on the docket. Getting back Thursday will allow plenty of time to visit Buffalo Wild Wings. 

Next Saturday I will be at Buffalo Wild Wings at 10 am, not 11, since the BUFFALO WILD WINGS Citrus Bowl kicks off at that hour. My alma mater, LSU, vs. Louisville, coached by scumbag Bobby Petrino. My plan is to be in bed when the calendar flips to 2017. No way I want to ring in the New Year live. 

At least there are NFL games on TV today, plus Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movie marathon without commercials starting at 7. But there are five NBA games on tomorrow. Yikes. As if I needed the NBA shoved down my throat. It’s bad enough every other day.