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The Hooters Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada has recently been sold. Hedwigs, the new owner, will spend $130 million dollars to retheme the joint. Apparently it had become common knowledge that it was a bit of a sausage fest there as only men were attracted to the theme. Instead it will become yet another ultra high end boutique location, the new thing to be in Vegas.

So what's to be missed about the loss of a franchise restaurant's single hotel? Well, nothing really I suppose...

Except that in early January, 2007 it was the location of a "snapshot" moment for me. So "snapshot" memories are a concept from psychology. We remember experiences with a strong emotional component longer and much more clearly then we do those that don't. The classic Psych 101 example of this is "Try to remember what you had for lunch three days ago... Now, remember what your first kiss was like."

So anyway, this particular Hooters I had a moment of true calm and contentment. It was part of the Las Vegas trip that I took with Josh, Jake, and my brother after my first semester of CMU. The semester, as is well documented, was pretty terrible, and this was my first chance to feel like myself again.

Also of note, it was the day after I had an extremely affirming meeting with the head lighting director for Cirque du Soleil, which looked like it might turn into some work in the future.

But anyway, that day I proposed that for lunch the four of us walk down to that casino and get hot wings and beer. It was great. Four great friends, pleasant scenery, and my type of food. And it produced that type of snapshot memory that I described earlier.

Now, I have a pretty intense recollective ability to begin with. And I often wonder if others have the same type of memories that I do. What exactly is a snapshot memory like for J? Well...

• We ordered 50 wings, half "Medium" and half "3 Mile Island"


• we had eaten 39 when I suggested that we needed to eat at least 40, and we had 3 more


• I sat opposed Josh, to the side of Shane, and diagonally across from Josh.


• The bartender was voted to be the hottest


• I originally ordered Bud Light, but to Shane and Jake's protest we switched it to Miller Lite (and listen, you need a watery beer when you're eating hot wings)

I still remember exactly where we sat in the restaurant, what the weather was like, what stuff was on the walls, and how the waitress struggled to pour our beer. All of this over 14 months ago, yet I feel like I can put in the tape, hit play, and re-watch the entire experience.

This kind of memory can be great, but it can also be a real pain in the ass. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who remembers something, if it actually mattered that it ever happened... kind like that tree that falls in the forest. It also is an occasional frustration for the very people who tend to be included in them.

Well, this turned into a first class ramble. I guess the point is that I may be the last person to remember this short-lived theme (the hotel was originally the San Remo, my middle school librarian stayed there. I told you my memory was obnoxious). Comments welcome.