So, as sometimes happens, I get the late night food craving. Nothing in the fridge which would quite do it for me. Need food? No problem. I run out and jump into Tobias. The only question is where to go? Vaguely leaning toward a possible KFC, I started the engine.

Immediately, the radio comes on, and, as if exactly on queue, a commercial. "Getting that late night food craving? Now McDonald's is open late! Come to McDonald's, where we're now open until midnight or later. While you're there, try some all new Mighty Wings[tm], available in 5 or 10 pieces. Or, make it a Super Size Extra Value Meal with fries and a Coke. McDonald's, now open until midnight or later!"

I took this as a sign from the Almighty Corporate God, and followed it. But unlike most sheeplings, I did so with full knowledge that I was being crassly manipulated by advertising media. (Jaeger knows the original way to say it, but I don't feel like hunting it down right now. But I'm sure we'll all be saying it again on or around October 16.)

While the Tears for Fears song Shout played on the radio, I braved the wilds of South Boulder Road. By the time the song was over, I had arrived. Twas a rough and long journy indeed, my friends. Twas a rough and long journy indeed.

At the drivethru, after hearing the semi-intelligible mumble of someone who barely knew how to speak English through a speaker of such poor sound quality that you couldn't purchase one that bad if you tried, I placed my order. "A 10-piece Mighty Wings value meal, please."

"10 Mighty Wing meal? Wha sie?"

"Super Size." (Because it's more fun to say.)

"Wha drink?"

"Sprite." (Although I binge occassionally, I try to keep my median caffeine consumption at a minimum these days.)

"Tat all?"

"Yep."

"$7.68 a econ window."

I pulled up to the window. No one visible in sight. Then a man came around the corner. The same one who had taken my order. He started the drink from the fountain filling. Took my money. Then returned to the back. This guy barely knew any English, but he was very friendly.

After a few moments, he returned. "Uh... 10 wings. 4 more more minutes." He pointed to the bag he had been filling, "8 wings." Then pointed back to the cooking area. "2 more wings. 4 minutes. You wait 4 minutes?"

He looked around somewhat frantically, darted across the floor, and returned with a small box in his hand, and handed it to me. "Here, pie."

I was somewhat puzzled by this turn of events.

"Here, free. Since you have to wait."

"Ah, thank you!" That was a new one. Being handed a free "pie" at McDonald's as compensation for waiting for the food to cook. I nibbled on the candy-bar-shaped object stuffed with apple filling while I waited.

Just as I finished, the now familiar McDonald's guy came back, and put the rest of the food in the back. Handed me the bag, apologized again for the wait in broken English (I had to remind him that my drink was still sitting on the filling fountain, which he again profusely apologized for), and I was on my way.

Now that I'm eating the wings, I think I should have gotten the 5 piece. Having eaten half of them, I'm feeling quite full, and I've barely even touched the fries. They're pretty good, but I think I still prefer the flaver of KFC's Honey/Spicey BBQ. But these are definitely worth trying, if you're into the high fat fast food thing.

And now, back to the X Files...