Before I get started on the amazing weekend I had, I just wanted to show off something awesome that Talerider gifted to me before he left out for Oklahoma. He’d been given this old Harley lighter by a good friend who didn’t smoke, and since he didn’t smoke, he really didn’t have any use for it so he passed it off to me, knowing I’d appreciate it for what it was.
Me being the research nerd that I am, I had to go digging to see what I could find out about the lighter. Apparently, this model was made in the mid-late 90s in a very limited run.
After a new flint and filling it with fluid, it works like a charm.
Now, time for the good stuff.
Reflection Riding
The cost of membership to reflection riding is well worth the price for canoeing alone, but there are so many other things available including hiking, classes, summer camps, The Wildflower Gardens and greenhouses where you can buy native wildflower plants, not to mention the wildlife sanctuary where they have several injured animals that they keep to teach and inform people.
Memberships are how this place stays operational and apparently, they have been in business since the seventies in one form or another, helping to teach conservation and such.
The staff are also wonderful. Shout out to Will at the front desk. Brianna, who gave us the tour in the wildlife sanctuary. And Paige, who runs the Wildflower Gardens.
Crust Pizza
It has been years since we went to the crust. The lunch buffet was always awesome, and the wife would bring the kids to meet me for lunch while working, and we’d have a good time. It had gotten to the point where we knew the owner, Paul, and as soon as he’d see me walking in or the guy back here making the pizzas, they’d throw the pizza that I liked on.
Even after all this time, the pizza is still the same and great as always. I’ve never necessarily been a fan of cracker crust pizza, I always loved a good deep dish Chicago-style, but this pizza is still damn good packed with toppings and just loaded to the gills.
If you do go check it out, ask for Crust Dust. It’s a sprinkle on of mixed spices that is wonderful and adds a great flavor profile to the pizzas.
South Side Antiques
Not our normal kind of antique/junk store wander. This one’s a little more on the bougie side of things and a little more high-priced, but considering where it is in Chattanooga, not a surprise.
You can still find lots of odd and interesting knick-knacks to decorate your place, depending on what you’re looking for.
The coolest thing, in my opinion, is the working phone booth that they have up front. If I had the coin and the place to put it, I would probably have it at the house.
One thing to watch out for though, there are some higher-priced things that are marked as antique that are not.
My daughter spotted a globe that was antique style, but the map on the globe was a modern-day 1990s and newer. Not to mention a small octagonal Chinese box, very high priced and very cool, but it was 3D printed resin. So make sure you know what you’re getting before you get it. But that should go without saying anytime you wander into one of these kinds of places in the first place.
https://www.naughtycatcafe.com/Naughty Cat Cafe
This was one of our stops to check out, and they were already booked up, so we didn’t get to go in, but we could see everything from the outside.
Very cool concept. You generally have to schedule an appointment, and it’s like $17 at the door to enter. You can pet and snuggle with all the cats, and they are all available for adoption. These folks are doing great work helping with the Stray Cat population in Chattanooga and doing a great thing.
The Hot Chocolatier
Okay, this place borders on being evil because of the number of sweets in their cases. Each of us got a different drink along with a different dessert after our long wander around town today.
Guaranteed, you will find something for everyone, and you will not be disappointed with what you find.
Currently working on
I’m currently wrapping up a Braxton story and laying down the outline of the next Braxton short. Once I get caught up on these shorts ,I plan to wrap up my first Braxton novel so it’s done.
I absolutely love that cover.
Reading
I am still fighting my way through this Captain Gringo novel. The editing and writing are horrible but dammit, I AM GOING TO FINISH IT and see what happens at the end.
Next on my reading list, I’m not sure. There are so many books still to read. But I grabbed three from the shelf and I’m not sure which looks more appealing. Any thoughts from my readers out there?
Playing
World of Warships has become my go-to game for going brain numb. No plot, I don’t give a shit about the leaderboards, I just want to get on there, make big gun go boom and watch the enemy sink before me.
Simple, right? That’s why it makes for a great way to shut down for a few minutes.
Listening To
Ya know, Taylor is awesome people, you really couldn’t ask for much better. But I sent him some very choice words on Friday regarding the killing off of a major and beloved character at the end of the previous book in the series.
Love his Destroyermen series, and I have been fast burning through the series again on audible.
On top of that, the evil mind squirrels have locked in on Blackberry Smoke and won’t leave me alone. If you don’t know who they are, the vibe is basically a modern-day version of Lynyrd Skynyrd, you can hear some .38 Special, and country influences. They are just a downright great mix of Southern Rock/Country/Blues that just keeps rocking.
And they are coming to Chattanooga! So I talked to Toni, another fan who was up for the concert and snagged tickets for both of us.
Writing Tip
Here’s something not a lot of people think of when they get into the groove and they’re really trying to push to get something done.
Don’t force a story; let it happen organically.
If you’re working on the rough outline, that’s one thing. Forcing it doesn’t hurt the end product.
But if you’re working on that final draft, cleaning it, the readers will be able to tell that you forced it, and it won’t be as good as if it organically just flowed. So try to get into the mood, whether that’s going out for a walk, listening to some music, or going on a little research trip. Basically, do something else in the meantime to get yourself in that headspace, then your prose and dialogue will feel that much better, and your reader will thank you for it.
Until next time, keep your heads up and your pens sharp.
~WJR~
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