Olefactory Overload

Have you noticed that certain Malls have distinct smells? I remember a small mall in El Paso that had a wonderful chili and onion smell. Opry Mills across the street from our hotel/conference center smells like food. The first aroma that I noticed was wafting from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. I went in, breathing deeply, to gather it all in---I may have gained a couple of pounds on smells alone. The lady behind the counter asked if she could help me and I told her I came in to smell--she said "Well, that's free". Shortly after overdosing on chocolate smells, we walked by the German Roasted Nuts kiosk---MMMMMM. My third smell adventure was in the Yankee Candle Company--although the food wasn't there, the smells were everywhere---vanilla, cherry, peach, chocolate, almond, etc. Again, the smells were wonderful. And at those establishments I didn't buy a thing.

I didn't come away from the Mall empty handed, tho'. I found a store w/ 80% off various items and I stocked up on stationary, shirts, do-dads.


I thought it might be fun to have a pic. w/ GWB

We found a "caps rack" that holds 36 caps which will free up a shelf in Nick's closet.

Nick really enjoyed the Bass Pro Shop---not as large as the one at Grapevine Mills, but large enough. Why anyone would need 3 and a half complete aisles of fishing hooks, is beyond me. And yes, I counted. And listened to a t.v. presentation explaining why we needed to buy a "parasite hook"---and no, they weren't trying to hook parasites.

Another of Nick's favorites was Workshop Tools--every imaginable tool a person would want, except what he was looking for. a diamond tipped carbide bit. They had one that was really big, but Nick wanted a small one. Lots of interesting junk in there along w/ the tools----like little clamps for twenty five cents each.


Nick's choice

Interestingly a person could go into one area of the mall to pet Sting rays. I wasn't sure that I wanted to pet one, so we skipped that. Directly beside the Sting Ray Reef, was a unique restaurant. The Aquarium Restaurant was built as if you were surrounded by an aquarium (Yep, B, you'd love this)


Nick has trouble not stopping at each of the kiosks with pushy salespeople and listening to their patter. He has less "mall-experience" than I have. He learned after awhile to be a little deaf when they try to lure you to their bargain.

This mall has all the expected shops and some that I am guessing are unique to Tennessee. The food court was ordinary with the exception of the working Carousel in the center.



All in all an interesting day filled with interesting sights and lovely smells. The conference begins tomorrow.