birthday pizza and good concert

Up and back to work. Everyone was glad to see me. It may have had something to do with the “free pizza on your birthday” policy at Taco Bell. I had a good time because I enjoy working there and joking with all the young people. Evelyn came at noon and we ate a spicy chicken taquitos for lunch and came home. I immediately got my equipment out and began to stain the deck. I use a small sponge roller that works very well. I used up some of the sealer left over from last year and finished with the new can I After finishing I came in and showered. Evelyn had helped in whatever way she could but took a nap until I came in. I lay down too and was just drifting off when the landscaper came to say they would come to work on the yard tomorrow at 8. We both dressed and prepared to go to Casterline’s for dinner. Shirley had made a pork roast with new potatoes and carrots topped off with a large strawberry shortcake. We looked at our pictures from our trip to Roanoke and then played kings on the corner until 9:30. We decided to go with them to a program of music in Canton tomorrow evening after our lunch friends have left to return to Franklin.

Off to begin a whirlwind day. We had gone to sleep a bit later than usual last night so I was tired to begin the day. I learned that my birthday pizza had not been ordered yesterday. The boss ordered it today to arrive before I left at noon. The period of time I worked outside was more hot and humid than any other this season. I was sweating terribly and came it many times for water and cooling. At noon Barry came to get me while we had a much welcomed rain shower. They brought me home to shower and change for our lunch date. The landscapers were working on the lawn and were nearly finished. There are now many knock out roses and hardy gardenias around the south and west sides of our house. We left and went to a new restaurant, Creekside, for lunch. We ate and then went to several stores they wanted to visit and wandered around the streets of Waynesville. They brought us home around 5:30, and Evelyn had to immediately change for the evening. Paul and Shirley arrived on time and drove us to Canton for the evening performance at the restored Colonial Theater. It is a small but lovely theater that had been restored after the flood of 2004. It holds around 200 but only around 30 attended this show. It was sad because the performers, a quartet and a female soloist were quite good. The major surprise was that the bass singer was a man we had seen in Silver Dollar City when we were friends with the Durkins. We both knew we had seen him, but I had to ask him where he had performed during the sales intermission. Their show was similar to those in Branson--some gospel songs and a big patriotic finish. They did have a local magician/comedian we had seen in Maggie Valley some years ago. I was his volunteer for one of the opening magic tricks. I had to restrain myself from hamming it up too much. We came back here for blackberry cobbler and conversation before retiring later than usual once again. I had received birthday greetings from the Beelis. The girls always make some sort of card or gift while the rest sign a card. They are always thoughtful and the gifts are fun to receive.