November 6, 2025 (Thu.) – A Day of Fixes, Food, and Fun.

Today was the day Lynn finally got her hair done—woohoo! It had been way too long, so her 10 AM appointment in Maryville (about a 30‑minute drive) was much anticipated. We were both up early to head into town, but just as Kirk was driving Lynn to the salon, his tooth started acting up. Luckily, Aspen Dental was just a few doors down with a “walk‑ins welcome” sign, and even better, it was in our insurance network. Perfect timing!

While Lynn enjoyed her long‑awaited hair appointment, Kirk had his tooth checked out. By noon, Lynn was finished and Kirk was at Walgreens filling a prescription for antibiotics (perfect timing again!). It’s the same tooth that had given him trouble back in California, where they suggested implants (which he declined). Aspen Dental gave the same recommendation, but the process would take at least three weeks—far too long for us to stay in Tennessee. He’ll revisit the issue when we’re back in California for the holidays.

By lunchtime, we decided to try Hot Rods 50s Diner. The food itself was so-so (cheese curds were really good), but the atmosphere was fun—classic 50s décor and a quirky eating challenge called The Chubby Challenge: a 3.5‑pound burger with three patties plus a mountain of fries, all to be finished in 30 minutes. Our server told us the record was 2 minutes and 40 seconds!! We watched the video on YouTube while we ate. 

Next stop was Rural King, where Kirk once again tried to figure out a fix for the tailgate. We left empty‑handed (again), but he plans to enlist Tom’s help to sort it out.

We made it back to the house around 3 PM, and Kirk grabbed a quick nap since he was feeling a bit queasy (probably from the meds). By 4 PM, Tom had us loaded into the ATV for a ride around the neighborhood and the lake, which also led to a short hiking trail—such a fun way to explore the area. Later, Lynn made the most of the Bransons’ spacious basement for a workout. So much room… finally no chance of bumping into walls or furniture!

Dinner was a highlight: a delicious salmon meal, followed by learning a new card game called Nines. Between the food, the laughter, and the chance to catch up with friends, it was the perfect way to wrap up the day.

Weather – High 67*, Low 44*. Winds 7-10 mph with gusts at 22 mph. No rain, no humidity.

Traffic – None.

Food – Salmon at the Branson’s.

Notable – Hair salon day, impromptu dentist visit, Nines, catching up with friends and relaxing.