April 4 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
Well, after weeks of the back and forth warm-to-cold indecision of Mother Nature at Grand Lake, I couldn’t wait any longer. When you read this, I’ll be on the beach on Ambergris Caye, Belize enjoying the Caribbean sun and a preview of my summer days on Grand. It looks like highs will be pushing 70 degrees by the time I get back home. That’s better – but I much prefer the 85-degrees I’m enjoying right now in Belize (although it does get down to a chilly 79 most nights). I can’t stay too much longer, though. Whiskey is crazy expensive!
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We’re #7! If that stresses you out, congratulations. That’s the category in which Oklahoma ranks seventh according to a survey by WalletHub and a study by the American Psychological Association. We’re more stressed out than residents of 43 states. We rank 9th in work-related stress, 6th for family related stress, 8th for health related issues . We don’t seem as worried about money, though. We rank 17th in money-related stress – and we work more hours per week than the workers in 45 other states. It’s not paying off, though. We rank 46th in average credit scores. We don’t have anybody to talk to about it, either. We rank 47th in the number of psychologists per capita.
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Do as I say, not as I do? That seems to be the newest trend in higher education. Governor Stitt appointed Dustin Hilliary of Lawton to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education – the board that oversees Oklahoma colleges and universities, but Hilliary never graduated from college. He’s a successful guy and I’m sure he’s a good guy. I’m not dissing him because he never finished college. Neither did I. On the other hand, I’m not being appointed to the Board that says how higher education should work.
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An escapee from a Kansas facility has been spotted in Cox Bay (about 120 miles southwest of Houston). “Pink Floyd” escaped some 17 years ago – and has been on the lam ever since. He has been spotted a few times, but always managed to escape being captured. Oh, did I mention the facility from which he escaped? It’s the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita. And did I mention that the escapee, “Pink Floyd,” is actually pink? He’s a flamingo.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Cindy Hefner, Steve Oden, Donnie Smith, Gloria Pickens, Brian Pitts, Devon Miller, Patrick Sheeler, Bill Durick, Bill Schenke, Megann Marcellino, Peggy Howard-Burgess, Jerry Cookson, and Bill Dalton.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The NCAA National Championship game is Monday night, April 4 – Kansas vs. UNC. There’s a gigantic watch party, galley food, and a Hooray Grill tailgate party at The Anchor at Shangri-La Resort. Roland Raddler will be the featured Guest Chef at The Shebang Wednesday night, April 6. This may be Masters Week at Augusta National, but it’s “Hackmasters” Week at Shangri-La Golf Club. The always-fun Hackmasters Tournament is Saturday on Monkey Island. Friday morning at 8:00 is the Grove Chamber Eggs & Issues Legislative Breakfast at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. This weekend is also Grove & Monkey Island “Shop Local Weekend.” The I-44 Classic Antique Car Auction is at Buffalo Run Casino this weekend. Saturday is the Christian Music Festival at the Grove Community Center Lawn beginning at 1:00 p.m. – and Saturday night is the InVESTment fundraising dinner at Shangri-La Resort Hotel to raise money to purchase protective vests for Delaware County Sheriff’s deputies. Next week is the weeklong Citywide Clean-Up Week in Grove.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: While starring in the most popular TV show of the time, The Lone Ranger, actor Clayton Moore also appeared in more than a dozen low-budget movies, including "Radar Men from Mars" and "Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory."
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: One of the nation’s largest family-friendly nudist resorts is Oaklake Trails Naturist Park located on 400 acres of land in Creek County, Oklahoma.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Welcome to Facebook. Please be patient. Someone will disagree with you shortly.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: In twenty years, our country will be run by people who were homeschooled by day drinkers.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: The most dangerous liars are those who think they are telling the truth.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Turning vegan would be a big missed steak.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What if one day Google was deleted – and we couldn’t Google what happened to Google?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: “Lincoln” grossed $275,000,000 in movie theaters which is ironic since, historically, Lincoln doesn’t do well in theaters.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is just a spectator at The Masters this week. For the first time, he’s not involved in the Masters Par 3 Tournament. At age 82, the six-time Masters Champion says he “just can’t play anymore.” The classic movie “Singing in the Rain” made its theater debut 70 years ago.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I must admit the name was born of a touch of immodesty.” – Bobby Jones (on his decision to name the famed golf tournament at Augusta National “The Masters”)
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Thursday night Karaoke & Singo with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend fun at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Caleb Fellenstein performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night; and Terry Jordan tickles the ivories both Friday and Saturday nights at The Summit. Thursday night is karaoke night with KJ Flip at the Blind Swine on Monkey Island, and Erin Fitzgibbon entertains early Friday night at the Swine. DJ K-Bandito provides the tunes Saturday night at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze; and Saturday is karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub.
On South Grand Lake, The Magen Faulconer Band will provide the music early Friday evening (5:00) at the Blind Swine on Duck Creek. Dustin Moore starts the weekend with Thursday night karaoke at the Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill. Zene Smith takes over entertainment Friday night; and RocKFiscH will be on stage Saturday night at the Rooster. Randy Steele will entertain with a solo show Thursday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by Jake Flint Friday night and a Saturday night show featuring The Barrett Lewis Band.
In Grove, it’s another live theater weekend – the last two performances of “The Harry & Sam Dialogues” at Playmakers Thursday and Friday at 7:30. Enjoy a rare opportunity to enjoy beautiful harp music Friday night at The Regatta; and Garrett True entertains Saturday night. There is live entertainment by Travis Kidd Friday night at Venue 655 at Grand Lake Casino followed by karaoke Saturday night. Risky Business will be on stage at Cherokee Casino Grove Friday night, followed by The Sidemen Saturday night.
Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Brett N’ Terri in the Echo Bar Thursday night. Friday night features Chris Hyde; and Mayday by Midnight wraps up the weekend Saturday night.
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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Blind Swine on Duck Creek is now open weekends from 4:00 p.m. Friday and 9:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday. Blind Swine on Monkey Island has returned to its regular season six-day-a-week operating schedule (Tuesday-Sunday). The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda has opened for the season with early season service Friday-Sunday from 11:00-7:00. Grand Lake Public House has new hours of operation – open 3:00-9:00 p.m. with bar service available until 10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday. VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina is also open Thursday-Sunday at 11:00. Road Hog Saloon is now open seven days a week.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The CMT Music Awards Nomination Special airs Sunday night at 8:00 on CMT and the actual CMT Music Awards Show airs live Monday night at 7:00 on CBS. 61st Street debuts at 9:00 Sunday night on AMC.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Ambulance and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 both premiere in movie theaters Friday. All the Old Knives makes its debut in movie theaters Friday, simultaneously streaming on Prime Video.
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday-Sunday, April 16-17 – Easter In-Water Boat Show at Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, April 16 – Easter Egg Hunts, petting zoo, pony & camel rides, picnic at Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, April 16 – Easter Egg Hunt at Jay City Park (9:00 a.m.). Saturday, April 16 – Langley’s 5th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at First Christian Church (11:00 a.m.). Saturday, April 16 – Easter Egg Hunt at Bernice State Park (1:00). Saturday, April 16 – Annual “Gnome Costume Party” at Monkey Island Pub (6:00 p.m.). Sunday, April 17 – Easter Egg Hunt at The Anchor at Shangri-La (1:30 – kids 12 & under). Sunday, April 17 – Easter Buffets at The Summit at Shangri-La and Cherokee Yacht Club. Sunday, April 17 – Easter Sunday Brunch at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Tuesday, April 19 – Grove Chamber Business After Hours at Honey Creek BBQ (5:00). Sunday, April 24 – Blind Swine on Monkey Island hosts “Outdoor Barre” by Grand Lake Barre on the patio from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 28 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon at GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley (11:30). Saturday, April 30 – The Old Bulldog Band returns to Big Shots on Monkey Island for another fabulous charity fundraising concert & dance. Friday, May 6 – First Grove Black Party of the season on the Community Center Lawn.
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In the sports world, golf is in the white hot spotlight this week. It’s Masters Week! Coverage of America’s most watched golf tournament begins at 2:00 Thursday & Friday on ESPN. Coverage moves to CBS Saturday & Sunday with coverage at 2:00 and 1:00 respectively.
In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are in Los Angeles to face the Lakers Thursday night at 9:30. They’ll hang around L.A. to take on the Clippers Sunday.
There’s Bedlam Baseball this week, too. OU travels to Stillwater to face the Cowboys for three games this weekend. Unfortunately, we’ll only be able to watch one of them on TV. Game 1 is Friday at 6:00 followed by a Saturday night game at 8:00 (televised on ESPNU) and a matinee game at 3:00 Sunday.
We’re in the last month of NHL action before the playoffs begin May 2. Catch Washington at Pittsburgh Saturday at 2:00 and two Sunday games featuring Boston at Washington (12:30) and Nashville at Pittsburgh (3:00). Next Tuesday & Wednesday there are a couple of double-header-coverage nights – Philadelphia at Nashville (6:00) and Tampa Bay at Dallas (8:30) on Tuesday night – and New York at Philadelphia (6:00) and L.A. at Colorado (8:30) Wednesday night.
NASCAR drivers are at Martinsville this week for a little Saturday night prime time racing. Coverage of the Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 begins at 6:30 Saturday evening on FS1.
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Weather is slowly sliding toward warmer temperatures at Grand Lake. This weekend will start with highs around 60 and lows in the mid-40s – but by Sunday we’ll be up pushing 70 for a high with a low in the mid-50s. Better! Get out and have some Grand Lake fun. Remember, though, no matter where you decide to party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!
GRAND LAKE BUM
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Looking for places to go, things to do, services to use or property to buy in the Grand Lake area? Here’s a starter kit listing of “open to the public” fun places to spend time at Grand Lake.
Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley
Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)
Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Friday & Saturday nights)
Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café at Har-Ber Village
Café Yum in Grove
Cafeteria at The Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Changos Locos at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum
Copper’s Tea and Coffee House in Grove
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Cove Club in Langley
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina
Domino’s in Grove
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s on the Lake at Blue Bluff Harbor
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill at Grand Meridian
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina (smoking)
Forage in downtown Grove
Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lake Coffee Company in Grove
Grand Lake Public House in Grove
Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove
High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)
Honey Creek BBQ in Grove (south of Honey Creek bridge)
Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lester’s Third Street Diner in Grove
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Marina’s Place at Littlefield Corner
Matt’s Place in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Monkey Island Trail Rides
Monkey Island Winery
Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
Pappy’s Bar on Hwy 10 east of Grove
Pickles at the Lake in Langley
Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove
Pit Stop Café in Grove
Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor (smoking on the deck)
Raggedy’s in Grove
Rancho Viejo in Grove
Riggs & Company in Langley
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island (smoking...but not at lunch)
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)
Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort
Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice
The Parrot at Honey Creek Landing in Grove (Smoking on the patio)
The Regatta in Grove
The Stables Casino in Miami (smoking)
The Shebang on Monkey Island (smoking on patio and Balcony Bar)
Ugly’s Grill & Bar, Thunder Bay Marina (smoking)
VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)
Water Side Bar & Grill in Grove
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove