July 31st Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
Every good cause on Grand Lake calls for a party. It was nice to see so many folks having fun at Saturday’s Poker Run on South Grand Lake – all proceeds to the Ketchum Schools Backpack program. Nice work, boaters!
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Everybody is obviously maxing out their fun time. The approaching start of school combined with picture perfect weather has the lake covered with boats every weekend – and the golf courses are full, too. It’s just incredible weather for July-August. This weekend’s Run a Monkey golf tournament at Shangri-La and the Boats, Bikes, Bikinis & BBQ event at Arrowhead Yacht Club should ensure that the maximum number of folks are back enjoying Grand Lake Fun!
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Folks who know me well are certainly aware of the fact that I enjoy a great whiskey (or 10), so what do you think? Where is the best whiskey made? Nope, not Kentucky or Tennessee. Not Scotland or Ireland. Not even Japan. According to the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits competition, the best whiskey in the world is distilled in….Vermont? Really? Yep. Twenty years ago, there were no distillery’s in Vermont. Now there are 16; but Vermont-distilled WhistlePig’s Boss Hog IV “The Black Prince” rye whiskey won Best of Show at that world competition. The bad news is, it’s a little pricey. Okay, a LOT pricey. $499 a bottle. But it’s really, really good!
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In Columbus, Ohio, jurors found a suspect guilty on drug charges – then they quickly made their exit…and so did 71 oxycodone pills used as evidence. So, in case you’re wondering… no, even if you are a juror in a drug trial, it’s not okay to take the evidence home with you as a parting gift.
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The new White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci aka “The Mooch” will have more time to devote to his idol, President Trump. Sick of Scaramucci’s tireless efforts to get close to The Donald, as well as his “naked political ambition,” his wife of three years, Deidre Ball, has filed for divorce. Big week for The Mooch. New job, new home, and “naked political ambition” proving that everyone is, indeed, afraid to tell the emperor he has no clothes. I wonder if Ivanka and Melania realize that “naked political ambition” is apparently sufficient grounds for divorce.
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Oklahoma is the site of the 86th Annual Convention of AANR. If you don’t know what that is, the letters stand for American Association for Nude Recreation. We’ve come a long way, baby. Our once prudish little state is now home to the national convention of nudists. It will get underway August 7 at Oklahoma’s family friendly Oaklake Trails Naturist Park halfway between Tulsa and OKC. This year is also the 25th Anniversary for Oaklake, so now they will be visited by nudists from all over the country. At least there shouldn’t be a big back-up in baggage claim!
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Coca Cola has announced it is ending the sale of its most popular drink. Coke Zero sales will be discontinued in August sometime. I know there were health issues with it, but there are health issues with anything that tastes good. They’ll still have Diet Coke (for those of you who don’t mind that tin foil aftertaste) and they’re replacing Coke Zero with something called Coke Zero Sugar, which they claim is closer in taste to regular Coke, probably due to the, uh, SUGAR? We’ll see.
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President Trump has said he would donate his Presidential salary to worthwhile causes, but I’m not sure there are very many who could afford to take it. He donated his $100,000 second quarter paycheck to the U.S. Department of Education…while simultaneously recommending a $9 billion cut to their budget.
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Sometimes things just don’t work out like you expect. In Pennsylvania, commercial fisherman Christopher Leclair returned from a day and night on the water to report his wife missing. He said she had apparently fallen overboard and he didn’t notice. She turned up eventually, but when her body washed ashore, it had been bound with nylon rope and tied to an anchor. Oh, yeah…and there was that bullet hole in her head. When cops came to explain the situation to Chris, they also found a gun under his bed. Yep. Ballistics matched. He probably should not have been so sentimental about keeping the gun.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: I don’t drink alcohol. I drink distilled spirits, so I’m not an alcoholic – I’m a spiritualist.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: Skilled workers are hard to find. That’s why idiots are promoted to management.
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DEFINITION OF THE WEEK – Snaccident: (noun) Eating an entire bag of potato chips by mistake.
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IMPORTANT FACT OF THE WEEK: Folgers got it wrong. The best part of waking up is going back to bed after you pee.
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TIP OF THE WEEK: Don’t ever take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Cheryl Brecheisen, Jennifer Eve Fish, Paula Harbuck, Mark Paden, Daniel Love, Don Baxter, Jacoby Riggs, Bob Abraham, Connard Luper, Gerald Keeton, Peggy Howard, Jack Adkisson, Lori Gray, Patsy Cravens, Linda McCulla, Sandy Kirkpatrick, David Moritz, and Kari Baker.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What are imitation rhinestones?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The Run a Monkey Golf Tournament is this weekend – Friday & Saturday at Shangri-La; and the annual Boats, Bikes, Bikinis & BBQ event is Saturday afternoon at Arrowhead Yacht Club.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s great entertainment around the lake this weekend. On Monkey Island, Uninvited Guest will be on stage both Friday and Saturday nights at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina. You provide a big part of the entertainment at The Balcony Bar at The Shebang, with Friday and Saturday night karaoke. Downstairs in the Burlesque Room, Randy Lunsford provides the weekend entertainment; and across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, enjoy all the best dance tunes Friday & Saturday nights with DJ Deeko. Just down the highway from there, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub, Erin Fitzgibbon performs Sunday nights at Blind Swine, and there’s always great live weekend entertainment at the Road Hog Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina. Saturday night, Sharky’s will spotlight popular Lickitty Split.
Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well. Downstream Casino and Grand Lake Casino did not have entertainment listings available at press time, but both have live entertainment Friday & Saturday nights. Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill will host Echo Friday night, followed by Rosy Hips Saturday. At River Bend Casino in Wyandotte, Club 60 West spotlights Big Smitty Friday night. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar startingThursday night with music by Walrus. Friday night features the music of Travis Kidd followed by Uncrowned Kings Saturdaynight.
Material Girl will be on stage at Lost Creek Saloon at Bordertown Casino Friday night, with Shawna Russell wrapping up the weekend entertainment Saturday night.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NASCAR and PGA Golf are Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The series premiere of The Guest Book debuts Thursday night at 9:00 (two back-to-back episodes); andGeorge Lopez: The Wall, Live from Washington D.C. is on HBO Saturday night at 9:00.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Dark Tower and Kidnap
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The average hip replacement cost in the U.S. is $40,364. In Spain, the cost is $7,371. That means I can literally fly to Spain, live in Madrid for two years, learn Spanish, run with the bulls, get trampled, get my hip replaced again, and fly home for less than the cost of a hip replacement in the U.S.” – Josh Sundquist
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, August 12 – Woodstock on the Water in Lawhead Hollow. Monday-Tuesday, August 14-15 – Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Partnership Championship Tournament at Shangri-La. Friday, August 18 – Mary Moore Charity Golf Tournament & Silent Auction at Shangri-La Golf Club. Friday-Sunday, August 18-20 – Thunder on Wolf Creek (boat races). Saturday, August 19 – Barkarita (fundraising party for Second Chance Pet Rescue) at Honey Creek Landing in Grove. Saturday, August 19 – Roaring 20’s Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. Friday, August 25 – Grand Lake Casino Charity Golf & Blackjack Tournament. Sunday, August 27 – Gospel & Giggles with Terry Jordan and Willamae (6:00 p.m.) at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Grove. Sunday-Wednesday, August 27-29 – Shangri-La Couples Invitational Golf Tournament. Sunday, September 3 – Monkey Island Fireworks at Grand Lake Regional Airport.
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The PGA Tour features two big events this weekend. The big kids will all be at Firestone in Akron for the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational. Coverage begins on the Golf Channel Thursday and Friday at 12:30 and Saturday & Sunday at 11:00. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 1:00. The Barracuda Championship is also this weekend in Reno. Coverage is exclusively on the Golf Channel Thursday and Friday at 5:30 and at 6:00 Saturday & Sunday. The Women’s British Open is also this weekend. Golf Channel coverage begins at 6:00 a.m. Thursday-Sunday.
On the NASCAR circuit, the boys are headed for New York this weekend. Coverage of the “I Love New York 355 at The Glen” begins at 2:00 Sunday afternoon on NBCSN.
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The weather forecast for the first weekend of August doesn’t look like Oklahoma August weather at all. It’s gonna be perfect – mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid-80s, light breezes, and lows in the lower 60s. It should be a great weekend for outdoor activities – and there are plenty of those! Enjoy all the fun stuff Grand Lake has to offer, but remember, 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.
1909 in Downtown Grove
American Grill in Grove
Aquabar & Grill at The Landings Marina on Monkey Island (smoking on the deck)
Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley
Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)
Big Shots on Monkey Island (smoking upstairs—open Friday & Saturday nights)
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Bobbers Café in Langley
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café Italia on Monkey Island
Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)
Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and on Monkey Island
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Coffee Shelter in Ketchum
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s on the Lake at Blue Bluff Harbor
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina
Frosty & Edna’s (west of the dam in Langley)
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lodge in Ketchum (smoking)
Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove
High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)
Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
Karrie's Kaboose in Langley (smoking)
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lakeside Bar & Grill in Grove at Sail Boat Bridge
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Monkey’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Morrows Bar & Grill in Raper Hollow
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
Okie Smokies Barbecue in Grove on Hwy 59 South
Pickles at the Lake in Langley
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)
Roadhouse 125 on Monkey Island (smoking deck)
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Scooters in Langley (smoking)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)
Smokin’ Spur BBQ & Trading Post at Old Towne Plaza, Cleora
Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)
The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice
The Landings Marina (smoking on the deck)
The Landings Market and Grill on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)
The Parrot at Honey Creek Landing in Grove (Smoking on the patio)
The Office on Monkey Island (smoking)
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
Waterway Café, Harbors View Marina (smoking on breakwater dining deck)
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove