August 7 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

Mother Nature pulled off another “Aha! Gotcha!” moment last Saturday. Unexpected morning thunderstorms forced organizers to cancel the scheduled “Splash Bash” concert in Ketchum Cove. By scheduled starting time at 1:00 p.m., the weather was perfect, of course. You have another chance at on-the-water music this weekend, though. Arrowhead’s annual “Woodstock on the Water” is Saturday afternoon in Leon Russell Cove (Lawhead Hollow to you outsiders). The fun starts with an overnight raft-up Friday followed by a Saturday afternoon of music. By the way, there is no land access to this event.

*****

If you just wait around long enough, all things old will become new again. Folks posting the latest “trends” must be awfully young these days. The headline read, “Putting Peanuts in Coke is the New Trend Coming Out of the South.” New trend? I know people who did that at least 60 years ago!

*****

Somewhere in a studio somewhere, a continuity director is in trouble. Movie goers noticed a 50-star American flag being waved in an “Oppenheimer” movie scene set in 1945. The 50-star American flag was established in 1959.

*****

College football fans are going to have to start doing some serious homework to follow all of next year’s changes in the conference line-up. Maybe it’s time to get rid of the numbers currently used in conference names, because they are even more misleading than ever. Everybody knows OU & Texas are moving to the SEC – and it looks like there will be 16 teams in the Big “12” when the dust settles. But the “Big 10” is making history, as it is now set to be the Big “18.” After raiding the Pac 12 to pick up USC and UCLA, Oregon and Washington were also added to the Big “10” last week. The PAC 12 is the big loser, of course, after the mass exodus. The “PAC 4” just doesn’t have a ring to it. Extinction is probably on the horizon.

*****

GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Mary Stallings, Rob Brookby, Carol Richardville, Steve Bashore, Bobby Hillegass, Nancy Gibbs, Homer Myers, Dennis Boyles, Michelle Graham, Casey Smith, Jamie Perryman, Jeff McDougall, CC Leuszler, Margaret Erling, Marina Jameson, Heather Cole, Bill Wolfe, Jim Timberlake, Candi Bullard, Eric Brixey, Savanna Brown, Stephanie Graves, and Matt Pinnell.

*****

BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. One of Grand Lake’s biggest charity events is this week. The Mary Moore Charity Golf Tournament & Silent Auction gets underway Friday at Shangri-La Golf Club. Speaking of Shangri-La, the three-day “End of Summer Family Bash” at The Anchor starts with a 3 vs. 3 Basketball Tournament Friday (7:00), with a Cornhole Tournament Saturday (7:00), and a 5 vs 5 Wiffle Ball Tournament Sunday (6:00). Saturday morning is Farmers’ Market in downtown Grove (9:00-2:00). Saturday is an Open House Lake Day Party at Stony Point (11:00 a.m.-midnight). Saturday afternoon is the big Woodstock on the Water raft-up and concert 1:00-5:00 in Leon Russell Cove (Lawhead Hollow).

*****

RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The original members of the Eagles – Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner – were assembled by Linda Ronstadt as her touring and studio band.

*****

FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: When an airline ticket agent named Nelle Harper Lee complained to her friends about finding time to write, they left an envelope for her on Christmas. The note read: “You have one year off from your job to write whatever you please,” and offered to support financial support for a year. Determined not to waste it, Harper Lee used the time to write “To Kill a Mockingbird” which sold over 30 million copies and won the Pulitzer Prize.

*****

ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: “Pistol” Pete Maravich averaged 44 points per game during his three-year college basketball career at LSU. He like to shoot from distance, but this was before the 3-point shot was implemented. It’s estimated that, if it had been in play during his college years, he would have averaged 57 points per game for his career.

*****

BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: My therapist told me “Write letters to the people you hate and then burn them.” I did that, but now I don’t know what to do with the letters.

*****

BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Dance like no one is watching because they’re not. They’re checking their phones.

*****

BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: If you serve your kids frozen pizza or chicken nuggets for dinner, you are a terrible parent. I don’t care how busy you are, find the time to microwave them.

                                                        *****

BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: My dog’s at the vet. He ate all my Scrabble pieces. Still waiting, but no word yet!

*****

UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If the woman is always right, and a man is always wrong – then, if a man tells a woman that she’s right, is the man right or wrong?

*****

OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: On average, American men under the age of 75 have sex two to three times a week, whereas a Japanese man the same age will have sex only one or two times per year. This is very upsetting news to many of my friends, as they had no idea they were Japanese.

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” – Mark Twain

*****

FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Happy birthday to “Dennis the Menace.” Actor Jay North turned 72 last week. Olympic figure skating champion Peggy Fleming turned 75. Band longevity? Yep! The Oak Ridge Boys are celebrating 50 years together as a band. If that’s not enough, it has been 90 years since Bob Wills organized The Texas Playboys.

*****

BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: You can’t always predict the live entertainment on Grand Lake. For example, I’m sure no one expected the pop-up performance by Toby Keith when he hopped on stage with The Stars at Drunken Rooster last weekend, but here’s what I know:

On Monkey Island, the weekend fun kicks off on Doc’s Patio Thursday night with Jason Morgan leading the karaoke fun at the Thursday night Shrimp Boil. Rockwell performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night. Eddy’s Lakeside Bar features Whiskey Poet Society Saturday night. Terry Jordan entertains at The Summit Restaurant Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings. There’s karaoke Thursday night at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, and DJ K-Bandito hosts the weekend musical fun Friday & Saturday nights featuring Western Justice on stage Saturday night; and across the street, there’s karaoke on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday & Saturday nights. Saturday night is Rockstar Karaoke fun at Monkey Island Pub featuring DJ Kennedy.

DJ Phil will entertain throughout the afternoon at Stony Point for their Open House Lake Day Party.  Empire will provide the music beginning at 7:00.

On South Grand Lake, Erin Fitzgibbon will be at Blind Swine Thursday evening. The James Muns Band performs Friday night and Hurricane Romance provides the music night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, and Brent Giddens will be on stage Sunday afternoon at 3:00. Wilkie Jay kicks off the weekend Thursday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by Clint & Frank Friday night and Dustin Pittsley Saturday night. Barrett Lewis will entertain Sunday afternoon at 3:00 at Mooney’s. The weekend musical fun always starts on Thursday nights with karaoke fun at The Drunken Rooster. This week, Erin Fitzgibbon will provide the musical entertainment Friday night at the Rooster followed by Reverse Reaction Saturday night. The Barrett Lewis Band will provide the entertainment Saturday afternoon from 1:00-5:00 at the annual “Woodstock on the Water” event in Leon Russell Cove (Lawhead Hollow).

In Grove, there is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music from Western Justice Friday night, and more karaoke Saturday. Uncrowned Kings entertain Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove, followed by Hollywood Riot Saturday night.

Jon Dooly kicks off the weekend Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino, followed by Jumpsuit Love Friday night and Derryl Perry Saturday.

*****

GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UDATE: Casa Gutierrez is closed temporarily while they move to their new location at the old Charlie’s Chicken location at 1720 South Main in Grove. Road Hog Saloon was closed for a few days last week, but they’re open now. Blue Cat Bistro at Har-Ber Village is closed until further notice due to fire damage. Bella Donna’s now offers a Sunday Buffet from 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. The Canteen at The Battlefield Golf Course at Shangri-La offers food & beverage service Thursday-Tuesday (closed Wednesday).

*****

BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Challenge: USA airs Thursday night at 9:00 on CBS. The seventh and final season of Billions premieres Sunday night at 7:00 on Showtime.

****

BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Shortcomings, Haunted Mansion and Sympathy for the Devil join Oppenheimer and Barbie in movie theaters this week.

*****

SAVE THE DATE: Monday, August 21 – Grand Lake Newcomers Club Movie Day at Grove Cinema 7 (4:00 p.m.). Monday-Tuesday, August 21-22 – Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Partnership Championship Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. Friday-Sunday, August 25-27 – Multi-Dealer Boat Show at Thunder Bay Marina (918 Boats, Grand Lake Boat Sales, Nichols Marine, Ugly John’s). Friday & Saturday, August 25-26 – Grove Pro Rodeo at Crosswired Cowboy Church Arena (7:00). Saturday-Sunday, August 26-27 – Race to Shangri-La Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. Friday, September 1 – Food Truck Friday in downtown Grove. Friday, September 1 – Food truck Friday at the Grove Community Center. Friday, September 1 – First Friday Wine Share at Har-Ber Village (6:00). Friday-Sunday, September 1-3 – Jana Jae Fiddle Camp & Music Festival. Saturday & Sunday, September 2-3 – Boats, Beats & BBQ Festival & Formula 1 Powerboat Racing at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Saturday, September 9 – Road Kill Chili Cook-Off at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Jay (11:30-1:00). Friday-Sunday, September 22-24 – Pioneer Days Living History Event at Har-Ber Village. (9:00-3:00 Friday & Saturday, 9:00-noon Sunday). Monday, September 25 – “Fore the Kids” Golf Tournament at The Coves Golf Club benefiting the Ketchum Warriors Backpack Program, sponsored by the South Grand Lake Foundation (9:00 a.m. shotgun).

*****

The NFL Preseason is officially underway. Thursday, Houston is at New England at 6:00 and Minnesota faces Seattle at 9:00. Friday games include Green Bay at Cincinnati at 6:00 followed by Denver at Arizona at 9:00. A four-game line-up Saturday starts with Tennessee at Chicago at noon followed by the N.Y. Jets at Carolina at 3:00, Philadelphia at Baltimore at 6:00, and the L.A. Chargers and L.A. Rams at 8:45. All games are on the NFL Network.

PGA Golfers are in Memphis this week for the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Coverage is on the golf channel beginning at 1:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday. The final two rounds move to CBS Saturday & Sunday at 2:00.

NASCAR drivers will be on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course this week for the Verizon 200 at The Brickyard. Coverage begins at 1:30 Sunday afternoon on NBC.

There are a couple of excellent Major League Baseball games, too. Houston hosts the L.A. Angels Saturday at 6:00 followed by Baltimore at Seattle at 8:30.

*****

Mother Nature may sneak in a morning thundershower or two Saturday and/or Sunday morning, but otherwise, the weather for the weekend looks great. Highs will be around 90 with lows around 70 with mostly clear skies. It looks like a great weekend for some serious summer fun, and there’s plenty available! Remember, though, wherever you decide to party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!

GRAND LAKE BUM

If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both  Grand Lake Living and www.360grandlake.com, the cost is only $50 a week and the list of readers is growing.  E-mail grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker newspaper.

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

Back Porch Ice Cream in Grove

Bailey’s Bistro at Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)

Bella Donna’s at Honey Creek Landing Marina

Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Friday & Saturday nights)

Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

Blue Cat Bistro at Har-Ber Village

BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café at Har-Ber Village

Café Yum in Grove

Casa Gutierrez in Grove

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

Chubby’s Grill at On Target in Grove

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

Danny’s Dockside Pizza at Honey Creek Landing

Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

Domino’s in Grove

Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)

Drake’s Restaurant in Grove

Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill

E&H Liquor Store at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina

Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek

Flower Bar in 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

Grand Lake RV Resort at the back of Duck Creek

Hero’s Deli 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

Keagan’s Coffee at Littlefield Corner

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

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Monkey Island RV Resort

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney

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

Pier 13 Liquor Store 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)

R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, Grove

Riggs & Company in Langley

River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)

Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island

Royal Liquor Store in Grove

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 Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

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