July 13 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

The biggest news of the week is the fact that four big Grand Lake boat dealers backed out of the 2021 Tulsa Boat Sport & Travel Show due to early non-refundable deposit requirements combined with uncertainty over the Covid-19 pandemic. Grand Lake Boat Sales, MarineMax, Nichols Marine and Ugly John’s Custom Boats made the announcement last week. Unfortunately, it looks like they’re on the right side of history. The same week as their decision, Newport Boat Show, the Oklahoma State Fair and Texas State Fair were cancelled. The Ivy League cancelled all of their fall sporting events, the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, and Pac 12 announced they would play conference games only on their Fall football schedule (so the Oklahoma State/Oregon State season opener is a casualty – the Cowboy opener, as of now will be September 12 against Tulsa). If people can’t (or won’t) go to football games, they’re probably not going to boat shows, either. Judging from the way people have been making record boat purchases so far this year, virtual shows may the pathway of the future, anyway…and Grand Lake dealers are already exploring that venue as a possibility this winter. #changingtimes

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As Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana – and many towns and cities in Oklahoma continue to fight the pandemic with mandatory mask rules, I fail to see the reason for controversy. People argue that no one complains about mandatory seat belts, driver’s licenses, air bags, etc. to save lives. Others argue that businesses requiring masks is no different than “no shoes, no shirt, no service.” My personal argument is that masks are fun! Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year because of…masks. It’s amazing what fun little tricks you can get away with when no one knows who you are. The only thing that still seems a little odd to me is wearing one into a bank lobby.

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Who would have ever thought the vastly different government reactions to the pandemic would result in such a 180-degree turnaround that we are now at the point that New York and New Jersey require a 14-day quarantine of travelers from Oklahoma to protect the New Yorkers from Okies?

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We’ve all talked a lot over the last few months about all the people quarantining at Grand Lake, but here’s a number that’s hard to wrap your head around. On July 4, the mid-afternoon GRDA snapshot of Grand Lake showed more than 3,000 boats on the lake at one time. Let’s just be ultra-conservative, and value those boats at an average of $100,000 each. Is my math right? That’s $300 MILLION DOLLARS worth of fiberglass floating around bumping into each other in one afternoon. We are fortunate folks, indeed!

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Here’s another consideration. If you see big smiles on the faces of bar owners and liquor store owners, it’s because alcohol sales in the U.S. have jumped 243% during the Covid-19 crisis.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: As they await COVID-19 test results, Cherokee and Arrowhead Yacht Clubs are hoping to open this weekend, along with VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina. Once open, VIP will be open for take-out only. At the yacht clubs,. There will be temperature checks at the door and masks will be required until you are seated. No bar seating. Doc’s at Shangri-La offers curbside pickup of pizza, wine and beer, but is not yet open for dine-in service. FYI, The Landings Restaurant and Morrow’s Bar & Grill have no plans for opening this season.

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PUBLIC EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE: Buffalo Run Casino cancelled their Xtreme Fight Night originally scheduled for Friday night. Aquapalooza, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled for 2020. The Will Rogers Rodeo in Vinita has also been cancelled for this year. The women’s college golf Four-State Championship scheduled for August 2-4 has been cancelled – so no title defense this year for the 2019 Champion OU Sooners. The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament has been postponed until Friday, September 18. The Oklahoma State Fair and Texas State Fair have been cancelled, as well.

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Thursday Night Shrimp Boil & Karaoke on Doc’s Patio at Shangri-La Resort (5:00-9:00). The Grand Lake Queen riverboat runs regular sightseeing cruises at 7:00 Friday evening and 6:00 Saturday from Royal Bay Marina in Grove. Junior Skills Camp is next Monday-Wednesday (July 20-22) at Shangri-La Golf Club.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Erin Fitzgibbon entertains Wednesday nights for “Biker Night” at Blind Swine. KJ Flip leads the Thursday night karaoke fun at the Swine, and he’s back Sunday night for Cocktails & Karaoke. The Faulconer Duo will be on stage at the Swine Friday night, followed by Doctor Junior Saturday night.  Jason Morgan starts the weekend with karaoke fun at the Thursday Night Shrimp Boil & Karaoke on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort.  Big Smitty performs live at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Saturday night. Big Shots will feature DJ K Bandito Friday and Saturday nights. Karaoke with Kerry on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday& Saturday nights. Monkey Island Pub features Karaoke with DJ Tim Saturday night.

Live entertainment returns to Indigo Sky Casino this week with a Thomas Martinez Acoustic Show Saturday night in the Echo Bar. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar features Kevin Upshaw & the One Night Stand Friday night, and Lyle Parman Saturday.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Singer Linda November was known as the jingle queen because she performed in some 22,000 such ditties over a 30-year career. She was also one of the singers on the original recording of "Candida" for what became Tony Orlando and Dawn.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Did you ever wonder why a round of golf consists of 18 holes? Why not 10? Or 25? During a discussion among the club’s membership board at St. Andrews in 1858, a senior member pointed out that it takes exactly 18 shots to polish off a fifth of Scotch. By limiting himself to only one shot of Scotch per hole, the Scot figured a round of golf was finished when the Scotch ran out. Now you know. (I have no idea, of course, whether this is true or not…but it fits well in this column.)

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: When you’re dead, you don’t know you’re dead. All the pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you’re stupid.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Corona season, then Riot season, now Hurricane season. Do I need a mask, a Glock, or a generator?

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: My body is a temple. Therefore, I am a church and exempt from paying taxes.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: You said everything would be back to normal by June. Julyed! (thanks to Rita Hitzeman for sharing this one)

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: If the CDC told people that staying inside for 14 days would save the 2020 football season, the entire south would be locked in their rooms right now.

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DEFINITION OF THE WEEK – CORONACOASTER: The ups and downs of a pandemic. One day you’re loving your bubble, doing workouts, baking banana bread, and going for long walks. The next day, you’re crying, drinking gin for breakfast, and missing people you don’t even like.

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FEEL OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: We know the outcome of the fiddle contest, so at least we know the devil didn’t get his soul. Country superstar Charlie Daniels died of a stroke last week. He was 83.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Judy Florida, Tev Brackin, Carolyn Frans, Shana Wheeler, Erik Altom, Jimmy Young, Tammy Altman, Angie Prideaux Jones, Jay Fleming, Bill Flegler, Carolyn Cavins, Gennie Johnson, Joe Carter, Erin Davis, Bailey Stanphill, Sharon Burnett, Bobby Stem, Rene Talley, Jack Kirkpatrick, Liz Poole, and Tricia Covel. Congratulations to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in OKC, home of the OKC Dodgers for being voted “Best of the Triple-A Ballparks in America” by readers of Ballpark Digest.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: How did the guy who invented cottage cheese know when he was done?

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: 30 Rock Upfront Special airs Thursday evening at 7:00 on NBC. Living Grand on Grand Lake airs Thursday at 7:30 on RSU (repeat Saturday morning at 10:00). The second season of The Allenist: Angel of Darkness debuts Sunday night at 8:00 on TNT. By the way, the new Peacock TV begins streaming this week. Looks really good.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Fatal Affair is available Thursday on NETFLIX. The Sunlit Night is available streaming Friday, as well as A Nice Girl Like You. Greyhound is available on Apple TV.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The reason our country is having so many heat waves is because we have so many more thermometers. More than any other country! If we stopped looking at thermometers, we’d have very few days over 80 degrees, if any.”  - Jennifer Kay

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Friday, July 23-24 – Junior Club Championship Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday-Sunday, July 25-26 – Club Championship Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, August 1 – Harbors View Raft-up (1:00-5:00) with music by the Faulconer Duo and Brett & Terri. Friday, August 14 – Mary Moore Charity Golf Tournament & Auction at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, August 22 – Shangri-La Mystery Dinner. Saturday, September 5 – Redneck Raft-Out & Concert at Check-In Bay. Friday, September 18 – Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at Patricia Island.

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SPORTS WATCH: The Open Championship, originally scheduled for this weekend, was cancelled, but there is still great PGA Golf! In fact, players don’t even have to move this week. For the second week in a row, they’re at Muirfield in Dublin, Ohio. This week’s tournament is The Memorial Tournament which was originally scheduled June 4-7. Tiger Woods returns to the course for this one. No fans will be allowed on the course, but you will have a front row seat. Coverage will be on the Golf Channel at 1:30 Thursday & Friday afternoons, 12:30 Saturday & noon Sunday. CBS will pick up the final two rounds Saturday at 3:00 & Sunday at 2:30.

NASCAR drivers will be at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth Sunday afternoon for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. Coverage starts at 2:00 Sunday afternoon on the CBS Sports Network (CBSSN). They’ll have to hustle to Kansas City afterwards, because next week’s schedule is a Thursday night race – the Kansas 400.

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Weather for the weekend ahead looks fabulous – but plenty hot. The forecast calls for sunshine, light winds, and small rain chances with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s and lows in the mid-70s. Have fun; but wherever you party this weekend, 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

Ailey’s Café in Langley

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 (Open Friday & Saturday nights)

Blind Swine on Monkey Island

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café Italia on Monkey Island

Café Yum in Grove

Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)

Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and at Littlefield Corner

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanella’s in Grove

Chicken Coop West of Langley

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Coppers Tea & Coffee House in Grove

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

Domino’s in Grove

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 (smoking)

Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)

Grand Lake Public House in Grove

Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove

Henrie’s Grill 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

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’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)

Morrow’s Bar & Grill at Morrow’s Landing

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

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)

Scooters in Langley (smoking)

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)

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 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