July 20 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

All the latest COVID-19 news seems to indicate Grand Lake is still the right place to ride this thing out. Tulsa and Oklahoma City have joined 46 other Top 50 cities with mandatory mask rules (Joplin, too). Arkansas has implemented a mandatory mask rule statewide (joining Kansas and Texas). Target and CVS have joined Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Starbucks, Best Buy, Kohl’s and Kroger requiring masks to shop in their stores throughout the U.S. Philadelphia has banned all large public gatherings until February. The Eagles and Phillies will play without fans in the stadiums all year. MLB and NBA are re-starting play with the same plans. There are no spectators allowed at this week’s PGA Tour event. The Rose Parade in Pasadena for New Year’s Day has been cancelled. Amazon has revised their work-from-home schedule for employees to continue into February. Europe extended the EU ban on travelers from the United States.  Cruise Ship travel has now been banned until at least September 30. In the meantime, reporter Mike Mahoney’s excellent story on KOAM-TV, Joplin last week was headlined “Covid-19 Isn’t Stopping Summer Fun on Grand Lake.” Well said.

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It was great to have so many legislators and their families from all across Oklahoma at Grand Lake over the past weekend. It was the annual Grand Lake Legislative Getaway and Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Resort. Yacht charters, parasailing, lake tours, receptions, swimming, golf – and a big wrap-up cook-out & party hosted by Dr. Doug Cox & Drenda with Tom & Susan Kimball at their homes in Woodard Hollow. GRDA did an awesome job showing and explaining the area. It’s always to our benefit to have a bunch of legislators who love Grand Lake and GRDA!

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This Coronavirus situation is making everyone so cranky they are lashing out at anything and everyone, whether their “facts” have the slightest connection to reality or not. I saw a conspiracy theory photo of Dr. Anthony Fauci, Melinda Gates, and President Obama on Facebook the other day. The person posting it said it was taken in 2015 in a lab in Wuhan, China and went on to propose some wild-ass conspiracy theory. Naturally, it was even remotely true. The picture was taken at a lab in Bethesda, Maryland as they were fighting the Ebola epidemic. Even that wasn’t my favorite, though. My favorite was the “breaking news” that “The NFL is losing millions – viewership is now at a five-year low!” That made me laugh out loud! I’m assuming NFL viewership is low right now, since there hasn’t been a game since the first week of February!

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I don’t know if his meds finally kicked in or if he found out running for President wasn’t as simple as he thought – but rapper Kanye West has dropped ended his Presidential campaign just two weeks after he announced it. I guess he’ll be on the ballot in Oklahoma, though. That’s embarrassing. What a goober!

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Kudos to Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for postponing the start of the school year until after Labor Day. Now, we just need two more things: 1) Every other state to do that; and 2) Make it permanent!

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Cherokee and Arrowhead Yacht Clubs have reopened. Temperatures are taken prior to entry and masks are required until patrons are seated at a table. No bar seating.VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina has reopened with “regular hours and regular service” after being closed for COVID testing. 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: 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 has also been cancelled.

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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). Thursday & Friday is the Junior Club Championship Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. The annual Club Championship Tournament is Saturday & Sunday. The Grand Lake Queen riverboat runs regular sightseeing cruises at 7:00 Friday and Saturday evenings from Royal Bay Marina in Grove.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Erin Fitzgibbon entertains Wednesday nights for “Crab Legs Night” at Blind Swine. KJ Flip leads the Thursday night karaoke fun at the Swine, and he’s back Sunday night for Cocktails & Karaoke. DJ Kennedy will be on stage at the Swine 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.  Whiskey Poet Society will be live at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Saturday night and Terry Jordan performs at the Summit Restaurant both Saturday and Sunday nights. 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 at Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Straight Away Friday night in the Echo Bar followed by TJ Scarlett Saturday. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar hosts Trett Charles Friday night, and Bobby DeGonia Saturday.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: During the influenza epidemic of 1918-19, San Francisco instituted a face mask ordinance with a fine of $5, payable to the Red Cross.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: In every single episode of the long-running TV series Seinfeld, there is a Superman somewhere. (THAT should give you something to do.)

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Relax. Wal-Mart is only asking you to wear a mask. You can still wear your pajamas and leave your bra and teeth at home.. You’ll be fine.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: If you come into the store without a mask, we will have to take your temperature! P.S. We only have rectal thermometers.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Every time a man does a woman wrong, God pushes his hairline back an inch.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Elvis Costello and Abba are touring together this summer, but they haven’t figured out which will be the headliner. So watch for Abba & Costello to ser who’s on first.

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: The truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it. A lie is still a lie no matter how many people believe it.

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FEEL OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: One of America’s foremost civil rights leaders, a veteran of the Selma march with Martin Luther King, Jr., died last week. Congressman John Lewis, the “Moral Authority of America,” the “Conscience of Congress” was 80 years old.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to David Poindexter, Dennis McCulla, Michael Rippey, Shawn Webb, Kent Jopling, Cindy Dunavant, Randy Sullivan, Peggy Kiefer-Steed, Nathan Gunter, Heather Lillard, Katie Merrill, Susie Kraft, Tim Carson, Dick Lillard, John Castelli, Darlene Flegler, Jeff Moll, Karen Karr, Toni Stanley, Brandon Sharpe, Joe Allbaugh, Jim Conner, Lorraine Spechler, Yana Livesay, Doyle Junker, Mims Talton III, Justin Barrett, Paul Marcellino, and Terri Ogle.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Is it okay to pull the bag of wine out of the box and stab a straw in it like it’s a giant Capri Sun? (thanks to Cari Williams for this one)

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Living Grand on Grand Lake airs Thursday at 7:30 on RSU (repeat Saturday morning at 10:00). Lost Resort debuts Thursday at 9:00 on TBS. The final season of Room 104 debuts Saturday night at 10:00 on HBO. As we prepare for the season reopening, NBA Countdown airs Saturday night at 7:00 on ABC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Animal Crackers is available Friday on NETFLIX. Most Wanted, Retaliation, and The Rental are available streaming Friday, as well.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “In memory of the ‘conscience of the House,’ Congressman John Lewis. Thank you for your courage, sacrifice and unfailing belief in the promise of America. Thank you for not giving up when lesser men and women bow and scrape for position and perceived power, however fleeting. Rest now with the saints.” – Cari Williams

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SAVE THE DATE: 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: PGA players are in the Twin Cities this weekend for the 3M Open. Coverage will be on the Golf Channel at 1:30 Thursday & Friday afternoons, noon Saturday and Sunday. CBS will pick up the final two rounds Saturday and Sunday at 2:30.

Major League Baseball play is underway again! Sit back in your recliner and flip around the channels – ESPN, Fox, FS1, and TNT. Tons of games are being televised live. MLB is BACK!

NASCAR drivers are in Kansas City this week for rare Thursday night racing. Coverage of the Super Start Batteries 400 presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts begins at 6:30 Thursday evening on NBCSN.

Believe it or not, the NBA is about to resume play. The OKC Thunder have three pre-season games starting Friday against the Celtics, followed by the 76ers Sunday, and Portland next Tuesday. Unfortunately, those games aren’t televised. The regular season re-opener for the Thunder is in OKC, hosting the Utah Jazz Saturday afternoon, August 1 (ESPN & Fox Sports Oklahoma).

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I can’t imagine better July lake weather than what’s in store for us during the weekend ahead The forecast calls for sunshine, light winds, and small rain chances with highs in the low-to-mid 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