July 3 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

There can’t be any place anywhere that does up a holiday party like Grand Lake. I couldn’t help but smile over the last two or three weeks at the social media posts from someone about every 20 minutes asking, “Are there any fireworks at Grand Lake?” Pretty funny. Professional fireworks displays in the Grand Lake are were scheduled for almost every night of the five or six day holiday period. Cooler than expected weather reduced the arguments and fights and goofy behavior, but it didn’t reduce the crowds. We do it up right every time. I’m so proud of the businesses, residents, part-time residents – and all the visitors who realize that THIS is the place to be – every day of the year!

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Have you ever played “Glow Golf”? I did that at Shangri-La’s new “Battlefield” Par 3 course Friday night. You hit a lighted ball toward a lighted pin on the green. It’s the first time on a golf course I have ever been able to tell where my ball went when I hit it off the tee. It still didn’t go where I hoped it would go – but at least I could find it!

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The Grand Lake events never stop! The big holiday week is extended another few days for folks who love really fast boats. The Wolf Creek Drag Boat Nationals are Saturday & Sunday at Wolf Creek Park. Qualifying is Saturday (8:00-5:00) and eliminations are Sunday (10:00-6:00). These are the fastest boats in the world. As a safety precaution, you won’t be able to watch from your boat – but it’ll be well worth watching from the shore. If you want to see these incredible boats up close & personal, there’s a “Show & Shine” event at Grove City Hall Friday evening 5:00-9:00 p.m.

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As Ryan Seacrest prepares to take over “Wheel of Fortune” hosting duties from  the retiring Pat Sajak, cohort Vanna White is bucking for a raise. Unbelievably, she has not received a pay raise in 18 years. Even more unbelievably, she is paid $3 million per year. It brings a new meaning to the phrase “walkin’ around money.” Vanna has been making $3 million a year for….walkin’ around.

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Can anyone explain to me why the NFL keeps suspending players for gambling…when the NFL is in partnership with gambling operations – and has betting operations at most NFL stadiums? That’s like putting a pile of meat in front of a dog and telling him, “Now, don’t eat that.”

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Virginia Gibson, Patsy Williams, Stephanie Young, C.E. Dinsmore, Travis Brock, Jack Doney, Rod Wadel, Elaine Stansfield, Toby Keith, Sheri Stoner, Kyle Mecklenburg, Scott Verplank, Kelly Whitehead, Kerry Kimmons, Jaime Dobbins, Bob Graper, Mandy O’Banion, Jon Wilson, and Tami Wilson.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. There is no post-holiday slowdown for Grand Lake fun. Friday is Food Truck Friday at Grove City Hall including show-n-shine of drag boats and live music (5:00-9:00). Friday is also “First Friday Wine Share” at The Flower Bar in Grove (6:00-7:30). Check out the Grand Lake Summer Expo at Craig County Community Center both Friday & Saturday (9:00-6:00). Wolf Creek Drag Boat Nationals are in Wolf Creek Saturday & Sunday (Saturday 8:00-5:00, Sunday 10:00-6:00). Next week is Kids Summer Camp at The Anchor at Shangri-La (Monday-Thursday).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The first line of “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’” – “You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips” – was repurposed from one of songwriter Barry Mann’s earlier hits, “I Love How You Love Me,” which includes the lyric, “I love how your eyes close whenever you kiss me.”

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: The first McDonald’s restaurant was opened in 1948 in San Bernadino, California. By that time, there were already over 100 Dairy Queens, the first of which was built ten years before the first McDonald’s.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Country singer Dolly Parton wrote the gigantic hit songs “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene” on the same night.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: $45 billion found in a Nigerian man’s flat. He’d spent ten years trying to get rid of it, but no one answered his emails.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Toilet out of order. Please use floor below.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: I used to play a lot of sports. Then I found out that you can just buy trophies. Now I’m amazing at everything!

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Never buy flowers from a monk. Only you can prevent florist friars.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If people in hell get mad at someone, where do they tell them to go?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: You can sing the lyrics to almost any song using the musical tune of verses from “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” – Carl Sagan

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Legendary singer/songwriter Carly Simon is 80 years old. Actress Nicole Kidman turned 56 last week, and actress Meryl Streep turned 74.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: 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. Kevin Price performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night. Eddy’s Lakeside Bar features Torn Saturday night. Terry Jordan entertains at The Summit Restaurant Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings. DJ K-Bandito hosts the weekend musical fun at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze Friday & Saturday nights; and across the street, there’s karaoke on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday & Saturday nights. DJ Kennedy brings Rockstar Karaoke fun to Monkey Island Pub Saturday night.

On South Grand Lake, Jamey Hooper kicks off the weekend Thursday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by Wilkie Jay Friday night, and Absher, Martin & White Saturday. Ryan Graham will handle the tunes Sunday afternoon at 4:30. The Downbeat entertains Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, and Reverse Reaction takes the stage Saturday night. Sharky’s also features acoustic music most Sunday afternoons. 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.

In Grove, Backwood County will entertain at “Food Truck Friday” at Grove City Hall Friday evening from 5:00-9:00. There is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music from Borrowed Money Band Friday night, and more karaoke Saturday. Johnny Dale Roberts entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove, followed by The Swade Diablos Saturday night.

Brett N’ Terri kick off the weekend Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino, followed by Bobby DeGonia Friday night and Dirty Saints Saturday.

Western Justice will provide the music Saturday night at River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West.

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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UDATE: Two Chefs Chillin’ mobile food cart is now operating Saturday nights from 8:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. at Monkey Island Pub. Bella Donna’s in Honey Creek has reopened after being closed for a few days due to storm damage. The Galley at Shangri-La’s Anchor Activity Park now offers food service seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. Shebang is now serving Sunday Brunch (9:00-2:00).

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Lincoln Lawyer returns to NETFLIX Thursday. Sunday night is new game show night on ABC beginning with The Prank Panel at 7:00, Celebrity Family Feud at 8:00, and $100,000 Pyramid at 9:00. The fourth and final season of Miracle Workers: End Times kicks off Monday night at 9:00 on TBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Insidious: The Red Door and Joy Ride both open in theaters Friday. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 will open in theaters next Wednesday.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Saturday, July 13-15 – Monkey Island Two-Man Best Ball Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. Friday-Saturday, July 14-15 – Oklahoma Legislative Grand Lake Getaway. Friday, July 14 – Grove Rotary Club “Shrimpfest” at Shangri-La Resort (5:30). Friday, July 14 – Aquapalooza VIP Party at Lighthouse Restaurant in Ketchum (6:00-9:00) and Aquapalozza Pre-Party at Sharky’s (9:00-Midnight). Saturday, July 15 – Grove Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association Car Show at Wolf Creek Park (8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). Saturday, July 15 – Oklahoma Legislative Golf Tournament at The Battlefield at Shangri-La. Saturday, July 15 – Aquapalooza on-the-water concert in Ketchum Cove (Willow Park Marina). Monday, July 17 – Grand Like Newcomers Club “Movie Night” at Grove Cinema 7 (4:00 p.m.).

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Professional tennis has the sports spotlight for the next several days. Wimbledon is underway with daily coverage on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC beginning at 7:00 most mornings. Third round begins Friday, Round of 16 Sunday, and quarterfinals begin next Tuesday.

PGA Golfers are in Illinois this weekend for the John Deere Classic. Coverage begins at 3:00 Thursday & Friday, and noon Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 2:00.

NASCAR drivers are in Atlanta for Sunday night prime time racing again. Coverage of the Quaker State 400 begins at 6:00 Sunday on USA network.

There’s some good pro baseball on TV this week, too, just ahead of the All-Star break. Cincinnati is at Milwaukee at 3:00 Saturday followed by Seattle at Houston at 6:00. Next Tuesday is the MLB All-Star game at 7:00 on Fox.

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Since it’s July, the meteorologists seem obligated to put a “chance of thunderstorms” in every forecast for every day but, other than that, the weather for the weekend ahead looks great. Highs will be in the upper 80s with lows around 70 – and sunshine most of the time during the day. Let’s hope for great weather, because there’s a LOT of stuff happening. Always 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 

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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

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