July 30 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

Last weekend’s weather was a little unpredictable on Grand Lake – but it didn’t stop the success of the Ship Stores Poker Run on South Grand or the Members’ Golf Cart Drive-In Movie Night at Shangri-La. I’ll admit, I really enjoyed Raiders of the Lost Ark which I hadn’t seen in years; but it will probably come as no surprise to you that it was more enjoyment for me to enjoy that movie feature that big city kids have been enjoying for quite a while – cocktails at the movie! Nice! The weather looks a lot less “iffy” for the Boats, Bikes, Bikinis & BBQ event at Arrowhead this weekend!

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There was big space news in the universe last week. We have known for some time that there are large masses of ice on various parts of Mars; but last week the Italian Space Agency confirmed that it has discovered a large lake of actual liquid water underground on Mars, raising hope that life may be discovered on Mars. I thought that was interesting, but the most amazing fact of the entire episode was the discovery that Italy has a Space Agency.

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A Russian man who has covered more than 90 percent of his body (including his eyeballs) with black-ink tattoos underwent surgery last month in Mexico to have his penis, testicles and nipples removed because they spoiled his body art. Adam Curlykal, an albino,  says as soon as he heals, he’ll have the new skin tattooed. “I always knew I was different from the rest of society,” he said – in what may be the early favorite for the  “understatement of the year award.”  

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NEWS ITEM: “Record temperatures caused chaos at the London Marathon, with runners dropping like flies in the ‘scorching’ 23C heat.” Twenty-three degrees Celsius is 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit. I don’t think they’d make it in Oklahoma.

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It’s time for minor league baseball teams to start pulling out all the promotional stops in an attempt to attract crowds to the games – but the Montgomery (Alabama) Biscuits just managed to irritate their entire younger fan base with their “Millennial Night” promotion which featured participation ribbons just for showing up, a napping area, selfie stations, and lots of avocados.

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A scientific study shows that female dragonflies actually pretend to be dead in order to avoid sex with male dragonflies in hot pursuit. My own research indicates this is not true only with dragonflies.

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It’s probably not exactly an honor she wanted, but if you’re #1, by golly, you’re #1. For the first time in her career, term-limited Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin topped Morning Consult’s list of “America’s Ten Least Popular Governors.” With a disapproval rating of 71% and an approval rating of only 19%, she was officially named “The Nation’s Least Popular Governor” last week. She was edged out Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, followed by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, New Mexico’s Susana Martinez, and Maine’s Paul LaPage.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I’m starting to think that someone who paid $290,000 to have sex twice is maybe not really a super expert at making good deals.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: President Calvin Coolidge slept at least 10 hours a night…and took naps.  

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: When I find myself in tweets o’ trouble, Mother Russia comes to me, speaking words of wisdom…covfefe!

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Forgot to do yoga yesterday. That makes six years in a row now.

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DEFINITION OF THE WEEK: “Sugquestion” – as in “do you want to make the bed?”

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The movie “Mr. Mom” was released 35 years ago. Yoko Ono announced last week that she will release a new albumOctober 19 – Warzone. The widow of the late John Lennon is 85. The first Tom & Jerry cartoon was released 78 years ago; and Saturday is the 40^th anniversary of the release of the movie, “National Lampoon’s Animal House.”

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BEST OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: In the event of a tornado, put some wieners in your pocket. That way the search dogs will find you first.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Tammy Botts, Kirk Woford, Peggy Blair, Cheryl Brecheisen, Mark Paden, Daniel Love, Jacoby Riggs, John Bond, Jennifer Eve Fish, Paula Harbuck, Bob Abraham, Don Baxter, Connard Luper, Gerald Keeton, Sue Naylor, Peggy Howard, and Jim Wolfe.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why isn’t “phonetic” spelled the way it sounds?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The “Ugly’s Hole in One” competition continues this weekend at Thunder Bay Marina benefiting PAAS and Folds of Honor.Saturday is the annual Boats, Bikes, Bikinis and BBQ at Arrowhead Yacht Club beginning at 11:00 a.m. The Bikini contest starts at 2:00. Saturday-Sunday is also the Big Bass Cash Tournament sponsored by Grand Lake Casino; and Sunday, the PGA Oakley Cup Tournament will be played at Shangri-La Golf Club.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s always a lot of great entertainment around the lake. On Monkey Island this weekend you are the star on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang with karaoke fun Friday and Saturday nights, and the dance floor will be hoppin’ with music by D.J. Deeko right across the street both Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Up highway 125, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub and Saturday night marks the return of The Hitmen to the Pub. At the Blind Swine, there’s live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night (including Erin Fitzgibbon Friday), with karaoke with KJ Flip Sunday and Tuesday; and at Littlefield Corner, the Road Hog Saloon also features live entertainment on Saturday nights.

If live theatre is more your style, there’s an incredible “participation play” production of Nightingale at Playmakers in Grove Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday nights at7:00 and Sunday afternoon at 2:00; and Picture in Scripture Amphitheater features the live production of Damascus Road Friday and Saturday night east of Disney.

On South Grand Lake, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Michelle’s Bar & Grill at Grand Lodge in Ketchum – and there’s always live entertainment at Michelle’s on Saturday night.

Arrowhead Yacht Club will feature the music of RPM Saturday afternoon during the big Boats, Bikes, Bikinis & BBQ event. The bikini contest starts at 2:00, by the way.

Friday night, RPM will also provide the entertainment at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, followed by Mike Barham & the Honky Tonk Prophets Saturday night; and there is always Friday & Saturday night entertainment & karaoke fun on the deck at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina.

Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. James Muns and Sierraentertain at Bordertown Friday night, followed by the Whiskey River Band Saturday. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Lickitty Split will perform Friday night. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, Three Dollar Rocket will be on stage Friday night. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week.nighTTrain perform Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Oreo Blue Friday and Dirty Saints Saturday.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including PGA Golf, Major League Baseball, and NASCAR are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Monkey Island Pub, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Like Father will be available on NETFLIX Friday. Chesapeake Shores returns to the Hallmark Channel Sunday night at 8:00, Better Call Saulis back for another season Monday night at 8:00 on AMC; and the series premiere of Castaways airs Tuesday night at 9:00 on ABC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Christopher Robin, The Meg and The Spy Who Dumped Me

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Did you know sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine? What’s more interesting is the fact that, while heroin and cocaine activate only one spot for pleasure in the brain, sugar lights up the brain like a pinball machine.” – Dr. Mark Hyman

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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, August 11 – Back to School Bash at Pensacola Dam Off-Road Area. Saturday, August 11 – Luau Party at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill.Saturday, August 11 – Premiere of the movie “Wedding Belles” at the Cinema 6 in Grove followed by an after party at Big Shots on Monkey Island. Friday, August 17– SGLACC Great Grand Lake Open Golf Tournament at The Coves. Saturday, August 18 – Cars for Critters Car Show at Grove Civic Center. Saturday, August 18 – Circus Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. Wednesday, August 22 – Will Rogers Rodeo Parade in downtown Vinita (11:00 a.m.). Wednesday-Saturday, August 22-25 – Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo, Vinita Fairgrounds.

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It’s a double-header weekend on the PGA Tour this week. The Barracuda Championship will be in Reno with coverage on The Golf Channel at 5:30 Thursday &Friday and 5:00 Saturday and Sunday. The big kids will be at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron with coverage on the Golf Channel at 12:30 Thursday &Friday and at 11:00 Saturday and Sunday mornings. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 1:00 Saturday & Sunday.

Major League Baseball features some great rivalries this weekend. The Yankees are in Boston to take on the Red Sox Saturday at 3:00 (FS1) and again Sunday night at7:00 (ESPN). Monday night, the Yankees will travel to Chicago to take on the White Sox (ESPN). The Angels are in Cleveland Saturday night at 6:00 (FS1).

NASCAR drivers are in Watkins Glen, New York this weekend for GoBowling at The Glen. Coverage begins at 1:30 Sunday on NBC.

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The weekend weather looks unbelievable this week for the first week of August, with high temperatures around 90, lows around 70, and sunshine with light breezes. That’s good, because there are certainly plenty of outdoor activities around the lake. Be safe, have fun, and stay hydrated. And, remember…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. 

1909 in Downtown Grove

Ailey’s Café in Langley

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 (Open Friday & Saturday nights)

Blind Swine on Monkey Island

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

Bobbers Café in Langley

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

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

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

Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove

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)

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