March 12 Random Observations of Grand Lake Bum

The #reallybigshow at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze Saturday night was hilarious. It’s amazing to see how many talented people there are at Grand Lake. Another great party for great causes – “the kids and the kritters.” The top vote-getting act featured “The Monkey Island Ladies of Dressage.” Funny, funny stuff from Tammie Koehler, Betty Dennis, and Patty Davis. Fun night.

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I had so much fun Saturday night, I forgot about the time change. My iPhone makes the change on its own, of course. So, even though I left the bar a little before 2:00 – I checked the time when I got home: 3:10. I thought I had blacked out or something. Turns out I was just stuck in a lost hour of time.

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Welcome to the time of year when we put the daylight in a useful spot…the evening. I think we ought to keep it this way. I don’t recall much of anything good happening to me before noon – and I certainly believe if God had intended us to see sunrise, he would have scheduled it later in the day. Or perhaps that’s why he made Grand Lake sunsets so magnificent. At any rate, enjoy your late afternoon & evening sunshine. Turns the boaters, golfers, and motorcycle riders loose. Spring is almost here – Tuesday, officially, but mid-70 degree temperatures this weekend provide a nice welcome mat for Tuesday’s spring arrival!

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I got some great news from the University of Minnesota last week from a team that just completed an academic study of people who stay up late, live in a messy environment, and swear a lot. They tend to have higher intelligence. That study, combined with the one I mentioned last week about the study that showed consuming coffee and bourbon tend to extend your life, is really great news in the little world I live in.

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The high and low of living in Oklahoma. OKC made the #9 spot of Money Magazine’s Top 20 Places to Go in 2018. That’s great new, but it came the same week we learned, to our eternal shame, Oklahoma now has the lowest paid teachers in the nation.

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The Governor’s Task Force for Drug Suppression in Georgia is leaving no leaf unturned. After their helicopter crew spotted suspicious looking growth in the back yard of an Atlanta home, they sent a K-9 force and armed officers to take care of the problem. The retired gentleman they encountered was fully cooperative, but a little befuddled. In the end, the Task Force officers took some samples, but did not confiscate or destroy the gentleman’s crop of….okra.

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The new “modernized liquor law” needs some tweaks before it becomes effective October 1. The legislature is doing a lot of tweaking on it…but Delaware County voters are going to have to take care of some of the Grand Lake problems ourselves. County Commissioners can call an election…but voters will have to repeal the current Sunday restriction on sale of liquor by the drink on Sundays. If not, come October 1, no one will even be able to buy a beer with their food before 1:00 p.m. on Sundays. If we’re going to continue to push tourism, we need to change that – pronto! In Mayes County, where Sunday cocktail sales are prohibited altogether, folks won’t be able to get a beer on Sunday, either, unless voters change their restrictions. If you haven’t heard, 3.2 beer will disappear in Oklahoma October 1. Beer will only be sold by those who have a license to sell liquor, and only at the times authorized to sell liquor.

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Sometimes folks get a little carried away – even if they might be trying to protect others. In Virginia, Storm Durham was fired from her job as a Social Worker in Roanoake for having a concealed carry permit. She was escorted from her office by three police officers as a “risk to the building.” By the way, she was carrying her permit. No gun. Just the permit.

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New York State is serious about their prohibition against texting while driving. If you’re going to text and drive, you’d better have a really good job. The fine is $850.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: For those of you who are afraid to share my posts because you think a swat team will come knocking at your door, that’s just crazy! Swat teams don’t knock.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: When is International Men’s Day?

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TWEET OF THE WEEK:  The hour we lost last weekend was the one I was planning to go to the gym.

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FUNNIEST (FAKE) HEADLINE OF THE WEEK: Military refuses to participate in Trumps parade, citing bone spurs.

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: The State of Nevada raked in over $30 million in tax revenue in the first six months of legalized recreational marijuana sales. Oklahoma legislators…are you paying attention?

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FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: What do these songs have in common – Hey Jude, Mrs. Robinson, Born to be Wild, Hello, I Love You, and Suzie Q?  They all celebrate their 50^th anniversary this year.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Kristy Gibbs, Clint Walker, Peter Dillingham, Guy Hixenbaugh, Steve Hays, Gary Quick, Peggy Stowers, Candy Brasel, Linda Eller, Carla Steckline, Bill Slepka, John Pellow, and Nick Paden.  

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why is it considered necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: There’s so much happening around the lake this weekend that it’s going to take a real trooper to get it all done. Thursday night at6:00 is the Vinita Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet at the Craig County Fairgrounds. Friday afternoon at 5:30, several candidates for statewide public office will be making their cases and be available for questions at the new Grove Airport Terminal building. Friday night is also the huge St. Patrick’s Day party at Monkey Island Pub – bagpipers will play hourly 6:00-10:00. Saturday night is a St. Patrick’s Day party at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina. Saturday at 5:30, there will also be Live Boxing at the Grove Civic Center.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment around the lake this weekend. At The Shebang on Monkey Island, the talented Randy Lunsford entertains weekends. Across the street at Big Shots, dance the night away, especially with the Saturday night St. Patrick’s Party. Just down highway 125 at Monkey Island Pub, Friday night is a great St. Patrick’s Night with bagpipers and drummers every hour 6:00-10:00, followed by dance music & karaoke. The Blind Swine also has karaoke fun, as well as live entertainment by Erin Fitzgibbon. Further down the highway at the Road Hog Saloon, there is great live entertainment every Saturday night.

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

Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features the music of The Pumpkin Hollow Band Friday night and Dead Metal SocietySaturday. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Dewayne Bowman provides the entertainment Saturday. Lickitty Splitwill be the featured band Friday night at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655,  Paralandra will provide the Friday night music. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment beginning with Lucas Gates Thursday and Hi-Fidelics Friday night in the Echo Bar. Saturday night, music is by Paralandra.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including the NCAA Tournament games, NBA Basketball, PGA Golf, and NASCAR are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, 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: The series premiere of Instinct is Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS.  Kids take over NBC Sunday night with Little Big Shots at 6:00 and the series premiere of Genius Junior at 8:00. Brooklyn Nine-Nine moves to a new day and time, Sunday at 7:30 on Fox.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIE: Love, Simon

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “With the rise of self-driving vehicles, it’s only a matter of time before we get a country song where a guy’s truck leaves him, too.”

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 – Renaissance Festival in Vinita. Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 – Long John Sumner’s Big Meat Run at Disney. Friday, March 30 – Blood drive at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, Holderman Ballroom from 11:00-4:00. Saturday, April 7 – GEFFE Gala at Grove Civic Center. Saturday, April 14 – Free Boating Safety Course at GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley (8:00-5:00). Saturday, April 14 – South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce “Bootleggers Ball” at Cherokee Yacht Club.

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On the college basketball courts, it’s March Madness. Full tournament play begins Thursday with game coverage Thursday-Sunday beginning at 11:00 a.m.and continuing through the afternoons and evenings on CBS, Tru-TV, TBS, and TNT.

The NBA is back to a full schedule this week, too. The OKC Thunder have just one home game before hitting the road. They host the Los Angeles Clippers Fridaynight at 7:00 (FSOK and NBA-TV). They’ll have St. Patrick’s Day as a northbound travel day before a noon tip-off Sunday in Toronto (FSOK). Tuesday night, they’re in Boston to face a nationally televised game against the Celtics (7:00 on TNT).

PGA players are still in Florida this week, but they move to Orlando. Coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational begins on the Golf Channel 1:00 Thursday & Fridayand 11:30 Saturday & Sunday. NBC picks up the final two rounds at 1:30 Saturday and 1:00 Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are at Auto Club Speedway this weekend. Coverage of the Auto Club 400 begins Sunday at 2:30 on Fox.

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Get out your boat and your golf club – and any other outdoor device. The first full weekend of Daylight Saving Time has a great weather outlook.  The forecast calls for Grand Lake highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s with partly cloudy skies. There’s a lot of stuff happening around the lake this weekend, too, so let’s get the fun started. But…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

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 (smoking upstairs—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 on Monkey Island

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

Frosty & Edna’s (west of the dam in Langley)

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)

Roadhouse 125 on Monkey Island (smoking deck)

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