May 7 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

Last Saturday was one for the ages. You know how you see those stupid deals about how the moon or some eclipse or something won’t happen again for 816 years or some goofy deal like that? Well, last Saturday, we had the first ever coinciding dates or irony – Cinco de Mayo was on the same day as National Naked Gardening Day. Considering the effect tequila has on lots of people, I thought that was a pretty darn appropriate coincidence!

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The news over the weekend couldn’t have come at a worse time. The Utz Quality Food brand announced a recall of several brands of its tortilla chips. “People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products,” said the notice. Great. Now even tortilla chips can kill you. And the news came on Cinco de Mayo, too.

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It seems like United Airlines has had more than its share of staff problems in recent months. Their latest apology comes after a flight attendant who was “apparently drunk or stoned” made a slight change in the usual pre-flight boarding announcements: “if your seatbelt isn’t tight, you f*#@ed up,” she reportedly announced.  When the flight landed in North Dakota, police were waiting for the flight attendant – and all the passengers aboard were reimbursed for their tickets. I don’t know…I think the meaning of the announcement was pretty clear!

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Micky Liu was not a well man, but he enjoyed watching exotic strippers. That’s how he met Veronica Beckham in Atlantic City. And when his diabetes and other complications finally killed him a few months later at age 50, he showed his appreciation for Veronica by leaving her a nice tip - $233,000. All his insurance money and his savings, as well. His sister wasn’t very happy about the idea – but Veronica is now a “former” exotic dancer.

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In Metairie, Louisiana over the weekend “Big Lee” Martin who owns “Big Lee’s Towing Service” got into an argument with his next door neighbor, 78-year old Wayne Higgins. So, as Higgins was leaving the neighborhood, Big Lee shot his vehicle with a water hose. Apparently that really irritated Mr. Higgins, so he pulled out a gun and shot Big Lee dead. Moral of the story: don’t take a water hose to a gun fight.

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If you happen to be passing through Aurora, Colorado, you might want to double-check the microwave at 7-Eleven before heating up your sandwich. Angelique Sanchez apparently thought she was fine by collecting a urine sample before going to take her drug test for a new job – at least until she found out they test the samples to make sure they’re at “body temperature” instead of “room temperature.” So, she stopped by 7-Eleven to heat up the sample a little in their microwave. I don’t know what was in the sample, but whatever it was made the sample explode in the 7-Eleven microwave. Oh…and she didn’t pass the drug test, either.

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SIGN OF THE TIMES: In Britain, students are having difficulty figuring out how much time they have left to finish their exams because they don’t know how to read traditional “analog” clocks with the two hands and numbers. England is replacing clocks in classrooms with digital clocks so students can more easily figure out what time it is. Sheesh.

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BEST EXCUSE OF THE WEEK: Nicolette Gray is a 15 year old silver spoon teen who has grown up with drivers, a nanny, personal trainers, designer clothes and credit cards with no limits took her mother to the Dr. Phil show to try to work out their problems. Her mother got irritated at her and cut her allowance form $5,000 per month to $1,000 per month. She says her mother should reinstate her allowance because she is “being forced to live like a pauper” because her inconsiderate mother “works all the time and never does anything for me.” Also, because “I’m a princess. This is the only lifestyle I’ve ever known.” I’m not sure how the allowance issue worked out, but Nicolette is still expecting a $231,000 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen SUV for her 16^th birthday. “In matte black.” First world problems growing up in Beverly Hills.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: My friend Jon Wilson shared the best ever Facebook post for a Saturday, May 5 date. It was a photo of a sinking ship. The name of the ship was De Mayo. Get it?

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (Shared by my friend Terry Jones): “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” – Thomas Jefferson

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: If you haven’t grown up by age 60, you don’t have to.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Singer Eric Burdon (remember The Animals?) turns 77 Friday. Folk singer Donovan (Mellow Yellow) turns 72.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: According to tradition, the eyeballs of the executioner popped from his head and rolled away after he beheaded British martyr St. Alban.

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BEST OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Very sad day. A good friend of mine, after 7 years of medical school and training, has been fired for one minor indiscretion. He slept with one of his patients and can no longer work in the profession. What a waste of time, effort, training and money. He’s still paying on his school loans. This just goes to show one minor mistake can ruin your life. Thoughts for him and his family. He really is a great guy and a brilliant veterinarian.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Marc Moser, Donna Belt, Roger Haglund, James Brock, Pam Wyrick, Curtis Landry, Roger Cook, Brady Ayer, Kelly Brecheisen, Darryl Gupton, Josh McAffrey, Lyn Goss, Lorri Dyer, Brett Aberle, Joe Landon, Chance Grubb, Nancy Adkisson, Byron Long, and Michael Boesker.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you’re traveling through space at the speed of light and you turn on your headlights, does anything happen? (Steven Wright)

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Shangri-La owner Eddy Gibbs will be honored Friday night as the 2018 winner of the “Excellence in Business” award presented annually by First National Bank of Vinita and Grove. Don’t forget your mama this week! Sunday is Mother’s Day.  

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment around the lake this weekend. On Monkey Island, Risky Business will entertain Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina. Karaoke begins for the season this weekend at the Balcony Bar at The Shebang – and Saturday night is always dance night at Big Shots. Up highway 125, Friday night is karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub; and at the other end of the highway the highway, Lickitty Split will perform Saturday night at the Road Hog Saloon.

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. Saturday night, Tulsa DJ Matt Edison will provide the dance tunes at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina.

 Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features Jesse Joice on stage Friday night followed by Rivers Edge Saturday night. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Bootleg Riot will be featured at Bordertown Friday night; and The Whiskey River Band entertains Saturday. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Reverse Reaction will perform Friday night; and Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 will host The Barrett Lewis Band Friday night. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Brett & Terri perform Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Rosy Hips Friday night. Saturday night, music will be provided by Dirty Saints.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NBA Playoffs, PGA Golf, 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: With all the news about another royal wedding, Meghan Markle: An American Princess is a Friday night special on Fox at 7:00. Sunday night at7:00 is the premiere of the mini-series Little Women on PBS.  Inside the Royal Wedding: Harry & Meghan airs next Wednesday night at 9:00 on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIE: Life of the Party

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Two people you should never trust: a religious leader who tells you how to vote, and a politician who tells you how to pray.” – Nanda Nunnelly

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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, May 19 – Couples Mixer at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, May 19 – Barkaritaville dinner/music/auction event at Honey Creek Landing Marina benefiting the Second Chance Pet Rescue. Saturday, May 19 – Disco Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. Friday-Monday, May 25-28 – Memorial Day Run at the Pensacola Dam Off-Road Area. Friday & Saturday, June 1-2 – Toes in the Grand Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Saturday, June 2 – World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival & Cookoff in Vinita. Saturday, June 9 – Grand Lake Camp Bandage at Grand Lake RV Park. Friday-Saturday, June 15-16 – Vinita Route 66 Festival in downtown Vinita. Saturday, June 23 – 4^th Annual Rock the Dock raft-up party at Check-In Bay.

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The NBA Playoffs are rolling into the Conference Championship series this week. Finals begin Sunday with coverage on TNT, ESPN and ABC.

PGA players are at TPC Sawgrass on Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida this week for one of the really big ones – The Players Championship. Coverage is on the Golf Channel at noon Thursday & Friday. NBC has coverage of the final two rounds at 1:00 Saturday & Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are racing in Saturday night prime time in Kansas City this weekend. Coverage of the KC Masterpiece 400 begins at 7:00 Saturday night on Fox Sports 1.

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The weather looks good for the weekend ahead – sunny to partly cloudy skies with high temperatures in the mid-80s Friday & Saturday with lows in the 60s. It’ll be a few degrees cooler Sunday and we may have a shower or two in the morning, but it won’t slow down the weekend. There’s plenty of fun on the Grand Lake agenda. But, 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

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 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

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)

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