September 3 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

What a fantastic Labor Day weekend – at least following the Thursday afternoon hurricane that hit the lake just ahead of the holidays. I can’t remember the last time we had really nice weather for all three major summer holiday weekends.

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Contrary to popular belief, Labor Day is NOT the end of summer. The first day of fall is not until September 22. We’ll all celebrate its arrival with another awesome Taste of Grand event that evening at the Integris Grove campus. Despite the fact it is not yet official fall, the best boating season of the year is officially underway! Cooler weather, lighter winds, and less traffic on the lake after Labor Day makes September and October the very best months of the year to enjoy Grand Lake.

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I have great news for Monkey Island visitors and residents. Drink up. The Island now has Uber. Cheers!

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Two new studies out last week have me thinking about my drinking habits. One study said every glass of alcohol increases your risk of death. Another study said dairy products fight death from any cause whatsoever. So…I’m thinking a good snack would be beer/cheese soup and vodka-yogurt.

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Be careful with your Facebook, Trip Advisor and Yelp restaurant reviews. Writing a bad review could be hazardous to your health and safety – at least if you live in Orlando, Florida. Monica Walley was apparently refused service at a restaurant on her birthday, and she shared the story with her daughter who called the restaurant and, still not satisfied, wrote a scathing review of the place on Facebook. Over a significant number of beers, the restaurant owner’s son, Michael Johnson, told his roommate, Norman Auvil, that the review had resulted in such a social media frenzy that it had ruined the business at the restaurant he hoped to inherit. It went downhill from there. Johnson drove past Mrs. Walley’s home as his roomie fired three warning shots into the house, narrowly missing the head of Mrs. Walley’s husband. Police said “there apparently was alcohol involved.” Ya’ think?

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GRAND LAKE DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Sharky’s Bar at Hammerhead Marina, the restaurant at The Landings Marina and the Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda Harbor are closed for the season this week.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: When you’re dead, you don’t know you’re dead. All the pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you’re stupid. (thanks to Terry Jones for sharing this one)

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The lineage of Confucius, whose true name was Kong Fuzi, is the longest current pedigree in the world. It is now in its 83rd generation since Confucius' death in 479 B.C.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Ho Made Apple Butter

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BEST ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Judge me by the people I avoid.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: It’s no longer politically correct to call tweakers, tweakers. They are Methican American.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers first aired on television 25 years ago. Now that production has begun on “Top Gun: Maverick” which is due to be released July 12, 2019, it’s worth noting that the original “Top Gun” with the same leading cast was released 32 years ago.

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BEST OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Is anyone really confident with how they say “Worcestershire Sauce”?

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Sally Cole, Emily Kelley-Baggett, Dennis Loudermilk, Kim Quillin, Kenton Stacy Wheatley, Bob Prine, Kate Lindley, Tena Smith, Eddy Gibbs, Jack McDonald, Amanda Silvers, Richard Keep, Wes Kreie and Stevie Fernandez.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If a person with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Saturday is the Heartland Classics 25^th Annual Mahogany & Chrome Classic Boat Show at Arrowhead Yacht Club.Saturday afternoon at 3:00, there’s a BBQ Cook-Off & Red Dirt Music Jam with Mike McClure and Whiskey Poet Society at American Legion #40 in Vinita. The Hole-in-One competition at Ugly’s Grill & Bar has been extended through September. Take your best shot Saturday & Sunday afternoons.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty 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 DJ $way right across the street both nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Up highway 125, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub. At the Blind Swine, there’s live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night (including Erin Fitzgibbon Friday), and KJ Flip hosts karaoke Sunday and Tuesday; and at Littlefield Corner, Lickitty Split will be on stage at the Road Hog Saloon Saturday night.

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; 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. The Boston Mountain Playboys entertain at Bordertown Friday night, followed by Runnin’ on Empty Saturday. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Big Smittywill perform Friday night. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, Blank Earth will be on stage Friday night. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Bootleg Riot performs Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Rocked N Loaded Friday night, and Leah and the Mojo Doctors Saturday.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including PGA Golf, Major League Baseball, College Football, NFL games, 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: Season 2 of Marvel’s Iron Fist and the movies City of Joy and Sierra Burgess is a Loser will all be available on NETFLIX Friday. Sunday night is a huge television night. You may need your DVR. The Season 9 premiere of Shameless and the Series Premiere of Kidding are both on Showtime Sunday night at 8:00 and 9:00 respectively.  The Season 5 premiere of The Last Ship airs at 8:00 on TNT, and The Miss America Competition is live at 8:00 on ABC; and Monday night at 7:30 CBS showcases new fall shows in The CBS Fall Preview Show.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Peppermint and The Nun

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” – Steve Jobs

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Friday, September 13-14 – Murder Mystery Theater at Har-Ber Village. Friday-Sunday, September 14-16 – Wheeling for the Wounded at the Pensacola Dam Off-Road Area. Saturday, September 15 – REC Day at Grove Civic Center. Saturday, September 15 – Grand Nautical Flea Market at Captain’s Corner north of Langley (10-4). Saturday, September 15 – Shangri-La MGA Ryder Cup Tournament. Saturday, September 15 – Shangri-La Member Appreciation Party. Saturday, September 15 – Woodstock Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. Sunday, September 16 – Har-Ber Village Benefit Golf Tournament at Patricia Island (1:30). Sunday-Monday, September 16-17 – Grand Lady Golf Tournament at Shangri-La. Saturday, September 22 – A Taste of Grand on the Integris Grove Hospital grounds. Monday-Tuesday, September 24-25 – MSSU Invitational College Tournament at Shangri-La. Saturday, September 29 – SGLACC Hook ‘N’ Cookoff. Saturday-Sunday, September 29-30 – Club Championship Tournament at Shangri-La. Sunday, October 7 – 8^th Annual Folds of Honor Classic at Shangri-La. Friday-Saturday, October 12-13 – Pelican Festival in Grove. Saturday, October 13 – Oktoberfest of Vinita at the Catholic Church grounds. Saturday, October 27 – Route 66 Punkin’ Chunkin’ Contest at John’s Tractor Works, Vinita.

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College football is into Week 2 for the big four teams. Everybody plays Saturday. OU hosts UCLA at noon (Fox) and Arkansas is at Colorado State at 6:30(CBSSN). Tulsa and OSU both play at 7:00 – OSU hosts South Alabama (Fox Sports) and Tulsa is at Texas (Longhorn Network).

NFL regular season play gets underway this week with the season premier of Thursday night Football on NBC featuring Atlanta at Philadelphia at 7:00 on NBC. Sunday games include Pittsburgh at Cleveland (CBS) and San Francisco at Minnesota (Fox), both at noon. Kansas City is in L.A. to face the Chargers at 3:00 (CBS) and Dallas is at Carolina at 3:30 (Fox). Sunday night is the Chicago-Green Bay rivalry at 7:00 on NBC. The Monday Nigh Football season opener features a double-header – the NY Jets at Detroit at 6:00 and the L.A. Rams at Oakland at 9:00, both on ESPN.

PGA Players are in Philly this week for the BMW Championship. Coverage on The Golf Channel begins at 1:00 Thursday & Friday, 2:30 Saturday, and11:00 Sunday. NBC picks up the final round at 1:00 Sunday.

Major League Baseball features good rivalries this weekend. Houston is at Boston Saturday at 3:00 (FS1) and again Sunday night at 7:00 (ESPN). The Cubs are at Washington Sunday at 12:30 on TBS.

U.S. Open tennis is getting to the serious stage. Men’s Doubles final is Friday at 11:00 on ESPN2 and the Men’s semifinal is at 3:00 Friday (ESPN). The Women’s final is Saturday at 3:00 on ESPN and the Women’s Doubles final is Sunday at noon (ESPN2). Coverage wraps up with the Men’s final at 3:00 on ESPN.

NASCAR drivers are competing in the Big Machine Vodka 400 at The Brickyard Sunday afternoon. Coverage at 2:00 Sunday night is on NBCSN.

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The weather looks a little fall-ish for the coming weekend. We’ll have a chance of a few scattered thundershowers here and there periodically, but highs will be around 80 degrees with low temps in the upper 60s. Be safe, but have fun; 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