September 7 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

What an incredible Labor Day weekend! If you weren’t at Grand Lake, you were the only one. Every weekend has been crazy busy this summer, but Labor Day was the icing on the cake. The Redneck Raft-Out show was fabulous – the concert at Honey Creek Landing Marina was awesome – the bands at Eddy’s, Monkey Island Pub, and Blind Swine were awesome – entertainment at Mooney’s, Waterside, Big Shots, The Shebang, Doc’s Bar & Grill, Juan Montez – all fabulous and all packed. People were extraordinarily nice – and even patient. Thanks everyone, for a fabulous weekend for everybody on Grand Lake.

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Aside from the incredible entertainment and drinking perhaps a little more than I should have, my Labor Day holiday weekend was fantastic – and totally without incident, for a change. Sunday afternoon, I thought I was going to be involved in an incident. I was rolling into Woodard Hollow and a guy in an anchored boat started yelling at me, waving his arms, and sticking a paddle in the air like he had some kind of major problem. Being the courteous boater, I eased up alongside him, threw him a line and, as he pulled my boat close, he looked really relieved. “Thank goodness,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you about your car’s extended warranty.”

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We haven’t had a single Presidential debate yet, but there is already a huge amount of odd news and even odder perceptions. Remember when the Center for Disease Control (and every other government entity) said people with underlying conditions and folks over the age of 65 were more susceptible to Covid-19 – and more likely to have disastrous results. Well, sure enough. CDC released the statistics to back that up last week, saying 94% of those who died from Covid were either older or had underlying conditions. The never-believe anything crowd immediately began saying, “See! They didn’t die of Covid. Only 6% of them died of Covid.” So, to be in good with all my pals, and this being a timely week to do so, I re-ran the numbers on the 9/11 attack, using that same theory. A total of 2,977 people died on 9/11. But 94% of them were either old or had some health issue; so I guess only 178 people were actually killed by those planes crashing into buildings. Kinda reminds me of the old quote, often attributed to Mark Twain: “Figures don’t lie; but liars do figure.”

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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced last week that Facebook will refuse to run any political ads during the week prior to the Presidential election November 3. He said it’s just too difficult to tell the truth from the lies – and not enough time for everyone to figure it out. Now he knows how the rest of us have felt during these campaigns for the last few months…or years…or decades.

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All good things must come to an end, they say; but it brought a tear to my eye to see that the Labor Day issue was the last issue of Grand Times on Grand Lake. Originally The Grand River Chronicle, later The Chronicle of Grand Lake, Grand Times and it’s publisher Rusty Fleming were long recognized as “The Voice of the Grand Lake Empire.” This column was published in Rusty’s paper for somewhere around a quarter of a century. His contributions to reforms, reports, revenge, and realism on Grand Lake are legend – and have literally changed the face of Grand Lake for the better. After more than 30 years of impact on the recreation and preservation of resources on Grand Lake, Rusty and the incredibly talented editor/graphic designer Tammi Longacre are taking down the shingle. Grand Lakers will miss the weekly input from both of them. There may be a blog and/or a book in Rusty’s future. If so, I hope he withholds some names to protect those of us who may be more guilty than innocent. In the meantime, you can continue to find this column in the Grand Laker newspaper, on 360grandlake.com, and in my weekly e-blast. To Rusty, Lynda, and Tammi…thanks for great years and wonderful memories. Cheers! We’ll see YOU ‘round the pond.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Road Hog Saloon is no longer open for breakfast Saturday & Sunday. They now open at 11:00 a.m.  Eddy’s Lakeside Bar is open late Friday-Sunday and Monday 11:00-8:00 for the holiday weekend.  Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda has announced it will remain open “at least through October.” The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La is open to the public Sunday evening. Doc’s at Shangri-La offers take-out food orders, wine and beer, but is not open for dine-in service (although they are planning a re-opening for dine-in September 24).

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PUBLIC EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE: The “Mahogany & Chrome” boat show at Arrowhead, originally set for this weekend, has been cancelled. Grove Founders’ Day festivities, also set for Saturday, have also been cancelled. The Cherokee Golf Classic originally scheduled for September 18 has been cancelled. A Taste of Grand, scheduled for September 26, has been cancelled, as well. Shangri-La Resort’s Fall Festival planned for October 24 has been cancelled, as has the October 23-24 “Ghosts of Grove” tour.

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Operation Gratitude at Ridgerunner Stadium in Grove, 5:30 Wednesday, September 9, honoring first responders, veterans and military personnel. Thursday Night Shrimp Boil & Karaoke on Doc’s Patio at Shangri-La Resort (6:00-9:00). The Grand Lake Queen riverboat runs regular sightseeing cruises at 7:00 Friday and 6:00 Saturday evenings from Royal Bay Marina in Grove. Farmers Market will be open Saturday from 9:00-2:00 at the Grove Community Center. The Nichols Marine Tournament Series runs out of Wolf Creek Saturday & Sunday.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Jason Morgan starts the holiday weekend with karaoke fun at the Thursday Night Shrimp Boil & Karaoke on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort.  KJ Flip leads the Thursday night karaoke fun at the Blind Swine; and he’s back Sunday night for Karaoke & Cocktails. Big Smitty performs Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar.  Terry Jordan performs at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Big Shots will feature DJ Bandito Friday & Saturday nights. Karaoke with Kerry on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday & Saturday, as well; and Monkey Island Pub features Karaoke with DJ Tim Saturday night.

Area casinos are slowly easing back into the musical entertainment business. Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Chris Hyde Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Runnin on Empty Friday night and 5^th Element Saturday. Downstream Casino will host One for the Money Friday night in Legends Sports Bar, followed by House Party Saturday night.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Actor Victor McLaglen, remembered today mostly as John Wayne's hard-drinking sidekick in John Ford westerns, spoke five languages fluently, including Arabic.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Wine is to women as duct tape is to men. It fixes everything.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: My friend suggested putting sheep manure on my strawberries. I’m not doing that again. I’m going back to whipped cream.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Even if the bee could explain to the fly why pollen is better than manure (I cleaned that up a little), the fly would not understand.

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BEST T-SHIRT SEEN THIS WEEK: Gonna ask my mom if that offer to slap me into next year is still valid.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: When I found out my toaster wasn’t waterproof, I was shocked!

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: So, apparently RSVP’ing back to a wedding invitation “maybe next time” isn’t the correct response.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Anybody remember Edith Ann (“And that’s the truth!”)? How about Grace & Frankie? Actress, comedian, singer, writer, and producer Lily Tomlin turned 81 last week. The last episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” was 43 years ago this week…in 1977.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Eddy Gibbs, Jack McDonald, Amanda Silvers, Tony Hampton, Wes Kreie, Rachel Henderson, Stevie Fernandez, Steve Pace, Julie Rahhal, Dave Deardorff, Pete White, Donnie Crain, Butch Bruenger, Jim Larimore, CeCe Mitchell, and Jennifer Jeffers.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Is egg salad technically just another form of chicken salad?

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Living Grand on Grand Lake airs Thursday at 7:30 on RSU (repeat Saturday morning at 10:00). 9/11 Remembered: The Day We Came Together airs Friday night at 7:00 on ABC. Dancing With The Stars returns for a new season Monday at 7:00 on ABC. The Presidential Town Hall: Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Questions airs next Tuesday night at 8:00 on ABC; and The Academy of Country Music Awards program is next Wednesday at 7:00 on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Personal History of David Copperfield, Tenet, and No Time to Die are in movie theaters this week. Mulan is out on Disney+. Cuties, Pets United, and Dad Wanted are all on NETFLIX this week. Unpregnant is on HBO Max.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “A culture war is something only the other side fights. The side you are on is merely talking sense.” – Robert Shrimsley (quoted in Financial Times)

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, September 18 – Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at Patricia Island. Thursday-Friday, September 24-25 – Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell’s Luau on the Green and Golf Tournament at Shangri-La. Saturday, September 26 – Gretchen Wilson LIVE at Buffalo Run Casino. Saturday, October 3 – South Grand Lake Area Chamber Car Show & Cruise Night in Langley. Sunday, October 4 – Folds of Honor Classic Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. Thursday-Sunday, October 8-11 – Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek in Grove. Sunday-Monday, October 11-12 – 2020 Shangri-La Invitational Golf Tournament. Friday, October 23 – South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at The Coves Golf Club.

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SPORTS WATCH: College football gets underway this week. OSU hosts Tulsa in the big in-state rivalry Saturday evening at 6:30 (ESPN/ESPNU). Oklahoma plays host to Missouri State at 6:00 only on pay-per-view. The only reason I see for paying to watch that game is to see if Monkey Island Freshman tight end Brock Borin gets to play for Missouri State. Kansas State hosts Arkansas Sate at 2:30 Saturday on Fox Sports 1 and Kansas hosts someone called Coastal Carolina at 9:00 Saturday night, also on Fox Sports 1.

The NFL season is here, too! In the very first game, you get to see Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs kick off the 2020-2021 season hosting Houston Thursday night 7:30 on NBC. The Rams host the Cowboys Sunday night at 7:30, also on NBC. The Monday Night double-header features Steelers at Giants (6:00) and Titans at Broncos (9:00) on ESPN.  

The NBA playoff action continues, but without the OKC Thunder, unfortunately. Games are on ESPN and TNT throughout the weekend.  

The 2019-2020 PGA Tour season wrapped up last week, so the 2020-2021 schedule starts…right now. The kick-off tournament, as always, is the Safeway Open in Napa, California. Coverage will be on the Golf Channel beginning at 4:00 Thursday and 5:00 Friday-Sunday.

Major League Baseball play continues daily. You’ll just have to flip around the channels – ESPN, Fox, FS1, and TNT – to see what games are still on for any given day.

NASCAR drivers are in Richmond this week for some Saturday night prime time racing. Coverage of the Federated Auto Parts 400 begins Saturday at 6:30 on NBCSN..

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You might want to toss a jacket in the boat. No, really! After a 90-degree Labor Day, Grand Lake temperatures are headed south for a couple of weeks - unseasonably mild. The weekend forecast calls for sunshine, light winds, high temperatures in the low to mid-70s and lows in the low to mid-50s. Football season is here. I hope your team wins; and please remember - wherever you party this weekend, 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

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

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café Italia on Monkey Island

Café Yum in Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanella’s in Grove

Chicken Coop West of Langley

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Coppers Tea & Coffee House in Grove

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

Domino’s in Grove

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 (smoking)

Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)

Grand Lake Public House in Grove

Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove

Henrie’s Grill 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

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum

Los Garcias in Langley

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove

Marina’s Place at Littlefield Corner

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)

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

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)

Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

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 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