April 17 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

I made the trip from paradise to paradise over the past weekend. After a few days on the Pacific, I left the 80 degree temperatures of Puerto Vallarta and returned to the 78 degree temperatures at Grand Lake. It’s nice to know how much I’m paying for things again. Currency exchange rates are not my strong suit. I guess it’ll be a little cooler here for a few days, but I can handle mid-60s, I think. It is, after all, only April.

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If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you’re probably excited about the great exchange rate as you exchange your U.S. dollars for Mexican pesos. There’s no need to get excited. All the businesses in Mexico have figured out how to raise their prices high enough to make up for it. If you’re looking to purchase real estate, you won’t have to do much calculating of conversion rates, though. Most of the real estate prices are listed in U.S. Dollars. I’m not sure if that’s because most of the prospective buyers are Americans – or if it’s just the simple fact that it would require bigger signs and wider magazine ads to fit the price on the page if it were listed in pesos.

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I had high hopes that Oklahoma was finally going to join the 21^st century and resolve some of the state’s future financial issues by allowing us to bet on sporting events like the vast majority of states. If you shared that dream, it looks like the State Senate has popped another balloon full of dreams. I suppose nothing is impossible in the world of politics, but the deadline passed for getting bills out of Senate committees…and the bill legalizing sports betting apparently crapped out.

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One thing always impacts something else, right? With the new rules aimed at speeding Major League Baseball games, several teams have started to realize shorter game time means less beer sales. Most teams have tried to reduce the number of drunks by only selling beer through the seventh inning – but with shorter game times, at least four major league teams have begun extending beer sales through the fourth inning. Best drinking teams, so far are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and, of course, the Milwaukee Brewers.

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I know OU football fans are looking forward to Saturday’s Spring Football Game but, in the meantime, the women have given fans another National Championship in gymnastics competition. That’s two years in a row – matching the softball team’s accomplishments. Years ago, OU President George Lynn Cross told lawmakers he wanted to build a university the football team could be proud of. These days, between gymnastics, basketball, and softball, OU is just trying to build a men’s sports program that the women’s sports program can be proud of!

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In the meantime, Oklahoma is a “Top Ten” state in another category – shortest life expectancy. Mississippi once again ranks #1 in the competition with the shortest life expectancy of any state. Oklahoma ranks #8 – in their with our usual competitors: Arkansas, West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama…

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Marsha McCorkle, Ashley Stafford, Larry Sanford, Jackie Moore, Carrie Lindsay, Creed Littlefield, Greg Bolton, Boyd Ayer, Lissa Merillat, Travers Mahan, Don Douglas, Gaines Dittrich, Jim Forrester, Judy Dullea, Ron Stahl, Phil Carrott, Glo Reherman, and Jeff Nix.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. It’s a crazy busy week at Grand Lake. Thursday, Friday, Sunday, April 20, 21, 23 –There are live performances of “You Make My Frame Shake” at Playmakers in Grove (7:30 Thurs & Fri, 2:00 Sunday). Friday-Saturday, The Grand Lake Youth Art Show is at the Grove Community Center Friday & Saturday (10-6 Friday, 10-4 Saturday). It’s Civil War Era Days at Har-Ber Village Museum all weekend. Saturday is also the Earth Day Celebration at Grove Community Center (10-2) and the South Grand Lake Chamber Bootleggers Ball & Murder Mystery at Shangri-La Resort (6:00 p.m.) Major League WIFFLE®Ball players will be at the mini-Fenway Park at The Anchor at Shangri-La Saturday afternoon at 4:30 for an exhibition, fan meet & greet, and video shoot. The Spring Open Pickleball Tournament is Saturday & Sunday at The Racquet Club at Shangri-La; and Monday is the Modoc Nation Golf Scramble at Shangri-La Golf Club (11:00 a.m.).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The Internal Revenue Service does not accept personal checks for more than $100 million.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: The world record for alcohol consumption is held by Andre the Giant who drank 156 beers at one sitting (16 gallons).

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Actress Linda Hunt turned 78 last week. Most recently featured as “Hettie” in the series NCIS: Los Angeles, she has had an incredible career in movies and television – but one award stands out. She actually portrayed the male character Billy Kwan in “The Year of Living Dangerously” (1982) for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first person to win an Oscar for portraying a character of the opposite sex.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Marked safe from having my feelings hurt by a beer can.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Stop killing ducks to make duck tape!

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: Rocky Mountain Oysters – the original sack lunch.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: What do you get when you plant kisses? Tulips!

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do you “put in your two cents worth,” but only get “a penny for your thoughts”? Where does the extra penny go?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: If ignorance is bliss, there should be more happy people.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: We lost Al Jaffee last week. He was the guy who delighted millions of Mad Magazine readers with “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions” and other great observations over a 50-year period. He died last week at age 102.  Major League Baseball’s “Hit King,” Pete Rose, turned 82 last week.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I don’t get nearly enough credit in life for all the things I manage not to say.” – Meg Rosoff

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the weekend fun kicks off at Doc’s Thursday night with Jason Morgan leading the karaoke and Singo competition. Scott Musick performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night. Friday night karaoke/open mic night at Big Shots and The Old Bulldog Band returns Saturday night for a show benefiting the Northeastern Oklahoma Food Bank (7:00 - $25 admission). DJ Kennedy brings Rockstar Karaoke to Monkey Island Pub Saturday night; and The Faulconer Duo will be on stage at Road Hog Saloon.  

On South Grand Lake, RocKFiscH will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster. Clint and Frank will provide the music at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill Saturday night.

In Grove, there is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music Friday night by Travis Kidd, and more karaoke Saturday. Uncrowned Kings entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove, followed by Rusty Meyers Saturday night.

Johnny Dale Roberts entertains Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino, followed by Swade Diablos Friday and Derryl Perry Saturday. Stonehorse provides the music Saturday night at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West; and The Marshall Tucker Band will be in concert at Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Showplace Saturday night.

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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UDATE: Bradford BBQ is now serving food at the new Woodshed in Langley. Casa Guiterrez in Grove is moving into the old Charlie’s Chicken space soon. The Chicken Coop in Langley is now closed Tuesday & Wednesday (Open 7:00-2:00 Thurs-Tues). Blind Swine on Duck Creek is now open Thursday-Sunday at Harbors View Marina. Mooney’s is now open at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays – only closed on Mondays. Bella Donna’s in Grove is now closed on both Mondays and Tuesdays. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is open for the season (Thursday-Sunday).

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The new series The Diplomat is available Thursday on NETFLIX. Mrs. Davis is available Thursday on Peacock. Mike Judge’s Beavis & Butthead is available Friday on Paramount+. Somebody Somewhere airs Sunday night at 9:30 on HBO.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Chevalier, Evil Dead Rise, and Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant open in movie theaters this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Sunday, April 27-30 - “You Make My Frame Shake” live performances at Playmakers in Grove (7:30 Thurs-Saturday, 2:00 Sunday). Friday, April 28 – Season’s first weekly “Yellow Rabbit Run Horse Race” at Shangri-La Golf Club (5:00 p.m.). Saturday, April 29 – Grand Lake Fireworks Annual 5K Dam Run/Walk from the State Park in Disney (8:30 a.m.). Thursday, May 4 – 1sts Thursday night Shrimp Boil & Karaoke of the season on Doc’s Patio at Shangri-La (6:00). Friday, May 5 – Food Truck Friday at Grove Community Center. Friday, May 5 – Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina opens for the season. Friday-Sunday, May 5-7 – In-Water Boat Show at Shangri-La Marina. Saturday, May 6 – Burning of the Socks at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina (4:00 p.m.). Saturday, May 6 – Nichols Marine/Shangri-La Marina Customer Appreciation Luau (5:00 p.m.). Tuesday, May 9 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Trivia Night at BOOM. Thursday, May 11 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon with featured speaker Jill McAbee (DCCSN) at the Grove Community Center (noon). Friday, May 12 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Spring Golf Tournament at Quail Ridge Golf Course. Saturday, May 13 – Cowskin Fire Department Car Show at Elk River Baptist Church (8:30-3:30). Friday, May 19 – Eddy’s Lakeside Bar opens at Shangri-La Marina (4:00 p.m.). Saturday, May 20 – Sounds of Summer Festival & Car Show at Marina Del Rey Resort (1:00-6:00).

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OU Football Fans will get a fix this weekend. The OU Spring Game is set for 2:30 Saturday and will be televised on ESPN+.  OSU’s Spring Game was canceled due to stadium construction work.

NBA Playoffs and NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially underway. We’re going to be doing this for a while. Finals for both sports won’t be until early June. In the meantime, enjoy the playoffs.

PGA Golfers are in the Crescent City this weekend for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Coverage begins at 1:30 Thursday & Friday and 11:00 Saturday & Sunday on The Golf Channel. CBS picks up the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 1:00.

It’s a busy week for college softball. OU is at Baylor for a three-game series, Friday at 6:30, Saturday at 2:00, and Sunday at 1:00, all on ESPN+. They travel to Wichita State next Tuesday and Tulsa Wednesday, but those two games are not televised. The OSU Softball girls have a trio of games at Texas, Thursday at 8:00, Friday at 4:30, and Saturday at 6:00. Thursday’s game is on ESPN2, but the Friday & Saturday games are only on the Longhorn Network.

Major League Baseball is underway. TV games include Tampa Bay hosting the White Sox Saturday at 3:00 followed by Detroit at Baltimore at 6:00. Sunday night, the Giants host the Mets; and there’s an 8:30 game Monday night sending Oakland to L.A. to face the Angels.

For pro football fans, it’s the final regular season week of XFL action. You don’t have to worry about running out of football games, though. The USFL has returned – and they’ll continue playing through June. With NFL pre-season games starting in July, it looks like professional football is now an 11-month sport in the U.S.

NASCAR drivers are at Talladega this week for the GEICO 500. Coverage begins Sunday afternoon at 2:00 on Fox.

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Weather will be a little cooler this weekend, and a little breezy, perhaps – but still nice and spring-like. High temperatures will be in the mid-60s with lows around 40 degrees with a few clouds mixed with a little sunshine. There is a lot happening at Grand Lake this weekend, so get out and have some fun! Always remember, though, 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

Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley

Back Porch Ice Cream in Grove

Bailey’s Bistro at Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)

Bella Donna’s at Honey Creek Landing Marina

Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Friday & Saturday nights)

Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina

Blind Swine on Monkey Island

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café at Har-Ber Village

Café Yum in Grove

Casa Gutierrez in Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

Changos Locos at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanella’s in Grove

Chicken Coop West of Langley

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum

Copper’s Tea and Coffee House in Grove

Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)

Cove Club in Langley

Danny’s Dockside Pizza at Honey Creek Landing

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 Restaurant in Grove

Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill

E&H Liquor Store at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina (smoking)

Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek

Flower Bar in Grove

Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

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

Grand Lake Coffee Company in Grove

Grand Lake Public House in Grove

Grand Lake RV Resort at the back of Duck Creek

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

Lester’s Third Street Diner in Grove

Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum

Los Garcias in Langley

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Monkey Island RV Resort

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney

Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

Monkey Island Trail Rides

Monkey Island Winery

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

Pier 13 Liquor Store in Langley

Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove

Pit Stop Café in Grove

Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor (smoking on the deck)

R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, Grove

Riggs & Company in Langley

River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)

Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island

Royal Liquor Store in Grove

Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)

Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)

Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

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

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove