August 23 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

I hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather last weekend – and I hope you do it again this weekend. It’s your final opportunity to make sure your boat and home are in working order before your “friends” show up next weekend to enjoy your investment for the holiday. Slowly but surely, the summer months are slipping away. This weekend, the sun will set before 8:00 p.m. It won’t set after 8:00 p.m. again until mid-April, 2022.

*****

No. You should not use horse de-wormer to treat Covid-19. Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, is trending on stupid social media sites as a possible effective treatment for Covid. There is a human version of the drug (not for Covid), but it requires a prescription; so idiots are hitting farm supply stores, getting the drug that is designed for horses & cattle with worms. You may die of an overdose, or you may die of Covid…but at least you won’t have worms, I guess. You can’t fix stupid.

*****

The Covid-19 pandemic may still be getting worse, but at least there are fewer vaccine experts on social media. Most of them have now become foreign policy experts.

*****

Hotels may be taking a cue from airlines. The Wall Street Journal reports that some hotel groups are testing “a la carte” hotel services, charging extra for using swimming pools, fitness centers, etc. They say they’re lowering basic room rates to accommodate guests who don’t want the “extras.” Sure. I think back when gas prices were so high, shipping companies added a “surcharge.” Gas prices went down, but the surcharge never went away. Airlines started charging for all the “extras” and lowered ticket prices. Ticket prices went back up, but we still pay for the “extras.” I’m guessing this is the same slippery slope. And the list of “extras” will undoubtedly grow, as well. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir…did you want a television in your room?”

*****

On airlines, the “extras” are starting to slowly disappear completely. American Airlines has announced that it is discontinuing alcohol sales in coach class until January. We can thank the rowdy troublemakers for the booze ban. If you want a drink bad enough, you can still get one by flying First Class. I think that comes out to an average of about $250 per drink!

*****

If your social media post ends with the words, “I’ll be you won’t re-post this,” you may rest assured you are correct.

*****

DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Staff shortages are taking a toll. Blind Swine on Monkey Island is now closed Sunday & Monday and Blind Swine on Duck Creek is closed on Mondays. Sugar Shack at Lee’s Resort now closes at 3:00 Sunday and remains closed Monday. The Cove Club in Langley had to close Monday, but will resume normal hours Wednesday, although they are now closed on Tuesdays. Stuff’ns Café in Ketchum is now closing at 2:00 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and at 8:00 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. The Grill at Indian Hills has a limited Sunday menu (yes, they have chicken), but they are open daily.

*****

BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo in Vinita continues through Saturday. There’s also pro rodeo action Friday & Saturday nights at 7:00 both at the Miami Fairgrounds and at Crosswired Cowboy Church in Grove – and many Grove & Monkey Island businesses are hosting “rodeo open house” with special discounts.

*****

BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the Thursday Night Shrimp Boil and Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Friday night, Clint Ingram entertains indoors at Doc’s. DJ Matt provides the music Friday night on the patio at Doc’s, followed by Brett and Terri Saturday. Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit. The Balcony Bar at The Shebang provides great karaoke fun with Kerry Kimmons Friday & Saturday nights; and just across the street, DJ K-Bandito provides the dance music at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze both Friday and Saturday nights. KJ Flip will lead the karaoke fun Thursday night at Blind Swine. Erin Fitzibbon will perform early Friday at the Swine – and the Dueling Pianos show returns to the Swine Saturday night. The Faulconer Duo with Beau Jeffries will entertain Saturday night at The Road Hog Saloon.. Saturday night is great dancing and singing at Monkey Island Pub -  Karaoke with Tim.

On South Grand, Jon Moody performs Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney, followed by The Barrett Lewis Band Saturday night and an early performance Sunday by Jake Flint (5:00-8:00). Erin Fitzgibbon entertains every Thursday night at Blind Swine on Duck Creek (at Harbors View Marina) and KJ Flip leads the musical fun every Wednesday night. The Magen Faulconer Band will provide the musical entertainment Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, followed by Dax Perrier and the Outsiders Band Saturday night.

In Grove, Brett & Terri entertain Thursday night at The Regatta. Friday night there will be karaoke upstairs while Rick Cook entertains inside. DJ Gragg wraps up the weekend Saturday night. Brett & Terri move to Mulligans for live music Friday night. Saturday night, Jake Marlin and the Reckless entertain at Goodfellas in Grove.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Larry & Zack in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Lucas Gates Friday night and Uncrowned Kings Saturday. At Buffalo Run Casino’s Indoor Peoria Showplace, Neal McCoy will be in concert Saturday night. Downstream Casino features Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters at The Pavilion Saturday night. Downstream’s Legends Sports Bar will feature the music of 24 Karat Friday night, followed by Time Machine Saturday. At Cherokee Casino Grove, The Rusty Meyers Band provides the entertainment Friday night, followed by The Southern Drawl Band Saturday night.

*****

RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Character actor Anthony Caruso played 14 different roles on the TV show “Gunsmoke” during the series’ lengthy run.

*****

FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: The town of “Dull” in Scotland has been twinned with the town of Boring, Oregon since 2012. In 2013, the town of Bland, Australia joined them in what has become known as the “Trinity of Tedium.”  

*****

NOT-SO-FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: In the 20 years since September 11, 2001, the United States has spent more than $2 trillion on the war in Afghanistan. That’s $300 million dollars per day, every day, for two decades. Or $50,000 for each of Afghanistan's 40 million people. In baser terms, Uncle Sam has spent more keeping the Taliban at bay than the net worths of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and the 30 richest billionaires in America, combined.

*****

BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Every time a bird craps on my car, I eat a plate of wings on my front porch just to show them what I’m capable of.

*****

BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Vaccines are a gateway drug to concerts.

*****

TWEET OF THE WEEK: New research indicates drinking coffee in the morning makes others live longer.

*****

BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I was going to cook alligator for dinner, but I realized I only have a croc pot.

*****

OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: You can’t stay young forever, but you can remain immature for the rest of your life!

*****

FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Don Everly, the last surviving member of The Everly Brothers, died Saturday at the age of 84.  Iconic singer/songwriter Tom T. Hall aka “The Storyteller” died last week, as well. He was 85. Legendary comedian/actor/director/musician Steve Martin is 76; and actor/director Robert Redford turned 85 last week.

*****

GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Randy Krehbiel, Janice Wilburn, Laura Andre, Todd Chapman, Nancy Morgan, Greg Gangas, Gretchen Casto, Jim Basgall, Jenean Perryman, Gretchen Zumwalt, DiAnna Wescott, Brian Broaddus, Patricia Williams, Patty Davis, Larry Mlnarik, Teresa Lay, Sheridan Pettit, and Janet Link.

*****

UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you’re not a scientist, and you disagree with scientists about science, is it really a disagreement – or are you just wrong?

*****

BUM MUST-SEE TV: Michael Jackson: Inside His Mind airs Thursday night at 8:00 on Reelz. The six-episode series 9/11: One Day in America begins airing Sunday night at 7:00 on National Geographic. Only Murders in the Building is available next Tuesday on HULU.

****

BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Tom Hanks’ Finch, and Hugh Jackman’s Reminiscence are in theaters this week, along with Candyman and The Beatles: Get Back.

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “If you aren’t getting vaccinated because you don’t trust doctors, why are you going to the hospital when you get sick?” - Stephanie Ruhle

*****

SAVE THE DATE: Friday-Saturday, September 3-4 – Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival (Snider’s Campground & Grove Civic Center). Saturday, September 4 – Redneck Raft Out at Check-In Bay (12:00-5:00). Saturday, September 4 – Dock Shots Competition at Shangri-La Golf Club (5:00). Saturday, September 4 – 70s Hippie Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. Tuesday, September 7 - PGA Pro/Assistant Championship Tournament at Shangri-La. Friday, September 10 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at Patricia Island (1:30 Shotgun). Saturday, September 11 – 2^nd Annual Dusty Russell Car Event and South Grand Lake Lions Club Chili Cookoff in Langley (1:00-6:30). Thursday-Friday, September 16-17 – Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell’s “Luau on the Green” at Shangri-La Resort. Friday, September 17 – Cherokee Classic Golf Tournament at The Coves (10:00). Saturday, September 18 – REC Day Drive-Thru Event (Grove, Miami, Vinita, Pryor). Saturday, September 18 – Grand Lake Fireworks 5K Sunset Dam Run in Disney (3:00 at Cherokee State Park). Sunday, October 3 – Folds of Honor Classic at Shangri-La Golf Club. Thursday-Sunday, October 7-10 – Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove.

*****

SPORTS WATCH: It’s a HUGE sports week. It’s the final week of the NFL Preseason, and there are 9 televised games jammed into three days. Miami is at Kansas City to kick off the action Friday night at 7:00 on NFL Network. Saturday there are three games: Green Bay at Buffalo at noon, Chicago at Tennessee at 6:00, and the L.A. Chargers at Seattle at 9:00, all on NFL Network. Sunday’s schedule has five games: Jacksonville at Dallas at noon, Miami at Cincinnati at 3:00 (on CBS) while San Francisco hosts Las Vegas, also at 3:00 (on NFL). New England is at the NY Giants at 5:00 (on NFL) and Cleveland is at Atlanta at 7:00 (on NBC). That’s the last game until the regular season cranks up September 9 with Dallas and Tampa Bay.

Believe it or not, it’s time for College Football! Nebraska is at Illinois to kick off the season Saturday at noon on Fox.

It’s also a really big week for professional tennis. It’s U.S. Open time beginning next Monday with coverage daily on ESPN beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The PGA Tour is in Maryland this week for the BMW Championship. Coverage on the Golf Channel begins at 2:00 Thursday & Friday, and 11:00 Saturday & Sunday mornings. NBC picks up the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 1:00.

There are some great MLB rivalries this week. Fox Sports 1 features two Saturday games: Cleveland hosts Boston at 3:00 and the L.A. Angels host San Diego at 8:00. Sunday, the Yankees are at Oakland at 6:00 on ESPN. Next week, Milwaukee is at San Francisco Tuesday night at 8:45 on Fox Sports 1.

NASCAR drivers are at Daytona in Saturday night prime time for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Coverage is on NBC beginning at 6:00.

*****

The pre-holiday weekend weather ahead looks like a typical Oklahoma August. We’ll have sunny skies with light winds, highs in the mid-90s and lows in the mid-70s. There’s plenty happening around the lake this weekend, so get out an enjoy all you can. Remember, though, wherever you party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!

GRAND LAKE BUM 

Want more information on advertisers you see in the Grand Lake Bum?  No problem.  Just click on their ad and you will be connected to their web site.  If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both  Grand Lake Living and www.360grandlake.com, the cost is only $50 a week and the list of readers is growing.  E-mail or contact grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker newspaper.

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

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

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

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café at Har-Ber Village

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

Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum

Coppers Tea & Coffee House in Grove

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

Cove Club in Langley

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

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 Public House in Grove

Hatfield’s Saloon 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

Lester’s Third Street Diner in 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.)

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

Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove

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)

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 Landings Market and Grill on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)

The Parrot at Honey Creek Landing in Grove (Smoking on the patio)

The Pourhouse at The Regatta in Grove

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