March 22 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

We kicked off the Spring season in style over the past weekend – at least I did. Drinks at Blind Swine, lunch and basketball at Doc’s Bar & Grill, cocktails at the Summit, dinner at The Shebang, and a classic bagpipe-filled evening of St. Patrick’s celebration at Monkey Island Pub, topped of with more bagpiping and a great Sunday Brunch at Doc’s….and that doesn’t even count the great fun on the water with beautiful weather – and Saturday night “Glow Golf” fun at Shangri-La. I would like to have done more, but I just ran out of time. I don’t remember the peak season of fun starting this early or with this much activity on the lake. It’s going to be a fabulous year at Grand Lake!

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As far as I could tell, no one took their clothes off at Shangri-La’s “Glow Golf” event Saturday night, but it was a different story on the PGA Tour last week. Mud and water are big enemies of golfers, as you know, and the great players will do almost anything to save a stroke. So…at the Honda Classic last week, Adam Scott heroically saved par by removing his shoes & socks and rolling up his pant legs to save a stroke by playing a ball that was in shallow water. Not to be outdone, Sebastian Cappelen removed his shoes, socks and shirt to avoid the mud splatters on his shot from the hazard. But wait! When golfer Wesley Bryan faced the same situation, he removed his socks & shoes, shirt…and pants! No, really. On the PGA Tour, a golfer fired a shot in his underwear! I’m surprised Cappelen and Bryan weren’t penalized for being on the course in something other than a collared shirt. Pretty soon, we’re going to have to have viewer ratings for golf tournaments. This weekend, it’s the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play – rated PG-13?

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The Idaho legislature is shut down until April 6, even though they have a lot on their plate. Apparently they don’t handle things on their plate too well, though, because it was an outbreak of Covid-19 in the legislature that shut them down. These are the people, of course, who are supposed to be leading by both legal action and example. Apparently they’re doing neither. There’s a lot of that going around these days.

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Oklahoma is doing so well pumping out the Covid-19 vaccines, I was a little surprised by the news that 47% of Republicans are reluctant to get the Covid-19 vaccination for some reason. I know how to solve that problem, though. We just need to pull Barack Obama out of retirement and have them tell them not to get the vaccine. They’ll all have it within a couple of weeks.

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The Big Meat Run is in the books for another year. Rock crawlers covered the Disney, Tia Juana and Langley areas with ATVs, souped-up rigs, campers, people and stacks of money, despite the threat that high water gave the event. Congratulations to everyone who ignored the doomsayers and had a great weekend on the Disney rocks.

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In last week’s column, I asked a snarky question: “Can fat people go skinny-dipping?” My pal George Sherman gave me the solution. They posted a sign at their Grand Lake home: “We don’t skinny dip. We chunky dunk.”

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Waterway Café at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina is now closed. Remodeling is underway for the second location of Blind Swine, which will open at Harbors View May 1.VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina and the Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda are now open for the season on weekends. No weekend breakfast service yet at The Quarterdeck. They open at 11:00 Saturday & Sunday. Blind Swine is now open Tuesday-Sunday from 4:00 p.m. Grand Lake Public House in Grove has discontinued lunch service. They are now open at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Sunday Brunch is served to the public at Doc’s Bar & Grill (9:00-2:00) and Mulligans at Patricia Island (10:00-2:00).

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK:  Shangri-La Resort is hosting a Job Fair Wednesday from 1:00-5:00 at the resort’s hotel. Thursday is the monthly South Grand Lake Chamber Membership Luncheon at First Christian Church of Langley (11:30). There will be two great speakers – Lee Lawson of Shangri-La Resort and Shaunda Davis of Cherokee Nation. Thursday is also the South Grand Lake Chamber Business After Hours at FirsTitle of Grove (5:00-7:00). Saturday is the annual Langley Easter Egg Hunt at the Langley City Park and Library (11:00-1:00) sponsored by South Grand Lake Lions Club, First Christian Church of Langley and South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Bring the kids and let’s have some fun!

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Thursday Night Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La this week. Friday night, Laron Simpson provides the live entertainment at Doc’s. KJ Flip will lead the karaoke fun Thursday night at Blind Swine followed by live music by Erin Fitzgibbon early Friday night (6:00) followed by the Barrett Lewis Band late. Saturday night, Brett & Terri will be at the Swine, and KJ Flip will be back with Cocktails & Karaoke Sunday night. Saturday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub.

On South Grand Lake, Jacob Flint provides the Saturday night music at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Low Compatibility in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Rick Hancock and the Bulletproof Band Friday and Oreo Blue Saturday. At Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar Asphalt Cowboys provide the musical entertainment this week both Friday and Saturday nights. At Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar, Brent Giddens will be performing Friday night, and Western Justice will be featured Saturday.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The U.S. Space Program had nothing to do with the creation of Tang.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: For the fourth consecutive year, Finland has been named “The Happiest Country in the World.” The only non-European country in the Top Ten was New Zealand. The United States ranked 14^th. In case you wondered, the unhappiest country in the world is Afghanistan.

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ANOTHER FUN FACT: The term “March Madness” was originally coined in 1939 by Henry Porter, an Executive Assistant with the Illinois High School Association to describe the IHSA state high school basketball tournament. In the early 1980s, veteran broadcaster Brent Musberger began using the term to describe the NCAA Tournament. In retaliation, the IHSA trademarked the phrase in 1989 – and lots of legal battles ensued. Today, the IHSA and NCAA share use of the phrase under the ownership of a joint holding company – the March Madness Athletic Association.

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BESAT FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: We should be thankful that women want equality and not revenge.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Dinosaurs had no beer. Look how that worked out.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: My patience has finally paid off. The clock in my car is right again.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: After the last child moved out, the old woman sold the shoe and moved into a flat.

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: If you’re a giver, remember to learn your limits because the takers don’t have any.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The last episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” aired this week…44 years ago. Famed boxer “Marvelous Marvin” Hagler died last week. He was 66.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Ryan Dalton, Helen Oden, Jana Kimball, Matt Moyer, Larry Ewing, Todd Kerr, Greg Brasel, Jeff Williams, Jerry Barnes, Brice Long, Mandy Long, Amanda Pelcher, Andy Stewart, Kathi Sikorski, and Doug Furgerson.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If George is 73 and his girlfriend is 26, how much money does George have?

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: A one-hour special season finale of Superstore airs Thursday night at 7:00 on NBC. Tina, a special documentary production on the life of Tina Turner airs Saturday at 8:00 on HBO. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist airs Sunday night at 8:00 on NBC. The Voice airs Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:00, also on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: This week’s releases include The Irrgulars and Bad Trip, both available on NETFLIX. The Father, The Good Traitor, and Six Minutes to Midnight are all available to rent.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “March Madness is well underway, just in time for you to gamble away your entire stimulus check.” – Jimmy Fallon

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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, April 3 – South Grand Chamber’s “Bootleggers’ Ball” at Shangri-La Resort. Monday, April 12 – Grove Chamber Business After Hours at The Parrot in Grove. Friday, April 16 – Job Fair at First Christian Church in Langley (Noon-6:00). Thursday, April 22 – Grove Spring Job Fair (10:00-4:00) at the Grove Civic Center. Saturday, April 24 – Wild for Spring opening of The Oasis (11:00-6:00). Saturday, May 1 – Opening of Blind Swine at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina. Thursday, May 13 – Grove Chamber Members Luncheon at Grove Civic Center. Friday, May 14 – Eddy’s Lakeside Bar opens for the season at Shangri-La Marina. Friday, May 21 – South Grand Lake Chamber Golf Tournament at Shangri-La. Saturday, June 5 – Camp Bandage at Grand Lake RV Resort (noon-4:00). Thursday-Sunday, June 10-13 – Toes in the Grand Festival at Sniders Campground and Wolf Creek Park. Saturday, June 19 – Rock the Dock Concert at Check-In Bay (noon-5:00). Friday-Saturday, June 25-26 – Grand Jam Music Festival at Grand Meridian RV Park.

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SPORTS WATCH: March Madness is going totally mad this week with both Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games knocking the field down to just four teams. Sweet 16 games start Saturday at 1:00 and Sunday at 2:00 on CBS and TBS. Monday’s Elite 8 games begin at 6:00 on CBS. Tuesdays games tip off at 5:00 on TBS.

In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are on the road at Minnesota Monday (7:00) before returning home to host the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday (7:00). They’re home hosting the Celtics Saturday night (8:00), the Dallas Mavericks Monday night (7:00) and Toronto next Wednesday (7:00). All games are on Fox Sports Oklahoma.

It’s a double-header weekend for the PGA Players. The big kids will be in Austin for the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play. Coverage begins on the Golf Channel at 1:00 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday – and at 9:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday. NBC picks up coverage at 1:00 Saturday and 2:00 Sunday. Across the water, it’s also the week of the Corales Puntecana Resort & Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. Coverage is exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 9:30 Thursday & Friday mornings, 1:00 Saturday afternoon and 1:30 Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are at Briston this week for Sunday’s Food City Dirt Race. Coverage begins at 2:30 Sunday afternoon on Fox.

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Weekend weather for the first full weekend of Spring looks like a wonderful season ahead. We’ll have sunshine until the possibility of some late showers Sunday. High temperatures Friday & Saturday will be pushing 70, with low temperatures in the 45-50 degree range.. There’s plenty to do, so enjoy your favorite sport. Remember, though, wherever you 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.

Ailey’s Café in Langley

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 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)

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

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 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

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)

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

Waterway Café, Harbors View Marina (smoking on breakwater dining deck)

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove