March 29 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

Here we are at Easter weekend, already. I can’t believe another month has gone…but at least the bad months are behind us for another season, and the fun is officially underway. I’m still confused about that “Easter Bunny” thing, though. What bizarre mind paired up rabbits and eggs? It’s a time of political correctness these days. I really think we should give credit where credit is due and start pushing the truth…the Easter Chicken.

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It’s an exciting time of year, watching things spring to life. The golf courses are turning green, the Bradford Pears are in full bloom, flowers are blooming – even my Christmas cactus (confusing pandemic time, I think). Pretty soon, there will be enough leaves on trees that the folks who bought those “seasonal lake view” homes over the past few months will have to walk all the way  to the shoreline to see water.

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In honor of the Easter holiday, I think we should have a scripture of the week. Considering the recent legislation passed in Georgia, I think this might be a good one: “I was thirsty and ye gave me drink.” – Matthew 25:35 (Offer not valid in Georgia).

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What an incredible NCAA Tournament run for Oral Roberts University, huh?  I remember the days when evangelist Oral Roberts would raise money by telling people he talked with God, and God told him to do get more money. My ol’ sports buddy Vince Freeman is predicting another heavenly conversation – this time with Oral Roberts University Head Basketball Coach Paul Mills. Vince predicts the Almighty will tell Paul to move on to a bigger university, a bigger program, and millions of dollars.

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Basketball isn’t the only thing on the sports landscape, though. The University of Minnesota Duluth earned a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four when they defeated North Dakota in the longest NCAA hockey game in tournament history. Actual clock time was 142 minutes, 13 seconds; but the game started at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and ended at 12:42 Sunday morning. For the record, every hockey game I’ve ever watched seemed that long.

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Many colleges and universities had some sad time this week, losing their games in the NCAA and NIT tournaments…but not many schools lost as much as OU. Longtime head women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale announced her retirement. Right behind her, head men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger called it quits; and OU also lost a former football head coach. Howard Schnellenberger, who led the University of Miami to its first National Championship before coming to OU, died last week at the age of 87.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Bill and Marnie Pettit will be the final “Guest Chefs” of the winter at The Shebang Wednesday night. 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. Blind Swine is now open Tuesday-Sunday from 4:00 p.m. 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). Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La serves Sunday Brunch to members & resort guests Sunday.  

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK:  If you’ve been looking for a “drinking & gambling” weekend, here ya’ go. Friday is April’s First Friday Wine Share at the Lake House in Grove (6:00-7:30). Saturday night is the South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce 2021 Bootleggers Ball at Shangri-La Resort (6:00).  If you would rather shop, the Grove and Monkey Island Merchants Easter Open House is Friday and Saturday.

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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, Scott Musick provides the live entertainment at Doc’s. KJ Flip will lead the karaoke fun Thursday night at Blind Swine. Erin Fitzgibbon entertains early Friday night (6:00) followed by the KB Band late. Saturday night, Levee Town will be at the Swine, and KJ Flip will be back with Cocktails & Karaoke Sunday night. Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday nights and for Sunday Brunch at The Summit at Shangri-La.  Benjamin Stanley provides the live music Friday night at Monkey Island Pub. Saturday night is Karaoke with Tim. At the Road Hog Saloon, The Faulconers will perform live Saturday night.

In Grove, Brett N Terri entertain Saturday night at Mulligans at Patricia Island Country Club.

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

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Brett n Terri in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Funkin Gonuts Friday and Morgan Myles Saturday. At Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar, Jesse Joice will be performing Friday night, and House Party will be featured Saturday.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Pachinko is a Japanese version of pinball that involves a complicated form of gambling. By some estimates its annual revenue is greater than casinos in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore combined.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: In the 1980’s, A&W tried to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder by selling a 1/3 pound burger at a lower cost. The product failed because most customers thought the ¼ pound was bigger. This is why you shouldn’t argue online.

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FUN SPORTS FACT OF THE WEEK: If you’re an OKC Thunder fan, it’s been a bit of a rough season, but here’s a nice look at the future. When the Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves last week, they did so with the second-youngest starting line-up in NBA history – but the all-time youngest NBA team in history to actually win a game!

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Travel. Your money will return. Your time won’t.

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BEST T-SHIRT SEEN THIS WEEK (worn by an aging biker): Sons of Arthritis – Ibuprofen Chapter.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Drink whiskey. ‘Cause they ain’t going to write a country song about drinking White Claw.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: The ship stuck in the Suez Canal is blocking so much important stuff, they’ve decided to rename it the USS Mitch McConnell.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I feel asleep last night reading old magazines. I woke up this morning with back issues.

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Someone sent me an email about using vodka for cleaning the house. I can’t thank them enough. It worked great. The more vodka I drank, the cleaner my house looked!

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler turned 73 over the past weekend. We also lost a fantastic author last week. The legendary Larry McMurtry, author of everything from “The Last Picture Show” to “Terms of Endearment,” and the iconic “Lonesome Dove,” died last week. He was 84.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Becky Sconyers, Anna Pickens, Magen Faulconer, Linda Wall, Grant Forkner, Diana Stephens, Wayne Smith, Erin Gayer, Meagan Stewart, Kacey Threet, Mike Kelly, Sam Walker, Tod Sanger, Leta Reed, Ginger Richey, and Brian Edwards. My pal Wayne Smith invites you to “Wayne’s World Karaoke and Birthday Bash” at Doc’s Bar & Grill Thursday night to help celebrate his big day.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If undocumented immigrants are freeloaders, why does ICE always raid workplaces?

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Manifest returns to NBC for another season Thursday night at 7:00. Law & Order: Organized Crime debuts Thursday night at 9:00, also on NBC.  The United States of Al premieres Thursday night at 7:30 on CBS; and Wipeout returns for another season with back-to-back episodes Thursday night at 8:00 and 9:00 on TBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: With Regal Theaters opening nationwide, more movies are turning up quickly. French Exit and Every Breath You Take both premier in movie theaterrs this week. Concrete Cowboy is available on NETFLIX.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Evangelical Christianity has been hijacked by people who would have given Jesus himself the boot if he knocked on their door.” – President Jimmy Carter

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, April 9 – South Grand Lake Regional Airport Runway Celebration (10:30 a.m.). 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. Wednesday, May 19 – Napa Nights at South Grand Lake Regional Airport. 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). Wednesday-Thursday, June 9-10 – SLWGA Shangri-La Tee Da Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. 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 continues this week, but the end is drawing near. Final Four games are Saturday – and the NCAA Championship Game will be played Monday night. The NCAA Women’s Tournament is coming to a close this week, too. The Final Four games will be played Friday with the Championship Game set for Sunday.

In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are on the road out west for a couple of late games – at Phoenix Friday (9:00) and Portland Saturday (9:00) before returning home to host the Detroit Pistons Monday (6:00) and the Charlotte Hornets next Wednesday (7:00). All games are on Bally Sports Oklahoma (formerly Fox Sports Oklahoma).

PGA Players are in San Antonio this week for the Valero Texas Open. Coverage is on the Golf Channel beginning at 3:00 Thursday & Friday, and noon Saturday & Sunday. NBC picks up the final two rounds Saturday at 2:30 and Sunday at 1:30.

NASCAR drivers are taking the weekend off.

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The Easter weekend weather forecast for Grand Lake looks fantastic. High temperatures Friday & Saturday will be in the mid-to-upper 60s, with low temperatures in the 45-50 degree range. The Easter Sunday forecast is even a little warmer than that. Enjoy all that Grand Lake has to offer for the wonderful weekend. 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