May 18 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

I know, I know. EVERYBODY is coming to the lake. ALMOST everybody is already here. Just don’t be stupid…please. Some states have had to close lakes and re-close beaches because of people not doing what they’re supposed to do. Texas has had crazy increases in positives since reopening a couple of weeks ago. Colorado is now asking out-of-state travelers to stay away. It just takes a little common sense. If you don’t want to wear a mask, at least adhere to the social distancing guidelines a little.

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Remember, too, the Official Lake Bum Holiday Rules are in effect.  No fighting, no puking, no hitting on someone else’s date, no griping at over-worked servers and bartenders, no bragging about how much money you have (or your parents have), no drunk driving, no public nudity (private nudity is okay), no yelling, no discussion of religion - and especially no politics!  As with all holiday weekends – and especially with reduced capacity at many places due to Covid-19 guidelines, you may have a little longer wait for a seat, a drink, or some food. Be nice to everyone who is working so you can play. The population of Grand Lake over the next few days will be equal to the population of the state’s third largest city. If everybody who’s coming to the lake over the four days would come every weekend, everybody could staff up for giant crowds. So, maybe you should buy a house and a boat while you’re here and come join us for the party all year! If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past two months, it’s that a lot of us can work from home just fine. It might as well be a Grand Lake home!

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The Coronavirus pandemic has provided a little good news for at least one person. Paul Manafort, President Trump’s campaign chairman, has been serving a seven-year prison sentence in Pennsylvania. He was scheduled to be released in November, 2024. Instead, due to COVID-19 concerns, he was released Wednesday to serve the rest of his sentence at home. So, instead of being, he’s now just quarantined. So…it’s safe for your kids to go back to school, but it’s too dangerous in prison for Mr. Manafort.

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Police have been contacted regarding the incoming murder hornets, by the way. They’re using the SWAT team to set up a sting operation.

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I’m reminded of the great old Gideon J. Tucker quote (often mistakenly attributed to Mark Twain): “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” You’re safe for a while, fellow Okies. The Oklahoma legislature adjourned Friday night – a couple of weeks early. I think they’d had all the conversations with the Governor they wanted.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Grand Lake is open for business! Blind Swine and the Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda are open. The Café at Har-Ber Village is now open in addition to The Shebang, The Artichoke, Grand Lake Public House, Cosby’s Catfish, VIP Pizza, The Parrot Steakhouse & Grill, Juan Montez, Road Hog Saloon, Mulligans, and Honey Creek BBQ. Arrowhead and Cherokee Yacht Clubs are open, as are The Lighthouse, Monkey Island Pub, Eddy’s Lakeside Bar and Pickles at the Lake. The Summit at Shangri-La is open (members only Mon-Sat, open to the public Sundays); Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill is open for curbside and dockside delivery Friday & Saturday noon-8:00 and Sunday noon-6:00. VIP Pizza at Hammerhead has expanded to five-day-a-week operations, Wednesday-Sunday. Sharky’s does not yet have a firm opening date. Doc’s at Shangri-La offers curbside pickup of pizza, grocery packages and weekend “family meal” packages, but is not open for dine-in service.

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PUBLIC EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE: The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament has been postponed until Friday, September 18. The Grove Rotary Club 2020 Lobsterfest scheduled for June 19 and the Rock the Dock Raft-Up/Music Festival scheduled for June 20 at Check-In Bay have been canceled. The Grand Lake Fireworks Cliff Elliott Memorial Fireworks Show has been canceled this year – but Duck Creek, Monkey Island, and Wolf Creek scheduled fireworks shows are a “go.”

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The 2020 Maiden Voyage of the Grand Lake Queen Riverboat is Friday at 6:00 p.m. Farmer’s Market opens in Grove Saturday. Memorial weekend celebration in Disney. 

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Big Shots will feature live DJ action Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Karaoke on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Big Smitty will perform both Saturday and Sunday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. Brett & Terri will entertain Monday afternoon at 3:00 at Eddy’s. Diversity will be on stage Sunday night at Blind Swine. Karaoke with Tim Saturday night at Monkey Island Pub.  

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The microwave oven was an offshoot of research related to the development of components for radar. The first microwave was 5 1/2-feet tall, weighed 750 pounds and cost $5,000. And it had to have water circulating through it.

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CORONAVIRUS OBSERVATION: There are three ways to come out of this lockdown: a hunk, a chunk, or a drunk.

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CORONAVIRUS WARNING: Remember, do not grab another person’s facemask. It’s a 15 yard penalty and an automatic first down.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Remember “Click it or ticket?” People hated being forced to use seat belts, but it saved lives. Maybe we should start a “Mask it or casket” campaign for the same reason.

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HOME SCHOOLING THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: If there’s one thing most parents fear more than the apocalyptic end of the world, it’s the possibility that their kids will fail homeschooling and have to retake it.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (seen at a health department location): Covid testing in the rear. (and here I thought it was just a simple nasal swab)

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TWEET OF THE WEEK (from attorney Michael Haggerty): I had my first court hearing where I was required to wear a mask. For the record, I prefer staying home in my pajamas. #quarantinelife  

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: England doesn’t have a kidney bank; but it does have a Liverpool.

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I’m pretty sure people who drank Boone’s Farm and Annie Green Springs and Mad Dog 2020 as kids – and survived -  are immune to almost anything.

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FEEL OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: One minute you are 20 in the ‘70s. Next minute you are 70 in the ‘20s. Veteran comedic actor Jerry Stiller, probably most famous for his invention of the Festivus “Airing of Grievances” on the Seinfeld Show, died last week. The father of famed actor Ben Stiller was 92. Phyllis George died last week. The former Miss America, former First Lady of Kentucky, and co-host of CBS’ popular “NFL Today” was 70. The deadliest volcanic eruption in U.S. history – the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington, was 40 years ago this week.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Randy Hess, Debbie Hess, Marilyn Conner, Paula Silzer, Edward Gibbs, Vicki Graper, Kevin Blumenthal, Kolin Williams, Ron Tipton, Jim Richie, Don Oden, Ann Turner, Pam Nutting, Todd Mlnarik, Cheryl Ayer, Jamie Flud, J.L. Ratcliff, Kelli Dyer, Mark Moore, Keith Hawks, and Randy Oney.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do people use rolled up dollar bills to smell mirrors? So weird.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Season 2 of Holey Moley debuts Thursday night at 8:00 on ABC followed by the Season 5 premiere of To Tell the Truth. Season 2 of The Titan Games gets underway next Monday night at 7:00 on NBC, and the season premiere of America’s Got Talent airs next Tuesday night at 7:00, also on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Villain, Inheritance and Military Wives are available via streaming Friday. Retro week at Grove Cinema – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Goonies, Dirty Dancing.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. Those who do study history are doomed to stand by helplessly while everyone else repeats it.” – Tom Toro

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, June 12 – American Heritage Music Festival and National Fiddle Contest at Wolf Creek Park, Grove.  Saturday-Sunday, May 23-24 – Big Smitty performs at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. Friday-Sunday, June 12-14 – Toes in the Grand Summer Kickoff Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Saturday, June 14 – Thunder on Wolf Creek boat races.  Friday, June 26 – Grove Chamber Golf Tournament at Patricia Island. Friday-Saturday, June 26-28 – Grand Jam Music Fest at Grand Meridian RV Park.

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SPORTS NON-WATCH: As crazy as it sounds, UFC fights are back…with no crowds allowed, so far. What could go wrong, right? Well, at the first fight, a Brazilian fighter and his two corner men all tested positive for COVID-19. Any-who. If you want to watch it, it’s available. Monday Night Baseball is back on ESPN. You might not recognize the players, though. They’re so desperate, they’re televising South Korean baseball. If you’re really hard up, there’s always WWE professional wrestling.

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Believe it or not, the Memorial Weekend weather looks pretty darn good. Warm, at least. There’s a little chance of scattered Thunderstorms early Friday and Monday night; but other than that, we’ll have some sunshine with high temperatures in the mid 80s and lows in the mid-60s with fairly light winds. If you’re heading out to celebrate this weekend, be sure to buy a drink for the guy six feet from 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

Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)

Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and at Littlefield Corner

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

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Monkey’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)

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

Morrow’s Bar & Grill at Morrow’s Landing

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)

Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum

Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

The Landings Marina (smoking on the deck)

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