October 15 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
Congratulations to all the organizers and volunteers who worked so hard to ensure success for another year of Pelican Festival fun. Everybody had to deal with a little off and on rain interruptions over the weekend, but it didn’t stop the fun. In fact, it didn’t slow the pelicans themselves down a bit! It was like water off a duck’s back….um, I mean a pelican’s back!
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I’ve heard the phrase “all hell breaking loose” for most of my life, but I wonder if it actually happened in Midway, Arkansas. Volunteer firefighters were called to the scene of 12-foot flames shooting out of a hole in the ground. The fire finally went out, but no one can figure out what started it. It was shooting out of a three-foot deep hole that turned 45 degrees at the bottom. Firefighters said the temperature at the bottom of the hole was 780 degrees. No gas lines. No meteors. No flaming space junk. No one knows. Do you think “all hell” actually broke loose in Arkansas?
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Yes, Virginia, you can have fun…but not if you’re over 12 years old! Seriously. With Halloween on the horizon, several communities around Newport News, Virginia have approved new ordinances making it a misdemeanor for anyone over 12 years of age to put on a costume and troll the neighborhood for candy. Penalties include fines of up to $100 and up to six months in jail. WOW! Talk about buzz-killers. Jail time for trick or treating???
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It’s a big week in Canada. Recreational marijuana use becomes legal this week throughout the entire country of Canada. As the celebration gets underway, it may no longer be the weathercasters…but also the newscasters discussing an approaching “Canadian high.”
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If you’re traveling the world, it might be helpful to know which airports to avoid. New rankings by AirHelp give the “Worst Airport in the World” award to Kuwait International, calling it “disorganized, dirty, unfriendly and a disgrace.” The remaining bottom five of the world’s worst airports are London Stansted, Lyon-Saint-Exupery, Paris Orly Airport and Stockholm Airport. The “World’s Best Airport” honors went to Hamad International in Qatar, Athens International, and Haneda Airport in Tokyo – all honored for their “friendly service, timeliness, and clean, modern amenities.”
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Oklahoma’s most beautiful small town? A newly released list by House Beautiful says it’s Davis, a small town in Southern Oklahoma that is home to Turner Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Oklahoma, and Bedre Chocolates.
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Accordion to recent studies, people won’t notice when the first word of a sentence is replaced with a musical instrument.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: My brain cells, skin cells, and hair cells continuously die…but my stubborn fat cells seem to have eternal life.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: In the late 1930s, residents of northern Wyoming, southeast Montana and western South Dakota attempting to form a new state, to be called Absaroka, went so far as to issue license plates.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Turning Vegan would be a big missed steak.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: I just saved a ton of money on Christmas presents by discussing politics on Facebook.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: The newly released “First Man” is such a fabulous movie, it’s hard to believe that next July 20 will mark 50 years since astronaut Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.
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BEST OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Cannabis overdose deaths are now equal to the number of people gored to death by unicorns.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Rick Miller, Michele Martin, Scott Graham, G.W. Goss, Michael Thrift, Karen Baxter, Karin Goss, Mark Kidd, Robin Purdie, Aileen Oldaker, Kelly Hudelson, Scott Cillessen, and Justin Ruzicka.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do we put our two cents in when people only offer a penny for our thoughts?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: There is a whole lot of action around the lake this weekend. Following the Wednesday night “Guest Chef” with Dick and Arlene Seybolt smoking meat and serving side dishes at Shebang for the “Monkey Island Clothes & Toys for Kids Fund,” there will be a Saturday night Hot Dog Cook-Off 5:00-7:00 at Blind Swine sponsored by Whoops Surplus, Monkey’s Uncle Café & Blind Swine also benefiting the Kids Fund. Friday and Saturday is “Rocktoberfest” at the Pensacola Dam Off-Road Area. Saturday is “Oktoberfest” fun from noon-11:00 at Mulligans at Patricia Island Golf Club, the Grove Springs Cultural District Arts Festival at the Grove Community Center, and the Fall Crappie Tournament at Indian Hills Marina.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment around the lake. On Monkey Island this weekend, the dance floor will be hoppin’ with karaoke fun and great dance music at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Up highway 125, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub, as well. At the Blind Swine, there’s live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night (including Erin FitzgibbonFriday), and KJ Flip hosts karaoke Sunday and Tuesday; and at Littlefield Corner, there is always live entertainment at the Road Hog Saloon Saturday nights.
On South Grand Lake, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Michelle’s Bar & Grill at Grand Lodge in Ketchum – and there’s always live entertainment at Michelle’s on Saturday night. There is also Friday & Saturday night entertainment & karaoke fun on the deck at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino features The Ladies of Rock Friday night and The Pumpkin Hollow BandSaturday night. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. James Muns entertains at Bordertown Friday night, followed by Derryl Perry Saturday. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, NighTTrain will perform Friday night, and The Lamont Landers Band will be on stage Saturday night. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, Rusty Knight and the Daze will be on stage Friday night. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Rackensack performs Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed byDiversity Friday and The Rumor Saturday.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including the PGA, Major League Baseball, College Football, NFL games, NASCAR, and NBA games are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Monkey Island Pub, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Gnome Alone, Marvel’s Daredevil, and Wanderlustwill be available Friday on NETFLIX. Real Time with Bill Maher: Anniversary Special airs Friday night at 9:00 on HBO. Madam Secretary airs Sunday night at 9:00 on CBS. Bull airs Monday night at 9:00 on NBC following The Voice, which airs at 7:00. The World Series starts Tuesday night.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Halloween and Can You Ever Forgive Me?
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don’t even invite me.” – Dave Barry
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday-Sunday, October 26-28 – Crawl-O-Ween at the Pensacola Dam Off-Road Area. Saturday, October 27 – Route 66 Punkin’ Chunkin’ Contest at John’s Tractor Works, Vinita. Saturday, October 27 – Shangri-La Fall Festival across from MIFD. Saturday, October 27 – Halloween Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. Saturday, October 27 – Halloween Party at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Friday-Saturday, November 2-3 – Cherokee Heritage Days at Har-Ber Village Museum. Friday, November 16 – Flying J Ranch Extravaganza benefiting St. Jude. Saturday, November 17 – “Fill ‘em Up Breakfast Pancake Feed from 8:00-10:30 at The Shebang sponsored by Larry & Joyce Duke and The Shebang benefiting the Monkey Island Clothes & Toys for Kids Fund. Saturday, November 17 – Monkey Island Thanksgiving at the Monkey Island Pub.
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I don’t think I can get all the big sporting events fit into my schedule this week! It’s week #8 in the world of college football. OSU is idle this week, and OU, Tulsa and Arkansas all play at 11:00 Saturday morning. OU is at TCU (ABC) and Tulsa and Arkansas play each other at Arkansas (SEC Network). If you want to start your college football weekend even earlier, Arizona State hosts Stanford Thursday night at 8:00 (ESPN).
Thursday night NFL action features Denver at Arizona at 7:00 (Fox). Sunday starts bright and early with CBS televising the Tennessee vs. L.A. Chargers game live from Wembley Stadium in London at 8:30 Sunday morning. Noon games include New England at Chicago (CBS) and Cleveland at Tampa Bay (Fox). The 3:30 game on CBS sends Dallas to Washington. Sunday night’s game has Cincinnati at Kansas City (7:00 on NBC); and Monday Night Football features the New York Giants at Atlanta (7:00 on ESPN).
Major League Baseball playoffs continue this weekend, as necessary to determine American League and National League Champions. The World Series starts next Tuesday with either Boston or Houston taking on either the L.A. Dodgers or Milwaukee for all the marbles.
The NBA regular season is officially underway. The OKC Thunder face the L.A. Clippers Friday night at 9:30 (FSOK) before hosting Sacramento at 6:00 Sunday evening (FSOK).
In the world of professional golf, PGA players still halfway around the world this week for the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges begins played on Jeju Island, Korea. The Golf Channel offers live coverage at 9:00 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and more civilized replay coverage at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and 5:00 Sunday, all on the Golf Channel.
NASCAR drivers are in Kansas City this week for the Hollywood Casinos 400. Coverage of begins at 1:00 Sunday on NBC.
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The weekend weather forecast looks pretty good – nicer than the last couple of weekends! We’ll have mostly sunny skies highs in the mid-60s and lows around 50. We may have a few showers Sunday morning but, other than that, things look really nice. Party on, dudes! That’s what we do! Have fun and remember…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.
1909 in Downtown Grove
Ailey’s Café in Langley
American Grill in Grove
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
Bobbers Café in Langley
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
Coffee Shelter in Ketchum
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
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
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lodge in Ketchum (smoking)
Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove
High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)
Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
Karrie's Kaboose in Langley (smoking)
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lakeside Bar & Grill in Grove at Sail Boat Bridge
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Monkey’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Morrows Bar & Grill in Raper Hollow
Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
Okie Smokies Barbecue in Grove on Hwy 59 South
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)
Smokin’ Spur BBQ & Trading Post at Old Towne Plaza, Cleora
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 Office on Monkey Island (smoking)
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