September 18th Observation from the Grand Lake Bum
Happy Autumn. Friday is the official First Day of Fall. An onslaught of pelicans arrived at Grand Lake last week. Even though they were a couple of weeks early, I’ve always been amazed that they are smart enough to know when Grand Lake’s Pelican Festival is scheduled. They haven’t missed one in years!
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I hope you had a great weekend last week. I sure did! I managed to weasel into the Shangri-La Member Appreciation Party with all the OKC Thunder Girls. I’m not sure any Shangri-La members were missing. What a great event – proving once again that free food, booze, entertainment and pretty girls are still effective ways to draw a crowd on Grand Lake. The best part was the surprised look on Shangri-La President and CEO Jason Sheffield’s face when his wife and the Shangri-La crew surprised him with a coconut cream birthday “cake” and a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday!” (His birthday was Sunday.) After the Shangri-La party, Big Shots was hopping – and the “Jocks and Cheerleaders” costume party at Monkey Island Pub was a hoot. If you’re looking for Grand Lake “off-season” action, Monkey Island rocks all year long!
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State Representative Kevin Wallace, Chairman of the Oklahoma House Appropriations Committee, has an idea to help overcome the state's $215 million budget shortfall. He wants to legalize dice and roulette games at Oklahoma's Indian casinos. That's thinking outside the box. It raises revenue for the state while doing a little more to repay the tribes for the land that was stolen from them - and it's totally voluntary! If you don't want to pay, just don't play. He's not thinking far enough outside the box, though. I'm thinking back to the days of legalizing liquor by the drink. Supporters argued rightly that "we're already doing it, we're just not making any money from taxing it because we pretend it's not happening." True. That said, the arrival of football season reminds me of the easiest way to solve the entire budget - legalize sports betting! You're welcome.
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WTH? U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin is worth a minimum of $500 million. Yet, when he went to Fort Knox for a “tax overhaul” event (whatever that might be), it just happened to be on the same day as the total eclipse of the sun at that very spot. He took his wife…and flew on an Air Force jet. That wasn’t his first screw-up. It’s just the first one he got by with. Earlier in the summer, he requested an Air Force jet to take him and his wife on a European honeymoon (at a flight cost of $25,000 per hour). He said he needed an Air Force jet to maintain “secure communications.” Somebody smarter than Mnuchin pointed out there are far less expensive ways to ensure “secure communications,” so he was busted. He might be a good place to start draining the swamp before he drains the Treasury.
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I remember when calculators were invented (yeah, yeah, I know). They were priced around a hundred bucks. As time passed, they got smaller, worked better, did more and got progressively less expensive until they finally got so cheap service stations were giving them away with a fuel fill-up. Apparently, Apple didn’t get the memo. Last week, they introduced the iPhone X priced at -- $1,000!!! My thoughts? Just say NO!
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Research by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania indicates one-third of Americans cannot name any of the three branches of government. Only one-fourth of those interviewed could name all three branches. No wonder we’re in trouble!
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HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK – If I’m ever on life support, unplug me. Then plug me back in. See if that works.
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GRAND LAKE TRIVIA: Did you know Shangri-La Resort Sales Manager Christi King is the awesome lead singer for the popular band 5th Element? Caught her on stage Friday night in a knock-out performance on the Margaritaville Volcano Stage at River Spirit.
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LEGAL TIP OF THE WEEK (from Josh Davis): If you’re going to smuggle a cell phone into the county jail, it’s probably a good idea to turn off the GPS locator so Facebook doesn’t check you in at the jail.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: The FDA has just approved a new drug for people who can’t take a joke or are easily offended. It’s called Growacet.
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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: Drunk wives matter!
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: 5 out of every 4 people struggle with math.
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GRAND LAKE DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina has changed hours a little. They’re now open from 5-11 p.m. Fridays, 11-11 Saturdays and 11-8 Sundays. Eddy’s will close for the season at the close of business Sunday, October 1. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La will still be a water-accessible location, of course, open 7 days a week 7:00 a.m. ‘til midnight year-round!
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Larry Bolton, Sergio Andre, Bill Howell, Jim Wallace, Juli Miller, Theresa McDougall, Lyn Moore, Justin May, Susan Jones, Vernon Ellis, Angela Good, Jill Kelly, Conley Gay Cornell, Margaret Been, and Fred Northrop.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Did you ever notice how irons have a setting for “permanent” press? I don’t get it. (Steven Wright)
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BEST EVENT OF THE WEEK: “A Taste of Grand,” one of the biggest events of the year on Grand Lake, gets underwaySaturday evening at 6:00 at the INTEGRIS Grove Hospital campus. Look for all the tents! The best restaurants in the Grand Lake area will all be putting out their very best offerings for your tasting – and judging! Proceeds go to fund the great work of the INTEGRIS Grove Foundation. Tickets are $85 – available at all Grove Area Banks or online at tasteofgrand.com. It’s well worth it. If you went out on your own to enjoy that many entrees, desserts, wines, and beers, you would spend substantially more. Have fun. I’ll see you there!
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There are great entertainment options around the lake this weekend. On Monkey Island, Randy Lunsford will entertain behind the keyboard at The Shebang this weekend. The Balcony Bar upstairs at The Shebang features you as the entertainment with karaoke fun both Friday & Saturday nights; and across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, enjoy all the best dance tunes with the popular DJ Deeko Friday & Saturday nights. Just down the highway from there, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub. Erin Fitzgibbon performs Sunday nights at Blind Swine, and there’s always great live weekend entertainment at the Road Hog Saloon.
Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well. At Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, it’s a “Throw-back Thursday” week featuring Big C’s Rock N Roll Review Thursday night. Donnie Miller will provide Friday night entertainment followed by Honeyjack Saturday. At River Bend Casino in Wyandotte, Club 60 West spotlights The Stonehorse Band Friday night. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music byThee Dollar Rocket. Friday night features the music of Shawna Russell followed by Big Smitty Saturday night. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, Western Justice will perform Friday night. Aces Wild will be on stage at Lost Creek Saloon at Bordertown Casino Friday night, with DeWayne Bowman wrapping up the weekend entertainment Saturday night.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NFL Football, College Football, NASCAR and PGA Golf are Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Season 4 of Gotham premieres Thursday night at 7:00 followed by the highly acclaimed The Orville at8:00, both on Fox. The documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two will be available Friday on NETFLIX. Another season of 60 Minutes opens Sunday night at 6:00 on CBS. At 7:30 Sunday, the much anticipated new series Star Trek: Discovery premieres, also on CBS. New season premieres for a ton of shows are coming over the next week – Big Bang Theory, Kevin Can Wait, The Voice, Bull, NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, among others; and the much anticipated series premier of Seal Team is next Wednesday.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Lego Ninjago Movie, Battle of the Sexes and Kingsman: The Golden Circle
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” – Sir Richard Branson
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 30 – Hook ‘N’ Cookoff, South Grand Lake Regional Airport. Saturday, September 30 – Monkey Island Block Party sponsored by WAAMI at the Monkey Island Airport 4:00-7:00. Sunday, October 1 – Jim Beam Folds of Honor Classic at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, October 7 – Ride to Rescue Poker Run benefitting PAAS (starts at PAAS in Vinita, last bike out at 11:00 a.m. Last bike in to Road Hog Saloon at 4:00). Wednesday-Saturday, October 11-14 – Pelican Festival & Carnival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Friday, October 27 – Shangri-La’s Community-wide Halloween Family Fun party (6:00-9:00 p.m. north of the airport on Monkey Island – bonfire, hayrides, live music, dogs & s’mores). Saturday, October 28 – Shangri-La’s Halloween Ball & Costume Contest at the Roosevelt Ballroom in the resort hotel.
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Conference play gets underway this week in the college football world. OSU hosts TCU Saturday at 2:30 (ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2) and OU is on the road at Baylor (5:30 on FS1). Tulsa is hosting New Mexico at 12:30 (ESPN3); and Arkansas hosts Texas A&M (11:00 on ESPN). Other televised college action Saturday includes Washington at Colorado, Michigan at Purdue, Auburn at Missouri, Florida at Kentucky, West Virginia at Kansas, Texas Tech at Houston, Alabama at Vanderbilt, Penn State at Iowa, Notre Dame at Michigan State, and UCLA at Stanford.
Week #3 of the NFL regular season opens Thursday night with The Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco (7:30 on NFL). Sunday, the noon games feature Denver at Buffalo (CBS) and New Orleans at Carolina (Fox). The 3:30 game on CBS sends the Kansas City Chiefs to Los Angeles to face the Chargers and Sunday night football has Oakland at Washington (7:30 on NBC). Monday Night Football features the Dallas Cowboys at Arizona (7:30 on ESPN).
The PGA Tour players are in Atlanta this week for the Tour Championship. Coverage on The Golf Channel begins Thursday &Friday at 12:00, Saturday at 11:30, and Sunday at 11:00. NBC picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday at 2:00 and Sunday at 1:00. The NASCAR boys run in New Hampshire Sunday afternoon at 1:00 in the ISM Connect 300. Coverage is on NBCSN.
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The weekend weather looks good again this week! We’ll have partly cloudy skies for the most part. We may or may not have a scattered shower or two Saturday & Sunday. Highs will be in the mid 80s with nighttime lows in the upper 60s. Nice! There’s plenty happening around the lake this week. Get out and enjoy all the fun stuff Grand Lake has to offer, but remember, 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
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 (smoking upstairs—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
Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)
Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and on Monkey Island
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
Frosty & Edna’s (west of the dam in Langley)
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
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)
Roadhouse 125 on Monkey Island (smoking deck)
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