November 13 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

There were two things dominating everybody’s minds on Monkey Island over the past weekend – partying and kids! The Heart of Monkey Island Bloody Mary Competition, Chili Cookoff & Auction at Shebang and Big Shots was incredible! I don’t have all the totals, but they raised at least $22,000 for Christmas for kiddos. Congrats to Mandy Cousins, Somer Tesreau, Heather Cole, Brooke Bolton and their team for a fabulous inaugural event – and to Greg Bolton for a great emcee/auctioneer gig (while also cooking chili). Saturday night, DCCSAN set more fundraising records at their Winterset Gala at Shangri-La. Jill McAbee and her team continue to amaze! There’s no place like Monkey Island to raise money for important causes while partying like rock stars!

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Just when you thought professional athletes were the only dramatically overpaid folks in the sports world, the University of Kansas handed head basketball coach Bill Self a contract extension that will pay him $54.1 million over the next five years. Yes, that makes him the highest paid basketball coach in the country. Good grief! I would hope so! That still doesn’t win the “Best Sports Job of the Week” award, though. That honor goes to fired Texas A&M Football Coach Jimbo Fisher. He got the axe, but will also get a whopping $76 million buyout, just to go away. He’s set for life and doesn’t have to do anything at all! “Fired Football Coach” is still the best job in sports!

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Good news for Channels 2, 6, and 23 in Tulsa. Sinclair Broadcasting, owner of KTUL-Channel 8, has decided to move their news operation for their ABC affiliated Tulsa station to… Oklahoma City? I’m not sure I understand all I know about that, but Sinclair has done it in other parts of the country. They call it “refocusing our resources, establishing a regional content center.”  I don’t imagine that’s how Tulsa viewers would describe it. Or should I say “former” viewers?

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Oklahoma has one less celebrity resident. NFL Hall-of-Famer and current Fox NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw has sold his 744-acre ranch in southern Oklahoma. The sale price was not disclosed, but the ranch was listed for $22.5 million. Red River Equine, a horse breeding company owned by Chad and Tiffany Beus, bought the ranch, which is being re-developed and marketed as a large-scale premiere breeding, training, and sales preparation facility.

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When we lose one celebrity, we gain another – and closer to home, too! Jay, Oklahoma’s Tyler Kijak was named the “Ultimate Cowboy” on the INSP television program “Ultimate Cowboy Allstars.”

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Teresa Karleskint, Alex Hinman, Chuck Perry, Gary Goss, Duane Koehler, Cliff Hudson, Steve Wetwiska, Lori Skelley-Follis, Tom Fielder, Eric Long, Stacey Hudson, Kenny Cole, Kevin Burke, Preston Kelley, Leann Laue-Goff, Mike Long, Roy Morgan, Dar Phillips, Ben Faulkner, Josh Lee, Frank McCorkle, Mark Sell, and Val Saamer.  

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. It’s an incredibly busy week at Grand Lake. Wednesday is the season’s first “Guest Chef” event at The Shebang. First “Guest” Chef is Papa Larry Duke serving his awesome ham & beans, fried potatoes & jalapeno cornbread. Thursday is a fun Champagne & Shopping event at Grand Panache in Grove to celebrate their 15^th anniversary (2:00-6:00 p.m.). Thursday night is “The First Christmas Party of the Year” - the South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at Shangri-La Resort (5:00 p.m.) with comedian/magician Doug Anderson as the featured speaker. Thursday night is also “Trivia Night” at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Santa Paws Pet Photos with Santa at Second Chance Thrift Shop in Grove is both Friday & Saturday (4:00-7:00 Friday, 10:00-4:00 Saturday). Saturday night is the rescheduled Drive-In Movie double feature at Wolf Creek Park in Grove – Polar Express and Elf (6:00 p.m.), and the Delaware County Community Partnership “Holiday Hoedown” at Legacy Event Center (6:00 p.m.). The Monkey Island Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner, originally scheduled for Saturday night at Monkey Island Pub has been canceled.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The month of November, ironically enough, derives its name from Latin for “ninth month.”

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: The world’s highest hill is “Cavanal” located near Poteau, Oklahoma. Its elevation is 1,999 feet above sea level. If it was one foot higher, it would be a mountain.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Just when you think you’ve heard everything, another more bizarre fact comes up. Cathy Bailey has spent the last 32 years preserving 5,840 jars of her own urine on display in her Dayton, Ohio home. I guess we’ll need a new Guiness Book category – “Largest urine collection.” People never cease to amaze me.

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OXYMORON OF THE WEEK: Baby whale.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Sex at 73! I just took a leaflet out of my mailbox in forming me that I can have sex at 73. I’m so happy because I live at number 71, so it’s not too far to walk home afterwards. And it’s the same side of the street. I don’t even have to cross the road!

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: I ate natural foods until I learned that most people die from natural causes.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: Pessimists see the glass as “half empty.” Optimists just open another bottle.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Saturday and Sunday are the strongest days. All the others are weak days.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work? (courtesy of Steven Wright)

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: When you can’t think of a word, say, “I forgot the English word for it.” That way, people will think you’re bilingual instead of an idiot.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Courage is knowing it might hurt, but doing it anyway. Stupidity is the same. And that’s why life is hard.” – Jeremy Goldberg

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Actor Alan Alda (AKA Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H*) and his wife Arlene have been married for 66 years. Actress Sally Field celebrated a birthday last week. She is now 77 years old.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the weekend fun kicks off at Doc’s Bar & Grill Thursday night with Jason Morgan leading the karaoke fun. KJ Flip leads the Thursday karaoke at Big Shots and DJ K-Bandito hosts the weekend musical fun Friday & Saturday nights including a special performance by Diversity Saturday night. Rockwell performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Friday night.

On South Grand Lake, Billy Hoffman & the Asphalt Cowboys will provide Saturday night’s music at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill.

In Grove, there is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music by Zimmeroo Friday night, and more karaoke Saturday. Phil Vaught entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove, followed by Reversing Radio Saturday night.

Blues Traveler will be on stage Thursday night at Downstream Casino’s Pavilion and Ben Haggard will perform at Downstream’s Legends Sports Bar Saturday night. Low Compatibility performs Friday night at The Stables Casino; and Uncertain Henry will be on stage Saturday night at River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West. If you like your entertainment rough, Buffalo Run Casino features Extreme Fight Night Saturday night with mixed martial arts fighting at Peoria Showplace.

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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UDATE: Mooney’s has new winter hours – closed Monday & Tuesday, open at 4:00 Wednesday & Thursday, and noon Saturday & Sunday. Bradford’s BBQ has officially closed permanently. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is now closed for the season. Prime Meats, Eats and Sweets is now closed for the season, reopening in March. Wildwood Cove Restaurant now offers all-you-can-eat crab legs on Thursday nights. The Grill at Indian Hills has begun winter hours – Thursday-Sunday from 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Voice has two live shows next week spotlighting competition of the Top 16 – 7:00 p.m. on NBC. The great new series The Irrational airs Monday night at 9:00 on NBC. Blake Shelton’s Barmageddon airs Monday night at 10:00 on USA.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Next Goal Wins, Trolls Band Together, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes all open in theaters this week. Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story is available Friday on Prime Video.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, November 23 – Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet at Doc’s Bar & Grill (11:00-7:00) and The Cove Club (10:00-3:00). Thursday, November 23 - NFL Thanksgiving Game Day Watch Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La (10:00-10:00). Thursday, November 23 – “Park of Lights” display opens at Twin Bridges State Park  (nightly through December 30). Friday, November 24 – Opening of the Grove Ice Rink at City Hall (open Friday-Sunday through December 31). Friday, November 24 – Movie Theme Night at Grove Ice Rink – “A Night in Whoville.” Saturday & Sunday, November 25-26 – Opening weekend for Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village at Har-Ber Village. Friday, December 1 – “Lights on Grove!” Christmas kick-off celebration on the Grove City Hall lawn (6:00 p.m.). Friday, December 1 – Movie Theme Night at Grove Ice Rink- “Buddy’s North Pole.” Friday, December 1 – Northeast Board of Realtors Installation Banquet at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 2 – Grand Lake YMCA “Jingle Bell Run.” Saturday, December 2 – Pensacola Dam Christmas Parade – Langley to Disney (6:00 p.m.). Saturday & Sunday, December 2-3 – “Journey to Jesus” with Oasis animals at Oasis Animal Adventures (3:00-8:00 p.m.). Tuesday, December 5  -Tuesday Trivia with Lee Lawson at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 9 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade from Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, December 9 – Grove Lighted Christmas Parade (6:00 p.m.). Monday, December 11 – Grand Lake Association Annual Banquet at Cherokee Yacht Club (6:00 p.m.). Tuesday, December 12 – Tuesday Trivia with Lee Lawson at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00 p.m.). Friday, December 15 – Movie Theme Night at Grove Ice Rink – “All Aboard for Christmas.”

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We’re closing in on the end of the regular season in the college football world. OU and OSU are both on the road Saturday – the Sooners at BYU at 11:00 and the Cowboys at Houston at 3:00. Baylor is at TCU (2:30).Texas is at Iowa State Saturday night (7:00). K-State is at Kansas, (6:00).

In the NFL, Cincinnati is at Baltimore to start the week Thursday night. Sunday noon games include Dallas at Carolina and Las Vegas at Miami. The Rams host the Seahawks at 3:30 Sunday afternoon, and the Broncos host the Vikings Sunday night. Monday Night Football features a really big game – Philadelphia at Kansas City.

In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are on the road out west this weekend. They’ll be at Golden State Thursday night at 9:00 and Saturday at 7:30 before running up the coast to face Portland Sunday night at 8:00. They’ll be back home in OKC to host the Bulls next Wednesday at 7:00.

PGA players are in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia this week for the RSM Classic. Coverage begins at 11:00 a.m. Thursday & Friday, and noon Saturday & Sunday exclusively on the Golf Channel.

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Weather for the upcoming weekend looks as good as last weekend. We’ll have sunshine and light winds for the most part – maybe a little rain Sunday. High temperatures will be pushing 70 degrees with lows around 50. It’s a great weekend to have some lake fun outdoors and indoors both! Remember, though, 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

Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley

Back Porch Ice Cream in Grove

Bailey’s Bistro at Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)

Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Friday & Saturday nights)

Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

Blue Cat Bistro at Har-Ber Village

BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café at Har-Ber Village

Café Yum in Grove

Casa Gutierrez in Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

Changos Locos at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanella’s on Monkey Island

Chicken Coop West of Langley

Chubby’s Grill at On Target in Grove

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum

Copper’s Tea and Coffee House in Grove

Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)

Cove Club in Langley

Danny’s Dockside Pizza at Honey Creek Landing

Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

Domino’s in Grove

Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)

Drake’s Restaurant in Grove

Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill

E&H Liquor Store at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina

Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek

Flower Bar in Grove

Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)

Grand Lake Coffee Company in Grove

Grand Lake Public House in Grove

Grand Lake RV Resort at the back of Duck Creek

Hero’s Deli 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

Keagan’s Coffee at Littlefield Corner

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

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Monkey Island RV Resort

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney

Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

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

Pier 13 Liquor Store in Langley

Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove

Pit Stop Café in Grove

Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor (smoking on the deck)

R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, Grove

Riggs & Company in Langley

River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)

Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island

Royal Liquor Store in Grove

Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)

Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)

Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

The Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

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

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove