October 8 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

Resilient Grand Lakers never gave up on the Har-Ber Village Chuck Wagon Dinner & Dance, the great Folds of Honor Classic at Shangri-La and the other weekend outdoor events – despite the best efforts of Mother Nature to put a “damper” on the fun. It was damp, all right, but that won’t deter Grand Lakers. The upcoming weekend weather forecast looks more encouraging for the Pelican Festival.

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I wasn’t please about the outcome of the OU-Texas game, but my friends who were involved in downing an adult beverage at every score are still trying to recover. 93 points. WOW! For those who love defensive struggles, wait ‘til next year!

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You know how exciting it is to find some money in the dryer while doing laundry? Redding, Connecticut Charles Dudley had a day like that last week – only a million times better. He was cleaning out his wallet when he ran across a Powerball ticket he purchased back in May. It was 23 days from expiring – but Charles managed to turn cash it in before it expired – and collect his MILLION DOLLARS!

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What the hell is wrong with people? In Oregon, Richard Cota posted on Facebook, “Yay…not going to die anytime soon!!!” Then he began passing cars on the highway at a high rate of speed – and oftentimes in a “no passing” zone. What could possibly go wrong, right? Let’s just say his Facebook post turned out to be Fake News. He was 37.

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In New Orleans last week, two guys mugged a lady, beat her up, and robbed her – then took selfies of themselves on the cell phone they stole from her. In case you’re not on top of the technology scene, we know there were two of them, we know they took selfies and, by the way, we also know who they are. The bandits apparently didn’t realize that the pictures they took on the stolen cell phone would be uploaded to the iCloud account of the true owner. Thugs are getting a little stupider ever day.

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He may not be the stupidest druggie in Florida, but he’s got to be top five. Douglas Peter Kelly called the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office complaining that he had been tricked – someone sold him the wrong drug. He said he bought methamphetamine, but since he had a bad reaction to it for the first time, he figured it must be something else. He asked them to test it because he wanted to press charges against the dealer if it wasn’t what he ordered. Naturally, they told him to come on in and they would test it for him. They did. It was methamphetamine, all right. His bond is $5,000. You can’t fix stupid.

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UNRESOLVED PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: My therapist told me, “write letters to the people you hate and then burn them.” Did that, but now I don’t know what to do with the letters.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: It’s finally October, which means that all the cobwebs and dust in my house just became Halloween decorations.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never directly ruled by a Western power.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Best friend stole wife. Need money for thank you card.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: The term “sober as a judge” is no longer a thing.  

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Fleetwood Mac gave a great tour-opening performance in Tulsa last week. The British-American rock band was founded in London – 51 years ago. Blues rocker Janis Joplin died 48 years ago last week.

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BEST OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: The fact that jellyfish have survived for 650 million years without brains gives hope to many humans.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Richard Leuszler, Bob Altmiller, Tom Love, Jim “Tree” Hollingshead, Russ Arnold, Sarah Williams, Brian Brandwein, Michelle Prine, Ben Hampton, Teri Smith, Andrew Beine, Tom Quillin, John Turner, Susan Beine, Linda Elmburg, and Joe Regalado.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Does refusing to go to the gym count as resistance training?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: There is a lot happening around the lake this weekend, starting Thursday night at Cherokee Yacht Club with the Ketchum Academic Foundation Annual Banquet. The Pelican Festival is this weekend in Grove. The carnival starts Wednesday at Wolf Creek, but the main festival attractions are Friday & Saturday. There will be live music Friday & Saturday nights and Saturday afternoon. The Pelican Festival Parade is at 9:30 Saturday morning – and there are Pelican-watching boat rides Friday & Saturday. Pioneer Days at Har-Ber Village Museum are also scheduled for Friday & Saturday, as is the big Rocktober Disney four-wheeler festival below the Pensacola Dam.  Saturday is a Tennessee Style BBQ and Bluegrass Jam Fest 10:00-5:00 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Grove and Oktoberfest of Vinita at the Catholic Church grounds. Next Wednesday evening, October 17, Islanders Dick and Arlene Seybolt are smoking great meats and adding awesome side dishes as featured “Guest Chefs” at The Shebang with proceeds benefit the Monkey Island Clothes & Toys for Kids Fund.  

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment around the lake. In Grove, three different bands will perform at the Cherokee Casino Entertainment Tent at the Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek in Grove – Let’s Zeppelin Friday evening, nighTTrain Saturday afternoon and Next Halen Saturday night.

On Monkey Island this weekend, the dance floor will be hoppin’ with great dance music at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Up highway 125, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub. At the Blind Swine, there’s live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night (including Erin Fitzgibbon Friday), and KJ Flip hosts karaoke Sunday and Tuesday; and at Littlefield Corner, Lickitty Split performs at the Road Hog Saloon Saturday night.

On South Grand Lake, The Barrett Lewis Band will entertain Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney, followed by Reverse Reaction Saturday night. 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 Rockfisch Friday night and Runnin’ on Empty Saturday night. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. The Jeff Tatum Band entertains at Bordertown Friday night, followed by The Jason Boyd Band Saturday. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Dewayne Bowman & the Swingin’ West Band will perform Friday night. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, BC and the Big Rig will be on stage Friday night. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Blank Earth performs Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Allen Biffle Friday and The Uncrowned Kings 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: Blindspot returns Friday night at 7:00 on NBC and the series premiere of The Haunting of Hill House will be available Friday on NETFLIX. The Alec Baldwin Show premieres Sunday night at 9:00 on ABC. Black-ish returns to ABC Sunday night at 8:00 followed by the season premiere of The Rookie at 9:00.  

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: First Man, Bad Times at the El Royale and Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I’m not a drinker. It’s one of my only good traits. I never had a glass of alcohol. I never had alcohol, for whatever reason. Can you imagine if I had? What a mess I would be. I would be the world’s worst.” – Donald Trump

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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, October 20 – Grove Springs Cultural District Arts Festival at Grove Community Center. Saturday, October 20 – Fall Crappie Tournament at Indian Hills Marina. Saturday, October 20 – Hot Dog Cook-Off 5:00-7:00 at Blind Swine sponsored by Whoops Surplus, Monkey’s Uncle Café & Blind Swine benefiting Monkey Island Clothes & Toys for Kids Fund. 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.

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It’s week #7 in the world of college football. OU is idle this week, but Tulsa kicks off the weekend Friday night hosting South Florida (7:00 on ESPN). If you want to start your college football weekend even earlier, TCU hosts Texas Tech Thursday night at 6:30 (ESPN). OSU is at Kansas State Saturday morning at 11:00 on ESPNU. Arkansas hosts Ole Miss Saturday evening at 6:30, but it’s only on the SEC Network.

Thursday night NFL action features Philadelphia at the New York Giants at 7:00 (Fox). Sunday noon games include Chicago at Miami (Fox) and the L.A. Chargers at Cleveland (CBS). The 3:30 game on CBS sends Jacksonville to Dallas to face the Cowboys. Sunday night’s game has Kansas City at New England (7:00 on NBC); and Monday Night Football features San Francisco at Green Bay (7:00 on ESPN).

Major League Baseball playoffs continue this weekend, as well (although the schedule is not certain at this point).

The NBA regular season begins next week, believe it or not. The OKC Thunder open the season at Golden State Tuesday night, October 16 at 9:30 (TNT)

In the world of professional golf, PGA players are in Malaysia this week for the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur. The Golf Channel offers live coverage at 9:30 Wednesday and Thursday nights and at 10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday. More civilized replay coverage is at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and 5:30 Sunday, all on the Golf Channel.

NASCAR drivers are at Talladega this week for something called the 1000Bulbs.com 500. Coverage of begins at 1:00 Sunday on NBC.

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The weekend weather forecast looks pretty good – very fall-like! We may have a shower or two Saturday morning. Other than that, mostly sunny skies are called for along with highs in the mid-60s. It’ll be a little chilly in the evenings – around 50 Friday night, then mid-40s Saturday & Sunday nights. It doesn’t matter to me, though. I’m going to party on, anyway. That’s what we do! Have fun, but be safe; 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