October 9th Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

We got a little tease in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Mother Nature acted like she might mess up the PAAS Poker Run, the South Grand Lake Lions Chili Cookoff and the Association of General Contractors Golf Tournament – but the rain stopped, the clouds cleared and our picture perfect Autumn continues uninterrupted for another week. Even the mandatory rain-during-the-Tulsa-State-Fair came on a weekday; and with the Pelican Festival weekend just ahead, it looks like Ma Nature has a big Grand Lake smile on her face again!

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With a spooky holiday on the approaching horizon, my ol’ buddy Jim Anderson shared a great idea this week for a fun Halloween prank. Dip brussel sprouts in chocolate and only pass them out to the kids who aren’t wearing costumes, but expect candy anyway! By golly, that would put the “trick” back in “trick-or-treat!”

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If nothing else, the guy police arrested for public drunkenness in Casper, Wyoming last week should get a prize for creativity. He told authorities he was actually from the year 2048 and had traveled back in time to warn Casper residents that they should get out of town because aliens would be arriving to take over next year. He claimed he was able to travel in time because aliens filled his body with alcohol. Well, apparently someone did…although he claimed he was supposed to travel to 2018, not 2017.  Should have had one more for the road, perhaps. LEGAL TIP: Even if you are a drunken time traveler, telling the cops about it is probably not going to get you out of being arrested for public intoxication.

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Sometimes all you can do is shake your head. Some things just cannot be explained. The giant credit reporting firm Equifax, as you probably know, is under intense investigation by the U.S. Congress for a massive security breach that exposed personal information on as many as 145.5 million Americans. The CEO of the company even resigned under pressure. But last week, the IRS awarded a sole source contract for $7.25 million to a private company to “help prevent fraud.” Guess who. Yep. Equifax. WTH?

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With the arrival of autumn, all kinds of unusual recipes crop up every year. Like pumpkin beer, for example. I conducted the test for you. Here’s how to enjoy pumpkin beer: Step One – throw it in the trash.

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You knew it would be Wal-Mart that broke the seal; and it was. A month before Halloween – two months before Thanksgiving, there was the big sign announcing that the “Christmas Shop” was open. C’mon, man!

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CHRISTMAS TIP FOR CHILD BEHAVIOR MODIFICATOIN: Wrap several empty boxes as Christmas gifts. Every time your child misbehaves or doesn’t listen, throw one in the fire.

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I suppose it’s a sign of the times, but another icon has sold out. Against my better judgment, I went to the Tulsa State Fair last week and stopped by the River Spirit Expo to visit the giant and iconic Golden Driller out front. Yes, even the Driller has sold out. He obviously has signed a shoe deal. Right there on the heels of his shoes – and in the spot usually reserved for the Nike swoosh – it read: Mattress Firm. Sheesh. Nothing is sacred. The next time I go past that big Golden Driller, he’ll probably be kneeling!

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LEGAL TIP OF THE WEEK (from Scott Briscoe): Ladies, personalized vanity kits have many useful purposes. Toting your meth to court with you in your name-bearing kit, and forgetting it there in the bathroom, is not one.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: Husbands are the best people to share your secrets with. They’ll never tell anyone because they aren’t even listening.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (at Blind Swine on Monkey Island): Soup of the Day: Watermelon Gin

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DINING AND DRINKING ON GRAND UPDATE: The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda Harbor has re-opened for the fall season. Open at 11:00 a.m. Friday-Sunday. VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina is also open Friday-Sunday at 1l:00 a.m.through the end of the year.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to my special gal pal, Sarah Williams, as well as Michelle Prine, Jim Fowler, Brian Brandwein, Tom Quillin, John Turner, Teri Smith, Toney Foster, Andrew Beine, Susan Beine, Linda Elmburg, Michelle Martin, Lea Schibi, Julie Carson, and Rick Miller. Happy birthday, kids!

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If cockroaches can survive atomic bombs and chemical warfare, what is in a can of Raid?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The Pelican Festival is underway in Grove’s Wolf Creek Park this weekend. Carnival rides are open 6:00-10:00 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and from noon-10:00 Saturday. There are Pelican Tours by water from9:00-3:00 Saturday & Sunday and live music Friday afternoon & evening and Saturday night. The OU-Texas game will be shown on big screen under the tent. Arrowhead Yacht Club is hosting a “Red River Rivalry Shrimp Boil” Saturday for the OU-Texas game; and Barry Switzer’s Coaches Cabana will be live streamed from Grand Lake Casino during the OU-Texas game and Coach and his crew will be staying at Shangri-La Resort. Saturday is also Oktoberfest at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Vinita (10-5).

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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, dance the night away on Saturday with great music from DJ Deeko. Just down the highway from there, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub. Erin Fitzgibbon performs Sunday nights at Blind Swine, and Lickitty Split will perform Saturday night at the Road Hog Saloon.

In Grove, there are excellent musical choices at the Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek Park. Phil Bethel & Company start the main stage entertainment Friday at 1:00 followed by NighTTrain Friday night at 7:30. Saturday night’s 7:30 show will feature Vince and the Revelation with a tribute to Prince.

On South Grand Lake, Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney will feature music by Travis Kidd Saturday night.

Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well. Cherokee Casino Grove hosts Reverse Reaction Fridaynight and Whiskey Poet Society Saturday night. River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar features The Southern Green BandFriday night. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar presents Oreo Blue on stage Friday night, followed by Harley Hamm & the Sauceboyz Saturday. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music by Jeff Fox. Friday night features the music of Libby Starks followed by Torn Saturday night. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, Western Justice will perform Friday night. Rachelle Turner and Georgia Coast will be on stage at Lost Creek Saloon at Bordertown Casino Friday night, with Dewayne Bowman wrapping up the weekend entertainmentSaturday night.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NFL Football, College Football, NBA, NASCAR and PGA Golf are 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: The new movie The Babysitter is available Friday on NETFLIX along with Kingdom of Us. Season 4 of Jane the Virgin kicks off Friday night at 8:00 on CW. The series premiere of White Famous is Sunday night at 9:00 on Showtime; and the CMT 2017 Artists of the Year presentation will air live next Wednesday night at 7:00 on CMT.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Happy Death Day, The Foreigner and Marshall

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.” – Will Rogers

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Thursday, October 19 – first Regular Season game for the OKC Thunder hosting the NY Knicks on TNT at 7:00. Friday, October 20 – Grove Rotary Bob Killion Memorial Golf Tournament at Patricia Island Golf Club. Friday, October 20 – South Grand Lake Chamber Business After Hours (5-7 pm) at Wave On Flags & Banners north of Langley. Saturday, October 21 – Grand Hangar Hoedown fundraiser featuring Lickitty Split at South Grand Lake Regional Airport (6-10 p.m.).Saturday & Sunday, October 21-22 – Shangri-La Men’s & Women’s Club Championship Tournament. Monday, October 23– South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at The Coves. Friday, October 27 – Shangri-La’s Community-wide Halloween Family Fun party (6:00-9:00 p.m. across the street from the Monkey Island Fire Dept. – bonfire, hayrides, music by No Apparent Reason, dogs & s’mores). Saturday, October 28 – Punkin Chunkin at John’s Tractor Works 3 miles east of Vinita (11-3). Saturday, October 28 – Shangri-La’s Halloween Dinner, Ball & Costume Contest at the Roosevelt Ballroom in the resort hotel (music by Uninvited Guest). Saturday, November 11 – Harbors View Marina Barn Dance.

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In the college football world, it’s one of the biggest weeks of the year – OU/Texas, baby. Kick-off is Saturday at 2:30 on ABC. Oklahoma State hosts Baylor, also at 2:30, on Fox Sports 1. Tulsa’s Homecoming action hosting Houston begins at3:00 (ESPNEWS). Arkansas is at Alabama. Kansas State hosts TCU, Kansas is at Iowa State, and Texas Tech is at West Virginia. There are a couple of good Friday night games, too. Clemson is at Syracuse at 6:00 and Washington State is at California at 9:30, both on ESPN.

The NFL weekend kicks off Thursday night with Philadelphia at Carolina (7:30 on CBS). Sunday’s noon games are Detroit at New Orleans (Fox) and Cleveland at Houston (CBS). Pittsburgh is at Kansas City at 3:30 (CBS) and Denver hosts the New York Giants Sunday night (7:30 on NBC). Monday Night Football features Indianapolis at Tennessee (7:30 on ESPN).

Major League Baseball is thinning out the ranks quickly. The National & American League Championship Series get underway Friday – and continue daily. The ALCS is on Fox and Fox Sports 1. The NLCS is on TNT.  

PGA Players are in Malaysia this weekend for the CIMB Classic. You can watch it live on the Golf Channel in the middle of the night; but a more civilized way to watch it is the live-on-tape version airing at 3:30 Thursday, 4:30 Friday & Saturday, and at 5:00 Sunday on the Golf Channel.

The NASCAR boys are running at Talladega this weekend. Coverage of the Alabama 500 begins at 1:00 Sunday afternoon on NBC.

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After a little mid-week cool snap, the weather is going to be great for the weekend. We’ll have sunshine, light winds, highs in the mid-80s and lows in the upper 60s. Fall weather doesn’t get any better than that!  Get out and enjoy all the fun stuff, 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

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)

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