Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum October 7

I dodged two big bullets again this year. I managed to avoid both the Oklahoma State Fair and the Tulsa State Fair. I can’t imagine why anyone puts up with all the massive clutter and crowds at those events when the Pelican Festival is available at Grand Lake. Last week’s festival was another smash hit. It had all the good stuff you find at a State Fair – great vendors, awesome musical entertainment, a carnival – even pelican-watching boat rides around the lake on a magnificently beautiful weekend.

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I missed the Mid-Life Crisis Band at the Pelican Festival, because I had a chance to see Killer Keyz, the incredible nationally-acclaimed dueling pianos act, at Shangri-La. What a fantastic show that was! Saturday night’s Fat Cat performance was also terrific at a terrific Member Appreciation Party at Shangri-La – and Sunday’s “Courage Under Fire Classic” golf tournament benefiting the Monkey Island Fire Department was another outstanding event. It’s hard to believe that some people actually spend their time somewhere besides Grand Lake in these beautiful Fall months!

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I guess I should practice what I preach, but I have always adhered to the axiom that “consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.” So…I’m actually in Puerto Vallarta this week for a little R&R. I told a friend of mine that I was taking a vacation. His response was “From what? You’re on vacation all the time!” It’s true, I suppose…but sometimes a guy just needs a little sandy beach time. I won’t stay away from Grand Lake very long. Nobody should!

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Have you seen the social media posts about the hater that was so mad about Taylor Swift that he spent $4,000 buying a guitar supposedly signed by Taylor, then busted it into a million pieces? Sad “fact check” for the guy. It was a fake – Taylor Swift didn’t sign it. Karma.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Art Couch, Saunie Boeve, Mark Funke, Richard Leuszler, Bob Altmiller, Joe Ferguson, Jim Fowler, Gene Pearcy, Dee Boorigie, John Walter, Jana Coffee, Brian Brandwein, Sarah Williams, Michelle Robertson, Andrew Finnefrock, Ben Hampton, Silvy Brookby, Darci Winter, Jennifer Gallagher, Russ Briggs, and Joe Goodeyon.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Thursday evening is the weekly Prime Rib & Karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.) and a Crab Legs & Karaoke at Island Bar & Grill at The Landings and at Blind Swine Monkey Island. Blind Swine also features an all-you-can-eat Seafood Boil Saturday night. Saturday is a big Arts & Crafts Festival and Indian Taco feast at the Bernice Senior/Community Center (10:00-2:00). McCorkle Family Farm offers great Pumpkin Patch & Hay Bale Maze fun Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Kris Kristofferson wrote "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "Me and Bobby McGee" while working as a helicopter pilot ferrying workers to and from drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: In an attempt to reduce cleaning costs, Amsterdam airport installed a picture of a fly in urinals so men could aim at the fly and avoid splashing urine. It worked!

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: If you spent one day on every island in Florida, it would take you 12 years and 4 months to complete them all.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Husband math is refusing to pay someone $100 to do a job when you can spend $400 on tools and do it yourself.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Adam & Eve: The first people to not read the Apple “Terms and Conditions”

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: I’m stepping down from my position as an adult. It turns out this isn’t for me – but I appreciate the opportunity.

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PUN OF THE WEEK: Where do bad rainbows go? To prism. It’s a light sentence, but it gives them time to reflect.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Did the guy who coined the term “one hit wonder” ever come up with any other phrases?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I just realized I’m so old my high school actually had a smoking area for students.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I am, as I’ve said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary!” – Billy Joel

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Legendary OU and Dallas Cowboys Coach Barry Switzer turned 87 Sunday. All-time Major League Baseball hitting leader Pete Rose died last week (4,266 hits – his record still stands). Tragically, he was never admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He wanted that so badly, he probably died of a broken heart. “Charlie Hustle” was 83. Actress & Singer Shirley Jones, star of such productions as Oklahoma, Carousel, Elmer Gantry, and The Music Man – but perhaps best known for her long-running role as the protective mother in the long-running TV series The Partridge Family, turned 90 years old last week. Can you still hear “The Sound of Music?” Famed English actress and singer Dame Julie Andrews turned 89 years old last week.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the weekend begins Thursday night with Prime Rib & Karaoke with Tim Robinson at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Ryan Graham entertains live at Doc’s Friday night. Thursday night is Cocktails & Karaoke Night at the Swine Monkey Island location. The Faulconers will entertain live Friday night at Big Shot’s Rhythm & Booze, and DJ Kyle Bandito provides the late-night music at Big Shots both Friday & Saturday nights.

On South Grand, Wilkie Jay will perform Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by The Smith Brothers Saturday night, and an early Sunday show (5:30) by Barrett Lewis.

In Grove, The Blue Underground will be on stage at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon Friday night. Honky Tonk Renovators will entertain Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by RocKFiscH Saturday night. There are two nights of entertainment at Cherokee Casino’s 1897 Bar – The Downbeat Friday night followed by The Beaty Creek Band Saturday.

There are two nights of live music at Indigo Sky Casino. Jon Dooly kicks off the fun Thursday night followed by Jumpsuit Love Friday night. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, there is live music early Saturday night by Playlist followed by karaoke with DJ Kay at 11:00 p.m. Riley Green will be in concert Friday night at Downstream Casino’s outdoor venue; and David Lee Murphy will perform at Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Showplace Saturday night.

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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina is now closed for the season. Grand Lake Kitchen is now open at Har-Ber Village. Hours are 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Sunday & Monday, and 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (Closed Tuesday). Scissortail Bar at Scissortail Marina (formerly Port Carolos) is also open. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La no longer offers breakfast (open for lunch and dinner daily, full breakfast service is available daily at The Monkey Grind). The Fire Pit Restaurant at Wildwood Cove Resort has discontinued lunch service – hours are now 4:00-9:00 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Twisted on Grand in Langley has closed permanently.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Voice airs both Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:00 on NBC. An Oprah Special: The Presleys – Elvis, Lisa Marie, and Riley airs Tuesday night at 7:00 on CBS. Abbott Elementary returns to ABC Wednesday night at 8:30. Ariana Grande hosts Saturday Night Live with musical guest Stevie Nicks at 10:30 Saturday night on NBC. NCIS begins a new season next Monday night at 7:00 followed by the debut of a prequel NCIS: Origins at 8:00, both on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Terrifier 3, Saturday Night, and Piece by Piece join Joker: Folie a Deux in movie theaters this week. House of Spoils is available Friday on Prime Video.

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SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, October 16 – Bigfoot Encounters at Grove Public Library (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 19 – Octoberfest at Grand Towne Center north of Langley (10:00-3:00). Friday, October 25 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at The Coves (12:00 p.m. shotgun). Friday-Saturday, October 25-26 – Shangri-La Celebrity Shootout Dinner & Match Play at Shangri-La feature OU golfers from Good Good Golf and OSU golfers from Busta Jack (dinner at 6:30 Friday, shootout at 12:30 Saturday at The Battlefield). Saturday, October 26 – Heart of Monkey Island Chili Cookoff & Margarita competition raising money for “Christmas for the Kiddos” at Blind Swine Monkey Island (noon). Saturday, October 26 – Fall Festival & Hayrides at The Battlefield at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 26 – Crawl O’ Ween at Dam Hotel and Disney Outfitters in Disney (1:00-4:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 26 – Costume Party at Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina (8:00 p.m.). Sunday, October 27 – All Wheels Coffee at Honey Creek Landing Marina – Coffee and treates from Expresso on the Go (8:00 a.m.-noon). Thursday, October 31 – Trunk or Treat Block Party in the Parts City parking lot in Langley (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 2 – Murder Mystery Dinner “Death of a Gangster” at Shangri-La’s Roosevelt Ballroom (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 9 – Scavenger Hunt benefiting 2^nd Chance Pet Rescue at The Shebang (11:00 a.m.).  Saturday, November 9 – DCCSAN “Winterset – How the West Was Won” at Shangri-La Resort (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 9 – Combat Vets Association Jello Wrestling Tournament at Island Bar & Grill at The Landings Marina (8:00 p.m.).  Sunday, November 17 – Thanksgiving Pot Luck Dinner at Juan Montez Restaurant (1:30 p.m.).

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It’s another gigantic week for sports. In the college football world, OSU is idle this week, because all eyes are focused on the Red River Rivalry. OU and Texas meet Saturday afternoon at 2:30. Other big Saturday games include Missouri at Massachusetts (11:00), Florida at Tennessee (6:00), Ole Miss at LSU (6:30), Iowa State at West Virginia (7:00), and Kansas State at Colorado (9:15).

The NFL season rolls into week #6 with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the San Francisco 49ers Thursday night. Sunday games include an early start from London (8:30) with the Jaguars taking on the Bears. Tampa Bay is at New Orleans (12:00), Washington is at Baltimore (12:00), the Dallas Cowboys host The Detroit Lions (3:30), and Cincinnati is at New York to take on the Giants (7:15). Monday Night Football features a big cross-state rivalry – the New York Jets host the Buffalo Bills (7:15).

WNBA Final playoff action is underway and Major League Baseball playoffs are in Divisional Rounds with the Divisional Championship series beginning Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are in Charlotte this week for some Sunday afternoon racing. Coverage of the Bank of America ROVAL 400 is Sunday afternoon at 2:00 on NBC.

PGA players are in Utah this week for the Black Desert Championship. Coverage begins Thursday-Sunday at 4:00 exclusively on the Golf Channel.

If that’s not enough, NBA action gets underway this week. The OKC Thunder travel to San Antonio Monday at 7:00 before hosting Houston in OKC Wednesday at 7:00. Thursday night, they’ll face the New Zealand Breakers in an exhibition game at Tulsa’s BOK Center at 7:00.  

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It looks like the weekend weather will be absolutely perfect again for the weekend ahead. We’ll have sunshine, light winds, high temperatures in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 50s. There’s a lot happening at Grand Lake, and we have the perfect weather to enjoy it all! Remember, though, wherever you decide to party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It might 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.

Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La

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

Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina

Blind Swine on Monkey Island

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)

Bradford BBQ in Ketchum

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Casa Gutierrez in Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

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

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

Cove Club in Langley

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

Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort

Gambine’s Pizza in Ketchum

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

Grand Getaway Mercantile (north of 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

Hero’s Deli in Langley

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

Legacy Eatery in Grove

Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum

Los Garcias in Langley

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Bar on Monkey Island

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

Mosa Hibachi and Sushi in Grove

Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove

Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove

One-Eyed Monkey at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

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

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)

Scissortail Bar at Scissortail Marina

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina

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 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

VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove