Random Observations of the Grand Lake Bum October 14

It looks like all the lovers of fall bonfires, s’mores parties, wiener roasts, and marshmallows over smoky piles of burning leaves are going to have to be patient. We’re officially under a “burn ban” at Grand Lake. I guess I’m not alone. Even Mother Nature can’t quite loosen her grip on warm weather and clear skies.

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It’s still October, though – so we’re still going to celebrate Halloween. It’s actually one of my favorite holidays. No company. No expectations. No gifts – and most importantly, no house cleaning! Those pesky cobwebs on the ceiling are now officially decorations!

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As we wrap up the WNBA Championships and wrap up the final week of professional baseball before the World Series begins, someone else in the sports world picked up my dream job. Fired coach. Robert Saleh was fired last week as head coach of the New York Jets. As part of his severance package, he’ll be paid $20,000 per day – more than half a million bucks a month - for the next two years – for doing nothing. That’s truly a vacation with fantastic built-in benefits!

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America has bigger fish to fry, though. We’re less than a month from Election Day in the USA! If you were planning to vote, I hope you’re registered; because if you’re not, you won’t be voting. Last Friday was the final day for registering to vote in the General Election. If you didn’t care enough to take care of that little detail, the country is probably fortunate that you won’t be able to vote.

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Grove and Delaware County have more great news. Congratulations to us all on the Grand Opening of the new Ross Dress for Less Store in Grove last week. That completes the retail trifecta – Beall’s, Marshalls, and Ross Dress for Less. Grove already was booming so fast it led all other area communities in both total sales tax collections and increase in collections. Next year’s collections should make this year’s increase seem tiny.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers John Turner, Linda Elmburg, Trey Howard, Rick Miller, Michele Martin, David Stansfield, Scott Graham, G.W. Goss, Michael Thrift, Jessica Heatherly, Brian Winter, Karen Baxter, Karin Goss, Sandy Harrell, Mark Kidd, Robin Purdie-Smith, Mark Muse, Aileen Oldaker, Mike Cantrell, and Matt Hensley.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: The fun begins Wednesday night with Bigfoot Encounters at Grove Public Library (7:00 p.m.). 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 Octoberfest at Grand Towne Center north of Langley (10:00-3:00); and 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: Eleven percent of World War I draftees were rejected because of venereal disease.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: In 1987, a man purchased a “Lifetime First Class Ticket” on American Airlines for $ 250,000. He flew over 10,000 flights, costing the airline $21,000,000 before they terminated his ticket in 2008.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: A man once bought a $45 set of photographic negatives from a garage sale. They turned out to be original Ansel Adams works and are valued at $200 million.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: The coffee shop had a sign that said “no wi-fi. Pretend it’s 1973.” So, I paid 10 cents for my coffee & lit a cigarette.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: No Trespassing! We’re tired of hiding the bodies.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: For Halloween, I’m going to be mentally stable. No one will know it’s me.

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PUN OF THE WEEK: I’ve started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes. It’s all about raisin awareness.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why must I prove that I am me to pay my bills over the phone? Do strangers call to pay my bills? And if they do, why don’t you let them?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I just got back from a little trip and, once again, I ran across a store at an airport that was selling luggage. Why would a shop at an airport sell luggage? Who is going on vacation, carrying armfuls of clothes, saying, “I’ll pack when I get there”?

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “If I’m remembered 100 years from now, I hope it will be not for looks, but for books!” – Dolly Parton

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The incomparable singer/songwriter and founder of The Beatles, John Lennon, would have turned 84 years old last week. Another amazingly talented singer-songwriter is, thankfully, still with us. Paul Simon turns 84 this 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. Mark Gibson entertains live at Doc’s Friday night. Thursday night is Cocktails & Karaoke Night at the Swine Monkey Island location. Lil’ Red and COBE will entertain live Friday night at Blind Swine Monkey Island, and DJ Kyle Bandito provides the late-night music at Big Shots both Friday & Saturday nights.

On South Grand, Clint and Frank will perform Saturday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.

In Grove, Jeff Tatum & The Palomino Moone Band will entertain Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by Incognito Saturday night. There are two nights of entertainment at Cherokee Casino’s 1897 Bar – Phil Vaught Friday night followed by Magic J Entertainment Saturday.

There are two nights of live music at Indigo Sky Casino. Travis Kiddy kicks off the fun Friday night followed by Diversity Saturday night. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, there is live music early Saturday night by Dewayne Bowman followed by karaoke with DJ Kay at 11:00 p.m. Hayden Coffman will perform Friday night at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar; and Radio Nation will perform at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar 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. 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: Georgia and Mandy’s First Marriage debuts Thursday night at 7:00 on CBS.  Season 3 of The Lincoln Lawyer is available Thursday on NETFLIX, and the new series Matlock begins its first full season Thursday night at 8:00 on CBS. Blue Bloods kicks off a new season Friday night at 9:00 on CBS. Michael Keaton hosts Saturday Night Live with musical guest Billie Eilish at 10:30 Saturday night on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Smile 2, Goodrich, Hard Truths, and Gracie & Pedro: Pets to the Rescue all open in movie theaters this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: 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 2 – Adults-only Halloween costume party at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Friday & Saturday, November 8-9 – Grove Merchants Christmas Open House. 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. We’re down to just two teams in the WNBA Championship – and just four teams in Major League Baseball. The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx continue WNBA Finals competition Wednesday and, if necessary, Friday & Sunday.

Major League Baseball continues the National & American League Championship Series competition every day this week, with the World Series scheduled to begin next week.

In the college football world, OSU plays late Friday and OU plays early Saturday. OSU kickoff isn’t until 9:15 Friday night at BYU and the Sooners host South Carolina Saturday morning at 11:00. Other big Saturday games include Alabama at Tennessee, Miami at Louisville, LSU at Arkansas, TCU at Utah, Kansas State at West Virginia, Texas A&M at Mississippi State, Auburn at Missouri, and UCF at Iowa State.

The NFL season rolls into week #7 with the New Orleans Saints hosting the Denver BroncosThursday night. Sunday games include another early start from London (8:30) with the Patriots taking on the Jaguars. Detroit is at Minnesota (12:00), Houston is at Green Bay (12:00), the 49ers host the Kansas City Chiefs (3:30), and the New York Jets are in Pittsburgh to face the Steelers (7:15). Monday Night Football features a double-header this week. Baltimore is at Tampa Bay (7:15) and the L.A. Chargers are at Arizona (7:45).

NASCAR drivers are in Las Vegas this week for some Sunday afternoon racing. Coverage of the South Point 400 is Sunday afternoon at 1:30 on NBC.

PGA players are also in Las Vegas this week for the Shriners Children’s Open. Coverage begins Thursday-Sunday at 4:00 exclusively on the Golf Channel.

If that’s not enough, NBA action continues this week. The OKC Thunder travel to Denver to face the Nuggets Tuesday night before hosting Atlanta in OKC Thursday at 7:00.

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It looks like the weather will be absolutely perfect again for the weekend ahead. We’ll have sunshine, light winds, high temperatures around 80 and lows in the mid 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