September 11 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

What’s with these low temperatures in the 50s and highs in the 70s? I’m not ready for that! I know a lot of people look forward to the fall season so they can stand around and admire the joy of watching things die, but not me! All cooler weather means to me is dressing layers and creating more laundry. I’m partial to the summer when the only laundry is washing a swimsuit and a t-shirt every two or three days. But, for those of you who enjoy being cold, smelling like bonfire smoke, and doing more laundry – enjoy. Your season is on the way.

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My phone is blowing up with crazed haters wanting to know if I saw some goofy post or another about Whoopi Godberg, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith etc. – “big news” about mostly anti-woke stuff. Just so you know, folks…all those posts on SpaceX Fanclub social media and ESSPOTS.com are all total BS. If you look, both sites carry warnings: “This is a satire site. Nothing on here is true.” Now you know.

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Sometimes you can grow too fast and too much. Take Atlanta, for example. If you’re traveling to the new East Coast hub, you need to be aware of a few new traffic tips: 1) morning rush hour is 5:00 a.m.-noon; 2) afternoon rush hour is noon-7:00 p.m.; 3) it takes one hour to drive from Atlanta to…Atlanta.

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It wasn’t around Grand Lake, but I saw a sign in a restaurant this week that said, “If you have the smell of marijuana on you, we will not serve you.” I understand folks who have an aversion to marijuana use, but I can’t imagine a restaurant refusing service to the absolute hungriest demographic that will ever walk through their door.

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It was gratifying to see the number of folks on social media last week expressing their gratitude for what Shangri-La owner Eddy Gibbs has done to boost the economy of Grand Lake, northeastern Oklahoma, and the entire state, as they wished him a happy birthday! Just this week, magazines from Wisconsin to Dallas, Kansas City to Houston, are extolling the amazing virtues of Shangri-La Resort. Pizza Hut’s international franchisees are gathering at the resort; and Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell is bringing more than 100 guests to Shangri-La for his annual “Luau on the Green and Golf Tournament” this week. Thanks, Eddy, for making Grand Lake an international year-round destination!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Derrick Brown, Lee Cohen, Jim Larimore, CeCe Mitchell, Jennifer Jeffers, Butch Bruenger, Diane Bruenger, Trent Smith, Trent Richey, Rich Lillard, Hanna Heffley, Bob Waller, Philip Lancaster, Angie Drake, Rami Masri, Joyce Duke, Renee Diver, Nick Bentley, Melissa Patrick, Barry Willingham, and Josh West!

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. Thursday is the Grove Chamber of Commerce Monthly Members’ Luncheon at the Grove Community Center (noon). Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell’s “Luau on the Green & Golf Tournament” is at Shangri-La – reception Thursday night at The Battlefield, golf Friday on the Championship Course. Saturday is Farmer’s Market (9:00-2:00) on the lawn at the Grove Community Center. There’s an OU-Tulsa watch party Saturday afternoon at 2:00 – and Sunday is a Kansas City Chiefs watch party at noon, both at The Anchor at Shangri-La.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Actress Joan Blondell’s real name was actually Joan Blondell. And she was actually blonde!

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: The Rolling Stones are preparing the release of a new album of original music. The last time they released such an album was 20 years ago when Mick Jagger was a mere 60 years old.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Internationally, the U.S. ranks 125^th for literacy. 54% of Americans between age 16-74 read below a sixth-grade level. 80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I’m getting totally fed up with people whining about the price of things - $2.50 for iced tea, $3.50 for coffee, $4 for a slice of cake, $5 to park the car. Any more complaining and I’m going to stop inviting people over.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Be nice to the bartending staff. Even a toilet can only handle one ass at a time.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: Sometimes I read a text and think, “What a psycho!” Then I press “send.”

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Most people have heard of the philosopher Karl Marx, but few knew of his sister Onya, the Olympic runner. Her name is still mentioned at the start of every race.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When boiling water disappears, is it mist?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I think I’m approaching my “best if used by” date.  

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “People think that I must be a very strange person. This is not correct. I have the heart of a small boy. It is in a glass jar on my desk.” – Stephen King

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Barry Switzer joined the University of Oklahoma as head football coach 50 years ago. He’s now 85. Comedy and acting legend Bob Newhart turned 94 last week. Edith Ann? Ernestine? Lucile the Rubber Freak? You’re your favorite of any number of characters created by Oscar/Grammy/Tony Award winning actress, comedian, writer & singer Lily Tomlin. She turned 84 last week.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the weekend fun kicks off on Doc’s Patio Thursday night with Jason Morgan leading the karaoke fun at the Thursday night Shrimp Boil. KJ Flip leads the Thursday karaoke at Big Shot and DJ K-Bandito hosts the weekend musical fun Friday & Saturday nights. Ryan Graham performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night. There’s karaoke on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday and Saturday nights, and Saturday night is Rockstar Karaoke fun at Monkey Island Pub featuring DJ Kennedy.

On South Grand Lake, the weekend musical fun always starts on Thursday nights with karaoke fun at The Drunken Rooster. This week, House Party will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at the Rooster. The Michelle Warren Duo will provide Friday night’s musical entertainment at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill, followed by The Barrett Lewis Band Saturday night.

In Grove, there is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music by Constant Chaos Friday night, and more karaoke Saturday. The Brandon Butler Band entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove, followed by Stonehorse Saturday night.

Jon Dooly kicks off the weekend Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino, with Brent Giddens taking over Friday night followed by Mayday by Midnight Saturday.

Grand Funk Railroad will be in concert at Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Showplace Saturday night.

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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UDATE: Blind Swine Duck Creek is now only open weekends – Friday at 11:00 a.m., Saturday & Sunday at 9:00 a.m. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda has replaced it’s Saturday & Sunday morning breakfast buffet with an a la carte menu. Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La and Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina are now closed for the season. Chickanellas is now open at their new location on Monkey Island (the former Roadhouse Restaurant location). Chickanellas is only open 8:00-2:00 Wednesday-Sunday right now, but they are planning the addition of dinner service and bar service. The new Starbucks in Grove plans to open Monday, October 2.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: A new season of 60 Minutes premieres Sunday night at 6:30 followed immediately by the major network debut of Yellowstone, both on CBS. The Academy of Country Music Honors airs live Monday night at 7:00 on Fox. I Can See Your Voice debuts next Tuesday night at 8:00 on Fox.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Inventor and A Haunting in Venice debut in movie theaters this weekend. Love at First Sight is available this week on NETFLIX. If you missed it in theaters, Barbie is available on digital this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, September 22 – South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at The Coves (12:00). Friday & Saturday, September 22-23 – Fall Open House at Grove & Monkey Island Merchants. Friday-Sunday, September 22-24 – Pioneer Days Living History Event at Har-Ber Village (9:00-3:00) Friday & Saturday, 9:00-noon Sunday). Saturday, September 23 – Annual World’s Largest Calf Fry & BBQ Cook-Off at Rodeo Grounds in Vinita (10:00 a.m.). Saturday, September 23 – Cedar Port Marina Customer Appreciation Party. Saturday & Sunday, September 23-24 – NEO Pickleball Open at The Anchor Racquet Club at Shangri-La. Sunday, September 24 – Cedar Port Marina Customer Appreciation Party. Monday, September 25 – “Fore the Kids Golf Tournament” at The Coves, sponsored by the South Grand Lake Foundation and benefitting the Ketchum Warriors Backpack Program (9:00 a.m. shotgun). Thursday, September 28 – Grand Lake Newcomer Club “New Newcomer Lunch” at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (11:30 a.m.). Saturday, September 30 – Miss Pelican Festival Scholarship Pageant at Grove Performing Arts Center (5:00 p.m.). Sunday, October 1 – “Courage Under Fire Classic” golf tournament at Shangri-La benefiting the Monkey Island Fire Department. Thursday-Sunday, October 5-8 – Annual Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Saturday, October 28 – Punkin Chunkin at John’s Tractor Works in Venita (10:00 a.m.). Saturday, October 28 – Fall Festival & First Grand Lake Drone Show at The Anchor at Shangri-La Resort (5:00-8:00 p.m.).

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There’s plenty of great football this week. OU is at Tulsa at 2:30 Saturday and OSU hosts South Alabama at 6:00. Kansas State is at Missouri at 11:00. TCU is at Houston at 7:00, Colorado State is at Colorado at 9:00 and Kansas is on the road at Nevada at 9:30.

In the NFL, Philadelphia hosts Minnesota Thursday night at 7:00 (remember, the Thursday night games are now on Prime Video). Sunday games include Kansas City at Jacksonville and Chicago at Tampa Bay at noon, the Jets at Dallas at 3:30, and Miami at New England at 7:00. There are a couple of Monday night games – New Orleans at Carolina (ESPN) and Cleveland at Pittsburgh (ABC).

NASCAR drivers will be at Bristol for the Saturday night action. Coverage of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race begins at 6:30 Saturday evening on USA.

PGA Players are back at work. Coverage of the Fortinet Championship from Napa is exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 5:00 Thursday-Sunday.

Major League Baseball games include the Yankees at Boston Thursday at 6:00, Cubs at Arizona Sunday at 6:00, and Minnesota at Cincinnati Monday at 5:30.

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Prepare for the upcoming changing of the season. The signs are here. After a week of highs in the 70s, we’ll finally creep back up to 80 by Sunday, but weekend lows will still be in the mid-50s. It’s time to get those jackets out. There’s a lot happening this time of year at Grand Lake – so get out there and have some fun! 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)

Bella Donna’s at Honey Creek Landing Marina

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