September 11th Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

What a nice surprise I got (along with a lot of other people) hanging around the pool at Shangri-La Resort over the weekend. I noticed the scenery was especially pleasing – then I found out why. Ten of the OKC Thunder Girls were at the lake over the weekend doing photo shoots for their upcoming calendar. Even better news…the other ten will be here this weekend! You never know who you might run into at Grand Lake! I also ran into longtime OKC and Tulsa television personality Cindy Morrison who was here to prepare a series of stories on Shangri-La for the Discover Oklahoma television program. If that’s not enough publicity, I also saw Lori Duckworth from Oklahoma Today Magazine – also wandering around Shangri-La getting a few more photos for an upcoming feature. I’d say the Shangri-La Resort development has put Grand Lake right back in a gigantic tourism spotlight!

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In Oklahoma, we had two more state legislators (one current, one who already resigned in shame) charged with sex crimes last week. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, State Representative Jesse Kremer proudly announced, “The earth is 6,000 years old. That’s a fact.” How the hell do these people keep getting elected. Perhaps we ought to start paying attention, ya’ think?

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Some people think I make up the stuff for this column, but I just don’t have the skill set to think up things crazier than the real things that actually happen. For example, did you read about the big “Dressing the Dead” competition in Japan. Seriously. At something called The Life Ending Industry Expo in Tokyo, four funeral directors competed in a “dressing the dead” battle. The Shinto religion believes the dead are impure immediately after death, and that ritually dressing the bodies purifies the spirit. So…I guess it must be important to have funeral directors who are really good at it. One of the contestants said, “I practice for this competition every day.” Hmmm. I guess he would. That is, after all, his job isn’t it?

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In Iran, no ugly people need apply for jobs as school teachers. The Education Department has banned “ugly people” from the teaching profession. Banned features include facial moles, eczema, scars and crossed eyes. I’m thinking the bureaucrats may have gotten a little carried away with their list of banned features. I don’t know how things you can’t see got on the list – but you also can’t be a teacher if you have cancer, bladder stones or color blindness.

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Jeffrey Riegel of Port Republic, New Jersey is dead. He held season tickets to the Philadelphia Eagles games for thirty years during which the Eagles never won a Super Bowl. I’m sure of my facts because I read his obituary last week. In it, Riegel asked that eight Philadelphia Eagles players serve as pall bearers at his funeral – “so the Eagles can let me down one last time.”

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ODD MOMENT OF THE WEEK – Coincidence…or fate? In last Saturday’s OU-Ohio State game, the touchdown that OU scored that put them up by 11 points came with 11:11 left on the clock. Then, on Ohio State's first play after the kickoff, OU intercepted, made by number 11. (Thanks to my pal Buffalo Ware for sharing this info.)

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Randy Krehbiel’s Random Factoid of the Day: Eric Clapton's version of "Tulsa Time," recorded in 1978, was released as a single with "Cocaine," written by Tulsa JJ Cale on the B side. Four members of Clapton's band on "Tulsa Time" were from Oklahoma, and three were from Tulsa.

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LEGAL TIP OF THE WEEK: You know it’s going to be a bad week when your imaginary friend files a restraining order against you.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: This whiskey tastes like I’m about to tell you how I really feel.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: Don’t grow up. It’s a trap!

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: 90% of being married is just shouting “what?” from other rooms.

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GRAND LAKE DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Congratulations to Pickles at the Lake north of Langley! They were named one of the “10 Best Pubs in Oklahoma” by bestthingsok.com. Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina and the Quarter Deck Café at Tera Miranda are both closed for the season. Sharky’s will reopen next spring. The Quarter Deck will reopen in October for the fall season. Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina is extending the season as long as weather permits…hopefully, Thanksgiving.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Bryce Harp, Jennifer Jeffers, Butch Bruenger, Diane Bruenger, Barry Willingham, Tim Langley, Jim Larimore, CeCe Mitchell, Rich Lillard, Rami Masri, Nick Bentley and Joyce Duke.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do drive-up ATM machines have instructions in Braille?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The weekend ahead is HUGE on Grand Lake. Saturday is REC Day at the Grove Civic Center (8:00-noon). It is also the day of the annual Grand Nautical Market at Captain’s Corner north of Langley. Saturday night is Shangri-La’s Member Appreciation Party at Doc’s outdoor bar at Shangri-La Resort Hotel; and Saturday night is also the “Jocks & Cheerleaders Costume Party” at Monkey Island Pub.

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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, enjoy all the best dance tunes with the popular DJ Deeko Friday & Saturday nights. Just down the highway from there, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub and Saturday night is the always-fun Jocks & Cheerleaders Costume Party. If you’re a Shangri-La member, you will enjoy the music of No Apparent Reason Saturdayevening at Shangri-La’s Member Appreciation Party. Erin Fitzgibbon performs Sunday nights at Blind Swine, and there’s always great live weekend entertainment at the Road Hog Saloon.

In Grove, Lickitty Split will perform Saturday during REC Day festivities at the Civic Center.

Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well. The Randy Rogers Band will be the featured star performance at Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Venue Friday night. At Buffalo Run’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill, there will also be live entertainment both Friday & Saturday nights. At Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, Joe Giles & the Homewreckerswill provide Friday night entertainment followed by the Scott Keeton Band Saturday. At River Bend Casino in Wyandotte, Club 60 West spotlights The Dropouts Friday night. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar startingThursday night with music by Kevin Upshaw. Friday night features the music of Brandon Butler followed by ParalandraSaturday night. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, Jump Suit Love will perform Friday night and Saturday night will feature a great tribute to Motley Crue by Crueligans. Travis Kidd will be on stage at Lost Creek Saloon at Bordertown Casino Fridaynight, with The George Brothers with Leslie Wright wrapping up the weekend entertainment Saturday night.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NFL Football, College Football, NASCAR and PGA Golf are Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, 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: Season 2 of Better Things premieres Thursday night at 9:00 on FX.  The premiere of the movie First They Killed My Father will be available Friday on NETFLIX. The 69^th Annual Emmy Awards will be broadcast live Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS; and the comedy special Jerry Before Seinfeld will be available next Tuesday on NETFLIX.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Mother and American Assassin

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The man who says he can, and the man who says he cannot are both correct.” – Confucius

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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 23 – A Taste of Grand at INTEGRIS Hospital grounds. Saturday, September 30 – Hook ‘N’ Cookoff, South Grand Lake Regional Airport. Saturday, September 30 – Monkey Island Block Party sponsored by WAAMI at the Monkey Island Airport 4:00-7:00. Sunday, October 1 – Jim Beam Folds of Honor Classic at Shangri-La Golf Club.

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College football is highlighted this weekend by the Oklahoma State Cowboys traveling to Pittsburgh for a Saturday morning game (11:00 on ABC). Tulsa plays at Toledo Saturday night at 6:00 (ESPN3). The Oklahoma Sooners are idle this week, still savoring the big win against Ohio State.

Other televised college action Saturday includes Notre Dame at Boston College (11:00 on ESPN), Tennessee at Florida (2:30 on CBS), Army at Ohio State (3:30 on Fox), Texas at USC (67:30 on Fox) and Stanford at San Diego State (9:30 on CBSSN).  

Week #2 of the NFL regular season opens Thursday night with Houston at Cincinnati (7:30 on NFL). Sunday, the noon games feature Philadelphia at Kansas City (Fox) and New England at New Orleans (CBS). The 3:30 game on Fox sends the Dallas Cowboys to Denver to face the Broncos (7:30 on NBC). Monday Night Football features the Detroit Lions at the New York Giants (7:30 on ESPN).

The PGA Tour players are in Illinois this week for the BMW Championship. Coverage on The Golf Channel begins Thursday& Friday at 2:00, Saturday at noon, and Sunday at 11:00. NBC picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday at 2:00 and Sunday at 1:00. The NASCAR boys run at Chicagoland Speedway Sunday afternoon at 2:00 in something called The Tales of the Turtles 400. Coverage is on NBCSN.

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The weekend weather looks great this week! We’ll have clear to partly cloudy skies with light winds all weekend. Highs will be pushing 90 degrees with nighttime lows in the upper 60s. Perfect! There’s plenty happening around the lake this week. Enjoy all the fun stuff Grand Lake has to offer, 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

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