September 18 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
Welcome to the official changing of the seasons at Grand Lake. Fall officially arrives this weekend. Personally, I would be perfectly satisfied if the weather locked in on what we enjoyed over the past weekend. Cool nights, warm days, sunshine, not much wind. I could learn to live like that! I know I’ve said it a lot – and many others agree. The very best two months at Grand Lake are well underway. September and October are the perfect months at the lake. Enjoy.
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If you think we have an unusually large number of unhappy people in the state, you’re right. A new WalletHub study ranks Oklahoma as the 41st “Happiest State.” We actually ranked 4th in the “Community & Environment” category – but 43rd for “Work Environment” and a dismal 46th in the “Emotional & Physical Health” category. Residents of Hawaii ranked as the overall “Happiest.” Folks in West Virginia were at the bottom of the heap. I wish they broke the study down by communities. I think Grand Lakers could easily rival Hawaiians as “Happiest.” One indicator is Lance Funderburck, the new General Manager at Shangri-La, who moved here from…Hawaii!
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Judging from the social media response to Hunter Biden being charged with felony counts of having possession of a gun, I guess the ardent 2nd Amendment backers don’t think EVERYONE should have guns, after all.
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Ralph Lauren has released the shirt design the American guys will be wearing in next week’s Ryder Cup competition. I don’t guess I’ll be buying a souvenir shirt this year. I’m sure all our golfers will look great, but somebody should remind Ralph’s team that fat guys don’t like their look in horizontal stripes.
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We already have the first withdrawal of a candidate for President of the United States. Republican Francis Suarez suspended his campaign last week. Never heard of him? That probably explains it.
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Congratulations to the Grand River Dam Authority on the opening of WOKA (Waters of Oklahoma and Arkansas) Whitewater Park on the Illinois River near Watts, Oklahoma last weekend. The awesome facility was put together in a cooperative effort with Siloam Springs, Arkansas, The Walton Family Foundation, and GRDA. It’s incredible, but let me give you a fair warning. This is NOT a regular amusement park. It’s a park for serious whitewater experiences. There are places to enjoy lower risk fun at the park, but it’s serious white water adventuring, for the most part. Plan to have fun…but plan to be tired, wet – and maybe a little scraped up. It’s an incredible adventure opportunity in Oklahoma!
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Therri Wadel, Bill Howell, Juli Miller, Theresa McDougall, Bryan Timberlake, Rick Cooper, DeAnne McAbee, Julie Elizabeth Pace, Susan Jones, Jack Frost, Lyn Moore, Justin May, Corey Black, Angela Good, Jerri Parrish, Jill Kelly, Sheila Bond, Conley Reese, Chloe Goff, and Kathy Lungren Baker.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. It’s another crazy busy week at Grand Lake. Friday is the South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at The Coves (12:00). Friday & Saturday are Fall Open House days at Grove & Monkey Island Merchants. Pioneer Days Living History Event at Har-Ber Village is this weekend – Friday thru Sunday (9:00-3:00 Friday & Saturday, 9:00-noon Sunday). Saturday is the Annual World’s Largest Calf Fry & BBQ Cook-Off at Rodeo Grounds in Vinita (10:00 a.m.), Farmers Market on the lawn at the Grove Community Center (9:00-2:00), and the Cedar Port Marina Customer Appreciation Party. Saturday night is a Ryker & Fallon Mullinax benefit concert & auction at the Drunken Rooster (6:00). The NEO Charity Pickleball Open is Saturday & Sunday at The Anchor Racquet Club at Shangri-La. Monday is the “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). The MSSU College Invitational Golf Tournament is next Monday & Tuesday at Shangri-La.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Composer Frederic Chopin is thought to have been among the best pianists ever, but disliked crowds. He played only 30 public performances before dying at the age of 39.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: The famous song “Spirit In The Sky” was written by singer Norman Greenbaum in just 15 minutes. Although he is considered a one-hit wonder, he has been able to live off the song’s royalties for the last 50 years.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Did you know that, on the Canary Islands, there is not one canary? And on the Virgin Islands, same thing. Not one canary.
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OXYMORON OF THE WEEK: Original copy.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: One of my favorite things that has happened to me on social media is the time a guy posted “People change their minds when you show them the facts.” I said, “Actual studies have proven that is not true.” He replied, “Yeah, well I still think it’s true.”
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: No exit from burial site.
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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: When you get a new pet, be careful about selecting a name. Be sure it’s something you can remember because you’ll be using it as a security question answer for the rest of your life.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I used to date a woman with a lazy eye, but I found out she had been seeing other people on the side.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do we press harder on the remote control buttons when the batteries are weak?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: If you teach your kids to love boats and golf, they will never have enough money for illegal drugs.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.” – Julia Child
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: “The Boss,” Bruce Springsteen has a birthday Saturday. He will be 74 years old. Actor/comedian Bill Murray turns 73.
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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. Scott Musick 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, The Quin Peterson Duo (6:00) and Jump Suit Love (8:30) will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night for the Ryker & Fallon Mullinax benefit concert at the Rooster. Randy Steele will provide Thursday night’s musical entertainment at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill, followed by Magen Faulconer both Friday and Saturday nights. House Party will entertain Saturday night Cedar Port Marina’s Customer Appreciation Party.
In Grove, there is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music by Kevin Upshaw & One Night Stand Friday night, and more karaoke Saturday. 90 Lb. Wrench entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove, followed by Bobby DeGonia Saturday night.
A&E Music kicks off the weekend Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino, with The Rumor taking over Friday night followed by Until Now Saturday. Travis Kidd entertains Friday night at The Stables Casino. Playlist will provide the music Saturday night at River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West. The World Fighting Championships come to the area Saturday night as Buffalo Run Casino hosts WFC #159 at the Peoria Showplace.
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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UDATE: With no explanation of the surprise, Bella Donna’s is closed – moving to a new location (don’t know where). Sunday is the last day of the season at Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina. 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 is open only Thursday-Sunday and has replaced its 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). The new Starbucks in Grove has pushed its opening back to Monday, October 9.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Krapopolis finally makes its debut (a year late) Sunday night following football on Fox (7:00ish). The Voice returns for a new season Monday night at 7:00 on NBC, followed by a new series, The Irrational, at 9:00. Dancing with the Stars returns to ABC next Tuesday night at 7:00
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Dumb Money and The Expendables 4 debut in movie theaters Friday. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie hits the big screens Saturday.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, September 28 – Grand Lake Newcomers Club “New Newcomers 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. Monday & Tuesday, October 2-3 – “Ladies Day Dinkers” pickleball camp at The Anchor Racquet Club at Shangri-La. Thursday-Sunday, October 5-8 – Annual Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Friday, October 6 – Grove Rotary Golf Tournament at Patricia Island Country Club (1:00 p.m. shotgun). Saturday, October 7 – Pelican Festival Parade in Grove. Saturday, October 7 – GLOC Performance Challenge organizational meeting at Disney City Hall (10:00 a.m.). Saturday, October 21 – Hoot & Howl Camp-R-Treat at Grand Lake State Park in Bernice (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 28 – Punkin Chunkin at John’s Tractor Works in Venita (10:00 a.m.). Saturday, October 28 – Fall Festival, Halloween Party & Costume Contest at The Anchor at Shangri-La Resort (5:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 28 – Drive-In Movie Night at Wolf Creek Park – double feature: Hocus Pocus and Beetlejuice (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 11 – DCCSAN Winterset Gala at Shangri-La resort (6:00 p.m.)
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There’s plenty of great football this week. Conference play gets underway with OU at Cincinnati at 11:00 Saturday morning and OSU at Iowa State at 3:00. BYU is at Kansas at 2:30, Arkansas is at LSU at 6:00, Baylor hosts Texas at 6:30 and UCF is at Kansas State at 7:00.
In the NFL, the 49ers host the Giants Thursday night at 7:00 (remember, the Thursday night games are now on Prime Video). Sunday games include Denver at Miami and New Orleans at Green Bay at noon, the Chiefs host the Bears and the Cardinals host the Cowboys at 3:30, and Pittsburgh is at Miamil at 7:00. There are a couple of Monday night games – including a battle of former OU quarterbacks as Tampa Bay hosts Philadelphia at 6:00 (ABC). Cincinnati hosts the Rams at 7:00 (ESPN).
NASCAR drivers begin the playoffs this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Coverage of the Auto Trader EchoPark Automotive 400 begins at 2:30 Sunday on USA.
There is no PGA golf action this weekend. All the big kids are heading to Italy for next week’s Ryder Cup play.
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We’re bringing in the official arrival of fall with typical Grand Lake fall weather. We’ll have a few scattered showers, but sunshine for the most part, with highs around 80 and lows around 60. 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)
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
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