November 10 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum
I don’t know about you, but I could have done without that freezing-ass cold snap Sunday night! I guess Mother Nature was just giving us a “heads up” for things to come; but I think she could have found a gentler way of communicating.
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Sean Charles Dunn was caught on video throwing a footlong hoagie at a customs agent during a confrontation in Washington, D.C. – and was charged with assaulting a federal agent. The poor agent said his bullet proof vest protected him, but said he got mustard on his vest and an onion on his radio and “smelled like onions.” Last week, a D.C. jury found Dunn not guilty on the assault charges. So now…I guess it’s gonna be a food fight!
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Another reason not to trust artificial intelligence. On Day 1 of the OU Basketball season, a social media post showed a great photo of an exciting OU Women’s Basketball bench. The AI question was “Who is the woman in the red jacket in the photo?” AI speculated that it was probably “someone associated with OU women’s basketball – maybe former OU coach Sherri Coale.” Welp. It was actually OU women’s coach Jennie Baranczyk. Even people who don’t know her would have speculated that’s probably who the nicely dressed woman on the OU bench was. But not AI. By the way, if you need confirmation of how often AI is wrong, just ask AI. No kidding. The AI answer is that “AI is often wrong up to 60% of the time.” You folks who like to take shortcuts to getting your work done had better be careful (assuming AI at least got THAT right!).
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Governor Stitt has officially proclaimed November to be “Family Month” in Oklahoma, urging families to “embrace quality time and family meals.” That’s a pretty safe proclamation since that’s pretty much what all families do in November. It’s THANKSGIVING, for heaven’s sake. Maybe Governor Stitt will go way out on a limb next month and name December “gift-giving month.”
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Speaking of Thanksgiving, President Trump proudly announced this week that, judging from the cost of Wal-Mart’s Thanksgiving meal bundle, the cost of Thanksgiving Dinner this year is 25% less than last year. Just one little side note you’ll probably notice: theWal-Mart Thanksgiving meal last year contained 21 items and name brand trimmings. This year it has 15 items and generic Wal-Mart brand trimmings. So now you know how to reduce your grocery bill – buy fewer groceries!
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I get it. Non-stop national news coverage has us all confused. Last week’s off-year elections in a handful of states apparently had Oklahoma voters all in a tizzy. They were calling election boards complaining that their polling places weren’t open and they were trying to vote. Of course, there were no elections here last week – and not having elections is a fairly good reason for polling places to be closed. That’s probably good evidence that a lot of voters have no idea who they’re going to vote for until they see the names on their ballots.
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Grand Lake showed off last week for 25 marina operators from around the state at the Oklahoma Marina Association Annual Meeting at Shangri-La. The speakers’ line-up showed the importance of Grand Lake – as well as the critical value of the marina industry. In addition to a keynote by Shangri-La President & CEO Barry Willingham, speakers included Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, House Majority Floor Leader Josh West, and Oklahoma Tourism Director Sterling Zearley. Yep. Grand Lake is the center of the tourism universe!
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Congratulations to the Delaware County Childrens Special Advocacy Network (DCCSN) on another sensational fundraising event at Shangri-La Saturday night. What a great organization! And what great community support! Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Rusty Rowton, Carl Stalcup, Susan Keast, Bryan Wilkinson, Roxane Gardner, Clark Boone, Tammy Malone, Teresa Karleskint, Chuck Perry, Gary Goss, Duane Koehler, Cliff Hudson, Steve Wetwiska, Pam Ferguson, and Lori Skelley-Follis.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: : Saturday is “Candy Cane Corner” with vendors and Santa photo ops at Salty Sisters on Highway 59 in Grove (10:00-5:00) and the Annual Boutique Shop Hop including some great shops - Grand Panache, Den of Uniquity, The Mercantile, Sassy & Classy Boutie-Q, and Bootylicious (10:00-3:00).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: To save material, the manufacture of double-breasted suits and pleated skirts was banned in the U.S. during World War II.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: It has been 20 years since Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim posted their first video, “Me at the Zoo” on a new social media app they created called YouTube. It was so successful they sold it to Google just one year later for $1.65 billion. Today YouTube has 2.5 billion viewers per month and annual advertising revenue of $31.5 billion.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK In 1923, a chestnut mare named Sweet Kiss won the only race she ever ran – and as a 20-1 longshot. She was ridden in the steeplechase by jockey Frank Hayes. It was also his only race – because he died aboard Sweet Kiss sometime during the race. His perfect form kept him from falling, and Sweet Kiss carried him to victory – the only victory – the only race for both of them. Racing rules require the jockey to be aboard the horse for the win to be official, but nothing says the jockey has to be alive. The race was official; and Frank Hayes went in the racing history books as the only jockey to win a race posthumously.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I found out that squirrels can have up to 6 babies in a single littler – and have two litters per year. Now I totally understand why they are always running out in front of cars.
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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: “Seven” has “even” in it. That’s odd.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: On the beach and in the sea, animals do not leave trash. Humans do. Please behave like animals.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: We wanted to be adults so bad, now look at us – stressed, broke, tired…and excited when the laundry’s done.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: A slice of apple pie in Jamaica is $2.00. It is $2.50 in the Bahamas. These are the pie rates of the Caribbean.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Before the internet, people thought the cause of stupidity was the lack of access to information. So what’s the cause of it now?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Pain makes you stronger. Heartache makes you wiser. Tears make you braver. Bourbon makes you forget all that crap.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Ten men in our country could buy the world – and ten million can’t buy enough to eat.” – Will Rogers (1931)
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Award-winning actress, writer, producer & director Sally Field turned 79 years old last week. Former Vice-President Dick Cheney passed away last week at the age of 84. We also lost Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay at the age of 78.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Nick Parsons performs live Friday night at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. There’s Music Bingo Wednesday & Karaoke Friday at The Monkey Bar, both hosted by Sundown Entertainment; and live music by Garrick Fausett Saturday. DJ K-Bandito will provide the entertainment Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.
In Grove, Liz Zotta will be on stage Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar. Encore will provide the music Saturday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655. There’s musical Bingo every Wednesday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon; and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night.
On South Grand Lake, Connor Culpepper starst the music Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by Sierra Bravo Saturday. Barrett Lewis will provide the music Friday night at Pickles Pub in Langley.
Indigo Sky Casino features music by Jon Dooly Thursday night, continuing with Sunset Circle Friday, and Dirty Saints Saturday. Michele Warren will provide the entertainment Sunday afternoon at 1:00. Retro Rockerz start the music Thursday at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar followed by The Kurt Allen Band Friday and Big Smitty Saturday. Broken Aces will entertain at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar Saturday night; and you can take your shot at being on a TV game show at Buffalo Run’s “Greatest Game Shows” competition with celebrity hosts George Gray from the Price is Right Saturday night in Buffalo Run’s Peoria Showplace. Wester Justice will provide the music in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday night
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Shangri-La Resort will offer a traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner in the Roosevelt Ballroom at the resort hotel (11:00-5:00). Blind Swine on Duck Creek and the Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda are both now closed for the season. The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La has discontinued lunch service for the season.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: A new series, Deep Dive Australia debuts Saturday night at 9:00 on the National Geographic Channel. Landman premieres Sunday on Paramount+; and The Beast in Me is available Thursday on NETFLIX. Next week, Lainey Wilson hosts the 59th Annual CMA Awards Wednesday at 7:00 on ABC.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley is available Wednesday on NETFLIX. Red One opens in theaters this week, and Transformers One is available Friday on Paramount+.
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, November 21 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at Shangri-La Resort (5:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 22 – Festivus Celebration & shopping extravaganza at the Shangri-La club house & golf shop (5:00-8:00 p.m.). Thursday, November 27 – The Anchor is open at Shangri-La 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. for Thanksgiving Day Football! Thursday, November 27 – Traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner in the Roosevelt Ballroom at Shangri-La (11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.). Friday, November 28 – Black Friday Seafood Extravaganza at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (4:00-9:00 p.m.). Friday, November 28 – Ozark Mountain Christmas display opens at Har-Ber Village. Saturday, November 29 Native American Holiday Market at Grove’s Community Center in the Downtown Square (10:00-6:00). Friday, December 5 – Ice Rink opens on Grove’s Downtown Square. Friday, December 5 – Ron Lay “Light Up Downtown” Memorial Celebration on Grove’s Downtown Square. Saturday, December 6 – Langley-Disney Christmas Parade across the Pensacola Dam. Saturday, December 13 – Grove Christmas Parade (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 13 – Cherokee Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade (5:30 p.m.).
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In the college football world, OSU hosts Kansas State Saturday morning at 11:00 – then all eyes will be on the OU-Alabama game at 2:30. There is no shortage of great college football this weekend. Texas A&M hosts South Carolina, Arkansas is at LSU, UCF takes on Texas Tech, Florida is at Ole Miss, Mississippi State is at Missouri, and Texas takes on the Georgia Bulldogs.
In the NFL, the Jets are at New England Thursday night. Sunday games include an early start from Madrid, Spain for the Commanders and Dolphins at 8:30. Buffalo hosts Tampa Bay and Chicago is at Minnesota, both at noon. The Broncos host the Chiefs at 3:30 and Detroit is at Philadelphia Sunday night. Monday Night Football features Dallas at Las Vegas.
The OKC Thunder are off to a hot start in the NBA. After hosting Golden State Tuesday and the Lakers Wednesday, the Thunder are back on the road – at Charlotte Saturday and New Orleans Monday. They’re back home for a rematch with Sacramento next Wednesday.
PGA Players are in Bermuda this week for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Coverage is exclusively on the Golf Channel at Noon Friday, 10:30 Saturday morning and 10:00 Sunday morning. The LPGA features Tha Annika Sunday at 1:00, also on the Golf Channel.
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After the nasty little cold snap over the past weekend, Grand Lake weather for the weekend ahead looks perfect. We’ll have sunshine with high temperatures back in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Get out there and enjoy the great weather and all the fun. Remember, though, wherever you 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.
Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La
Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights)
Billy’s Burger Bar & More in Ketchum
Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
BOOM at The Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge)
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Casa Gutierrez in Gro
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanellas 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
Cregan’s Confections & Ice Cream (Ketchum)
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Domino’s in Grove
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Drift at the Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge in Grove)
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill (Cleora)
Drunken Rooster – on the Water (Grove)
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
Gambino’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
Hero’s Deli in Grove
Hero’s Deli in Langley
High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)
Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)
Island Bar & Grill at The Landings Marina
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
Poppin’ on Grand in Cleora
Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor
R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove
Raggedy’s in Grove
Rancho Viejo in Grove
Rise-N-Dine, Ketchum
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island
Royal Liquor Store in Grove
Scissortail Lounge at Scissortail Marina
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina
South 125 Bar & Grill on Monkey Island
Speedy’s Chophouse in Grove
Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort
Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
The Artichoke Restaurant in Langley
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
