November 17 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum
Grand Lake greatness was officially recognized last week – TWICE! U.S. Highway 59 in Grove was dedicated as “The Honorable Rick Littlefield Memorial Highway” in honor of longtime State Representative, State Senator, and community leader Rick Littlefield – and Shangri-La owner Eddy Gibbs was one of seven 2025 inductees into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame at a huge ceremony in Tulsa (with lots of Grand Lakers in attendance, by the way).
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It seems like every time a big piece of legislation is passed, we discover that somebody hid some sneaky self-serving crooked deal in it somewhere. Yes, the government is back open – but did you see what the Senate snuck in there? Eight Republican Senators whose phone records were legally checked by the Department of Justice after the January 6 insurrection (or whatever you have decided to call it), were given the right to sue DOJ and collect a million dollars in taxpayer money – EACH! Keep in mind, they weren’t charged, accused, or indicted – they only had their phone records checked. My driving record was investigated by a Highway Patrol Trooper one time. I sure wish I could cash in on that million dollar check from taxpayers! After all, my records were checked. Where’s MY check?
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Speaking of checks, I’m waiting by my mailbox. President Trump says he’s going to send us all a $2,000 “dividend check” from tariff money. Since that’s money we’ve already paid in higher prices due to the tariffs, that makes sense; but I guess I need to watch my mailbox extra closely now. I’m still waiting for my $5,000 DOGE check he was going to send us.
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The penny is done. The U.S. Mint pushed out the final penny last week. They said it now costs four cents to mint a penny, so it has outlived its usefulness. I guess that’s right. Now, even if you just want to give someone your “two cents worth,” you’ll have to have a dime.
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Last week, I checked into the Downtown Doubletree hotel in Tulsa at the same time about 100 college wrestlers were checking in to prepare for the big National Duals Invitational competition. I no longer believe the stories about wrestlers doing almost everything possible to keep their weight down. Not a single one of those kids was willing to give me their Doubletree cookies they got at check-in.
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It’s thoughtful of Walmart to be closed on Thanksgiving Day this year. I’m not sure why they made that decision – perhaps it’s to let all the self-checkout people have the day with their families.
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I know the perfect way to prepare for the Christmas holiday that’s on the horizon. I saw where Buffalo Trace is celebrating their 250th anniversary with a Whiskey Christmas Advent Calendar. No more chocolate treats for me! I think trying a new whiskey every day for 24 days is the perfect lead-in to the big holiday. I wonder if they have considered a 12-month calendar.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Congratulations to generous Grand Lakers on another unbelievably successful fundraising event for a fantastic cause. The annual Winterset event at Shangri-La raised an incredible $129,535 for the Delaware County Children’s Advocacy Network (DCCSAN). Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Eric Long, Stacey Bryant, Kenny Cole, Kevin Burke, Laramy O’Leary, Dar Phillips, Leann Laue-Goff, Roy Morgan, Mike Long, Preston Kelley, Ben Faulkner, Joni Rund, Mark Sell, Val Saamer, Barbara Patrick, Tara Lawson, Susan Kimball, Mark Winter, Michael Bujold, Marilyn Davidson, and Mark Oliver. By the way, happy birthday to the State of Oklahoma which turned 118 years old Sunday.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Friday evening is “The First Christmas Party of the Year” - the South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at Shangri-La Resort (5:00 p.m.). Saturday is your chance at “Santa Paws Pet Photos” at Second Chance Thrift Shop in Grove (10:00-4:00). Saturday evening is the annual Festivus Celebration & shopping extravaganza for members at the Shangri-La club house & golf shop (5:00-8:00 p.m.).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Strictly speaking, a coffin is six-sided and wider at the shoulders to better accommodate a human body, whereas a casket is rectangular.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: America thought Betty White was everyone’s sweet grandmother. Her castmates knew the truth: she had the filthiest sense of humor in Hollywood.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: While Margaret Mitchell was recovering from an ankle injury, her husband joked, “For God’s sake, Peggy, can’t you write a book instead of reading thousands of them?” – and she started the novel that would become “Gone With the Wind.”
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK Why don’t grocery stores participate in Black Friday? I don’t need 20% off a flat screen TV! Give me half off Tide, $2 off milk, 50% off all beef, and discount the eggs – and then you best believe I’ll be at the doors at 3:00 a.m.
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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: If you ever think English is not a messed up language, just remember that read and lead rhyme and read and lead rhyme, but read and lead don’t rhyme, and neither do read and lead.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Big Sale on Paddles at The Boat Store. It’s Quite an Oar Deal.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: I’m getting my wife a matching belt and bag for her birthday. We’ll have that vacuum cleaner working again in no time.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: The man who invented throat lozenges died last week. There was no coffin at the funeral.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: How did Jesus meet four guys named Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Middle East?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Maturing is realizing you don’t need fun to have alcohol.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it never use it.” – Bill Murray
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The fabulous singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt turned 76 years old last week. British singer & actress Petula Clark turned 93 over the past weekend. Award-winning actress, comedian, author & producer Whoopi Goldberg turned 70; and actress and Golden Globe Award winner Demi Moore turned 63. Saturday is the anniversary date of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy – 63 years ago!
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Jesse Joice performs live Friday night at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Lil’ Red & Sidepiece will be on stage Friday night at South 125 Bar & Grill. There’s Karaoke Wednesday & Friday at The Monkey Bar, both hosted by Sundown Entertainment; and Juke Box Match Saturday. DJ K-Bandito will provide the entertainment Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.
In Grove, Runnin’ on Empty will be on stage Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by 90 lb Wrench Saturday night. 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, Dillon Leggett starts the music Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by Michele Warren & Soupbone Saturday. Lil’ Red & Sidepiece will provide the music Friday night at Pickles Pub in Langley.
Indigo Sky Casino features music by The Kevin Currie Duo Thursday night, continuing with Swade Diablos Friday, and Until Now Saturday. Erin Fitzgibbon will provide the entertainment Sunday afternoon at 1:00. The Libby Starks Band starts the music Thursday at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar followed by Members Only Friday and Uncrowned Kings Saturday. Risky Business will entertain at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar Saturday night. Morgan Squared will provide the music in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday night – and Travis Powell takes the stage as Elvis at Riverbend’s Event Center, also Saturday night.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: The Cove Club in Langley has changed its name. No more “Cove Club.” Now it’s “Robert’s Bar & Restaurant.” Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney is now closed Monday & Tuesday. Speedy’s Chophouse in Grove is offering free Thanksgiving Dinner (11:00-3:00) for anyone who needs a warm meal and a little holiday comfort. Shangri-La Resort will offer a traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner in the Roosevelt Ballroom at the resort hotel (11:00-5:00). The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La features their annual Black Friday Seafood Buffet November 28 from 5:00-9:00 p.m.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Lainey Wilson hosts the 59th Annual CMA Awards Wednesday at 7:00 on ABC. A Man on the Inside returns to NETFLIX Thursday. Everybody Loves Raymond 30th Anniversary Reunion airs next Monday night at 7:00 on CBS.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Wicked, Gladiator II, and Bonhoeffer: Spy. Pastor. Assassin all open in theaters this week.
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SAVE THE DATE: 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 & Sunday, December 6-7 – Christi Leonard’s Dance Academy presents “The Nutcracker” at Grove’s Performing Arts Center (shows at 2:30 & 7:00 Saturday and 2:30 Sunday). Saturday, December 6 – Langley-Disney Christmas Parade across the Pensacola Dam. Saturday, December 6 – Miami Christmas Parade (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 13 – Grove Christmas Parade (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 13 – Cherokee Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade (5:30 p.m.). Sunday, December 14 - A Grand Lake Holiday Celebration sing-a-long and musical performance at Shangri-La Resort Hotel lobby (2:00-5:00 p.m.). Thursday, December 18 – The Grove Chamber of Commerce hosts their annual Holiday Legislative Luncheon at Shangri-La Resort featuring Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. (11:30 a.m.). Saturday, December 20 – Shooting Star Dance Company presents “The Nutcracker” at Grove Performing Arts Center (shows at 2:00 and 6:00 p.m.). Sunday, December 21 – A Grand Lake Holiday Celebration sing-a-long and musical performance at Shangri-La Resort Hotel lobby (2:00-5:00 p.m.).
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In the college football world, Oklahoma hosts Missouri Saturday morning at 11 – and OSU is on the road at UCF at 3:00. Other great games Saturday include BYU at Cincinnati, USC at Oregon, Arkansas at Texas, Kansas State at Utah, Tennessee at Florida, Baylor at Arizona, Kansas at Iowa State, TCU at Houston, and Nebraska at Penn State.
In the NFL, Thursday night’s game features Buffalo at Houston. Sunday, the Chiefs host Indianapolis and Minnesota is at Green Bay, both at noon. The Cowboys host the Eagles at 3:30 and Tampa Bay is in L.A. to face the Rams Sunday night. Monday Night Football features Carolina at San Francisco.
The OKC Thunder start the weekend on the road in Utah Friday night at 9:00 before returning home to host Portland Sunday (6:00) and Minnesota next Wednesday (6:30).
PGA Players are in St. Simons Island, Georgia this week for The RSM Classic. Coverage is exclusively on the Golf Channel at 11:00 Thursday & Friday mornings and noon Saturday & Sunday.
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I hope you enjoyed the picture perfect Grand Lake weather over the past weekend, because we’re rolling downhill a little this week. We should be finished with the rain by Friday – at least for a couple of days - but this weekend’s high temperatures will still only make it to around 60 degrees with lows in the mid-40s. There’s still plenty of action around the lake, though – so grab a jacket and have some 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)
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
Roberts Bar & Restaurant in Langley
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
