November 9 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum

November 9, 2026

We can relax a little more – election day is behind us. I guess, for the most part, Oklahomans must like the way things are going. We came to a fork in the road, and Oklahoma turned one direction while the entire rest of the country took the other fork. Yes, Democrats made some gains in Oklahoma, but I love the analysis provided by The Lost Ogle: “Have you ever ridden the log ride at an amusement park and barely got splashed while everyone around you got drenched?”

It was an unusual, if not unprecedented, site at Shangri-La Resort last week when the Oklahoma Business Roundtable hosted Governor Kevin Stitt, Governor-Elect Mike Mazzei, Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, and Lt. Governor-Elect T.W. Shannon all on the same day at the same event. It looked like the opening stop on an “Out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-new Tour.”

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Welp, football coaches are starting to drop like flies. Brent Venables fired Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle at OU, and Florida State fired Head Football Coach Mike Norvell, even though they’ll have to pay him a $50 million buyout. He won’t have to look for a job any time soon; and neither will former OU Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle. He’ll pick up an extra $1.65 million to stop helping. The best job in sports is still “fired coach.”

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Encouraging information for fans of OU athletics – basketball, softball, gymnastics – the women’s teams all look great!

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Since it’s almost Thanksgiving, radio stations have begun playing Christmas songs. I saw an important social media post from Mariah Carey. It simply said, “It’s Time!” Her massive and timeless hit “All I Want for Christmas is You!” has topped Billboard’s chart every holiday season since 2019 and earned her over $100 million.

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Experts predict the number of people developing dementia each year worldwide is expected to more than double by 2050. I think that’s the date they said. I can’t really remember for sure.

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Oklahoma has a new marker along Route 66. At Claremore, a “Big Red Gun” was unveiled last week as an attention-getter, I suppose to mark the exit for the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum. It made me laugh, though. What more appropriate notification that you are officially in Oklahoma than a gigantic 20-foot tall GUN?

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Grand Lake Bum Shout-Outs

OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Tom Quillin, Rusty Rowton, Susan Keast, Tommy Rogers, Carol Stalcup, Bryan Wilkinson, Roxane Gardner, E. Elena Bernal, Clark Boone, Lindsay Merhib, Tammy Malone, Teresa Karleskint, Chuck Perry, Tammy Dunlap, Pam Ferguson, Steve Wetwiska, Gary Goss, Duane Koehler, and Cliff Hudson.

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Best Grand Lake Events this Week

Wednesday is a Veterans Day Ceremony at the Veterans Plaza in Langley (10:00 a.m.) and a BBQ at the Jack D. Crittenden Memorial Post in Bernice (6:00 p.m.). Saturday is the famous Boutique Shop Hop involving Saturday Shopping Stops at six participating boutiques – Disney Outfitters, The Painted Pony, Mia’s, Sassy & Classy, Grand Panache, and Den of Uniquity. Saturday night is the DCCSAN “Winterset 2025: Retro Remix” fundraising dinner & auction at Shangri-La Resort (6:00 p.m.). Saturday & Sunday is the Vintage Market at Wolf Creek Expo (9:00-4:00). Sunday afternoon is also a multi-choir performance of Handel’s Messiah at First Baptist Church of Grove (4:00 p.m.).

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Randy Krehbiel’S Random Factoid of the Week

Political parties never seem to learn. They win an election and think everybody loves them, when the truth is some people just found them momentarily less objectionable than the other guys.

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Fun Fact of the Week

The two NFL teams who are geographically the closest to each other are the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders. (You can’t count the Jets & Giants or Rams & Chargers because they play in the same stadium. That’s a little too close.)

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Odd Fact of the Week

88 corporations that paid no U.S. federal income tax in 2025 spent $852 million on recent lobbying and election expenditures.

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Best Facebook Post of the Week

The first million people to send me $1 will get a copy of my guide on how to become a millionaire using Facebook.

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Word Fun this Week

“Queueing” is a unique work in the English language because it contains five consecutive vowels (u-e-u-e-i)

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Best Sign Seen this Week

Are you lonely? Tired of working on your own? Do you HATE making decisions? Hold a meeting! See people. Draw org charts. Feel important. Impress your colleagues. Eat donuts…all on company time! Meetings: The Practical Alternative to Work.

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Best Bluesky Post of the Week

If you paid $1 in federal income taxes last year, you paid more than: Disney, American Airlines, Citigroup, CBS, DoorDah, GoDaddy, H&R Block, HP, Kohl’s, Ticketmaster, Palantir, PayPal, Roku, Southwest Airlines, Tesla, United Airlines, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC.

Pun of the Week

You may have heard about the guy who fell into an upholstery machine recently. He’s fully recovered.

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Unanswered Question of the Week

Does anybody know a good way to explain to our kids why billionaires can receive public subsidies to build data centers while their elementary school needs them to sell chocolate bars to help fund their education?

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Observation of the Week

If a company can text me a verification code in 3 seconds, it can process my refund in less than 7-10 business days.

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Quote of the Week

“I want to be a Senator for those who can’t afford to buy one.” – James Talarico

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Multiple Academy Award-winning actress, producer, director & author Sally Field turned 80 years old over the past weekend. Actress & producer Demi Moore turns 64 this week – and legendary folk singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is 83.

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Best Weekend Live Entertainment

On Monkey Island, the weekend starts Thursday night at The Monkey Bar with COBE by Request, followed by Karaoke with Sundown Entertainment Friday night and Erin Fitzgibbon LIVE Saturday night . Magen Faulconer will entertain Saturday night at South 125 Bar & Grill along with Jackson Glasby . Juss Tae will provide the entertainment Saturday night at Big Shots.

In Grove, Harmony Hollow will perform at the Grove Middle School Auditorium as part of the River Ridge Bluegrass Association events (5:30-9:00 p.m.) Big Smitty will perform Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655. Dillon Leggett will entertain Friday night at Cherokee Casino followed by The Downbeat Duo Saturday night. Becky Sparkman & Hired Guns will be live Friday night at the Alpha Bar along with special guest Jeff Tatum; and Laid-Back Larry hosts the karaoke fun at Alpha Bar Saturday night.

On South Grand Lake, Ryan Graham starts the weekend Thursday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. The Jesse Dean Duo takes over Friday night, followed by Clint, Frank and Ryan Saturday night, and a matinee performance by Conor Culpepper Sunday (4:00 p.m.). Dillon Leggett will entertain Saturday night at Pickles Pub in Langley.

Country music star Gene Watson will perform Thursday night at the Coleman Theatre in Miami.

Jon Dooly starts the weekend music Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino followed by The Chris Hyde Band Friday and The BakBeatz Saturday . Mayday By Midnight will be on stage at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar Friday night followed by The Mixtapes Saturday night. Saturday night is XFN #414 Extreme Fight at Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Showplace; and Western Justice is the featured entertainment Saturday night at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West.

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Dining & Drinking Update

Poppin’ on Grand in Grove is closing permanently. Their last day will be November 21. Whitecap at The Landings Marina Blind Swine on Duck Creek, and The Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda have all closed for the season. The Balcony Bar at The Shebang is closed for the season, but the SRO Bar inside The Shebang is now open until midnight Friday & Saturday. The Fire Pit Restaurant at Wildwood Cove Resort is now located in Grove (the former Speedy’s Chophouse location) and they now serve alcohol. Bobber’s Café & Fresh Market is now open at a second location in Bernice (opens at 7:00 a.m.). Pour Chaos in Langley is only awaiting a final fire code inspection. They’ll be open very soon.

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Bum Must-See Tv

SEE TV: The six-episode series The Good Daughter is available beginning Thursday on Peacock. The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards show airs Saturday night at 7:00 on CBS and Nickelodeon. Season 6 of The Chosen begins with three episodes on Prime Video Sunday. Live shows of The Voice air Mondays at 8:00 on NBC.

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Bum Must-See Movies

SEE MOVIES: Ghost Soldier, Ebenezer, How to Rob a Bank, and Victorian Psycho all open in theaters this week.

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Save the Date

Friday, November 20 – Festivus Shopping & Snacking event at Shangri-La Golf Shop (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Friday, November 20 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at Cherokee Yacht Club (5:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 21 – Santa Paws Pet Photos (pet photos with Santa) at Second Chance Thrift Shop in Grove (10:00-4:00). Saturday, November 21 – Pie Competition and Auction at the Monkey Bar benefiting the Jack Crittenden VFW Auxiliary in Bernice (1:00-5:00 p.m.). Monday, November 23 – 6 th annual “Friendsgiving Dinner Event & Celebration at the Road Hog Saloon (6:30). Thursday, November 26 – Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet at Doc’s at Shangri-La (12:00-5:00 p.m.). Thursday, November 26 – Silent Disco Party (headphones furnished) in the Roosevelt Ballroom at Shangri-La. Friday, November 27 – Black Friday Seafood Buffet at The Summit at Shangri-La (5:00-9:00 p.m.). Friday & Saturday, November 27-28 – Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village display at Har-Ber Village (5:30-8:30 p.m.). Saturday, November 28 – Native American Holiday Market at the Grove Community Center (10:00-6:00). Friday, December 4 – First Friday Wine Share at NeverMore Books in Grove (6:00-7:30 p.m.). Friday & Saturday, December 4-5 – Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village display at Har-Ber Village. Friday, December 4 – Lights on Grove & Shop Grand Lake Finale with Christmas Tree Lighting at Grove’s Downtown Square (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday & Sunday, December 5-6 – Two Hip Chicks Christmas at the Lake show at Wolf Creek Expo (9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 5 - Christmas Parade in Bernice (4:00 p.m.) followed by Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 5 – South Grand Lake Lighted Christmas Parade across the Pensacola Dam from Langley to Disney. Friday, December 11 – Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village festivities at Har-Ber Village (5:30-8:30 p.m.). Saturday, December 12 – Breakfast with Santa at Har-Ber Village (9:00-11:00 a.m.). Saturday, December 12 – Cherokee Yacht Club Christmas Light Boat Parade. Saturday & Sunday, December 12-13 – ALLTEX Gun & Knife Show at Wolf Creek Expo (9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 12 – Grove’s Lighted Christmas Parade (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Monday, December 14 – Grand Lake Newcomers Club “Country Christmas Party” at Wolf Creek Expo (6:00 p.m.). Friday & Saturday, December 18-19 – Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village festivities at Har-Ber Village (5:30-8:30 p.m.). Sunday, December 20 – Grand Lake’s Christmas Celebration at Shangri-La Resort Hotel lobby including Christmas Carol sing-along fun with Terry Jordan (2:00-5:00 p.m.).

In the sports world, college football has some good Friday night games that are televised this week – Florida State at Pittsburgh, Illinois at UCLA, and Houston at Colorado. OU and OSU are both at home Saturday, the Cowboys hosting Texas Tech and the Sooners facing Ole Miss. Other great college games Saturday include Northwestern at Ohio State, Wake Forest at SMU, Boston College at Notre Dame, USC at Indiana, Baylor at BYU, Texas at LSU, Kansas at West Virginia, and K-State at TCU.

The NFL has some good ones this week, too. The Giants host the Commanders Thursday night. Sunday games include Kansas City at Atlanta (12:00), Minnesota at Green Bay (12:00), San Francisco at Dallas (3:30), and Pittsburgh at Cincinnati (7:20). Monday Night Football features The L.A. Chargers at Baltimore (7:15).

In the NBA, the OKC Thunder have a busy and grueling road schedule. After facing Portland back-to-back Tuesday night (10:00) and Wednesday night (9:00), they travel to L.A. to face the Clippers (9:30) then move on to Sacramento to face the Kings Sunday night (8:00). They’re finally back home next Wednesday to host Atlanta (7:00).

PGA Golfers are still in Austin this week for the Austin Championship at Barton Creek. Coverage on the Golf Channel begins at 1:00 Thursday-Sunday.

We have a chance to see some great Women’s College Basketball on TV this week. OSU is at Tulsa Thursday (5:00), USC is at South Carolina Sunday at noon, and OU hosts Texas Southern next Tuesday (8:00).

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Weather will be sunny, but a little cool this weekend, with high temperatures in the mid-50s and lows in the upper 30s. It’ll be a little warmer Sunday and on into the first part of next week. There’s a lot happening around the lake this weekend, so get out and enjoy the fun! And remember, 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.

Alpha Bar in Grove

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

Bobber’s Café in Bernice and north of Langley

BOOM at The Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge)

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Casa Gutierrez in Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

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

Eagle’s Nest at Patricia Island Country Club

Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina

Fire Pit in Grove

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

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Legacy Eatery in Grove

Los Garcia’s 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

Our House BBQ 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

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Red’s BBQ in Ketchum

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

Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

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