October 13 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum
Another awesome Grand Lake weekend is in the books – and another one is just ahead. Plan your calendar wisely. A cold front is headed our way next week with a 15-20 degree temperature drop.
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It’s time to start watching Major League Baseball, although it’ll likely be impossible to top that 15-inning Detroit/Seattle extravaganza that sent the Mariners to the ALCS. We’re down to four teams now. The World Series starts October 24. Oh, wait. Never mind. The OKC Thunder kicks off their regular season hosting the Houston Rockets October 21.
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Beware of the impact of your social media requests for prayers. Dolly Parton’s sister Freida did just that, requesting prayer for Dolly due to “health issues.” The internet lit up with terrible fears about Dolly’s pending demise, causing the superstar to post a video saying, “Do I look sick to you? I ain’t dead, yet!” Turns out, she has kidney stones.
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Actual quote from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: “There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism.” I’m not even kidding. Google it.
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It’s a good thing U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson isn’t in charge of the Super Bowl halftime show. He commented last week that he never heard of “Bad Bunny,” who will perform in the show. He said “Lee Greenwood” would have been a better choice. Lee Greenwood is 82 years old and had one great hit…but that was 40 years ago. His music streaming totals for his entire career are 96 million. “Bad Bunny,” on the other hand, is the most-streamed male artist ever, according to Spotify, with over 6 billion streams this year alone – 107 billion total streams across his career. We’d better keep the Speaker on track to try to keep Congress at work instead of planning Super Bowl entertainment.
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Depending on the news channel you’re watching, you may be afraid to go to Chicago. Don’t worry. According to the premier publication for tourists worldwide, Condé Nast, their Readers’ Choice Awards named Chicago as the “Best Big City in the United States” – for the ninth consecutive year!
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SPECIAL NOTE to residents and tourists traveling to and from Monkey Island. ODOT says construction on the Monkey Island Causeway will cause the bridge to be closed to one-late traffic beginning October 20. They hope to have it back to two-lane operation before Thanksgiving.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Jennifer Gallagher, Russ Briggs, Joe Goodeyon, John Turner, Linda Elmburg, Trey Howard, Bill Edwards, Rick Miller, David Stansfield, Lea Smith, Michele Martin, Roger Jared, Scott Graham, Michael Thrift, Gary Goss, Brian Winter, Connie DiPasquale, Jessica Heatherly, Karen Bxter, Karin Goss, Mark Kidd, Mark Muse, Aileen Oldaker, and Robin Purdie.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: A fun “Old Time Gathering & Music Festival is Friday & Saturday – Friday at Snider’s Campground (6:00 p.m.) and Saturday at Har-Ber Village (10:00-9:00). Saturday is also Oktoberfest at Grand Towne Center north of Langley (10:00-4:00) and Fall Fest on the Courthouse Square in Jay (9:00-3:00). Saturday evening is the Caring Hands Gala at Downstream Casino supporting the Community Crisis Center (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Next Tuesday is the Grand Lake Newcomers Club Halloween Party at the Community Center on Grove’s Downtown Square (6:00-8:00 p.m.).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: In the realm of what might have been is this: What if Alois Schicklegruber had kept his birth name and not taken his stepfather Johann Heider’s name and then, for some reason, began spelling it “Hitler”? Would people still have enthusiastically hailed Alois’ son Adolph with “Heil Schicklegruber!”?
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: A publisher made a $50 bet in 1960 that Dr. Seuss couldn’t write a book using only 50 different words. Seuss won the bet with “Green Eggs and Ham.”
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: The idea that eating carrots helps you see in the dark was a lie invented by the British Air Ministry during WWII to explain the success of Royal Air Force pilots against Luftwaffe night raids without tipping off the Germans about the existence of radar.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: My husband needed a blood transfusion, but his blood type was not on his record, so the doctors asked me if I knew what it was, as they urgently needed to know to save my Johnny’s life. Tragically, I’ve never known his blood type, so I only had time to sit and say goodbye. I’ll never forget how supportive my Johnny was. Even as he was fading away, he kept whispering to me, “Be positive. Be positive.” That was my Johnny. Always thinking of others.
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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: The best way to tell someone you don’t like them is to text them “370HSSV 0773H” and tell them to read it upside down.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: The best things in life are free. The 2nd best things are very expensive.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: I’m going to treat myself to a few cocktails because today would have been my birthday if I was born today.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: If your can opener is broken, is it then called a can’t opener?
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: I understand my body can’t digest corn, but I chew it! So how does it come out back in the shape of corn?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Two incomes are better than one, so make sure your partner has two jobs.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “At this time 5 years ago, it was illegal for people to be within 6 feet of me. Sometimes I miss that.” – Pamela Jean Poole
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Wanda Clark, a wonderful Grand Lake resident who was Lucille Ball’s secretary for more than 25 years, died last week. She was 87 years old. John Lodge, lead singer for the legendary group “The Moody Blues” died last week at the age of 82. Actress Diane Keaton also died over the past weekend at age 79; and the sport of basketball has lost one of its most loyal. Loyola Chicago University’s biggest fan, the iconic Sister Jean, has died. She was 106 years old.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Sundown Entertainment hosts Thursday night karaoke on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.) and Jesse Joice performs live Friday night at Doc’s. There’s music Bingo Wednesday and karaoke Friday at The Monkey Bar, both hosted by Sundown Entertainment, followed by live entertainment by William Tedford Saturday night. Lil’ RFed, COBE and Sidepiece will be at Shebang Friday night; and DJ K-Bandito will provide the entertainment Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.
In Grove, there will be great jamming from talented musicians at Snider’s Campground Friday evening at 6:00 and a full day of music on three stages at Har-Ber Village Saturday (10:00-9:00) at Jana Jae’s Old Time Gathering & Music Festival. D’Elegantz will provide the music Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar and The Beaty Creek Band will take over Saturday night. Western Justice will be on stage Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Wilkie & Tony 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 at R-Bar.
On South Grand Lake, Clint and Frank start the music Wednesday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Jesse Dean takes the stage Thursday night, followed by Wanda Watson Friday. The Absher White Trio will be on stage at Mooney’s Saturday night; and Erin Fitzgibbon will entertain Sunday afternoon at 4:00.
Indigo Sky Casino features three nights and a Sunday midday performance of live music this week beginning with TJ Scarlett Thursday night, and continuing with Damsel Friday, Red Letters Saturday and an 11:00 a.m. performance Sunday by Scott Eastman. Bryce Leatherwood will be in concert Saturday night at Buffalo Run Canino’s Peoria Showplace. Radio Nation will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at Buffalo Run’s Backwoods Bar. Asphalt Cowboys start the music Thursday and Friday nights at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar followed by Oreo Blue Saturday. Diversity will provide the music in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday night
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: The Shebang will host their first Wednesday Night Guest Chef event of the season Wednesday night, October 15 – Chef Kelly Lettrell and Sous Chef Jack Kern cooking cajun style meat. The Shebang is also now offering an Omelette Bar Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. South 125 is also now open for brunch at 10:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday. Sunday. Cosby’s Catfish has new hours, too – open 4:30-8:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 12:30-8:00 Saturday & Sunday (Closed Wednesday).
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Following their Sunday premieres, Matlock and Elsbeth start the regular season Thursday night at 8:00 and 9:00 respectively on CBS. all on ABC. John Candy: I Like Me is available Friday on Prime Video. Sunday is a big night with special season debut episodes of Matlock (7:30) and Elsbeth (8:30), both on CBS, before they both move to their regular Thursday night slots. Boston Blue debuts Friday night at 9:00, also on CBS. A new season of The Diplomat is available Thursday on NETFLIX.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Black Phone 2, After the Hunt, Pets on a Train, Good Fortune, and St. Elmo’s Fire all open in theaters this week.
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, October 24 – Live performance of Persnickety, The Sequel at Har-Ber Village in Grove (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 25 – Fall Volunteer Work Day at Lendonwood Gardens (8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 25 – Heart of Monkey Island Oktoberfest & Fundraising festival at South 125 Bar & Grill (11:00-3:00). Saturday, October 25 – Elk River Baptist Church County Fair (12:00-3:30 p.m.). Monday, October 27 – Grove Chamber hosts both a Job Fair and Career Fair at the Community Center on the Downtown Square in Grove (9:00-1:00). Tuesday, October 28 – YMCA Fundraising Luncheon at Church on the Hill with guest speaker Lori Fullbright (12:00 p.m.). Friday, October 31 – Open House at the Grove Chamber of Commerce office (10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.). Friday, October 31 – Halloween Extravaganza at the Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda (4:00-7:00 p.m.). Friday, October 31 – Halloween Party, costume contest & trunk or treat at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Friday, October 31 – Halloween Party at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney. Saturday, November 1 – Crawloween Spooky Fun Festival & Trick or Treating on Disney Main Street (4:00-7:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 8 – DCCSAN Winterset at Shangri-La Resort (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 15 – Annual Boutique Shop Hop – Grand Panache, Den of Uniquity, The Mercantile, Sassy & Classy Boutie-Q, and Bootylicious (10:00-3:00).
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In the college football world, Tulsa starts the weekend early hosting East Carolina Thursday night at 6:30. Friday night, Louisville is at Miami (6:00) and Nebraska is at Minnesota (7:00). OU and OSU both play Saturday, the Sooners at South Carolina early and OSU hosting Cincinnati late (7:00). Other great Saturday games include Texas A&M at Arkansas, Texas Tech at Arizona State, USC at Notre Dame, Tennessee at Auburn, Texas at Kentucky, and LSU at Vanderbilt.
The NFL kicks off Thursday night with Cincinnati hosting the Steelers. Sunday football starts early again this week with Jacksonville and the L.A. Rams facing off in London at 8:30. Las Vegas travels to Kansas City to face the Chiefs Sunday at noon and Minnesota hosts Philadelphia, also at noon. Washington is at Dallas to play the Cowboys at 3:30, and Atlanta is at San Francisco Sunday night. Monday Night Football features two games again this week – Tampa Bay at Detroit at 6:00 and Houston at Seattle at 9:00.
Major League Baseball is down to the final four. American and National League Championship series games continu into next week, as necessary. The World Series is set to begin Friday, October 24.
NASCAR drivers are racing early Sunday afternoon at Talladega. Coverage of the Yallawood 500 is on NBC beginning at 1:00 Sunday afternoon.
Believe it or not, NBA preseason play is underway and the OKC Thunder have two more preseason games, both televised. They’ll be in Milwaukee Tuesday night at 7:00 (Peacock) and in OKC hosting the Denver Nuggets Friday night at 7:00 (Fanduel Sports Network)! The first game of the regular season is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21 with the Thunder hosting the Rockets in OKC at 6:30 on NBC.
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Grand Lake weather will be perfect again this weekend with high temperatures in the mid-80s and lows in the mid-60s. Get out there and enjoy all the fun Grand Lake has to offer because a cold front is headed our way next week. It won’t be cold, cold. But it won’t be warm. 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.
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
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 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
