October 27 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum

We’re headed toward a very sad weekend. Daylight Saving Time ends Saturday night. The only good thing about that is, when we turn our clocks back an hour at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, maybe we can persuade the bartenders that it’s really only 1:00 a.m., and we should be able to drink for another hour. I’ve never been able to make that work before, but you never know. Next week will be really weird with sunset coming in the 5:00 o’clock hour. I hope all the “fall lovers” who have been begging for sweater weather, bonfires, and wiener roasts are happy now. Not me. I’m already counting the days until March 8 when Daylight Saving Time returns!

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Kudos to more generosity of partying Grand Lakers. The Heart of Monkey Island battled rain, football games, and threatening storms last Saturday – but supporters still showed in droves at South 125 Bar & Grill for the Oktoberfest Party raising money to buy Christmas gifts and back-to-school supplies for kids who need our help in the Grand Lake area. Another great party. Another great fundraising success. Another tribute to generous Grand Lakers!

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And you think life is confusing and difficult for YOU sometimes? Some people just don’t have the advantages of being exposed to a complete learning curve. For example, there’s a poor soul rolling through social media circles asking for help in calculations for cooking. “I didn’t think much of this when I lived in Florida,” they write. “Many products were labeled in Florida ounces. But now that I live in another state, I’m surprised to see products still labeled with Florida ounces. I looked it up, but couldn’t find much info about them and Google doesn’t know how to convert them to regular ounces.” Should we just continue to watch this saga play out over the next few weeks? Or should we go ahead and inform this tortured soul that “FL oz.” stands for “fluid ounces,” not Florida ounces?

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Be careful when you take things out of your refrigerator, so you’ll have a snack on your flight. A Delta airplane turned around on a flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City last week when an “unpleasant odor” was smelled onboard. It turns out the smell was from spoiled food brought onboard by a customer. Don’t be that guy. Just eat the peanuts.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has doubled down on the NFL commitment to Bad Bunny’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl. In the meantime, don’t believe any of the fake AI social media reports of performers at the Turning Point USA “Alternative All-American Halftime Show.” Posts have listed a wide range of performers from Neil Young to Joan Baez, Carrie Underwood to Willie Nelson. Turning Point USA, however, says no performers have yet been confirmed.

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The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security job is getting a little more comfortable. Have you ever seen a Gulfstream G700 private jet? They are absolutely incredible. I’m not sure where all the money is coming from or how it got done with the government supposedly totally shut down, but the government just ordered TWO of them for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Cost is estimated at $172 million. In the meantime, the Federal Government shutdown coincides with the fastest surge in the national debt in years. The current federal debt exceeds $38 trillion. Interest is accumulating at a rate of $70,000 per second.

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I’ve been having fun following the travel adventures of Grand Lakers Preston & Christa Kelley and Dennis Loudermilk as they continue navigating down the McLellan-Kerr Navigation Channel and the Mississippi River through Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana – then into the Gulf of Mexico and on to Florida. If you’re not following their daily trials & tribulations of the great adventure on Facebook, you should get onboard. You can also follow their journey with live updates on www.captaind123.com.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: First – a special shout-out to the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, statewide winners of two big awards at the State Chamber Awards Ceremony – one for their Shop Grand Lake holiday marketing campaign and another for their new Grove Area Chamber website that was recognized as outstanding digital marketing. Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Kaye Slepka, Kathy Barnes, Teesha Clark, Justin Morgan, Christal Lavery, Jeromy McMorris, Mitch Whitehead, Michael DiPasquale, Joseph Callahan, Mary Faulkner, Linda Wilburn, Scott Brecheisen, Hl Ellis, Thomas Padden, Kym Koch Thompson, and Nancy Jackson.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Tuesday is a YMCA Fundraising Luncheon at Church on the Hill with guest speaker Lori Fullbright from Tulsa’s News on 6 (12:00 p.m.). Thursday is a Grove Chamber Business After Hours & Halloween Party at Tri-State Insurance (5:00-6:30 p.m.). Friday is an Open House at the Grove Chamber of Commerce office (10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.). Friday evening, there’s a party for everyone almost everywhere - Halloween Extravaganza at the Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda (4:00-7:00 p.m.), a Halloween Party, costume contest & trunk or treat at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.), an “80s & 90s” Halloween Party at South 125 Bar & Grill, a Party at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney, Costume Party at Pickles at The Lake in Langley, and a Costume Party at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove. Grand Towne Center in Langley will also host a Trunk or Treat event Friday (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday is Volunteer Work Day at Lendonwood Gardens – rescheduled from last Saturday due to weather (8:30 a.m.). Saturday also is the Crawloween Spooky Fun Festival & Trick or Treating on Disney Main Street (4:00-7:00 p.m.), and a Halloween Party at The Monkey Bar on Monkey Island.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: In the 19th century, people were so afraid of being buried alive that some put little bell towers on their headstones with a cord running to their hands so that they could summon help if they awoke in a coffin.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Scientists have discovered that 99% of those who are told to “Hold your horses!!” do NOT in fact HAVE horses.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: In Tulsa, a small concrete circle mysteriously echoes your voice back, but only you can hear it. Created by accident during a bridge rebuild in the 1980s, the spot is called The Center of the Universe, and appears to break the rules of sound.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I still have a landline at my house. I need it to call my cell phone when I’ve misplaced it.

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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: Definition of SOP at work: a long, boring manual no one reads.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: This is my step ladder. I never knew my real ladder.  

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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: I miss the days when shouting “not it!” was an effective way of getting out of things you didn’t want to do.

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PUN OF THE WEEK: In order to grow properly, fungi need as mushroom as possible.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Are ghosts really just people who got tangled up and died trying to fold a fitted sheet?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: October is my favorite time of year to finally turn the central air off and turn the heat on at 5:00 a.m. then turn it back off at 9:00 a.m. to open the windows then shut the windows at noon and turn on the central air, then turn it off at 7:00 p.m., then turn the….

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I used to see guys at the bar sitting by themselves eating and I’m like, ‘Man, I feel so bad for that guy.’ Now, I realize that dude was in heaven!” – Joe Flacco

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Remember some of the great television series – like “Lassie” and “Lost in Space”? Last week, we lost retired actress June Lockhart who starred in both of those series among many others. She was 100 years old. Speaking of great TV series, how about “Happy Days”? Believe it or not, actor Henry Winkler AKA “The Fonze” turns 80 years old this week. Comedic composer & musician Weird Al Yankovic turned 66 last week. Actor Christopher Lloyd (Taxi, Back to the Future) turned 87; and Singer-songwriter, actor and filmmaker Dwight Yaokam turned 69.

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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 Scott Musick performs live Friday night at Doc’s. There’s Music Bingo Wednesday and Karaoke Friday at The Monkey Bar, both hosted by Sundown Entertainment; and Erin Fitzgibbon will entertain for the Monkey Bar Halloween Party Saturday night. DJ K-Bandito will provide the entertainment Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.

In Grove, The Blue Underground will provide the music Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655. Jesse Joice will be on stage Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar. There’s musical Bingo every Wednesday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon; and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment for the Halloween Party Saturday night at R-Bar.

On South Grand Lake, Jimmy Lee Jordan & COBE will entertain Thursday night at Lakeshore Bliss Resort (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Clint and Frank start the music Wednesday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by Ayngel, Dustin Pittsley, and John Russell Thursday. Reverse Reaction takes the stage Friday night, followed by The Jesse Dean Duo Saturday.

Indigo Sky Casino features music by The Kevin Currie Duo Thursday night, and continuing with Paralandra with Nathan LaBee Friday. Braden Jamison will be in concert Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Showplace. The Downbeat starts the music Thursday at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar followed by Hollywood Riot Friday and The Bakbeatz Saturday. Bobby DeGonia will provide the music in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday night

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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: The popular Green Country Café in Afton was totally destroyed by fire last week, after serving the Grand Lake community for more than 50 years. Blind Swine on Duck Creek is now closed for the season. Saturday is the final day of the season for the Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda. Mocha Madness & Frickster’s BBQ are open at the former Grand Getaway Mercantile location in Grove. Poppin’ on Grand has closed their shop in Cleora and will reopen soon at 313 W. 3rd in Grove.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Matlock airs Thursday night at 8:00 followed by Elsbeth at 9:00, both on CBS. Boston Blue airs Friday night at 9:00, also on CBS. A new comedy series I Love LA airs Sunday night at 9:30 on HBO. The Voice airs Monday night at 7:00 on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Baahubali: The Epic and Bugonia both open in theaters this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, November 6 – Shop Grand Lake Launch Party at Eagles Nest at Patricia Island Country Club (4:00-6:00 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). 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. 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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Major League Baseball is the big story this week. The World Series is underway pitting the Toronto Blue Jays against the L.A. Dodgers. The best-of-seven series continues through Saturday, as necessary.

In the college football world, OU is at Tennessee for a big SEC battle Saturday night at 6:30, while OSU travels to Kansas for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff.  Other big games Saturday include Vanderbilt at Texas, Mississippi State at Arkansas, Texas Tech at Kansas State, Penn State at Ohio State, USC at Nebraska, and Kentucky at Auburn.

The NFL kicks off Thursday night with Miami hosting Baltimore. Sunday football spotlights Minnesota at Detroit and Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, both at noon. Kansas City is at Buffalo for the 3:30 game, and the Commanders host the Seahawks Sunday night. Monday Night Football features the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Arizona Cardinals.

The NBA regular season is underway, too. After traveling to Dallas Monday and hosting Sacramento Tuesday, the OKC Thunder continue their homestand hosting Washington Thursday (7:00) and New Orleans Sunday afternoon (2:30).

It’s the biggest weekend of the year for horse racing. Coverage of the Breeders’ Cup races will be Friday 3:00-7:00 and Saturday 1:00-2:30 on the USA Network. NBC picks up the coverage Saturday at 2:30.

NASCAR drivers are wrapping up the season in Phoenix Sunday. Coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship is on NBC beginning at 2:00 Sunday afternoon.

PGA players are off this week as they travel to Los Cabos, Mexico for next week’s World Wide Technology Championship.

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Grand Lake low temperatures may dip into the 30s Friday as we prepare for the end of Daylight Saving Time. The weather improves from there, though, with partly cloudy skies Saturday along with highs in the mid-60s and lows in the mid-40s. We may get up to 70 degrees Sunday with sunshine and better temps on into next week. There’s plenty happening at Grand this weekend, so get out there and enjoy 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

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