Holidays in Review by The Grand Lake Bum

I can’t believe how fast this year is zipping past!  My favorite holiday is next week.  Halloween provides the perfect opportunity to do all the things you always wanted to do, but were afraid of getting caught.  When wearing a mask becomes acceptable behavior, all bets are off. At the end of the Halloween party night, I’m going to give my mask away to someone I don’t know, just in case there are any photographs.

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In case you weren’t positive about the proximity of the Halloween holiday, you can tell it’s almost here because all the store shelves are packed with Christmas decorations. I feel sorry for Thanksgiving.  It disappeared completely after being held in limbo between the Halloween costumes and the Christmas trees.  Before Thanksgiving gets here, we’ll be snacking on Valentine candy and chocolate Easter bunnies.

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Sign of the times – the November election ballot next month in nine states will include proposed legalization of marijuana in one form or another.

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Something needs to be done.  Here’s a good example of your tax dollars at work: as the result of a raid using "military-type" helicopters by the Massachusetts State Police and the National Guard, drug warriors halted the dangerous criminal enterprise of 81-year-old Margaret Holcomb, seizing the one and only marijuana plant in her yard that she had planned to harvest soon for relief of her arthritis and glaucoma.

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Speaking of the election – a lot of friendships are hanging on by a thread. Political posts on Facebook have given lots of relationships a tough test.  Here’s an encouraging word, though: if you lose a friend over political views, don’t worry. Either they weren’t really your friend anyway, or you weren’t really theirs.

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It was sort of encouraging to me that Donald Trump said he might not accept the results of the election.  I had no idea that was an option.  I’m spending the week making a list of the things I don’t want to accept.  I really didn’t know we could do that!

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Oklahoma made the top of a ratings list again. Some might say we’re last – but, of course, we say we’re #1…in education cuts.  Oklahoma cut education funding by more than any other state last year.  Aren’t we proud?  Of course, as usual, we’ll probably re-elect the same people who put us in this nosedive.

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NEWS ITEM: “California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that would cut methane emissions from cattle and other animals by 40%.” Huh? Has California actually figured out how to convince a cow to “just hold it in”?  Or are they trying to create a new class of job opportunities – cow flatulence monitors?

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Two men were captured and jailed in Gainesville, Texas last week after attempting to rob a donut shop.  Seriously?  Is there someplace they might be any more likely to run into cops. Didn’t think that one through, for sure.

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FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: (thanks to my buddy Terry Jones for this): When I get a headache, I take 2-3 aspirin, and keep away from children – just like the bottle says!

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (thanks to my friend Gretchen Zumwalt-Smith for sharing this one): Guys, I’m really afraid someone is going to win this election.

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DINING AND DRINKING BY WATER UPDATE: Morrows Bar & Grill (formerly Oliver’s Twist and The Decks) now has their liquor license.  Enjoy!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Richard Bell, Cy Elmburg, Roger Pelcher, Gara Pelcher, Jeff Pelcher, Julie Wolfe, Ainslie Stanford, Paul Staten, Kaye Slepka, Trisa Short, Shelly Sparks, Phil Longacre, Christal Lavery, and Mitch Whitehead. Congratulations to Dana Able, newly named Director of Sales at the new Shangri-La Resort Hotel – now accepting reservations and bookings. A new chapter is Grand Lake’s history is being written as we speak!

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK:  Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Friday night is Pumpkin decorating night at Monkey Island Pub (live music by Kenny Babb, too). Saturday night is the judging of the Halloween pumpkin carving contest and BBQ at Monkey Island Pub. Saturdaynight is also the Halloween Party (with costume contest) and buffet dinner at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great musical entertainment around the lake, highlighted by the Sunday night Wayne Newton concert at Buffalo Run Casino! Weekend entertainment at Buffalo Run beginsFriday & Saturday night with music by The Sex at Buffalo Run’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill.

Monkey Island entertainment highlights Randy Lunsford entertaining in the Burlesque Room at The Shebang this weekend. Across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, there will be great dance music until the wee hours Saturday night.  Weather permitting, there will also be great karaoke fun Friday, & Saturday nights upstairs at The Shebang Balcony Bar at The Shebang.  Just down Highway 125, Kenny Babb will be performing Friday night at Monkey Island Pub, and there’s great live music all weekend at the Road Hog Saloon; and in Grove, there’s always great music at J.R. Spanky’s on Highway 10 north of Grove.

In addition to the big weekend at Buffalo Run Casino, other area casinos add great musical options this weekend includingTravis Kidd at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar Friday night, followed by The Dropouts Saturday night. Howard Gayles will perform in Downstream’s Lover’s Leap Lounge both Friday & Saturday. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, there are free line dancing lessons every Wednesday night and Cash for Karaoke competition on Thursdays. Honky Tonk Renovators will provide the Friday night musical entertainment, followed by Heath Wright and the Hangmen Saturdaynight.  At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar, The weekend starts Thursday night with music by The Bobby D Band. Heath Wright and the Hangmen entertain Friday night followed by Paralandra Saturday night.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including World Series games, college football, PGA golf, NFL Football, and kick off of the NBA regular season play, are the Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina, Hookers at Cherokee Yacht Club and J.R. Spanky’s northeast of Grove.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The series premier of Life in Pieces is Thursday night at 8:30 on CBS. The new season of The Fallwill be available on NetFlix starting Friday. Madam Secretary is Sunday at 8:00 and Bull is at 8:00 Tuesday – both on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIE: Inferno

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Michelle Obama gives a speech and everyone loves it. It’s fantastic. My wife, Melania, gives the exact same speech, and people get on her case. I don’t get it!” – Donald Trump

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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, November 5 – DCCSN Winterset event at Robinett Center in Jay. Saturday, November 5 – Harbors View Marina Barn Dance & Party at Judy’s Party Barn 4:00-9:00 (live music by Whiskey Poet Society. Saturday, November 19 – Festivus Party and Christmas Shopping Party at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, November 19 – Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner & celebration at Monkey Island Pub. Saturday, November 25 – Black Friday Night Seafood Buffet at The Summit at Shangri-La.

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It’s a really big sports week, especially for baseball fans.  It’s World Series time – Cubs and Indians - games will be televised nightly on Fox all week long. It’s a big week for OKC Thunder fans, as well. The NBA kicks off regular season play. AfterWednesday night’s season opener in Philadelphia (7:00 on ESPN), the Thunder host their first home game Friday night at 7:00against the Phoenix Suns (7:00 on Fox Sports Oklahoma). They’re at home again Sunday, hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (6:00 on Fox Sports Oklahoma).

In the college football world, Arkansas does not play this week – but OSU hosts West Virginia for homecoming Saturday(11:00 on Fox), OU hosts Kansas (6:00 on FS1), and Tulsa is at Memphis (7:00 on ESPNEWS). 

College action starts early with Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh and California at USC State Thursday night (both on ESPN), and Navy at South Florida and Air Force at Fresno State Friday night (both on ESPN2). Great Saturday games include Kansas State at Iowa State, UCF at Houston, Louisville at Virginia, Florida at Georgia, Baylor at Texas, Washington at Utah, Texas Tech at TCU, Northwestern at Ohio State, Nebraska at Wisconsin, Tennessee at South Carolina, Auburn at Ole Miss, Clemson at Florida State, and New Mexico State at Texas A&M.

NFL action kicks off Thursday night with Jacksonville at Tennessee (7:30 on NFL). Sunday begins early again this week, Washington and Cincinnati squaring off in London at 8:30 Sunday Morning, Oklahoma time (Fox). Other Sunday games include Kansas City at Indianapolis (12:00 on CBS), either Detroit at Houston or Seattle at New Orleans (12:00 on Fox), Green Bay at Atlanta (3:30 on Fox), and Sunday night action with Philadelphia at Dallas (7:30 on NBC).  Monday Night Football’s feature this week sends the Minnesota Vikings to Chicago (7:30 on ESPN).

The PGA Tour is partially back in the U.S. this week for the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. Several of the big kids on the tour will be in Shanghai, China for the HSBC Champions Tournament in the World Golf Championship play. Coverage of both events is exclusively on the Golf Channel Thursday-Sunday.

In the NASCAR world, it’s Sunday afternoon racing from Martinsville this week.  Coverage of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 starts at noon Sunday on NBCSN.

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Normally, I hate fall weather – but this is my kind of autumn! Weekend weather looks fabulous. Sunshine and highs in the upper 70’s with light winds.  That’s pretty much perfect weather for any outdoor activity! Be safe, be kind, and have a great weekend. As you enjoy all Grand Lake has to offer, 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.

American Grill in Grove

Aquabar & Grill at The Landings Marina on Monkey Island (smoking on the deck)

Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley

Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)

Big Shots on Monkey Island (smoking upstairs—open Friday & Saturday nights)

Bobbers Café in Langley

Book ‘ems at South Wind Marina in Bernice

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the patios)

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café Italia on Monkey Island

Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)

Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and on Monkey Island

Chickanella’s in Grove

Chicken Coop West of Langley

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)

Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina

Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)

Drake’s Restaurant in Grove

Frosty & Edna’s (west of the dam in Langley)

Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)

Grand Lodge in Ketchum (smoking)

Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove

High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)

Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)

Island Joe's Kentena at Shangri-La Marina (smoking)

J.R. Spanky's on Highway 10 north of Grove (smoking)

Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina

Karrie's Kaboose in Vinita (smoking)

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Lakeside Bar & Grill in Grove at Sail Boat Bridge

Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum

Los Garcias in Langley

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)

Morrows Bar & Grill in Raper Hollow

Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove

Okie Smokies Barbecue in Grove on Hwy 59 South

Book ‘ems Restaurant & Pub at South Wind Marina in Bernice

Pickles at the Lake in Langley

Pit Stop Café in Grove

Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor (smoking on the deck)

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Riggs & Company in Langley

Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island (smoking...but not at lunch)

Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)

Scooters in Langley (smoking)

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)

Smokin’ Spur BBQ & Trading Post at Old Towne Plaza, Cleora

Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum

Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

The Landings Marina (smoking on the deck)

The Landings Market and Grill on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)

The Parrot at Honey Creek Landing in Grove (Smoking on the patio)

The Office on Monkey Island (smoking)

The Stables Casino in Miami (smoking)

The Shebang on Monkey Island (smoking on patio and Balcony Bar)

Ugly’s Grill & Bar, Thunder Bay Marina (smoking)

VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)

Water Side Bar & Grill in Grove

Waterway Café, Harbors View Marina (smoking on breakwater dining deck)

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove

Wyandotte Nation Casino at Twin Bridges (smoking)