October 23 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

One of the good things about the fall season is Halloween – one of my favorite holidays of the year. Nobody is obligated to visit relatives. No gifts are required – and people give you free candy for no reason at all! It’s also a good opportunity to sneak in some shenanigans that you wouldn’t have the nerve to do if anyone knew who you were. I love it. I can do pretty much anything I want – and if my disguise is good enough, nobody will know it was me!

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I hope we have another football weekend like the last weekend. It was perfect! OU and OSU both won and USC lost. It could be a tougher weekend with OU at Kansas and OSU hosting Cincinnati. I hope the Sooners don’t scare us like they did hosting UCF. I got tickled at a guy that said, “Wow! I’ve never even heard of UCF." I had to remind him, that’s where Dillon Gabriel and Jeff Lebby came from – and, by the way, UCF is not only the largest university in Florida, it’s the second largest university in the country (behind Texas A&M).

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This week, I’m distracted by the World Series. It’s the time of year I start watching Major League Baseball. I’m more excited, though, about the World Series Special they’re featuring at The Anchor. Finally there is a food & beverage special I can afford - $3 hot dog & beer World Series special. Even if you don’t care about baseball, that’s worth showing up!

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I thought Shangri-La was going to start featuring circus performers. There have been gigantic tents put up at the resort for the past two weeks, so I checked it out. As it turns out, the tents were both for gigantic wedding receptions – a different kind of circus that I was thinking about. Great bands, though! I didn’t become a wedding crasher, but I stayed on the dock to listen to the great music. It made me think it was July again!

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If you’ve been in poker run withdrawal, you have a chance for an antidote this weekend. The GLOC Wheels & Water Poker Run can be run by land or by sea, but it’s a little different in that the stops are in a specific order. The fun run begins at Mooney’s at 11:00 Saturday morning. Additional stops are Honey Creek Landing Marina, Tera Miranda Resort, Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina – and the final stop at Marina Del Rey Resort. The $20 entry feel supports Christmas gifts for kids in need.

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It’s great to see Grand Laker Toby Keith back in the saddle and starting to tour again. He just announced two upcoming appearances December 10-11 at Park MGM in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo. Toby summed it up: “Y’all been waiting a lont time to hear this. I’ve been waiting a long time to do this! I’m back!”

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Be sure and enjoy the weekend on Grand Lake. It’s the last full weekend before Daylight Saving Time goes away for a while. I’m sure looking forward to those 5:30 sunsets – said NO ONE, EVER!!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Caryl Blanchat, Kenny King, Richard Bell, Roger Pelcher, Paul Staten, Cy Elmburg, Julie Wolfe, Gara Pelcher, Bruce Brookby, Jeff Pelcher, Kaye Slepka, Kathy Barnes, Shelly Sparks, Teesha Clark, Justin Morgan, Jeromy McMorris, and Christal Lavery.  

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. Holy Cow! What an incredibly busy week of Grand Lake events to wrap up the month of October. Thursday is the South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon at the GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley (11:30 a.m.) and the Grand Lake Newcomer Club New Newcomer Lunch at Casa Gutierrez in Grove (11:30 a.m.). Friday night is Spooky Movie Night at the Fire Pit at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina (7:00 p.m.). Saturday & Sunday is a great Youth Theater presentation of “Forest Paths” at Playmakers in Grove (2:00 p.m.). Saturday is packed with events - the GLOC Wheels & Water Christmas Poker Run (beginning at Mooney’s at 11:30 a.m.), an Autumn Moon Fall Festival at Church on the Lake (9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.), a Fall Craft Show at the Bernice Community/Senior Center (10:00-3:00), a Halloween & Anniversary Party at the Drunken Rooster (with Carnival beginning at 3:00), Grove Merchants Trick-or-Treat for kids in costume, and a Spooktober Halloween Party & Costume Contest at The Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda Resort. Saturday evening is the Fall Festival, Halloween Party & Costume Contest at The Anchor at Shangri-La Resort (6:00-8:00 p.m.), a costume party at Juan Montez Restaurant (8:30 p.m.), and a Drive-In Movie Night at Wolf Creek Park – double feature: Hocus Pocus and Beetlejuice (6:00 p.m.). Sunday is a “Costume Skate” at Rocket Skating (2:00-4:00 p.m.). Monday is the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Three Ponies RV Park & Campground (10:00 a.m.).

Tuesday is Trick or Treat Day at the Grove Library (8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.) and Wolf Creek Harvest Fest (6:00-8:30 p.m.).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: At just short of 17 feet, Mount Villingili on Addu Atoll is the tallest natural feature in the Maldives.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Nolan Ryan threw seven no hitters, but never won a Cy Young Award. Roger Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, but never threw a no hitter.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: The Beatles auditioned for Decca records January 1, 1962, but were turned down because “groups of guitars are on the way out.” Decca instead chose a group called The Tremeloes, which were local and cheaper. This is widely considered to be one of the biggest mistakes in music history.

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OXYMORON OF THE WEEK: Standard Options

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Dear Bill Collectors: I know I owe you…but I got some good news. I typed “Amen” on a Facebook post and in 458 hours I will get a ton of money – so when I get it, I will pay you.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Friday Night – Spaghetti Wrestling! Saturday, $1 all-you-can-eat spaghetti.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: Ladies, find a man who strokes your hair and says how soft it is, and doesn’t even care that it’s on your legs.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: You know what a wreath made of $100 bills is called, right? Aretha Franklins.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Are UFOs really just billionaires visiting form other planets?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: You don’t see faith healers working in hospitals for the same reason you don’t see psychics winning the lottery.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Halloween: a day when we get it right. Strangers come to us, beautiful, ugly, odd, or scary, and we accept them, treat them kindly, and give them good things. Why don’t we live like that?” – Steve Garnass-Holmes

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Hip-Hop artist Eminem turned 51 years old last week – and Snoop Dogg turned 52.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the weekend fun kicks off at Doc’s Bar & Grill Thursday night with Jason Morgan leading the karaoke fun. KJ Flip leads the Thursday karaoke at Big Shots and DJ K-Bandito hosts the weekend musical fun Friday & Saturday nights. Ryan Graham performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Friday night and Terry Jordan entertains both Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit. There’s still karaoke on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday and Saturday nights, and Saturday night is Rockstar Karaoke fun at Monkey Island Pub featuring DJ Kennedy.

On South Grand Lake, the weekend musical fun always starts on Thursday nights with karaoke fun at The Drunken Rooster, and Empire will be on stage Saturday night. Casey West will provide Friday night’s music at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by The Barrett Lewis Duo at the Saturday night Halloween Party. DJ Cowboy Joe will provide the music Saturday night at Juan Montez for the costume party fun.

In Grove there is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music by Bobby DeGonia Friday night, and more karaoke Saturday. Phil Vaught entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove, followed by Hollywood Riot Saturday night.

Michele Warren kicks off the weekend Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino, with Funkin’ Gonuts taking over Friday night followed by Mayday by Midnight Saturday. Stone Country entertains Saturday night at River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, Until Now performs at Quapaw Casino, and Alana Springsteen will be on stage Friday night at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar.

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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UDATE: Waterside Bar & Grill in Grove is now closed permanently. The Monkey Grind at Shangri-La now closes at noon Monday-Thursday, still open until 3:00 Friday-Sunday. The Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort is open Friday & Saturday nights (5:00-9:00 p.m.). Monkey Island Pub is now open Friday & Saturday at 4:00. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda no longer serves breakfast. The Grill at Indian Hills has begun winter hours – Thursday-Sunday from 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red is available Friday on Disney+ and South Park: Joining the Panderverse is available on Paramount+. The new version of Frasier is also available on Paramount+.  Fellow Travelers airs Sunday night at 8:00 on Showtime. The mini-series Get Gotti is available on NETFLIX.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Five Nights at Freddy’s and  Freelance join Killers of the Flower Moon and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in theaters this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, November 2 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Grand River Abstract in Langley (4:30 p.m.). Friday, November 3 – S’Mores & Pours Bedlam Pickleball Mixer with bar at The Anchor Racquet Club (7:00-9:00 p.m.). Saturday, November 4 – Bedlam Hooray Grill Tailgate & OU-OSU Watch Party at The Anchor. Saturday & Sunday, November 4-5 - Mary Bulten Memorial Pickleball Open Tournament at The Anchor Racquet Club. Tuesday, November 7 – “Tuesday Trivia” season kick-off at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00 p.m.). Friday & Saturday, November 10-11 – Grove Merchants Christmas Open House. Saturday, November 11 – DCCSAN Winterset Gala at Shangri-La resort (6:00 p.m.). Tuesday, November 14 – Tuesday Trivia with Lee Lawson at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00 p.m.). Thursday, November 16 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at Shangri-La Resort (5:00 p.m.). Thursday, November 23 – Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet at Doc’s Bar & Grill (11:00-7:00). Thursday, November 23 - NFL Thanksgiving Game Day Watch Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La (10:00-10:00). Saturday & Sunday, November 25-26 – Opening weekend for Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village at Har-Ber Village. Friday, December 1 – “Lights on Grove!” Christmas kick-off celebration on the Grove City Hall lawn (6:00 p.m.). Saturday & Sunday, December 2-3 – “Journey to Jesus” with Oasis animals at Oasis Animal Adventures (3:00-8:00 p.m.). Tuesday, December 5  -Tuesday Trivia with Lee Lawson at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 9 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade from Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, December 9 – Grove Lighted Christmas Parade (6:00 p.m.). Tuesday, December 12 – Tuesday Trivia with Lee Lawson at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00 p.m.).

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We’re down to just two teams still standing in Major League Baseball. The World Series kicks off with game 1 Friday and game 2 Saturday. Remaining games are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and, if necessary, next Wednesday, Friday & Saturday.

In the college football world, OU is at Kansas and Tulsa is at SMU, both at 11:00 Saturday morning; and OSU hosts Cincinnati at 7:00. There are several other games of interest Saturday. K-State hosts Houston at 11:00, Pittsburgh is at Notre Dame and Georgia is at Florida, both at 2:30. Colorado is at UCLA at 6:30, and Oregon State is at Arizona for the late game at 9:30.

In the NFL, Tampa Bay is at Buffalo Thursday night at 7:00. Sunday games include the Rams at Dallas at noon, Kansas City at Denver at 3:30, and Chicago at the L.A. Chargers at 7:00. Monday Night Football sends Las Vegas to Detroit.

The NBA Regular Season is underway. Following Wednesday’s season-opener in Chicago, the OKC Thunder travel to Cleveland Friday (6:30) before returning to OKC for a three-game homestand hosting Denver Sunday (2:30), Detroit Monday (7:00), and New Orleans next Wednesday (6:30).

NASCAR drivers are at Martinsville Sunday for the last race before the Series Championship. Coverage of the Xfinity 500 begins at 1:00 on NBC.

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The upcoming weekend weather won’t be nearly as nice as last weekend, but it’ll still be okay. We may have some showers, but we’ll have high temperatures around 70 and lows around 50 – at least until the bottom starts falling out Sunday night. It looks like the perfect weather to jump in on all the Halloween parties! Remember, though, wherever you decide to 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

Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley

Back Porch Ice Cream in Grove

Bailey’s Bistro at Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

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

Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Friday & Saturday nights)

Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

Blue Cat Bistro at Har-Ber Village

BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café at Har-Ber Village

Café Yum in Grove

Casa Gutierrez in Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

Changos Locos at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanella’s 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

Copper’s Tea and Coffee House in Grove

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

Cove Club in Langley

Danny’s Dockside Pizza at Honey Creek Landing

Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

Domino’s in Grove

Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)

Drake’s Restaurant in Grove

Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill

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

Flower Bar in Grove

Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

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

Grand Lake Coffee Company in Grove

Grand Lake Public House in Grove

Grand Lake RV Resort at the back of Duck Creek

Hero’s Deli in Grove

High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)

Honey Creek BBQ in Grove (south of Honey Creek bridge)

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

Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina

Keagan’s Coffee at Littlefield Corner

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Lester’s Third Street Diner in Grove

Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum

Los Garcias in Langley

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

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

Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove

Nu Taste Restaurant 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 (smoking on the deck)

R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, Grove

Riggs & Company in Langley

River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)

Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island

Royal Liquor Store in Grove

Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)

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 Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La

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 (smoking)

VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)

Water Side Bar & Grill in Grove

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove