October 3 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

Saturday’s incredibly beautiful weather made for an interesting day watching the boats on Grand. If “sailboat race” isn’t already too much of an oxymoron, the poor guys & gals in the blow boats were whisked along by a breeze that varied between 1 and 2 mph. For a while, I thought they were anchored and having a sailboat raft-up…but they were still “racing.” I hope they packed plenty of food and beverages.

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The weather was perfect for everyone else, though, including powerboaters, golfers, and the OMG crowd of pickleball players in the Shangri-La Open benefiting NEO A&M Saturday & Sunday and the Stars & Stripes Classic golf tournament at Shangri-La Sunday benefiting the John Daly-Major Ed Heart of a Lion Foundation. No matter the season, Grand Lakers are always skilled at having a good time for a good cause!

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The white pelicans have arrived at Grand in droves – just in time for the festival in their honor this week. Yep. It’s Pelican Festival time at Wolf Creek Park in Grove this weekend. I hope you haven’t winterized your boat yet, though, because that’s the best way to find the flocks of feathered festival honorees! Enjoy!

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Social media platforms were certainly all busy last week. Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day…okay. Even Grandparents’ Day. But now we have Daughters’ Day, Sons’ Day? What’s next? Step-parents’ Day? Cousins’ Day? Uncles’ Day? Geez. The folks at Hallmark must have a full crew thinking up new “holidays.”

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Another solution in search of a problem. Sixty girls, including the Homecoming Queen, were banned from the Homecoming Dance at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork, Utah for violating the dress code. Their dresses had actually been pre-approved by the administration, but the girls were removed from the dance because “their body was not the same as the picture of the model.” So, to be clear, the girls weren’t banned from the dance because the administration didn’t approve of the dresses. They were banned because the administration didn’t approve of their bodies. It doesn’t get much worse than that!

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Sometimes it is better to think before you speak. In France, the pork lobby recently attacked vegan bacon manufacturer La Vie saying their non-pork vegan bacon tastes too much like the real thing…to which a La Vie spokesperson replied, “Really? Thank you.”

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to David Hampton, Lauria Givens, Joe Wilburn, Patty Northrop, Nancy Saamer, Barry Eller, Pat Flanagan, Luke Curley, Renee Russell, Rick Harper, Lane Worley, Art Couch, Saunie Boeve, Mark Funke, Richard Leuszler, Bob Altmiller, Tom Love, Russ Arnold, and John Walter.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: It’s Pelican Festival time! Main events are Thursday-Sunday at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. The Pelican Festival Parade is Saturday morning at 9:30. Friday & Saturday is the “Shop, Dine & Fun Shop Local Weekend at participating Grove area merchants. Friday is also the South Grand Lake Chamber’s 25^th Annual Coves Golf Tournament, and the First Friday Wine Share is at 6:00 Friday evening at Rustic Rehab in Grove. Crawl-a-Palooza is Friday-Sunday in the offroad area at Disney. Saturday is a big OU-Texas Watch Party and Cookout at The Anchor at Shangri-La (11:00 a.m.). Saturday is also the River Bend Car Show at River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (9:00-1:00), as well as a Fall Festival at DK Home Accents in Grove (9:00-2:00).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Woods County, Oklahoma, was named for Kansas politician Samuel Newitt Wood. It became Woods rather than Wood County because of a ballot printing error.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: I checked the United Kingdom lineup in the Royal dugout. There will not be another Queen of England in our lifetime.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: A kid in the park informed me smoking was bad for you. So, I popped his balloon with my cigarette and told him so was talking to strangers.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (seen at a hotel): Enjoy fall from your private balcony.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: It was only after I shot the third zombie that I started to wonder why they were carrying bags of candy and ringing my doorbell.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I drove all over the lake area looking for my favorite kind of paper towels. That’s right. I’m a Bounty hunter.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If the definition of wind is “the perceptible movement of air,” can any of the television weather wizards explain to me how they can say, “the wind is calm”?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Only during a hurricane can you purchase a shovel, duct tape, rope, and a tarp, and no one questions your motive.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Iconic broadcast journalist and television personality Barbara Walters is 93 years old. Remember when David Letterman announced he had a new baby son? His “baby” Harry started college this month. The popular TV show “My Three Sons” made it’s small screen debut this month…62 years ago.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the weekend fun kicks off Thursday night at the Italian Buffet & Karaoke with Jason Morgan at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Mark Ingram performs indoors at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night; and Terry Jordan tickles the ivories both Friday and Saturday nights at The Summit. There is karaoke fun on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday and Saturday nights when the weather is warm enough; and DJ K-Bandito is now hosting Big Shots Big Saturdays across the street at Big Shots. Saturday is Rockstar Karaoke night with DJ Chris Kennedy at Monkey Island Pub. Puzzle Pieces will perform Sunday afternoon at 5:00 at Quarterdeck Café.

On South Grand Lake, Jake Flint performs Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill (9:00) and The Barrett Lewis Band will entertain Saturday night. At the Drunken Rooster, RocKFiscH will provide the music Saturday night.

In Grove, Mid Life Crisis entertains Friday at 7:30 at The Pelican Festival in Wolf Creek. DJ 2 Legit provides the Saturday afternoon music 1:00-4:00 and Double Vision-The Foreigner Experience wraps up the festival music Saturday night at 7:30. Dale & Gayle will entertain at Goodfella’s Pizza Saturday from 5:00-8:00. There is karaoke fun every Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music Friday night by Oreo Blue, and more karaoke Saturday. Whiskey Poet Society performs Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove followed by Reversing Radio Saturday.

Brett ‘N Terri start the weekend music Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino followed by The Downbeat Friday night and Derryl Perry Saturday.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Thursday night Shrimp Boil at Doc’s Bar & Grill has been replaced by a Thursday night Italian Buffet each week. Jason Morgan still leads the karaoke fun. Blind Swine on Monkey Island is now closed Sunday & Monday. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La now also offers a breakfast buffet seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. including expanded brunch buffets Saturday & Sunday until 1:00 p.m. The Galley at The Anchor at Shangri-La is now closed Monday & Tuesday, open 4:00-9:00 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, and 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. Eddy’s Lakeside Bar, Blind Swine on Duck Creek, and Sharky’s are now closed for the season.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Grey’s Anatomy returns for a new season Thursday night at 8:00 followed by the premiere of Alaska Daily at 9:00, both on ABC. Fire Country debuts Friday night at 8:00 followed by the season premiere of Blue Bloods at 9:00, both on CBS. NCIS: Los Angeles returns Sunday night at 9:00, also on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Amsterdam and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile both open in movie theaters this week. Luckiest Girl Alive and The Midnight Club are both available this week on NETFLIX.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Saturday, October 13-16 – Rocktoberfest Rock Crawling below the dam in Disney. Friday & Saturday, October 14-15 – Classic & Antique Car Auction at Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Showplace. Saturday, October 15 – Octoberfest Celebration at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort (noon-8:00 p.m.). Saturday & Sunday, October 15-16 – The Race to Shangri-La Tour Championship Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, October 22 – Fall Fest at the Courthouse Square in Jay (9:00-4:00). Sunday, October 16 – Gary Dunham Memorial Golf Tournament at Patricia Island Country Club. Friday, October 28 – Halloween Costume Pickleball Mixer at The Anchor Racquet Club at Shangri-La (7:00-8:30 p.m.). Friday, October 28 – Crawl-O-Ween off-road spook trail in the South Grand Lake Recreation Area (4:00 p.m.). Friday, October 28 – World Series Game 1. Saturday, October 29 – Mary Moore Pickleball Charity Challenge benefiting Special Olympics at The Anchor Racquet Club at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.). Saturday, October 29 – Kids’ Spooktacular Halloween Party & Costume Contest at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 29 – Halloween Party at Grand Meridian RV, Cabin & Tiny Home Resort (6:00 p.m.). Monday, October 31 – “Trunk or Treat” at the Courthouse Square in Jay (6:00-8:00 p.m.).

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It’s another big college football weekend. It’s OU-Texas Weekend. Kick-off for both the OU-Texas game and the Arkansas-Mississippi State game is at 11:00 Saturday morning, immediately followed by OSU hosting Texas Tech and Tulsa facing Navy, both at 2:30.

Other great Saturday games include Kansas State at Iowa State and BYU vs. Notre Dame, both at 6:30, and Texas A&M at Alabama at 7:00.  

The Colts and Broncos kick off the NFL weekend Thursday night at 7:00. Sunday games include another early start with the N.Y. Giants facing Green Bay in London at 8:30 a.m. Noon games feature Atlanta at Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh at Buffalo, and the L.A. Rams host the Cowboys at 3:30. Cincinnati is at Baltimore Sunday night at 7:00; and Monday Night Football features the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Las Vegas Raider.

PGA Players are in Las Vegas this week for the Shriner’s Children’s Open. Coverage is exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 4:00 Thursday-Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are in Charlotte. Coverage of the Bank of America ROVAL 400 begins at 1:00 Sunday afternoon on NBC.

It’s finally playoff time for Major League Baseball. Wild Card action begins with four games per day scheduled Friday-Sunday. Division Playoffs begin Tuesday. Playoffs continue throughout the month with the World Series set to begin with Game 1 October 28.

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Weekend weather looks like a perfect fall weekend! We’ll have clear skies, light winds, highs in the mid-70s and lows around 50; so get out there and enjoy all the many weekend Grand Lake entertainment options. Remember, though, no matter where 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

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

Bella Donna’s at Honey Creek Landing Marina

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

Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina

Blind Swine on Monkey Island

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café at Har-Ber Village

Café Yum in Grove

Cafeteria at The Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

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 in Grove

Chicken Coop West of Langley

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

Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina

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 (smoking)

Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek

Forage in downtown Grove & The Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

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

Hatfield’s Saloon 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

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

Marina’s Place at Littlefield Corner

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Monkey Island RV Resort

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

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)

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 (smoking...but not at lunch)

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 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