December 2 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Now we move into the most exciting season of the year – college football bowl game season! I’m just teasing you. We have to do conference championship season first! As we have the time, we’ll even squeeze in a parade or two and a few parties along the way – parties that may have absolutely nothing to do with football. It’s hard to imagine…but it could happen!
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Seriously, though. It’s time to start decorating your boat, float, golf cart, sleigh, sled, or tractor – because there are parades on the near horizon for every kind of vehicle – starting this week, in fact. Grand Lake is ALWAYS the party sport. Why should the Christmas holiday season be any different?
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Here is my favorite observation for the holiday season ahead…and for life in general. It’s worth thinking about. Don’t like sex? Don’t do it. Don’t like gay marriage? Don’t get one. Don’t like cigarettes? Don’t smoke them. Don’t like abortions? Don’t get one. Don’t like drugs? Don’t do them. Don’t like porn? Don’t watch it. Don’t like alcohol? Don’t drink it. Don’t like guns? Don’t buy one. Don’t like your rights taken away? Then don’t take away someone else’s.
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The fake war on Christmas has expanded. Now there is also an imaginary war on Thanksgiving. I don’t know who makes up these goofy things, just to try to irritate people and get them riled up. I thought irritating people and getting them riles up was MY job! It’s okay. If you want to wish me a happy anything at all, please feel free. I’ll just fire it right back at you. We can’t have too many happy days of any kind!
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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Shangri-La Resort has added another popular weekly event at Doc’s Bar & Grill in addition to “Trivia, Tacos & Tequila Tuesday” and “Prime Rib & Karaoke Thursday. Now, sandwiched in between the two is “Women’s Wine Wednesday” with select wines sold at half-price by the bottle or by the glass from 5:00 p.m. until close.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: A computer repairman taught Taylor Swift to play guitar.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: The most expensive vehicle to operate, by far, is the Costco shopping cart.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is having to look for a new job the next day.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Teachers should wear body cams like police officers so parents can see how their children act.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: All chemists know that alcohol is always a solution.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: No matter how old you are, an empty Christmas wrapping paper tube is still a fun thing to bonk someone over the head with. (thanks to Linda Wall for sharing this one)
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Judie Clark, Hunter Burkholder, Sharon Mical, Marshall Brackin, Lisa Coffee, Rita Hitzeman, Gary Brock, Barbara Pliler, Wayne Crouse, Juff Underwood, Jim Gray, Gina Gibbs, Leslie Wright-Porter, Stephanie Gibbs, Janee Odle, Janie Cunningham, Sherry Kearn, Terri Thomas, Nikki Rowton, Erica Ware, and Karen Strimple.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: In court, why do they ask you if you swear to tell the truth? If you were planning on lying, do they think you would tell them?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: You can tell Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, because Christmas celebrations are underway. The Vinita Christmas Parade kicks off the season at 7:00 Thursday. Thursday night is also the Grand Lake Association Annual Banquet at Riverbend Casino (6:00). Saturday morning is the big Christmas Breakfast & Dessert Auction at the Grove Community Center at 7:30 a.m. (Benefiting Second Chance Pet Rescue). Saturday is also the Ladies Wine Share and Christmas Shopping at The Casitas (Noon-3:00). The Miami Country Christmas Parade is Saturday night (6:00); and Sunday afternoon at 2:00 is the Christmas Potluck at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina.
Monday, Shangri-La Members will be introduced to upcoming Water Aerobics classes with a free demonstration at 10:00 a.m.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s great entertainment around the lake again this weekend. Saturday and Sunday nights, Terry Jordan will entertain at Shangri-La’s Summit Restaurant. At the Blind Swine, KJ Flip hosts the DJ and karaoke fun Thursday night. Erin Fitzgibbon will be on stage Friday night and Diversity will entertain Saturday night. Sunday nights are Open Jam Sessions for musicians at the Swine. Monkey Island Pub hosts their annual Ugly Sweater Contest Saturday night followed by Karaoke with Tim Robinson. At Littlefield Corner, there’s great live music every weekend at the Road Hog Saloon; and every Tuesday night, Jason Morgan entertains at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La with “Trivia, Tacos & Tequila Tuesdays” from 6:00-9:00.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features the music of NighTTrain Friday night and Reverse Reaction Saturday. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 features live music every Friday night and karaoke fun Saturday night. At River Bend Casino, The Faulconer Duo performs Friday night in the Club 60 West Bar, and DJ 5Start Entertainment provides the music Saturday. Saturday night in the Club 60 West Event Center, enjoy “Dinner and a Show” with a special Neil Diamond Tribute. Sunday night is yet another “Christmas Dinner and a Show” – Carpenters’ Christmas Once More. At Buffalo Run Casino’s Peoria Showplace, Friday night is XFN Extreme Fight Night beginning at 7:00. Buffalo Run’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill there is live DJ action every Friday & Saturday night at 10:00. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar and Lover’s Leap Lounge both feature live music both Friday & Saturday nights. Donnie Ray Stevens will entertain Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino’s Echo Bar followed by Sweet Trouble Friday and NighTTrain Saturday.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action including college football, PGA Golf, NFL football, and NBA action are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby is available this week on NETFLIX. Same Time, Next Christmas airs Thursday night at 8:00 on ABC. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is available Saturday on Prime Video – and Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways airs Tuesday night at 7:00 on NBC.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, I See You and The Banker
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Why waste your money looking up your family tree? Just go into politics and your opponent will do it for you .” - Mark Twain
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, December 14 – Polar Bear Stroll beginning in the Gambino’s parking lot in Ketchum at 1:00 (benefiting South Grand Lakers Helping Children). Saturday, December 14 – Christmas Gala at Shangri-La Resort. Saturday, December 14 – “Lights on the Lake Christmas Parade” in Grove (5:30). Saturday, December 14 – “A Big Band Christmas” with the Tulsa Praise Orchestra & Choir at the Coleman Theater in Miami (7:00). Saturday, December 14 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade from Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, December 14 – Christmas Parade Across the Pensacola Dam. Sunday, December 15 – Christmas Brunch with Santa at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La. Tuesday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Prime Rib Dinner at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Wednesday, January 1 – Late Night/Early Morning New Year’s Breakfast Buffet for the party animals at Doc’s Bar & Grill 1:00-4:00 a.m. Friday-Sunday, January 10-12 – OKC Boat & RV Show at the Bennett Center, State Fairgrounds.
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Every week of college football gets bigger and bigger as the days go by. This week is HUGE for the Oklahoma Sooners, of course, as they meet the Baylor Bears in a rematch for the Big 12 Championship title. Game time is 11:00 Saturday morning and will be televised on ABC.
NFL action moves into week #14 with a big weekend kickoff Thursday night at the Chicago Bears host the Dallas Cowboys (7:00 on Fox). Sunday games include Washington and Green Bay (Fox) and Cincinnati at Cleveland (CBS), both at noon. At 3:30, New England hosts Kansas City on CBS. Sunday night’s game sends Seattle to L.A. to face the Rams (7:00 on NBC); and Monday Night Fotball features the New York Giants at Philadelphia (7:00 on ESPN).
The NBA schedule has the OKC Thunder at home Friday night hosting Sacramento (7:00) before heading west for grueling back-to-back road games at Portland Sunday night (8:00) and Utah Monday night (8:00). With only one day’s rest, they’re in Sacramento Wednesday night at 9:00. All games will be televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma.
PGA Players are basking in the sunshine in the Bahamas as Tiger Woods hosts the Hero World Challenge. Play starts early this week. Coverage on the Golf Channel begins Wednesday and Thursday at noon, at 10:00 Friday morning and 9:00 Saturday morning. NBC picks up Saturday’s final round coverage at 11:00 a.m.
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Weather for the first full weekend of December looks pretty good for the kick-off of the Christmas parade season. We’ll have mostly clear skies, high temperatures in the low 50s with lows in the mid-30s to low 40s. Rain chances are pretty much limited to Thursday evening. It sounds like the perfect weekend to enjoy parades, parties, football, basketball, great food, and some time with friends & family. 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.
1909 in Downtown Grove
Ailey’s Café in Langley
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 (Open Friday & Saturday nights)
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café Italia on Monkey Island
Café Yum in Grove
Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)
Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and at Littlefield Corner
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Coppers Tea & Coffee House in Grove
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
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 on the Lake at Blue Bluff Harbor
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina (smoking)
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lake Public House in Grove
Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove
Henrie’s Grill 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
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Monkey’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Morrow’s Bar & Grill at Morrow’s Landing
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
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
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
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)
Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on 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 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