December 7 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
We kicked of the Grand Lake Christmas season in high style last weekend…from one end of the lake to the other. From the fabulous Christmas Light Boat Parade out of Cherokee Yacht Club to the live reindeer at Har-Ber Village, there was plenty out outdoor fun – and the weather was perfect! Kim and Jason Shearer and the Grand Country Pest Control crew went completely outside the box bringing those reindeer to the Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village display at Har-Ber Village. What an attraction! As for the boat parade, I was amazed. It’s been several years since the boat decorations were as incredible as they were this year. If you missed it, you’ll have another chance. The televised version of the boat parade will air December 20 in Tulsa and Joplin. The telecast will be at 10:30 a.m. on KTUL in Tulsa and at 5:00 p.m. on KSNF. Mark your calendar. There are more parades this week, too – Grove, Jay, Fairland, and Disney. Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village is still open, too. Enjoy.
*****
If your ugly sweater got beaten out of the competition at Monkey Island Pub last Saturday, you have another chance this weekend at Mooney’s. Somebody must want to win the competition badly because somebody bought the ugly sweater right off of Wayne Smith’s back after he won the competition at the Pub (his wife Teri tied with Britney Woods in the ladies’ competition). We may see Wayne’s sweater on someone else’s back at Mooney’s Saturday.
*****
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get downright confused by the decisions handed down by government officials. Just in time for the holidays, officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health have approved in-school COVID-19 quarantine. You read that right – quarantine AT SCHOOL. Mustang schools were the first to adopt this bizarre idea. Until now, students exposed to the virus were understandably required to quarantine at home and attend virtual school. Now, they can just gather up all the exposed kids and take ‘em to school. What could possibly go wrong? If schools weren’t already enough of a petri dish, this additional exposure of teachers and kids should seal the deal.
*****
Not to be outdone, Governor Stitt fired a member of the State Board of Education and replaced him with anti-mask, anti-vaccination home schooler. Nothing against home schooling – but it does seem a little odd to have someone regulating public education who is publicly opposed to it. Things that make you go “hmmm.”
*****
Did you participate in Governor Stitt’s call for “prayer and fasting” last week to oppose the Coronavirus? I was confused by the simultaneous announcement that he was joining Senators Lankford and Inhofe sponsoring a big OKC fundraising barbecue event benefiting Senate candidates in Georgia. I still wonder if his announcement might have had a typo. Instead of “praying and fasting,” maybe he actually meant “paying and feasting.”
*****
While we’re on the topic of politics and government, we have the 2020 elections behind us, so we should start looking to the 2022 elections, right? Former OKC Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Mick Cornett was hanging out at the lake over Thanksgiving. He said so many people are urging him to run against Governor Stitt that he can’t help but give it some thought. You heard it here first.
*****
DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Wednesday evening is the annual Sagittarius Party at The Shebang. If you’re a Sagittarian (like Larry Duke), there’s a free feed of beans, taters & cornbread waiting for you Wednesday night at The Shebang. The Café at Har-Ber Village is open year-round (8:00-4:00). Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is extending their weekend operating schedule through December 20 (Fri 4:00-8:00, Sat & Sun 11:00-8:00 – no breakfast service). The popular “Sunday Brunch” is offered to the public at Doc’s Bar & Grill (9:00-2:00) and Mulligans at Patricia Island (10:00-2:00). The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La is now closed Sundays until March 2021. If you plan to enjoy any holiday spirits at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill, you’d better head that way. Mooney’s will be closed December 15-January 1 for painting and maintenance.
*****
BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Friday night, enjoy Christmas Carols at the Coleman Theatre in Miami. Friday & Saturday is “Last Minute Lakers” shopping special in Grove and on Monkey Island. There are more Christmas parades Saturday, including the Fairland Christmas Parade (noon), Jay Christmas Parade (2:00 p.m.), Grove Christmas Parade (6:00), and the Offroad Christmas Parade in Disney (5:00 p.m.). Saturday is also a Big Band Christmas at the Coleman Theatre and the annual Ugly Sweater Contest at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village is open at Har-Ber Village, the Winter Wonderland Christmas Light Display is open nightly at Pine Lodge Resort, the Twin Bridges Park of Lights is now open at Twin Bridges near Wyandotte, and The Casitas at Grand Lake also has a great light display. Next Monday, we’re electing a new President for real. December 14 is Electoral Collage voting day.
*****
BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Jason Morgan hosts karaoke at Prime Rib & Karaoke Thursday at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Clint Ingram performs live at Doc’s Friday night. KJ Flip leads the karaoke fun at Blind Swine Thursday night from 8-11. Erin Fitzgibbon performs Friday night for Live Swine; and Magen Faulconer will be on stage at the Swine Saturday night. Erin Fitzgibbon will be back Tuesday. Terry Jordan performs at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La Friday and Saturday nights. Monkey Island Pub features Karaoke with Tim Saturday night.
Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Wilkie Jay & the Heat Thursday in the Echo Bar, followed by The Faulconers Friday and Jay Stockton & the Outlaw Souls Saturday. Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar will host 90LB Wrench with live music Friday night and D’Elegantz Band Saturday. Bobby DeGonia will perform Friday night at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar followed by Nathan Bryce & Loaded Dice Saturday night.
*****
RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The planet Mercury's elliptical orbit is so fast -- 88 earth days -- and its rotation so slow -- 1 day=59 Earth days -- that for some locations on the planet's surface the sun rises, sets, and rises again above the same horizon.
*****
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: You can get your wife jewelry, an expensive purse or perfume for Christmas, but she will never forget the Christmas you got her a mop. Never.
*****
BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: People who take naps are the real heroes. In 2020, it takes real courage to wake up twice in one day.
*****
DEFINITION OF THE WEEK: Airgasm: the intense personal pleasure of leaving a public place and taking off your mask.
*****
BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: One minute you’re young and wild. The next, you’re into air fryers.
*****
TWEET OF THE WEEK: We’re gonna have to retire the expression “avoid it like the plague” because it turns out humans don’t do that.
*****
BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Charles Dickens walks into a bar and orders a martini. Bartender asks, “Olive or Twist?”
*****
OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: You can tell Monopoly is an old game because there’s a luxury tax and rich people can go to jail.
*****
FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Actress Linda Evans, best known for her roles in The Big Valley (as a teenager) and the TV series Dynasty, is 78 years old. Bo Jackson. Yes, THAT Bo Jackson turned 58 last week.
*****
GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Stephanie Gibbs, Gina Holloway, Janie Cunningham, Sherry Kern, Terri Thomas, Nikki Rowton, Erica Ware, Karen Strimple, Allison Timberlake, Doug Smith, Chris Tarbell, Kim Hudelson, Charlotte Oglesby, Dwain Richardson, Konrad Faust, Debbie McCurdy, Spencer Dyer, George Blair, Larry Duke, Jessica DeRose, Dustin Matthews, Rich Lawson, Amy Redus, Steven Dyer, Renee Hartley, Brenda Littlefield, Barry Kirkland, Nevyle Cable, Jill Swisher, Brad Milanowski, Mark Schmitz, and Amber Benson.
*****
UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do people say “tuna fish,” but they don’t say “chicken bird” or “beef mammal?” (thanks to Jon Wilson for this one)
*****
BUM MUST-SEE TV: One Night Only: The Best of Broadway airs Thursday night at 7:00 on NBC. Blue Bloods is at 9:00 Friday night on CBS. The Voice season 19 finale is next Tuesday night at 8:00 on NBC.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee is available this weekend on Apple TV+. Mank and the highly acclaimed The Prom are available on NETFLIX this weekend. Godmothered is on Disney+.
*****
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
*****
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, December 19 – Afton Christmas Parade (6:00). Saturday, December 19 – Christmas Costume Contest at Monkey Island Pub. Saturday, December 19 – Big 12 Football Championship Game at 11:00. Saturday, December 19 – Sing with Santa kids’ karaoke at Blind Swine 5:00-7:00. Thursday, December 24 – Christmas Eve Karaoke with KJ Flip at Blind Swine. Thursday, December 31 – Puerto Rican New Year’s Celebration at Big Shot’s Rhythm & Booze (8:00-11:00 p.m.). Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Roaring 20s party at Monkey Island Pub. Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve celebrations at Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, Pickles on the Lake, Mooney’s. Thursday, December 31 – Members Wine Dinner at The Summit at Shangri-La. New Year’s Eve Prime Rib Dinner/party at Mulligan’s at Patricia Island. Thursday, January 14 – Grove Chamber Connection Membership Luncheon at Grove Community Center (11:30).
*****
SPORTS WATCH: College football battles are getting down to the wire. OU is at West Virginia at 11:00 Saturday morning (ABC) and Tulsa hosts Cincinnati (ESPN). Texas is at Kansas at 2:30 and OSU is at Baylor at 6:00 (both on ESPNU).
The NFL season heads into week #14 with New England and the Los Angeles Rams getting the weekend started Thursday night at 7:00 on Fox. Sunday games include Dallas at Cincinnati (noon on Fox), Kansas City at Miami (noon on CBS), either Green Bay at Detroit or Atlanta at the L.A. Chargers (3:30 on Fox), and Pittsburgh at Buffalo (7:00 on NBC). Monday Night Football features Baltimore at Cleveland (7:00 on ESPN).
PGA players are in Naples, Florida this week for the last tournament before the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii January 7. Coverage of the QBE Shootout on the Golf Channel begins at 10:00 Friday morning and noon Saturday, with final round coverage on NBC at 11:00 Sunday morning (moving back to the Golf Channel at 1:00).
*****
Weather for the weekend ahead looks all right for a December weekend. We may get a little rain Friday, but it should clear off for the weekend. It’ll be cool, though. Highs in the mid-40s and lows in the upper 20s. Plan your outdoor activities accordingly – and enjoy the parades and your favorite party spots, but remember - wherever you party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!
GRAND LAKE BUM
Want more information on advertisers you see in the Grand Lake Bum? No problem. Just click on their ad and you will be connected to their website. If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both Grand Lake Living and www.360grandlake.com, the cost is only $50 a week and the list of readers is growing. E-mail or contact grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker newspaper.
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.
Ailey’s Café in Langley
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 Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café at Har-Ber Village
Café Yum in Grove
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum
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
Marina’s Place at Littlefield Corner
Matt’s Place in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
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
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)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)
Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice
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 Pouhouse at The Regatta in Grove
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