December 12 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

The Christmas season is in full swing on Grand Lake! Parades in Ketchum, Grove, and of course the fabulous boat parade are all in the history books for another year. The 2^nd Chance Pet Rescue breakfast & dessert auction was a success again - and Terry Jordan was absolutely fabulous at the Sunday afternoon “Christmas Card to Monkey Island” musical fun at the Shangri-La Resort hotel. If you missed that, you’ll have another chance Sunday afternoon at 2:00. There are more parades, parties, Santa meet & greet events, and Christmas light displays this weekend, too. It’s another long list of great reasons to spend the month at Grand Lake.

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All the holidays seem to be coming earlier these days. Christmas decorations were on display before Halloween. Thanksgiving totally disappeared in the Christmas planning. Now all my buds are looking right past Christmas and making plans for the biggest winter holiday weekend on Grand Lake – New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. In the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy football – 42 bowls games get underway this weekend!

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It’s also a fun season to watch political happenings. On the heels of the nail-biter Georgia U.S. Senate run-off, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has once again thrown a wrench in the works by leaving the Democratic party and becoming an Independent. I guess election results made it clear to her that she would probably get beaten in the Democratic primary in 2024 – so she decided to skip it and plan for only the General Election instead. We just thought we would have a break from politics after the November election. We’ll probably start seeing 2024 Presidential campaign commercials soon!

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If you don’t think sports salaries are wildly out of line, check out Aaron Judge’s new contract with the New York Yankees. He’ll be paid $110,000 per day…for nine years! That’s $360 million…for playing baseball!

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Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has issued an order officially banning TikTok from all government devices. I guess state employees will now have to resort to using their personal phones and computers to waste time, compromise their personal data, and concentrate on making themselves dumber.

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So now, there’s a new thing: nude pickleball! Seriously. Clothing optional resorts across the country are advertising their pickleball facilities, holding tournaments, and putting in more courts to mee the increasing demand. I know Shangri-La is ahead of the power curve on a lot of new trends, including pickleball…but I’m kinda hoping they don’t join in on this newest trend.

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BEST CHRISTMAS CARD RECEIVED THIS WEEK: For Christmas, I got you $100 worth of lottery tickets. I went ahead and scratched them off for you. You won $2. Your $2 is enclosed.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Holly Roach, Steven Dyer, Renee Hartley, Brenda Littlefield, Debbie Stevenson, Meredith DiPasquale, Nevyle Cable, Jill Swisher, Brad Milanowski, Amber Benson, Christie Landry, Kay Dillingham, Kyle Spurlock, Zack Brown, Katie Hutson, Tina Blackman, Don Murphy, Rodney Richardson, Richard Lowry, Casey Davis, and Jana Worley.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: It’s another busy, busy holiday season weekend in the Grand Lake area.  Friday is “The Ultimate Christmas Party” with Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00-10:00 p.m.). Friday is also the Inaugural Christmas Party at The Legacy in Grove (7:00 p.m.). Saturday is the final night of Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village at Har-Ber Village. On South Grand, there is a Meet & Greet with Santa Saturday afternoon at the First Christian Church in Langley (3:00-5:00) followed by the Christmas Parade from Langley Library to Disney (5:00). Sunday is Christmas Brunch with Santa at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (10:00-2:00) followed by “A Christmas Card to Monkey Island” musical sing-along with entertainer Terry Jordan in the lobby of Shangri-La Resort Hotel (2:00-5:00 p.m.). Next Tuesday, December 20, Santa will be at American Bank of Oklahoma in Disney from 1:00-4:00 p.m. If you’re looking for great drive-through Christmas light displays, check out the display at either Twin Bridges State Park or Pine Lodge Resort.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Yale University was named for Elihu Yale, the young school’s second-largest early donor, because its largest donor was named Jeremiah Dummer.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: My wife and I have started role playing in the bedroom. Her favorite is “sexy librarian” where I have to sit quietly while she reads a book.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Never do anything you wouldn’t want to explain to the paramedics.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: The closest I ever got to a 4.0 in college was my blood alcohol content.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I joined a procrastinator support group. It’s called “wait watchers.”

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do we call them olives instead of Greece’s pieces?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Exercise gives you energy, but you need energy to exercise Sounds like a pyramid scheme to me.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The diminutive gymnastics superstar Cathy Rigby, who was later nominated for a Tony for her Broadway role in “Peter Pan,” turned 70 years old last week. Alysa Milano, best known for her role as little Samantha in “Who’s the Boss?” turns 50 years old this week.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the Thursday night fun is back at Doc’s with an Italian Buffet and Jason Morgan leading the karaoke fun. Scott Musick performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night and Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday at the Summit Restaurant. The Faulconers will perform Saturday night at Blind Swine; and Saturday is also Rockstar Karaoke night with DJ Chris Kennedy at Monkey Island Pub. Sunday afternoon (2:00-5:00) Terry Jordan leads the musical fun presenting “A Christmas Card for Monkey Island” in the lobby of Shangri-La Resort Hotel.

On South Grand, Reverse Reaction provides the music Saturday night at the Drunken Rooster.

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. Whiskey Poet Society entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove followed by Runnin’ on Empty Saturday night.

Sunset Circle starts the musical fun Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino, followed by The Downbeat Friday night and Diversity Saturday. Big Smitty entertains Saturday night at Club 60 West at River Bend Casino.

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DINING AND DRINKING UDATE: Christmas Brunch with Santa is Sunday at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (10:00-2:00). Jim & Diana Sellers have sold The Artichoke Restaurant – but they’re still working there. Larry & Joyce Duke have turned operations at The Shebang over to April Collins – but Joyce is still working there, too. Blind Swine on Monkey Island is now closed Sunday-Wednesday for the remainder of the year – open Thursday-Saturday 4:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. Big Shots Rhythm & Booze is now open only New Year’s Eve and for special events. Bailey’s Bistro at The Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island is now open from 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. All Shangri-La restaurants will be closed Christmas Day.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Beauty and the Beast: A 30^th Celebration airs Thursday night at 7:00 on ABC. The Abbey Road Studios documentary If These Walls Could Sing is available Friday on Disney+. The mini-series The Recruit is available Friday on NETFLIX.  1923 debuts Sunday on Paramount+. Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All will air next Tuesday at 7:00 on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Spider-Man: No Way Home and Nightmare Alley both open in movie theaters Friday. The Hand of God will be available on NETFLIX Thursday. Ron’s Gone Wrong is on Disney+ and Being the Ricardos will be available on Prime Video next Tuesday.

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, December 23 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade television replay on KSNF, Joplin (12:30 p.m.). Saturday, December 24 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade television replay on KTUL, Tulsa (11:30), KSBI, OKC, Channel 23 (4:30), KSN, Joplin (5:00). Sunday, December 25 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade television replay on KSN, Wichita (11:30 a.m.). Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve party and college football semi-final games watch party at Saturday, December 24 – Christmas Lights oa Parade television replay on KTUL, Tulsa (11:30 a.m.). The Anchor at Shangri-La. New Year’s Eve dance party extravaganza at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Saturday, December 31 – Red Carpet at the Roost New Year’s Eve celebration at the Drunken Rooster. Saturday, December 31 – NYE Prime Rib Dinner & Dance at Road Hog Saloon. Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Skate (7:00-1:00) at Rocket Skating in Grove. Friday-Sunday, January 6-8 – Oklahoma Boat Expo at Tulsa Convention Center. Monday, January 9 – National College Football Championship Watch Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Friday-Sunday, January 13-15 – OKC Boat & RV Show at Bennett Center, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. Saturday, January 21 – Winter Gala at Shangri-La Resort. Monday-Sunday, January 30-February 5 – Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show at SageNet Expo, Tulsa State Fairgrounds.

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Are you ready for some football? There are 13 bowl games between now and next Wednesday – seven on Saturday, alone! Cincinnati faces Louisville Saturday at 11:00. At the same time, we can see if Coach Prime wins his final game at Jackson State as they take on North Carolina Central. SMU faces BYU at 2:00 and Oregon State battles Florida at 6:30.

If that’s not enough football, there’s an extra day of NFL action this week giving us nine televised games. San Francisco travels to Seattle Thursday night, and there are three more games Saturday – Indianapolis at Minnesota (12:00), Baltimore at Cleveland (3:30), and Miami at Buffalo (7:00). Sunday games include Kansas City at Houston and Dallas at Jacksonville, both at noon, Tennessee at the L.A. Chargers at 3:30, and the N.Y. Giants at Washington at 7:00. Monday Night Football features the L.A. Rams at Green Bay.

FIFA World Cup Soccer competition closes out this week with the final match Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

The NBA season is well underway. The OKC Thunder are spending the week at home hosting Minnesota Friday, Memphis Saturday, and Portland next Monday and again Wednesday. All games are at 7:00 p.m. and are televised on Bally Sports Oklahoma.

There are some great college basketball games in the area this week, too. Kansas hosts Indiana Saturday at 11:00, followed by Central Arkansas at OU at 2:00, and OSU at Wichita State at 8:00. Next Tuesday, OSU hosts Texas A&M Corpus Christi at 2:00, Harvard is at Kansas at 6:00, and OU takes on Florida in the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina at 8:30. UNC Asheville is at Arkansas next Wednesday night at 8:00.

PGA Players are off for the rest of the month. They’ll take to the course next in Hawaii January 5 for the Tournament of Champions.

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Weather forecasters are flipping coins again this week. They say there’s a 50% chance it will rain this weekend – and a 50% chance it won’t.  Either way, we’ll have high temperatures around 50 degrees and lows in mid-30s Friday & Saturday, dipping down below freezing Sunday night. Better snag some rain gear for parade-watching, just in case. There’s plenty of holiday fun this week, so get out and hop in the middle of it. 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

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

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