December 27 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I certainly did! I’m glad your Grand Lake Christmas was sunny and bright – but I’m delighted that it wasn’t WHITE! Instead, we had record temperatures. I saw a few other boats out on the lake enjoying the weather. In fact, I even saw Santa zipping down the main lake out of Honey Creek on a personal watercraft. Even the round man in the red suit knows where to relax on Christmas Day after a hard night’s work. The Grand Lake high on Christmas Eve was only six degrees cooler than the high on the 4th of July! A special shout-out to the crew at Blind Swine for opening up at 6:00 Christmas Day. I was good & thirsty by then!
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Thank God the time has come to move on to the New Year – and time for resolutions. This year, I’m sticking to my resolve to work less and play more, spend less time on land and more time on water, and waste less time by sleeping; but I’ve decided to complete some skills that I have only half-mastered. I can do laundry with the best of them, for example, but I still can’t fold a fitted sheet. I’m a great sports fan, but I don’t have the Watch ESPN app and “streaming” is still a bit of a reach for me. I can work a remote, watch TV and DVR movies and events – and I’ve finally mastered NetFlix and Apple TV (Hulu, Amazon Prime, and YouTube TV are still mysteries to me). I’m working on technological skills. I moved up to an iPhone 12 Pro (up from an iPhone 4) and I have an actual Apple watch. So far, I can tell what time it is, but I think it’s supposed to do more than that. I’m getting so technologically energetic, I may even move up from Windows 7 on my computer; and, while I have everything down pat on my boat, I’m determined to finally learn what all those buttons are for on the dash of my car. I’m working to stay healthy. Yes, I have the booster shot and social distancing has become a natural thing for me. In fact, once this pandemic is finally over, there are a lot of people I’ve decided I still don’t want to see.
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Looking ahead to 2022, my friend Linda Wall posted some great advice on Facebook the other day: “Nobody claim 2022 as ‘your year.’ We’re all going to walk in real slow. Be good. Be quiet. Be cautious and respectful. Don’t touch anything.”
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I’ve watched so many college and pro football games over the past two weeks, I’ve come to a revelation. If you listen closely to the announcers, you can discover whether or not they are old guys. For example, I heard an excited sportscaster going to a commercial break the other night, telling viewers, “Don’t touch that dial.” It reminded me of a local sportscaster who continually tells radio listeners that a team on the field is “running from left to right on your radio dial.” Millennials must be really confused. How long has it been since any radio or tv set had an actual “dial?”
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Scott Gallagher, Syrina Nelson, Drew Lolato, Reggie Wallace, Jonathan Moosmiller, Robert Vandommelen, Mark Londagin, Judy Barger, Steve Cornell, Paul Spechler, and Sergio Andre.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS OF THE WEEK: There are big college football watch parties at The Anchor at Shangri-La this week. Oklahoma-Oregon in the Alamo Bowl Wednesday night at 8:00 and OSU vs. Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl Friday at noon. CFP Semi-Final Watch Parties are also Friday including Alabama-Cincinnati Friday at 2:30 and Georgia-Michigan at 6:30. Friday night is also the Winter Wonderland Prom Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub; and there will be a big fireworks show on Duck Creek at Cherokee Yacht Club to ring in the new year at Midnight Friday. If that’s not enough, just look around. There’s a New Year’s Eve Party virtually everywhere you look around Grand Lake this weekend!
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The group Twenty One Pilots took its name from the Arthur Miller play "All My Sons," in which defective airplane parts lead to the deaths of 21 combat pilots during World War II.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Davyon Johnson, a sixth grader from Muskogee, last week performed the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking classmate. He also rescued an elderly woman from a burning house THE SAME DAY! That’s the way to end a memorable year…for life! He might as well take the year off!
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I love it on Christmas Day when a gift says “from Mom & Dad” and you know Dad has absolutely no idea what’s inside.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: With the rise of self-driving vehicles, it’s only a matter of time until there’s a country song where the guy’s truck leaves him.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Banks should do a better job of keeping their ATMs filled. This is the fifth one I’ve been to that says “insufficient funds.”
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: There is something worse than raining cats and dogs. Hailing a taxi.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why are there no B batteries?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: If you’re not a scientist, and you disagree with scientists about science, it’s not actually a disagreement. You’re just wrong.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will hit the airwaves Friday night, although Dick Clark died almost ten years ago. He would have been 93. I just had it brought to my attention that 1980 and 2021 are as far apart as 1980 and 1939.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.” – Isaac Asimov
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: What an incredible weekend of live entertainment on Grand Lake to ring in the new year. On Monkey Island, Thursday night Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the New Year’s weekend fun at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Clint Ingram performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night, and Terry Jordan entertains Friday and Saturday nights at The Summit. DJ K-Bandito will lead the New Year’s eve cavalcade of fun at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Thursday night is karaoke night and Jamey Cooper performs at the Blind Swine on Monkey Island Friday night. Faultline provides the New Year’s Eve entertainment at Road Hog Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, RocKFiscH will provide the live music Friday night at the Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill. Infinity provides the musical entertainment for New Year’s Eve at Cherokee Yacht Club.
In Grove, Corey Lee entertains Saturday night at The Regatta.
Casinos have a lot offer this holiday weekend, as well. The Beer & Chicken Band will perform New Year’s Eve at Club 60 West at River Bend Casino. Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Whisky Outlaws in the Echo Bar Thursday night, and Paralandra will be on stage Friday night followed by Mayday by Midnight Saturday night and a matinee performance Sunday at 2:00 by Tim Crowell. Members Only entertains at Legends Sports Bar at Downstream Casino Friday night. The George Brothers take over Saturday night. Western Justice provides the New Year’s Eve music at Grand Lake Casino followed by karaoke Saturday night. Alter Ego will be on stage at the Indoor Peoria Showplace at Buffalo Run Casino Friday night. At Cherokee Casino Grove, Encore and NighTTrain both entertain Friday night and The Juice takes the stage Saturday night.
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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La is closed Thursday night for a private event. Doc’s Bar & Grill is offering a special New Year’s Eve three-course dinner Friday night. Friday night is the Members annual New Year’s Eve Wine Dinner at the Summit and a Platinum Member Event – New Year’s Eve Dinner at Mulligans at Patricia Island. Friday is also a fabulous dinner special at The Shebang and New Year’s Eve Prime Rib Dinner at Road Hog Saloon. Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney is closed for annual cleaning & maintenance, reopening January 1. Copper’s Tea & Coffee House has re-opened in Grove. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is closed for the season, reopening in March. The Parrot Restaurant in Grove has closed.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: There’s some really terrific TV this week. If you’re staying in on New Year’s Eve, there’s something for everyone: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Secrest at 7:00 on ABC, Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party with Miley Cyrus & Pete Davidson at 9:30 on NBC, and New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash at 7:00 on CBS. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts airs Saturday on HBO Max. Around the World in 80 Days airs Sunday night at 7:00 on PBS. Kenan debuts Monday at 7:00 on NBC followed by That’s My Jam at 8:00. The Cleaning Lady debuts Monday at 8:00 on Fox and Abbott Elementary premieres Tuesday at 8:00 on ABC.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: American Underdog, A Journal for Jordan, Sing 2, and The Matrix Resurrections are all in movie theaters this week. The Matrix Resurrections is also available on HBO Max. The Lost Daughter will be available this week on NETFLIX.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, January 6 – Pool League Tournament Round 3 at The Anchor (7:00). Friday, January 7 – CXC Aviator Flight Night at The Anchor (6:00). Friday-Sunday, January 7-9 – Oklahoma Boat Expo at Tulsa’s Cox Convention Center. Monday, January 10 – CFP National Championship Watch Party at The Anchor (7:00). Tuesday, January 11 – Trivia Tuesday at The Anchor (7:00). Thursday, January 13 – Pool League Tournament Round 4 at The Anchor (7:00). Friday, January 14 – Winter Golf League Indoor Simulator Tournament Round 1 at The Anchor (6:00). Friday-Sunday, January 14-16 – OKC Boat & RV Show at the Bennett Event Center at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in OKC. Thursday, January 20 – Pool League Tournament Round 5 at The Anchor (7:00). Friday, January 21 – Winter Golf League Indoor Simulator Tournament Round 2 at The Anchor (6:00). Thursday, January 27 – Pool League Tournament Championship Match at The Anchor (7:00). Friday, January 28 – Winter Golf League Indoor Simulator Tournament Round 3 at The Anchor (7:00). Monday-Sunday, January 31-February 6 – Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show at Expo Square, Tulsa State Fairgrounds.
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SPORTS WATCH: College Football Bowl Games continue this week, and games are getting really good. The first big game of the week is the Alamo Bowl – Oklahoma vs. Oregon Wednesday night at 8:15. Thursday’s action begins at 10:30 a.m. with North Carlina and South Carolina, followed by Tennessee & Purdue at 2:30. Friday’s Gator Bowl replaced COVID-stricken Texas A&M with Rutgers to face Wake Forest at 11:00, and Washington State takes on Miami at 11:00 a.m. in the Sun Bowl.
The CFP playoff games are Friday, as well - Alabama vs. Cincinnati at 2:30 and Michigan vs. Georgia at 6:30.
Saturday, of course, is the huge bowl day, highlighted for all of us by Oklahoma State and Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl at noon. Arkansas faces Penn State at 11:00 a.m., along with Iowa & Kentucky at noon and Boise State vs. Central Michigan at 1:00. Ohio State faces Utah in the Rose Bowl at 4:00 followed by Michigan State and Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl at 6:00, and Baylor facing Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl at 7:45. The final bowl game is next Tuesday – Kansas State vs. LSU at 8:00 p.m.
The final bowl game is next Tuesday – Kansas State vs. LSU at 8:00 p.m.
There’s great college basketball, as well. OU hosts Kansas State Saturday at 7:00 and travels to Baylor Tuesday at 6:00. The awesome OU women’s team has a little TV time, too, hosting Iowa State next Wednesday at 6:00. There’s a big game for the Cowboys Tuesday night, hosting Kansas at 8:00.
Things are getting critical in the NFL. Every game matters now. Sunday’s noon games include Kansas City at Cincinnati, Philadelphia at Washington, and Tampa Bay at the N.Y. Jets. At 3:00 the Chargers host Denver and Houston is at San Francisco. The Cowboys host the Cardinals at 3:00 and the L.A. Rams are in Baltimore. Sunday night, Minnesota is at Green Bay. Monday night features Cleveland at Pittsburgh.
In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are at home hosting the Knicks Friday at 7:00 and the Mavericks Sunday at 6:00. They’re back on the road in Minnesota Wednesday at 7:00.
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We’ll start off the New Year’s weekend in fabulous weather style with a New Year’s Eve high temperature in the mid 60s and a low around 45! Then we start a downhill slide with New Year’s Day highs slated for 55, dropping into the 20s at night. Sunday’s high will be less than Friday’s low temperature – around 40 degrees. It’ll be January, though. We can’t really complain. Enjoy your friends and family for the holiday and celebrate it in true Grand Lake style; but no matter where you decide to celebrate, 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)
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
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
Copper’s Tea and Coffee House in Grove
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Cove Club in Langley
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
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill at Grand Meridian
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina (smoking)
Gabby’s Place in downtown 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 Public House in Grove
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)
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
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
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)
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 Landings Market and Grill on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)
The Parrot at Honey Creek Landing in Grove (Smoking on the patio)
The Pourhouse 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
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove
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