December 3 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

If you still have things on your agenda that you planned to get done in 2018, you’d better get to it! I can’t believe it’s the last month of the year, already. I just now got comfortable writing “2018” – and it’s almost over.

*****

Everybody seems to be really interested in holiday plans all of a sudden – not necessarily Christmas but, for some reason, New Year’s. A lot of people seem interested in Florida for the holidays. Congratulations to the College Football Playoff-bound Oklahoma Sooners. They’ll be facing Alabama in the Orange Bowl on December 29. That gives fans two days to recuperate from the game celebration before a south Florida New Year’s Eve celebration! There will be so much partying in South Florida on New Year’s Weekend, it will be just like being on Grand Lake!

*****

Speaking of celebrating on Grand, the upcoming weekend is one of the biggest of the year. The Christmas Lights Boat Parade is Saturdsay – but there are land parades and parties almost everywhere you look. You can check out details in the “BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK” paragraph of this column.

*****

Can you imagine how much money was wagered on Saturday’s OU-Texas game? Not to mention every college game, NFL game, golf tournament, NBA game, etc., etc., etc. If Oklahoma legislators REALLY wanted to solve the state’s financial crisis, they would start the ball rolling towards legalizing sports betting.

*****

Higher Health, the first medical marijuana dispensary in this part of the state opened last week. Where? Monkey Island, of course. What did you think?

*****

It looks like we’re going to have to figure out a way to step up on game in the good ol’ U.S.A. U.S. News and World Report has released its list detailing the countries with “The Best Quality of Life.” Canada topped the list, followed by Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Australia. Switzerland, Finland, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Germany rounded out the Top Ten. The United States ranked 17^th.  They must not have checked out Grand Lake.

*****

DINING AND DRINKING ON GRAND: In addition to being open seven nights a week, Blind Swine on Monkey Island is now open for lunch Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 11:00.

*****

MONKEY ISLAND DINING TIP: If you think you’re hungry, you might just be thirsty. Drink a pitcher of margaritas and see how you feel.

*****

BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: People write “congrats” because they don’t know how to spell “congrajlishuns.”

*****

BEST (FAKE NEWS) HEADLINE SEEN THIS WEEK: Trump Cuts Off Relations with Romania Over Lettuce Scare

*****

RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Texas and Oklahoma have played football against each other 114 times. Of those games, four have been played in Norman. OU won only one of them, in 1908. The teams have played each other two times in the same year only twice – 1903 and, of course, 2018.

*****

BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Unattended children will be given a cappuccino and a free kitten, then sent home.

*****

TWEET OF THE WEEK: If there was a pill to cure procrastination, I would take it tomorrow.

*****

FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Cartoonist Garry Trudeau, creator of the popular Doonesbury comic strip, published the first Doonesbury strip 50 years ago.

*****

LIFE’S GOALS: “I always wanted to be somebody. Now I realize I should be been more specific.” – Lily Tomlin

*****

BEST OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Y’all know what has never been recalled because of E. Coli? Bourbon!

*****

BAD CHRISTMAS CAROLE OF THE WEEK (child overheard singing this): “He’s making a list, chicken and rice…”

*****

GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Marshall Brackin, Lisa Coffee, Rita Hitzeman, Gary Brock, Wayne Crouse, Barbara Pliler, Gina Gibbs, Jim Gray, Leslie Ann Wright-Porter, Stephanie Gibbs, Tevanna Brackin, Jane Cunningham, Sherry Kern, Terri Thomas, Nikki Rowton, Erica Ware, Karen Strimple, Doug Smith, Chris Tarbell, Kim Hudelson, Konrad Faust, Charlotte Oglesby, and Dwain Richardson.

*****

UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called “rush hour?”

*****

BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: I PROMISE you can’t get to every great event there is on Grand Lake this weekend. Christmas has truly arrived on Grand! Thursday evening, Santa will be at the Grove Public Library for photo ops from 5:00-7:00. Thursday night is also the Vinita Christmas Parade of Lights. Friday is a big day in Grove, starting with the 2^nd Chance Poet Rescue Annual Breakfast/Dessert Auction at 7:30 in the Grove Community Center. The 5k Jingle Bell Fun Run starts at 8:00 – and the Gingerbread Christmas Festival continues at 4:00 with live music in front of the Community Center. Grove’s Christmas Parade is Saturday evening at 6:00. On the south end of the lake, Friday night is the Ketchum Christmas Parade, as well as the judging of the Duck Creek dock decorating contest. Saturday is the Polar Bear Plunge at Arrowhead Yacht Club at noon, followed by the Christmas Lights Boat Parade out of Cherokee Yacht Club about 5:30. There is also a Boat Parade Watch Party and Potluck Dinner at Harbors View Marina. The boat parade will meet the Disney/Langley Land Parade Across the Pensacola Dam Saturday night. If you need one more viewing opportunity, the Jay Christmas Parade is also Saturday night. Plan your recovery at Juan Montez Restaurant at Red Arrow Sunday afternoon. Their winter Potluck Dinner is Sunday at 2:00. Whew!!

*****

GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment coming up around the lake over the holiday weekend. There’s a really great show and some terrific nostalgia at the Coleman Theater in Miami Saturday night. Gene Watson and his Farewell Party Band will perform.

On Monkey Island Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub. At the Blind Swine, there’s live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night (including Erin Fitzgibbon Friday), and KJ Flip hosts karaoke Sunday and Tuesday. At Littlefield Corner, Lickitty Split performs Saturday night at the Road Hog Saloon.

On South Grand Lake, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Michelle’s Bar & Grill at Grand Lodge in Ketchum – and there’s always live entertainment at Michelle’s on Saturday night.

Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Friday night Cherokee Casino-Grove will feature music by RockFisch. Saturday night, The Blake Turner Band will entertain. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Libby Starks and Banditentertain at Bordertown Friday night, followed by Runnin’ on Empty Saturday. Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 also features live entertainment every Friday night. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Torn will perform Friday night followed by The Beer & Chicken Band Saturday night, both in Club 60 West Bar. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Morgan Squared perform Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Leah & the Mojo Doctors Friday night and Hi Fidelics Saturday.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including the PGA, NFL games, and NBA games are the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Monkey Island Pub, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.

*****

BUM MUST-SEE TV: Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is available on NETFLIX along with Dumplin’ and the American TV debut of Bad Blood. Monday night is CMA Country Christmas at 7:00 on ABC.  If you’re in the mood for sappy Christmas movies, pick any one of the three Hallmark channels 24/7.

*****

BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Mary Queen of Scots, Ben is Back and Dumplin’

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “When you’re 20, you care what everybody thinks. When you’re 40, you stop caring what everybody thinks. When you’re 60, you realize no one was ever thinking about you in the first place.” -Winston Churchill

*****

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, December 14 – showing of the movie “White Christmas” at the historic Coleman Theater in Miami. Saturday, December 15 – The Tulsa Praise Orchestra and Choir present “A Big Band Christmas” live at the Coleman Theater. Sunday, December 16 – Brunch with Santa for Shangri-La Members at the Summit Restaurant. Sunday, December 16 – “Sip and Paint with Kim” at Juan Montez Restaurant at Red Arrow Marina (6:30). Saturday, December 15 – Salina Christmas Parade. Saturday, December 22 is the “Christmas Movie Marathon” at Shangri-La Resort Hotel.

*****

In the sports world, it’s a good week for the NFL. Thursday night action features Jacksonville at Tennessee at 7:00 on Fox. Sunday noon games include Baltimore at Kansas City (CBS) and New Orleans at Tampa Bay (Fox). The 3:30 game on Fox sends Philadelphia to Dallas. Sunday night’s game has the L.A. Rams at Chicago (7:00 on NBC); and Monday Night Football features Minnesota at Seattle (7:00 on ESPN).

There’s great NBA action this week, too. The OKC Thunder are on the road at Chicago Friday night at 7:00 before hosting Utah Monday night at 7:00. Both games are on Fox Oklahoma. Next Wednesday, they’re back on the road in New Orleans in a nationally televised game (7:00 on ESPN).

College basketball action is good this week, too. OU hosts Wichita State Saturday morning at 11:00 (ESPNU) and New Mexico State is at Kansas Saturday night at 7:30 (ESPN2). Sunday afternoon, it’s Tennessee at Gonzaga at 2:00 on ESPN.

In the world of professional golf, the QBE Shootout is this weekend in Naples, Florida. Live coverage on the Golf Channel begins Friday and Saturday at 12:30 and Sunday at noon. NBC has the final two rounds beginning Saturday at 1:30 and Sunday at 1:00.

*****

It looks like we’re going to have December this weekend. We might have a few showers – maybe even snow flurries Friday & Saturday. Weekend highs will be around 40 with lows in the mid-20’s. Gonna be a chilly weekend for parades, but it looks like a great weekend to party indoors.  So, party on, but remember…wherever you decide to 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 web site.  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 grandlakenewsonline.com and www.360grandlake.com, as well as Grand Times on Grand Lake, 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.

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

Bobbers Café in Langley

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

Coffee Shelter in Ketchum

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

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

Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)

Grand Lodge in Ketchum (smoking)

Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove

Henrie’s Grill in Grove

High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)

Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)

Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina

Karrie's Kaboose in Langley (smoking)

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Lakeside Bar & Grill in Grove at Sail Boat Bridge

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.)

Morrows Bar & Grill in Raper Hollow

Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove

Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove

Okie Smokies Barbecue in Grove on Hwy 59 South

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)

Smokin’ Spur BBQ & Trading Post at Old Towne Plaza, Cleora

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 Office on Monkey Island (smoking)

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