December 6 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

Everyone who pushed the envelope on boat winterization has looked really smart for the last couple of weeks – but I wouldn’t push it much further. The arrival of winter is on the near horizon with low temperatures forecast to be in the 20s this weekend. That should make folks happy who want cold weather for Christmas events – but I’m not sure participants in this weekend’s parades will be thrilled – especially the folks who will be on the water for  the big Boat Parade Saturday night.

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When people’s kids become multi-millionaires, I guess they’re still babies in the eyes of their parents. First it was Odell Beckham, Jr’s dad blasting Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Now its Kareem Hunt, Jr’s daddy complaining about Mayfield and the coaching staff. What’s up with these multi-millionaire “professional” football players having to bring in their mommies and daddies to whine about how their little boys aren’t getting enough passes thrown to them? It looks like a grown-up big money version of bad parents at a little league game! There was a rumor for a while that the Browns were going to have to schedule a PTA meeting for parents to discuss Baker Mayfield.

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Congratulations, TV watchers! The Medicare benefit commercials stop this week. They probably won’t start promoting next year’s sign-up deadline for another couple of months!

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It happens all the time. Once you make it to Grand Lake, it’s just really hard to leave. Apparently, that problem has now spread to the pelican population. I can’t believe how many are still here. They came for the Pelican Festival in their honor – and it looks like a lot of them have decided to hang around all winter!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Jim Gray, Leslie Ann Wright-Porter, Chris Byrd, Gina Gibbs, Stephanie Gibbs, Randy Williams, Gina Holloway, Nikki Rowton, Sherry Kern, Terri Thomas, Janie Cunningham, Erica Ware, Janeé Odle, Karen Strimple, Candace Kahle, Lori Whalen, Allison Timberlake, Doug Smith, Dwain Richardson, Kim Hudelson, Charlotte Oglesby, Konrad Faust, Barbara Callison, Debbie McCurdy, Spencer Dyer, George Blair, Larry Duke, Dustin Matthews, Amy Redus, Steven Dyer, Renee Hartley, Holly Roach, and Brenda Littlefield.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS OF THE WEEK: It is an unbelievably busy week on Grand Lake. The Winter Pool League Tournament Round 1 kicks off Thursday night at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:00); and Friday night at 6:00 is The Ultimate Christmas Party at The Anchor (7:00-10:00). Friday is also a South Grand Lake Chamber Open House (10-2). The Last Minute Lakers Merchants’ Open House in Grove and Monkey Island is Friday & Saturday. Saturday night there are great parades on land and on water – the Jay Christmas Parade (2:00), the Grand Lake Christmas Light Boat Parade (Cherokee Yacht Club at 6:00) and the Lights on the Lake Grove Christmas Parade (6:00), as well as the Spavinaw Christmas Parade (5:00). There’s an Open House at Playmakers in Grove Saturday at 4:00, just ahead of the parade in Grove. Sunday, the annual Sagittarian Birthday Party begins at noon at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze (this year’s party includes celebration of Papa Larry Duke’s 80^th birthday). If you’re looking for great Christmas light displays, check out Winter Wonderland at Pine Lodge Resort, and the Park of Lights at Twin Bridges State Park. Next Monday night is the Grand Lake Association Annual Banquet at Shangri-La Resort.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The National Basketball League of 1898-1904 was the United States' first professional basketball league. Despite its name, teams were concentrated in New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia; to protect the players, most games were played behind chicken wire, which is why to this day basketball players are sometimes referred to as "cagers."

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: I can’t help but shake my head at all the people who act like prices are increasing for the first time in history. Really? Prices have ALWAYS gone up. And people have ALWAYS complained. Check out this little comparison: 50 years ago, the MSRP for a stripped-down base model Corvette convertible was $5,259. The base for the same stripped-down current model is $62,295.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Stop taking Facebook so seriously. Most of your likes come from someone sitting on a toilet.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Never in the history of calm down has anyone every calmed down by being told to calm down.  

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: If anyone is alone with no one to spend Christmas with, please let me know. I need to borrow some chairs.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: William Shatner has discontinued his new line of ladies’ lingerie. Apparently “Shatner Panties” wasn’t the best choice for a name.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Do you think when they asked George Washington for ID, he just whipped out a quarter? – Steven Wright

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Don’t name your kids after a coach or player you love. Things can change.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Macaulay Culkin, the famous child actor who portrayed iconic “Kevin” in the movie “Home Alone,” is now 41. The best baseball play-by-play man in history had another birthday. He called Dodgers games for 67 seasons – and last week Vin Scully turned 94. Lee Elder, who broke the racial barrier by becoming the first black golfer to play in The Masters, died last week. He was 87. Iconic guitar aficionado and rock superstar Jimi Hendrix would have turned 79 last week.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I don’t get nearly enough credit in life for all the things I manage not to say.” – Meg Rosoff

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Thursday night Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend fun at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Caleb Fellenstein performs live at Doc’s Friday night. Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit. Saturday night is great dancing and singing at Monkey Island Pub. Erin Fitzgibbon performs at the Blind Swine on Monkey Island Friday night; and Tuesday is Karaoke Night at the Swine.

On South Grand Lake, Jake Marlin & The Reckless will be on stage Saturday night at Pickles at the Lake in Langley.

In Grove, Brett and Terri entertain Saturday night at The Regatta.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Borrowed Money in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Big Smitty Friday and Diversity Saturday. Nathan Bryce & Loaded Dice entertain at Legends Sports Bar at Downstream Casino Friday night. FM Live takes over Saturday night. There is live entertainment by The George Brothers Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, with karaoke Saturday night. At Cherokee Casino Grove, The Brent Giddens Band entertains Friday night and Jump Suit Love takes the stage Saturday night.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Copper’s Tea & Coffee House has re-opened in Grove. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is now open only Friday & Saturday (11:00-7:00). They will close for the season December 18, re-opening in March. The Blind Swine on Monkey Island now offers weekend breakfast service Saturday & Sunday 9:00-noon. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La has expanded hours of operation and now offers breakfast 7:00-10:00 a.m. seven days a week (in addition to lunch and dinner) and Sunday Brunch specials 7:00-2:00. “Taco & Tequila Tuesdays” have returned to Doc’s, along with Craft Burgers & Booze Wednesdays and a Friday night weekly “Chef’s Special.”

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: And Just Like That debuts Thursday on HBO Max. The Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown airs Sunday at 8:00 on CW. The Voice closes in on naming a champion Monday at 7:00 on NBC, followed by the premiere of American Auto, a new series from the creators of Superstore. Next week, Grand Crew airs Tuesday night at 7:00 on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: It’s an incredible movie week. West Side Story, National Champions, and Being the Ricardos all open in movie theaters this week. The Unforgivable is streaming on NETFLIX; and Encounter is available on Prime Video.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, December 16 – Pool League Tournament Round 2 at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00). Friday, December 17 – South Grand Lake Chamber Open House (10-2). Friday, December 17 – Sip & Shop at The Dam Hotel in Disney (5:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 18 – Ping Pong Tournament at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:00). Saturday, December 18 – Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village at Har-Ber Village Museum. Saturday, December 18 – Off Road Christmas Parade in Disney (5:00). Saturday, December 18 –Winter Gala at Shangri-La Resort. Saturday, December 18 – Christmas Party and Ugly Sweater Contest at Monkey Island Pub. Sunday, December 19 – Sunday Brunch with Santa at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La. Friday, December 31. Members annual New Year’s Eve Wine Dinner at the Summit Restaurant. Friday-Sunday, January 7-9 – Oklahoma Boat Expo at Tulsa’s Cox Convention Center.

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SPORTS WATCH: There’s not much to the college football schedule this week – Army vs. Navy at 2:00 Saturday is the only game on the schedule. Rest up, though – because we start the first of 42 college bowl games next week!

College basketball is well underway, and there’s a great game set for 12:30 Saturday at the BOK Center in Tulsa: OU vs. Arkansas.

In the NFL, Pittsburgh is at Minnesota to kick off the week’s action Thursday night. Sunday, Baltimore is at Cleveland, Las Vegas is at Kansas City, Dallas is at Washington, and Jacksonville is at Tennessee, all at noon. Detroit is at Denver, and the NY Giants are at the L.A. Chargers at 3:00; San Francisco is at Cincinnati and Buffalo is at Tampa Bay at 3:30, and Chicago is at Green Bay at 7:00 Sunday night. Monday Night Football features the L.A. Rams at Arizona.

In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are at home for a while, hosting the Lakers Friday night (7:00), Dallas Sunday night (6:00), and New Orleans next Wednesday (7:00).

It’s QBE Shootout time for top PGA Players. Coverage is on the Golf Channel beginning at 11:00 Friday, noon Saturday, and 11:00 Sunday. NBC picks up coverage Saturday at 2:00 and Sunday at 1:00.

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Weekend weather starts out nice on Friday, then continues to deteriorate through the weekend. After Friday highs in the mid-60s, we’ll lose 10 degrees Saturday and another 10 or so Sunday. Nighttime lows Saturday & Sunday will likely be below freezing. Certainly not the parade weather we enjoyed last week! Bundle up Saturday night – especially if you’re in the boat parade! There’s a lot happening this weekend, so get out and have some fun; but no matter where 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)

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