January 15, 2018 Random Observation of the Grand Lake Bum

I couldn’t wait for the upcoming Tulsa Boat Show. I took a road trip to Oklahoma City over the past weekend to check out all the new models for 2018 at the Oklahoma City Boat & RV Show. It wasn’t nearly as big as the Tulsa Show, so I didn’t see everything – but Nichols Marine, MarineMax, and Ugly John’s Custom Boats were all on hand…and that certainly gave me a preview of MOST of the new stuff. The team was on hand from Shangri-La Resort, as well – and their booth was packed every minute with folks checking out the video of the new resort hotel. Judging from reaction I saw, it’s a safe bet that Shangri-La will draw a BUNCH of new people to Grand Lake this year.

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I was surprised at how many of my pals I saw at the show. I wondered what happened to everybody in the winter. I found a bunch of ‘em hanging out in OKC. The really big winter reunion of Grand Lakers comes, of course, on opening night of the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show. And the countdown has begun. Monday, January 29 is the date to circle on your calendar. Showtime in Tulsa!

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Sometimes bartering just doesn’t work out. Shawn Langley made an offer to trade four pounds of marijuana for an SUV he saw for sale in Colorado. When he showed up at the predetermined location to complete the transaction, it didn’t work out like he had planned. The SUV for sale, as it turns out, belonged to the sheriff. Oops.

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In case you were wondering what protective materials are used to protect a mail order delivery of bubble wrap, here’s your answer. Paul Jacobs ordered a roll of bubble wrap to protect his plants during cold weather in South Hampshire, England. When the shipment arrived, it was so big he thought Amazon shipped him the wrong package. As it turns out, the package was big because of the 100-feet of brown wrapping paper protecting the bubble wrap – enough paper to cover Jacobs’ entire backyard. It took him two recycling pick-ups at his house to dispose of the protective wrapping for his protective wrapping.

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We made history in the world of beer in 2017. For the first time in record-keeping history, Budweiser is not in the top three best sellers. Also for the first time, all three top-selling beers are light beers. Bud Light holds the top-selling spot, followed by Coors Light. Miller Lite has now edged into the top three.

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It seems like more and more people are supporting the legalization of marijuana sales. Iowa State University officials don’t want it promoted on their campus, though. They banned a pro-legalization group from wearing T-shirts promoting a change in the law. So far that decision has cost them over $300,000. As it turns out, the First Amendment outweighs their reefer madness. They had to pay the promoters of legalization $150,000…paid their lawyers almost $200,000…and the judge hasn’t yet determined what their trial fees will be. Fortunately it’s still expensive in this country to prohibit freedom of expression.

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The most humiliated (and degraded) person on earth is undoubtedly the poor guy in Hawaii who accidentally pushed the wrong button and sent out a statewide alert that the state was under attack by guided missiles. Bless his heart. You can’t help but feel sorry for him, even though his error probably singlehandedly doubled business in the laundry industry.

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I had occasion to sing our state song with a group of folks the other day. It occurred to me we should make a lyric change so the corrected version would read, “We know we belong to the land….and the LAKE we belong to is Grand!”

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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: You’re mad because I didn’t tell you that I bought a new boat?  What about that time when you didn’t tell me you bought shoes?

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TWEET OF THE WEEK:  So, I was thinking…we should all get drunk and make some bad decisions.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Friday is National Popcorn Day. American’s consume 13 billion quarts of popcorn each year. Enjoy the movie!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Rick Craven, Nancy Dalquest, Tag Webb, Glenn Coffee, Kanaan Hallett, Bobby Masri, Ed Hamilton, Tami Bailey, Mindy Bush, Richard Cannon, Chelsea Perryman, and Jeff Thacher.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If peanut butter cookies are made from peanut butter, then what are Girl Scout cookies made out of?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The Demand Project A.W.A.R.E. Workshop Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Roosevelt Ballroom at Shangri-La Resort – free interactive workshop to learn how to protect children from online predators (open to the public). Also, GRDA’s Scott Horton will be the featured speaker at the South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Thursday at the Ecosystems & Education Center in Langley at 11:30. Friday night is the big Red Solo Cup Monkey Island Winter Olympics at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze on Monkey Island. The fun starts at 7:00. Sunday afternoon at 1:00, I’m headed to another party at Big Shots celebrating Monkey Islander and former Broadway performer Ron Young’s 100^th performance of the National Anthem.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: It may be winter time at Grand Lake, but there’s plenty of entertainment to enjoy. On Monkey Island, Randy Lunsford will entertain throughout the weekend at The Shebang. Across the street at Big Shots, there’s always great Saturday night dance fun. Just down highway 125 at Monkey Island Pub, Friday night is Karaoke night. The Blind Swine also has karaoke fun, and Erin Fitzgibbon performs Saturday night. Further down the highway at the Road Hog Saloon, there’s always great Saturday night live entertainment.

In Grove, there will be Saturday night boxing at the Civic Center at 8:00, followed by entertainment from Lickitty Split.

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

Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino-Grove will celebrate their one year anniversary this weekend hosting Scott Ellison Friday night followed by both Another Alibi and RocKFisH Saturday evening. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke.  Runnin’ On Empty kicks off the weekend Friday night, followed by Honkytonk Renovators on Saturday. Downstream Casino generally has good entertainment, but they haven’t updated their website in a while, so I don’t know what’s up this weekend. The same goes for Buffalo Run Casino who seems to post their entertainment about 20 minutes before they take the stage. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment beginning with Chris Hyde both Thursday and Friday nights in the Echo Bar. Saturday night, music is by Paralandra.  Friday night Torn starts the weekend entertainment at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West. Big Smitty is on stage at Venue 655 at Grand Lake Casino Friday night.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NFL playoffs, College Basketball, PGA Golf, and NBA play are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Scandal is Thursday night at 8:00 on ABC. Season 4 of Grace and Frankie will be available on NETFLIX Friday.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIE: Hostiles

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The promise was that, when the glass was full, it would overflow benefitting the poor. But what happens instead is that when the glass is full, it magically gets bigger – nothing ever comes out for the poor.” – Pope Francis

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SAVE THE DATE: Monday-Sunday, January 29-February 4 – Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show, River Spirit Expo at Tulsa State Fairgrounds. Saturday, February 3 – Mardi Gras Party at Big Shots (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, February 10 – Mardi Gras Party at The Summit at Shangri-La (members & guests only). Wednesday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day. Saturday, February 17 – Mardi Gras Party at Monkey Island Pub. Friday-Sunday, March 2-4 – Welcome Back Weekend! Thursday-Sunday, March 8-11 – Grand Lake Boat Show at Grove Civic Center.

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It’s a big week in the NFL, as we move into the Conference Championship games. After this weekend, there will be only two teams still standing. The AFC Championship will be played Sunday at 2:00 (CBS) and the NFC Championship will be televised at 5:30 (Fox). Winners will head to Minneapolis for the Super BowlFebruary 4.

In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are on the road at Cleveland Saturday afternoon at 2:30 on ABC. Tuesday night, January 23, they’re back home to host the Nets at 7:00(FSOK).

There’s some good college action this week, as well. Saturday afternoon is Bedlam Basketball in Stillwater as the Cowboys host the Sooners at 1:00 (ESPN2). Both teams play again Tuesday at 6:00. OSU will be on the Road at Texas Tech (ESPNEWS) while the Sooners are at home hosting the Jayhawks (ESPN). Other great televised college games this week include Wichita State at Houston Saturday at 11:00 (ESPNU), Texas at West Virginia (1:00 on CBS) and Memphis at Tulsa at 7:00(ESPNU). Monday night, West Virginia is at TCU (8:00 on ESPN). Tuesday night, Vanderbilt is at Tennessee (6:00 on ESPNU) followed by Texas A&M at LSU at8:00, also on ESPNU. Louisville is at Miami next Wednesday night (7:00 on ESPN2).

The PGA Players are at La Quinta, California this week for the CareerBuilder Challenge. Coverage is on the Golf Channel at 2:00 Thursday-Sunday. You may also be interested in the PGA European Tour coverage of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The Golf Channel will have coverage Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and Friday &Saturday at 11:00. If you want to watch the final round, you’ll have to be dedicated, though. Golf Channel live coverage will be Sunday at 3:30 a.m. – with a rebroadcast at midnight Sunday.

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The weather for the coming weekend looks a helluva lot better than the weekend gone by. We’ll have highs in the lower 50s Friday, mid-50s Saturday, and upper 40s Sunday. Lows will be around 40 Friday & Saturday nights, dropping down to around 30 Sunday night. That said, there are some great indoor entertainment venues all around the lake. Take time to enjoy several of them with family and friends – but 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.

1909 in Downtown Grove

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 (smoking upstairs—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 on Monkey Island

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

Frosty & Edna’s (west of the dam in Langley)

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

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

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)

Roadhouse 125 on Monkey Island (smoking deck)

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