January 17 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

I had another fabulous boat show weekend, this time in Oklahoma City. Saturday was so damn cold it was perfect for spending the day indoors looking at the new stuff. I hadn’t partied in Oklahoma City for a while…and wow! Bricktown! I’ll tell you something else I noticed from the sales and available inventory at the Oklahoma City show. If you plan on getting a new boat for this summer, you’d better get ‘er done! Everybody’s inventory is shrinking daily. If you didn’t make it to the show in OKC or last week in Tulsa, you have a couple more chances – another show at the Tulsa Fairgrounds January 31-February 6 and at the Grove Civic Center March 3-6. If you want to spend a little quality February time in Florida, the Miami International Boat Show wraps up the show season February 16-20.

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If taking that horse de-worming medicine didn’t work for you, infamous anti-vaxxer Christopher Key (self-described as the “Vaccine Police”), has another antidote for you to try – drinking your own urine. I guess at least people who fall for this will “know what’s in it.” Things that make you go, “Hmmmm.”

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There is finally a proven method of getting all the naysayers and anti-vaxxers to get the Covid-19 vaccination, though. The Canadian province of Quebec has banned the sale of alcohol and marijuana to any unvaccinated person beginning this week. The result? First time vaccinations have skyrocketed by 300 percent!

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Actually, we may see a dramatic decline in Covid-19 in Oklahoma when this news gets out following some recent study. Researchers say there are compounds in cannabis that have the ability to block the virus from entering human cells. Now…”YOU get a medical card. And YOU get a medical card. And YOU get a medical card.”

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Have you seen the commercials advertising health insurance for pets? My ol’ pal The Educated Redneck has been thinking again. Since the whole country is now into “self-identifying” as whatever we want to be, he says his significant other is not officially self-identified as a pet. Her health insurance premium dropped to $30 a month. See? Change can be good!

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Kudos to Representative Ken Luttrell of Ponca City. He has introduced legislation to legalize sports betting in Oklahoma’s tribal casino operations. It sure would be nice if everybody didn’t have to keep searching for bookies. The Oxford Economic Group estimates such a move would mean $240 million a year in revenue for Oklahoma and another 3,000 jobs. Thirty states now have legal sports betting. Fifteen more are considering it this year. As the old campaign for liquor-by-the-drink legalization in 1984 touted… “and all we have to do is admit we’re doing what we’ve been doing.”

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Nancy Dalquest, Marilyn VanGilder, Glenn Coffee, Kanaan Jones, Barbara Rader, Ellen O’Dell, Ron Sparkman, Jodi Locke, Zach Wehlage, Tami Bailey, Doug Goss, Eileen Ellison, Bootsey Torchia, Melissa Russell, Chip Taylor, Jeff Thacher, Richard Cannon, Donna Palu, Ryan Rahhal, Randy Threet, Kristy Mayfield, Brad Williams, Sherry Sherrell, Danny Brumble, Sarah Jackson Thompson, and Brett Wisdom.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Thursday night at 7:00 is Round 5 of the Pool League Tournament at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Friday night at 6:00 is Round 2 of the Winter Golf League Indoor Simulator Tournament at The Anchor.  

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Recordings of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" chartered for four different performers in 1929 and hit No. 1 for Nick Lucas. It was also heard in the very first Looney Tunes short -- 1930's "Sinkin' in the Bathtub" -- a "Lost in Space" episode, and, of course, the first installment of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In," where it was famously performed by Tiny Tim.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: The girlfriend of the guy who founded match.com left him for a man she met on match.com.  

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: “Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line until your call is no longer important to you.”  

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: People must not cough near you. They must cough far away. If you hear someone coughing, tell them to…far cough.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: We made text messaging history last Saturday. The first text message was sent in 1992. The last time the Cincinnati Bengals won a playoff game before Saturday was 1991. No one in human history has ever sent a text message about the Bengals winning a playoff game…until now.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes. Now I have Heinzsight.  

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why is it that night falls, but day breaks?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Some of my friends exercise every day. Meanwhile, I’m watching a TV show I don’t like because the remote fell on the floor.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Where do you remember him from? The Graduate? Rain Man? Tootsie? Death of a Salesman? Little Big Man? Midnight Cowboy? Kramer vs. Kramer? The incredibly talented Dustin Hoffman is 84 years old. ALSO, think about this: 2050 is closer than 1990.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I’m sick to death of people saying we’ve made 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we’ve made 12 albums that sound exactly the same.” – Angus Young (AC/DC)

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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. Jon Moody performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night. Thursday night is karaoke night at the Blind Swine on Monkey Island, and Erin Fitzgibbon entertains Friday night at the Swine. Saturday is karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub.

On South Grand Lake, Brent Giddens will provide the music Friday night at Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill, followed by Reverse Reaction on stage Saturday night.

In Grove, J.R. Neal the Pianoman entertains Saturday night at The Regatta. There is Friday night live entertainment by Jeff Tatum & the Palomino Band at Venue 655 at Grand Lake Casino followed by karaoke Saturday night. At Cherokee Casino Grove, Bobby Degonia entertains Friday night, and Brent Giddens takes the stage Saturday night.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Eastbound in the Echo Bar Thursday night. Friday night features The Rumor, and Oreo Blue wraps up the weekend Saturday night. At Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, Morgan Squared is featured Friday night, followed by Constant Chaos Saturday.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Wednesday night is “Guest Chef Night” at The Shebang. Drs. Duane and Tammie Koehler are featured guest chefs. Next Tuesday, January 25, is a Whiskey Tasting Event at Drunken Rooster (6:00 p.m.). Checkered Past in Grove and The Artichoke in Langley have now both re-opened following a mid-winter break. The Grill at Indian Hills has also re-opened following closure for renovations. Blind Swine on Monkey Island is now operating under winter hours of operation - open only Thursday-Saturday evenings, Sunday brunch only.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Ozark is back! The first half of the final season will be available Friday on NETFLIX. American Dad premieres Monday on TBS. If you’ve been missing Downton Abbey, check out The Gilded Age premiering Monday at 9:00 on HBO. Promised Land also makes its debut Monday night at 9:00 on ABC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: One Night in Miami, Scream, and American Underdog are in movie theaters. The White Tiger is available Friday on NETFLIX.

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SAVE THE DATE: 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. Friday, February 4 – Dave Rader Open European at Flying J Ranch & Hunt Club. Sunday, February 13 – Super Bowl LVI Watch Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Monday, February 17 – Liverpool Legends live at the Indoor Pavilion at Downstream Casino. Thursday-Sunday, March 3-6 – Grand Lake Boat Show at the Grove Civic Center.

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SPORTS WATCH: We’re down to eight remaining teams in the NFL Playoffs. Divisional Round games are this weekend. There are two games Saturday (3:30 and 7:00 p.m.) and two Sunday (2:00 and 5:30 p.m.).

There’s great college basketball, as well. OU hosts Baylor Saturday at 2:00 before traveling to West Virginia for a Wednesday night game (7:00). OSU is at Texas at 1:00 Saturday, and they host Iowa State next Wednesday night at 7:00. Arkansas hosts Texas A&M Saturday night at 7:30, and they are on the road at Ole Miss next Wednesday (6:00). The OSU women host West Virgina Saturday at 1:00 and the OU women are at Kansas State Sunday at 1:00. Next Wednesday, it’s Bedlam for the ladies – OSU at OU at 6:00.

In the NBA, the OKC Thunder have back-to-back games on the road at Charlotte Friday night (6:00) and Cleveland Saturday night (7:00) before returning home to host Chicago Monday night (7:00).

The PGA players are in California this week for The American Express at La Quinta. Live coverage is on the Golf Channel beginning at 2:00 Thursday-Sunday.

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For the weekend ahead, temperatures may never make it above freezing Friday with lows in the teens. Saturday & Sunday should be a little better with highs around 40 and lows around 20. There are plenty of indoor options for entertainment, though, and it’s a good time to find a nice spot to watch those divisional round NFL games. Remember, though, 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