November 26 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

The Thanksgiving holiday was great, as always. Plenty of family, food, friends, football and beverages (no necessarily in that order). I was proud to see my Grand Lake buddies turning out for Small Business Saturday in numbers almost as good as Black Friday shopping. I was also happy to see that no one was seriously hurt on Black Friday – at least not around here – and at least not as a result of shopping. This Saturday is December 1. On that day, go ahead and turn loose of your Christmas spirit. It’s safe now. I hope you didn’t start too early. In case you weren’t warned, for every Christmas light turned on before Thanksgiving, an elf kills a baby reindeer.

*****

Incidentally, the Wal-Mart Black Friday Annual Fiasco didn’t come off without a hitch everywhere. In Vancouver, a Wal-Mart was shut down for a while on Black Friday when a shopper announced a hostage situation in the parking lot. As it turns out, it was just a trio of meth-heads. One of them, in an over-abundance of paranoia, thought the other two had stolen some of his drugs and/or money, so he held them hostage in the car. At least until they discovered their car wouldn’t start. The goober hostage-taker sent one of his hostages into Wal-Mart to steal some jumper cables. Instead of doing that, he mentioned the “hostage” situation to a store employee. One thing led to another – and the store was closed down for a while. The whole situation was kind of methy.

*****

In Hawaii, a location of the popular “Teddy’s Bigger Burger” chain also closed over the holiday – but hopefully in order to stop all of its patrons from accidentally discovering what a “rat burger” tastes like. The store closed after an internet posting of a video apparently depicting a couple of employees grilling a rat along with the burgers. I’m sure they thought it was funny…but apparently they were the only ones.

*****

With all the holiday celebration, you may have missed the big news of the week. Expressing “alarm” about drugs, Oklahoma's Southern Baptists last week vowed  to resist efforts to legalize recreational use of marijuana in the state, calling it a “slippery slope.” When I was growing up in the Southern Baptist Church, only the hippies used marijuana, so the church didn’t worry about it. Dancing was the “slippery slope” back then.

*****

In England, an inquest has determined that dairy farmer Derek Mead was killed by his dog – but not in any way you might suspect. He was building a rock garden, using a tractor to assist in moving the big stones. He got out of the tractor periodically to do a little work on foot, leaving the tractor running in neutral…one too many times. His excited puppy leaped on the lever, putting the tractor in forward gear, crushing his master – to death. Ruff way to go.

*****

BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Please be careful on the roads. Lots of people are drinking excessively and letting their wives drive.

*****

BEST (FAKE NEWS) HEADLINE SEEN THIS WEEK: The Romaine Empire has fallen. Caesar is dead. Lettuce pray.

*****

RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Two Hallmark holiday movies that don't actually exist but should: "The Dirty Santa Murders" and "How Mrs. Kringle Got Her Groove Back."

*****

BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (at Dillards, with the season’s first great typo): Dillard’s will be having the largest sale of the year…just in time for Christmas. There will be a special appearance by Satan from 5pm until 9pm for your kids!

*****

TWEET OF THE WEEK: I don’t want to end the year on bad terms with anyone…so apologize to me.

*****

FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: President John F. Kennedy was assassinated 55 years ago last week.

*****

RELATIONSHIP OBSERVATION: Being kissed while you’re asleep is one of the purest forms of love. Unless you’re in prison.

*****

BEST OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: When we’re young, we sneak out of the house to go to parties. When we’re old, we sneak out of parties to go home.

*****

BAD CHRISTMAS CAROLE OF THE WEEK: “Please, Daddy, Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas” (Honest, I don’t make this stuff up…John Denver…later Alan Jackson)

*****

GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Amber Hopeman, Renea Walters, Marvin Jin, Buddy Yandell, Terry Davis, John Vance, Sandra Knop, Mike Vaughn, Jade Piper, Diane Moll, Ben Gibbs, Gary Burke, Dave Faulkner, Greg Knotts, Marty Follis, Steve Zenthoefer, Mike McCurdy, Darrel Hicks, Alicia Hampton, Sandi Armstrong, Ryan Blakemore, Hunter Burkholder, Sharon Mical, and Judie Clark.

*****

UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why does toilet paper need commercials? Who isn’t buying it already?

*****

BEST EVENT OF THE WEEK: On Monkey Island, the Den of Uniquity Christmas Party is Friday night from 5:00-8:00. Beverages, bargains and dandy snacks.

*****

GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment coming up around the lake over the holiday weekend. 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, there’s always live entertainment Saturday nights 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 features music by The Mixers. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. DeWayne Bowman entertains at Bordertown Friday night. Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 features Kaos Theory Friday night. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Lucas Gates will perform Friday night followed by The Eddie Valen Band Saturday night, both in Club 60 West Bar. In the Entertainment Center, there’s a great Saturday night Christmas Dinner and a Show: The Golden Sounds of the Platters and the Eddie Valen Band. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Brett & Terri perform Thursday night night in the Echo Bar, followed by Soul DeVille Friday night and Jesse Joice Saturday.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including the PGA, College Football, NFL games, and NBA games are Doc’s at Shangri-La Resort, 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: The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration airs Thursday night at 8:00 on ABC. Season 3 of F is for Family is available Friday on NETFLIX.  Garth: Live at Notre Dame airs Sunday at 7:00 on CBS; and The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Holiday Special is also Sunday night – at 9:00 on ABC.

*****

BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, Never Look Away and Anna and the Apocalypse.

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I think youngsters need to start thinking about what kind of world they’re going to leave for me and Keith Richards.” – Willie Nelson

*****

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, December 6 – Santa will be at the Grove Public Library for photo ops from 5:00-7:00. Thursday, December 6 – Vinita Christmas Parade of Lights. Friday, December 7 – Judging of Duck Creek dock decorating contest. Saturday, December 8 – Polar Bear Plunge at Arrowhead Yacht Club. Saturday, December 8 – Jingle Bell 5K Fun Run in Grove. Saturday, December 8 – Gingerbread Christmas Festival  (4:00) & Parade (6:00) in Grove. Saturday, December 8 – Christmas Parade across the Pensacola Dam. Saturday, December 8 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade from Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, December 8 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade Watch Party & Potluck Dinner at Harbors View Marina. Saturday, December 22 is the “Christmas Movie Marathon” at Shangri-La Resort Hotel.

*****

It’s a big week in college football, with lots of conference championship action. Friday night, Utah faces Washington at 7:00 on Fox. Saturday morning, it’s Red River Rivalry: Part II as OU faces Texas for the Big 12 title at 11:00 on ABC. Alabama & Georgia face off at 3:00 on CBS. Clemson and Pittsburgh battle on ABC and Northwestern meets Ohio State on Fox, both at 7:00 Saturday night.

It’s a good week for the NFL, as well. Thursday night action features New Orleans at Dallas at 7:00 on Fox. Sunday noon games include Denver at Cincinnati (CBS) and the L.A. Rams at Detroit (Fox). The 3:30 game on Fox sends Minnesota to New England. Sunday night’s game has the L.A. Chargers at Pittsburgh (7:00 on NBC); and Monday Night Football features Washington at Philadelphia (7:00 on ESPN).

There’s great NBA action this week, too. The OKC Thunder are at home Friday night hosting Atlanta at 7:00 before hitting the road for a 6:00 p.m. Monday night game in Detroit and a Wednesday night match-up with the Nets in Brooklyn at 6:30. All games are televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma.

College basketball action heats up this week. Kansas hosts Stanford Saturday at 4:30 on ESPN. OU is at Notre Dame Tuesday night at 6:00 on ESPN and Hartford is at Duke Wednesday at 6:00 on ESPN2.

In the world of professional golf, Tiger Woods hosts PGA players in the Bahamas this week for the Hero World Challenge. Live coverage on the Golf Channel begins Thursday and Friday at 11:30. NBC has the final two rounds beginning Saturday at 1:30 and Sunday at noon.

*****

It looks like Friday will be the only part of the upcoming weekend with weather as nice as last weekend, with a high temperature in the mid-60s. Saturday & Sunday will only get into the 50s, with Sunday night low temperatures getting back down into the 30’s. Not too shabby for the first weekend of December, though.  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 website.  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