December 12 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum

Well, the boating season is officially underway – or at least the boat show season. I took a little trip away from the lake to catch up on all the new stuff at the Tulsa Boat & RV Show over the past weekend. Signs are encouraging for a good season ahead. Most of the Grand Lake dealers had awesome displays at the show – and the dealers all seemed to be encouraged by the turnout and the sales action. I was there last Friday for “Shangri-La Day” at the show – and it seemed like I ran into at least half the people I know. It was a great weekend; and I’m already ready for summer because a couple of my buddies bought new boats at the show. If you missed the Tulsa Show, the Oklahoma City Boat & RV Show is this weekend – also Friday-Sunday at the Bennett Event Center, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in OKC. There’s another show on the distant horizon. The Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show is just a couple of weeks away – February 2-8 at the Sagenet Center at Tulsa’s Fairgrounds.

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Meanwhile, back at the lake, the official groundbreaking ceremonies were held over the past weekend for the new biking & hiking trail in Grove. What a great addition to the recreational amenities already featured at the lake. And how about the “topping off” ceremonies for the new fire department building in Grove. The sleepy little lakeside community is on the move!

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The President and others are talking about the U.S. taking over Greenland, but I think we ought to consider turning that around – maybe Greenland taking over the U.S. We would still have the same amicable relationship we all have now, but maybe we would get the free healthcare Greenland citizens already have.

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If you’re keeping track of some of the worst Artificial Intelligence releases on social media, here’s another good one: “Mark Daigneault, owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder, submitted 170GB of evidence and a 60-page analytical report to the NFL detailing referee bias in their controversial 105-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns.” Okay, let’s break that down. A) It is totally false; B) Mark Daigneault is “Coach” of the Thunder, not the “Owner”; C) 170GB is enough digital storage for hundreds of hours of music, several HD movies, and tens of thousands of photos; and D) I’m not sure why Mark would submit a complaint to the NFL since he coaches basketball, not football. By the way, if you’re getting all those “Happy Birthday” wishes to celebrities, they are 98% either wrong dates or wrong age. SMH. I’ve had enough AI.

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Do you think it’s true that President Trump is planning to name disgraced, imprisoned, and pardoned former Congressman George Santos as the new President of Venezuela? Santos reportedly said he is uniquely qualified, having previously served as president of several South American countries including Colombia, Chile, and Brazil.

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Is McDonald’s “McRib” just a big “McFib”? A class-action lawsuit has been filed against McDonald’s claiming the meat is just shaped like a rib, but doesn’t actually contain any rib meat. I know you’re shocked.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Paul Bulten, Mickey Landers, Ed Battaglia, Jared McCorkle, Kristi Mullinax, Dale Forrest, Leslie Hudson, Debbie Horany, Benee Masri, Linda young, Heather Robison, Carmelita Rocourt, Michael Westbrock, Tammy Dills, Suzan Caldwell, Tag Webb, Rick Craven, Marilyn VanGilder, Nancy Dalquest, Glenn Coffee, Logan Coffee, Barbara Rader, and Tabitha Beyers.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Grand Lake Villa in Grove hosts a Grove Chamber “Business After Hours” event Thursday evening from 5:00-6:30. Friday, the Grove Chamber of Commerce office offers refreshments (10:00-2:00) in celebration of “Dolly Day,” as they collect donations for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The Oklahoma City Boat & RV Show features several Grand Lake dealers at the Bennett Event Center at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City this weekend, Friday-Sunday.  Next Wednesday, January 22, The Mom’s Unhinged Comedy Show comes to the Coleman Theatre in Miami (7:00 p.m.).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Larger ships can pass through the Suez Canal than through the Panama Canal.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: If you never noticed, the Humpty Dumpty poem never mentions an egg. “Humpty Dumpty” was actually the name of a massive Royalist cannon used during the English Civil War (1648). It sat on the wall of Colchester. When the wall was blown up, the cannon fell off. “All the King’s horses and all the King’s men” couldn’t put Humpty together again because…well, you can’t fix a 2-ton iron cannon that has shattered into pieces. Victorian illustrators just made him an egg because it looked funny.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Kate Winslet holds the Guinness record for the longest on-screen underwater breath-hold (by a lead actor) at 7 minutes 15 seconds in Avatar: The Way of Water, surpassing Tom Cruise’s 6 minutes in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: 29% of all accidents are caused by speeding. That means 71% are caused by driving the speed limit. Statistically, it’s safer to speed. I knew it!

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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: Whoever came up with the word “dentures” really missed an opportunity to call them “substitooths.”

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Are we getting drinks – or dranks? Because I need to dress accordingly.

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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: Today I plan on being as useless as the G in lasagna.

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PUN OF THE WEEK: As a young boy, Brutus’ mother often cautioned him not to run with Caesars.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do psychics have to ask your name?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I was today years old when I realized it’s called DisneyLAnd because it’s in L.A. and it’s called DisneywORLd because it’s in Orlando.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We establish no religion in this country. We command no worship. We mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are and must remain separate.” – Ronald Reagan

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Legendary actor/director Robert Duvall turned 95 last week. Controversial, but incredibly talented actor Mel Gibson turned 70; and former First Lady Michelle Obama turns 62 years old this week.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Lee Lawson hosts Tuesday Trivia at The Anchor Tuesday night (7:00). Erin Fitzgibbon entertains at The Monkey Bar Tuesday night (9:00). They also have Karaoke both Wednesday night and Friday night with Sundown Entertainment – and Jukebox Match fun Saturday night.

On South Grand Lake, Magen Faulconer will be on stage Friday night at Pickles Pub in Langley. Jacob Dement will entertain Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney; and Jesse Dean will take over Saturday night.

In Grove, Blues Doctors will be on stage Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Hollywood Riot Saturday night. Brett n’ Terri entertain Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Erin Fitzgibbon Saturday night.

A&E Music kicks off the weekend early with a Thursday night performance at Indigo Sky Casino. The Chris Hyde Band takes over Friday night, and MoArk Mojo wraps up the weekend music Saturday. The Blue Underground will entertain Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar. Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West will feature Until Now Saturday night.

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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Doc’s Bar & Grill is closed for the season, reopening March 10. Boom at The Regatta in Grove is also closed for the season, reopening in the Spring. The Anchor and The Galley Restaurant at Shangri-La are open seven days a week. The Shebang Restaurant on Monkey Island is now offering Island delivery on Sunday evenings during the off-season. South 125 Bar & Grill now has a new shorter winter menu available.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The new series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy debuts Thursday on Paramount+. Happy’s Place airs Friday night at 7:00 on NBC, followed by Stumble at 7:30. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres Sunday night at 9:00 on HBO.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Bone Lake is available Thursday on NETFLIX, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple opens in theaters this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Sunday, February 12-15 – Oklahoma Tackle, Hunting, and Boat Show at the new Wolf Creek Expo Center in Grove. Friday & Saturday, February 20-21 – Grove Home, Garden & Travel Show at the Wolf Creek Expo Center. Saturday, February 28 – Sh*t Show (formerly Old Coots No Talent/Talent Show) at Big Shots (7:30 p.m.).

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In the college football world, we’re down to the final two teams. It’s National Championship time. Miami will face Indiana next Monday night at 6:30 for all the marbles!

The NFL is also getting really serious. We’re down to eight teams. Divisional Playoff action features two games Saturday (3:30 and 7:15) and two more Sunday (2:00 and 5:30).

The NBA has a busy schedule. After hosting the dreaded Spurs Tuesday in OKC (7:00), the Oklahoma City Thunder face a grueling road trip – Thursday in Houston (6:30), Saturday in Miami (7:00), Monday in Cleveland (1:30), and next Wednesday in Milwaukee (8:30).

There’s some good college basketball, too. Florida is at OU and Kansas hosts Iowa State Tuesday (both at 8:00), Alabama is at OU Saturday at noon; and the Sooners travel to South Carolina next Tuesday (6:00). There are some great televised women’s college games, too, including Arkansas at Missouri Thursday (6:30) and Iowa State at Oklahoma State in a nationally televised game Sunday at noon.

The PGA players are finally back on the course. The season-opening Sony Open is this weekend. Coverage is on the Golf Channel at 6:00 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. NBC has coverage Saturday & Sunday afternoons at 3:00.

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The weather is turning a little more like January this weekend. We’ll be up to 50ish by Friday, but with temps dipping down into the teens Saturday night with a weekend of high temperatures in the upper 30s. There’s plenty happening indoors around the lake this weekend, so get out of the house and join the fun! Remember, though, wherever you 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.

Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La

Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights)

Billy’s Burger Bar & More in Ketchum

Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

BOOM at The Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge)

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Casa Gutierrez in Gro

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanellas on Monkey Island

Chicken Coop west of Langley

Chubby’s Grill at On Target in Grove

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum

Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)

Cregan’s Confections & Ice Cream (Ketchum)

Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

Domino’s in Grove

Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)

Drake’s Restaurant in Grove

Drift at the Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge in Grove)

Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill (Cleora)

Drunken Rooster – on the Water (Grove)

E&H Liquor Store at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina

Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek

Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort

Gambino’s Pizza in Ketchum

Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)

Grand Getaway Mercantile (north of Grove)

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

Grand Lake Coffee Company in Grove

Hero’s Deli in Grove

Hero’s Deli in Langley

High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)

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

Island Bar & Grill at The Landings Marina

Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina

Keagan’s Coffee at Littlefield Corner

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Legacy Eatery in Grove

Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum

Los Garcias in Langley

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Bar on Monkey Island

Monkey Island RV Resort

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney

Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel

Monkey Island Trail Rides

Monkey Island Winery

Mosa Hibachi and Sushi in Grove

Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove

Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove

One-Eyed Monkey at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Pappy’s Bar on Hwy 10 east of Grove

Pickles at the Lake in Langley

Pier 13 Liquor Store in Langley

Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove

Pit Stop Café in Grove

Poppin’ on Grand in Cleora

Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor

R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Rise-N-Dine, Ketchum

River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)

Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island

Roberts Bar & Restaurant in Langley

Royal Liquor Store in Grove

Scissortail Lounge at Scissortail Marina

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina

South 125 Bar & Grill on Monkey Island

Speedy’s Chophouse in Grove

Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

The Artichoke Restaurant in Langley

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

The Stables Casino in Miami (smoking)

The Shebang on Monkey Island (smoking on patio and Balcony Bar)

Ugly’s Grill & Bar, Thunder Bay Marina

VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove