December 30 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
The biggest party season of the year is coming to a close. We’ll wrap up a 17-day holiday celebration at Grand Lake this weekend, just in time for the big boat shows in Tulsa and Oklahoma City January 10-12. If you’re planning ahead for those shows, the Tulsa show is bigger. There are 15 boat dealers exhibiting at the Oklahoma Boat Expo in Tulsa, including six Grand Lake dealers. The Oklahoma City show includes displays by 11 boat dealers – three dealers from Grand Lake. Nichols Marine and Ugly John’s are the only two Grand Lake dealers with exhibits at both shows. Enjoy!
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There must have been some very crowded households over the Christmas holiday. AAA estimates that 92.3% of Oklahomans drove to their holiday destination. I guess that means that 7.7% of Oklahomans hosted everyone else for the holiday. In all, more than 1.1 million Oklahomans drove more than 50 miles for the holiday. Another 52,700 Oklahomans took to the skies. Nationwide, almost 120 million folks hit the highways and skyways for the holiday. I hope your friends and family made the trips safely.
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The times are changing. I hope you were able to catch the two fabulous NFL games on Christmas Day that were televised exclusively on NETFLIX. It’s probably a sneak peek at the future. Streaming services are encroaching on the professional sports arena long dominated by ESPN on broadcast services. Prime and NETFLIX are already taking over some of the sports schedule. I’m sure others will follow. Pretty soon it will be less expensive to buy tickets to the games than subscribing to all the streaming services that might cover your favorites.
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People who know me well know how it drives me crazy when people use the wrong words – or words that don’t even exist. I ran across a writing from someone much smarter who managed to express my complete thought on the topic. Here is the perfect compilation of my pet peeves all in one simple explanation: “Most people could care less that people say irregardless. This misuse should have been nipped in the butt long ago. Maybe they are just escape goats for the broader problems of the decline of education, but even though I have been biting my time here, cringing at the next foe par while they get off scotch free, it’s truly a mute point these days. Face it: it’s a doggie dog world. I think I’ll just go curl up in a feeble position. Ex cetera, ex cetera, ex cetera.”
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While we’re on that topic, I also get very annoyed when people mix up there, their, and they’re. From now on, I’m going two point it out weather they like it or not.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Reggie Wallace, Patrick Crossland, Bill Schenke, Robert Vandommelen, Jonathan Moosmiller, Mark Londagin, Steve Cornell, Paul Spechler, Clayton Shumaker, Sergio Andre, Kent Harrell, Lacy Dvoracek, Kim Verplank, Jana Leddy, Susan Graham, Danny Banning, and Robert Jenks.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Tuesday is New Year’s Eve – so that’s a biggie! The Anchor is open early (11:00 a.m.) for all the New Year’s Eve Bowl Games. Tuesday night is the huge “Studio 54 New Year’s Eve Gala” in the Roosevelt Ballroom at Shangri-La. There are also New Year’s Eve parties at Mulligans at Patricia Island, R Bar Dance Hall and Saloon in Grove, The Drunken Rooster, Cherokee Yacht Club, Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill, Juan Montez, Big Shots on Monkey Island, and The Monkey Bar on the Island. Next Wednesday, New Year’s Day, The Anchor will be open at 11:00 a.m. so you don’t miss any of the CFP Championship Quarterfinal Bowl Games. Thursday night is “Karaoke & Prime Rib Night” at Doc’s at Shangri-La and “Thursday Trivia Night” at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: About 45 Turks and 30 Caicos comprise the Turks and Caicos.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: In the past year, 80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Olympic gold medals are not made of gold. They are mostly silver and are finished with gold. The last time the medals were solid gold was the 1904 Olympic Games.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: If a woman says, “Do what you want,” DO NOT DO WHAT YOU WANT! Stand still. Don’t breathe. Don’t even blink. Just play dead.
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PALINDROME OF THE WEEK: “A Toyota’s a Toyota” spelled backwards is still “A Toyota’s a Toyota.”
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: My reality check bounced.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: I started a new job as a delivery man today. When I got to my first address, there was a little sticky note left on the door saying, “Dear Mr. Delivery Man, we’re out, please hide in garage.” That was eight hours ago and still nobody’s found me.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: If I combined the DNA of a possum, a billy goat, and a manatee…would that be a possibility?
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you keep falling further and further behind schedule, does that mean you are continually developing more time to catch up?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I used to live paycheck to paycheck, but with advancements in technology, I now live direct deposit to direct deposit.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “You can make a lot of money in this game. Just ask my ex-wives. Both of them are so rich that neither of their husbands works.” – Lee Trevino
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Multiple Academy/Golden Globe/Tony Award winning actor Denzel Washington is 70 years old. Former Tulsa and Arkansas basketball coaching legend Nolan Richardson turned 83 last week. Televangelist Jim Bakker turns 85 this week. Actor Mel Gibson turns 69. Three-time Emmy winning CBS sportscaster Greg Gumbel died over the past weekend after a tough fight with cancer. He was 78.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: What a week of live entertainment on Grand Lake !! On Monkey Island, Avenue performs at the “Studio 54 New Year’s Eve Gala” at Shangri-La New Year’s Eve while Terry Jordan entertains at The Summit. Morgan Squared will provide the entertainment at Road Hog Saloon New Year’s Eve; and DJ Shay rings in the New Year at The Monkey Bar. The after-Christmas-pre-New-Year’s fun begins Thursday night with Jason Morgan hosting the karaoke fun at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. DJ Kennedy leads Rockstar Karaoke Friday night at The Monkey Bar. DJ Kyle Bandito provides the late-night music at Big Shots both Friday & Saturday nights.
On South Grand, House Party will entertain at the New Year’s Eve Party at Drunken Rooster Tuesday. Souled Out will provide the New Year’s Eve music at Cherokee Yacht Club. Tim Robinson leads the karaoke fun New Year’s Eve at Copper Penny in Ketchum.
In Grove, Magic J Entertainment starts the New Year’s Eve fun at 6:00 at Cherokee Casino, followed by Dead Metal Society at 10:30. The CM Johnson Band will provide the music on New Year’s Eve with emcee Shane and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon. Playlist is featured on New Year’s Eve at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655. Dustin Treiber entertains New Year’s Eve at Mulligans.
The Bison perform on New Year’s Eve at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, both the Beer & Chicken Band and Bobby Degonia will be on stage New Year’s Eve and there is fun karaoke Saturday night. Members Only will entertain at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar New Year’s Eve and Tim Nowell will perform Friday night followed by Coyote Claw Saturday. There will also be live music, food trucks, and dancing at the Gatsby’s New Year’s Eve Party in Downstream’s Pavilion. Thomas Martinez will entertain at Indigo Sky Casino on New Year’s Eve, followed by three weekend nights of entertainment – Brett n’ Terri Thursday night, and Dino D and the D Train Band both Friday & Saturday nights.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Scissortail Marina’s bar & grill is now closed Monday-Wednesday. Open Thursday & Friday at 4:00, Saturdays at 2:00 and Sundays 3:00-7:00. Blind Swine on Monkey Island and Bradford Barbecue in Ketchum have closed until Spring. The Grill at Indian Hills Marina reopens Friday. Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill has added “Saturday Brunch” from 9:00 a.m.-11:45 every week. Grand Lake Kitchen at Har-Ber Village is open throughout the winter months. Hours are 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Sunday & Monday, and 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (Closed Tuesday).
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building moves to ABC this year, beginning Thursday night at 8:00. Going Dutch debuts Thursday night at 8:30 on Fox. Happy’s Place will air Friday night at 7:00 on NBC followed by Lopez vs. Lopez at 7:30. The 82nd Golden Globe Awards will be broadcast live Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: A Complete Unknown, Babygirl, The Lion King, The Fire Inside, and Nosferatu are still dominating the theater screens this week – but The Love Scam is available on NETFLIX and The Front Room is on Max.
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday-Sunday, January 10-12 – Oklahoma Boat Expo at Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa. Saturday, January 18 – An Eventing with Ron Young in the Limelight-Ninety Years of the Broadway Music Man in the Roosevelt Ballroom at Shangri-La Hotel (6:30 p.m.). Saturday, January 18 – The Golden Sounds of the Platters at the Grove High School Performing Arts Center (7:00 p.m.). Monday, January 20 – CFP Championship Watch Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:30 p.m.). Saturday, January 25 – “The Kornfield Friends”-Remembering Hee Haw Original Cast Members at the Grove High School Performing Arts Center (7:00 p.m.). Wednesday, February 5 – Home of Hope Chocolate Affair at the Craig County Fairgrounds & Community Center in Vinita (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Sunday, February 9 – Super Bowl Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La (5:00 p.m.).
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In the college football world, there are big games this week. CFP quarterfinal games include Penn State vs. Boise State Tuesday night at 6:30. New Year’s Day quarterfinal games feature Texas and Arizona State in the Peach Bowl at noon, Ohio State and Oregon in the Rose Bowl at 45:00, and Notre Dame and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl at 7:45. We still have a few bowl games prior to the CFP Semi-Finals. Duke takes on Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl Thursday at 6:30, Virginia Tech takes on Minnesota in the Mayo Bowl Friday at 6:30, and Buffalo and Liberty face off Saturday morning at 10:00 in the Bahamas Bowl.
The NBA has a busy schedule. The OKC Thunder are at home this week taking on the L.A. Clippers Thursday (7:00), the New York Knicks Friday (7:00) and the Boston Celtics Sunday (2:30) before hitting the road to face Cleveland next Wednesday.
PGA players are back in action for the new year. They start the season, as always, in Hawaii. Coverage of The Sentry will begin at 5:00 Thursday-Sunday on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up the final two rounds at 3:00 Saturday & Sunday.
The NFL season rolls into week #18 with a full schedule just prior to playoff time! It’s the final week of regular season action. Wild Card playoffs start next week.
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Weather for the first weekend of the new year doesn’t look too bad. High temperatures will be in the 40s with lows dropping below freezing. Next week, we’ll be dropping down to high temperatures that we don’t even like as low temps – so, enjoy this weekend before the cold weather hits next week. Remember, though, , wherever you decide to party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It might 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
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)
Bradford BBQ in Ketchum
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Casa Gutierrez in Grove
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s 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)
Cove Club in Langley
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Domino’s in Grove
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill
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)
Honey Creek BBQ in Grove (south of Honey Creek bridge)
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
Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, Grove
Riggs & Company in Langley
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island
Royal Liquor Store in Grove
Scissortail Bar at Scissortail Marina
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina
Speedy’s Chophouse in Grove
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 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
