February 19th Random Observation of Grand Lake Bum

I had a wonderful time Saturday night at the Monkey Island Pub, enjoying the last of three continuous Grand Lake weekends of Mardi Gras parties. I love how all the clubs spread out their celebrations I think we should consider stringing all the holidays out over three weeks!

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If you haven’t already started getting in shape for the season ahead, it’s time to get into your training routine. Here we are at the last weekend of February. Next week Welcome Back Weekend will already be here, followed by the Coots No Talent Talent Show at Big Shots the next weekend as we roll into Daylight Saving Time, and St. Patrick’s Day parties the next week. Before you know it, Easter will be past and we’ll all be preparing for the Bootleggl and heading out on the water in gangs. I’m ready to have a little more company out there!

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Be careful about shooting things out of the sky. It can be hazardous to your health – or perhaps the health of others. In Maryland, Robert Meilhammer was huntiung with a group when one of the large geese flying overhead was killed and fell about 90 feet, landing on Meilhammer’s head and knocking him out. It also knocked out two of his teeth. Yep, hunting can be hazardous to your health, after all.

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There are also problems to be considered with pre-fab housing. Joe and Lonnie Harrison like to escape from Houston to their pre-fab vacation cabin in Madisonville, Texas. They hadn’t been there since November when they showed up last week to find nothing but pipes and wiring sticking out of the ground. The sheriff said it was the first time he ever worked a case of a stolen house. As it turns out, the pre-fab had actually been repossessed from a previous owner who “forgot” to pay off the note.

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A little sports knowledge can be a dangerous marketing thing…especially if you’re overly confident in your predictions. In Muskegon, Michigan, WOOD-TV ran a 30-second commercial for Subaru of Muskegon following Super Bowl LII. Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ upset of the New England Patriots, the commercial had no audio – only 30-seconds of the written message, “Congratulations Patriots!” Television station officials said the car dealership only made one version of the commercial – the wrong version, as it turns out.

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If you’ve been wondering what athletes do in their spare time at the Winter Olympic Games, here’s a clue. Organizers distributed a record 110,000 condoms to the 2,925 athletes – about 37 condoms per competitor. Officials said “We hope to aid the athletes visiting from various countries to complete their events successfully and safely.” It’s not clear exactly what “events” the statement refers to. For the record, free condom distrubtion began in 1988 when 8,500 condoms were handed out during the Olympic Games in Seoul.

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I have a new ambition in life. I want to do a bad job running an oil company. That replaces my former ambition of wanting to be a fired college football coach. Sandridge Energy CEO James Bennett and Chief Financial Officer Julian Bott have both been fired. They got severance pay, though. Bennett gets $26.6 million and Bott will receive $10.3 million. Unsatisfactory job performance never looked so good!

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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: Every woman’s dream is that a man will take her in his arms, throw her into bed…and clean the whole house while she sleeps.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: My mind says I’m in my twenties. My body says “You WISH!”

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TWEET OF THE WEEK:  Just a tip. If you send me ANYTHING in messenger and ask me to keep it going, it dies right there.

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Last week, Republicans in the Oklahoma legislature tried to pass a big tax increase bill – Democrats blocked it. What kind of parallel universe is this? I’ve been watching the Oklahoma legislature for 40 years. That’s a first – on both sides!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Jim Wyche, Todd Gayer, Bob Howard, Ryan Stoner, Greg Hopeman, Robyn Guest, Travis Davidson, Andi McConn, Winston Connor II, Bob Kelly, “Ugly John” Mullen, Matt Jobe, Leta Carson, Gary Sisco, Laurara McCrary, and…oh, yeah…me! And a special shout-out to Google. They have announced plans to invest ANOTHER $600 million in their data center at Mid-America Industrial Park in Pryor.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you’re waiting for your waiter…aren’t YOU the waiter?

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BEST EVENT OF THE WEEK: Testify: A Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute Saturday night at the Club 60 West Event Center at Riverbend Casino in Wyandotte.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: It may be winter time at Grand Lake, but there’s plenty of entertainment. At The Shebang on Monkey Island, the talented Randy Lunsford entertains weekends. Across the street at Big Shots, Saturday night is dance night! Just down highway 125 at Monkey Island Pub,Friday night is Karaoke night. The Blind Swine also has karaoke fun, as well as live entertainment every Saturday night by Erin Fitzgibbon. Further down the highway at the Road Hog Saloon, there is great live entertainment every Saturday night.

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

Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove will feature nighTTrain Friday night, followed by Stonehorse Saturday. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. The George Brothers Band kicks off the weekend Friday night, followed by Brandon Butler on Saturday. Dewayne Bowman & the Swingin’ West Band will start the music at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Friday night, followed by a terrific show in the Event Center Saturday night featuring Testify: A Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment beginning with Rocked N LoadedThursday and The Rosy Hips Friday night in the Echo Bar. Saturday night, music is by Big Smitty. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, Western Justice will start the weekend entertainment Friday night; and Lickitty Split will be on stage Saturday night. The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including the NBA Basketball, PGA Golf, and NASCAR action, as well as the final few days of the Winter Olympic Games, are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, 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.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Sunday Morning will highlight the 50^th anniversary of The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band on CBS at 9:00 a.m. Sunday.The Winter Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies will be live Sunday night on NBC. The Walking Dead  is also Sunday night at 8:00 on AMC; and America’s Greatest Threat: Vladimir Putin airs Sunday night at 8:00 on the History Channel. The Voice returns to the airwaves Monday night at 7:00 on NBC followed by the premiere ofGood Girls at 9:00. Living Biblically also premieres Monday night at 8:30 on CBS; and Bull returns for the spring Tuesday night at 8:00 on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Game Night and Annihilation

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I’m not going on any of  those online dating sights. I’d rather meet people the old fashioned way. With alcohol and poor judgment.”

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday-Sunday, March 2-4 – Welcome Back Weekend! Saturday, March 3 – Free Boating Safety Course at GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley (8:00-5:00). Saturday, March 3 – Ice Breaker Poker Run (stops are CYC, AYC, Cedar Port, Mooney’s, VIP Pizza at Hammerhead). Saturday, March 10 – Croak-Off and Koots Talent/No Talent Show at Big Shots on Monkey Island. Thursday-Sunday, March 8-11 – Grand Lake Boat and Sport Show at Grove Civic Center. Thursday, March 15 – Vinita Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, Craig County Fairgrounds. Friday, March 16 – several candidates for statewide public office will be making their cases and be available for questions at the new Grove Airport Terminal building at 5:30. Friday, March 16 – St. Patrick’s Day party at Monkey Island Pub – bagpipers play hourly 6:00-10:00. Saturday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day party at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina. Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 – Renaissance Festival in Vinita. Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 – Long John Sumner’s Big Meat Run at Disney. Friday, March 30 – Blood drive at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, Holderman Ballroom from 11:00-4:00. Saturday, April 7 – GEFFE Gala at Grove Civic Center. Saturday, April 14 – Free Boating Safety Course at GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley (8:00-5:00). Saturday, April 14 – South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce “Bootleggers Ball” at Cherokee Yacht Club.

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In the NBA, the All-Star break is over, and it’s back to work for the Thunder – four games in seven days, three of them on the road. They’re in Sacramento Thursdaynight at 9:00 (FSOK) and at Golden State Saturday night (7:30 on ABC) before returning home to host Orlando Monday night (7:00 on FSOK), then traveling south to face Dallas Wednesday night at 7:30 (FSOK).

On the college courts, OSU is at Texas Saturday at 1:00, but you’ll have to be one of a handful of subscribers to something called The Longhorn Network to catch it on TV. The Cowboys travel to Iowa State in a real TV telecast Tuesday night at 6:00 on ESPNU. OU hosts Kansas State Saturday afternoon at 5:00 (ESPNU) before traveling to Waco to take on Baylor Tuesday night at 8:00 (ESPN2). Tulsa plays a rare Sunday morning game at Cincinnati. Tip-off is 11:00 a.m. (CBSSN). Other bigSaturday games include Baylor at TCU (11:00 on ESPN2) and Iowa State at West Virginia (5:00 on ESPN2). Monday night, there are a pair of great Big 12 games at8:00 – Texas Tech at West Virginia (ESPN2) and Texas at Kansas (ESPN).  In addition to Tuesday night’s OU and OSU games, Kansas State is at TCU at 8:00(ESPNU).

PGA players head to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida this week for the Honda Classic. Coverage begins at 2:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 2:00.

NASCAR drivers are in Atlanta this weekend. Coverage of the Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 begins Sunday at 1:00 on Fox.

Coverage of the Winter Olympic Games continues nightly at 7:00 this week on NBC, concluding with coverage of the Closing Ceremonies Sunday night.

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The weekend weather forecast is a little improved, but it’s still not perfect. We may have some showers off & on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning, but the temperatures will be pretty nice – upper 50s to low 60s for highs and low-to-mid 40s for lows. Things are getting better…but it’s still best to spend the evenings at an indoor bar! There’s plenty happening around the lake this weekend, so get out there; but wherever 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.

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