February 4 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

Another Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show is in our rearview mirror. If reports from boat dealers are any indication, the year ahead should be a good one. The Tulsa show is always the biggest economic indicator of the year ahead – and dealers report good sales at the show. If you are planning on buying a new boat this year, I’ll say this – there were some absolutely incredible new models unveiled in Tulsa!

*****

I learned one thing soon after walking into the River Spirit Expo door – prices this year are WAY UP! I’m not talking about boat prices. Since I’m not in the market for a new boat this year, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the boat prices; but when I walked up to the concession stand, there stood the sign – in big, bold letters: “Draft Beer: $15.” I’m not even kidding. After the first day of the show, I just filled a big bladder bag with a long plastic tube under my coat, and told everyone I was on oxygen. Tulsa bars and clubs did a landmark business, I’m sure, because, I don’t care how much money you have – you couldn’t afford to get drunk at the Tulsa Boat Show! If you did, you wouldn’t have enough money left for a new boat! Apparently I wasn’t the only one who noticed that cocktails at Tulsa’s finest clubs would be far less expensive than a beer at the show. If those prices stay the same next year, the crowd response this year provided proof positive that there will no longer be any reason to keep the show open past 8:00 p.m.

*****

Weather last week was miserable – not so much here (although ours was bad enough) – but almost everywhere north of here. Temperatures in Chicago last week were colder than temperatures in Antarctica! It was so bad, schools and businesses were closed, people were urged to stay inside, and there wasn’t even any mail delivery for a couple of days. The old USPS slogan used to be “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from swift completion of their appointed rounds.” The new slogan is, “We’re not that stupid!”

*****

The rotten winter weather brought some great news, though! Saturday morning in Pennsylvania was dreary, cloudy, cold, windy, wet and miserable – but when Punxatawney Phil crawled out of his hole, the rotten weather prevented him from seeing any sign of a shadow!! So, according to the legend, WINTER IS OVER!  That works for me! I hate winter so much it has made me hat spring and fall just because they touch it!

*****

It looks like the GRDA may be getting into the recreational white water rafting business. Don’t get excited though, Grand Lakers. It won’t be around Grand Lake.  Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding, the Grand River Dam Authority will construct, own and operate a whitewater park on the Illinois River just north of Watts at a location formerly known as Lake Frances near the Oklahoma-Arkansas border. The GRDA entered into the memorandum of understanding with the City of Siloam Springs, Ark., the Walton Family Foundation, Patton Limited LLC (a company created by the Walton Family Foundation that purchased land near the project) and the Siloam Springs Water Resources Corporation, which is owned by the city of Siloam Springs. Don’t look for construction to come any time soon, though. Before the project can even be put out for bids, it has to be approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. You know how fast that bunch operates so, to say the park will actually be built is, as a GRDA spokesman understated, “is premature.”

*****

If your bright white golf shoes are distracting you while putting, Nike is coming to your rescue. They will soon be marketing golf shoes that are covered with a green material that resembles grass, so you won’t even notice your big feet in the path of your putter. $140 is the target price for the “disappearing” golf shoes.

*****

Flights get grounded for a variety of reasons relating to weather, security, mechanical problems and all sorts of other things. Orlando, Florida had another reason for their flight delays last week. There was a shortage of security help in the TSA after one TSA worker had enough and made the ultimate statement about career unhappiness when he jumped from the upper floor balcony of a hotel, landing in the airport atrium. He was dead at the scene. I’d say that is REALLY hating your job!

*****

RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: With 43,000 inhabitants, Burlington, Vermont is the smallest city to be the largest city in its state.

*****

BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Did you ever notice how people who don’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re,” “lose” and “loose,” “there” and “their,” or “to” and “too,” expect us to believe they’ve suddenly become experts on economics, world history, immigration law, climate science, international treaties, and the Constitution?

*****

LEGAL TIP OF THE WEEK: Legal Tip of the Day: If you're trying to show a judge how much you love your kids, showing up for the custody case is a good start.

*****

BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Just before I die, I’m going to eat an entire bag of popcorn kernels. My cremation will be epic!

*****

TWEET OF THE WEEK: I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes in life. She hugged me.

*****

FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The television program Sesame Street has been on the air for 50 years! And just like that, 1969 was fifty years ago!

*****

OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: It’s sort of like Punxsutawney Phil. If President Trump emerges next week and doesn’t see his wall, it’s six more weeks of shutdown.

*****

SUGGESTION OF THE WEEK: With the constant threat of cold weather, Wal-Mart shoppers are urged to wear two pair of pajamas.

*****

GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Laura Goss, Nick Magoulas, Hayley Whitehead, Stan Noble, Kim Self-Hutchison, Steve Weatherford, Martha Jennings, Sandy Garrett, Steve Brewer, Rob Stalcup, Ben Wolfe, Dennis Barber, Dustin Able, and Tamara Carrott.

*****

UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Was the pole vault accidentally invented by a clumsy javelin thrower?

*****

BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The Grove Home & Garden Show runs Friday-Sunday at the Grove Civic Center; and Saturday night is the big Valentine Dance/Karaoke Party at Big Shots on Monkey Island.

*****

GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment coming up around the lake to kick off the new month. 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. Big Shots Rhythm & Booze has your favorites Saturday night for a special Valentine Dance event. Doors open at 8:00. At Littlefield Corner, there’s live music every Saturday 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. Cherokee Casino-Grove features music from Risky Business Friday night followed by Runnin’ on Empty Saturday. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Whiskey Poet Society entertains at Bordertown Friday night, followed by The Brandon Butler Band Saturday. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Bobby DeGonia will perform Friday night. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Brett & Terri perform Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Scotfree Fridayy. Paralandra wraps up the weekend Saturday night at Indigo.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including PGA Golf and college & NBA basketball games are the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.

*****

BUM MUST-SEE TV: The 61^st Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live at 7:00 Sunday night on CBS. Studio 54 airs Monday night at 9:00 on A&E.

*****

BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, What Men Want and Cold Pursuit

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “War against a foreign country happens only when the moneyed classes think they’re going to profit from it.” - Orwell

*****

SAVE THE DATE: Friday-Saturday, February 15-16 – Midsouth Tackle, Hunting & Boat Show, Grove Civic Center. Thursday, February 28 – South Grand Chamber Charity Pie/Dessert Auction at Cherokee Yacht Club. Friday-Sunday, March 1-3 – “Welcome Back Weekend” on Grand Lake! Saturday, March 2 – Murder Mystery Dinner at Shangri-La Resort Hotel. Thursday-Sunday, March 7-10 – Grove Boat Show, Grove Civic Center. Thursday-Sunday, March 21-24 – Sumner’s Big Meat Run in Disney. Saturday, March 23 – Ladies Wine Tasting at The Casitas followed by a co-ed karaoke & dance party at Grand Meridian RV Park. Sunday, March 24 – Shangri-La Lake-to-Golf 5K. Saturday, April 13 – South Grand Lake Chamber Bootlegger’s Ball at Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, May 4 – Burning of the Socks at Harbors View Marina – music by 5^thElement. Saturday, May 18 – Ales & Tails at the Craig County Fairgrounds in Vinita. Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1 – Toes in the Grand celebration at Wolf Creek Park in Grove.

*****

There’s great NBA action this week. The OKC Thunder host Memphis Thursday night at 7:00 (FSOK). Saturday night, they’re in Houston to face the Rockets (7:30 on ABC) before returning home to host Portland Monday night (7:00 on FSOK).

In college hoops TV highlights, Saturday games include OSU at Kansas (11:00) and Texas Tech at OU at 3:00.  Monday night, OU is at Baylor and Kansas is at TCU, both at 8:00. Kansas State is at Texas Tuesday night at 8:00 – and OSU hosts Texas Tech Wednesday night at 8:00.

PGA Players are in California this week for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Coverage begins at 2:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on The Golf Channel. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday and Sunday.

*****

The weekend ahead doesn’t look like it can compete with the weekend gone by – at least not in the weather category – but it looks nice. Friday high temperatures will be in the mid 30s – Saturday we’ll be up to mid-40s – and Sunday we’ll be pushing 50 degrees (although there may be a shower or two Sunday, as well).  Of course, the weather is always great for dining & drinking at Grand Lake in January, so, party on! Come join the fun. Remember, though…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 web site.  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)

Hilltop Café in Grove

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

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.)

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

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)

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 Gentlemen’s Club 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