January 15 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
I hate winter so much, it’s made me hate spring and fall just because they touch it! The only silver lining in the miserable weather over the past weekend was being reminded that alcohol doesn’t freeze. My fingers were cold enough that I fumbled the lid to my bourbon bottle and lost it. No problem, though. As it turns out, I didn’t need the lid.
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Another big boat show is in our rearview mirror. The OKC Boat & RV Show over the past weekend endured some record low temperatures – but at least they didn’t have snow & ice to deal with – and it was a summery 70-degrees inside the show. Almost all the Grand Lake dealers were at the show – and folks showed up to have something warm to do. They even bought boats! If you’ve missed the first two big Oklahoma shows of the year, you just have a couple more opportunities. The Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show is January 30-February 5 at Tulsa’s SageNet Center at the fairgrounds – and the Grand Lake Boat Show will be at the Craig County Fairgrounds again this year, March 8-10.
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In the meantime, winter fun is still rolling all around the lake. Grand Lake area bar owners are offering their thanks to the NFL and Peacock this week. Folks who almost had strokes because Peacock wanted six bucks to watch the Dolphins-Chiefs playoff game got a break from almost every bar on the lake who carried the telecast. I feel the pain of my peeps who are protesting pay-per-view football. I was among those who refused to subscribe. I went to The Anchor to cheer the Chiefs to victory. Sure, I had a $45 bar tab, but by God, Peacock didn’t get my six bucks!
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According to Readers’ Digest, a red porch light means you support heart health awareness. That’s sure not what I grew up thinking a red porch light meant! Or at least I never heard it called that before.
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Finding odd things about languages is one of my hobbies – but my inner 11-year-old self will be giggling forever after learning that the Norwegian Phrase for “speed bump” is “Farts Humper.”
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Tag Webb, Suzan Caldwell, Rick Craven, Glenn Coffee, Marilyn VanGilder, Nancy Dalquest, Barbara Rader, Tabitha Beyers, Ellen O’Dell, Kanaan Jones, Jodi Locke, Amy Westbrock, Rex Wood, Tami Bailey, Zach Wehlage, Doug Goss, Eileen Ellison, Bootsey Torchia, Melissa Russell, Donna Palu, Ryan Rahhal, Richard Cannon, and Randy Threet.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. There’s plenty happening around the lake to kick off the new year. Guest Chef returns to The Shebang Wednesday night with Debbie and Gary Hardman preparing “Breakfast for Dinner.” Thursday is a Grove Chamber Business After Hours at MYKC Live Bliss Yoga in Grove (5:00-6:30 p.m.), trivia competition at both Mooney’s in Disney and The Regatta in Grove. Thursday night is also the finals of the Karaoke Contest at The Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum. Friday is Grove Rotary Club’s “Dolly Day” in support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Delaware County. Friday night is the rescheduled January “Dine at St. Andrew’s” spaghetti dinner at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Grove (6:30 p.m.). Saturday is a Spaghetti and Meatball dinner at the Grove Senior Center featuring Elvis impersonator Ty Benner (5:00 p.m.) and SINGO Competition with Jason Morgan at The Anchor (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Next week is Tuesday Trivia with Lee Lawson at The Anchor (7:00 p.m.).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Denton True “Cy” Young, credited with a never-to-be-broken record of 511 career pitching victories, did not enter professional baseball until age 23.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Jeff Bezos encouraged his brother and sister to invest $10,000 in the start-up of Amazon. They did. Their stake is now potentially worth over $1 billion.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Oklahoma State University quarterback Alan Bowman has been granted an unprecedented 7th year of eligibility by the NCAA. He joins Casey Thompson, another 7th year quarterback who just transferred to OU. Both players will be trying to lead college teams, while some of the other players in their same college recruiting class will have already played in more than 40 games in the NFL: Trevor Lawrence, Micah Parsons, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Fields.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: She danced like no one was watching…but they were watching; and she looked like she’d had 12 shots of Jack Daniels and walked into a spider web.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: For fast riders, we have fast horses. For slow riders, we have slow horses. For those who have never ridden, we have horses that have never been ridden.
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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: I don’t date anymore. I just foster women until they find their forever homes.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: Just found out my friend Jack can communicate with vegetables. Apparently, Jack and the beans talk.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why are all the instruments searching for intelligent life pointed away from Earth?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Three of the hardest things for people to say: 1) I was wrong; 2) I need help; and 3) Worcestershire Sauce.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “When one door closes, another door opens.” - Boeing
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Who has the longest successful entertainment career? You have to consider the legendary Carol Burnett. She won an Emmy Award last week for her special Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love. She is 90 years old. It was her 7th Emmy in the six decades of her television career. James Earl Jones, the awesome actor with the unmistakable voice, turns 93 this week.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of live music around the lake this week. On Monkey Island, Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend with Thursday Night Karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Friday night, JR Neal entertains live at Doc’s; and DJ K-Bandito hosts the musical fun Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots. Jason Morgan hosts SINGO competition Saturday evening at The Anchor (6:00-9:00). Randall George will be live at Blind Swine Saturday night.
On South Grand Lake, the karaoke contest finals are at The Copper Penny in Ketchum Thursday evening. Casey West will provide the entertainment Saturday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill; and The Downbeat will be on stage Saturday at the Drunken Rooster.
In Grove, Ned Ledoux entertains Saturday night at the Grove High School Performing Arts Center (6:00 p.m.). There are two nights of live music at Cherokee Casino featuring The Downbeat Friday night, followed by 90LB Wrench Saturday night. Also Saturday night, Ty Benner will appear as Elvis at the Grove Senior Center dinner (5:00 p.m.).
Chris Hyde starts the weekend entertainment Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino. Dirty Saints takes over the stage Friday night followed by Damsel Saturday night. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, Western Justice provides the live music followed by an after party with DJ Kay at 11:00. Bad Decisions will entertain at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar & Grill Saturday night.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Debbie and Gary Hardman are Guest Chefs Wednesday night at The Shebang preparing “Breakfast for Dinner.” Blind Swine on Monkey Island now has an extensive menu of “bar food.” The Artichoke Restaurant in Langley has now reopened. The Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort now offers all-you-can-eat crab legs every Thursday-Sunday 5:00-9:00 p.m. and BOOM at The Regatta in Grove offers the all-you-can-eat crab legs Sunday nights. A new restaurant is planned for opening soon at the former Lester’s 3rd Street Diner location in Grove.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Thursday is the return of “Law & Order night.” Law & Order at 7:00, Law & Order SVU at 8:00, and Law & Order: Organized Crime at 9:00, all on NBC. Friday night, Transplant returns for a new season at 7:00, also on NBC. Next Monday, The Bachelor kicks off a new season on ABC at 7:00 and America’s Most Wanted returns to Fox at 8:00.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The End Where We Start, Distant, Which Brings Me to You, and I.S.S. all debut in movie theaters this week, joining Mean Girls.
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, January 26 – Grove Chamber “Eggs & Issues” legislative breakfast at St. Andrews Episcopal Church (8:00 a.m.). Friday, January 26 – Shangri-La Members’ “Meet & Greet” with new F&B Director Todd Rodemyer and new Executive Chef John Havens II at The Summit Restaurant (4:00-6:00 p.m.). Friday-Sunday, January 26-28 – Disney RZR Invasion in the Off-Road area at Disney. Saturday, January 27 – SINGO Competition with Jason Morgan at The Anchor (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Saturday, January 27 – The Baldknobbers perform live at the Grove High School Performing Arts Center (6:00 p.m.). Monday-Sunday, January 29-February 4 – Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show at SageNet Center, Tulsa State Fairgrounds. Tuesday, January 30 – Tuesday Trivia with Lee Lawson at The Anchor (7:00 p.m.). Friday, February 2 – First Friday Wine Share at Still Waters Salon & Day Spa in Grove (6:00 p.m.). Wednesday, February 7 – Home of Hope Chocolate Affair at the Craig County Fairgrounds (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Sunday, February 11 – Super Bowl Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La (4:00 p.m. party – 5:30 kickoff). Wednesday, February 14 – Valentine Wine Dinner at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La. Saturday, February 17 – “Valentine in Black & White” Valentine Gala (dinner & dance with music by “Hook”) at Shangri-La Resort Hotel.
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In the NFL, the Wild Card games are behind us and now it’s divisional playoff time! There are two games Saturday and two games Sunday.
In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are still out west facing Utah Thursday night at 8:00 before returning home to host Minnesota Saturday night and Portland next Tuesday. They’re on the road at San Antonio next Wednesday night at 8:30 in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPN.
College basketball conference play continues this week. Saturday, OU is at Cincinnati at noon and OSU is at Kansas State at 6:00. Both teams play again next Tuesday, as well, and both are back home. OU hosts Texas at 6:00 and the Cowboys host TCU at 8:00.
PGA Players are back on the mainland this week – barely. They’re in La Quinta, California for The American Express. Coverage is on The Golf Channel at 2:00 p.m. daily, Thursday-Sunday.
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The weather for the weekend ahead is certainly better than the weekend gone by, but it ain’t great. We’ll see improvement through the weekend, with Friday’s high of 25 jumping up 30 on Saturday, and near 40 by Sunday. Lows will be in the low teens. It’s a good weekend to keep the party indoors, for sure. 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
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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
Back Porch Ice Cream in Grove
Bailey’s Bistro at Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island
Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)
Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights)
Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina (closed for the season)
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café at Har-Ber Village
Café Yum in Grove
Casa Gutierrez in Grove
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Changos Locos at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island
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 (closed for the season)
Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek
Flower Bar in Grove
Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort
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
Grand Lake Public House in Grove
Grand Lake RV Resort at the back of Duck Creek
Hero’s Deli in Grove
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)
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
Keagan’s Coffee at Littlefield Corner
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Matt’s Place in Grove
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
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
Pier 13 Liquor Store in Langley
Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove
Pit Stop Café in Grove
Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor (closed for the season)
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
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (closed for the season)
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 Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La
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 (closed for the season)
VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove
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