January 19 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum
The first two big boat shows of 2026 are in the rearview mirror. The Oklahoma City Boat & RV Show wrapped up Sunday with another really good weekend. The Tulsa Boat & RV Show had six Grand Lake dealers participating, and four Grand Lake dealers wowed the crowds in Oklahoma City. They were two great shows. There are two more shows on the horizon. The Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show is just a few days away – February 2-8 at the SageNet Center at Tulsa’s Fairgrounds – and the Grand Lake Boat and Sport Show is set for March 6-8 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds Building in Jay.
*****
Welp. I hope you weren’t counting on that $2,000 tariff check. In an interview with the New York Times, President Trump says he doesn’t remember promising any such thing. I guess that means we probably won’t be getting our $5,000 DOGE check, either.
*****
I’m getting worried about the length of NFL pre-game starting lineup introductions in the future. When NFL players introduce themselves, they typically identify their university. How will this work in the future given the transfer portal – will they list all their schools? Randomly pick one? Choose the last one they attended? Maybe the one that paid them the most. We have more first world problems to worry about. Speaking of which, it’s also getting more and more expensive – and more and more difficult to watch all the NFL games. I wouldn’t be surprised if the NFL announces that each quarter of the Super Bowl will be broadcast on a different streaming service.
*****
Did you see where the country of Wales enacted new rules that allow politicians to lose their jobs for lying? We can’t do that in the United States because we wouldn’t have any government left.
*****
Watching the news just boggles my mind lately. President Trump said Greenland doesn’t own the land “just because they landed a boat there 500 years ago.” The irony meter just exploded. Who’s going to explain this to him?
*****
Is anyone else getting all the promotions for Tai Chi exercise programs? I got one that confused me a little. It said, “Printable Chair Workout Guide.” In this age of 3D printing, I’m not sure if I’m supposed to print the chair or the workout guide. No rush needed for the answer, by the way. I’m willing to wait.
*****
Representative Jim Shaw (R-Chandler) has introduced legislation expanding gun-toting rights to protect “Our God-given Constitutional rights.” I must have missed something in history classes. I had no idea God was the author of the Constitution. Live and learn.
*****
GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Jodi Locke, Tami Bailey, Zach Wehlage, Amy Westbrock, Doug Goss, Eileen Ellison, Bootsey Torchia, Melissa Russell, Michael Craig, Donna Palu, Ryan Rahhal, Lucy Loving, Randy Threet, Richard Cannon, Elaine Wyatt, Bud Wyatt, Sherry Sherrell, Brad Williams, Kristy Mayfield, Danny Brumble, Paula Brumble, Sarah Thompson, Cathy Weatherford, Tim Duit, and Terri Geary.
*****
BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Monday night is a “College National Championship” watch party at The Anchor at Shangri-La at 6:30 (Miami vs. Indiana). Tuesday night is “Tuesday Trivia” night with Lee Lawson at The Anchor at Shangri-La Resort. Wednesday, The Mom’s Unhinged Comedy Show comes to the Coleman Theatre in Miami (7:00 p.m.).
*****
RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Bangladesh’s population of 171 million is more than 40 times the size of Oklahoma’s population, but in about 20% less space.
*****
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: David Letterman got fired from his college radio station at Ball State University for not taking classical music seriously enough. Then he built them a $21 million building.
*****
ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Every NFL team in Florida has the exact same record since 2022: Jacksonville Jaguars (35-33); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (35-33); and Miami Dolphins (35-33).
*****
BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Is anyone reducing their stuff? I decided to try the Japanese method for decluttering. You hold every object you own. If it does not give you joy, you throw it away. So far, I’ve thrown out all the vegetables, my bra, the electric bill, a mirror, the scales, and my treadmill.
*****
WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: If you drive a Subaru in reverse, U r a bus.
*****
BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (actually a note from a husband posted on a refrigerator): Someone from the Gyna Colleges called. They said the Pabst Beer is normal. I didn’t even know you liked beer.
*****
BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: If you’re not happy being single, try one of those dating apps. You’ll still be single, but you’ll appreciate it a lot more!
*****
PUN OF THE WEEK: When you see cows sleeping in the fields, it’s pasture bedtime.
*****
UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Will Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers retire as the first player in NFL history to throw a pick-6 in the playoffs on the final pass attempt of his career?
*****
OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: To everyone I offended last year, work on yourself so I don’t have to do it again this year!
*****
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Everything is changing in America. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke, when it used to be vice versa.” – Will Rogers
*****
FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Superstar entertainer and philanthropist Dolly Parton turns 80 years old this week. Actress Mariska Hargitay turns 62. Multiple award-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus turned 65 years old last week.
*****
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 Music Bingo Wednesday night and karaoke Friday night with Sundown Entertainment – and Erin Fitzgibbon returns to the stage Saturday night.
On South Grand Lake, Dillon Leggett will be on stage Friday night at Pickles Pub in Langley. Wilkie Jay will entertain Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney; and Magen Faulconer will take over Saturday night.
In Grove, Jeff Tatum will be on stage Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Borrowed Money Saturday night. Encore entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Swade Diablos Saturday night.
The Mom’s Unhinged Comedy Tour comes to the Coleman Theater in Miami Wednesday night (7:00 p.m.)
Liz kicks off the weekend early with a Thursday night performance at Indigo Sky Casino. Swade Diablos take over Friday night, and Encore wraps up the weekend music Saturday. DJ Mike with the Lights will entertain Friday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar followed by live music from Quinton Scott Saturday night. Aaron Lewis & the Stateliners will be on stage in the Indoor pavilion at Downstream Casino Thursday night. The Tri-State Troubadours start the music Thursday night at Downstream’s Legends Sports Bar, followed by The Blue Underground Friday and Members Only Saturday night. Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West will feature Dewayne Bowman & the Swingin’ West Band Saturday night.
*****
DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Our House BBQ is now open at Hilltop Inn in Grove (former location of Honey Creek BBQ). Eagle’s Nest and Mulligans restaurants at Patricia Island reopen this week following their kitchen renovations. Burger Barn & More is now open in Ketchum. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La 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.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE TV: The new series Canada Shore debuts Thursday on Paramount+. Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! airs Thursday night at 7:00 on HBO. Real Time with Bill Maher returns Friday night at 9:00 on HBO. The new series Memory of a Killer premieres Sunday night at 9:00 on Fox; and a new season of American Idol returns Monday night at 7:00 on ABC.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Mercy, Return to Silent Hill, and H Is For Hawk all debut in movie theaters this week. The Big Fake is available Thursday on NETFLIX.
*****
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.). Friday-Sunday, March 6-8 – Grand Lake Boat & Sport Show at the Delaware County Fairgrounds Building in Jay.
*****
The NFL is down to just four remaining teams that are still alive. The AFC Championship Game is Sunday at 2:00 followed by the NFC Championship Game at 5:30. By Sunday night, we’ll know who is headed to the Super Bowl!
The NBA has a busy schedule. After wrapping up a grueling road trip Monday in Cleveland (1:30), and Wednesday in Milwaukee (8:30), the OKC Thunder return for an extended homestand hosting Indiana Friday (7:00), Toronto Sunday (6:00) and New Orleans next Tuesday (7:00).
There’s some good college basketball, too – especially across the state of Kansas. The K-State men’s team hosts Kansas Saturday night (7:00) followed by the Kansas women’s team hosting K-State Sunday at noon. The OU women host South Carolina Thursday night (6:30) before traveling to Auburn Sunday (1:00). The Texas and Arkansas women’s teams face off Sunday afternoon at 3:00.
The PGA players are back on the mainland this week in La Quina, California. Coverage of The American Express is on the Golf Channel beginning daily at 3:00 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.
*****
We’ll start the weekend Friday with highs in the mid 50s, but the bottom falls out again Saturday & Sunday with high temperatures only in the mid-30s; and we’ll have low temperatures down around 20 degrees this weekend. There’s plenty happening indoors around the lake this weekend, though. Get out of the house and join the fun! But remember, wherever you party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!
GRAND LAKE BUM
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 Grand Lake Living and www.360grandlake.com, the cost is only$50 a week and the list of readers continues to grow. E-mail grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker newspaper.
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
