Random Observations from the Grand Lake Bum

January 19, 2026

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 & Sport Show is March 6-8 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Jay. I'll see you there!

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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.

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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 to be a loyal college fan. I hear the University of Texas is selling tickets to Spring Football Practices. $40 per car. Yeah, that's not a typo.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.).

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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!

"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 Riverbend Casino's Club 60 West followed by Whiskey Bent Friday night and The Grinders 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.

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

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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 Quinta, California. Coverage of The American Express is on the Golf Channel beginning daily at 3:00 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.

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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