Newsletter

Art I’ve Found

Brandon Yoshizawa

While his images are from around the world, Brandon is quickly becoming the photographer of California, showing the wondrous beauty from the mountains to the ocean, from the beauty of a Los Angeles skyline to the fogginess of the Golden Gate Bridge.

I found him thanks to a friend on X who suggested reaching out for ideas on a trip to Los Angeles I’m heading on, and so glad I now see his works in my feed.

Check Brandon out at:
Website
Instagram
X/Twitter

My Art

An Old Train

Back in 2024, Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 came through my town. I had the perfect photo concept until user error ruined the shot. This year, Big Boy 4014 was back on the move, and I was ready, only my camera was not. It displayed “Err” in the display after I was set in another spot for the perfect picture. I ended up using my camera phone to capture this image.

I guess God did not want my good camera to capture a good picture of Big Boy.

Music I’ve Found

Woke Up This Morning – Alabama 3

I started going through my Artist library of music from A to Z. I’m The re-discovering songs I’ve always loved, but Apple doesn’t seem to want to put in my “Music for You” playlist.

“Woke Up This Morning” is one of those songs, made famous as the opening theme to “The Sopranos.” I remembered how much I really liked Alabama 3 the instant their album, Exile on Coldharbor Lane, fired up.

My Dorky Song

It All Looks Like Poison Ivy

I’m no Boy Scout, and I have been to some camp things, but for the life of me, no matter how someone tries to explain it, I can’t figure out which of the green leafy things are poison ivy.

I know, “leaves of three – let it be” and all that crap, but really, it all looks like leaves of three, or two, or four.

Mother Nature really needed to have a better identifier than the number of leaves.

• YouTube

I’ve Written

An Old Train

Hey, remember that first failed picture of Big Boy 4014 I mentioned earlier. All was not lost with that photo expedition as I did come up with a fictional tale of Ben, and his quest to get the perfect shot of Big Boy.

Get your copy on Amazon, or hell, read it for free on the website!

Website
Amazon

One More Thing…

A Day in the Life of an Ensh*ttificator

If you ever wondered why things just seem to be getting more complicated, even as technology is supposed to make them easier, this video will explain.

Blame it on the Ensh*ttificator!

Art I’ve Found

Drift

Isaac “Drift” Wright is an artist. He is also a Veteran. He also creates some of the most breathtaking images you will ever see. Does he sometimes trespass and risk life and limb to get the images. Yes. Is it wrong? That’s for you to decide, but you will never see images like Drift shoots, images that might have you petrified and exhilarated at the same time.

I, for one, can’t wait for his documentary to make the rounds, but in the meantime check out his art and videos at:
YouTube
X/Twitter
Instagram
Website

My Art

Duck. Duck. Cherry.

It was recently peak bloom season for the cherry blossoms in Washington D.C. It reminded me of the time I was able to witness them, at sunrise, with a couple of friends!

Music I’ve Found

God I Hate Shakespeare
from the musical “Something Rotten!“

I don’t know if the musical is any good, but I heard the song, “God, I Hate Shakespeare” and laughed a lot.

My Dorky Song

Should I Sing and Sell Things

There was a car salesman going viral for singing opera to describe cars he had to sell. It made me wonder if that’s what I need to do to go viral?

• YouTube

I’ve Written

Here They Come. There They Go.

My next short story is now available! Ben’s latest adventure takes him on a journey into the city with his wife, Amy, for a great steak. Little did he know he would discover the inspiration that is Santiago, their ride-share driver, who usually listens to his passenger’s stories, but this time, tells his journey to Ben and Amy.

Check it out on Amazon – less than a dollar on your Kindle instantly!

One More Thing…

Who Poops Faster?

Do you think it takes longer for an elephant to poop or a human? Think again! Read this article from PBS for the scoop on poop speed.

Art I’ve Found

Emily Baker

Emily Baker is a conceptual photographer who has a wonderful eye, especially for using light in night scenes to bring an image to life.

Find her art at:
Instagram
X
Website
LinkTree

My Art

Good Neighbors

The plaque reads: “Anyone can buy a good house, but good neighbors are priceless. In honor of Karen and Carl Gorz and great neighbors everywhere.”

We all need great neighbors.

Music I’ve Found

Thunderstruck

Sure, you may be familiar with the AC/DC classic “Thunderstruck,” but Angus and the boys have nothing on Steve’n’Seagulls version!

My Dorky Song

I Just Want Pancakes

My wife texted me something about pancakes, and now all I want are pancakes. I am so easily influenced.

• YouTube

I’ve Written

What Ben Didn’t Know…
The Compilation – Volume 2

My collection of short stories is out! Woohoo! It includes three short stories, “The Polish Donut,” and early releases of  “Here They Come. There They Go.”, and “An Old Train.”

“An Old Train,” while fictional, was inspired by my screw up taking this picture of an old train, the Big Boy 4014. The concept was perfect, the execution was flawed.

The picture makes me laugh and cry at the same time, but at least I made a story about it!

Find the collection at Amazon:
– Hardcover $24.99 / Kindle: $2.99

Get “The Polish Donut” – Kindle: $0.99

Or read my short stories for free on the What Ben Didn’t Know… website!

One More Thing…

How Did They Make Maps?

Did you ever wonder how they made maps way back when without cool things like satellites and airplanes?

They were pretty good for the tools they had!

Art I’ve Found

Le

Le is an interesting individual as there isn’t much out there about Le the person. All I know is they create some very interesting art, posted mostly on their X account or a marketplace called objkt.

It’s creative and thought-provoking, which is what I’m always liking in art.

Check out Le at:

objkt
X (Twitter)

My Art

Solitary Run

After a snow, I decided to grab my camera gear and head to the Prairie Path near me. It was a winter wonderland, and it was good to see that the weather was not going to deter this runner from getting in their exercise.

Music I’ve Found

Heard It All Before
Dave Hedeman & the Gone Ghosts

Their bio mentions them as an “Alt-Country Americana/Rock” band. You could also call find them in what is called the “Outlaw Country” genre. All I know is that one of their latest songs, Heard It All Before, is a bunch of a good time.

Find it at:
Spotify

My Dorky Song

Your Year is Like a Jar to Fill

I’ve heard this puzzle of fitting large rocks, mediium rocks, and sand into a jar, and it’s an interesting take on the importance of doing things in the right order.

I was listening to a podcast and they related the puzzle to a year in your life, and the importance of planning the big things you want in your year before you let the small stuff take over.

• YouTube

I’ve Written

What Ben Didn’t Know…
The Compilation – Volume 2

I am happy to announce my latest stories involving Ben:

The Polish Donut:
(Release Date: Feb 1st)
Here They Come. There They Go.
(Release Date: Apr 1st)
An Old Train
(Release Date: Jun 1st)

I’m trying something different, releasing the compilation of all three stories on February 1st, in conjunction with the release of The Polish Donut. The compilation gets you early access to the other two stories, a bonus for those of you who prefer hardcover reading.

The Kindle versions are available for pre-order, or head to my Amazon page on February 1st to order your hardcover copy of the compilation!

One More Thing…

Padde Ball

A person I know brought an old paddle ball toy to a meeting I was at. It immediately took me back to when I was a youngin’ and never could master the paddle ball. It also reminded me of my jealousy of Harvey Korman in the classic, Blazing Saddles, who seemed to be a paddle ball master.

Art I’ve Found

Yaki Bianco

Yaki describes themself as a digital artist interested in conceptual abstracts.

All I know is I love the coolness of their art, the beauty of the colors, and it always lets me appreciate the world of the abstract.

Check Yaki out at:
Instagram
X/Twitter
LinkTree

My Art

May I Offer You a Nut

Music I’ve Found

Not Perfect – Tim Minchin

Tim is a comedian, writer, composer, and an all-around master of fun, verbal communication. His music is the type you have to actually pay attention to the lyrics because that is where the magic is found.

He composed “Groundhog Day The Musical,” and I found him thanks to someone on X mentioning his song.

He makes me smile every time I listen to him.

My Dorky Song

Found a Penny

I went for a walk and saw a penny on the ground. The penny was head’s up, so I was hoping all that day I would have good luck.

Maybe the luck will last all year?

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I’ve Written

Here’s a teaser cover for my next Ben story.

My intention is to be able to get “The Polish Donut” and the compilation hardcover released February 1st, just in time for Fat Tuesday!

I’m excited to share the next journeys that Ben takes, but if you need to catch up, read the first three stories for free on the Ben website, listen to the audiobook in podcast form, or buy them on Amazon.

One More Thing…

Smell That Butt…

Ever Wonder What a Tiger’s Butt Smells Like?

Sure, you could venture to Africa, or maybe break into a zoo, but why not just go to an exhibit at the Atoa Museum in Japan?

Art I’ve Found

Cath Simard

Please, go look at Cath’s art. It is stunning.

While her images are beautiful, Cath stands out in the world of composite art, starting with wonderful, individual images, and then melding them together to create dreamlike, landscape art.

Her story is inspirational, and be sure to check out her documentary, “Bleeding Blues.” It is a great look at the lengths artists will take to try and get the perfect shot.

Find Cath at:
Website
LinkTree
X/Twitter
Bleeding Blues Documentary
Blue Hour Adventures

My Art

Staredown

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta recently wrapped up, making me revisit my journey there a few years ago.

To feel like a kid again, I highly recommend a visit!

Music I’ve Found

b1 from Ólafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm

I needed a song that I could add to my “I Need This Song Right Now” app, something I could use when I’m trying to do focused work.

I stumbled upon this melodic interlude that I play on repeat. The song lasts almost 14 minutes, perfect for extended work with just enough beats per minute not to put you into overdrive.

My Dorky Song

Rootin’ Tootin’ Great Day

I woke up in a great mood, knowing it was going to be a great day, and it wasn’t just because I had my fiber in the morning!

Here’s hoping you have a great day, too!

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I’ve Written

What Ben Didn’t Know

While I work on editing my next three short stories about Ben, here’s a reminder that if you haven’t checked out the first three stories, you don’t even need to pay to read them, they are on the What Ben Didn’t Know website.

Go on, share short stories with your friends.

One More Thing…

The Sounds of a Walrus Remind Me of…

Okay, it’s not Walrus Awareness Week, that is the first week of December, but I found this Instagram video from last year, and, well, the 12-year-old loves the sounds of the walrus for obvious reasons!

Art I’ve Found

Sarira Merikhi

Sarira describes herself as a visual artist creating art in a digital lithography style. Her works tell stories, and are often times part of a collection that will re-imagine old tales into beautiful works of art.

Read wonderful tales and see beautiful art when you find Sarira at:
LinkTree
X (Twitter)
Instagram

My Art

How Was Your Day

I remember I had my beer, and Milo was looking at me. I thought it would be a funny picture to put him on the dining room chair as if he were at the table.

He did not seem to enjoy the experience as much as I did.

I miss Milo.

Music I’ve Found

Golden – K-Pop Demon Hunters

Okay, this song isn’t new, the video has over 550 million, yes, million, views.

I also read in a singing group on Reddit about how difficult the song is to sing. Sadly, my bass voice has no chance of getting near the A5 high note, which is really high.

P.S. It’s a really good soundtrack to have on when you are cleaning the house.

My Dorky Song

The Anticipation

It doesn’t take much to excite me, like telling me you are stopping by with donuts.

• YouTube

One More Thing…

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

If you go to New Zealand, good luck plugging this town name into your navigation!

Art I’ve Found

Amber Vittoria

Amber is an artist who uses color to express emotions. Sometimes rainbow colors will abound, sometimes things will look like scribbles until you look deeper. She lets her emotions feed her work, and as you drift between the collections, you can those feelings through her art.

Don’t just scroll past the pieces, absorb them to make you feel them.

Find Amber at:
Website
LinkTree
Instagram

My Art

Touch of Red

On a recent, morning walk, I heard the sweet sound of a cardinal. I looked up and found him, brightly standing out in the morning sun.

Music I’ve Found

Gabriel’s Oboe – Ennio Morricone
Music from “The Mission”

In our church choir we had a guest oboist. Yes, I always thought it was just a clarinet, but never really heard just an oboe.

I now love the oboe.

My Dorky Song

Can’t Sleep? Fold Your Clothes

I read the weirdest advice for those times when you can’t fall back asleep in the middle of the night.

The advice?

Go fold clothes.

But what if I don’t have any clothes to fold?

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One More Thing…

That’s a Big Belt

Maybe you’ve seen a conveyor belt before from a picture of a factory, or maybe you drove past a quarry and there it was, this aqueducty looking thing used to move stone from one area of the quarry to another.

Those are nothing.

Check out this belt, called “The Dune Express,” between Texas and New Mexico.

It’s 40 miles long.

Okay, technically it’s made up of four belts, but the longest is still over 16 miles long.

That’s a big belt!

Art I’ve Found

Anna Condo
Anna Condo is a filmmaker and photographer, and while you might think of a portrait as an image of a person, Anna has shown that flowers deserve the beauty of a portrait, and her portraits are stunning. New creativity has also taken hold as Anna she revisits flowers and their beauty in new ways.

See flowers in a new light. See the work of Anna Condo.
Instagram
Anna’s Website
LinkTree

My Art

Not Interested in Fishing

This image was from the Amalfi Coast in Italy. The dog seems to have better things to do than worry about what the fisherman might catch.

Music I’ve Found

Hocus Pocus by Focus
I don’t know if it’s the joy I get from just saying “Hocus Pocus by Focus,” the guitar riffs, or the yodeling, but I love this song. It showed up on my playlist and said to myself, “Self, this is for the “Music I’ve Found.”

My Dorky Song

I Can’t Roll My R’s

I’m in a choir. We sing choral music. It is helpful for the songs if you can roll your R’s. I grew up with no ability.

I’m hoping in a little while I will have a song called “I Can Roll My R’s.”

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I’ve Created

I Need This Song Right Now

I would get to work and frantically jump into email.

I needed something to remind me to take a pause, take a breath, and not to immediately ruin my day by diving down email rabbit holes.

What to do?

Create an app!

So I did.

It’s called “I Need This Song Right Now” available on the Apple App Store.

Even made a website for it!

My stress level at the beginning of the work day has gone way down, and it helps me focus when I need it most!

One More Thing…

Smokey Bear Through the Years

It is not “Smokey the Bear,” it is Smokey Bear, and he has changed a lot through the years.

This image is not of Smokey Bear, just some dorky guy pretending to be a bear!

Art I’ve Found

Dolly Kabaria

Dolly’s art caught my eye with the fascinating city-scapes that she titled “The Little Orbs,” taking city views and manipulating them into “orbs.”

Her art is award-winning, she creates fantastic interior shots, and will bring a wonderful way for you to see the world from every perspective.

Find Dolly’s art at:
Dolly’s Website
Instagram
X/Twitter

My Art

Streaming Into the Canyon

My Dorky Song

Special Egg Sandwich

I couldn’t have breakfast because I was scheduled for some blood tests. Luckily I have a wife who really loves me and makes great egg sandwiches.

I was happy to be done with the blood draws knowing what was in the car!

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I’m Creating

A new iPhone App…

While my writing is in the editing phase, I found myself needing an app that I couldn’t directly find in the App Store. It’s just a simple thing I wanted to happen, and I’m pretty sure I have the basics figured out.

It has to do with music and time and am hoping to share it with everyone in the next month or so, along with my new Ben stories.

What else can I find to add to the things I’m creating? Oh yea, new photos for my photo store and some new NFT’s coming soon, too!

One More Thing…

How To Care for Your Pet Rock

I remember the Pet Rock craze. The manual is a hoot.

You can find it in the Internet Archives.

This picture seems like it could be a great place to find a pet rock, but it’s not. It a beach in Wisconsin where you aren’t allowed to take the rocks.