Newsletter

Art I’ve Found

Koray Özpalamutçu

Koray was born in Turkey and really shifted to a life in photography in 2010. Quickly developing an Instagram following of nearly half a million, tourism boards took notice and worked with him on Instagram campaigns. Beautiful captures of landscapes and city scenes are his thing, and you should check him out at:

Instagram
OnCyber Gallery
Koray’s LinkTree

My Art

Family Morning

Captured on Maui, on the Hana side of the world.

Music I’ve Found

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Herb Alpert is 90 years old. I remember listening to him as a child thanks to my parents.

I’m ashamed to say when his music landed on my stream I thought he was dead. He just completed a spring tour, and is touring through the rest of 2025.

I guess music can keep you alive!

My Dorky Song

My 1,000th Song on YouTube

Here’s an oldie but goodie!

I posted this song almost four years ago to celebrate my 1,000th song on YouTube.

Might be time to do another count of my songs, I’m probably close to 1,600 songs by now!

• YouTube

One More Thing…

No More Being Woken by Red Pandas 😕

Apparently in China there was a hotel where small, red pandas around the hotel that would come into your room if you let them, and wake you up.

It looked really cute, but sadly, the practice has been cut off.

Art I’ve Found

Paul Charles

Somehow the art of Paul Charles showed up in my X feed, and I immediately thought, “That’s really cool!”

His art is whimsical, taking real life scenes and abstracting the heck of it in wonderful ways.

Find Paul’s art at:
thequilling.com
X/Twitter
Instagram
OpenSea

My Art

Lone Shroom

I was walking near some fresh mulch and there it was, this one mushroom poking out, in wonderful contrast to the mulch.

Music I’ve Found

Run Runaway – Slade

I guess I’ve been on an 80’s kick lately, and Apple Music seems to know it tossing this classic into my playlist. All of a sudden I started bouncing back and forth singing “Run Runaway” at my standing desk. It’s a good thing no one came in my office at the time.

My Dorky Song

Sensor Error, Please See Manual

This annoying voice and piercing sound came from my hallway. The problem, three different alarms all within a short distance, so I had no idea which one.

The annoying voice ended up saying, “Sensor error, please see manual.” I checked the manual, it read there is a sensor error.

• YouTube

One More Thing…

Sometimes Farts Aren’t Funny

I will, 99% of the time, find anything about farts funny. The 1% of the time I will not find a fart funny is on a plane.

This person does their best to help the cause.

Art I’ve Found

James A. Truett

An Irish artist, James creates landscape art able to capture beauty and colors that will help you further enjoy the world around us.

If being an internationally published photographer wasn’t enough, he also publishes books of his wonderful work, perfect for escaping into the wonder of the beauty of nature.

And, oh yea, if that isn’t enough, he also publishes “Awesome Ireland Magazine” to further spread the beauty of his world.

You can find James at:
Website
LinkTree
Foundation
X/Twitter

My Art

Walking Sunlight

The light streaming into the Antelope Slot Canyon creates wonderful images if you let your imagination be your guide.

Music I’ve Found

Moskau – Dschinghis Kahn

Apple Music is finding some weird stuff for me these days, and while I try to connect the dots, somehow a band from Germany who had some kind of hit in 1979 popped into my mix.

Go ahead, give it a listen, but let me warn you, you might start dancing while humming “Moskau, Moskau” all day long.

My Dorky Song

There’s Bacon in the Fridge

My wife had a great suggestion for me when I wondered what to make for my lunch!

• YouTube

One More Thing…

How to Eat Peas

I don’t agree with this etiquette dude. I think the proper utensil is actually a spoon.

Maybe I should make a song about eating peas? 🤣

Mental note: Ask wife to buy some peas!

Art I’ve Found

Jan Baumgartner

My Art

Bon Jovi – 1995

I missed my 10-year high school reunion to cover this show back in 1995. As we are coming up on my 40th reunion, I really hope Bon Jovi doesn’t tour and have me make the choice again because I have a feeling I would see Bon Jovi. Sorry classmates!

Music I’ve Found

Wasn’t That a Party
The Irish Rovers

This song came out back in 1980, and I was all of twelve/thirteen years old.

Maybe this is why I like whiskey, gin, and six-packs? I mean, who doesn’t sometimes want to cut down their neighbor’s tree?

My Dorky Song

They’re Just Refueling

I still think Canada won’t directly invade the United States, but I can’t help but believe that they are just training the geese to poop on everything we have.

• YouTube

One More Thing…

My Grandma Learning How to Use a Microphone

Okay, it’s not my Grandma, but haven’t we all had this experience when trying to use the “talk to type” feature on our phone or tablet?

Art I’ve Found

Keegan

Keegan is a talent who lives in the photography world, with wondrous aerial photography and digital art and animation world using Procreate. Journey to both the real world and the imaginary by checking out his art!

Find Keegan at:
X/Twitter
Instagram
LinkTree
objkt Marketplace

My Art

Maybe It Was the Wind

Most think of trees standing tall, but I love seeing trees influenced by all aspects of Mother Nature.

Music I’ve Found

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

I had forgotten about this Elton John song and album for years, until Brandi Carlisle showed it when she was interviewed about her collaboration with Elton John on the wonderful work, “Who Believes In Angels?”

Somehow Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was in our album collection when I was a young lad. I played it again and still remember every word.

My Dorky Song

Feeling of Being Watched

Do you ever have the feeling like there is someone watching you? Or maybe something?

• YouTube

One More Thing…

100,000 Pennies

Go ahead, keep saving those pennies. Who knows, maybe someday you can have a great floor covering!

Art I’ve Found

hustletrees

hustletrees is one of those artists who finds great stuff everywhere, from the flowers in his garden to his travels for his day gig, there is always something to bring some art to your life.

I love the way hustletrees puts things:
i don’t take photos to make money. 👀
if this was my day job, i would be homeless. 😂
i take photos bc i love to capture scenery, people, and places. 📷
i then share them for others to enjoy, and possibly collect. 🫡
lfg 🔥💎

He’s a great follow, always there with a friendly gm that includes a 🌲, and me, trying to be cute, with replies of “gm hustle🌲🌲”

Find him at:
Website
Foundation
Exchange Art
X (Twitter)

My Art

Sedona Morning

I recently took a trip that included Sedona, Arizona. The rock colors are stunning, and I’ll be sharing many more images on my socials in the next weeks!

Music I’ve Found

The Passion of Our Lord According to St. Mark

While I might be known for singing dorky songs (like the link in the next section), I am also a member of a church choir. During the 2024-2025 choir season, we took on the task of learning “The Passion,” and I think we did a pretty darn good job! If you get to the 19:45 minute mark, there is much less dorky singing by me, in a pivotal moment of the story.

My Dorky Song

Riding in a Waymo

Alright, let’s get back to dorky Andy singing!

On a trip to Arizona, we got to hang in Phoenix. I got to ride in a Waymo Autonomous Taxi. It was the highlight of the trip!

• YouTube

I’ve Written

What Ben Didn’t Know…
The Compilation – Volume 1

Remember my short stories you wanted to buy but preferred a hardcover version? Well, wait no more!

Now in hardcover, “What Ben Didn’t Know… The Compilation – Volume 1,” with “Just Another Lunchtime Walk,” “The Coffee Journey,” and “The Driver” in wonderful hardcover-ness!

Get acquainted with Ben now so that when the next stories begin release in August, you’ll be ready!

One More Thing…

Goodbye Spotting Fakes

I found out the other day, when I was going to see if something might be fake on Amazon, that FakeSpot is shutting down on July 1, 2025.

This makes me sad as, of the places I’ve found, they seemed to do the best of analyzing products on Amazon to see if the reviews were bogus or you might be able to believe that the widget was really a widget.

Good luck believing those review, now! 😢

Art I’ve Found

Vitor Esteves

Vitor “Victor” Esteves is a medical doctor by day, and a fantastic photographer, both by land and by drone, when not playing doctor.

He likes to travel the world, and his shots are always wonderful to see in my art feed.

Check out Vitor at:
vitorestevez.darkroom.com
LinkTree
Instagram
X/Twitter

My Art

Finding Refuge

On Big Island, Hawaii, back in the old days, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau was considered a place of refuge. If you broke Kapu (sacred law), punishment was death. Your only hope? Getting your butt through the ocean, over the rocks, and to the pu’uhonua.

Music I’ve Found

Scatman John

I was playing musical bingo at a local establishment and the category was one-hit wonders. Luckily you were able to Shazam to find out songs, but it was hard to remember to do the Shazamming when all I wanted to do was dance to “Scatman (ski-ba-bop-ba-dop-bop).”

Sadly Scatman John Paul Larkin developed lung cancer and passed away, but his awesomeness lives on, even if just a musical bingo song.

My Dorky Song

At Work. Before Vacation.

You know how you are going to go on vacation soon, and you have two choices at work? Yup, you can just be in vacation la-la land already and get nothing done, or work your tail off in preparation for the vacation.

That was me a few weeks ago before we went on vacation.

Yup, I ended up working my tail off.

• YouTube

One More Thing…

Who Doesn’t Like a Cute Beaver?

Petunia the baby beaver is cute as a button. Seeing Petunia will make you smile, but her story is sad. Sorry to bring you both up and down with the same thing.

Art I’ve Found

Cassi Moghan

Cassi Moghan’s journey in art is vast. From the acting world, to sound, to visual art, she loves the storytelling aspect of her work.

Me, I have loved her look at the abandoned and randomness of the world, finding beauty in all things, from a bucket of flowers to dilapidated cars (for which I suggest she visit Hawaii, the land of dilapidated cars).

Find her at:
cassimoghan.com
Instagram
X/Twitter

My Art

Tiny Tabasco

As a friend commented, it’s cute, but there isn’t enough Tabasco for one person, and it’s really hard to get the Tabasco out of the tiny bottle.

It’s still cute.

Music I’ve Found

Endel

I first heard about Endel years ago on some podcast. Somehow there is some neuroscience behind it, but they create soundscapes for situations in life you desire like focus, sleep, or even to help you read.

While some may find the sounds and music always putting them to sleep, I have found their beats help me through stretches of creativity and relaxation.

Go ahead, get focused or just fall asleep.

My Dorky Song

Wash Dishes by Hand

Dear Lord, I’ve been singing these songs to my wife for nine years now. She still seems to love me, though I’m not sure about loving the songs.

I had short hair, wore my contacts more, still sang about anything.

Here’s a blast from the past from 2016!

• YouTube

I’m Reading

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Every now and then I need a refresher on how I got to where I am, and how I can get my creative juices flowing a little better. Julia Cameron put together a book of how to do that.

You read it in weekly spurts, and she gives you tasks to do each week.

Sometimes it helps you find past demons to get rid of, sometimes it helps you see new paths to fun.

One More Thing

Peloton Couch

I can’t believe I missed this last year, but dang it, I need one.

I mean, I love my Peloton bike, but there are times I just need that recovery workout!

Art I’ve Found

Jay Toups

Jay Toups, a.k.a. Jubbish creates stunning adventure art. His photography and videography brings a beauty to the world that will transport you to the wonders of nature.

He travels with his wife in a converted fire rescue truck finding beauty everywhere. 

Check out his art and his story, both are beautiful.

Website
X
YouTube

My Art

In The Air Rising

Sunrise from a plane takes the start of a new day to a different level.

Music I’ve Found

Benson Boone

I saw Benson do a backflip on the Grammy’s and then tear into his hit, “Beautiful Things.” Channeling a mix of Noah Kahan and Freddie Mercury, I found a new, powerful singer.

On YouTube, this song, when I copied the link, had 492,684,781 views. That’s just a few more than my dorky songs. I guess people like him.

My Dorky Song

How to Get People Back in Starbucks

This song doesn’t have quite as many views as Benson Boone’s, “Beautiful Things,” but it does give some advice to a giant corporation on how to get people back in the doors – Bring back the Cookie Butter Bar!

• YouTube

I’ve Written

I’m working on editing three new short stories in the What Ben Didn’t Know… series.

If you haven’t checked them out yet, now is the perfect time to read Ben’s stories!

Author Link on Amazon
Website
Podcast

One More Thing…

Did you ever wonder about zip codes? I mean, in the United States just five digits gets your letter near a destination. Add four more digits and magic happens!

Art I’ve Found

Ritchie Sacramento

Harvey Jones, a.k.a. Ritchie Sacramento, fills my photo feeds with some of the best black and white photography out there. Their color art is just as stunning, but there is something about black and white that can bring a dreamy quality to an image that color just leaves as bland.

Find the art at:
X/Twitter
Foundation Marketplace
Instagram
Website

My Art

Floats Made of Nature

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Rose Parade at the beginning of the month while I was on my little break from my projects. It was right before the fires, and I think about things over there a lot these days.

The floats have one requirement – the outside material must be made of flowers or natural materials. If you get to see them up close you will be amazed with seeds, flowers, crushed herbs, and other materials creating marvelous floats unlike any others you will ever see.

Music I’ve Found

Lord Vinheteiro

The dude is big on the socials, and a very wonderful keyboard player. He has a lot of fun with keyboard music, showing you things you didn’t know you needed to hear like this snippet of The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats played on a harpsichord.

Enjoy!

My Dorky Love Song

Another Year With You

A new year is plowing through, and all I know is that every year with my wife is wonderful!

• YouTube

One More Thing…

Pooping Dog Firework

Ahh, the 12 year old in me couldn’t stop thinking about what I want for the next 4th of July party.