Open Notebook – August 2026 - Obscure Curiosities

August 1, 2026

This is Rosie Mac who is replacing Addie as the lead singer in the indie hard rock band, Halocene. Quite a change, but I really like Rosie and am excited to see what her voice brings to this 20-year old musical project.

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https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category/remembering-who-we-are?ts=1780790400000

Today we read about Miss Ruth.

“The story of Ruth in the Bible can also be seen as one of rediscovered belonging. After losing her husband and leaving her homeland, she chose to bind herself to her mother-in-law Naomi and her people. She said, “Where you go I will go . . . . Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth connected her identity and destiny to that of Naomi and her people in life and in death. She was “determined to go with her” (v. 18)—prioritizing community over clarity, belonging over certainty. In doing so, she stepped into God’s redemptive story and is remembered forever as part of the lineage of Christ (4:18-22; Matthew 1:3-5).

When we as believers in Jesus forget who we are—or when life’s pain leaves us disoriented—God often uses community to reconnect us with our most authentic identity. In Him we’re beloved, chosen, and known.”

This is very relevant to me. I’ve found my community. A community of songwriters and creatives here in the eastern great lakes.

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Rain Paris is TAKING OFF! Love that girl!

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One of the best F211 covers of all time. “Mamma Mia” by ABBA.

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Attention Switch – Hysteria (Muse cover) Oliver’s Beer Garden Erie PA 2026-07-31

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Also it’s Caturday, and that means.

“Margot’s in the room”

Brooke Surgener’s cat, Margot, inspired the opening line of “In the Room’ from Brooke’s All In EP. So, perfect song to celebrate the first Caturday of August 2026!

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GO BRI! Updated Brianna’s page on The Phoenix Desertsong that has actually gotten her calls! Buying a House in Erie PA? Call Brianna Virgils!

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“The Story of My Life” is the introductory post to my “The Unmasking of a Phoenix” collected works series I’m posting on Substack. Most of it will be paid content, but this and every other two weeks there will be a free post.

Also, yes, I did invoke the One Direction song here, and am featuring the best cover of said song by Audra Miller, Brooke Surgener, and First to Eleven <3

https://ameliaphoenixdesertsong.substack.com/p/the-story-of-my-life?r=1jau56

August 2, 2026

I’m done with the MLB. So, I’m gonna watch the women’s league. BECAUSE CUTIE PIES!

YAS! Obviously I’m rooting for the Heights. OBVIOUSLY!

Our pitcher Kim is really good, too. The nerves were a bit rough in the first inning. Rules are slightly different, but this is a BETTER game than MLB. And this was the first game of the WPBL! Unfortunately, the Queens would win this one.

This is my dream come true. GO HEIGHTS! Although I love ALL THE GIRLS! <3 Natsuki Yonetani is my favorite so far, though!

DANAE HIT THE FIRST EVER WPBL HOMER! SWEET!

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When this video released on July 10, 2026, “Where I Used to Be” became my FAVORITE SONG EVER! This should be a #1 hit on country radio. Brooke Surgener is the MOST UNDERRATED singer songwriter EVER!

I need to make this song go viral!

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My 6 Favorite Songs by The Kinks

https://open.substack.com/pub/ameliaphoenixdesertsong/p/my-6-favorite-songs-by-the-kinks?r=1jau56&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

August 3, 2026

This Erie trip has COMPLETELY CHANGED MY LIFE! Now I can finally and properly say goodbye to Vermont so I can go be free and enjoy my butterfly season. With my Erie friends and new community in Buffalo! No matter which house I get, Mia is gonna be my next success in the real estate industry! And now Bri will have a REALTOR friend!

From the Poverty Knob show yesterday:

Brooke Surgener – Cowboy Take Me Away (The Chicks Cover) Poverty Knob 2026-08-02

Brooke Surgener – “All My Sisters” Poverty Knob 2026-08-02

Brooke Surgener – “Heart’s Content” (Brandi Carlisle Cover) Poverty Knob 2026-08-02

Brooke Surgener – “Colorblind” Poverty Knob 2026-08-02

Brooke Surgener “I Will Follow You into the Dark” (Death Cab for Cutie Cover) 2026-08-02 Poverty Knob

MY FAVORITE SONG EVER!

Brooke Surgener “Where I Used to Be” at Poverty Knob 2026-08-02

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I think I may end up interviewing Cameon too. Her poetry is amazing and very musical

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da5Y7TYxeul/?igsh=ZjB2bms1ZmMzdnk5

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This gal from Brighton UK followed me on instagram. Her name is Opal Mag and she’s pretty good!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbkypewsGdm

She just released her first EP Goodbye Lavender!

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Anyone who ever says that Audra lip syncs here is the proof that she doesn’t!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DblQtliB5xq/?igsh=MW40dGs2YmswN2ljZQ==

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This is phenomenal. I could see this being turned into a song.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbUVbostbIW/?igsh=MWpyazN0Z2Q5bnZiYQ==

August 4, 2026

Sam Gilman made a daily reflection (I thought about doing these too) about being conflicted about original vs covers in music. He’s had SO MUCH go wrong with originals. I said:

“My personal view of the situation is that original music IS the way for you to go. I’ve been super thrilled with the Keepsake stuff so far. I do believe that God is certainly leading you in the original music direction! Then again I’m always biased towards originals; you are much too talented (really all of you are) to be doing covers for the rest of time.”

Audra will not shut up about Zak, and it’s actually adorable. What a silly girl. I’m just glad she’s happy because she really deserves it. I’m totally living for Audra’s shamelessly in love era. I’m gonna post that next time she instagrams something about Mr. Schwarzel.

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Anna Corinne giving cool auntie vibes. Love this silly goose!

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She said she may not come to an answer about how to be more creatively free. I do have an answer.

“Anna, you did come to an answer about how to be more creatively free. You are living your answer right now. The process, the experience of discovery, the act of finding is much more important than what is actually found. I have never seen you happier since you returned from Amsterdam and this episode made me smile and rejoice in just how much you’ve blossomed over the past year as a podcaster, a person, and the world’s Rarest Goose <3”

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These journals from Anna should be required reading for any substacker, writer, author, poet, songwriter, goose, giraffe, buffalo, etc.

https://annacorinne.substack.com/p/nyc-knocks-me-down-and-picks-me-up

I commented: “Anna, how did you come to write like this? I want to grow up to be a writer like you some day, and I’m like 10 years older than you…”

August 5, 2026

Amazing poem here by Lee Does Art

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbMzw_xBsDj/?igsh=MW14c2pmeWkxdmZ5Nw==

Wow, Cameon! This poem…

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ-o5L9ijLP/?igsh=MWR5N3h2ZTY4MDdnNQ==

The poets of Instagram are slaying right now.

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Man, I love Chris Latray. Lines like this just make my day:

“2026_0710: The loathing I have for my phone is justified after it attempts three times in a row to correct “feral” to “Ferrari”, a clear indication the thing, for all the irredeemable time it’s spent in my greasy, sweaty grip, doesn’t understand me at all.”

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These two are cute. They have a ways to go but they have real talent.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbotMa0vEKA/?igsh=MTdyaW42eGVmdnF0bg==

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I should share this where I can. Let’s all help Alli Kate and her mum move to LA, so Alli can pursue her music making dreams.

14 and this much talent!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSwXcUKE64K/?igsh=a3U5bjFyNXRlOWZ5

Mistake MV. How is she this good?

Lonely road MV:

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The 1958 Topps set is essentially complete already! After just a week. Although not all in hand just yet. CIA is handling it.

Now Stephen is considering digging up more cards to do more cool shit like this!

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I’m familiar with Good Morning Bedlam from years ago being featured on Brooke’s song “Washington State” (which is actually about her now fiancée, BTW). But they have a new album this year and it’s really good.

Love this song, “Sideways”

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Aww I gotta check out Annalise’s stuff, prairie rose revival. She’s queer too. And instagram is sending her guys sending her gross concerning messages. They haven’t posted much

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dal6951sYUj/?igsh=c2p0emF2MTN3OG42

August 6, 2026

I adore strawberry patch ASMR.

August 7, 2026

AUDRA STOP BEING SO GORGEOUS GAHH! YOU SILLY SCHWARZEL <3

I actually commented on it! “Well, the last time I was a bride it was in the backyard by my favorite birch tree at the farm in Vermont :)”

I’ve never seen her so happy. It brings me so much joy.

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This is the real Brooke Surgener. Her and Nate truly got it good.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbvb2Dzo0t6/?igsh=MTdmZXJzc2ZvN3dsaA==

Also I love that cassette.

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I really like Lacey Richcreek. She is quite brilliant and funny. Cerebral palsy sucks because I would date her. She’s just way too young for me. I told her that dating a guy WITHOUT a disability would actually be better, because then she would find someone who accepts her as the brilliant, beautiful person she is <3

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbvQ4WjRJ7g/?igsh=YzFzY3psY2M4d29k

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Today’s devotion… running very late because I kept getting distracted. Thanks AuDHD.

1 Peter 5:6-11

I can’t find it in my Ryrie so I have to read it online. My vibrations are just way too erratic right now.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Don’t I know it!

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https://asteriarose.substack.com/p/the-healing-power-of-your-story

I had to comment: “My life was transformed forever on July 10th when I heard the song “Where I Used to Be” by Brooke Surgener. It made me question everything about who I used to be and what I became and what happened in between that made me hate where I was and who I wanted to be. I was supposed to go to an Ella Langley concert in New Hampshire on July 30th, and instead I went to a tiny little show at a golf course grill in Erie County, Pennsylvania, just so I could meet Brooke. Not only was it worth seeing her (only her mom, a few family members, and random old people were there), she turned out to be an AWESOME human being and I am honored to now call her a friend. And she was so touched just how much that song meant to me. Brooke should be a superstar like Ella, and she’s actually MORE TALENTED! Plus, we are working on songs together as she’s also a songwriting teacher with 20+ clients! Anyway, seemed like a good time to share my story :)”

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On Deepstash app, I’m exploring the idea of the 37 percent bet. The story is about FOMO trapping you in a cycle of “endless browsing and zero action.” I used to have that problem. NOT WITH BUFFALO!

This is a cool concept!

What a great point! More great insights. It’s partly why I stay “messy” because organization just makes things worse for me.

Saw this on Linkedin:

I definitely relate with this!

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Jessica of the Shire made a two hour video about the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series! Just what I needed for my Friday evening winddown.

August 8, 2026

Phillies card guy torches baseball cards listings on mercari lol

August 17, 2026

Lucy Ellis is good. Playlisted. [Actually, she’s a lot more than good as y’all will find out really soon!]

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Holly Lawless is good, too.

August 18, 2026

The greatest Wild Geese episode EVER! Again… Anna keeps raising the bar!

Disappoint all the people! I think Anna is absolutely perfect! Just like Brooke!

That mexican bowl I just made was WAY BETTER than chipotle and cost me like half the price.

OMG new music from Fionn? I’m stoked! Alanna and Brianne, you are two of the most talented musicians I’ve ever seen. 🙂

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Another kickass cover from Alex Melton

And a concert of his I need to watch:

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Well, “Hey There Delilah” covers are a litmus test for me. And Lucy Ellis passes with so many rainbows worth of colors, it’s not even funny. How is this girl still WORKING A REGULAR JOB?