Thanks for reading the May 2025 issue of This Awful Awesome Life. I hope you use the link for the recipe for Homemade Disney Dole Whip in our “Twelve Months of Fruit.” Previous issues of This Awful Awesome Life are available to read on our website. Go to www.thisawfulawesomelife.com and start scrolling or you can enter specific search criteria.
Our June issue celebrates love and summer.
I’m going to write a romantic short story for the June issue.
Orlando Bartro and I will be back with more interesting articles for you.
Our featured author with a June birthday will be Louise Erdich, a Native American author of novels, poetry, and children’s books featuring Native American characters and settings.
We’re moving some of our regular features around to shake things up a bit and keep you on your toes. I’m also hoping to expand our Artist Page to feature more talented creatives. Some people manage to elevate their work to the level of an artform, and we want to support their efforts.
I’ll have more streaming and reading recommendations. “What’s in a Word?” will be back but we’ll be alternating some of our content. We’ll continue the monthly quizzes to exercise our brains, and we’ll continue reviewing books.
I’ll have another poem for you.
I hope to have some news about a new subscription-based Patreon account featuring short stories and chapter installments of my books as I write them. This will be separated from our online magazine which will always be free and available to everyone. I’m considering the Patreon option because traditional and Indy publishing have changed so drastically in recent years. Hoping I can also provide opportunities for book discussions and narrations of short stories. Be on the lookout after the June issue. I have some other pressing matters to attend to in the next few months.
Stay safe. Stay well. You are important, and you are loved.
All my best,
Fran
Answers to the May 2025 “Where Are They Taking Us?” Quiz:
All Time Low: “I don’t want to say goodnight; the city comes to life when we’re together.” “For Baltimore”
Guster: “Are you getting somewhere? Or did you get lost in ‘Amsterdam’.”
Peter Gabriel: “’Son,” he said. ‘Grab your things, I’ve come to take you home.’” “Solsbury Hill”
Counting Crows: “I’m just another rider burned to the ground. I’m almost drowning in her sea. She’s nearly crawling on her knees.” “Sullivan Street”
REO Speedwagon: “Tried Bridgeport and Westport, ‘til we found a place that we thought would do.” “157 Riverside Avenue”
Bruce Springsteen: “Oh, come take my hand, we’re riding out tonight to case the promised land.” “Thunder Road”
The Rolling Stones: “I said the joint was a rocking goin’ round and round. Yeah reeling and a rocking. What a crazy sound.” “2120 South Michigan Avenue”
The Clash: “We ain’t got no swing except for the ring of that truncheon thing.” “London Calling”
The Beatles: “There is a barber showing photographs.” “Penny Lane”
Hank Williams, Jr. “There’s a sad eyed boy with his guitar cuttin’ his teeth on the blues.” “127 Rose Avenue”
The Pixies Three: “Goofy Eddie’s gonna bring his ukulele . Groovy Freddie’s going to dance all night with Sherry.” “442 Glenwood Avenue”
Dave Matthews Band: “I dream myself a thousand times around the world, but I can’t get out of this place.” “Grey Street”
Iron Maiden: “The red light’s burning bright tonight.” “22 Acacia Avenue”
Marc Cohen (also covered by Cher and Lonestar): “Saw the ghost of Elvis walking on Union Avenue. Followed him up to the gates of Graceland.” Walking in Memphis”
Weezer: “Take my picture by the pool ‘cause I’m the next big thing in ‘Beverly Hills’.”
Paul Simon: “For reasons I cannot explain, there’s some part of me wants to see ‘Graceland’.”
Dropkick Murphys: “I’m a sailor peg.” “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”
Ike and Tina Turner: “On Highway Number 19 the people keep the city clean.” “Nutbush City Limits”
Gil Scott-Heron: “Freedom ain’t nothing but a word, ain’t nothing.” “Johannesburg”
Ian Hunter: “You’d be a ruin if looks could kill.” “23A Swan Hill”
The Pretty Things: “I love you pretty baby.” “13 Chester Street’
The Troggs: “That’s where all the rules are made concerning you and me.” “No. 10 Downing Street”
Bobby Womack: “Take my advice it’s either live or die. You’ve got to be strong if you want to survive.” “Across 110th Street”
Morrissey: “From dawn to dusk the hunt is on. The father searches for the son.” “Istanbul”
The Riptides: “All my friends had told me you were someone else’s darling.” Sunset Strip”