Thanks for reading the August 2025 issue of This Awful Awesome Life. I hope you use the link for the recipe for Kiwi Salsa 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 September issue addresses banned books and censorship as we head into the new school year without the protection of the Department of Education.
I’m going to write a short story about censorship for the September issue.
Orlando Bartro and I will be back with more interesting articles for you.
Our featured author with a September birthday will be Miguel de Cervantes the author of Don Quixote de la Mancha.
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. I know I keep teasing you with this, but Life continues to get in the way.
Stay safe. Stay well. You are important, and you are loved.
All my best,
Fran
Answers to the August 2025 Where Am I Travel Quiz:
Hop on a bicycle and visit beautiful canals, harbors, historic monuments, and attractions like the Little Mermaid Statue, and Tivoli Gardens. Copenhagen, Denmark
Visit an 18th century fort and fur trading village, a restored lighthouse, art, and music festivals, enter a fishing tournament, or enjoy stargazing at International Dark Sky Park. Mackinaw City, Michigan, U.S.A.
Enjoy famous wines, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fine dining at over 700 hotels and restaurants. Visit chateaux and other historic monuments, three Regional nature Parks, or make use of 550km of cycling trails. Loire Valley, France
This area has been a haven for artists since the 1500s. Visit two major art institutions, enjoy music festivals, writer’s conferences, or historic architecture at this World Heritage Site. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Cool off in the mountains while enjoying art and music festivals. Go tubing on the Weber River or enjoy other water related activities. Enjoy hiking and biking before you sample the local cuisine or visit the Swaner Preserve to learn about the importance of protecting the land and wildlife for future generations. Park City, Utah, U.S.A.
Visit pristine beaches, observe abundant marine ecosystems, and enjoy the beauty of Fynbos plant species unique to this part of the world. Go on a photo safari. Sample award winning local wines and coffees. Cape Town, South Africa
Sample unique varieties of wines, enjoy hikes, biking tours, caving, swimming, snorkeling in crystal clear waters, and kayaking/boating. If you visit in late May, June or July, the lavender will be in bloom. The months between May and September offer warm temperatures and minimal rainfall – perfect weather to enjoy outdoor activities. Hvar, Croatia
This dream destination has year-round temperatures in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. Enjoy beaches, coves, and expansive coral reefs. Go snorkeling or diving. Enjoy hiking or taking an ATV tour. Explore historic towns, and sample the famous liqueur. Curaçao in the Caribbean
Walk the narrow-cobbled streets of Old Town and enjoy the historic architecture and scenic river views. Take a boat cruise or a hike in a tranquil forest. Visit the many art museums, the FIFA Museum, or shop at eclectic boutiques and open-air markets. Don’t forget to sample the chocolate! Zurich, Switzerland
Go whale watching, take a Zodiac boat tour to see a seal colony on your way to Bowen Island for dinner – craft beer and homemade pizza. Go cycling in Stanely Park, take a day or sunset cruise, or walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Visit famous gardens, ride the Grouse Mountain cable cars, or visit the Wildlife Refuge. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tour Casa de Herrero (Castle of the Blacksmith) and view its original collection of 16th -18th century art, tapestries, silver, furniture, rugs, library, and blacksmith shop. Visit botanical garden with examples of Japanese architecture, cactus collections, and topiaries. Visit Butterfly or Miramar Beaches or go hiking in the mountains. Montecito, California, U.S.A.
These two destinations offer contrasting vacation experiences, but are often visited during the same vacation. Visit iconic historical sites, museums, theaters, and vibrant neighborhoods. Enjoy the nightlife, whitewashed buildings, picturesque villages, and golden-sand beaches with crystal-clear water. One is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the other offers windmills and exciting nightlife with beach clubs and bars that stay open late. Athens and Mykonos, Greece
Visit the famous Inca and Sineu markets, Cuevas del Drach subterranean cave systems, Roman ruins, historic walled villages with medieval charm, white-sanded beaches, and the Palma Aquarium. Enjoy paella and exceptional white wines after a day of hiking or snorkeling. Mallorca, Spain
Watch the Great Migration of the wildebeest from a hot air balloon. Take a walking safari or head to the coast to do some diving or snorkeling. Hike in the Empakaai Crater or climb a famous mountain. Visit a working coffee farm. Tanzania, Africa
Visit Margaritaville and the “Hip Strip.” Try the jerk chicken and a margarita when you take a food tour. Take an ATV tour, swim in a natural mineral pool, or sample fresh local produce. Relax on the beach or visit the Blue Hole and local waterfalls. Go horseback riding or zipline through the jungle. Montego Bay, Jamaica
Visit the palace, tour historic locations and spectacular gardens, museums, and art galleries. Take a river cruise, enjoy movies or theatrical performances under the stars, visit the flower market, or attend a pub crawl -eat authentic fish and chips and play darts. London, England
It’s considered the birthplace of American Art. Go hiking, biking, or swimming, and enjoy “farm to table” dining. Walk the Hudson River School Art Trail. Learn about fly-fishing or visit the famous KTD Monastery. Attend music and art festivals or have loads of family fun at Zoom Flume Water Park. Catskill, New York, U.S.A.
This UNESCO Heritage site boasts mountaintop restaurants, spectacular views, hiking, biking, rafting and horseback riding. Visit caves and outdoor mineral pools while learning about local ecology, geology, and wildlife. Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Visit lush jungles and pristine beaches. View unique wildlife, explore Manuel Antonio National Park, and take a night tour through the jungle. Enjoy an ATV tour or go ziplining through the jungle. Walk the hanging bridges in La Fortuna, go whitewater rafting, or visit the Poás Volcano. Costa Rica
Visit the Batu Caves and the Petronas Twin Towers. Go shopping in the many pavilions, malls, and markets. Enjoy the bird park, Chinatown district, Sunway Lagoon, or the Islamic Arts Museum. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nature enthusiasts flock to these islands for their unique and diverse wildlife and biodiversity. These islands are at the confluence point for three ocean currents. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Take a food tour of Pike Place Market and visit the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, Ballard Locks and Kerry Park. Enjoy hiking along wild coastlines, moss draped forests, and glacier-carved mountains. Seattle, Washington. U.S.A.
Explore coral reefs, scuba dive, or relax on white sandy beaches. Visit the Botanical Gardens of Thursten, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, or the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park. Fiji
Visit Castello Aragonese to explore its chapels, wine presses, prison, and the cemetery of the Poor Clares, Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of it’s hot springs, visit the beaches, take a hike or a boat ride and enjoy those stunning views. Ischia, Italy
Visit a Native American community with a 1,000+ year history. Go hiking, biking, rafting, Horseback riding, hot-air ballooning, and take a dip in the local hot springs. Explore the Bandelier Cliff Dwellings and Great sand Dunes National Park. Enjoy the vibrant arts community and local artisans. Taos, New Mexico, U.S.A.