Thanks for reading the June 2026 issue of This Awful Awesome Life. I hope you try the recipe for Mediterranean Farro Salad in our “Twelve Months of Grain.”
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.
July is “250 Month” in This Awful Awesome Life as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We’ll explore how we got here and the challenges we face to honor the intentions of our Founding Fathers and the realities of a diverse modern society.
Orlando Bartro, Tony Valerino, Sheila Kirk, Scarlet Carter, and I will be back with more interesting poems, stories, and articles for you.
Our featured author with a July birthday will be Margaret Walker, the first Black woman in American literary history to win the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award.
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.
For the time being, I’m holding off on a new subscription-based Patreon account featuring short stories and chapter installments of my books as I write them. I also hoped to provide opportunities for book discussions and narrations of short stories. It’s something I want to do, but pesky life keeps getting in the way. When and if this happens, it will remain 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. Now that AI has entered the equation, more changes are coming.
Stay safe. Stay well. You are important, and you are loved.
All my best,
Fran
Answers to the June 2026 “Spa Day” Quiz:
1. This type of anti-aging facial treats fine lines and uneven skin tone with a sonic device that scrubs your face with tiny sterile water droplets to strip off residues, enhance circulation to facial tissues, and encourage collagen production. Hydro dermabrasion
This specialty facial is recommended for people with acne, hyperpigmentation, or wrinkles. It uses microneedling to produce microscopic wounds on the top layer of skin to create invisible wounds that trigger the body to replace cells and create more collagen and elastin for healthier looking skin that minimizes the visibility of blemishes and wrinkles. Collagen Induction Therapy
This type of anti-aging facial uses mud to draw impurities from the skin after cleansing and exfoliating. This process prepares the skin for receiving a hydrating serum. Mud Mask Facial
For this spa experience, you need a partner because you’ll both be receiving massages. Couples Massage
This type of body wrap is good for people with dry skin. After an exfoliation, a practitioner spreads warm wax on your body to soften your skin and prepare it to receive an additional moisturizing treatment. Paraffin Body Wrap
This massage method combines heat with the healing power of skilled hands. Rocks heated to about 130 degrees may be applied along your spine, feet, palms, face, or stomach. Hot Stone Massage
This type of massage or facial uses essential oils to promote relaxation and address specific ailments. Aromatherapy Massage or Facial
This needle-free Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technique involves applying manual pressure to certain areas of the body to stimulate healing energy, release muscle tension, and improve circulation. Acupressure Massage
This type of facial is best for oily or resilient skin types because its deep exfoliation to remove dead skin and unclog pores can be abrasive. Sea Salt Scrub Facial
This massage uses specialized vacuum equipment to lift and stretch soft tissues instead of pressing them down. The decompression promotes circulation, relieves chronic pain, accelerates injury recovery, and drains the lymphatic system. Medi-cupping Massage
This type of massage is a classic, whole-body therapeutic massage that relaxes the entire body and improves circulation using firm and gentle strokes, kneading, tapping, and massage oils to lower stress, relieve tension, and promote deep relaxation. Swedish Massage
For this type of body wrap, clothes or bandages are soaked in solutions of aloe vera, lavender, or chamomile and then applied to the body to temporarily reduce water weight, ease muscle tension, promote relaxation, or soften skin. Herbal Body Wrap
This type of massage targets overworked areas of the body using a combination of deep tissue work, trigger point therapy, stretching, or vibration techniques to enhance athletic performance and recovery. Athletic Stretch Massage
This type of massage renews the body using traditional Hawaiian movement, massage, and breathing techniques. Lomi Lomi Massage
This type of therapy uses specific wavelengths of visible light to penetrate the skin and influence biological processes to treat acne, reduce inflammation, stimulate collagen, and promote relaxation. Color Light Therapy
This type of Japanese energy healing massage uses light non-invasive touch or hovering to balance your energy and promote relaxation. Reiki Massage
This type of facial uses pure, plant-based, and natural ingredients free of harsh chemicals, parabens, and synthetic fragrance to deep clean, exfoliate, and nourish your complexion without irritation. Organic Facial
In this type of facial heated clothes gently open pores, increase circulation, and soften the skin by easing muscle tension, gently removing cleansers, and boosting absorption. Hot Towels Facial
This targeted massage technique uses slow strokes and firm pressure to reach deeper muscle layers and connective tissues. Deep Tissue Massage
This relaxing spa treatment applies mineral-rich mud to your skin to exfoliate, detoxify, soothe sore muscles, hydrate the skin, and ease water retention. Full-Body Mud Wrap