June 2021 – From My Corner of the Universe

June 2021 Playlist

June 30, 2021

Got back from San Francisco a couple of days ago. It was a nice little trip. I’ll be sharing some photos later on.

This month’s music was another trip down memory lane. I’ve been listening to a lot of DJ Mystik and other EDMs. Except for a few:

“Grow Up” by Ian Flanigan. I heard Ian sing it on The Voice live and totally fell in love.

“When the World’s Asleep” by Roger Shah. This EDM came up on my iTunes list and fit my dystopian story so I had it on repeat for awhile.

“What A Feeling” by Irene Cara. Finished watching the movie, Flashdance, and loved it. I’ve probably watched this movie three or four times and I always learn something new each time I watch it. Maybe I just forgot but I didn’t realize the boyfriend got the MC into the tryout by contacting someone on the art committee. I always thought she applied and simply was given the opportunity.

Here’s a list of the other songs I listened to this month:

“Dream As One” DJ Mystik

“Dreaming In the Night” DJ Mystik

“Paraiso” DJ Mystik

“Down to Earth” Peter Gabriel (from the movie, Wall-E)

Unboxing Video: CD Wisteria Lane Planner Add-on July 2021

June 24, 2021

I’ve been subscribing to the Cocoa Daisy Planner Add-on kit for about a year now. I’ve always enjoyed their presentation and all the goodies they gather. I’ve subscribed to their other kits in the past but didn’t need all the goodies. The Planner Add-on has just the perfect amount for what I need. Also, it can get expensive if you like decorating your notebooks. I’ve purchased from other brands before and found that Cocoa Daisy was priced much better than the others.

Orchids and a Lily

June 17, 2021

A couple of my orchids are dying and one is already pretty dead. I’m just a little lazy these days and forget to water them. The one that died needed to be repotted like three years ago. I kept saying I would repot, but I kept forgetting to. I still have four thriving ones so I think I’ll be okay.

Daughter wanted a lily so a couple of months ago, I got her one. She said she’d take care of it, but guess who’s been doing all the watering? It’s okay though. Husband takes care of my outdoor plants so it’s a wash. lol

Another Sunset Photo

June 16, 2021

This was taken yesterday evening and doesn’t really depict what it actually looked like in real life. The sun was red. Somehow in photos, it’s yellow with a reddish glow. I just wanted to share how easily it was to look at the sun (and take a photo of it).

Sunset

June 15, 2021

I don’t watch the news that much so I wasn’t aware there was a pretty bad fire in New Mexico. Husband had mentioned a day or two before that there was fire because the sunsets had been looking more red and orange than usual. This was the view yesterday evening from the car as husband and I grabbed a quick bite.

Butterfly Pavilion Nine Years Later

June 9, 2021

My youngest is starting high school this fall, can you believe it? Life can feel so surreal sometimes. It isn’t just the passing of time but the way people change, the way the world has changed, and the way the world is changing. We think we know it all, but at the end of the day, we really don’t know very much. After raising my oldest, who is five years older than my youngest, you’d think I’d have a handle on parenting a teenager, but I feel like I’m back at square one. The complexities of being a teenager is way beyond any science or studies out there. It’s a storm that, as a parent, I have no idea of the outcome. We can only parent the way we know, and most of the time it’s from our own understanding of our own childhood and how we saw our parents. We either want to parent just like them or completely opposite of them, but either way, sometimes, it feels like someone else holds the rein to our children’s destiny.

As a “graduation” from 8th grade gift, my youngest wanted to go to the Butterfly Pavilion. She loves nature and butterflies and remembered her first time going there when she turned five and wanted to go there again. So, we took her. She enjoyed it a lot more than when she was five.

Photos from the Butterfly Pavilion:

Shadow & Bone Series

June 8, 2021

I have not read the book series Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo but I’m loving the first series. I wasn’t expecting to be as invested as I am. It’s actually a really well-made show. The actors are pretty amazing, the CGI is superb, and the cinematography is beautiful.

Here’s the trailer to the show:

And, here’s a compilation of the two main characters.

Book Review: Off the Furrow

June 5, 2021

Title: Off the Furrow
Author: Mark Lages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Year Published: 2021

Date finished: June 5, 2021

Off the Furrow by Mark Lages is a story about a man named Howard Mirth who suffers from a mental illness and was admitted to the hospital. Howard is, overall, a normal person with a normal family life and a good job. He goes through bouts of schizophrenia where it leaves you feeling both sad and sorry for him, but you also laugh with him and at his humor. He questions life and humanity, and it makes you wonder the same things.

Wow. I loved this book. There was a lot to take in, but every chapter had meaning. My favorite chapter was 34, when Howard called his uncle. I enjoyed the whole book, but that chapter was really deep. I found the humor and jokes throughout the book just simply hilarious. Some (maybe most) were dark humor but that’s what I like about this author’s style. This book is relatable to just about everyone. Every character has a flaw, and you can probably find yourself in one of them.

Who should read this book: If you like literary stories about man vs. self, mental illness, family dynamics, and life lessons, this is for you. Also, if you like the style of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five and Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, you’ll definitely enjoy this.