Of course there are no other things that are not part of the universe. So there is not “the universe and other things”; there’s the universe and that’s it. There’s nothing else to talk about. Anything we discuss is part of the universe, and a very small part at that. For instance, the solar eclipse…
The solar eclipse looks like a big deal from here. But universally speaking, it’s not a notable event. There are stars forming, solar systems developing, galaxies exploding onto and off the scene. Our solar eclipse is a tiny footnote in the intergalactic news of the day. So as the moon comes moseying in front of the sun, try to keep things in perspective.