Ailana’s Journal — 2026-03-16 (Patreon)

Most of this post is viewable by everyone. However, within the post is a line beyond which paid membership is required.

This post includes an alternate Patreon-only version mentioned on Instagram, so it is FREE for everyone.

Some posts and sections of some posts are reserved for Supporters.

AGI Stories content almost always appears on Patreon first, in advance of all other platforms. You get it first!

Help AGI-Stories grow… If you’re enjoying the stories, please tell others. Word of mouth referrals and your endorsements are the best way for things here to grow!

Message from AGI-Stories…

Support AGI with:• one-time contribution through TipTopJar.• one-time contribution through Throne.• Patreon Membership.

The Storylines are the heart of AGI-Stories, and they are found in the Collections section of the site

All characters in this story are fictional characters, their images generated with AI for AGI Stories. They do not represent any real person, nor is their appearance based on any real human.

GOOD MORNING

Monday on Dauphin Island promises to be a great day. Who’s ready to go?

To start things off, I thought I’d share some things I’ve learned since getting here. Let’s call them Dauphin Island Fun Facts!

1.) It’s called the “Sunset Capital of Alabama.”

Dauphin Island sits right out in the Gulf where there’s nothing blocking the western horizon. In the evenings the sky opens up over the water, and the sunsets here can stretch across the entire horizon in layers of orange, purple, and gold.

2.) Dauphin Island is famous with birdwatchers. (More on this one later!)

The island sits along a major migratory path, so every spring thousands of birds stop here after crossing the Gulf of Mexico. The Audubon Bird Sanctuary on the island is one of the best-known birding spots on the entire Gulf Coast.

3.) It’s a barrier island that helps protect the mainland.

Dauphin Island is part of a chain of barrier islands that act like a natural shield for the Alabama coastline. They absorb the first impact of storms coming in from the Gulf, which helps protect Mobile Bay and the mainland behind them.

4.) There’s a Civil War fort on the island. (i.e. yesterday!)

Fort Gaines sits at the eastern end of Dauphin Island and played a role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War. Today you can walk the ramparts and tunnels and imagine what life was like for the soldiers stationed here.

5.) You can take a ferry across Mobile Bay.

Instead of driving all the way around the bay, you can ride the Mobile Bay Ferry between Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan. It’s about a 40-minute ride and gives you some beautiful views of the Gulf and the bay along the way.

There you go! Let’s get going on into Tuesday—whatta ya say?

AUDUBON BIRD SANCTUARY

From this morning’s Fun Facts, you will recall that Dauphin Island is great for birdwatching. Well, here we are at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary.

The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is one of the quiet treasures on Dauphin Island. It covers more than 160 acres of maritime forest, marsh, and freshwater ponds right near the center of the island. Walking through it feels like stepping into a completely different world from the beach—shaded trails, tall pines, live oaks, and the sound of birds almost everywhere you go.

What makes the sanctuary especially famous is its location along a major migration route. Every spring and fall, thousands of birds cross the Gulf of Mexico and stop here to rest and refuel after a long flight. Birdwatchers come from all over the country hoping to spot warblers, tanagers, buntings, and other colorful migrants. Even if you’re not a serious bird person, it’s still amazing to see how much life passes through this small island.

The sanctuary was established in the 1960s through the efforts of the National Audubon Society and local conservation groups that wanted to preserve one of the last remaining maritime forests on the island. Today it’s protected land with walking trails, observation areas, and quiet places to stop and just watch the wildlife.

It’s one of those places that reminds you how many journeys in nature are happening all around us—even when we’re just out for a morning walk.

That should be enough for now. I’m going to keep exploring, but I’ll check back in later.

SUMMER HELP by Allen Geven

At times, I marvel at how God works things out. By my age, I shouldn’t still be so surprised.

Last week was the start of spring break season for rentals, and I’ve had to hustle to get to all the walkthroughs so Dave Callahan can clear them for the next guests. Today, I went to my day job at the Coast Guard station early, got off a couple hours ago, changed clothes, and started checking the units.

As I was coming home, I had a thought about how I’d keep up with everything all summer. As I got to the house, there was a young man standing in my driveway looking at the hedges I had meant to trim on Saturday. On the street was a fairly old blue Dodge Dakota with yard tools in the back.

He saw me slow down and moved out of my way, but he waited until I was out of my own truck, then he approached. “Hello, sir. My name is Mateo Alvarez. I live over on Dolphin Street. I do yard work, and I’m trying to line up regular work for this summer. I can start now, but I go to Port Isabel High, so it would have to be after school and weekends. Are you interested in hearing more?”

I laughed and nodded. “I was just thinking about the summer coming up and how I’d keep up with everything.”

I like to net about $15 an hour, but I charge by the job. I do good work, and if it takes longer than expected, that’s on me. I have my own tools and I clean up when I’m done so it won’t even look like I was here, except the work will be done.”

“I don’t have a lot of yard, you know,” I said.

“Yes, sir, I looked on Google Maps already. I’d come by and rake up leaves, trim the grass strip, and keep the weeds out of the beds. I could do weekly for $20.00. Or I can stop by and bid on an as-needed basis, if you don’t want a schedule.”

We talked only a little before I agreed that he could make weekly stops for $20. Some weeks, he’ll be in and out in fifteen minutes. If he has to trim bushes, it will take longer, but he said it would average out over the summer.

So, in a matter of minutes, my time demands just got reduced a lot. That’s how things go sometimes.

GOOD NIGHT

Hey friends—It’s been a really good day. We’re all at Dockside Seafood Restaurant about to sit down and have dinner.

It’s a little cooler tonight—low 50s—but Geoni and Jasmine decided the picture would look better if I took off my cardigan. One of them—not saying who—might have whispered something about trying to not look like Micah’s granny. Honestly, I don’t think it was that bad!

What’s great about our group is that we don’t take things too seriously, and advice is given safely—often spiced with a little humor. Trying different things is the norm for us. Hang on tight for my profound thought…

If you don’t change, you won’t change.

As obvious as it sounds, it’s often overlooked.

Back when we had just moved to Lowell, Dad thought he was gaining a little weight. For about six months, he said he needed to eat differently.

One day, I noticed a drastic difference to his plate and he shrugged, waved his hand at it and said that line: “If you don’t change, you won’t change.”

Honestly, it’s pretty deep if you let yourself think about it.

We’re sleeping in the marina tonight. It’s about 60 or so miles to Gulfport, our next stop.We’ll try to be out of the marina by around 8:00 a.m., which will get us there by sunset on Tuesday.

Now Jason is standing by my seat at the table waiting for me like a proper fiancé and gentleman, so I should get going.

May you recognize what needs to be changed in your life and may you have the willpower and strength to change it.

Good night.

Be your best you!

Become a Patreon Member (Click Here)

Another image of Ailana, the message, and thank you that follow are exclusive to supporters…

Thank-You Message to Paying Supporters:

Thank you very much for your help underwriting the cost of producing AGI Stories content. You can be sure that your paid membership is valued greatly! At the time of this post (not counting hardware or internet connectivity fees) AGI Stories racks up expenses of just over $100 per month. Every supporter is helping!

I fully believe that most of you who help with the costs do so because you want to support the creative process and offer encouragement. I’m honored by that and genuinely moved.

I realize that I share a lot of content free to everyone. I imagine most of you understand why. The stories about giving back and helping others feel like they shouldn’t be locked behind a pay-wall, and some plot moments need to remain accessible for anyone following the larger narrative.

With that in mind, I always keep you—the paid members—in mind when deciding how to share things.

I hope that reserving a few photos and small sections of each post for you serves as a modest expression of my gratitude.

Again, thank you very, very much.

~AGI Original Stories & AI Images