Ailana’s Journal—2026-03-19 (Patreon)

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

Our second day in Gulfport begins with Marsha Keller making homemade blueberry muffins. It’s going to be a great day, and Jason’s mom is getting it off to a delicious start.

This morning, Jason and I are going to spend a little time on our laptops organizing pictures and ideas for future articles.

Josh and Geoni are taking the day to go on a cruise with Ship Island Excursions. The boat ride alone is supposed to be beautiful—open Gulf water, sea breeze, and maybe even dolphins pacing alongside. And then there’s Fort Massachusetts, still standing out there with all that quiet history.

It sounds like one of those simple, unforgettable afternoons. I’m sure they’ll gather tons of useful material.

Later, Jason and I are heading to the Mississippi Aquarium. Over the months I’ve written the journal, you know I’ve visited more than one aquarium, but this one will give us a look at more Gulf Coast ecosystems. I’ll be back with more from there later.

Let me stop for a moment and say thank you to all of you following along on this trip. I’m having a lot of fun and learning a lot. I hope you are too.

I also want to thank Jason’s parents for letting me roam around their house in a bathrobe. But I should get dressed before the muffins come out of the oven, so I better go.

See you soon!

MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM

As promised, Jason and I are at the Mississippi Aquarium. We’ve been here long enough for me to know we made a good call.

The Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport is a relatively new addition to the Coast, opening in 2020 after years of planning and community support. It’s operated by a nonprofit, with funding coming from a mix of public investment, private donations, and local partnerships—something you can really feel when you walk through it. There’s a sense that this place belongs to the people here.

What I love most is how it blends education with experience. It’s not just tanks and exhibits—it’s habitats that reflect the Gulf, the Mississippi Sound, and even ecosystems from around the world. You move from coastal marshes to open ocean environments, and it all feels thoughtfully connected. There’s also a strong conservation focus, with efforts centered on protecting marine life and educating visitors about how everything ties together.

One of the highlights for me was how interactive it all is. There are touch pools, open-air spaces, and moments where you’re close enough to really appreciate the movement and detail of the animals. It doesn’t feel distant or behind glass—it feels alive.

It’s also a bit of a comeback story. After Hurricane Katrina, Gulfport lost so much, and projects like this are part of what’s reshaping the city into something vibrant again. Sitting here now, watching families and kids take it all in, it feels like more than an attraction—it feels like momentum.

From here, Jason and I are hitting Murky Waters BBQ, which is pretty close. We’ll get a booth or big table and start sorting notes and images from here. Then, back to his folks’ house to connect with Josh and Geoni before heading to dinner.

I’ll check in later, of course. See you then.

MY GO-TO CREATIVES by Naomi Prior

When you have a system that works, business runs so much better. My system? Well, Jasmine Banks usually answers the phone when I call. And when she doesn’t, Sasha Baek-Everett does.

Today, it was Jasmine.

I know they’re traveling, but I have a small job for them, and I’m sure they can pull it off. Two models, one photographer, and an art director—I even got them per diems! They can split up the work however they want. I know the outcome will be spot on.

Little by little, my side venture in fast-response content creation is gaining traction. I don’t know where it’s going in the long run, but right now it’s making a significant contribution to my bottom line.

When you have a system that works, stick with it. Right?

GOOD NIGHT

For our last night in Gulfport, all of us met for dinner at Steve's Marina Restaurant. (Menu screenshot provided!)

You might notice that shrimp’s role in life along the Mississippi Gulf is not forgotten by the entrées offered here! I decided to challenge the Shrimp Scampi. I have a good feeling about that decision!

A few other notable choices… Geoni went Red Beans & Rice. Josh ordered the Rib-Eye. Jasmine went for the Fried Catfish Plate. I share these to show that we really ran the gamut on our orders.

Now, we’re just waiting on the salads and the meal to follow.

Tomorrow, we set sail again heading pretty much due south. (Map screenshot provided!) If you are wondering why New Orleans isn’t on the stop list, there’s a good reason.

The Big Easy isn’t exactly on the Gulf. We’d have to navigate up the Mississippi River. We’re on our way south and west back to SPI, so we need to swing south of the river delta before we do anything else.

Tomorrow night, we’re going to slow-cruise past the Pass a Loutre State Wildlife Management Area, then continue westward until sunrise. There’s no hard and fast destination in mind for sunrise Saturday, but we’ll be… you know… somewhere that-a-way.

Saturday should find us somewhere along the Louisiana coast. Notably, in that area, there are numerous offshore drilling areas, so we’ll have to proceed with caution and keep our distance.

If you read between the lines, you just heard me say that we shove off tomorrow for at least two nights at sea. I’m not complaining!

I see our salads coming, so I’ll wrap up this post.

May your mind always be open to new ideas and fresh experiences—and may they always grow you into the person you hope to be.

Good night.

Be your best you!

Become a Patreon Member (Click Here)

Thank-You Message to Paying Supporters:

It is my belief that most of you who help with the costs are doing so because you want to support the production process and show your encouragement. I am honored and greatly moved.

I know that I share a LOT of content FREE TO ALL. I'd imagine that you understand why. The stories about giving back and helping seem like they shouldn't be exclusive. Certain plot moments need to be understood by anyone trying to to follow the stories.

With that in mind, I always consider you, the paid members, when deciding how to share content.

My hope is that reserving a few pictures and small sections of the post for you is a modest indication of gratitude!

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!

Again, thank you very, very much.

~AGI Original Stories & AI Images