Well, all of the writing prompts were trash today, so here’s where we’re at: footwear.
I don’t have a favorite pair of shoes. I don’t like shopping for shoes. I don’t even usually like wearing shoes.
Most of the time, I’d just prefer to be barefoot. In fact, I’m barefoot right now!
Would you have preferred to hear my approach to budgeting? Or what the word “patriotism” means to me? Those were the other prompt options.
They can’t all be winners!
Good morning and happy Monday, friends! If you’re in the US and you’ve gotten a little vacation for President’s Day, then please enjoy the extended weekend.
- New Article: Turning the Tide 2026 Recap
This past week, I decided to travel back in time. I took an in-person journey to the library (my local college campus library, to be exact) and checked out a physical book that I need for a class. It even has a paper card and everything, with checkout dates that go as far back as the 80s.
So check this out: Within this book, I found an essay by Penn Jillette—you know, the magician? Growing up, I can remember how much my dad hated this guy due to his staunch atheism.
In honor of that memory, I decided to make Jillette’s essay, aptly titled “There Is No God,” the focus of a literary assignment I must complete for my class.
The entire book is short essays by a random collection of people. There are some famous names in there, like Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as a whole bunch that I’ve never heard of. They’re supposed to be about a core belief—the type of thing that defines you. One of them is titled “Be Cool to the Pizza Dude.” A lesson we could all learn from. Fascinating stuff, really.
Everyone around here is still sick. Mostly on the mend it seems, but sick nonetheless.
It’s been a rough week. My classes have been pretty brutal. I’m not sure how having 30 hours of coursework per week for one class is reasonable, but that’s how it’s been and I’m trying to make the best of it. I managed to churn out a short article here recounting our experience at Tides this year, so you can go check that out or look at some of the pictures that I took. I warn you, it’s on the shorter side.
I’m still pounding away at my book. I have crossed the 60,000 word count goal, but the finish line is still quite off in the distance. Now it’s time to wrap up the remaining thoughts in the most appropriate and concise way possible and… well… revise, revise, revise until the end of March.
What’s coming up?
This weekend I’ll be teaching a workshop at WitchCon. And in a few weeks after that, I’ve got another workshop planned for Botanica Obscura.
To whoever or whatever spammed my website last week, producing thousands of user session in 24 hours… thanks? Maybe aim for my YouTube channel next time. I could use the watch hours!
Recently I had a very interesting conversation with Kirk White, which was not only my first opportunity to talk with someone in politics, but will also be the first episode of Season 4 of M3—coming to a YouTube near you soon!
In the world of sodas, I tried the new Cherry Float flavor of Coke.
I rate it a solid 5/10, but I’m not usually one to appreciate the subtle tastes of cherry sodas, including Cherry Coke, Mr. Pibb, and Dr. Pepper. The closest I’ll ever go there is Cheerwine. I mean, who doesn’t like Cheerwine?
On Sunday, Selene and I stopped into a random diner. I really wanted an egg salad sandwich. When we got there, we saw that they also had fruity crepes. How does one decide between egg salad and crepes?
One does not. One orders both. They were delightful.
Oh, and we watched KPop Demon Hunters. I now feel so much more educated on pop culture.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more soon!
Aerik Arkadian 
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