Todd Robert Petersen
@toddpetersen.bsky.social
PICNIC IN THE RUINS from Counterpoint Press. Pater Familias. Novelist. Professor of Creative Writing and Film. Repped by: Sobel/Weber.
My son has dropped by, and he's practicing Dire Straits, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Soundgarden for his recital in a steady loop, and I keep thinking how is it that I get to know this person, much be blessed to have raised him?
December 7, 2025 at 10:50 PM
My son has dropped by, and he's practicing Dire Straits, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Soundgarden for his recital in a steady loop, and I keep thinking how is it that I get to know this person, much be blessed to have raised him?
You get a peace prize. And you get a peace prize. And you...
a woman in a red dress is holding a microphone in her hand and raising her fist in the air .
Alt: Oprah in a red dress holding a microphone in her hand and pointing at people.
media.tenor.com
December 7, 2025 at 6:07 AM
You get a peace prize. And you get a peace prize. And you...
Ha. We're living parallel lives.
December 6, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Ha. We're living parallel lives.
What if, all the sudden, we see a wave of copycat meta glasses crushing vigilantism?
a cartoon of batman standing next to a building
Alt: Batman giving the thumbs up.
media.tenor.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:57 AM
What if, all the sudden, we see a wave of copycat meta glasses crushing vigilantism?
I taught my final class today and spent the afternoon updating my course policies, which I must do while the loopholes are still burning hot circles of shame in my brain.
December 6, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I taught my final class today and spent the afternoon updating my course policies, which I must do while the loopholes are still burning hot circles of shame in my brain.
When my students tell me about their fantasy novels, my mind often drifts to news items like this one, and I want respond in my Werner Herzog voice. "More. More. You need more reality in there."
Male human heads found in a 'skull pit' in an ancient Chinese city hint at sex-specific sacrifice rituals apple.news/ADGTJP0AyReC...
Male human heads found in a 'skull pit' in an ancient Chinese city hint at sex-specific sacrifice rituals — Live Science
A genetic study of 80 skulls found at a Stone Age city in China has revealed that the sacrificed people were mostly men, in contrast to previous assumptions.
apple.news
December 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
When my students tell me about their fantasy novels, my mind often drifts to news items like this one, and I want respond in my Werner Herzog voice. "More. More. You need more reality in there."
Tomorrow is the last day of classes, and tonight, under the supermoon, I dialed in the tone of my electric guitar rig. That is called "setting priorities."
December 5, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Tomorrow is the last day of classes, and tonight, under the supermoon, I dialed in the tone of my electric guitar rig. That is called "setting priorities."
If there were fewer people in Costco the next time I go, I'd be okay with it, tbh.
December 5, 2025 at 5:14 AM
If there were fewer people in Costco the next time I go, I'd be okay with it, tbh.
Today the roads were so slick and dangerous. There was a wreck. I was sliding. Other cars were sliding toward me. But I escaped by taking one deep breath then gunning through a tiny open space in all that chaos onto a quiet side street.
a man in a hat is standing in an empty room with the word goodbye above him
Alt: Jamiroquai dude sliding backwards and disappearing into a door at the far end of the room. The word goodbye at the top.
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Today the roads were so slick and dangerous. There was a wreck. I was sliding. Other cars were sliding toward me. But I escaped by taking one deep breath then gunning through a tiny open space in all that chaos onto a quiet side street.
This cat is a nincompoop.
December 2, 2025 at 5:42 AM
This cat is a nincompoop.
Back in the office, cleaning up grading, trying to get my game face for the final week of classes. It's hard, because everyone kind of doesn't want to be here. No sense pretending otherwise, but the lesson of it all is "what do you do when you don't want to do the thing you have to do."
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Back in the office, cleaning up grading, trying to get my game face for the final week of classes. It's hard, because everyone kind of doesn't want to be here. No sense pretending otherwise, but the lesson of it all is "what do you do when you don't want to do the thing you have to do."
I have only two more film theory exams to grade. Please cheer me on.
a man in a turban is talking to another man and says we want two large glasses of lemonade
Alt: Lawrence of Arabia is talking to bartender and says we want two large glasses of lemonade
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:32 AM
I have only two more film theory exams to grade. Please cheer me on.
That section of Herb Alpert's "My Favorite Things" that goes secret choir James Bond for a few seconds at about 01:35, then full on at about 02:44. music.apple.com/us/album/my-...
My Favorite Things by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass on Apple Music
Song · 1968 · Duration 3:03
music.apple.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:44 AM
That section of Herb Alpert's "My Favorite Things" that goes secret choir James Bond for a few seconds at about 01:35, then full on at about 02:44. music.apple.com/us/album/my-...
New Christmas lights are up outside, and my wife is trying to cast a spell to plunge to world into darkness so she can see what they look like right away.
November 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
New Christmas lights are up outside, and my wife is trying to cast a spell to plunge to world into darkness so she can see what they look like right away.
I really like non-traditional Christmas music. Here's one of my favorites: JINGLE ALL THE WAY by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. music.apple.com/us/album/jin...
Jingle All the Way by Béla Fleck & The Flecktones on Apple Music
Album · 2008 · 16 Songs
music.apple.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM
I really like non-traditional Christmas music. Here's one of my favorites: JINGLE ALL THE WAY by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. music.apple.com/us/album/jin...
"Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits is such a beautiful song.
November 28, 2025 at 12:36 AM
"Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits is such a beautiful song.
Some Barthes for Thanksgiving.
November 27, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Some Barthes for Thanksgiving.
Y'all. Today is Jimi Hendrix AND Bruce Lee's birthday. Born two years apart.
November 27, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Y'all. Today is Jimi Hendrix AND Bruce Lee's birthday. Born two years apart.
Thanksgiving is so often a great big mashup of a cooking show where everyone has to make a variation of the same meal in order not be voted off plus the seven fishes episode of The Bear.
November 27, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Thanksgiving is so often a great big mashup of a cooking show where everyone has to make a variation of the same meal in order not be voted off plus the seven fishes episode of The Bear.
Something happened yesterday that is prompting me to start a new short story called "Roxy Music at the Discount Store."
November 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Something happened yesterday that is prompting me to start a new short story called "Roxy Music at the Discount Store."
Bikes plus first aid kits on display. What are you telling us Walmart?
November 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Bikes plus first aid kits on display. What are you telling us Walmart?
Just got back from the grocery store and all those people standing in line at the check-out know the truth about prices.
November 26, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Just got back from the grocery store and all those people standing in line at the check-out know the truth about prices.
I just got a new high score in that video game called "fit everything into the refrigerator."
November 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I just got a new high score in that video game called "fit everything into the refrigerator."
Going downstairs to start Pluribus.
November 25, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Going downstairs to start Pluribus.
Today a car mechanic told me he fixes more new cars than old ones. Then he paused and said, "That pretty much sums up the state of things."
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Today a car mechanic told me he fixes more new cars than old ones. Then he paused and said, "That pretty much sums up the state of things."