Anniversary 17

Today we planned to celebrate our 17th anniversary with Mom and Sylvia's parents, but I woke up sick today, putting the kibosh on those plans. Nonetheless, Sylvia and I were able to enjoy some nice moments today, expressing our gratitude for our time together. Happy Anniversary, Squishy McMonkey! 
 

Canada Day 2023

Studio 54 Diffusion

A little earlier tonight, at 7:37 PM MT, I completed my 54th trip around Sol. I had a very pleasant day, visiting with Mom and Sean and Sylvia, enjoying a really glorious lunch of chicken, scalloped potatoes, and stuffing at Mom's place. She also prepared an ambrosia salad, which isn't normally my kind of thing, and I tried it and it was delicious. And last night, Sylvia's parents had us over for a lovely lasagna dinner. 

By the time Sylvia and I returned home, I felt rather spoiled, sated, and sleepy. But before heading to bed, I prompted Stable Diffusion to create an image of "Earl J. Woods celebrating his 54th birthday with family and friends." With a prompt that open ended, I probably shouldn't have been surprised by these results, and yet . . . 

I like to imagine that Stable Diffusion is pulling images of different iterations of me from across the multiverse. Sometimes I resemble the "me" me in those other universes, but in still others I'm Black, or Asian, or an Indigenous person, or a woman, or a different species altogether. It appears I even belong to superhero teams in a couple of universes. 

Well, happy birthday, everyone. 

The Last Photo of Dad

Dad died four years ago today. This is the last photo in which he appears, at least that I'm aware of; one of my cousins or aunts or uncles on Mom's side must have taken it, sent it to Mom, who then must have sent it to me. Or maybe my cousin David (seen here between Mom and Dad) sent it. 

The saddest thing about photos of loved ones is that one such photo will be the last, and you likely won't even know it for a while. This photo was shot near Salt Lake, Manitoba, on August 11, 2018. While this was happening, Sylvia and I were with her parents at a dinner theatre show in West Edmonton Mall. A little over a month later, Sylvia and I left the car in Leduc with Mom and Dad just before we flew to New York. Dad's colour was off that day, but at the time we didn't understand the significance of it. 

Just before we returned, Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was gone a few weeks later. At the time, I honestly thought he was going to be okay; I think maybe my brain wasn't allowing any other possibility.  Even when the doctors had to call off the operation that had a chance to save him, I thought they would just try again another day. They didn't; they couldn't. 

So Dad moved on, and all of us miss him. He was a good man. I wish he was still here; for our sake, sure, but more because Dad was still enjoying life and I feel like he had more he wanted to do. 

That's all. 
 

Gil Sleeps Not

Before COVID

Here's a nice image of Sylvia's parents in Mom and Dad's back yard from a few years back. I know it's only been six weeks since much of the world went into self isolation, but scenes like this already seem like they belong to another era. 

Thanksgiving Gourds

What gourds are these?

That lie in wait

For this Thanksgiving dinner plate

An autumn breeze

That westward tacks

These gourds are coated in thick wax

A tough repast

For hungry souls

Feasting on fine dinner rolls

Boxing Day Cheese Tray

Xmas Time Lapse 2015

Saturday Night Yahtzee

In the end I wound up losing the first game but winning the second with a triple Yahtzee. 

Christmas Paper Toss 2014

I hope everyone enjoyed a happy holiday! 

2P or Not 2P With TV

Tonight Sylvia and I accompanied her father, cousin and a friend to the Cactus Club restaurant attached to West Edmonton Mall. The company and the meal were fine, but when I retired to the bathroom to wash the juices from my very messy lettuce-wrapped Thai chicken from I hands, I was stunned to see how well-appointed it was. A luxurious leather easy chair occupied one corner of the loo, but while unusual that's not what really caught my eye. No, the bulk of my attention was drawn to the television monitors place above each urinal, a baseball game unfolding on each screen.

Have we come so far, I wondered, that even during the few seconds it takes to urinate we need to be entertained by the idiot box? I'm a fan of popular culture and television, but honestly - what a waste of resources. It struck me as decadent in the worst sense of the word.

Microsoft Surface Collages

What is this software good for?

Making collages, I guess. But I still don't get it.