25 Years of Wedded Bliss for Jeff and Susan

Earlier this evening, two of my oldest friends, Jeff and Susan, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary (following an eight-year engagement)! Sylvia and I were delighted to attend the celebration, reconnecting with some old friends over a scrumptious catered Ukrainian dinner. 

We were delighted to see that our old friends Michael and Naomi showed up for the party, too. 

Squeaky chicken party favours for the win!

Two happy couples!

Three happy couples! (Context: I met Susan, Jeff, and Michael back in 1987 via the University of Alberta Star Trek Club.) 

We also got to meet Susan's lovely Aunt Mary, who we picked up on the way to the event. Plenty of Jeff and Susan's loved ones were there, and we reconnected with Korch, who Sylvia and I met independently before we'd actually met each other. It's a small world after all . . .  

Thanks, Jeff and Susan, for inviting us to this lovely affair, and Sylvia and I both hope that you'll enjoy many, many more loving and happy years together. 

Jumpin' Jasper

Jasper Pizza Place creates really delicious pizza.

On our way home from Sunwapta Falls, Sylvia and I enjoyed a brief stop in Jasper, where we met with our friends Michael and Naomi and their three delightfully rambunctious children, plus some new friends. Great pizza and plate-smashing were enjoyed by all! I've read some articles claiming that social media tools such as blogs and Facebook harm real-life relationships, but in this case social media made a very pleasant get-together possible.

The weather was absolutely perfect for a walk down Jasper's main drag. I scored a couple of sweet tin posters and a wall-mounted Coca-Cola bottle opener. Retro!

Parks Canada does a great job of maintaining Jasper's historic feel. I love little nooks and crannies such as this.

I was delighted when we ran into Jasper's statue. Does anyone but me remember the old Jasper cartoon strip?

Of course there was one strange sight...

Is that...?

Yes, it's a pair of shoes, hanging from a power line in one of Jasper's back alleys. Left there by Spring-Heeled Jasper, no doubt.

Remember Wrong-Way Feldman?

Wrong-Way Feldman, of course, was the famous aviator who made two accidental trips to Gilligan's Island, and failed to rescue the castaways both times. He was an inept navigator.



I was driving down the one-way section of 118th avenue today, returning from a New Year's brunch at Michael and Naomi Snyder's place. And lo and behold...what's this? That 18-wheeler...it's...it's going the wrong way, a la Goggles Paisano! The Amish casserole I'd just eaten gurgled menacingly as I gaped in disbelief.



I gulped as the vehicle bore down upon me, like the malevolent trucker in Duel. Was this the end of Earl J. Woods?



Well, no. As you can see here, the truck was actually being towed backwards.

Settlering Sylvia's Hash

A couple of days ago I picked up The Settlers of Catan and its two expansion sets (Seafarers of Catan and Cities and Knights of Catan). Jeff and Susan introduced us to the game when they came out for Michael Snyder's wedding last year, and since playing again with the geek crew a couple of months ago, I've been jonesing for my own set.

So Syvia and I played a couple of rounds two days ago; I won each game, but by just one point each time: 10-9, 10-9. Building the longest road was key to victory each time, though in the second game I caught a lucky development card, building the market for 1 victory point.

Sylvia's very good at putting together cities, though. I'm a little nervous...

She Married a Scientist from Inner Edmonton

On July 14, my old friends Jeff and Susan Shyluk arrived in Edmonton to help celebrate the nuptials of our mutual friend and University of Alberta Star Trek Club accomplice, Dr. Michael Snyder, a scientist, to the charming and enigmatic Naomi Littlewood.


Susan and Jeff Shyluk

On the fateful morning of the 15th, Jeff and Susan kindly made breakfast for Sylvia and I. Once our morning repast was complete, we dressed up, packed ourselves into Jeff and Susan's rental car, and made our way to Inglewood Park, just a few metres distant from my old apartment complex, Baywood Park.

We headed north on 170th street, stopping for a red light just south of the Mayfield Inn. Crossing the avenue before us was a black van towing an orange two-wheel trailer. The trailer looked a little shaky, and I wondered if it were going to come loose of the van's hitch. No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than it changed from idle speculation to grim reality, and the four of us goggled in slack-jawed wonder as the trailer came free of its moorings, bouncing along behind the van, sparks and chips of asphalt flying.

I wondered if the driver of the van was going to stop. Sure enough, he did, and the careening trailer bounced off a curb and smashed into the van's rear with a deafening screech of metal on metal. A bald, husky, puzzled man emerged from the van, bewilderment filling his eyes as he surveyed the damage to his vehicle.

As a devoted lover of slapstick comedy, I couldn't help but laugh. I suppose it would be more accurate to say that I was cackling, despite the sympathy I genuinely held for the man's predicament. Jeff didn't help matters by saying "Where's the trailer?" over and over again in a "puzzled hick" voice.


Jeff goes YARRRGH!

That bizarre interlude concluded, we finished the journey to Inglewood park. The wedding ceremony was short and sweet, and featured a lovely quote from the cult film The Princess Bride, a touch I appreciated.




Naomi and Michael with their son Elliot

Here's the newly-sealed couple with their strapping young son, flanked by several members of the bridal party.


Michael and Steven Neumann

Here's the groom and our old friend Steven Neumann, Susan's older brother.


Jeff and Susan at the reception


Sylvia and I at the reception

As is usual at these human affairs you Earth people call "weddings," a reception followed the ceremony. Here many carbon units feasted upon the flesh of other carbon units. The flesh was good, far better than you find at most weddings.


Steven sticks his finger in Jeff's ear

Some of the flesh-sampling rituals puzzled me. But they were entertaining. Foolish Earthlings!


Susan and Jeff boogie

Unfortunately, this wedding also included that aggravating human ritual known as "dancing."


Susan and Michael dance


Susan and Michael dance as Jeff looks on


Sylvia and Jeff dance


Sylvia and Earl dance

I was unable to avoid participating.


Susan cuts Jeff in twain


Recognize this pose?

Foolish Earth beings! Your Jedi weapons are no match for the peerless might of me!


University of Alberta Star Trek Club mini-reunion

Gathered here, some of the membership and executive of the University of Alberta Star Trek Club, circa 1987-1991.


University of Alberta Star Trek Club Secret Salute

We hope that Michael and Naomi's marriage is long and prosperous.


A young family begins its journey

The Lens

Michael, Naomi and Elliot think simultaneously, "This is going to end up on Earl's blog, isn't it."

Mini-Michael

Michael Snyder donated his genetic material to create this amusing imitation of Mini-Me of Austin Powers fame.

Malfunction

Michael acts quickly to repair a wardrobe malfunction.

Return to the Cheesecak Cafe

Steven Neumann, Earl Woods, Naomi Littlewood, Elliot, and Dr. Michael Snyder.

Just after writing about the origins of the phrase "Cheesecak Cayfee," none other than the Cheesecak originator himself, Steven Neumann, emailed me to say he'd be in town. So last Thursday, Steven popped over, along with our mutual friend Mike (AKA Dr. Michael Snyder, now a professor at the U of A), his lovely girlfriend Naomi (I didn't catch the last name) and their new offspring, Elliot (didn't catch his last name, either). Appropriately enough, we decided to gather at the Cheesecak. A good time was had by all.