Peter Hoflich

Lucky Zen,he had a lot of parties this week. On the 12th he had his birthday party with friends, and on the 17th the teachers in school organised a performance. No costumes like last year’s performance, but the kids had fun. For Zen’s birthday party on the 12th, it was very simple – the kids came at noon, ate, played with trains, and had a great time. After that I took Zen to his swimming, and then off we went see the Malaysia train. Happy, happy day.

This weekend was pretty good. I took Zen to the Science Centre, but to my dismay I’ve noticed more construction to renovate one of the big chambers while some of the old exhibits are in disrepair or out of order. Lousy. I don’t think I’ll be renewing my membership this year. Went to see the Malaysia train in the evening, and Zen got a new swimsuit, although since he is coughing he won’t be using it for quite some time. Sunday I edited another DVD, then we all went downtown to get some food in Chinatown. Yummy food, classy place, good service. Very nice.

Small fries with the french fries. That is lion’s head-shaped tomato rice there too.

Zen with friends (and cake)

Zen with famly (and cake)

At the performance: “I can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow too…”

Zen with classmate Kai and some of his teachers

New swimming gear!

New guitar!

Zen’s getting into the whole band thing now with his drums…

Last Christmas I made another book for Zen (or was that two years ago?). Starfish and Coffee, from the Prince song. Here are scans of the pages:

It was 7:45, we were all in line, to greet the teacher Miss Kathleen

First was Kevin, then came Lucy, third in line was me.

All of us were ordinary compared to Cynthia Rose. She always stood at the back of the line, a smile beneath her nose.

Her favorite number was 20, and every single day if you asked her what she had for breakfast, this is what she’d say:

Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam.

Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine, and a side order of ham.

If you set your mind free baby, maybe you’d understand. Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and ham.

Cynthia wore the prettiest dress with different colored socks. Sometimes I wondered if the mates were in her lunchbox…

Me and Lucy opened it when Cynthia wasn’t around. Lucy cried, I almost died, do you know what we found?

Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam, butterscotch clouds, a tangerine, a side order of ham. If you set your mind free baby, maybe you’d understand. Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam.

Cynthia had a happy face just like the one she’d draw on every wall, in every school. But it’s all right, it’s for a worthy cause. Go on Cynthia, keep singing!

Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam, butterscotch clouds, a tangerine, a side order of ham. If you set your mind free baby, maybe you’d understand. Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam. Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam, butterscotch clouds, a tangerine, a side order of ham. If you set your mind free baby, maybe you’d understand. Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam. …

last Christmas I made a book for Zen called “the Crazy Adventures of Zen and Stimpy.” Of course, it’s not too hard to guess who inspired it. Here are scans of the pages.

P.1
IN THE BEGINNING:
Stimpy: Duhh… Zen, do you like my nose?
Zen: Yes, it’s so stinky! Poot poot…

P.2-3
Zen: I can jump so high!!
Stimpy: Duhh… are you a frog?
Zen: No – I’m Zen!

Stimpy: Hey Zen, nice wheels!
Zen: Go away!

P.4-5
Stimpy: Oh no – there’s two Zens!
Zen: Yes – and two Stimpys!! Hey! It’s not Stimpy! It’s a big dinosaur!!
Dinosaur: ROAR!!

P.6-7
Stimpy: Hey, where’s my car:
Zen: I ate you car – poot pot!
Stimpy: Oh – you’re a naughty boy!
Zen: No – you are!
No you are! No YOU are! No YOU ARE! NO YOU ARE!! etc.

Stimpy: Hey – why are you touching my nose?
Zen: Because it’s so stinky!!

P.8
Zen: Hey Stimpy – what are you looking at:
Stimpy: D’uhh… I’m just looking at…
…the END

Today was Zen’s fifth birthday. He woke up this morning early, very excited. Then he had his breakfast, I went off to get the cake for his school birthday party at 7:30, then back home to shower and get Naoko and Zen and go off to work. Whew! Zen had a birthday party at school and ate the cake and gave out goody bags to the kids. Meanwhile I had a pretty busy day at work, but left early at 5:30 to fetch Zen’s bicycle from the shop I bought it from. I got it home, but left it waiting in the entrance area while I went in, ate dinner, had dessert. Naoko took Zen to wash his hands, then I snuck outside and waited with the video camera. I rang the doorbell, and Zen came out and discovered his bicycle. He wasn’t so excited, just kind of checking it out, but he climbed aboard and rode around a bit. It has training wheels, but is a bit big for him so he has a bit of trouble managing. Maybe we should have gotten him something more manageable… Oh well, I think that’s how it was when I was a kid too. Then we went for a spin around the neighbourhood, and when we got back there were a few more presents scattered around the house. He got a few train set parts from his grandparents in Canada, and also from them a big train turntable with five train sheds for his train set, perfect. He also got from us a train colouring book, fun stuff for him. Zen played with his new train stuff, took a shower, then went to sleep on his own. Now that the’s five years old, he will start doing that on his own – we’d been going to sleep next to him this whole time, he was scared (he said) to sleep alone, but now he seems to be ready. Got calls from both sets of grandparents today, and also from my brother Ralph. Thanks for thinking of the day, guys…

Zen and his classmates pose with his Power Ranger cake.

Zen and Naoko ready for dinner.

Zen and his new bike

Peter and Zen’s new bike