Merry, Happy etc

TOKYO FRIEND PARK 2

I’ve discovered a goofy Japanese TV game show called Tokyo Friend Park 2, which I believe is on the national broadcasting system NHK. The show puts contestants competing together in a number of physically challenging tests like jumping onto a velcro wall, air hockey, as well as a trivia portion to the game, where the contestants must answer while riding stationary bikes. At the end, the contestants throw darts into a spinning wheel with prize names on them.
Sometimes there are celebrity guests and it can get really exciting.

I can’t understand a lick they are saying, but it’s fine, quality programming!
Good stuff!

My Mailing Address and a Postcard contest

Due to the flood of calls, e-mails and letters (actually two e-mails and a letter addressed to “Occupant”), I am providing my mailing address in Japan.

Zaldie Jess Zalameda
c/o Bowers English School
4071-2 Hosoe
Makinohara City, Shizuoka-ken
421-0421 JAPAN

Because of my deep concerns that some of you may want to send me something, but need more information, here are my particulars. They might come in handy:

My birfday is on May 14
My shoe sizes are 7 ½ (N America), 41 (Euro), 25.5 (Japan)
My favorite colour is “back on the chain-gang”green (it’s the new “Chevy Nova-monkey-shit” brown)
My hat size is “just smaller than a big cabbage”

And I’m holding a contest on who can send me the coolest postcard.

Just for those who don’t know nuffin’, I am still collecting postcards (I still have around 300 in a box somewhere in Canada).

Some past postcard standouts have been:

• a postcard of Billy Dee Williams circa Lando Calrissian (Matt Clark, producer)
• an Italian promo postcard of Desperately Seeking Susan (Todd Atkin, producer)
• a postcard in the shape of a NYC diner breakfast (Paul Lahey, producer)
• a groovy John Cassavetes (actually, I bought that).

Well you get the idea.

The top five winners will receive a genuine ZALAMEDA hug.. And if Yanela Perez-Brown wins, I’ll send my whole damn family to hug ‘em!

Ready. Set. Go.

Top 10 things I will miss about not being home for the Holidays

Something hit me this weekend after puting the lights onto the Bowers' Christmas tree: It is quickly approaching the holiday season.

In recent years, I've spent many a holiday away from home, and as much as I loath the cultural eye-sore most of the season has become, I can't help but feel the pull of sentiment at this time of year.

So, in honour of yet another Christmas away from home, I dedicate this top ten list to my cousin Mechelle Ramos who has been living in Taiwan for the past few years.

Top 10 things I will miss about not being home for the Holidays:

10. Going to Kensington Market with my brothers, in the attempt to trade our sister in for a very cool leather jacket.

9. #19A at Saigon Palace

8. The frost bitten toes and runny nose I get when I go skating at Nathan Philip Square.

7. Playing poker with our dad, as he makes up the rules as we go along.

6. The nine hour drive so we can hangout in places with names like Octobar, Grey Rocks and Le Shack.

5. “I love the smell of road salt in the morning...”

4. Auntie Meesh, is it midnight yet?

3. “Hey mom, we’re just gonna walk the dog.”

2. “But we don’t have a dog!”

1. Daniel, Gabriel, Teresa, Justin, Meghan and Ethan.

Photo of Baby Ethan

Welcome to the world -- Ethan Samuel Ramos
He's totally got the Ramos nose!