The Ejaz's

We hide it well from the outside world; the insanity. I don't think it's any coincidence that I married a future psychiatrist (T minus 2 months, 3 days). We are weird.
When you're a family of 7 living in a small town you're bound to get a reputation. Luckily, the Ejaz children had it pretty good in the 'heads. If you happened to meet or know"An Ejaz" as we were referred to, you could assume that they were an A+ student, had never seen the inside of a detention room, participated in an assortment of extra-curricular activities and community service, and could talk about the benefits of hawthorn berries and B-12 in a diet. All-around good kids. This is the face we showed to the world. What happened behind the doors of our Oriole Dr. home was not what you would expect. We were nuts.
It started off innocent enough. We'd play together doing things I assume most other kids did. We'd play house and school. We'd build tents and forts out of blankets and the dining room chairs. We'd slide down the carpeted stairs in a sleeping bag (still super-fun). Kid stuff.
I'm not sure when things changed, but they did. We developed our own voice. It sounds kinda like a cross between a toddler and Elmo. After the voice came the language with words like "poosta" (pasta) and "ocher" (o.k.) Oh, there's more. We developed characters. In our world have "Cenupy" (the centipede), "Bobay" (the baby), "No-Name" (the one w/o a name), "James" (the grandma), "G-Per" (the grandpa), "Nonay" (the Nanny), and "Bobay Nal " (baby Neal). I won't go into who's who ,how these characters developed and their relationship to one another because, well, even I'm in amazement as to how crazy it really is.
Anyway, three of the kids are now in their twenties and the other two are teenagers. There is no end in sight. The following pictures really don't need any explanations. They're just a peek into what it really means to be "An Ejaz".

Sunny California

There’s nothing more I love than a vacation. I will forgo coffee, chocolate, and sparklies---uh, within reason of course, for sand and sun. Riz knows this which is why he scored major points when he surprised me with a trip to Southern California. More on that later.

I grew up in a house where vacations were tres important. I’m not sure it was ever a vacation for my parents with their 5 kids in tow, but they made it a point to take us somewhere every summer.

Some years we went all out, flying to Cancun, Puerto Rico, and the like. Some years we all piled in the mini-van and headed to Virginia or Myrtle Beach. It seems like we’d plan and prep all spring for these vacations. I vividly recall the week before the vacation being almost as wonderful as actually being there. This was the week when we went shopping with mom for all the essentials. We’d get new beach towels, flip-flops, and sunglasses. The planning got my mom in a great mood and she’d even spring for snacks like Pringles and General Mills variety pack cereal boxes. (If you know anything about my mom, you know how huge a deal this was for us kids.)

Everything was so exciting; the careful packing of the new bathing suit in my own pink and purple suitcase, my dad letting me be in charge of the family’s airline tickets, day-dreaming of becoming a flight attendant and thinking it the most glamorous job a girl could have….

When we got married, Riz joined in. After accepting most of our Brady Bunch eccentricities, this tradition I feel was pretty palatable. Our first vacation after our honeymoon was to a trip Acapulco. The following year we went to Barbados. The third year Riz informed me that his final med-school year wouldn’t allow for any vacation time...........

This was not ok. Med school, schmed school. I began to (not so subtly) hint at a vacation at least once a week. “Wow…it sure is cold…you know what would be great?”

Then one Sunday in January, Riz surprised me with a vacation to San Diego. My head starting spinning with millions of thoughts all of which he had already taken care of. Work had known for weeks. We’d flying back to Buffalo (we were in NYC), pack, and then fly out to San Diego. There was a list of beaches to see, places to eat, and where to find the best coffee. Impressive.

We had a terrific time.

Turned out I didn’t have to forgo coffee or chocolate.
In San Diego’s Gas Lamp District we visited the Ghirardelli Sundae Shop.

Between the two of us we couldn't finish this.

I also had my fill of sparklies

















A morning walk on Mission Beach

Hotel Coronado where Some Like it Hot was filmed (ah...the AP English "summer films" list)

Here's a house on Laguna Beach Riz and I were considering purchasing. Then we decided to pass. It was really a little small and the front yard was just full of sand.

Enjoying the view in Laguna

We took a day trip to L.A.

Riz had to drive three times around this busy Beverly Hills block for me to get this shot. It was totally worth the effort to present Sameena with a pic of her Blow Out idol's salon.

Sunset in La Jolla.


Like all good things, our time in the city where it seems it never rains was too short. Cheers to you, Pika, for pulling it off. This vacation is already one of my favorite memories and ranks right up there with Sour Cream Pringles.

Treat Yourself

With three cold/snow days in only the past two weeks, I've been feeling a little (ok, more than a little) drab. It seems my days have been just a series of efforts to avoid the weather. I'll be the first to admit that I'm vain but when it's this cold, even I stop caring. I've been all about my clunky, waterproof boots and "sleeping bag" coat. And in my determination to stay in my warm bed as long as possible each morning, beauty has taken a back-seat in a major way.

Last weekend I treated myself to an at-home facial. Besides leaving my Buffalo-beaten skin hydrated and super-smooth, I had to purchase very little. Most of the stuff you need you probably already have at home. It's pretty fabulous. Now only if I can find someone to do it for me next time...

CLEANSE. A warmed mixture of 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk and several drops of olive oil is great for cleaning and soothing most types of dry skin: Milk gently removes dirt and makeup, and olive oil is an exceptional moisturizer. Wash your hands to avoid transferring bacteria or dirt, then warm the cleanser by working it between your palms. Gently massage it into your skin, distributing evenly using sweeping, circular movements. (This will also stimulate circulation.) Remove with warm water, splashing upward until you've flushed out the pores.
EXFOLIATE. Dead cells, which clog pores and flake, can make skin look dull and patchy. To concoct your own exfoliant: Mix 1/2 cup dry oatmeal, 3 tablespoons almond oil, 1 tablespoon finely ground sea salt (or cornmeal for more sensitive skin) and 1/4 teaspoon fresh mint with enough warm water to form a paste. Dampen your skin, then use gentle circular movements to apply the paste, avoiding the eye area. Rinse. Repeat only once or twice a month, and don't exfoliate if your skin is irritated or broken out.
TONE. An often overlooked but necessary step, toning removes cleanser residue and refreshes the skin. It also creates a base coat for your moisturizer, which is easier to work into damp skin. For a stimulating toner, mix one part witch hazel with two parts rose or orange-blossom water. Witch hazel's antiseptic properties combat blemishes without causing the skin to become dry or flaky; rose water stimulates circulation; and orange-blossom water helps balance the skin's pH. Using 100 percent cotton pads, sweep the solution across your face and neck until the cotton shows no residue. Remember to include the jawline, where breakouts are common.

STEAM. Steaming, which helps open pores, primes the skin for deep cleaning. In a large pot, boil 1 quart of distilled water. Next, infuse the water by wrapping fragrant herbs of your choice (chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender) in gauze or cheesecloth, lowering the heat, and placing the cloth in the pot for five minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and set it on a protected surface. Apply a light layer of almond or sesame oil to the face (this acts as a buffer, protecting your skin from the heat), then bend over the pot, tenting a clean towel over your head to catch the steam. (Be careful not to get too close.) Stay there five minutes, then pat dry.

MASK. Masks serve multiple purposes in a comprehensive facial: They deep-clean, stimulate circulation, remove dead skin and hydrate. Oily or blemished skin responds well to an application of a paste made of Fuller's Earth (clay) and mineral water. Avoid the eye area while applying and let the mask set until nearly dry. Then rinse thoroughly with warm water. To hydrate drier skin, use a mix of 1 egg yolk, 1 tablespoon honey and a few drops of safflower oil. Or, to get that firm Academy Awards texture (sans Botox), apply 2 egg whites to tighten pores, followed by an application of plain yogurt to brighten the complexion.

MASSAGE. To soothe the skin in the last phase of the facial, a moisturizer should be massaged into the skin. Put a generous amount on your hands and work them together to warm up the cream. Concentrate on areas where muscles are overworked: cheeks, mouth, forehead and around the eyes. Once the lotion is completely absorbed and it becomes more difficult for the fingertips to slip across the skin, blot off any excess with a tissue, and you're done.
Diana L. Carswell, washingtonpost.com

At least it's not Christmas in July.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Wait, it's January 28th... Oh well, better late than never I always..always say. As always, Tahera and I spent Christmas in Horseheads, NY celebrating the pagan holiday with our families.






















Here's a wonderful shot of Mom P. getting a necklace from her hubby.



















And here's a good one of Dad P. and his new yellow shirt. Though the neck size is a little big, the "room to grow in" philosophy has seen a resurgence ever since grandchildren entered the picture.























Having two families in the same hometown may seem like stroke of good fortune for a married couple. But as some of our friends can attest, it also leads to the perpetual challenge of trying to decide how to divvy up the time amongst different relatives while we're in town. As has become a bit of a tradition in its own right, In the evening before the 25th, the Parvez's do Christmachanakwanzakaa'l Fitr (aka "Giftsmas"). The Ejaz's set the the celebration for the morning of the 25th after we return back from our Arctic League deliveries (after catching a few Z's, of course). Here's a nice picture of the Ejaz family giftsmas tree in full regalia. While many of the young Ejaz's have ventured off into the world (well, ventured off to Buffalo, at any rate.), Medina is still there full time to make sure the rite of the giftsmas tree is observed. Once she does move off to college (just 4+ years away!) we'll see if the Ejaz's don't go the Parvez route and..erm... "spare" the tree.

















(Tahera insisted that this picture be put in.) I tend to look at Giftsmas as the one time of the year I should get off my duff and really try to be creative with something. Since I'm sure as hell not going to whittle her a present, I figure I should at least try to do something interesting with the wrapping. This year I got her a skirt from Bennetton. Their gift box had a snowman with red scarf on the lid, giving me the inspiration for this year's wrap. I figured it'd be a subtle hint of what was awaiting inside. While I was busy doing this, Tahera wrapped everyone else's presents. Though she didn't know it was going to work out that way, I figure it's a pretty good deal, as my creativity is pretty much shot after about 1 package.






















This year, Sameena got the unofficial award for best reaction to a present. T and I picked out a M.A.C. and eyeliner for her, knowing her love of cosmetics. Upon flipping open the lid to the package, she began laughing diabolically. "Muuhuahuahua!" We've decided that brush will play a role in a future attempt by her to take over the world. She was later seen petting the brush lovingly, as if it were Mr. Bigglesworth.

















Of course it wouldn't be a holiday on Horseheads if weirdness didn't ensue. We probably have a mountain of photos like this one.





This year, Tahera and I put together a photo slideshow for everyone. Unlike prior attempts at this sort of endeavor, this time we were a little more judicious with our background music choices. Sorry Kelis, you'll get no airtime from Riz and T this holiday season.


















Thanks for checking in repeatedly and giving us friendly reminders about updates everyone. It's you, our loyal fans who keep us motivated to consistently post about the wonderful happenings here in Western NY. It's a new year, and we still have plenty of fun posts to share with you guys. Check in again soon for...well probably this post. But check in again a little while after that for some other really interesting stuff!

You waited a month and a half to post this??

Holy cow it's been a long time since we've posted. As in terms of a brief update, I am writing from Boston, MA in the midst of my "hell week" on the interview trail. Over the course of the last 4 days I've been to 3 programs, and will be interviewing in some way shape or form for the next 3 days as well. You certainly get to see a lot, but my answers to recurrent questions (why do you want to be a psychiatrist? you did research in WHAT??) are beginning to sound a wee bit rehearsed. I should comment a bit more fully on the whole process, but currently am planning to err on the side of discretion, lest I get dooced. At any rate, I'm enjoying the process of seeing new cities and learning how different places get the training done.
I am also learning about what it's like to be a guest at somebody's place for an extended period of time. Last week I found myself in Baltimore, MD for a few interviews. I had a great time while I was there and was lucky enough to land a place to crash for the entire week with a friend of a friend. Myself and Chris Tjoa stayed with one of his friends from high school who now works in Baltimore. In exchange for the rent free living, Tjoa fixed his furnace and installed a digital thermostat, we fixed all of his broken light fixtures and winter-sealed his downstairs windows. While it's true that fish and company stink after 3 days, I think those guys wouldn't have minded if we stayed long enough to winterproof the rest of their house. Hell, long enough and we probably would've found a way to finish their basement. I had a great time sleeping on a air-mattress on a 2nd story landing for a week (thank you, Ozark Trail!)and only had to contend with one small problem. The 2nd story landing had connections to the bedrooms of our host's 2 roommates, one of whom had a girlfriend. Also, said bedrooms had thin, thin walls. Holy cow, you'd think that guy had been on a submarine for the last 3 months. Anyway, 'nuff said. I also got the opportunity to see what other folks had found on that darling of the internet, YouTube. So without further ado, I give you the irrefutable proof that you need go no further than the local news to get all your laughs. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Bubb Rubb, and Lil' Sis. Woo WOOOOOO!



(p.s. I love the part where he nearly wrecks the car then blows the stop sign. yeah Oakland. YEAH.)

Ella the Sneak

Posting has taken a back burner lately here at Elmwood and North, primarily because I'm busy studying for the USMLE step II. I've decided to *attempt* to make a video of the Interview trail leading upto Match Day at the end of March, when I'll find out where I'll be spending the next 4+ years. I'll comment more on that if the project ever really gets off the ground. As for now the project has been going pretty well. Below you'll find a short clip that was intended to serve as some footage of myself studying for step II. More specifically, I'm taking a timed test online. What's interesting however, is how sneaky Ella can be when she knows no one is looking. Ever since we adopted our little furry pet as a kitten, we've been pretty rock-solid in enforcing a "no tables, no counters" rule for her. I'm 100% confident that she knows that she's not supposed to be on the dining table. I'm also 100% confident that she's a sneak. I submit the following video as irrefutable proof of both. Witness how she stops and scrutinizes me before hopping off the table and trotting away as if nothing happened. She's gauging just how much more she can get away with without being caught. Oh yes Ella, the camera never blinks. I'm on to you now.

Freaky Friday

Aww look, snowflakes! Yeah, they're cute, 'till they start ganging up on you. What the &$%#! This is a picture from the evening on OCTOBER 12th! Sure, some flurries in October are nothing new. Maybe even a dusting to an inch. But what transpired after this picture was something else all together. We had ourselves a honey of an October storm, people. I'm talking Biblical. Late the evening this photo was taken, Tahera and I ventured off to bed, marveling at the fact that the snow had actually managed to start "sticking" to the ground. But as we lay in bed trying to sleep, all sorts of ominous sounds filled our senses. First there were the frequent flashes of lightning and immediate booms of thunder, not so peculiar per se, but in the midst of an early October snowstorm? Oh yes...Freaky. But not as much as the popping sounds of branches and the siren call of fire-detectors going off as the power kept tripping off and returning. But last of all came the focal, flare like burst of blue-white light that came from outside the window as a power-line snapped loose under a falling tree branch. Oh yes folks, there are cute snowflakes, then there are Evil Swarming Snowflakes From Hell! We knew the morning would bring us some interesting sights, (if we made it through the night, that is....)

Here's a fellow Buffalonian's video from the overnight.

When morning came we awoke to an unimaginably thick blanket of snow (news reports have claimed some places received +18") Friday the 13th indeed. Tahera and I noticed this young tree bowing under the weight of the snow as it first began to accumulate overnight. From the repeated power outages setting off the smoke detectors and waking us up, we knew there had to be some branches giving way under all the added load. As we looked outside that morning we saw this. But even then, we were in for a surprise at how much damage there actually was.. 

Much bigger trees also couldn't withstand the stress. The leaves, acting like so many baskets served to catch untold pounds of the heavy, wet snow. Other people reported fully grown trees splitting completely in half due to the weight. As people began to venture out (ignoring the driving ban), it became apparent just how much damage the storm had done. In all honesty it looked like no tree was spared at least some damage. Branches littered every lawn and each street we passed.  

This is probably one of the most amazing scenes I saw after the storm. The white car on the right was surrounded huge fallen branches, but didn't have a scratch on it! Contrast that with....

This unlucky bloke, who was parked right behind the white car and got nailed. Oh yeah, the back window of the car was smashed in as well, and the car was full of snow. Today it sits on the side of the road, covered by a blue tarp. man that sucks.

Of course, every cloud does have a silver lining. As a result of all the destruction, 300,000+ Buffalonians were left without power (T and I lucked out). Amongst the unfortunate were both Aziza and Sameena, sharing an apartment in near UB's North Campus in Amherst. As their apartment has an uncanny ability to remain 5-10 degrees below the outside temperature, and National Grid estimates full power won't be restored until as late as Wednesday of next week, it was fixing to be a pretty miserable experience for them. Through the incredible generosity of T and I's neighbors, we were able to shovel out her car from the snow 3 times as it got stuck trying to pull out of our driveway, put it back into it's parking space, and take one of their SUV's to go pick Tahera's sisters up. Welcome houseguests!

The cool thing about having Tahera's sisters over is they only feed of one another's silliness. See below for a video of what happens when Dead or Alive start's a-playin.  

As the 3 girls got bored, they also become more bizzare. I began prompting expressions from them as I took pictures: The "motivation" for this picture was me yelling, "What'dchu say to my sister?" Certainly as the power continues to remain off in Sameena and Aziza's apartment, things are bound to only become more and more silly here in ours...

My Bag of Tricks

Yes!!! Long time no post. Thanks for the inspiration S. Whatever the season, my bag/tote needs to be big enough to hold my life. I can't remember exactly when I started carrying a bag which is disturbing to me because I remember every outfit I've worn on the first day of school since 4th grade. How did I go anywhere without that familiar weight on my right shoulder? And what in the world did I stash with all that stuff??? Though its’ contents would be useless in an emergency situation (no pepper spray, alarms, first aid kit, important phone numbers), it strangely makes me feel safe. Stupid girl. So….. what’s in there?

-Wallet from a shopping excursion (masked as a “medical conference” w/ Nader) in Philly. Nothing good in there. License, gift cards with values around 86 cents, first aid and CPR card, no cash, coffee punch cards.

-Sunglasses…always in case when not in use (last year’s anniversary gift)

-Lens cleaner and cloth

-My little “T” notebook (not the tech-y type) and pen for grocery lists, reminders, and random “I should really get around to…” lists (wedding album..ahem. S, can I just give you like a hundred billion dollars to do it?)

- Reminder appointment card to visit the orthodontist (today) which also would explain the mini bottle of mouthwash and the x-mas tree tooth brush in the travel case. HATE braces.

-Keys

-Breakfast bar

- New BNL album. Fab.

-Black headband (for an attempt at quick and chic)

- A bag of jewelry???? I don’t know. I never leave myself enough time in the morning for those finishing touches so I bring my favorites with me.

- Tinted lip gloss

- Cell phone

- The Diary of a Madman and Other Stories by Nikolai Gogol on loan from Ziza. Yay for Russian lit.

So what does that say about me? Unfortunately my friends are apparently even less tech-y tech-y than I (imagine that) as none have jumped on the blogger-wagon and all siblings are the face book types (whatever) which leaves no one juicy to tag. Miss Mina? No? Ok…. Soon enough. 

On Smoking, Solitude, and Crunchy Peanut Butter

I spent a number of years in Albany living by myself, and was happy with it. As a matter of fact, prior to the departure of my housemate (and older brother, Mr. Slapdash), I looked forward to having full run of the place.
I had it all planned out in my head for months before he left. I'd move into the bigger bedroom, arrange the couches downstairs just how I wanted, (paying homage to the TV, of course) and most importantly, I'd get a pedastal ashtray like John Odorisio and properly abolish the smoking ban from the premesis with a good old fashioned beer-and-cigarettes get together.
Alas, just weeks before he left, I saw The Insider. As a result, I developed a sense of self preservation and quit smoking. Truth be told, the couch layout turned out to work best the way Osman had it originally, so it went back that way. At least I got the big bedroom.
Nonetheless, I began to enjoy the isolation. I grew accustomed to the conveniences that came with the absence of another person sharing my living space. Home became my own private sensory deprivation tank. Sweet silence. Solitude. Solace. I found myself having a shorter and shorter fuse when it came to human interaction. When I had to go to campus and ran into some random schmoe from a class, I'd rapidly come to the point where I'd be thinking, Damn it, I don't want to chat with you for another minute. They'd keep talking, and I'd start to just hear a test pattern in place of their voice. I can't wait to get home. Away from these people. . I was far more content to just explore my thoughts, uninterrupted.
The one exception to this aversion was Tahera. Through all my years living alone, the daily phone chatter was a constant. Sharing with her, a basic need. She was my other self, connected to me by hundreds of miles of telephone line. In fact, she had always, always been that. Even in the beginning, with her in High School, talking on a portable phone until the battery died.
Like one who finds themselves blind and heightens their other senses to compensate, we learned the subtle nuances of each others tone, inflection, and pause. I could hear it when her eyebrows were up. I could feel it through the static when she was pensive. The bond was so close, so pervasive that she wasn't like a virtual roommate, but rather a continual double-take for anything that I'd experience... Just me looking, and me looking again.
Our bond grew closer as the years went on and continued that steady course even after we were married. It wasn't as much of a transition as I'd expected when we began our married life under one roof. I was so incredibly comfortable with her; with her central place in my life. I didn't miss the quiet house. I didn't miss the autonomy. I accepted the change from one-alone to one-plus-one absolutely. Even when we'd argue (often) about dishes or her being the "cleanliness gestapo" or me the ever-aloof pig. Even when we stocked the shelves with herbals and natural foods. Even when Pepsi disappeared and a cache of 'pika's chocolate' emerged. Even when braces were donned and crunchy peanut-butter had to go. Even when acoustically optimal speaker arrangements had to be compromised. I never ever longed for those former years of isolation.
So now, I find myself 1 week into a 2 month odyssey through New England as part of my education. Back to being one-alone. This first week in Worcester has been one of unpacking, working and otherwise settling. I've gotten my bearings here in town and have developed as much of a routine as my ever-changing shift schedule will allow me. Necessities such as those must be taken care of before one can fully reflect on their situation. Now that I know the business of settling has been done, I can finally talk about this state I'm in.
This evening as I scurried through the ER witnessing people whose day-to-day lives have been interrupted by life itself, I found myself accompanied by Death Cab for Cutie singing about the hospital and the lives that end there. I thought of how alone patients (formerly just people) must feel when they're surrounded by us, the workers. We forget that the familiar department in which we spend the better part of each day is an alien world to those people confined to the beds. I kept hearing the song in my head, and I kept seeing patients; thinking about how this place must make them feel alone. Then I thought about how I'm alone right now.
It's a lot like it was in college. I go to work, and do my work thing. I then come home, settle in with the computer and do other work, check mail or just decompress. I haven't spoken to anyone for the last 4 hours and haven't even really noticed. I've let my mind wander and have had the time and absence of interruption to really let it go wherever it wants to. The only constraints are the ones I've put on myself by deciding I'm going to try and make a coherent blog entry.
It's 4 a.m. and I'm 4 days into a marathon streak of "swing shifts" which run from 4pm-12am. I've adjusted to the phase change as completely as I had when I was working in Albany to buy an engagement ring. I haven't had a friendly conversation with a single person who isn't somehow related to the hospital, school, and my grades.
Except of course, Tahera. Each day we find time to reconnect through that old familiar static. The phone conversations aren't how they used to be because of all the other things we both have to do. Her schedule and mine don't coincide well, so 10 minutes a day is about as well as we can fare. We haven't been "blind" like this since we've been married, and it's clear that we're still getting the rust off. I've said "I miss you" so much that it's officially become meaningless. I keep saying it.
I think we'll get back to how it was when I was in Albany. When that happens, she'll see how much I miss her right through the phone, and that picture's worth a whole thousand times saying it. Until then I'll just say I'm feeling sad music more than I have in years and the extra-crunchy Jiff I bought tonight after work hasn't made me feel any better.

My Kids

I have 20 kids. Okay, they're not actually mine but Shortie and I refer to them as "our kids". Shortie and I have been friends since the 5th grade. We've done everything together. We founded a club called AAA together. We didn't know there was already an AAA and had we known it probably wouldn't have mattered. Our AAA was the "All Against Alison" club. Along with couple other select 5th graders, we would meet once a week to share in our hatred for our classmate (who really shouldn't have been our classmate 'cause she failed like 10 times), Alison. I know. We were mean girls. But she had it coming. I don't know what she did but it must have been awful to necessitate weekly meeting minutes dutifully recorded in the AAA notebook. TOP SECRET. 15 years later we're neighbors in Buffalo and we work together. We're still working on one day living next door to one another and having water slides from each of our bedroom windows that lead to a super cool pool. Anyhow, I digress.
Our kids are hilarious. They are 6-9th grade Buffalo Public School students enrolled in a NYSED funded after-school and summer program. These kids are something else. I don't know how many " yous guys" and " I seen yous" I've corrected. At least several hundred. But they will call you out instantly if you slip up. I had a royal slip up in April. The last week of April is national tv turn-off week and I wanted all the kids to participate. I got up in front of the class and explained the rules: no tv, no computer, no movies, no video games, no play boy..........Did I just say what I think I said? Maybe they won't notice. Cue uncontrollable laughter. Shit. I meant game boy. No playing game boy. It's 4 months later and whenever someone brings it up the rest of them are soon rolling on the floor. They still say "yous". Sigh. I do love them though. Today was probably one of funniest days yet. The girls in the program are working on a Travel-Savvy themed curriculum this summer. Over the past two days they've been creating their own country. I gave them complete creative control. They could be princesses, presidents, czarinas, whatever. They could decide who lived in their country, what the weather was like, what the customs were, what buildings there were, etc. I decided to create my own country along with them. Today we did a little show and tell. All of the kids went, then Shortie, then me. I held up my colored pencil drawing and began describing my country "Island T". There is a lovely mansion protected by a grand iron gate with a disproportionatley large porch just meant for sitting under shade and drinking lemonade. There's a spa just steps away from the house. In the middle of the "T" is a great city where it's perpetually night-time so you can always see the city lights. Only 2 people live on this island, me and Johnny Depp. Hey, it's my country. At that point one of girls stopped me and asked very sincerely: "On your anniversary will Johnny Depp dress up like Captain Sparrow for you?" I had nothing. What could I say? It was my turn to laugh. I love them.