A Year in Review! Part 1

You can tell it has been way too long since I last post something in my blog when I can't remember my username or password to access my account. hahaha

So I am going to give you a brief run-down of my year; which is hard to do, since SO much has happened and I have been blessed by so many wonderful events, and have grown in so many different ways.
The last I left you was in the FL Keys working hard to get thru my masters research, and oddly enough right now I am picking right back up in the FL Keys as I am down here a year later!

Well, I left mid-July for home....it was the happiest I have EVER been to come home from anywhere! To see Buffalo, my family, my friends it made me really appreciate what it is like to NOT be stressed out and constantly think science. My stay at home was brief; First was my cousin, Stephen's wedding up in New Hampshire....a quick trip, but it was wonderful to catch up with my Galucki cousins (despite them all calling me the "black cousin" and asking me "Why did you change races?") It was a beautiful wedding, and I had the chance to meet my newest cousin, Kateri (Derek and Bethy's baby)

Stephen and Manesseh's wedding, New Hampshire

No more than a week later, we packed up again and this time drove to Chicago to catch a flight to San Diego for my other cousin, Steven's wedding! We took a bit of time to go to some National Parks (no camping, much to my sorrow).
We first drove to King's Canyon and saw some huge redwood and sequoia trees, and hiked around the forest.

Tree Huggers!

We were able to catch up with my friend, Monika who I met when I went on a mission team to Albania several years ago....it was fantastic to see her and her boyfriend, Shaheen. We spent the day in Napa Valley and toured a few wineries! We got a little lost, but eventually  made our way to Point Reyes National Seashore. It was a windy, chilly and typical misty California shoreline, but it was simply beautiful. I love the rocky shores, the sealions and the lighthouse along the coast. It was just breathtaking.

Shaheen, me, and Monika at Point Reyes

Jammin' at Vladimir's Czech pub!

We headed to dinner, which proved to be one of the highlights of the trip; we went to Vladimir's Czech restaurant; it was as if we stepped into a bar in Europe. The people atmosphere, food, and everything was so foreign haha. The best part was the band of old crooners that played. We danced to their polka-like music and then I had the chance to get up and play with Shaheen on the drums! It was quite the memorable evening.

SO excited to be here!

Me and Tommy

One of the highlights of the trip for me was going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I know Tommy Knowles who is works in husbandry for the jellyfish exhibit, so he got us in through the back and led us around the aquarium on our own private backstage tour. And we got to talk jellyfish. hahah it was pretty neat.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is quite simply the best aquarium I have ever been to. You can easily spend a loooong time there! If you ever get the opportunity to go, I strongly encourage it!


That night was the best sleeping night of the trip; we drove until we made it to Joshua Tree National park. It was probably around 12am when we arrived. Theresa and I slept on the roof of the van. The stars were amazing; even though it was a bit cloudy. It was as close to camping as I could get on that trip.

Best night's sleep on the trip!

Trusty Eleftheri and the pies

We went on a scorching hot hike to an abandon mine in Joshua tree, then started the long drive to San Diego. We stopped in Julian--where Pops and I went on our Daddy-n-me trip ages ago-- just to get some pie! We bought an apple pie at the same little diner we stopped at. The pie was really good.





We made it to San Diego, and a lovely rehearsal dinner, the wedding was the next day and it was absolutely beautiful! Lovely couple, lovely location, and a lot of Greek dancing and a good time!

Me and the broski lookin' spiffy!

It was great to catch up with a lot of the Zulia family, and to celebrate!

Trippy at the museum

I LOVE THE BEACH!

For the remainder of our stay we went to the San Diego Zoo, toured Hollywood, went to the beach (much to my happiness!!!), visited some distant relatives of ours, and went to an art gallery/museum that I found to be boring as all heck. haha John loved it though.

Koalas at the San Diego Zoo

So that was our wonderful family vacation/weddings/brief time I had before....back to KML!!
(all updates I had while in KML the second time around are posted on the Coral spawning 2011 blog that I kept for Mac!)