Born in the USA (it really was my birthday)

 oooo flowers

 The Greek Entourage

 The all-American classics

 beautiful cake

 A bit of Greek flair

 lot of catching up to do

 a bit more Americana

 Simos looking content

 How are your red pants Josh?

 Fire building master-class

 one of my famous roller-blading lessons

 Tourism in Cleveland

 Georgia choosing her songs ever so carefully

 I was never good at video games

Walking down the main drag in Pisa.

Another successful trip home.  Eleftheria, Georgia, Simos, and I  made the trip together.  NYC first, then camp with Keith, Medina/Cleveland/Akron, Niagara Falls, and a final stop back in Ohio.  On the way home we had a long (too long) lay over in Pisa, where the weather was too hot to enjoy the interesting history.

Mom and Megan threw a wonderful Wedding celebration, and we would like to take a minute and thank everyone for their company for the day; it was so nice to see you all.  

*most photos above were shot by Georgia, thank you.

A Bit of Travel and Such

just a few shots from the travels and excitement of the last few weeks.  this is just a taste; i have lots.  these ones all happen to be mine; however, i suppose that in the near future i will post some of my brothers' and father's .

mosquito island was very fun

 leanna striking a pose as if she expected cameras to be around

 i hope apollo didn't have to fly through that gate with the sun; a bit small

 i will recommend an acropolis toupee for dad, looks good.

 as i have said since the first posts on this blog, just a big layer cake, the oldest layer just happens to be on top in this picture. 

mom always seems to find her friends.  

A Bit of a Personal Touch

Yep, not bad for an hour from my house.  I enjoy living in Greece cause there are so many different landscapes.  I have said that before, but it remains true.  Olympus with blue skies and a snow cap.

 Sunflowers are her favorite . . .

 You can tell by the smile.

 we used our ikea gift cards.  should make for a great place to sit for the summer.

that is a bougenvilea in the corner.  not only have we not killed it yet, it actually has new buds since we bought it.  very exciting.  

bit of a random church procession in the rain.  i am always enamored by these kinds of things because they are so different from anything that happens where i am from.  

 eleftheria and i went to a βάφτιση (christening) for the baby of a friend of ours.  it was beautifully set, if not a little hot, in a large park behind thessaloniki.

i have to admit i was a bit confused whether it would be an actual christening, or a ritual lawn mower start,  but then the baby was dunked, laughing the whole time. so, christening it was.  

i haven't posted anything very personal recently.  admittedly, i have been super busy and not taking a lot of pictures, but there really is not much new either.  eleftheria and i are busy, school has been crazy, and i have been overly tired.  

thankfully, four more days of school and then the summer of changes, travel, and excitement begins.

Fun JPGs

i was recently sent these two jpgs from a couple of students.  just thought i would share.

Couple of Videos to See

 Have fun. i really enjoyed this.



i have shared videos from this youtube channel before, vsauce. please put up with the host during the first video, he is a bit annoying in the start video. watch the playlist. i think that if i wasn't a teacher, i would have been a developmental psychologist. i find it amazing how the brain does and does not work. i hope you enjoy and find some time to relax and watch.

Pictures Galore!!!

no particular order, covering 3 months, some with stories, some without stories, all shot on our new camera.

gervais once said some pretty funny stuff about sleeping in the kitchen; i did not particularly care for it.
looking amazing in my super ski outfit. efi was a great coach, but i gotta say, one day out with keith was all it took.
the sledding was sweet too. eleftheria enjoyed it until we got yelled at for accidentally taking someones sled.
i was in istanbul with 14 pubescent children for 5 days. we got to party on a boat. cool.



the very impressive dome of agias sofias (istanbul).
not even half of all the students present at RCIMUN (there were around 700).
turkish bathrooms come with foot sinks.
this is what our house USED to look like. teaser.
pretty sweet view from outside nea silata.
he is so much more awesome than i am.
evagelia and i played some raqueta.
patuna helped me mend my motorcycle.
every house should have roof access. zoom in and i am doing my best impersonation of a lion.
that was a fantastic motorcycle ride.

this was a sweet mini cooper with taverna chairs for front seats.

we went to athens at some point. seems so long ago now.
more stories to come, i promise.