diff --git a/examples/client.go b/examples/client.go
index e1e3411..aaee92e 100644
--- a/examples/client.go
+++ b/examples/client.go
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ import (
 
 	"strings"
 
-	"log"
-
 	"github.com/paypal/gorealis"
 	"github.com/paypal/gorealis/gen-go/apache/aurora"
 	"github.com/paypal/gorealis/response"
@@ -85,13 +83,13 @@ func main() {
 		realis.BasicAuth(username, password),
 		realis.ThriftJSON(),
 		realis.TimeoutMS(CONNECTION_TIMEOUT),
-		realis.BackOff(&realis.Backoff{
+		realis.BackOff(realis.Backoff{
 			Steps:    2,
 			Duration: 10 * time.Second,
 			Factor:   2.0,
 			Jitter:   0.1,
 		}),
-		realis.SetLogger(log.New(os.Stdout, "realis-debug: ", log.Ldate)),
+		realis.Debug(),
 	}
 
 	//check if zkUrl is available.
@@ -432,8 +430,8 @@ func main() {
 	case "pauseJobUpdate":
 		resp, err := r.PauseJobUpdate(&aurora.JobUpdateKey{
 			Job: job.JobKey(),
-			ID: updateId,
-			}, "")
+			ID:  updateId,
+		}, "")
 
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Println(err)
@@ -443,7 +441,7 @@ func main() {
 	case "resumeJobUpdate":
 		resp, err := r.ResumeJobUpdate(&aurora.JobUpdateKey{
 			Job: job.JobKey(),
-			ID: updateId,
+			ID:  updateId,
 		}, "")
 
 		if err != nil {
@@ -454,8 +452,8 @@ func main() {
 	case "pulseJobUpdate":
 		resp, err := r.PulseJobUpdate(&aurora.JobUpdateKey{
 			Job: job.JobKey(),
-			ID: updateId,
-			})
+			ID:  updateId,
+		})
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Println(err)
 		}
diff --git a/logger.go b/logger.go
index aa1e377..4597dde 100644
--- a/logger.go
+++ b/logger.go
@@ -27,3 +27,29 @@ func (NoopLogger) Printf(format string, a ...interface{}) {}
 func (NoopLogger) Print(a ...interface{}) {}
 
 func (NoopLogger) Println(a ...interface{}) {}
+
+type LevelLogger struct {
+	Logger
+	debug bool
+}
+
+func (l LevelLogger) DebugPrintf(format string, a ...interface{}) {
+	if l.debug {
+		l.Print("[DEBUG] ")
+		l.Printf(format, a)
+	}
+}
+
+func (l LevelLogger) DebugPrint(a ...interface{}) {
+	if l.debug {
+		l.Print("[DEBUG] ")
+		l.Print(a)
+	}
+}
+
+func (l LevelLogger) DebugPrintln(a ...interface{}) {
+	if l.debug {
+		l.Print("[DEBUG] ")
+		l.Println(a)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/monitors.go b/monitors.go
index 1799658..ac5b3fa 100644
--- a/monitors.go
+++ b/monitors.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func (m *Monitor) JobUpdate(updateKey aurora.JobUpdateKey, interval int, timeout
 				// if we encounter an inactive state and it is not at rolled forward, update failed
 				switch status {
 				case aurora.JobUpdateStatus_ROLLED_FORWARD:
-					m.Client.RealisConfig().logger.Println("Update succeded")
+					m.Client.RealisConfig().logger.Println("Update succeeded")
 					return true, nil
 				case aurora.JobUpdateStatus_FAILED:
 					m.Client.RealisConfig().logger.Println("Update failed")
diff --git a/realis.go b/realis.go
index dde0e6d..4fd90bb 100644
--- a/realis.go
+++ b/realis.go
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@ import (
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
+	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/cookiejar"
+	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"time"
-
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"git.apache.org/thrift.git/lib/go/thrift"
 	"github.com/paypal/gorealis/gen-go/apache/aurora"
@@ -80,8 +82,9 @@ type realisClient struct {
 	client         *aurora.AuroraSchedulerManagerClient
 	readonlyClient *aurora.ReadOnlySchedulerClient
 	adminClient    *aurora.AuroraAdminClient
-	logger         Logger
-	lock           sync.Mutex
+	logger         LevelLogger
+	lock           *sync.Mutex
+	debug          bool
 }
 
 type RealisConfig struct {
@@ -90,7 +93,7 @@ type RealisConfig struct {
 	timeoutms                   int
 	binTransport, jsonTransport bool
 	cluster                     *Cluster
-	backoff                     *Backoff
+	backoff                     Backoff
 	transport                   thrift.TTransport
 	protoFactory                thrift.TProtocolFactory
 	logger                      Logger
@@ -98,6 +101,8 @@ type RealisConfig struct {
 	certspath                   string
 	clientkey, clientcert       string
 	options                     []ClientOption
+	debug                       bool
+	zkOptions                   []ZKOpt
 }
 
 var defaultBackoff = Backoff{
@@ -136,12 +141,19 @@ func ZKCluster(cluster *Cluster) ClientOption {
 }
 
 func ZKUrl(url string) ClientOption {
+
+	opts := []ZKOpt{ZKEndpoints(strings.Split(url, ",")...), ZKPath("/aurora/scheduler")}
+
 	return func(config *RealisConfig) {
-		config.cluster = GetDefaultClusterFromZKUrl(url)
+		if config.zkOptions == nil {
+			config.zkOptions = opts
+		} else {
+			config.zkOptions = append(config.zkOptions, opts...)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
-func Retries(backoff *Backoff) ClientOption {
+func Retries(backoff Backoff) ClientOption {
 	return func(config *RealisConfig) {
 		config.backoff = backoff
 	}
@@ -159,7 +171,7 @@ func ThriftBinary() ClientOption {
 	}
 }
 
-func BackOff(b *Backoff) ClientOption {
+func BackOff(b Backoff) ClientOption {
 	return func(config *RealisConfig) {
 		config.backoff = b
 	}
@@ -183,13 +195,29 @@ func ClientCerts(clientKey, clientCert string) ClientOption {
 	}
 }
 
-// Using the word set to avoid name collision with Interface
+// Use this option if you'd like to override default settings for connecting to Zookeeper.
+// For example, this can be used to override the scheme to be used for communicating with Aurora (e.g. https).
+// See zk.go for what is possible to set as an option.
+func ZookeeperOptions(opts ...ZKOpt) ClientOption {
+	return func(config *RealisConfig) {
+		config.zkOptions = opts
+	}
+}
+
+// Using the word set to avoid name collision with Interface.
 func SetLogger(l Logger) ClientOption {
 	return func(config *RealisConfig) {
 		config.logger = l
 	}
 }
 
+// Enable debug statements.
+func Debug() ClientOption {
+	return func(config *RealisConfig) {
+		config.debug = true
+	}
+}
+
 func newTJSONTransport(url string, timeout int, config *RealisConfig) (thrift.TTransport, error) {
 	trans, err := defaultTTransport(url, timeout, config)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -220,8 +248,10 @@ func NewRealisClient(options ...ClientOption) (Realis, error) {
 
 	// Default configs
 	config.timeoutms = 10000
-	config.backoff = &defaultBackoff
-	config.logger = NoopLogger{}
+	config.backoff = defaultBackoff
+	config.logger = log.New(os.Stdout, "realis: ", log.Ltime|log.Ldate|log.LUTC)
+
+	// Save options to recreate client if a connection error happens
 	config.options = options
 
 	// Override default configs where necessary
@@ -229,6 +259,11 @@ func NewRealisClient(options ...ClientOption) (Realis, error) {
 		opt(config)
 	}
 
+	// Turn off all logging (including debug)
+	if config.logger == nil {
+		config.logger = LevelLogger{NoopLogger{}, false}
+	}
+
 	config.logger.Println("Number of options applied to config: ", len(options))
 
 	//Set default Transport to JSON if needed.
@@ -239,9 +274,16 @@ func NewRealisClient(options ...ClientOption) (Realis, error) {
 	var url string
 	var err error
 
-	// Determine how to get information to connect to the scheduler.
-	// Prioritize getting leader from ZK over using a direct URL.
-	if config.cluster != nil {
+	// Find the leader using custom Zookeeper options if options are provided
+	if config.zkOptions != nil {
+		url, err = LeaderFromZKOpts(config.zkOptions...)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, NewTemporaryError(errors.Wrap(err, "LeaderFromZK error"))
+		}
+		config.logger.Println("Scheduler URL from ZK: ", url)
+	} else if config.cluster != nil {
+		// Determine how to get information to connect to the scheduler.
+		// Prioritize getting leader from ZK over using a direct URL.
 		url, err = LeaderFromZK(*config.cluster)
 		// If ZK is configured, throw an error if the leader is unable to be determined
 		if err != nil {
@@ -252,7 +294,7 @@ func NewRealisClient(options ...ClientOption) (Realis, error) {
 		url = config.url
 		config.logger.Println("Scheduler URL: ", url)
 	} else {
-		return nil, errors.New("Incomplete Options -- url or cluster required")
+		return nil, errors.New("Incomplete Options -- url, cluster.json, or Zookeeper address required")
 	}
 
 	if config.jsonTransport {
@@ -274,9 +316,10 @@ func NewRealisClient(options ...ClientOption) (Realis, error) {
 
 	config.logger.Printf("gorealis config url: %+v\n", url)
 
-	//Basic Authentication.
+	// Adding Basic Authentication.
 	if config.username != "" && config.password != "" {
-		AddBasicAuth(config, config.username, config.password)
+		httpTrans := (config.transport).(*thrift.THttpClient)
+		httpTrans.SetHeader("Authorization", "Basic "+basicAuth(config.username, config.password))
 	}
 
 	return &realisClient{
@@ -284,7 +327,8 @@ func NewRealisClient(options ...ClientOption) (Realis, error) {
 		client:         aurora.NewAuroraSchedulerManagerClientFactory(config.transport, config.protoFactory),
 		readonlyClient: aurora.NewReadOnlySchedulerClientFactory(config.transport, config.protoFactory),
 		adminClient:    aurora.NewAuroraAdminClientFactory(config.transport, config.protoFactory),
-		logger:         config.logger}, nil
+		logger:         LevelLogger{config.logger, config.debug},
+		lock:           &sync.Mutex{}}, nil
 }
 
 func GetDefaultClusterFromZKUrl(zkurl string) *Cluster {
@@ -404,14 +448,6 @@ func newTBinaryConfig(url string, timeoutms int, config *RealisConfig) (*RealisC
 
 }
 
-// Helper function to add basic authorization needed to communicate with Apache Aurora.
-func AddBasicAuth(config *RealisConfig, username string, password string) {
-	config.username = username
-	config.password = password
-	httpTrans := (config.transport).(*thrift.THttpClient)
-	httpTrans.SetHeader("Authorization", "Basic "+basicAuth(username, password))
-}
-
 func basicAuth(username, password string) string {
 	auth := username + ":" + password
 	return base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(auth))
@@ -458,6 +494,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) GetInstanceIds(key *aurora.JobKey, states map[aurora.Sche
 		Statuses:    states,
 	}
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("GetTasksWithoutConfigs Thrift Payload: %+v\n", taskQ)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.GetTasksWithoutConfigs(taskQ)
 	})
@@ -478,6 +516,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) GetInstanceIds(key *aurora.JobKey, states map[aurora.Sche
 }
 
 func (r *realisClient) GetJobUpdateSummaries(jobUpdateQuery *aurora.JobUpdateQuery) (*aurora.Response, error) {
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("GetJobUpdateSummaries Thrift Payload: %+v\n", jobUpdateQuery)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.readonlyClient.GetJobUpdateSummaries(jobUpdateQuery)
 	})
@@ -510,6 +550,7 @@ func (r *realisClient) GetJobs(role string) (*aurora.Response, *aurora.GetJobsRe
 
 // Kill specific instances of a job.
 func (r *realisClient) KillInstances(key *aurora.JobKey, instances ...int32) (*aurora.Response, error) {
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("KillTasks Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", key, instances)
 
 	instanceIds := make(map[int32]bool)
 
@@ -534,6 +575,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) RealisConfig() *RealisConfig {
 // Sends a kill message to the scheduler for all active tasks under a job.
 func (r *realisClient) KillJob(key *aurora.JobKey) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("KillTasks Thrift Payload: %+v\n", key)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		// Giving the KillTasks thrift call an empty set tells the Aurora scheduler to kill all active shards
 		return r.client.KillTasks(key, nil, "")
@@ -551,6 +594,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) KillJob(key *aurora.JobKey) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 // Use this API to create ad-hoc jobs.
 func (r *realisClient) CreateJob(auroraJob Job) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("CreateJob Thrift Payload: %+v\n", auroraJob.JobConfig())
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.CreateJob(auroraJob.JobConfig())
 	})
@@ -570,17 +615,18 @@ func (r *realisClient) CreateService(auroraJob Job, settings *aurora.JobUpdateSe
 
 	resp, err := r.StartJobUpdate(update, "")
 	if err != nil {
-		return resp, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "unable to create service")
+		return nil, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "unable to create service")
 	}
 
 	if resp != nil && resp.GetResult_() != nil {
 		return resp, resp.GetResult_().GetStartJobUpdateResult_(), nil
 	}
 
-	return resp, nil, errors.New("results object is nil")
+	return nil, nil, errors.New("results object is nil")
 }
 
 func (r *realisClient) ScheduleCronJob(auroraJob Job) (*aurora.Response, error) {
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("ScheduleCronJob Thrift Payload: %+v\n", auroraJob.JobConfig())
 
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.ScheduleCronJob(auroraJob.JobConfig())
@@ -594,6 +640,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) ScheduleCronJob(auroraJob Job) (*aurora.Response, error)
 
 func (r *realisClient) DescheduleCronJob(key *aurora.JobKey) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("DescheduleCronJob Thrift Payload: %+v\n", key)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.DescheduleCronJob(key)
 	})
@@ -608,6 +656,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) DescheduleCronJob(key *aurora.JobKey) (*aurora.Response,
 
 func (r *realisClient) StartCronJob(key *aurora.JobKey) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("StartCronJob Thrift Payload: %+v\n", key)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.StartCronJob(key)
 	})
@@ -621,6 +671,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) StartCronJob(key *aurora.JobKey) (*aurora.Response, error
 
 // Restarts specific instances specified
 func (r *realisClient) RestartInstances(key *aurora.JobKey, instances ...int32) (*aurora.Response, error) {
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("RestartShards Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", key, instances)
+
 	instanceIds := make(map[int32]bool)
 
 	for _, instId := range instances {
@@ -645,6 +697,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) RestartJob(key *aurora.JobKey) (*aurora.Response, error)
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err1, "Could not retrieve relevant task instance IDs")
 	}
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("RestartShards Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", key, instanceIds)
+
 	if len(instanceIds) > 0 {
 		resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 			return r.client.RestartShards(key, instanceIds)
@@ -663,6 +717,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) RestartJob(key *aurora.JobKey) (*aurora.Response, error)
 // Update all tasks under a job configuration. Currently gorealis doesn't support for canary deployments.
 func (r *realisClient) StartJobUpdate(updateJob *UpdateJob, message string) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("StartJobUpdate Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", updateJob, message)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.StartJobUpdate(updateJob.req, message)
 	})
@@ -676,6 +732,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) StartJobUpdate(updateJob *UpdateJob, message string) (*au
 // Abort Job Update on Aurora. Requires the updateId which can be obtained on the Aurora web UI.
 func (r *realisClient) AbortJobUpdate(updateKey aurora.JobUpdateKey, message string) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("AbortJobUpdate Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", updateKey, message)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.AbortJobUpdate(&updateKey, message)
 	})
@@ -689,6 +747,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) AbortJobUpdate(updateKey aurora.JobUpdateKey, message str
 //Pause Job Update. UpdateID is returned from StartJobUpdate or the Aurora web UI.
 func (r *realisClient) PauseJobUpdate(updateKey *aurora.JobUpdateKey, message string) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("PauseJobUpdate Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", updateKey, message)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.PauseJobUpdate(updateKey, message)
 	})
@@ -703,6 +763,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) PauseJobUpdate(updateKey *aurora.JobUpdateKey, message st
 //Resume Paused Job Update. UpdateID is returned from StartJobUpdate or the Aurora web UI.
 func (r *realisClient) ResumeJobUpdate(updateKey *aurora.JobUpdateKey, message string) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("ResumeJobUpdate Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", updateKey, message)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.ResumeJobUpdate(updateKey, message)
 	})
@@ -717,6 +779,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) ResumeJobUpdate(updateKey *aurora.JobUpdateKey, message s
 //Pulse Job Update on Aurora. UpdateID is returned from StartJobUpdate or the Aurora web UI.
 func (r *realisClient) PulseJobUpdate(updateKey *aurora.JobUpdateKey) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("PulseJobUpdate Thrift Payload: %+v\n", updateKey)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.PulseJobUpdate(updateKey)
 	})
@@ -732,6 +796,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) PulseJobUpdate(updateKey *aurora.JobUpdateKey) (*aurora.R
 // instance to scale up.
 func (r *realisClient) AddInstances(instKey aurora.InstanceKey, count int32) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("AddInstances Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", instKey, count)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.AddInstances(&instKey, count)
 	})
@@ -768,6 +834,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) RemoveInstances(key *aurora.JobKey, count int32) (*aurora
 // Get information about task including a fully hydrated task configuration object
 func (r *realisClient) GetTaskStatus(query *aurora.TaskQuery) (tasks []*aurora.ScheduledTask, e error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("GetTasksStatus Thrift Payload: %+v\n", query)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.GetTasksStatus(query)
 	})
@@ -782,6 +850,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) GetTaskStatus(query *aurora.TaskQuery) (tasks []*aurora.S
 // Get information about task including without a task configuration object
 func (r *realisClient) GetTasksWithoutConfigs(query *aurora.TaskQuery) (tasks []*aurora.ScheduledTask, e error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("GetTasksWithoutConfigs Thrift Payload: %+v\n", query)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.GetTasksWithoutConfigs(query)
 	})
@@ -808,6 +878,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) FetchTaskConfig(instKey aurora.InstanceKey) (*aurora.Task
 		Statuses:    aurora.ACTIVE_STATES,
 	}
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("GetTasksStatus Thrift Payload: %+v\n", taskQ)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.GetTasksStatus(taskQ)
 	})
@@ -832,6 +904,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) FetchTaskConfig(instKey aurora.InstanceKey) (*aurora.Task
 
 func (r *realisClient) JobUpdateDetails(updateQuery aurora.JobUpdateQuery) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("GetJobUpdateDetails Thrift Payload: %+v\n", updateQuery)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.GetJobUpdateDetails(&updateQuery)
 	})
@@ -845,6 +919,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) JobUpdateDetails(updateQuery aurora.JobUpdateQuery) (*aur
 
 func (r *realisClient) RollbackJobUpdate(key aurora.JobUpdateKey, message string) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("RollbackJobUpdate Thrift Payload: %+v %v\n", key, message)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.client.RollbackJobUpdate(&key, message)
 	})
@@ -872,6 +948,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) DrainHosts(hosts ...string) (*aurora.Response, *aurora.Dr
 		drainList.HostNames[host] = true
 	}
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("DrainHosts Thrift Payload: %v\n", drainList)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.adminClient.DrainHosts(drainList)
 	})
@@ -901,6 +979,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) EndMaintenance(hosts ...string) (*aurora.Response, *auror
 		hostList.HostNames[host] = true
 	}
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("EndMaintenance Thrift Payload: %v\n", hostList)
+
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
 		return r.adminClient.EndMaintenance(hostList)
 	})
@@ -930,6 +1010,8 @@ func (r *realisClient) MaintenanceStatus(hosts ...string) (*aurora.Response, *au
 		hostList.HostNames[host] = true
 	}
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("MaintenanceStatus Thrift Payload: %v\n", hostList)
+
 	// Make thrift call. If we encounter an error sending the call, attempt to reconnect
 	// and continue trying to resend command until we run out of retries.
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
@@ -977,7 +1059,7 @@ func (r *realisClient) SetQuota(role string, cpu *float64, ramMb *int64, diskMb
 func (r *realisClient) GetQuota(role string) (*aurora.Response, error) {
 
 	resp, retryErr := r.thriftCallWithRetries(func() (*aurora.Response, error) {
-		resp, retryErr :=r.adminClient.GetQuota(role)
+		resp, retryErr := r.adminClient.GetQuota(role)
 
 		if retryErr != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(retryErr, "Unable to get role quota")
diff --git a/realis_e2e_test.go b/realis_e2e_test.go
index ae61cf7..d27bc11 100644
--- a/realis_e2e_test.go
+++ b/realis_e2e_test.go
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	// New configuration to connect to Vagrant image
 	r, err = realis.NewRealisClient(realis.SchedulerUrl("http://192.168.33.7:8081"),
 		realis.BasicAuth("aurora", "secret"),
-		realis.TimeoutMS(20000))
+		realis.TimeoutMS(20000),
+		realis.Debug())
+
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Please run vagrant box before running test suite")
 		os.Exit(1)
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 }
 
 func TestNonExistentEndpoint(t *testing.T) {
-	backoff := &realis.Backoff{ // Reduce penalties for this test to make it quick
+	backoff := realis.Backoff{ // Reduce penalties for this test to make it quick
 		Steps:    5,
 		Duration: 1 * time.Second,
 		Factor:   1.0,
diff --git a/retry.go b/retry.go
index 0e783f3..39ad106 100644
--- a/retry.go
+++ b/retry.go
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func (r *realisClient) thriftCallWithRetries(thriftCall auroraThriftCall) (*auro
 				adjusted = Jitter(duration, backoff.Jitter)
 			}
 
-			r.logger.Printf("A retriable error occurred during thrift call, backing off for %v before retrying\n", adjusted)
+			r.logger.Printf("A retriable error occurred during thrift call, backing off for %v before retry %v\n", adjusted, curStep)
 
 			time.Sleep(adjusted)
 			duration = time.Duration(float64(duration) * backoff.Factor)
@@ -146,7 +146,10 @@ func (r *realisClient) thriftCallWithRetries(thriftCall auroraThriftCall) (*auro
 		func() {
 			r.lock.Lock()
 			defer r.lock.Unlock()
+
 			resp, clientErr = thriftCall()
+
+			r.logger.DebugPrintf("Aurora Thrift Call ended resp: %v clientErr: %v\n", resp, clientErr)
 		}()
 
 		// Check if our thrift call is returning an error. This is a retriable event as we don't know
@@ -154,48 +157,52 @@ func (r *realisClient) thriftCallWithRetries(thriftCall auroraThriftCall) (*auro
 		if clientErr != nil {
 
 			// Print out the error to the user
-			r.logger.Println(clientErr)
-
-			r.ReestablishConn()
+			r.logger.Printf("Client Error: %v\n", clientErr)
 
 			// In the future, reestablish connection should be able to check if it is actually possible
 			// to make a thrift call to Aurora. For now, a reconnect should always lead to a retry.
-			continue
-		}
+			r.ReestablishConn()
 
-		// If there was no client error, but the response is nil, something went wrong.
-		// Ideally, we'll never encounter this but we're placing a safeguard here.
-		if resp == nil {
-			return nil, errors.New("Response from aurora is nil")
-		}
+		} else {
 
-		// Check Response Code from thrift and make a decision to continue retrying or not.
-		switch responseCode := resp.GetResponseCode(); responseCode {
+			// If there was no client error, but the response is nil, something went wrong.
+			// Ideally, we'll never encounter this but we're placing a safeguard here.
+			if resp == nil {
+				return nil, errors.New("Response from aurora is nil")
+			}
 
-		// If the thrift call succeeded, stop retrying
-		case aurora.ResponseCode_OK:
-			return resp, nil
+			// Check Response Code from thrift and make a decision to continue retrying or not.
+			switch responseCode := resp.GetResponseCode(); responseCode {
 
-		// If the response code is transient, continue retrying
-		case aurora.ResponseCode_ERROR_TRANSIENT:
-			r.logger.Println("Aurora replied with Transient error code, retrying")
-			continue
+			// If the thrift call succeeded, stop retrying
+			case aurora.ResponseCode_OK:
+				return resp, nil
 
-		// Failure scenarios, these indicate a bad payload or a bad config. Stop retrying.
-		case aurora.ResponseCode_INVALID_REQUEST:
-		case aurora.ResponseCode_ERROR:
-		case aurora.ResponseCode_AUTH_FAILED:
-		case aurora.ResponseCode_JOB_UPDATING_ERROR:
-			return nil, errors.New(response.CombineMessage(resp))
+				// If the response code is transient, continue retrying
+			case aurora.ResponseCode_ERROR_TRANSIENT:
+				r.logger.Println("Aurora replied with Transient error code, retrying")
+				continue
 
-		// The only case that should fall down to here is a WARNING response code.
-		// It is currently not used as a response in the scheduler so it is unknown how to handle it.
-		default:
-			return nil, errors.Errorf("unhandled response code from Aurora %v", responseCode.String())
+				// Failure scenarios, these indicate a bad payload or a bad config. Stop retrying.
+			case aurora.ResponseCode_INVALID_REQUEST:
+			case aurora.ResponseCode_ERROR:
+			case aurora.ResponseCode_AUTH_FAILED:
+			case aurora.ResponseCode_JOB_UPDATING_ERROR:
+				r.logger.Println("Terminal bad reply from Aurora, won't retry")
+				return nil, errors.New(response.CombineMessage(resp))
+
+				// The only case that should fall down to here is a WARNING response code.
+				// It is currently not used as a response in the scheduler so it is unknown how to handle it.
+			default:
+				r.logger.DebugPrintf("unhandled response code %v received from Aurora\n", responseCode)
+				return nil, errors.Errorf("unhandled response code from Aurora %v\n", responseCode.String())
+			}
 		}
 
 	}
 
+	r.logger.DebugPrintf("it took %v retries to complete this operation\n", curStep)
+
 	if curStep > 1 {
 		r.config.logger.Printf("retried this thrift call %d time(s)", curStep)
 	}
diff --git a/zk.go b/zk.go
index dd711e0..34ad1a7 100644
--- a/zk.go
+++ b/zk.go
@@ -36,11 +36,13 @@ type ServiceInstance struct {
 }
 
 type zkConfig struct {
-	endpoints []string
-	path      string
-	backoff   Backoff
-	timeout   time.Duration
-	logger    Logger
+	endpoints            []string
+	path                 string
+	backoff              Backoff
+	timeout              time.Duration
+	logger               Logger
+	auroraSchemeOverride *string
+	auroraPortOverride   *int
 }
 
 type ZKOpt func(z *zkConfig)