Well we've finished our first class here at Swansea and have a paper due on the 9th of Feb, and we start our regular classes on Monday. We've gone on a couple more field trips since the last post and I have more pics up from both of them. Life is going pretty well here so far, we're getting into the swing of things and our class schedules are coming together well. Katy and Jenny have had a little trouble registering for a couple of there classes but hopefully they'll turn out all right.
We made our first trip into downtown Swansea on our own last week for groceries, etc. We walked from campus and took a round about way and got to see bit of town and got some local food for lunch. We caught a taxi back from the store and all went pretty well and we got stocked up on food so we should be alright for a little while now.
I'm off to get some supper at "The Greasy Spoon" as the local students call it.
Karl

Race pictures

Here are pictures of Melinda and me crossing our respective finish lines. Melinda had a "chip time" of 3:16. The "gun time" is reflected on the clock above her as she crossed. As you will see, it took her 24 minutes to cross the start line (at which time her "chip time" started) because there were almost 20,000 people in front of her.

Katy's pic link

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/katyspicsspring2006/

Katy's Pictures

Hello all. I have created a online photo album. Here is the link http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/katyspicsspring2006/album?.dir=cbde&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos I will be putting up new pics as often as possible. Tomorrow I will post ones of Bath and the Roman Baths.

Wales update

Well Katy, Jenny and I are getting pretty well settled in over here. We just got internet access in our rooms today so we should be able to get more reliable access to e-mail and the blog. Things are going pretty well. Our class isn't too terribly boring and the field trips should be pretty good. Our first field trip was to Gower and the Rhossili point which was beautiful:

Click on the photo to go to my photo album which I will hopefully keep up to date.

Grandpa, I believe you may be some what disappointed to hear that our breakfast consists of more than beans and corn flakes, although those are options, and the beans are warm. We can choose two different breakfasts with many options available with each ranging from meat to eggs to fruit and cereal so we're eating well. The locals showed us to The Pub On The Pond which is a very short walk and has great food for somewhat reasonable prices.

We're both doing quite well so far and will be sure to keep in touch.
Karl

Happy birthday, Wales news

Hi - we were away from the computer so have not been able to post from Orlando or Chicago. How a hotel that charges $50 a night can give you free internet and a hotel that charges $200 also charges for internet access is beyond me.

Happy Birthday Mom - sorry we can't be there again, but we have to work every now and then.

Heard from the kids by 1 e mail copied here in it's entirity:
Hi,We're here and moved into our rooms. We won't have reliable internet acceess for at least a day or two, possibly more, we have to get registered for the wireless to get on the network. All our travel was safe, but the train tickets were a bit pricey. We'll try and get in touch more later.Karl

we will keep you updated if the kids do not!
Congrats Melinda and Todd on your marathon participation.

Wales

Hello all,
Well Mom and Dad left for Florida for a conference and class runion today so this leaves Karl and I to our own devices and to care for all of the critters. We leave next Thursday from Chicago for Wales. We are excited about the trip, but also a little nervous. Its a long time to be away, but I am sure we will have the experince of a lifetime! So far very little packing has been done. Yesterday I went through my clothes and picked out about twice as many as I will actually be able to take along on the trip, but I had to start some where. As far as I know Karl has not yet started to pack. Also one of my best friends from school, Jenny, will be joining us and she and I will be roomates. We do not yet know what classes will be taking as we signed up for several we were intersted in, but the final information will be given to us when we arrive at Swansea. We also found out that we don't have to take sheets with us so that saves a little more room for clothes and of course shoes!!!!! I am however worried about Seattle as she is my shadow at all times when I am home. I suppose she will just get used to me not being home. Also plans are not final yet but Mom and Dad may come over for a visit while we are there. We do have a four week break so that may work or they may come over at the end of the semester. While there we plan to visit the exact area where the Griffiths family orgininated before they came to America. We may even travel to Dublin for St. Patrick's day. I also plan to visit one of my other good friends with Jenny because she, Rebecca, will be in Madrid, Spain for the semester. We were doing some research online and found that there are some flights around Europe, round trip, for 10 pounds so about $20!! Well I hope to find time to post to the blog while in Wales and I will read it to keep updated on what is going on here. Happy New Year

Katy

Bye Ramius

Monday, Ramius' external tumor started bleeding so we took him to the vet to get him bandaged up and to drain fluid off of his lungs. Still, he felt good enough to go for a walk with the other dogs on Monday night.

By last night, the bleeding had increased substantially. After an amateur re-bandaging job, he laid down in the living room in an unusual spot for him and didn't move an inch during the night. This morning, I had to help him get up to go outside. When he came back in, he looked so very tired. It was clearly time.

The vet came to the house this morning to euthanize him here. We are very thankful for that because getting him into and out of the van would have been quite difficult, and he would no doubt have been stressed in the vet's office until the end. Instead, he died peacefully in our living room with his head in Melinda's lap.

Flashback to 12/10/05: "At this point, I'm going to predict that Ramius' new little angel is going to help him get through the end of the year." She did.

Todd