Happy Thanksgiving!

It was really nice to talk to everyone today and made us feel a little closer to home!! Celebrating Thanksgiving at the Hanson-Johnson and Utzinger house wasn't quite the same as in Dublin, where it isn't a holiday. No big deal though, I had a short workday and Erin and I cooked some delicious thanksgving food (turkey, stuffing (best i ever had), mashed potatoes, salad, and a mighty dessert)!!! All was terrific, and topped off by talking to everyone!!

We miss you all and are off to have a thanksgiving pint at a pub! Slainte!

TO TALK TO E&L, Call my cell phone!

Hello Friends and Family-

Happy thanksgiving and happy Dewali for all our friends of the east (Adie - in case you look at this)! Erin and I are still enjoying our time in Ireland, whistling through our bottles and enjoying everything the city has to offer (especially the rain - I realized my dress shoes let water in from the bottom, makes for an uncomfortable day). However, walking to work is a blessing and I can't say how less stressed I am not fighting to get on to I66 in the mornings! We are finally officially moved into our place and love it! We were a little nervous at first as it is a bit grungy compared to our sharp-edged apartment in Clarendon, but we have begun to make it our own and its turned out great (once we figured out the timer on the heat and hot water!!)!. Below are a few pics from the last week or so, where Strauss, Erin and I hosted a BBQ for the Michigan-Ohio St. game. Also is pics from Cavistons, a must-do seafood restaurant in suburban Dublin, and finally, our new apartment!! Miss everyone.

AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO US, JUST CALL MY CELL NUMBER AND IT WILL RING IN DUBLIN AS IF WE ARE ON 44TH AND FRANCE!!!

Whistle while you work....our first Irish friends (Strauss and Joe's co-workers)...



Erin, Strauss, Joe, Jess at En Seine (pronounced insane).

See pic for name...
Our new apartment! Door, kitchen, and living room (same room as kitchen)...

Slainte!!

Rugby and so forth

This weekend, while Lou was in Dallas for work, Strauss, Joe and I walked down the road to watch the Heinenken Cup - my first rugby match. Leinster, the Irish team played Leicester, a UK team. From the outside, rugby looks a lot like American football. Lots of tackling. The ball is similar. Endposts. Rowdy fans. However, the rules, strategy and language are pretty different - scrums, trys, drop goals. I'm still learning.

The SCRUM

On other fronts, we are really excited to have our honeymoon officially on the calendar - our first trip to Asia. We are going to Koh Yao Noi Island in Thailand for a week in March. Koh Yao Noi Island is between Phuket Island and Krabi. We can't wait for cheap massages, amazing snorkeling, elephant trekking and laying on the beach. We are also spending a day in Bangkok, which should be incredible and very different from anything we have seen before. Here is a link to the resort we are staying at http://www.theparadise.biz/.

This week I accepted an account manager position with Fleishman-Hillard and will begin working on their health care team. We are also moving into our apartment on Tuesday or Wednesday. Here are some photos of our new neighborhood (it is as Clarendon as they come):

Out at Lilly's

DC to Dublin (via MN)

Alas, we are now able to post photos! Hopefully they come out okay! Miss everybody!!!

A Roof Over Our Heads

Since landing in Dublin, we have been hunting for an apartment. This sounds easy enough. We are college educated, have jobs (at least Lou does), etc. Yet, this week we quickly learned how insanely competitive the housing market is here. Apartments turn over in a matter of hours so it is literally a race to respond to apartment ads in order to even view an apartment and if you are lucky enough to get a viewing, you must bring all of your documentation with you so that you can book the apartment on the spot.

Luckily, Lou and I were able to view a place this week on Pembroke Road in an old row house, a perfect location in the city and a meer two blocks from our friends. It is in a nice area close to the city center (only a 15 minute walk to work for Lou) and tons of bars and restaurants. By coincidence the realtor happened to be a friend of a friend, which likely helped us secure the apartment as we don't have requirements including an Irish bank statement and mobiles. We move in a week or so.

On other fronts, Lou started work on Tuesday. All is going well so far aside from his trip on Tuesday to Dallas. He likes his team and more than anything, walking to work. I'm continuing to job search and have several promising leads as well as several second interviews next week. We are starting to plan for our upcoming trips to the Cinque Terre in Italy and York, England.

Slainte!

Dun Laoghaire and Dalkey

Lou and I jumped on the DART (the commuter train) today and traveled 10 miles south to the coastal towns of Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leary) and Dalkey. Dun Laoghaire is a booming and very modern resort town with a really neat historic downtown as well as a beautiful harbor filled with sailboats. The one and only U2 frontman Bono lives here. Dalkey is much smaller and more quaint. We did a lot of walking and relaxed by going out to dinner back in Dublin at Hugo's (not the grocery store) a few blocks from our flat.

Tomorrow we are planning to explore Dublin and begin scoping out neighborhoods to see where we would like to live. Lou starts work on Tuesday and already has to go back to the states (Texas of all places) next week for his client. In the meantime, I will be looking at apartments and interviewing.

For those waiting for us to check in, we will not have mobile phones until next week. The mobile plans here are fairly complex and costly and unfortunately, we were unable to purchase phones until we have a bank account statement.

All the best!

Dublin and Doublin

Our first impression of our new home: $$$$$

We thought DC was quite a pricey city. Our new home in Europe, completely breaks new ground. For example, 1 sandwich= $ 9 / 1 guinness= $6.50 / 4 red bull vodkas = $44. Needless to say, we can hardly afford the internet access needed to type this update. Thank god for our friend Strauss that has kindly taken us into his plush crib while we search out a flat. However, we COMPLETELY love it here! The Irish are insanely friendly, the culture is fascinating and the food quite rich. We are having a ball walking (lots!) and getting settled with PPS (SSN numbers), bank accounts, mobiles, etc. Tomorrow we are jumping on a train down to Dun Laoghaire to tour the coast.

When Lou gets his corporate computer on Tuesday we promise to update this blog with photos. Until then.

Much love!

The Emerald Isle

Lou and I landed in Dublin safely this morning! We are a little groggy from the flight but anxious to explore our new home for the next two years. We promise to post photos soon.

Sundance Ranch

Last weekend the whole Utzinger-Doth clan traveled to the Sundance Ranch, 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City, for Kamie and John's wedding. The scenery was unbeatable with the resort nestled between the mountains of Provo Canyon. The fam took a ride on a ski lift up to the top of a mountain and then did a 3 mile hike to a nearby waterfall. The Ranch itself was really cool with a rustic yet chic bar from the 1880's and really nice restaurants and a general store. (There was a Lindsay Lohan spotting). The accomodations were so relaxing with the cool mountain air and the sound of a trickling stream not far off. During their ceremony, Kamie and John had a cascading waterfall and mountains serving as the backdrop. The wedding was beautiful and the dance floor was packed all night. There couldn't have been a more perfect place for Kamie and John to tie the knot!

View from the ski lift

The Utz Cabin

Lissa and Jeremy

Wow, what an amazing weekend we just had. Not only did we get to go home to the Minny for the weekend, but we got to go see my sister get hitched!!! Their wedding was a total blast! It took place at the Campus club on the top level of Coffman Union. On Friday night, we had a rehearsal at the Union (on a perfect evening) and then went to Marion's table where Lissa and Jeremy had rented out the restaurant and hosted some of their family and friends to an intimate dinner! Afterwards went back to our terrific hosts, Meaghan and Ryan, and had a couple friends over for drinks.

minneapolis farmers market

And the wedding day turned out to be even nicer!! It was just a beautiful ceremony that was led by Pastor Aaron Roberts, my mothers step-son. He did a great job at the Ceremony and Lissa and Jeremy were so happy!! We then had dinner and drinks and dancing in the Reception room and had an amazing sunset over downtown. We are so happy for them and had such an amazing weekend that was made for the two of them. Three of four summer '07 family weddings down, Utah here we come.

CONGRATS LISSA AND JEREMY!!!