Bret and Leslie wedding photos

Well, it seems like it has been a month or so since we had any posts about the big Bret/Leslie wedding. Our photographer finally has all 744 of the still shots from the wedding posted to his website, so fire up the high-speed connection:

Bret and Leslie's wedding photos

Or here a few highlights for those of you who actually have stuff to do:

Just married.

The Pimentel contingent.


Musical hijinks.


Ruth and Liz jockey for position. Let's see a little more hustle come November, Andrea.



Avuncular, yet goofy.

Elder Jon Pimentel 9/11/2007

From: Jonathan Pimentel
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 7:38 AM
Subject: Neb tus tub rog nyob zoo!

Nyob zoo sawv ntxov nej sawvdaws!

The TRC went quite well, and we had another experience that taught us to be very careful when speaking Hmong. We were talking about prophets, and my companion was explaining what the priesthood was. He meant to say that it was the authority and power God gives to men to do the work to cause to be able to save people's lives (to cause salvation...Hmong grammar is weird) but instead of saying "kom cawm tau neeg" or very literally "to cause to save (able to) people", he said "kom kawm tua neeg" or "to cause to learn to kill people". The volunteer paused for a moment then said "Koj tau hais dabtsi?" (What did you say?) My comp realized what he said and we all had a good laugh.

Lub koom txoos muaj tseeb! -Elder Meej

Lucy reenters the fray and sends everybody to sleep

Thought I'd touch in, having escaped (for a beautiful moment) the terrors of homework and studying.
As I think most of you know, I'm currently attending a School for the Arts, capitals and all. This means, for me, two and a half to four hours of cello practicing every day except Sunday, when I just do casual playing, not to mention the hour-long cello lessons and theory homework I have to do.
This is a big step up from my twenty minute to half an hour practice period and forty-five minute lessons, so it's taking a bit of adjustment.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely, positively luuuuuuuuurve my school. Somehow I've been placed in the highest orchestra with all the child-prodigy level kids, and am having the experience of a lifetime. Plus, our orchestra does all the cool stuff - we perform really often, go on an out-of-state trip every year, etc. Currently, as the assistant director of music has abandoned us to move to New York, we are occupied in tutoring beginners (and I mean beginners, kids who've never touched a musical instrument in their lives) on their respective instruments.
Besides, I'm in a huge cello section - there are nine of us in my theory class.
Our home teacher is taking composition classes at the local college, which is just about the coolest thing ever. The first visit he made we spent almost the whole time playing hymns for him while he quizzed us on chords, etc.
This week he gave us a piece of music for two violins and a cello to try out. It's pretty cool.

On a different note, I'm thinking about taking up fencing again - a huge commitment, since I'll need to buy my own equipment and sqeeze out another one and a half to two hours every week for lessons.
We've managed to get ourselves library cards, and are now ravaging the public library in search of books we haven't read. I'm finally getting to read the books on my humongous list of books impossible to find overseas.

Now, before you fall asleep in your chair (if you haven't done so already), I bid you adieu.

She's Checked In

Well, I signed the largest check I've written in my life, I filled my car with gas, and I made the drive south to sunny Arizona, armed only with my sunscreen and pastry bags to keep me alive. I was fortunate enough to land myself an8 month lease in a lovely penthouse condo that sits about four minutes away from school. (To your left you will see my view of Scottsdale from my balcony). I admit, I was a little aprehensive upon arrival, considering I had never seen the place before, but as it turns out, I have a pretty nice set up here. Let the gloating commence: Here at Scottsdale Shadows, residents enjoy 24 hour security, tennis courts, a private golf course, pools, jacuzzis, saunas (for those who have lost their minds and want more heat), a gym, a library, billiards room, art studio, woodworking studio, and ceramics studio, to name a few. Why the crazy amenities? Well, actually, I have a confession. I have checked myself in to a retirement community (or, as my friend Brandon so kindly put it, "grandma country" -no offense to our senior population). Now, while it may be true that 0% of my neighbors are datable, and the social scene is pretty limited, particularly after 8 pm, there are some wonderful advantages to living in a retirement community. 1. Peace and quiet. I almost never have to tell Bertha to keep her rock and roll down. 2. Safety. Though I still do, I probably don't need to lock my door. I think it's more likely that someone will accidentally wander into my apartment thinking they're at their place than somebody breaking in to rob me. 3. Dear dear neighbors. Joyce and Phyllis on the fifth floor are simply delighful people. In fact, everyone I've met has been delightful. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that nobody has to go to work or study for finals. 4. Ego boost at the gym. Remember those horribly embarrassing days at the gym or pool, when you know you're out of shape, pasty white, and perhaps a bit chubby or unshaven, and you want to slip down the shower drain as you look around at all the beautiful triple T's (thin, tanned, toned) around you? Well, I'm still out of shape, pasty white, and perhaps a bit chubby, but for the first time in my life, purely by virtue of my age, I am quite possibly, by default, the prettiest thing around. So if you're feeling a bit down on yourself, I highly recommend paying me a visit. (Besides, you'll get to sit on my awesome retro L-shaped couch pictured above.)

I've been fairly impressed by my little town as well. Scottsdale seems to be fairly arts-friendly, and has quite the nightlife. There are many a restaurant and jazz club I am anxious to try.

School starts bright and early 6:30 Monday morning. I've just been to my orientation and picked up my uniforms and books, so it finally feels like things are starting. Granted we won't get into the kitchens for another three weeks (sigh), but I'm very excited nonetheless. I don't think I've ever stayed up so late reading ahead in my textbooks before school starts (and considering some of the fascinating psych books I've had, that's saying something). I really like the chefs here. Our Executive Chef Jon Paul was describing this chocolate he once tasted (made by the company who will be giving us a demo next week- yay!), and he got so passionate, with his arms flailing and the adjectives flying, he reminded me of a very enthousiastic conductor in the middle of Beethoven's fifth I once saw on PBS. I think I've found a kindred spirit.

I wish you all well as the school year starts and you head back to school, send your children to school, or take on whatever adventure life sends your way. Much love, Liz

try again picture

The pictures didn't work before so I'll try again.

Elder Jon Pimentel 9/4/2007

From: Jonathan Pimentel
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 10:14 AM
Subject: News from "Bubbylon"

That's what we call the MTC sometimes: Bubbylon (or Bubbleon). Last Saturday was the first time we taught a lesson at the TRC entirely in Hmong. It went great. Our volunteer used to teach at the MTC and he said we were among the best he's ever seen do an all-Hmong lesson for the first time. This week we have to teach the first lesson again in Hmong, but this time we have no teaching record, so we have no idea what to expect, and won't be able to plan very well. You teach someone very differently if they are Christian than if they have never heard of God.
Can any of you read Hmong? I was just thinking that it would be a lot easier for me to tell you interesting things about the language if you could imagine what the words sound like so I don't always have to try to explain it. For example, the phrase "Ua ntej peb pib" means 'before we begin", but sounds like the english phrase 'one day, baby'. Oops--I'm almost out of time.
We got a new teacher, and his mission was where Elder Vang lived. In fact, he taught Elder Vang's family and Elder Vang went on splits with him and taught him Hmong. (Our new teacher went to Alaska, where they send English speaking missionaries, then assign a few of them to learn Hmong after they get there).

Okay, got to go! Love ya!

- Elder Meej

From Calvin Ct.

Andrea is an angel and a genius in case you don't know that. She patiently worked with me yesterday to I can now post on the Blog. I hope to include some pictures taken at the twins 60th birthday party. Pretty good looking 60 year old grandmothers. Of, course Ty and Colleen are great looking grandmothers so this is nothing new to us.

I have missed getting exciting world wide stories from David and Annette that I could pass on to "Aunt" Janice. So now she is passing on good stories to me from her daughter Julie who for the next three years will be living in Abu Dhabi. Julie's husband Gary is in the FBI and is working in the American embassy there. One of his jobs is to travel to some of the towns and get acquainted. When he went to Oman and met with the man there he had to explain that he could not drink the special drink there because it was made with coffee. The man said, "What are you - a Mormon?" When Gary said yes the man told how his country respects the Mormons and they have a statue of our prophet in their country. Can you guess which prophet it is? It is Lehi. Figure that one out.

I am spending more of your inheritance and getting a new drive way and new patio poured. I keep tripping on the broken patio and Nancy has told me that she doesn't want to take care of me if I fall and break my hip. No one else has offered, so I am forced into the new patio. Besides, Alan Carlile has time to do it right now.

Love you all, Grandma