A lesson in cooking, perception and sophistry

I have been following with interest the culinary expoits of my neice Devry Gale DelHoyo. It seems she is, or has become quite the expert with regard to matters of the palette. I take some credit for this because, after all, it was me who introduced her to the finest Salsa known to mankind. In fact, it is still a sore subject that my recipe is in every ward cookbook along the Wasatch front. However, I understand completely, as our priesthood lesson this past Sunday was on charity. In this spirit of charitable giving, I must tell my faithful readers about a marvelous culinary delight Pam and I participated in just tonight. We were not able to make our annual Valentine's dinner this year due to unforseen circumstances, so tonight I decided to prepare a special surprise for Pam. I have worked on this recipe for years and have finally perfected it. I know the photo of Pam's new favorite dish will not do it justice and I know those of you who think Devry's cooking is magnificient will just drool with envy. But here it is in all its glory. Cheerios marinade de leche. I will be glad to share the recipe with everyone for the next family gathering.

I also would like to share with you how important proper perception is. Sometimes we hear, read or see things in a different light than others. For example, after re-watching P&P on PBS the last several Sundays, I am still convinced that I am right. The first version was much better. My dearest sister denounces my declaration to the world stating that it was not true to the story. However, having read P&P, I do not recall ever reading that Lizzy, while looking in the mirror, sees a fading in Mr. Darcy's face while he repeats her misperceived calloused words to her. The latest version also took several literary and screenplay type trips into the woods. I guess it all depends on our point of view and personal frame of reference as to how we perceive things.

To illustrate my point, I am quoting several lines from Elder Arnett's latest email.

Hey Parental Units.
Man this week had its downs. Alot of our appointments fell out this week ... hating it. Still haven't gotten too much language... girlfriend lives in Arizona ... this new life that it would lead to...I just hope we can meet.. just trying to reinstate some sort of contact to see if we can't revive something.
Yesterday I had this random feeling that I should call. It was great. We talked for an hour. I also talked to President for 30 minutes yesterday. I'm angry. It hurts...My only question is can we afford it? I don't know what will have to be done, but it shouldn't be that bad. But we (President Thompson and I) kept talking. I hope he didn't take it wrong. I can feel it trying to move back.. Remember dad, I told you about it a long time ago.... I just have to wait for my money to come in cause it costs
Don't cry mom. I'll be home soon. Elder ChArnett!

Please note: The above is not the gist of Chad's email to us. It is below. I am trying to illustrate a point.

So, from reading the above selective editing of his email you might get the wrong impression. Perhaps, we do our own selective editing too often. Sometimes we think we know what the big picture is, but it's out of focus, or we are, and turns out to be something completely different when our perspective changes.

So, I'm learning that the following statements may mean something different to me than they do you. Here they are: "Here's looking at you kid", "Don't cry for me Argentina", "I coulda been a contender", "Shoot straight you bas.....ds, don't make a mess of it", "I'll be back" and my favorite, Oh, ---, what have I done? Incidentally, some free salsa anyone who can correctly identify which movie each of these lines came from.

Here is Elder Arnett's latest email;

Hey Parental Units.
Man this week had its ups and downs. But I'm happy to report that I'm happy!Alot of our appointments fell out this week. Namly with Thieza and Clara. We just couldn't get in contact with those two or get an appointment again. But we are still trying to get them in contact with more of the ward seeing as our Star Joint Teach is going back to Brasil in a week or two. Reason being, because this Star Joint Teach, Ranatta, is a nanny here and is hating it. Still haven't gotten too much info in the language we need, but thats ok.We got to meet up with Felix Köster. Man, I have a good feeling about this kid. He's 19 and has a lot of questions. He lived in ARIZONA for a little and played VOLLEYBALL. In fact I remember seeing him and his team play at the State Tourney. It was an amazing connection that we had, and now its just trying to get him when he has time. He is doing Civil Dienst instead of the Army and doesn't have too much time. His girlfriend lives in Arizona too and she's a member. When we were talking we came to the subject of what the people believe about Mormons and I asked him what he believed. He laughed and said 'Vieles'. He later told us that he's torn between the Faith of his childhood and parents (Evangelish) and the Faith of his girlfriend and this new life that it would lead to. He is promising and I just hope we can meet with him soon.We still can't get in contact with Gopal Verma. At GMK I asked Brüder Bachmann to find a member who had a good relationship with him so we could ask them to call him. I never really had the chance to talk to him before Elder Gerber left cause Gopal was in India. So we're just trying to reinstate some sort of contact with him. He was ready. But we've been told by ward members not to push it too hard. We are taking that in consideration, but I want to teach someone.And that's our week with investigators. We are going by on a lot of old contacts and investigators trying to see if we can't revive something. The message hasn't changed, but maybe one of them has.Stake Conference was awesome! It was great to have new examples (President Uchtdorf) for the members to see how GMK should be run. That was a problem that we have been trying to work on. And with President Uchtdorf saying we need to use Preach My Gospel with our daily study to the members was the point we've been trying to drive. He spokes to us via satellite. It was great.
Mother. Yes, I did get your V-Day package. Thank you. And as for the ward newsletter, just use something from my emails unless they specifically want me to write them, in which case I will, but naja, I dont really want to.

I was on another exchange this week. It was nice and relaxing. Sometimes you just need to catch your breath. I loved it.

Yesterday I had this random feeling that I should call Nicholas Garbacz (the man that was baptised in Essen), so I did. It was great. We talked for an hour and he told me that he just received the Greater Priesthood yesterday! I was so happy. I can't even explain. And he's also the Ward Mission Leader and we talked alot about that.

I also talked to President for 30 minutes yesterday. My retainer broke. The permanent one on my bottom teeth. Some of the glue broke off and I'm angry. It hurts. It cuts me when I talk, but naja, ya win some ya lose some. He gave me a number of a dentist that I should call. My only question is can we afford it? I don't know what will have to be done, but it shouldn't be that bad. But we (President Thompson and I) kept talking. He asked me how I was doing. I said good. He said you sure? I replied, doing better. I then relayed my delima that I've been facing the past 3 months and these constant feelings and thoughts that I have about wanting to teach more. We had a nice talk. But now I'm nervous for transfers, I hope he didn't take it wrong.
Back to the teeth thing. Is it ok if I get it fixed? I can feel it trying to move back. Just one tooth. It does hurt. It's that pain I had before braces. Remember dad, I told you about it a long time ago. Like things are pressing on each other. Bah. I hate my teeth!

I started running and lifting a few weights. I can feel my body falling apart. So I decided to do something to fight it. I'm fat. And I love it. The food here is just too good.

I got a package from Aunt Diane and Cousin Lauren. Tell them thanks for me, cause I don't think I'll get a chance to write them. We do this new prepaid email cafe thing so I limit myself.
I LOVE POPCORN AND THE COOKIES DIANE SENT ME ARE AMAZING. PERIOD.

And thats pretty much my week. I'm still freezing my buns off. I think next winter I'm buying a new jacket. This one just doesn't keep me warm.

Hey what happened to our car? The Pilot? Why can't you drive that mom? Oh and I have a letter for you, I just have to wait for my money to come in cause it costs an Euro 70 (1.70) to send something state side. Patience k?

Hey can you guys try to find me Blake Bigelow's mission address and Spencer Websters Email? I wanna get in touch with those two.

It's weird to hear that the family is growin and when I get back I'm gunna have all these little tikes to play with. I'm excited though.

Don't cry mom. I'll be home soon enough and I'll probably be saying no alot. 'Chad go stand by the sign so I can get a picture.' 'No mom.' 'Chad, go clean your room.' 'No mom.' 'Chad go get married and give me grandkids.' 'No mom.' 'DO IT NOW!' 'I don't want to mom.' 'Thats it, I've had it. JEFF!! COME TALK SOME SENSE INTO YOUR SON!! I KNOW YOU'RE THERE JEFF. JEFF!!!'

Ok I'm out. Loves and missing.

Elder ChArnett!
On 2/25/08, Pamela Arnett <pamiam1218@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi Elder Chad--- I forgot to ask you something! Did you ever get a box from me yet? It was for Valentines Day. Can you let me know? I've just been wondering....tell me what you else you want soon!! I just wish I could see you. One of my students said something that totally reminded me of you when you were a little boy and I started crying! Can you believe that???? Well, of course you can. He said "No" like a little kid, and looked like you used to. Pretty funny. For the newsletter should we just use part of one of your e-mails? Or do you want to write a special one? Just do what you want. Okay, that's about it sweetie.........love you!!