El Caballero

2008-12-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

If anyone still finds themselves checking this blog, which I doubt since I haven't written anything since July, I'm posting this to inform you that I may post nothing else here for many more July's to come. Instead you can follow my life and times with my wife at our new incredible blog:

peteandashbontorno.blogspot.com

Keep moving forward!

Hallelujah

2008-07-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

We fell in love forever more in Central Park

2008-04-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

It's been some time since I've written, perhaps. But so much has gone on. Here's some pictures to provide a sampling. Anyhow, Ashley and I have progressed much since our lofty days of Jello making in the Archibald's kitchen. Indeed, we are engaged to be married.

On Waiting

2008-03-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

Still must I wait?
Yet passes time
But patience have I
Linger will I
Till the time
When they declare my fate.

How much more
Must I endure?
The treachery of waiting here
Is worse I fear
Than all my fears
Of that fate I’m waiting for.

Time ticks by
My life is spending
As this moment
Wanes unending
Happiness may never be
While in this sea of misery
Composed of endless waiting.

None talk, none speak
Our thoughts are weak
Our heads are cluttered
With the dreams
Of endless things
Best left unuttered
Thus in silence we await.

Wait, await!
Oh stress innate
On time or late
What is the date
Shadows lengthen
Patience strengthens
And yet my life
Goes on in strife
As evermore I await.

Has end begun?
Has patience won?
Or am I maintenanced
By complacence
Into thinking life goes on
Yet deep inside
I know that I
Will ever more await.

China Town

2008-03-02T20:41:00.000-08:00

We spent Saturday in China town with Ash's cousin, Charles (Chas). The song we wrote afterwards tells all about it:

Want some dim sum
Have some dim sum
Mine some dim sum
Yours some dim sum
Eat some dim sum
Yum some dim sum
With Chas
Oh yeah

Oh, and besides dim sum we ate chiken feet, and besides eating chicken feet we saw Confucious and walked a street that turns 90 degrees, built that way to impede the passage of straight flying ghosts. And we went into a Budhist temple and saw a two story tall Buddah. I can't be too explicit in describing it, but it was interesting.
Sorry I didn't get more pictures.

The Bishop

2008-02-24T18:45:00.000-08:00

Well, it's not every week you get a pose like this out of the bishop, so I thought I'd better immortalize it here on the world wide web, even if it is a bit fuzzy. This is from our Wednesday night combined activity, a Birthday party celebrating about 6 different birthdays this month, including the bishops. We had Karaoki and Rock Band set up, and various other games. Here the bishops looking for the song "Sunshine on my Shoulders" by John Denver in the karaoki song list. He later sang it with near perfection. It was a real good time.

The Magic Flute

2008-02-24T17:40:00.000-08:00

Saturday night I brought the Philharmonic club to the Julliard. We saw what might have been the best presentation of Mozart's The Magic Flute ever rendered. The stage was adorned with the face of a large cement building, and some caution 'sawhorses'and barbed wire piled in a corner, and a light on a metal structure like an oil well in the back. There Tamino, the California surfer dude is found by machine gun yeilding maids of the queen of the night. They tell the Queen and she sends them to him with a picture of her daughter, Pamina, who has been kidnapped by Sarastro, the King. He immediately falls in love with Pamina, or at least with her picture, and accepts the quest to rescue her from Sarastro. He teams up with Papegeno, the mine seeker who wanders the worn torn country in camo pants and a T-shirt, carrying a metal detector. He finds mines and puts pins in them as he goes, while dreaming of finding a Papegena. The queen gives a magic flute to Tamino and magic bells (aka a portable phone reciever box with a crank handle to send out calls) to Papegino.

Through various events Papegino finds Pamina, but is discovered by a guard. The guard and Papegino frighted each other so much that the guard hands the keys shakily to Papegino, and in return Papegino hands a mine to the guard. The guard runs off the stage and there's a huge explosion past the curtains. Papegino releases Pamina and they go looking for Tamino.

At some point Papegino finds Papagina, a Leopord-skin clad asian girl that mops the floors of Sarastro's temple. When they are separated by the guards of the temple he uses his magic bells, first to make all the guards answer their cell phones, then sing into there cell phones about how danceable the ringtone is, and finally dance off stage. Then He follows the magic bells with the phone to his ear, until Papegena answers her cell phone and they sing to each other through the phones - "Pa, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-gino,Pa, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-gina!" I don't think Mozart could have imagined it done in an any more fun way. I never knew opera could be so entertaining.

In the above picture is everyone who went from the school. In the bottom picture is Ashley and I with our friend Manny Torres. He loved every second of the opera. He hardly stopped laughing and begged to know when we'll go again.

Hiking Otis Pike Wilderness, Fire Island

2008-02-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

Today we took to the wilderness of Fire Island. More majestic skys have rarely been seen by human eyes. This secluded island built by centuries of wave depositions is the habitat for unique and unusal flora. Despite heavy winds and dense fog, the air was warm and the company warmer. These are just a few glimpses at some of the majesty we experienced. Such are the blessings of being the Young Men's president in NY Town.

Where the Wild Things Are

2008-02-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder Where the Wild Things Are? Try Fire Island on a windy day; winds from the north east. Or just ask the Young Men (or there leaders) from Olmstead 2nd Ward.

2008-02-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

Notes from the dancefloor of the Youth Multistake Dance in Kingsbridge, Friday, 8 February:

I'm proud to be the Young Men's president of a much nobler strand of youth than I ever was. 'Why Nobler?' you may ask. I'll tell you why. Because Dillan, Giovanni's cousin on the far left, got his girl's phone number in the first 5 minutes at the dance. And Gio, far right, well, he got his number at the end of the dance, but the girl stuck with him through the last half hour of it all. (I'm proud to say I introduced them). And AJ, in front, well he insisted that there was a girl there that he was interested in and I found that by asking questions like "What's here name?" and "Where is she from?" and "How old is she?" would cause him to run off into the crowd, and then come back to me with the answer. Eventually, he went home with a myspace address as well. I think I managed to get a number at a dance for the first time just a few years ago. Where can you get better training in real life situations than in the Bronx. These boys are on the road to bright futures. Not to mention, they expertly dance merengüe, bachata, salsa, breakdance, and whatever you call the stuff you do to modern rock.

Men in Negro

2008-02-07T19:49:00.000-08:00

This picture taken against the white back-drop of the church under the powerful Mexican sun is a notable memory from the mission. I served with these Elders in zona Los Olivos. Elder Colorado and I were the Zone Leaders. Elder Muñoz was training Elder Gomez, who was, as I recall, one of the most humble and honest men I'd ever met. Elder Colorado and I spent about a quarter of our mission together. First as Zone Leaders for three months. At the end of those three months we held our final Multi-Zone Conference with President Alonso, at which he concluded a powerful discourse with the announcement that he'd decided to call two new Segadores Mayores to the mission. Two missionaries who he could trust to reap the harvest where ever they were sent, and to set a standard and an example for the rest of the mission. Further, one of those two missionaries would be chosen from those present at the conference. That night Elder Colorado and I had finished a somewhat extensive planning session attempting to utilize all the training we'd obtained that day to improve the zone, and I had just climbed into bed when the phone rang. Elder Colorado took the call, during which he maintained a very serious, if not somewhat disturbed voice. "Okay Elder," he said, and hung up. "Que hay?" I asked, and he told me with utter solemnity that I was being transfered. I called his bluff. I was wrong. I was transfered to the dusty hills of Mañeadero as Segador Mayor with Elder Vazquez, an Elder I'd worked with only in exchanges. He finished his final 6 weeks of the mission with me.

After being split up for those 6 weeks our new mission president, President Carmack, put Elder Colorado and I back together as Segadores Mayores - called to continue Cosechando in Mañeadero. We continued together for 3 more months.

It's hard imagine, after retrospection, that little ol' me could have done so much. But pictures and writings reconfirm that we brought to pass much righteousness in these days of service. From simple things are great things surely brought to pass.

And missionaries have had such influence in this world that even Lladro, our Spanish sculptor friend, chose to construct this work which stands on display in the gallery in Manhattan.

Ashley

2008-02-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

So, being always the obedient return missionary, I went to this single adult activity on Roosevelt island in search of a means of completing my eternal purposes, and obtaining for myself the promises of Abraham and all the fathers, and carrying out my work as a descendent of Ephraim, that I might procure a nice little local in the kingdom of Heaven; and being thus engaged in works of righteousness I met there a young lady named Ashley, who stole my little heart, and has yet to give it back ...

And so, we proceded to make jello together ...

And play Sixes with Andrew and Tamara ...

And so forth.

2008-01-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

I thought about writing the story of my adventures in NY Town, since by now, they have been many far reaching. But then I figured, with pictures like these, I could just post the pictures and you could make up your own story, which would be way more fun, and would make my life sound way more interesting.

The Friend I Never Had

2008-01-14T13:57:00.000-08:00

As I was wondering by the bay
A lonesome duck passed by my way
And knowing life was hard alone
I spoke to him and said my name
But he would not respond the same

And so I thought, "Dear duck, why he's
Too sad to even speak to me"
And I called out to him once again
"I'll be your friend if you'll but stay!"
But turned he his tail and walked away

"Alas! I've lost a friend I never had"
The realization made me sad
But what more than could I do?
I left him to his sullen ways
And ventured on along the bay

And as I walked, at last I saw
This duck was not alone at all
For many ducks were wandering there
They ate the grasss, squaked and played
A world of ducks I'd found this day

And so I left them to their ways
To play and frolic 'cross the bay
And I, well I went back to do my homework
But at times when life to me is sad
I recall the friend I never had

These are the famous baseball ducks. Meanest league in town. Been playing in these parts ever since ol' Throggmorton sold the neck.

Beautiful Throggs Neck

2007-12-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

For those who doubt the existences of green grass and blue skies in the Bronx, I present to you, the beautiful Throggs Neck Peninsula.

And by the way, Mr. Salad Tong Arm was finally brought down by the Dancing Indian Brothers here in Manhattan. Hopefully he will fair slightly better in Idaho.

The Dreary Road

2007-11-30T21:25:00.000-08:00

Here's an ode to the cowboys and cowgirls out there that "Walk this Road Alone."

"Western" Goes East

2007-11-30T20:21:00.000-08:00

So, here's an old classic video, making his way to the big City.

Tomorrow, Dec 1st, The Adventures of Mr. Salad Tong Arm Man will be debuted in Manhattan 8th Ward, pitted against the 5 minute artistic creations of Manhattan's very best LDS independent movie makers. Will Mr. Salad Tong Arm Man win again? You decide:

The Head of the Occuaquan

2007-11-10T19:36:00.000-08:00

We rowed the Occaguan River in VA last week. It was beautiful. The race was a 5k, about 3 miles. Three of our boats took home ribbons. We saw the temple from the highway as we were circumnavigated DC at midnight. That's a pretty unforgetable scene.

Sorry I don't have pictures from our other regattas, but the season finished today. Maybe next year.

Green Wide River

2007-10-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know why the Accordion boy clip didn't work, so in an attempt to prove that movies can be uploaded: this is a clip of our very own "Green Wide River"

San Fernadino

2007-09-01T04:20:00.000-07:00

It's too bad I couldn't get a longer clip of this guy. He's probably 11 years old, but he sure is good. We happened to be here on the night of some sort of event or party. There were street vendors and food and lots of people all around.

Houston

2007-09-01T04:01:00.000-07:00

This is me on the moon. Pretty cool, eh?

The hightlight of the place, of course, is the mission control center. This is where people call in with problems. Kind of like the "Dear Abby" of astranouts. They said that those big screens on the walls are powered by giant computers that take up rooms below the control center. The entire computer capacity of the MCC is less sophisticated than the cheapest Dell you can find online. That's why they don't use it any more. It's been replaced by the Flgith Control Room, which we weren't allowed to see.

Now that's tubular: This is one of 14 rockets built early on. They're called the Saturn Series, if I remember right. They are the biggest rockets ever built.

Here's where the Astranauts get there training.

This is Nasa. This is one of a whole bunch of buildings where Nasa scientists are solving problems.

Gioia Tauro, Italy

2007-09-01T03:51:00.000-07:00

There were Three Cadets on Board the Sealand Florida our first trip through Europe. Mo and Myself from Fort Schuyler, and Trevor from Kingspoint. This little town is where I really noticed that Italians like to sit at little round tables with their neighbors in the narrow streets and shout animatedly to each other in enthusiastic and all encompassing conversation.

It made me think, "What do Americans do in the evening to relax?" Then I remembered, "Oh yeah, we watch TV."

Valencia, España

2007-08-31T19:32:00.001-07:00

The Taxi Driver in Valencia didn't anticipate an american sailor that could communicate with him, but even speaking his language I couldn't convince him to drop us in the old town section.

So we were dropped off at the site where some enourmous Storm Trooper apparantly fell out of outer space and landed. I guess if Post modernism has a definition, this is it.

There was nothing going on with the 'Storm Trooper' so we caught a bus to part of the old town. There was a little boy feeding the birds and then sitting and watching them. Healthier than TV, I'd say. He was probably there for hours.

For all you sailing fans, America's cup was going on while I was there, but I didn't go see it. Just saw that sailing boat that they'd posted in the town center as a giant billboard for the event.

Genova Italy August 2007

2007-08-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

We stopped in Genova (The v is silent) in Northern Italy. We docked about a mile from the train station so we could easily get into town. Genova is famous for:

The home of Cristopher Comumbus (That's the little stone house with the flags on front)
It's rich maritime history
And speaking Italian

We ate some Shish Kabob Tacos

I knocked on his door, but ol' Chris Columbus wasn't home.

The Avocado

2007-05-21T20:25:00.001-07:00

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2031209531

See our amazing movie Trailer, for our amazing movie, coming soon.

The Avocado

Music by Hans Bontorno
Narrated by Anna Bontorno

Elmira Pictures

2007-05-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

http://sunymaritime.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004191&l=461aa&id=178401080

I'm still looking for a convinient way to share photos. This link is semi-convinient.

These are pictures from my bike ride this afternoon.

The Octupie (Video)

2007-05-10T10:58:00.005-07:00

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2028510346

This Song's silly, but it makes us laugh, so we put it up.

Filmed on Dig-Camera, 6 May 2007.

All original

A Truely Wonderful Song (Video)

2007-05-10T10:58:00.004-07:00

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2027642115

This is truely wonderful song.

Made on Web Cam, Spring 2006

All orginal Soundtrack

Bad Carnival People (Video)

2007-05-10T10:58:00.003-07:00

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2027653045

This video sounds like bad carnival people and is improvised based on a chord progression maintained by the piano.

Made on a Web-Cam on a Sunday afternoon. Summer 2006.

All original Soundtrack

A Scottish Fantasy (Video)

2007-05-10T10:58:00.002-07:00

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2027650929

A Scottish Fantasy is our take on a Bruch melody.

filmed on Web-Cam

Summer 2006

The Adventures of Mr. Salad Tong Arm Man (Video)

2007-05-10T10:58:00.001-07:00

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2027646213

This is a little video about a one armed man called Mr. Salad Tong Arm.

Created on a Web-Cam on a Sunday afternoon, Summer of 2006.

All original Soundtrack