Butler 4

Listen People!

2012 is an awesome movie.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry... or to use another cliché.

Seriously

The decision to be dedicated to growing out my beard was a decision to be Abraham Lincoln. I consulted with my beard mentor Brigham on how long it would take. I stopped shaving and started growing on October 5th 2009. That gave me 5 weeks of solid growth.

Oh Berlin Wall - I remember the times I was told about you when I was but a child. I remember the time in sixth grade when the teacher wheeled a TV into the classroom for us to watch you come down. It's been twenty years ago today. Oh what fun we had.

I got a text from Mighty international man about town Lars, who by the way is back in NYC (hopefully for good this time), saying that a Mighty event was happening on East 4th St that he thought I should know about in a Mighty way.
What could be the reason for this Mighty line?
What Mighty thing was behind all the clamoring around this record shop window to get a peek from umbrella holding girls and burly Harely riders. Not to mention, justify pics from a Mighty cute NY Times photographer?
Why it's Mighty Bob Fossil (Rich Fulcher)!
And Mighty Vince Noir (Noel Fielding)!
And the Mighty Howard Moon (Julian Barrett)! Also known as The Mighty Boosh. My most favorite TV/comedy troop of all time (they're British).
Here is a Mighty Mighty Boosh fan with his Mighty spoil. What's that you ask? Why Yes, it is a Watch Tower. This Mighty Mighty Boosh fan is a Mighty monkey genius, he knows just what the perfect item is to have signed!
Watch Tower close up. This will surely put the JWs on the map!

The best thing that happened to me today was I got this mysterious letter by luftpost. I had no idea what it could be.
Looks like it is from Germany... I thought, "oh Germany you know my love for you and you are reaching out to me. That's sweet of you Germany."
Then I opened it and inside was a picture of a German Sailor playing an accordion on a boat. What delight. Then I remembered... oh yeah I won this on ebay. This is by far the best surprise I have ever given myself.

Dream job?
Dream ride…
– dream lady to ride with 

Do you remember when Michael was little and cute?
Oh.... do you remember that time that Michael had a great haircut?
Do you remember how Michael would go on dates with beautiful women?
OH... do you remember that one time when Michael had that chimpanzee as a best friend?
Oh... do you remember that time when Michael and Webster were buddies?
Oh do you remember how Michael's dancing was amazing?  Oh and those white socks of his were amazing as well.
Do you remember the time when Michael hung out with people that we wish we could hang out with – like Slash of G'N'R?
and the Reagan's…

Some bands that have made an impression on me:

Doesn't above just look like what one would eat in Denmark? Well... that's because it is.
This is what it looks like when your done eating in Denmark.
This... oh this... thin pancakes with ice cream, jam, chocolate, whipped cream, such a pleasure to eat.

Note: no after picture of the dessert plate due to the passing out from joy of the photographer.

This is the actual church that has the actual statue of...
Thorvaldsen's Christus. This is the statue used in many temple visitor centers.
Above is a peek at the construction of the walls.
This is the big league of hymn numbers.
The church has not only the statue of Christ but all the apostles. Above is Peter with his keys. Do you remember when President Packer told that wonderful story about President Kimball?

From President Packer's April '08 general conference talk The Twelve:

In 1976 an area general conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Following the closing session, President Spencer W. Kimball desired to visit the Vor Frue Church, where the Thorvaldsen statues of the Christus and of the Twelve Apostles stand. He had visited there some years earlier and wanted all of us to see it, to go there.

To the front of the church, behind the altar, stands the familiar statue of the Christus with His arms turned forward and somewhat outstretched, the hands showing the imprint of the nails, and the wound in His side very clearly visible. Along each side stand the statues of the Apostles, Peter at the front to the right and the other Apostles in order.

Most of our group was near the rear of the chapel with the custodian. I stood up front with President Kimball before the statue of Peter with Elder Rex D. Pinegar and Johan Helge Benthin, president of the Copenhagen stake.

In Peter’s hand, depicted in marble, is a set of heavy keys. President Kimball pointed to those keys and explained what they symbolized. Then, in an act I shall never forget, he turned to President Benthin and with unaccustomed firmness pointed his finger at him and said, “I want you to tell everyone in Denmark that I hold the keys! We hold the real keys, and we use them every day.”

I will never forget that declaration, that testimony from the prophet. The influence was spiritually powerful; the impression was physical in its impact.

We walked to the back of the chapel where the rest of the group was standing. Pointing to the statues, President Kimball said to the kind custodian, “These are the dead Apostles.” Pointing to me, he said, “Here we have the living Apostles. Elder Packer is an Apostle. Elder Thomas S. Monson and Elder L. Tom Perry are Apostles, and I am an Apostle. We are the living Apostles.

“You read about the Seventies in the New Testament, and here are two of the living Seventies, Elder Rex D. Pinegar and Elder Robert D. Hales.”

The custodian, who up to that time had shown no emotion, suddenly was in tears.

I felt I had had an experience of a lifetime.

I have found churches in Scandinavia so pleasant.
They are simple and clean.
The Domo in Milano was amazing, but a bit overwhelming. The Vor Frue church had a bright soothing spirit about it. This was one of the best sights on this trip to Europe.