Simon Sleeps in our Bed

Simon is good at sleeping in his bed during the night but around 7am or so he wakes up to eat and then wants to go back to sleep. For whatever reason however he has a really hard time going back to sleep in his bed so we usually give in and let him sleep in our bed. He loves it! The obvious problem is that we know we are creating bad habits, so Ami is working hard to break him of it.

Jacob Paulsen
www.jacobspaulsen.com

Concealed Firearm Permits

So in case you can't read the graphic there has been a huge increase in people who are requesting the Utah Concealed Carry permit.
I think with big school shootings like Virginia Tech and the Trolley Square shooting a lot of people are begining to wonder about their
personal safety. In January of 2004 I got my concealed carry permit and I generally wouldn't advertise that I carry a gun around 24 hours per
day but since then in January 2007 I became a concealed carry instructor. In the last year plus I have taught over 120 people the class. The Utah concealed carry permit is very popular because it is the most widely accepted permit in the US being accepted in 33 states. I know that most people don't have any desire to carry a gun around on a regular basis but I strongly encourage the class and permit to anyone who owns a gun. Gun education is important and the legal ability to be able to do what you may have to do if you have to do it without breaking the law. So that is my little plug. My mini-blog commercial. Here is my site that deals more with the issue and has a schedule of when I'm teaching the class.

Jacob Paulsen
www.jacobspaulsen.com

My Favorite Animals.

I have the unfortunate situation of having never seen either of my favorite animals. They don't even have them in the zoo and there is a good reason for it. They are big, really big.
My first favorite animal happens to be the biggest reptile in the world. It’s not a dragon or snake. It’s the salt-water crocodile. They grow up to 23 feet long and as tall as 3 1/2 feet. That's so huge. It's basically the only surviving dinosaur. I really want an actual size stuffed one but I not only don't know where to buy one but I don't know where to keep one.

My second favorite animal has the largest eyeball in the world. Up until about 5 years ago the Giant Squid was a total fable. It was about as real as the loch ness monster. Scientists thought the Giant Squid might exist because of the damage they would find on whales. They weren’t aware of any other animals in the see that could cause such damage. About 5 years ago a Giant Squid washed up on shore. About a year ago some Japanese fisherman became the first people to ever see a live giant squid. That’s just cool, and even if it wasn’t cool enough the fact that their eyeballs are as big as basketballs is also pretty darn cool.

Prince Caspian Movie Review

Ami and I were able to go to see Prince Caspian on Saturday night while her parents were in town. This is the first time we have been to the theater since Simon was born and it was quite nice. Ami had labeled "The Lion the Witch & the Wardrobe" her favorite movie ever so there was a lot of excitement to see Caspian. We made our first mistake by listening to the audiobook during the day during our drive to salt lake and back. This made us more sensitive to the differences between the movie and the book. There were a lot of differences and to be frank the Narnia books just weren't that well written. What I mean to say is that the books are delightful and I enjoy them because of the content but C.S. Lewis was not a great author, but a great philosopher and thats what made his books good. The movie was awesome in spite, or in fact because it was different from the book. We really enjoyed it except to say I'm wondering why they decided to have a latino Prince Caspian. As if his looks weren't enough to make all the girls freak out they have to give him a sexy accent to go with it. Not that I was personally attracted mind you, I'm straight but I could see it in the eyes of my wife and other female audience members. We aren't as blind to these things as you girls think. We know when you are checking out other dudes. Just to clarify I'm not upset at you Ami. It's natural and I expect you to notice good looking dudes. I just wish Disney wouldn't have made it so easy.

Jacob

Baby Einstein

We are very grateful to Racheal & Chris Pivik who hooked us up with a bunch of Baby Einstein DVDs. Simon has a longer attention span for Baby Einstein than for any thing else we have tried. I think it should be classified along with fishing shows, camp fires, really fat people and other thing that you can't help but stare at. 'm serious, even I find myself watching Baby Einstein when Simon isn't in the room. I don't always have much option since we now keep it on repeat play all day long.
On a side note I just finished listening to the complete audiobook "The Count of Monte Cristo." Sweet book. I love the movie but the book was even better. On another side note who stole my movie "The Count of Monte Cristo?" I have an empty DVD case. On another side not my Spiderman 1 DVD case is also empty... ok enough side notes.

Jacob

Top 10 frivolous things I want to buy just for me ☺

1. A fully trained Police Dog. Either a German Shepard or Bloodhound.
2. A car with GPS Navigation. Lexus and Infiniti are my favorites.
3. A beat up piece of crap truck that I wouldn’t hesitate to take anywhere.
4. 3 or 4 flat panel tvs. One for each spot in the house.
5. A beastly fast IMac with a insanely huge monitor
6. A Jacuzzi tub. (Which would in turn mean a new house or serious renovation)
7. A Sweet Shotgun and a good gun safe. (that would make my armory sort of complete)
8. A HUGE manly BBQ Grill. Stainless Steel.
9. A beach house in Cabedelo, PB Brazil
10. A jet with pilot to fly me to my beach house in Brazil

What would be some of the frivolous things are your list?

Ant infestation

So I don't ever remember having these kind of ant problems in Wyoming. Here in Provo these ants are everywhere. We already decided that there isn't much point in killing them once they are inside the house. The best remedy seems to be keeping the house clean enough so as to not create yummy temptations. Just the same I can't help but wonder if we are the only one's even around here that have to battle these things every summer? PS I totally just blogged this video from my cell phone. Dang that's cool.

Mac VS PC, Iphone VS Windows Mobile, Ipod VS ?

So 5 years ago I never would have believed that Apple could make such a come back. PCs had such a hold on the market place. Although Mac has been making huge innovations for sometime nobody cared or noticed until the Ipod was launched. Since the Ipod has or at least had no competition people were forced to look at Mac. Well about a month ago I converted to a Mac book laptop and now I feel the pressure to convert to the Iphone. Since I'm not the only one out there feeling torn in two directions I thought I would take this opportunity to share my two cents comparing these two platforms and their simple pros and cons.

Mac VS PC

• Easier: Once you are accustomed I think the mac is easier
• Safer: Anyone who knows anything would concur that the Mac is safer from viruses and crashes
• Customizable: Thought mac is very easy to customize I think the PC is still more customizable because there is a lot more freeware (free software) out there for PCs.
• Software: Once again the PC wins. Developers make their programs for PCs first and macs second. There is just more out there for PCs. On a sidenote you can get a windows terminal on your mac to run pc programs.

Iphone VS Windows Mobile - Thinking of getting a iphone or a smartphone?

• Easier: If you use a PC that a windows mobile smartphone will be easier. Works the same like with a start menu etc.
• Business Use: Windows Mobile wins again. Iphone can convert word & excell files but they are read only. Windows Mobile can edit and save word, excell, and powerpoint files. Also the Iphone has a haphazard sync possibility with outlook but its really not that good.
• Trendy: Here is where the Iphone shines. It just looks cool.
• Music/Video: Windows Mobile comes with windows media which plays music and video very well. But since anymore most of us use itunes and not windows media the Iphone is easier to use and comes with a lot more built in memory to hold more songs and movies.
• Keyboard/Input: Though all the Iphone users I know defend the touch screen keyboard to the death I just can't believe that its easier/quicker/more accurate than a full sized keyboard available on many windows mobile phones.
• Availability: Windows mobile is a common platform that every cell phone carrier will have. Iphones are only made for Cingular. Though you can unlock them for other GSM carriers (T-mobile) you could never use them on TDMA/PCS carriers (Verizon, Cricket, Sprint, Nextel, etc).
  
• Customizablitiy: Once again there is so much more software out there for windows mobile because it is a pc platform. Iphones come with more cool stuff stock, but the windows mobile can do so much more
• Summary: Show me something that an Iphone can do that my Windows Mobile can't and I'll switch :)

IPod VS ??? OK honestly though there are some knock-offs on the market I've never given any of them any consideration.

Yard Work

I herby vow to maintain our yard this summer. Ami and I are tired of having to mow through jungles. In the past we have let our grass get a little long before cutting it. The obvious benefit is not mowing as often. The problem is that when you do mow its three times the work, not to mention the neighbors regard you as white trash. Especially these one crazy neighbors on the corner who mow their lawn 3 times per week. They bought the house over a year ago and still haven't moved in. This doesn't however keep them from coming over three times per week to do 8 hours of yard work. So anyway our mower has been repaired and the grass is cut. Any elaborate garden plans have been postponed for next year but we are happy to have a clean and green yard:-)

Post Mothers Day Thoughts

Ami and I have almost been married for three years. Last night I was reflecting on what we have done and where we have been in those three years and it was very fun to think about. Here is a brief list:

In the last three years we have:

1. Lived in four different homes/apartments.
2. Been in contract to purchase 7 different homes in Utah.
3. Purchased 2 of those homes.
4. Had two pregnancies, one of which was successful.
5. Had 6 different jobs between us
6. Started 6 of our own businesses (many unsuccessfully.)
7. Owned 6 different computers (5 laptops) of which we still use 4 on a regular basis.
   
8. Owned 4 vehicles. (Worth noting that Ami has always had the same car and I've been through 3 on my own, the Honda, Infiniti, & Lexus)
9. Listened to over 65 Audiobooks.
10. Been through 2 fish, a guinea pig, and a dog (still have the dog)
11. Lost almost $400,000 in poor business sense.
12. Done door to door sales in 9 different states.
13. Used over 65,000 cell phone minutes (1083.3 hours) not counting mobile to mobile or nights and weekends.
14. Seen every episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queens, and Still Standing. (Currently working on Who's Line is it Anyway)
15. Held 7 church callings.
16. Almost finished reading the Book of Mormon once as a couple (I know its pathetic but we are in Moroni 9)
17. Found 3 geo-caches (Also Pathetic)
18. Been to Disneyland twice
19. Been through 6 different cell phones
20. Only mowed our own lawn like 4 or 5 times :)

Not to bad but interesting for sure!

Jacob

Coolest Internet Services

So when it comes to home based business owners like myself, we really tend to feed on the coolest of the internet services. Especially the free ones. Today I just wanted to highlight a few of those. (No surprise any of these are google services).

IGoogle: Customized Home pages aren't anything new but Google has made a huge innovation in personalized home pages. With bazillions of different "widgets" you can add to your site there is almost little need to even leave you home page anymore.

Google Reader: Now that I'm into blogging and more importantly keeping up on other people's blogs I love this program that alerts me every time anyone on my list posts a new blog entry. Because I have a Google reader "widget" on my Igoogle home page I know immediately when family and friends post. I love it.

Skype: Instant Messaging isn't really new either but Skype has changed the way we do this. They have integrated a full feature video VOIP phone. Fancy way of saying you can make phone calls for free via the internet to anyone anywhere in the world who also has the free software installed. Turning on the video is an option and we generally only use it for family who want to see the baby but still... Super Cool.

Plaxo: Plaxo does a lot of things but the coolest is its ability to synchronize your contacts and calendar between your Google, Yahoo, MSM, Hotmail, excite, email services in addition to MAC, Outlook, Express, etc. HOLY COW this is amazing. The premium services are cool too, but the free account does about everything I need it to do.

Ok. I'll stop for now. No doubt I will rave about more programs in the future.

Jacob Paulsen

Finalized List

I am now ready to list the Top 10 things One Must Like in order to be a true American. Here they are in no particular order

1. Hot Dogs
2. Capitalism
3. Smores
4. Baseball
5. Independence/Freedom
6. Rock & Roll
7. Pizza & Chocolate (Not together)
8. Diversity
9. Guns
10. SUVs & Trucks