Pioneer Day

Had a good time at my first ever 10K race last Friday. This was a good prep race for my 1/2 marathon on the 8th of August.

Simple Service Project

On Saturday the teacher's quorum and I built a deck for a couple in the ward who live in a RV. The man can't get in and out of the RV anymore because of the steep and small stairs. We spent the last couple of Tuesday nights measuring for and buying supplies for the deck and on Saturday we put it all together. It took us about 6 hours and I must say I am quite proud of us. It turned out quite well.

Sunday Peace @ The Gallivan Center

Today despite it being Sunday I'm working a 12 hour security shift in Salt Lake's Gallivin Center Plaza. I don't like working Sunday but I am a part of an industry which demands 24/7 work and it's important for me to take my turn.

I've been warned about watching for loonies and homeleass people but so far the last 8 hours have been pleasant and peaceful. I've never been here before today and for being in the middle of downtown it is amazingly gorgious. There is a large reflection pool, a huge sundial thingy, an amplitheatre with stage, bird aviary (though currently empty of birds), a small river with waterfall effect, and a lot of tree cover, etc.

The river has a poem written in the stone behind it and there is also a long story written on stone tablets that requires walking most of the park to finish reading.

It makes me want to bring Ami and Simon back next Sunday after church so we can enjoy it as a family. Here you see some of the pictures of the place.

Me Doing Security for Thurl Bailey

While doing executive protection work this weekend I bumped into Thurl Bailey. This guy is awesome. Tons of fun and super friendly

Sundays with Simon

Ami is right when she says that the only thing we get out of church are the blessings that come from obedience in being there. It could be compared to reading scriptures at a rock concert.

Right now it is sacrament meeting. This usually consists of Ami and I taking turns running around with Simon either through the gym or outside around the church.

Because Ami is still having ankle problems I'm taking the full duty today and so I find myself walking around the church with Simon blogging about it from my phone.

In one month Simon will go to nurshry and we will be back to enjoying part of church. This is a hard stage for us because Simon is too old to be quietly entertained with books and snacks, but too young to be taught right and wrong or consequences.

This routine will continue during the second block of meetings while Ami tries to get most of her primary calling done. Then we switch and while I teach priesthood she will chase Simon around the gym, hallways etc.

At least I get some good pictures out of this eh?

Jacob S. Paulsen

Food Challenges - My New Hobby

Ok, so I've always wondered about the food challenges that you always see in restrauntants. It usually consists of: Eat "insert massive amount of food" and get your picture on the wall and a free t-shirt. It intrigues me. I have always been able to eat entire cows in one sitting and why not get a t-shirt for it?

My friend Chad Ricks told me a couple weeks ago that he had successfully completed the Sensious Sandwich challenge (2-foot sub). I was super jealous that I hadn't been there and told him that we should do the next one together. He called on Wednsday!

We went to Fudruckers in Orem, UT. The requirement: 1, 1-pound burger, a side, and a shake. I ordered the bacon cheddar 1 pound burger, with a side of wedge fries, and a Reeses Peanut Butter shake.

I really wan't too nervous going in and felt quite confident throughout. Chad finished before me and I thought I had it in the bag until after I finished the burger and fries and started to polish off the shake. I ran into something I didn't see coming. At the bottom of the shake glass there was a lot of solid reeses peanut butter chunks. That was super difficult to put down but I did it.

Thats right we both completed the challenge. Here is the sad part. At Fudruckers you have to do the challenge three times in order to get your picture on the wall and get the tshirt. They gave us a little card and stamped it to reflect our single victory. We will be going back again in May and June to finish it off.

Looking back I have decided to make this a new hobby. I want Simon to grow up knowing that his dad's picture is on the wall of several local eating joints. This is a great new part of our Paulsen Family Culture:)

Porter's Place

Today is Ami's birthday. We celebrated yesterday by going swimming at this really cool pool and doing other stuff.

For lunch we went to Porter's Place. I've been dying to go there since I found out it existed. Porter's Place is a restaurant that has been handed down generation to generation through Orrin Porter Rockwell's family. It isn't situated in the same location as it once was since the state tore down the original building to erect the state penn.

It still has a western saloon type look and feel which was quite pleasant. The menu was quite large and I greatly enjoyed the Rockwell Revelation burger! In case you didn't already know Porter Rockwell in my all time hero. His biography is among my 10 favorite books and I want Simon to be just like him (shhhh don't tell Ami).

We really enjoyed lunch there and they didn't even think it weird that I was walking around taking pictures of everything. I highly recommend the experience!

Jacob S Paulsen
www.jacobspaulsen.com