'm pretty sure I'm a techie geek nerd. Not the thick glasses and pocket protector type, but the modern day 'I'm in love with all things techie and geek' type. I love 'Wired' magazine, Board Game Geek, and the sitcom 'Big Bang Theory' is hilarious to me (total geek humor).
That's why I think that today I discovered the coolest wedding day gift ever!
My friend James told me about this article at Los Angeles Times titled Wedding gift can't open until taken to secret GPS location. Just so you don't have to leave my site, here is the article...
There’s only one spot on Earth to open this wedding gift. It comes in a small, carved wooden box — equipped with a GPS circuit — that won’t unlatch until it’s taken to a pre-set mystery location. And the recipient has to figure out where that is.
It sounds like something from “Mission: Impossible” or a James Bond movie, but this is a real gift made by software engineer Mikal Hart for a friend who was getting married and moving to France. And it has to rank as one of the most mysterious, geekiest and most delightful wedding presents of the year.
“I’ve always been fascinated with puzzle solving, and I thought something fun could be done with GPS,” said Hart, 46, who works for computer-chip maker Intel Corp. in Austin, Texas.
He bought the box, festooned with a carved elephant, at a World Market store. A little digital screen, push button and GPS chip were mounted on the lid. Inside went the rest of the electronics and a little motor for the latch. The box was delivered with no instructions. When the button is pushed, a message comes on the screen giving a distance in kilometers. It also shows the number of button pushes — the maximum allowed is 50.
Hart hopes that his friend, who received the box last month, will figure out that the distance on the screen is a GPS-derived calculation of how far he is from the target spot in France. With three clear readings, he could triangulate to find the goal.
Here’s hoping he’s not reading this — it’s the Ile-de-Brehat, a small island off the coast of France where the couple met. Upon arrival, the motor will automatically turn on to free the latch.
“What would be better than to get in a boat and go to the island to open the box,” Hart said.
The gifts inside had to be small to fit — they’re mostly gift cards. But if it’s the thought that counts, this gift is priceless.
“It took me nine months, off and on, to figure it out and build it,” Hart said.
As people discover his site, he’s getting requests for boxes.
“I was set up to make only one,” he said, “but people are asking.”
- David Colker
SERIOUSLY!? How cool is THAT! I want one for myself and 100 more to put stuff in and give away!
Musings by a Denver Wedding Photographer - What Defines Us?
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on't look now, but this Denver Wedding Photographer got to thinking... What defines us?
I've heard so many stories lately from numerous family members, friends, clients, and acquaintances about LIFE. Stories of events that happen in the day to day as we go about our lives. Events that bring joy and events that crush us. And it really seems that as I listen, and as I speak, we communicate that these events define us. These events shape our story so much that when someone asks 'What about you?" Or, 'What about them?" We respond with "Well, I heard that this was happening to them..." Or, "Me? Last week I did this, and next month this is supposed to happen..." And that's it. If you know what I'm going through, what is happening to me, then you know me.
But I've got to tell you that lately I've been nagged by this thought that if What I Am DOING defines Who I AM then I'm in big trouble! Because what am I doing? I'm sitting at a computer for hours and hours each day, week after week. I'm going out on weekends and shooting beautiful photographs of fabulous weddings. And yes, I am a Denver Wedding Photographer. I'm a guy who loves watching movies in my free time. Listening to podcasts about them. Reading articles about them. I'm a guy who also enjoys playing board games with friends when I get a free evening on a weekend. I like concerts. I like football. And I recently discovered that I love sushi.
But recently I've been thinking, at the end of my days (oh, yes, I'm going there!), that none of that will amount to much and I'm certainly hoping that it won't define me. I hope that all of that would only define just the smallest picture of me. And so I've begun to think about what I want to define me. Beyond all circumstance, and all of the doing, who am I? And instead of the what shaping the who, how can the who then shape the what?
Um, you know what I mean?
...because if your husband is stationed in Afghanistan for a year, does that make you a military wife?
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A single mom of sorts?
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Does having a little brother make you a big sister?
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Does completing a marathon in 3:10:10 define you? Being a huge Obama supporter?
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Can Autism define you?
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Being a 'Graphic Designer'? A 'College Student/Barista'? The 'Youngest'? A Brunette?
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Adopted? African-American? Healthy? Sick?
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Are you everything you've lost?
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And here is where I've settled. That Who I am is defined by Whose I am and not by what I do or what happens to me.
God has called me His child, and that's who I am. He owns me, I am His, and that's who I am.
Emily calls me husband and Rose, Philip, and Phoenix call me daddy, and that's who I am. They claim me and I claim them, and it's those relationships that make me who I am.
And so where does that leave me today? Trying to figure out how the who shapes the what, that's where. :)
Colorado Wedding at Ten Mile Station - Carrie and Jeff
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t's always nice to go out with a 'bang'! That's why it was so awesome to celebrate the union of Carrie and Jeff in true Colorado Wedding style up in Breckenridge at Ten Mile Station as my last wedding of the prime 2009 season. A bit of cold, wind, and snow were all a part of the festivities and in retrospect I'm sure that Carrie and Jeff wouldn't have wanted it any other way!
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I love this touch of color Carrie added to her day!
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A moment with her father just before they walked down the aisle.
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Jeff was overwhelmed with emotion.
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And look how happy and proud Carrie is.
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The cold moved the ceremony indoors at Ten Mile Station. Not quite the mountain scene they might have been planning for, but it sure was cozy and warm! Julie of Classic Creations, one of the best Denver Wedding Planners you'll find, and Alicia of Bella-Fiori Events, an equally great Denver Florist, did a fantastic job of making everything look incredible!
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And then Carrie and Jeff braved the cold for a few Mountaintop photos!
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And of course we didn't want to leave their friends out of the fun!
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Carrie and Jeff tore up the dance floor!
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If you like your weddings full of emotion and sentimentality then Phil is a Denver DJ that you should call. He shared lots of stories that Carrie and Jeff worked with him on and had everyone, including me, tearing up all through the night!
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And then Carrie's Father showed us all that he's got a few moves too!
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Congrats you two!
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It was so wonderful to be a witness of your wedding. I wish you all the best in everything!
Colorado Wedding at Devil's Thumb Ranch - Alexis and Sean
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've been so lucky lately, being able to travel up into the mountains to photograph some truly breathtaking Colorado Weddings! This last weekend was no exception as I got to visit Devil's Thumb Ranch to celebrate the wedding of Alexis and Sean. Ask a handful of local photographers what their favorite venue is and you're bound to hear about Devil's Thumb Ranch. So take a venue like this and add a classically beautiful Bride and Groom and it's a photography extravaganza! (I like big words like 'extravaganza'.)
Alexis and Sean got ready for the big day in these wonderful log cabins in the woods.
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I loved Alexis's 'look' on her wedding day! So classy and gorgeous!
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And here's Sean, looking pretty good himself.
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I love this photo of Sean with the flower girl - taken by my 2nd photographer for the day Kevin Von Qualen.
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How awesome is this vista at Devil's Thumb for the perfect Colorado Wedding!?
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I captured this candid moment of Alexis and Sean right after the ceremony...
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...before we began our portraits of the Bride and Groom.
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It was a bit cold out and so we did a significant portion of our photos inside - which turned out for the best, actually, as I believe I captured some of my most favorite Bride and Groom photos ever - indoors.
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Here are a few that I just absolutely love. I can't hardly explain how happy I am about these photos! Doesn't Alexis look incredible!?
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More to come on the Bride and Groom portraits - but next up, the first dance!
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It was so fun seeing Kerri and Zane (whose wedding I photographed in Vail in February of last year) at this wedding. I believe Zane and Sean both attended Tuck and the same thing happened at both weddings. Apparently it's some sort of tradition at that school to gather in a mob together and jump up and down!
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Congratulations Alexis and Sean! It was wonderful being a part of this amazing day!
...and, oh yeah! One more photo of the Bride and Groom. At the moment, my most favorite photo ever! (But, as always, I reserve the right to change my mind next week. :)
Broomfield Colorado Portrait Photography - The Colemans
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've done fall portrait sessions with the Coleman's so many years in a row now I think I might be losing count - is this #4? I always look forward to getting together with their family and capturing them as the years go by. Follow the link to see last year's Broomfield Photography session with the Colemans. See how the kids have grown!
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This is probably my favorite of the entire session!
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So good seeing you again, Coleman family, and getting some more photos with you all! See you in 2010! :)
Colorado Wedding Photography in South Fork, Colorado
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his last weekend I went further in to the southwest part of Colorado than I had ever been before for the lovely wedding of Lauren and Sean. This was Colorado Wedding Photography at its finest! Right off the bat Lauren and Sean opted for a 'first look' before the ceremony...
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Their primary reason for this was so that we would have the time to drive over the pass and take a trip to treasure falls for some awesome hiking and photography before the wedding! Look how incredible Lauren looks perched there on the scraggly cliff.
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We were wondering if these might be the first Wedding Photography portraits ever taken at Treasure Falls. It was, after all, quite a hike to get to this waterfall, and I wasn't wearing a wedding dress!
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Love being high among the treetops.
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The ceremony and reception were at the Rio Grande Club in South Fork, Colorado. Weddings underneath our big blue sky are wonderful!
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Lauren's mother spoke during the ceremony about the meaning of marriage.
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Afterwards we did some more photos. The ring bearer and flower girl were having a blast all day and evening - and here's one of them mugging for the camera. How cute is this guy!?
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It was especially sunny - so we rolled with it...
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Did I mention our big blue sky?!
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I hear this is one of the top ranked courses in Colorado. Next time I'm through, I'll have to play it.
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Sean showed off his skills at the reception. He's a gifted songwriter and vocalist and this little tune was really great!
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I know Lauren was impressed.
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And I think it touched her sisters too. Way to go, man!
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Congratulations! Have a blast on your western road trip!
