I just picked up a shiny new iPhone 3G S on Friday, and I have to say I’m loving it! It really is faster than last year’s 3G, and much faster than the original 2G iPhone I’ve been toting around for 23 months. I was able to go nearly 2 years without destroying my phone – in fact, it still looks like new. But that doesn’t keep me from being just a little apprehensive about carrying what amounts to a $600 shiny, new mini computer everywhere I go. I’m less worried about dropping it than I am about leaving it somewhere and having some thug steal it. That brings me to this wonderful story I read today bout a guy who lost his iPhone and was able to recover it using Apple’s MobileMe service. I won’t spoil the story for you, so you’ll have to read on.

We just visited Sonnenberg Gardens two weeks before the Big Day, taking notes on our favorite spots for Wedding photos. We found plenty of great photo opportunities, especially in the Japanese Garden (pictured above). View some of our pictures from this recent excursion in the Gallery.

If you’re a cook (or even a wannabe cook), then Williams-Sonoma is as close as you can get to Heaven. Emily and I stop by this store every couple weeks or so, admiring all the gleaming utensils, gadgets and yummy foods. This store is perfect for us (she does the cooking, I do the eating – and cleanup). So anyone looking for a nice wedding gift for yours truly might want to check out our registry. I know all Emily has been wishing for is her Le Creuset dutch ovens. And who knows – maybe I’ll finally get that ridiculously expensive Weber Genesis Grill!

I recently completed a complete overhaul of the Rochester area Kuk Sool Won web site. The site has a wealth of information for prospective students as well as a very nifty Flash-based photo gallery.

Kuk Sool Won is a mixed martial arts system that is dedicated to the cultivation of mental and physical strength and well-being, and to the preservation of traditional Korean Martial Arts. I’m one of the instructors/students at our Rochester dojahng and highly recommend our classes for people of all ages. I wrote a brief overview of Kuk Sool for those interested in learning more about it. For those interested in the history of Kuk Sool, there’s another article on our new web site that talks about the origins of the art and its founder. Check it out!

We finally did the whole wedding registry thing this month. We’re officially registered at Williams-Sonoma and Bed, Bath & Beyond. After being told by the store manager to register for several hundred items, we looked back at our list and couldn’t believe the amount of useless junk on there. Who really needs a panini press and a queen-sized air mattress anyway? More than half of it got removed, leaving us with the essentials.

Personally, I wanted to register at my two favorite stores, Lowes and Home Depot. Nothing says “have a happy marriage” like a new washing machine, an aluminum extension ladder and a bag of concrete mix.

I wanted to introduce everyone to a new venture of mine, Velocimedia. Think of Velocimedia as a mini ad agency for small businesses. Working with a couple of talented and amazing individuals, I provide graphic design, web development, video production, branding and marketing services to clients that are  interested in making their business stronger and more profitable. Velocimedia focuses on developing realistic solutions custom-tailored to each client. Granted, it takes money to invest to market yourself effectively, but it is not so much about the amount you have to spend but rather the way you spend it.

I’m very excited about Velocimedia. Visit our site to learn more about us and check out our portfolio. And of course, if you know of anyone that can benefit from our expertise, send them our way!

We’ve decided that our wedding photos will be taken at the beautiful and historic Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, right down the street from our reception site, Steamboat Landing. The gardens are unbelievable, plus we’re supporting a good cause. Sonnenberg features nine formal gardens, but we’ve selected three of our favorites for our photos:

The Japanese Garden: a detailed landscape, reminiscent of mountainous Japan, fashioned from a smooth lawn by a Japanese landscape designer and his team of workers. Water flows from a large cascade, passing the Tea House, and underneath 5 bridges.

The Rock Garden, my personal favorite, is Sonnenberg’s largest garden and features an original climbing Hydrangea that winds along the stone stair to the open lookout deck above. Its northern extension, with a winding path that traverses a limestone canyon, was once called the Wild Garden. The former Lily Garden, added last, features a water cascade, fed by geysers and springs, and a series of pools below.

The Italian Garden features over 15,000 red and gold annuals in each of four sunken beds, showcasing an elaborate “carpet bedding” style garden. It’s also home to a 16th-century Italian well-head and the Fountain of Hercules.

We just got back from a four-day vacation in Pennsylvania. We started off in Reading for Emily’s second-to-last Drum Corps show. Then we moved on to Philly, where we toured the city center and old city on foot. We saw the Comcast building, Love Park, City Hall, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell.

After Philadelphia, we headed to Hershey, PA for a visit to Chocolate World and the coasters at Hershey Park. You can check out the photos from our trip by clicking on the Love Park image below.

On June 30 2008 we had our annual visit from the Kuk Sa Nim, 10th Degree and Grandmaster in Kuk Sool Won. I tested for second degree black belt and was promoted that night. My new title is Kyo Sa Nim, and I’ll soon start learning new techniques and forms. With lots of practice, I can set my sights on Third Degree Black Belt in a few more years.

For more information on Kuk Sool Won in the Rochester area, visit our school’s web page (which is also managed by yours truly).