Nor-Cal Summer Gathering 2009: Of Heat, Lethargy, and Duality

On August 15th, cosplayers stormed Kelley Park in San Jose for a summer picnic and photo opportunities among the scenery and on-site Japanese garden. Many thanks to cosplayers Petra and Kristie as well as photographers Oscar and Richard for organizing.

Some cosplay events need a write up full of words describing each incident, anecdote, and observation. And some events are a bunch of people coming together for food, fun, and photos each worth 1,000 words. Given my aversion to heat, I opt for the latter.

The trees of Kelley Park provided shade and good photo shoot locations. But I opted to mingle at the picnic area since it involved less walking and I figured everyone would visit and I could shoot them at some point during the day. I enjoy photos amid the shade from the chaotic patterns of leaves.

Cheese Kun, the Japanese Pizza Hut mascot, was traumatized by seeing his cousins baked into lasagna. He is the first football cute mascots I have seen recently.

Given the primarily indoor nature of my costume, the Japanese garden was as close to indoors as I could get. I need to adjust to being Kyoya, which would involve actually watching this Host Club anime at some point. Though I do know that regardless of host, each has to treat the visiting ladies well. Thanks to Ten for shooting and Hanako for being at the wrong place at the right time.

Ten had a few good shots there as well thanks to Ryu.

The pinata whacking was one confirmed group activity during the picnic aside from eating, chatting, and running off to take photos. Thanks to Laura and Saiho for providing the dead horse to beat.

I shot a few more rounds in my spray and pray method while remaining relatively in the shade. By 4:00PM we looted the leftovers and parted our separate ways.

It seemed that I gained a little sister to tease like any good big brother.

I close stating that anyone who thinks that this Traveling Valentine has retired is either lying, blind, or an idiot.

Meanwhile, in another part of San Jose: Michael attended the opening of Anime V, an anime store in the neighborhood. He bought himself a new Gundam model and shot photos while maintaining his vow of silence.