ode to summer

figured i should post these summer savories before they expire.
carrie and i are real proud of our uki wa. mine promptly deflated into a limp, useless pile of crap even before i could get to the ocean.


a bunch of peeps gathered in nagaoka for the annual summer matsuri featuring some spectacular fireworks. they have the prestige of being the longest running, or most expensive, or lengthiest display, or something or another in all of japan. all the ladies got decked out in yukata, which are cotton kimonos for hot weather.
[shot on my kodak disposable. makes you realize how spoiled we are with digital where you can check and see that your shots are complete dung and simply reshoot them.]




i was real sad to see the beer gardens crank closed their roofs for the last time. the $45 for 3 hours of all you can eat and drink deal is quite a warm weather staple.


you know your work party is fun when you find yourself stage diving at karaoke into the laps of all your hot, young male coworkers. bad girl. luckily the anything goes rule applies to all work parties and it really is like vegas in that what happens there stays there. [except when i tell the story about how i saw 2 middle-aged men stand up, drop their pants and drawers, and feign love making at another table's work party. hilarious example of the all-you-can guzzle deal urging people to act slightly out of character.]


carrie and i at naoetsu matsuri. this shot was taken by a real cute 5 year old who i figured couldn't break a plastic camera.