Photo © 2012 Markus Spiering
Click here for original image.
A hundred geeks with cameras. Yup, and I was buried smack-dab in the middle of ’em. Didn’t want to be there. Didn’t mean to be there.
I remember in a high-school science class, we saw a film of an amoeba eating a paramecium. The amoeba’s body flowed around its prey, and after it had the poor bug surrounded, it just, kinda… digested it, right there, just like that. The paramecium squiggled and squirmed, tried valiantly to escape, but too little, too late. And then—poof!—it shimmered and was absorbed into the predator. It was gone.
That was me, that poor, little paramecium. My goofy boyfriend pulled me in before I knew what was going on. And by the time I realized what was going on, I was surrounded, and being digested by an amoeba, and unable to escape.
Chet had begged me to come along. He said I’d enjoy it. For the record, I didn’t. But I was glad he was finally enjoying something. He’s been so bent out of shape since he lost his job last April. Laid off on April the first, if you can get that joke.
We scaled back on our standard of living. That didn’t bug me so much. But what really surprised me was how much it got him down. He stopped doing anything constructive, spent all day watching TV, wasn’t looking for work, said we’d do fine on his unemployment check.
We’ve been surviving on peanut butter and ramen noodles and pasta and frozen burritos. I don’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal.
I started by bugging him about his lack of work. He said he wanted a little vacation. I gave him a little vacation, then asked again. He said he was trying, but that nothing was available. I didn’t believe him, not that much. I asked him what job ads he had responded to each day. Most days, he just ignored me. Some days, yelled at me. I told him we could no longer afford cable TV. He convinced his parents to pay the bill.
I thought of getting ahold of a sledgehammer and having an “accident” with the TV set, but then I thought twice: we might need to sell it someday.
He was partially right, of course. There were no jobs in his field. But what bugged me most was that he was letting it get to him. His mind began wasting away to nothing, nothing at all, all day everyday. And as each day continued, he sank lower into the couch, and further into pity party.
I didn’t know how to snap him out of it. But his birthday gift did. One of his old office buddies sent him a digital camera, along with a really cool-looking book about how to take fun pictures about anything at all.
So when he threw himself into the hobby, and the hobby became an obsession, and a obsession became an endeavor, and when he began studying photography and framing and composition and lighting, and posted photo after photo to Flickr, and when he began hanging out with other camera-heads, and started talking about pursuing it professionally… I wanted to object. But not for the reason you might think. I wanted to object, because I was beginning to feel ignored.
But at least he was smiling again, and I had missed his smile. And the TV remained powered-off, except for the weekly exhibitions of his latest photos, which he would force me to watch, no matter how many hours I had worked that day.
Then, when he begged me to come to this big gathering of camera-heads, I gave in. I didn’t want to at first, but he pushed me and pressed me, and then he cuddled up next to me and told me about how much fun it was going to be to get away and that we hadn’t had a vacation in forever and that I needed a break—which was true. And he kissed me, and I melted and said yes. Sigh.
I hated it, didn’t enjoy it at all. There were no other camera-head-significant-others there. The food was okay, but the guest speaker spoke only camera-ese, and told only stupid camera jokes and camera stories. Then those assembled talked all afternoon about gadgets and techniques and awards, and showed each other the contents of their camera cases. Chet even got some business advice, which may or may not have been good advice, but he was enjoying himself, even though I had no idea what anyone was talking about.
“This is my girlfriend, Katy.”
And I smiled and faded into the background, maybe fondled a drink and tried to look interested in what they were saying while pondering the intricacies of the room’s potted flora. Too much, too far, too long. I was out of it. I so wanted to go home.
We started toward the door, walked out into the afternoon sun. I made a move toward the car, but Chet grabbed my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction. I looked up and saw that we were surrounded by a growing crowd, which was closing in around us on all sides. I was trapped, and one of the geeks with a camera was pointing it right at me. The other targets pointed their cameras back at him, but I was defenseless, hair akimbo, probably with a piece of spinach stuck between my teeth… not that it mattered, as no one could see my teeth.
The geek said, “Alright! Ready everybody?! Cheeeezzze!”
And everyone said, “Cheeeezzze!”
“Hold on!” He interrupted them, futzing with his camera. “Okay…”
“Quick!” said Chet. “Somebody fire before he reloads!” And raised his camera and took aim.
And that’s when the geek pulled the trigger.
потолочки http://natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod-1.ru/ .
Начнем путешествие по магическим уголкам российских заповедников.
Зацепил раздел про Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://alloopt.ru
Спасибо за внимание! Надеюсь, вам было интересно.
https://telegra.ph/Benzogenerator-kupit-v-yaroslavle-10-13-4
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to
this fantastic blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to brand new updates and will share this website with my Facebook group.
Chat soon!
сайт натяжные потолки сайт натяжные потолки .
компания потолочкин http://stretch-ceilings-nizhniy-novgorod-1.ru .
Вас интересуют природные богатства России? Давайте исследуем их вместе!
Между прочим, если вас интересует Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы, посмотрите сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://alloopt.ru
Надеюсь, вы нашли это путешествие по природе познавательным.
Вас интересуют природные богатства России? Давайте исследуем их вместе!
По теме “Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы”, там просто кладезь информации.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://alloopt.ru
Рад был поделиться с вами этой информацией. До новых встреч!
сайт натяжные потолки сайт натяжные потолки .
potolochkin ru http://stretch-ceilings-nizhniy-novgorod-1.ru/ .
потолочкин натяжные потолки нижний новгород отзывы http://www.natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod.ru .
потолочкин натяжные потолки нижний новгород отзывы natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod.ru .
натяжные потолки потолочкин natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod.ru .
купить диплом в находке купить диплом в находке .
натяжные натяжные .
потолки нижний новгород потолки нижний новгород .
https://homeclimat36.ru/ – Монтаж сплит-системы.
натяжные потолки официальный http://www.natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod.ru/ .
потолочников натяжные потолки http://www.natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod.ru/ .
https://raymark.ru/ – лазерные станки и фрезерное оборудование «RAYMARK»
потолочкин потолки натяжные http://stretch-ceilings-nizhniy-novgorod-1.ru/ .
отзывы потолочкин натяжные потолки stretch-ceilings-nizhniy-novgorod-1.ru .
компания потолочкин натяжные потолки https://natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod.ru .
натяжной потолок в нижнем новгороде натяжной потолок в нижнем новгороде .
купить диплом о высшем образовании с занесением в реестр в красноярске купить диплом о высшем образовании с занесением в реестр в красноярске .
купить диплом техникума с реестром купить диплом техникума с реестром .
диплом колледжа госзнак купить frei-diplom8.ru .
https://telegra.ph/Mavic-3-kupit-v-yaroslavle-10-12-5
Откройте для себя прекрасные и загадочные места, которые находятся под охраной в нашей стране.
Зацепил раздел про Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы.
Смотрите сами:
https://alloopt.ru
Спасибо за внимание! Надеюсь, вам было интересно.
куплю диплом высшего образования куплю диплом высшего образования .
нат потолки https://natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod-1.ru .
Hello there, I found your blog by means of Google whilst looking for a related topic, your website got here up, it
seems to be good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, just become alert to your weblog thru Google,
and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna be careful for brussels.
I’ll be grateful when you proceed this in future.
Lots of folks might be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
best games
Snapped up $MTAUR in presale; price to 0.00012 next stage urges action. In-game currency edges gameplay. Team’s data-driven marketing wins.
minotaurus coin
The using the mobile app tools are low fees and fast transactions.
Гарри Кейн ар дайым максатка умтулат.Бул оюнчу дайыма эң мыктылардын арасында. Атактуу англиялык чабуулчу тууралуу көбүрөөк билүү үчүн кир: https://harry-kane-kg.com/. Футбол дүйнөсү мындай оюнчуларды сейрек көрөт.
Кейндин айлык акысы чоң талкууга себеп болду.
Гарри Кейндин балдары футболду жакшы көрүшөт. Гол киргизүүдө ал өзгөчө инстинктке ээ. Бул оюнчу эч качан берилишпейт. Бул оюнчу ар дайым өнүгүүгө умтулган. Кейндин упай көрсөткүчү абдан жогору. Кейндин трансферлери ар дайым чоң темалар.
https://2bs-2best.at
https://www.pexels.com/@bet-pulso-2156615528/
Вас интересуют природные богатства России? Давайте исследуем их вместе!
Для тех, кто ищет информацию по теме “Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы”, нашел много полезного.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://alloopt.ru
Спасибо за внимание! Надеюсь, вам было интересно.
https://telegra.ph/Bponizhelet-zhnec-10-12-5
Испытываете сомнения, где же именно комфортнее смотреть фильмы онлайн? Попробуйте КИНОГО (https://kinogo-kino1.biz/). Я уверен на все сто, что вы останетесь в полном восторге. Испытано временем: весь контент и функционал на Kinogo полностью бесплатен, качество трансляции и контента – на высочайшем уровне, и не требуется необходимость в регистрации. Горячие новинки 2025 года собраны в одном месте!
Tulisan ini sangat informatif! Penjelasan mengenai Situs Judi Bola,
Situs Parlay Gacor, dan situs parlay terasa lengkap dan padat.
Penulis juga mampu mengangkat KUBET dengan gaya bahasa yang ringan namun tetap profesional.
Ditambah lagi, informasi tentang toto macau dan kubet login menjadikan artikel ini lebih berwarna dan tidak monoton.
Аренда автобуса для детей https://povozkin.ru
Заказ автобусов для перевозки людей https://povozkin.ru
bester online wetten beste anbieter (Steve) sportwetten
Sou viciado no brilho de BR4Bet Casino, oferece uma aventura que brilha como um candelabro em chamas. O leque do cassino e um brilho de delicias. oferecendo sessoes ao vivo que reluzem como chamas. Os agentes voam como claroes. oferecendo respostas claras como um farol. Os ganhos chegam rapido como uma lanterna. porem mais giros gratis seriam brilhantes. Em sintese, BR4Bet Casino e um clarao de emocoes para quem curte apostar com estilo iluminado! Adicionalmente o design e fluido como uma lanterna. fazendo o cassino brilhar como um farol.
cnpj br4bet|
Estou completamente alucinado por OshCasino, e um cassino online que detona como um vulcao. As opcoes de jogo no cassino sao ricas e incendiarias, oferecendo sessoes de cassino ao vivo que sao uma chama. A equipe do cassino entrega um atendimento que e uma labareda, com uma ajuda que e puro calor. Os pagamentos do cassino sao lisos e blindados, porem mais recompensas no cassino seriam um diferencial vulcanico. Em resumo, OshCasino garante uma diversao de cassino que e um vulcao para os aventureiros do cassino! Alem disso a navegacao do cassino e facil como uma trilha vulcanica, aumenta a imersao no cassino a mil.
osh bonus|
porn
потолочкин натяжные потолки нижний новгород отзывы https://natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod.ru .
Ich habe einen totalen Hang zu SpinBetter Casino, es fuhlt sich an wie ein Strudel aus Freude. Das Angebot an Spielen ist phanomenal, mit aufregenden Sportwetten. Der Kundenservice ist ausgezeichnet, bietet klare Losungen. Die Zahlungen sind sicher und smooth, trotzdem mehr Rewards waren ein Plus. Global gesehen, SpinBetter Casino bietet unvergessliche Momente fur Spieler auf der Suche nach Action ! Nicht zu vergessen die Navigation ist kinderleicht, gibt den Anreiz, langer zu bleiben. Zusatzlich zu beachten die Community-Events, die Flexibilitat bieten.
https://spinbettercasino.de/|