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.
Tenho uma paixao ardente por PlayPIX Casino, transporta para um mundo de folia cativante. Ha uma explosao de jogos emocionantes, oferecendo jogos de mesa imersivos. 100% ate €500 + 200 rodadas gratis. O acompanhamento e impecavel, com suporte preciso e rapido. Os saques sao rapidos como um raio, embora ofertas mais generosas dariam um toque especial. Em sintese, PlayPIX Casino vale uma visita epica para quem aposta com cripto ! Adicionalmente a interface e fluida e elegante, tornando cada sessao mais vibrante. Muito atrativo as opcoes variadas de apostas esportivas, proporciona vantagens personalizadas.
Ir para a web|
перепланировка москва https://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry14.ru .
стоимость оформления перепланировки https://www.stoimost-soglasovaniya-pereplanirovki-kvartiry.ru .
Tenho uma paixao intensa por BETesporte Casino, oferece um thrill esportivo unico. A variedade de titulos e impressionante, incluindo apostas esportivas palpitantes. Eleva a experiencia de jogo. O suporte ao cliente e de elite, sempre pronto para o jogo. Os saques sao rapidos como um sprint, no entanto bonus mais variados seriam um gol. Para finalizar, BETesporte Casino garante diversao a cada rodada para amantes de apostas esportivas ! Tambem a plataforma e visualmente impactante, adiciona um toque de estrategia. Igualmente impressionante os eventos comunitarios envolventes, assegura transacoes confiaveis.
Ver a pГЎgina|
mostbet uz mostbet uz
согласование перепланировки помещений https://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry14.ru/ .
перепланировка квартиры цена zakazat-proekt-pereplanirovki-kvartiry11.ru .
узаконивание перепланировки квартиры стоимость https://stoimost-soglasovaniya-pereplanirovki-kvartiry.ru .
Банкнота — это не только номинал, но и язык символов страны. На официальной странице Банка России собраны утвержденные изображения, шрифты и знаки, которые обеспечивают единый стиль и защищают эмиссию. Здесь вы найдёте актуальные файлы и регламенты применения, что важно для дизайнеров, типографий и СМИ. Ознакомьтесь с требованиями на https://cbr.ru/cash_circulation/simvoly-dlya-banknot/ — корректное использование символики поддерживает доверие к наличному обращению и помогает избегать ошибок в макетах и публикациях.
Онлайн номера
Хотите узнать больше о природе нашей страны? Присоединяйтесь к обсуждению.
Между прочим, если вас интересует Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы, посмотрите сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://alloopt.ru
Природа – наш главный учитель и защитник. Берегите её!
согласованте http://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry14.ru/ .
перепланировка квартиры проектные организации proekt-pereplanirovki-kvartiry17.ru .
узаконивание перепланировки цена https://stoimost-soglasovaniya-pereplanirovki-kvartiry.ru/ .
согласование перепланировки помещений http://www.soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry3.ru/ .
перепланировка и согласование http://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry11.ru/ .
условия бонуса melbet условия бонуса melbet .
мелбет официальный сайт вход http://www.melbetbonusy.ru .
согласовать перепланировку квартиры согласовать перепланировку квартиры .
mostbet uz https://mostbet4185.ru
соглосование http://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry3.ru/ .
дизайн проект перепланировки квартиры дизайн проект перепланировки квартиры .
сколько стоит перепланировка квартиры в бти http://www.zakazat-proekt-pereplanirovki-kvartiry11.ru .
услуги по узакониванию перепланировки soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry4.ru .
businessgrowthhub – Excited to see their next posts, potential is strong.
согласование перепланировки квартиры согласование перепланировки квартиры .
перепланировки квартир https://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry4.ru .
где сделать проект перепланировки квартиры http://proekt-pereplanirovki-kvartiry17.ru/ .
согласование проекта перепланировки квартиры https://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry3.ru .
сколько стоит проект перепланировки квартиры в москве https://www.proekt-pereplanirovki-kvartiry17.ru .
услуги по согласованию перепланировки квартиры http://www.soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry3.ru .
加入 JEETA，體驗全新的網上遊戲世界。
перепланировка комнаты https://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry4.ru .
согласовать перепланировку квартиры http://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry14.ru/ .
cjukfcjdfybt http://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry3.ru/ .
узаконить перепланировку москва стоимость stoimost-soglasovaniya-pereplanirovki-kvartiry.ru .
проект перепланировки недорого https://www.proekt-pereplanirovki-kvartiry17.ru .
соглосование http://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry4.ru .
cjukfcjdfybt soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry3.ru .
проектирование перепланировки в квартире http://www.proekt-pereplanirovki-kvartiry17.ru .
Refresh Renovation Southwest Charlotte
1251 Arrow Pine Ꭰr ｃ121,
Charlotte, NC 28273, United States
+19803517882
Apartment luxury renovations
услуги по узакониванию перепланировки http://soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry4.ru/ .
услуги по согласованию перепланировки квартиры http://www.soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-kvartiry3.ru/ .
проект перепланировки стоимость проект перепланировки стоимость .
bs2best зеркало Заинтригован, что вызывает резонанс в тёмных закоулках сети? Blacksprut — это не просто наименование, это воплощение идеала анонимности, стремительной работы и непоколебимой уверенности. Отправляйся на bs2best.at — в обитель, где раскрывают секреты, о которых предпочитают молчать. Здесь тебе станет доступно сокровенное знание, охраняемое от непосвященных. Исключительно для тех, кто понимает суть. Никаких улик. Никаких соглашений. Только Blacksprut. Не упусти драгоценную возможность стать пионером — bs2best.at распахнул врата для тех, кто ищет истину. Хватит ли тебе отваги заглянуть правде в лицо?
mostbet uz aviator http://mostbet4185.ru/
Great platform with wide token selection — it made my crypto journey easier. Definitely recommend to anyone in crypto.
Согласен, замечательная штука
Topping up your account at Internet-Crowngreen Casino in Canada is a quick and easy process using several secure emerging, taking into account the different preferences of the users of the crowngreen crowngreen casino.
Перманентный макияж: преимущества, особенности и советы
https://telegra.ph/Teplovizor-guide-kupit-10-14