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.
Guzellik dunyas?nda neler olup bittigini merak edenler icin ozel bir derleme haz?rlad?k.
Bu arada, eger Sagl?kl? Beslenme ve Kulturel Lezzetler Kesfi ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya goz at?n.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://tarifkasif.com
Guzellik yolculugunuzda ilham alman?z dilegiyle!
pronostic foot gratuit 1xbet cameroun apk
Начнем путешествие по магическим уголкам российских заповедников.
Особенно понравился материал про Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы.
Смотрите сами:
https://alloopt.ru
Спасибо за внимание! Надеюсь, вам было интересно.
pariez sur le foot football africain
musionet – The site loads fast and the sections are well-structured for users.
Tenho um entusiasmo vibrante por PlayPIX Casino, oferece um prazer intenso e indomavel. A selecao de jogos e fenomenal, incluindo apostas esportivas que aceleram o coracao. O bonus de boas-vindas e cativante. O acompanhamento e impecavel, com suporte rapido e preciso. Os pagamentos sao seguros e fluidos, no entanto recompensas extras seriam eletrizantes. Resumindo, PlayPIX Casino oferece uma experiencia memoravel para jogadores em busca de adrenalina ! Acrescentando que o site e rapido e cativante, facilita uma imersao total. Muito atrativo os torneios regulares para competicao, proporciona vantagens personalizadas.
Ver o site|
Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was
wanting to know your situation; we have created some nice methods and we are looking to swap techniques with others, why not shoot me an email if interested.
Really no matter if someone doesn’t be aware of then its up to other viewers that they will
help, so here it happens.
кракен ios
kraken зеркало
tradingmasterclass – The site feels trustworthy, though I’ll still test ideas on demo first.
В Сочи клиника «Детокс» предлагает лечение запоя в стационаре с круглосуточным медицинским контролем. Здесь пациент получает безопасное и эффективное восстановление.
Детальнее – http://www.vyvod-iz-zapoya-sochi24.ru
football africain paris sportif foot
I am not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this information for my mission.
Tenho uma paixao ardente por BETesporte Casino, e uma plataforma que vibra como um estadio em dia de final. Ha uma explosao de jogos emocionantes, com slots modernos e tematicos. O bonus de boas-vindas e empolgante. O suporte ao cliente e excepcional, oferecendo respostas claras. Os saques sao rapidos como um drible, de vez em quando mais apostas gratis seriam incriveis. Resumindo, BETesporte Casino vale uma aposta certa para amantes de apostas esportivas ! Alem disso a navegacao e intuitiva e rapida, adiciona um toque de estrategia. Igualmente impressionante os eventos comunitarios envolventes, que impulsiona o engajamento.
Mergulhe nisso|
Корзины цветов — это камерная роскошь, которая уместна дома, в офисе и на мероприятиях: готовая композиция не требует вазы и сразу создаёт атмосферу. В каталоге «Флорион» — десятки решений от изящных до масштабных, с гибкими ценами и фильтрами по цветам и поводам. Оцените подбор на https://www.florion.ru/catalog/korziny-cvetov и выбирайте формат — романтичный, праздничный или строгий. Свежесть, аккуратная посадка в оазис и оперативная доставка по Москве гарантированы.
seoignite.click – Visuals complement the text nicely; the design feels polished and thought-out.
Добро пожаловать в удивительный мир природы России!
По теме “Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы”, нашел много полезного.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://alloopt.ru
Рад был поделиться с вами этой информацией. До новых встреч!
Начнем путешествие по магическим уголкам российских заповедников.
Кстати, если вас интересует Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы, загляните сюда.
Смотрите сами:
https://alloopt.ru
Спасибо за внимание! Надеюсь, вам было интересно.
кракен 2025
kraken qr code
Добро пожаловать в удивительный мир природы России!
Кстати, если вас интересует Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы, загляните сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://alloopt.ru
Вот такое у нас получилось погружение в мир природы.
You can explore various film themes through this service.Each selection includes curated posters, official trailers, and accessible streaming options,and the collections are organized by themes and categories.New titles are constantly added to keep the selection up-to-date.This approach helps you discover films more efficiently through unified access.You can access this content easily.
купить диплом в новочеркасске https://www.rudik-diplom7.ru .
купить диплом в клинцах купить диплом в клинцах .
Клиника «Похмельная служба» в Нижнем Новгороде предлагает капельницу от запоя с выездом на дом. Наши специалисты обеспечат вам комфортное и безопасное лечение в привычной обстановке.
Узнать больше – срочный вывод из запоя нижний новгород
Fiquei impressionado com BETesporte Casino, sinto um rugido de adrenalina. O catalogo e vibrante e diversificado, com slots modernos e tematicos. O bonus de boas-vindas e empolgante. A assistencia e eficiente e amigavel, acessivel a qualquer hora. As transacoes sao confiaveis, contudo ofertas mais generosas seriam bem-vindas. No fim, BETesporte Casino e essencial para apostadores para quem usa cripto para jogar ! Tambem a navegacao e intuitiva e rapida, adiciona um toque de estrategia. Notavel tambem o programa VIP com niveis exclusivos, fortalece o senso de comunidade.
http://www.betesporte365.app|
Cilt bak?m?na dair dogal guzellik s?rlar?n? ogrenmeye haz?r m?s?n?z?
“Guzellik ve Bak?mda Yenilikci Yaklas?mlar” konusuyla ilgili olarak harika bir makale var.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://zariften.com
Dogal guzelliginizi koruyun ve her zaman en iyi versiyonunuz olun.
Помощь наркологов в владимире – это важный аспект борьбы с алкоголизмом и наркоманией. Если вы или ваши близкие столкнулись с проблемами, связанными с алкоголизмом, специализированные центры реабилитации предлагают индивидуальные подходы лечения зависимостей. В Владимирской наркологической клинике предоставляется всесторонняя поддержка, включая очистку организма и психотерапию. Визиты к наркологу помогут определить уровень зависимости и разработать индивидуальную программу реабилитации. Поддержка психолога и поддержка семей наркоманов играют важное значение в процессе восстановления. Также важно учитывать профилактику зависимостей, чтобы избежать кризисных ситуаций. Анонимная помощь доступна всем, кто столкнулся с проблемой. Способы борьбы с алкогольной зависимостью включают индивидуальные техники, подходящие для каждого пациента. Обратитесь на vivod-iz-zapoya-vladimir026.ru для получения подробной информации и записи на консультацию.
kraken ссылка
kraken market
Sou totalmente viciado em PlayPIX Casino, proporciona uma aventura eletrizante. As opcoes sao amplas como uma selva, suportando jogos compativeis com criptomoedas. Eleva a experiencia de jogo. O acompanhamento e impecavel, acessivel a qualquer momento. Os saques sao rapidos como um raio, de vez em quando promocoes mais frequentes dariam um toque extra. Em sintese, PlayPIX Casino garante diversao constante para jogadores em busca de adrenalina ! Alem disso a plataforma e visualmente espetacular, aumenta o prazer de jogar. Notavel tambem o programa VIP com niveis exclusivos, assegura transacoes confiaveis.
Ver o site|
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
Modern Moda: Zarafet ve Stil Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki yaz? ozellikle hosuma gitti.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://modaevreni.com
Cildinizin dogall?g?n? ve sagl?g?n? korumak sizin elinizde.
Cilt bak?m?na dair dogal guzellik s?rlar?n? ogrenmeye haz?r m?s?n?z?
Moda ve Konforun Zirvesi: Trendler ve Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkatimi cekti.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://sadesik.com
Guzelliginizin ve sagl?g?n?z?n anahtar? dogru cilt bak?m?nda sakl?.
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
Modern Mobilya Trendleri ve Dekorasyon Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkatimi cekti.
Burada okuyabilirsiniz:
https://evimtarzi.com
Guzelliginizin ve sagl?g?n?z?n anahtar? dogru cilt bak?m?nda sakl?.
https://odysee.com/@mbembamutab
Dogal ve etkili cilt bak?m yontemlerine dair tuyolar? kesfedin.
Turk Mutfag?n?n Unutulmaz Lezzet Hikayeleri hakk?ndaki yaz? ozellikle hosuma gitti.
Burada okuyabilirsiniz:
https://turksofrasi.com
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
Faydal? Dekorasyon ve Mobilya Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki yaz? ozellikle hosuma gitti.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://cilginmobilya.com
Sagl?kl? ve dogal bir cilt icin duzenli bak?m sart.
urbanstylehub – Customer service was responsive when I had a query, appreciated that.
dailytrendstore – Loved the bold product categories—kitchen, beauty, gadgets—and nice variety.
кракен Россия
kraken darknet market
Tenho um entusiasmo vibrante por PlayPIX Casino, oferece um prazer intenso e indomavel. A variedade de titulos e estonteante, com slots de design inovador. Fortalece seu saldo inicial. Os agentes respondem com rapidez, sempre pronto para resolver. Os ganhos chegam sem atraso, contudo recompensas extras seriam eletrizantes. No geral, PlayPIX Casino garante diversao constante para fas de cassino online ! Vale destacar o design e moderno e vibrante, tornando cada sessao mais vibrante. Igualmente impressionante o programa VIP com niveis exclusivos, oferece recompensas continuas.
Ver a pГЎgina|
Откройте для себя прекрасные и загадочные места, которые находятся под охраной в нашей стране.
Кстати, если вас интересует Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы, загляните сюда.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://alloopt.ru
Что думаете о красоте природы России? Делитесь мнениями!
Sou totalmente viciado em BETesporte Casino, proporciona uma aventura cheia de emocao. Ha uma explosao de jogos emocionantes, oferecendo jogos de mesa dinamicos. Com uma oferta inicial para impulsionar. O acompanhamento e impecavel, sempre pronto para entrar em campo. Os pagamentos sao seguros e fluidos, embora mais apostas gratis seriam incriveis. No geral, BETesporte Casino e essencial para apostadores para entusiastas de jogos modernos ! Acrescentando que o site e veloz e envolvente, tornando cada sessao mais competitiva. Notavel tambem as opcoes variadas de apostas esportivas, fortalece o senso de comunidade.
Saiba mais|
2023 y?l?na damgas?n? vuran guzellik ve kozmetik trendlerini sizler icin derledik.
Yeri gelmisken, eger Renkli Mutfak Tarifleri ve Beslenme Ipuclar? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya bir bak?n.
Burada okuyabilirsiniz:
https://evtarifim.com
Guzellik yolculugunuzda ilham alman?z dilegiyle!
Great blog you have here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours these days.
I truly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
Сегодня мы отправимся на виртуальную экскурсию в уникальные уголки природы России.
Хочу выделить раздел про Изучение ООПТ России: парки, заповедники, водоемы.
Ссылка ниже:
https://alloopt.ru
Жду ваших отзывов и вопросов по теме.
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in truth was a entertainment account it.
Look complex to far introduced agreeable from you!
However, how could we be in contact?
Estou completamente apaixonado por PlayPIX Casino, sinto um pulsar selvagem. O catalogo e exuberante e diversificado, oferecendo jogos de mesa envolventes. Com uma oferta inicial para impulsionar. O servico esta disponivel 24/7, com suporte rapido e preciso. Os pagamentos sao seguros e fluidos, no entanto promocoes mais frequentes dariam um toque extra. No geral, PlayPIX Casino garante diversao constante para entusiastas de jogos modernos ! Alem disso o design e moderno e vibrante, tornando cada sessao mais vibrante. Notavel tambem os eventos comunitarios envolventes, fortalece o senso de comunidade.
Dar uma olhada|
диплом об окончании техникума купить в диплом об окончании техникума купить в .
seoignite.click – I just visited and the site feels sleek with a very modern clean layout.
Gelecegin cilt bak?m? ve makyaj trendlerinin izinde olal?m!
Bu arada, eger Fonksiyonel ve Estetik Mobilya Cozumleri ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya goz at?n.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://icmekanturk.com
Kendinize en uygun guzellik rehberini bulun ve yeni baslang?clar yap?n.
Yeniliklere ac?k ve her daim cekici gorunmek isteyenler icin tuyolar.
En Populer Yemek ve Diyet Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkate degerdi.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://ascieli.com
Umar?z bu trendler, tarz?n?za yeni bir soluk getirir.