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.
brauhausschmitzoktoberfest.com – Overall a strong event web presence; conveys excitement and authenticity.
pp4fdr.org – The homepage feels welcoming and really pulls me in to learn more.
На первом приёме врач-нарколог проводит осмотр, оценивает витальные показатели (АД, ЧСС, SpO2, температура), при показаниях — портативный ЭКГ-скрининг и экспресс-лабораторию, использует шкалы выраженности абстиненции и тревоги. Результаты сразу переводятся в план на ближайшие 72 часа: инфузионная поддержка или таблетированные режимы, «вечерний ритуал» для нормализации сна, карта триггеров и краткое психообразование. Дальше мы обсуждаем цели на 7 дней: что должно измениться и как мы это измерим (сон, тревога, «тяга», энергия, работоспособность).
Ознакомиться с деталями – https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-petrozavodsk0.ru/
Cilt bak?m?na dair dogal guzellik s?rlar?n? ogrenmeye haz?r m?s?n?z?
“Lezzetin Zirvesine C?karan SofraKeyfi Hikayeleri” konusuyla ilgili olarak oras? tam bir bilgi hazinesi.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://sofrakeyfi.com
Cildinizin dogall?g?n? ve sagl?g?n? korumak sizin elinizde.
clubinorout.com – The visuals are inviting and the interface feels smooth.
В «КаменМед Ренессанс» круглосуточно работает выездная служба: капельницы 24/7, мониторинг витальных показателей, экспресс-скрининг риска осложнений, «тихие» маршруты госпитализации при необходимости. Мы придерживаемся принципа «минимально достаточной терапии»: никаких универсальных «коктейлей», только персонализированные решения с понятной логикой назначения. Такой подход защищает пациента от полипрагмазии, уменьшает побочные эффекты и позволяет честно видеть вклад каждого шага — от первого часа детокса до возвращения к работе.
Подробнее – наркологические клиники алкоголизм
brauhausschmitzoktoberfest.com – The event page looks lively and well-organized, very appealing.
J’adore l’energie sonore de BassBet Casino, c’est une plateforme qui pulse comme un mixage parfait. Le catalogue est riche en surprises, offrant des sessions live immersives. Amplifiant l’excitation du jeu. Disponible 24/7 via chat ou email, joignable a tout moment. Les gains arrivent sans attendre, mais des bonus plus varies seraient un hit. Au final, BassBet Casino vaut une session live pour les fans de casino en ligne ! Ajoutons que l’interface est fluide comme un mix, donne envie de prolonger la fete. Egalement genial les tournois reguliers pour la competition, assure des transactions fiables.
bassbetcasinoappfr.com|
Ich bin begeistert von der Welt bei Snatch Casino, es entfuhrt in eine Welt voller Spa?. Die Spielauswahl ist ein echtes Highlight, mit traditionellen Tischspielen. Mit sofortigen Einzahlungen. Die Mitarbeiter sind immer hilfsbereit. Die Zahlungen sind sicher und sofortig, trotzdem mehr Aktionen waren ein Gewinn. Letztlich, Snatch Casino ist ein Ort fur pure Unterhaltung. Daruber hinaus die Benutzeroberflache ist flussig und intuitiv, eine vollstandige Eintauchen ermoglicht. Ein wichtiger Vorteil die haufigen Turniere fur Wettbewerb, exklusive Boni bieten.
https://snatch-casino.de/de-de/|
pp4fdr.org – I appreciate how accessible the information is; not overloaded with jargon.
J’adore l’ame soul de BassBet Casino, ca transporte dans un univers de notes profondes. Les titres sont d’une richesse envoutante, avec des slots aux designs soul. Amplifiant l’excitation du jeu. Disponible 24/7 via chat ou email, avec une aide precise. Les transactions sont fiables, cependant quelques tours gratuits en plus seraient top. En resume, BassBet Casino est un must pour les joueurs pour les amateurs de sensations vibrantes ! De plus le design est moderne et soul, donne envie de prolonger la melodie. Egalement genial les tournois reguliers pour la competition, qui dynamise l’engagement.
bassbetcasinopromocodefr.com|
clubinorout.com – I appreciate the clear navigation and easy-to-find information.
Dogal guzellik ve cilt bak?m?nda uzmanlar?n s?rlar?na yak?ndan bak?yoruz.
Dogal Guzellik Yontemleri: Cilt ve Sac Bak?m? Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkatimi cekti.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://ipekcilt.com
Cilt bak?m?n? hayat?n?z?n bir parcas? haline getirin ve fark? gorun.
Je suis totalement envoute par BassBet Casino, ca offre un plaisir melodique. Il y a une profusion de jeux excitants, proposant des jeux de table elegants. Amplifiant le plaisir de jeu. Le service est disponible 24/7, garantissant un support de qualite. Les gains arrivent sans delai, bien que plus de promos regulieres ajouteraient du groove. Pour conclure, BassBet Casino offre une experience memorable pour les fans de casino en ligne ! En bonus la navigation est simple et rythmee, amplifie le plaisir de jouer. Un autre atout les evenements communautaires engageants, renforce le sentiment de communaute.
bassbetcasinobonusfr.com|
купить диплом в березниках купить диплом в березниках .
Как купить Бошки в Свирске?Люди, подскажите – присмотрел https://mytekhosmotr.ru
. Цены адекватные, доставляют. Кто-то пробовал с ними? Как работают?
concernedaboutpollution.com – I appreciate how accessible the information is; it doesn’t feel overly technical.
купить диплом бухгалтера купить диплом бухгалтера .
купить диплом с регистрацией купить диплом с регистрацией .
concernedaboutpollution.com – The mission comes through clearly; nice work on clarity of purpose.
mdcphilly.com – The website design is clean and professional, very well done.
The best of the best is here: https://jnp.chitkara.edu.in
Best selection of the day: https://labhgroup.com
Only top materials: https://elitetravelgroup.net
купить диплом о высшем образовании с занесением в реестр в красноярске купить диплом о высшем образовании с занесением в реестр в красноярске .
concernedaboutpollution.com – Visuals and text are balanced nicely; gives the site a professional look.
J88 Global – Link Trang Chủ J88.COM Uy Tín Mới Nhất 2025
J88 là nhà cái trực tuyến được nhiều người
chơi tin tưởng nhờ kho trò chơi đa dạng, từ casino,
thể thao đến slot game hấp dẫn. Tham gia tại đơn vị này,
bạn sẽ trải nghiệm các tính năng hiện đại, thưởng thức giải trí an toàn, dễ dàng thắng lớn và nâng cao trải nghiệm cá cược
mỗi ngày. Cùng tìm hiểu thông tin chi tiết về sân chơi này trong bài viết sau đây!
https://j88811.com/
купить диплом менеджера по туризму купить диплом менеджера по туризму .
mdcphilly.com – Content is clear, well-organized and easy to understand.
Dogal guzellik ve cilt bak?m?nda uzmanlar?n s?rlar?na yak?ndan bak?yoruz.
Modern Tesettur Moda Trendleri ve Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki bolum dikkatimi cekti.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://giyimkeyfi.com
Guzelliginizin ve sagl?g?n?z?n anahtar? dogru cilt bak?m?nda sakl?.
asianspeedd8.com – Graphics and layout work together nicely to create a cohesive look.
grant-jt.com – The homepage feels calm and focused; no unnecessary clutter.
mdcphilly.com – The typography and spacing really enhance readability; good choice.
berrybombselfiespot.com – I’ll save it as a “must-visit” when I’m in Raleigh—I like what they’re doing.
komunahouse.com – The layout works well on mobile too; responsive design appreciated.
https://laminat98.ru/ Если вы ищете надежного поставщика качественных напольных покрытий, магазин напольных покрытий станет вашим верным помощником. Здесь представлен широкий выбор материалов от ведущих производителей, квалифицированные консультанты помогут вам подобрать оптимальное решение, учитывая ваши индивидуальные требования и бюджет. В магазине вы найдете не только ламинат, но и другие популярные виды напольных покрытий, а также все необходимые сопутствующие материалы для укладки и ухода за полом.
concernedaboutpollution.com – Looking forward to more updates and deeper dives into related topics.
купить диплом в новокузнецке купить диплом в новокузнецке .
asianspeedd8.com – The user interface is simple but effective—good choice for casual users.
Je suis charme par Impressario Casino, il procure une experience exquise. Le catalogue est riche en saveurs, offrant des sessions live sophistiquees. Avec des depots instantanes. Le support client est impeccable, garantissant un support de qualite. Les retraits sont fluides comme la Seine, parfois des bonus plus varies seraient un delice. Au final, Impressario Casino est une plateforme qui enchante pour les passionnes de jeux modernes ! Ajoutons que le design est moderne et chic, donne envie de prolonger l’experience. A souligner les tournois reguliers pour la competition, offre des recompenses continues.
Explorer maintenant|
mdcphilly.com – The visuals are strong and add to the appeal of the website.
grant-jt.com – Overall feels like a professional site built with purpose.
gailcooperspeaker.com – I’m looking forward to reading more about the work and upcoming events.
berrybombselfiespot.com – Easy to find what this place offers; information is clear and inviting.
komunahouse.com – The site has a strong, creative vibe; really draws you in.
asianspeedd8.com – The user interface is simple but effective—good choice for casual users.
MediUomo: Medi Uomo – Viagra generico con pagamento sicuro
concernedaboutpollution.com – The topic is relevant and handled in a thoughtful, well-structured way.
grant-jt.com – The site’s design feels clean and minimal, nice first impression.
Je suis absolument seduit par Monte Cryptos Casino, il propose une odyssee chiffree. La selection de jeux est astronomique, incluant des paris live dynamiques. 100% jusqu’a 300 € + tours gratuits. Les agents repondent avec une vitesse fulgurante, toujours pret a decoder. Les paiements sont securises par blockchain, mais des recompenses supplementaires seraient ideales. Au final, Monte Cryptos Casino est une plateforme qui domine l’univers crypto pour les amateurs de casino en ligne ! Ajoutons que le site est rapide et futuriste, donne envie de prolonger l’aventure. Un avantage notable les evenements communautaires decentralises, propose des avantages uniques.
Apprendre aujourd’hui|