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.
moveforwardnow – I’m impressed with the style and the user-friendly layout.
https://www.melbet-kz.biz – домен с приложением для Android
modernstylemarket – Navigation is intuitive and the presentation feels professional and well-thought-out.
лаки пари регистрация – зарегистрироваться в приложении LuckyPari без паспорта и получить фрибет
discoverpossibility – I really like how easy it is to explore their content and ideas.
moveforwardnow – I’m impressed with the style and the user-friendly layout.
modernstylemarket – The design is modern and smooth, browsing felt effortless today.
http://www.luckypari-uz.cc – вывести выигрыш без задержек
https://melbet-kz.us/ – адрес с поддержкой iOS и Android
http://www.luckypari-uz.cc – начать игру в онлайн-казино
modernstylemarket – Found some stylish items already, can’t wait to look deeper into their collection.
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
“Cilt Bak?m? ve Guzellik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?” konusunda bilgi arayanlar icin harika bir makale var.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://bakimruhu.com
Sagl?kl? ve dogal bir cilt icin duzenli bak?m sart.
http://luckypari-uz.cc/ – адрес с ограниченным функционалом
Cilt bak?m?n?z? bir ust seviyeye c?karman?n zaman? geldi, siz ne dersiniz?
Faydal? Dekorasyon ve Mobilya Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkate degerdi.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://cilginmobilya.com
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
http://melbet-kz.us – домен для внутреннего тестирования
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
“Guzellik ve Bak?m: Trendler ve Ipuclar?” konusunda bilgi arayanlar icin harika bir makale var.
Kendiniz bak?n:
[url=https://ciltruhu.com]https://ciltruhu.com[/url]
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
Cilt bak?m?n?z? bir ust seviyeye c?karman?n zaman? geldi, siz ne dersiniz?
Bu arada, eger Moda ve Konforun Zirvesi: Trendler ve Ipuclar? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya goz at?n.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://sadesik.com
Dogal guzelliginizi koruyun ve her zaman en iyi versiyonunuz olun.
А с какого дживика еще больше делать можно? Ярославль купить кокаин, мефедрон, гашиш, бошки, скорость, меф, закладку, заказать онлайн Не поняла?
luckypari – официальный сайт LuckyPari в Узбекистане с фрибетами
modernstylemarket – Navigation is intuitive and the presentation feels professional and well-thought-out.
https://www.luckypari-uz.cc – домен без перебоев и лагов
pharmacy discount codes AU Australian pharmacy reviews pharmacy discount codes AU
Спасибо за выведение клопов! Всё чисто и безопасно.
уничтожение клопов холодным туманом
https://luckypari-uz.cc/ – доступ к казино в Узбекистане
J’adore l’ambiance electrisante de Wild Robin Casino, c’est un lieu ou l’adrenaline coule a flots. Le choix de jeux est tout simplement enorme, comprenant des titres adaptes aux cryptomonnaies. Le bonus initial est super. Les agents sont rapides et pros. Les transactions sont toujours fiables, par moments des bonus varies rendraient le tout plus fun. En bref, Wild Robin Casino offre une aventure inoubliable. Ajoutons aussi le design est style et moderne, ce qui rend chaque moment plus vibrant. Un plus le programme VIP avec des recompenses exclusives, offre des recompenses continues.
Parcourir maintenant|
http://www.melbet-kz.biz – адрес для устройств с ограничениями
Je suis sous le charme de Wild Robin Casino, on y trouve une energie contagieuse. La selection de jeux est impressionnante, incluant des paris sportifs en direct. 100% jusqu’a 500 € avec des spins gratuits. Les agents repondent avec efficacite. Les retraits sont ultra-rapides, toutefois des offres plus consequentes seraient parfaites. En somme, Wild Robin Casino vaut une exploration vibrante. A mentionner la plateforme est visuellement electrisante, facilite une immersion totale. A mettre en avant les tournois reguliers pour la competition, propose des avantages uniques.
Trouver les dГ©tails|
http://www.luckypari-uz.cc – резервный домен для старых устройств
лаки пари узбекистан – лучший выбор для среди узбекистанских игроков — заработок на LuckyPari на сумы
Je suis sous le charme de Wild Robin Casino, on ressent une ambiance festive. Les options de jeu sont infinies, proposant des jeux de cartes elegants. Il offre un demarrage en fanfare. Le support client est irreprochable. Les transactions sont fiables et efficaces, mais plus de promotions variees ajouteraient du fun. En conclusion, Wild Robin Casino est un must pour les passionnes. Ajoutons que la navigation est intuitive et lisse, facilite une experience immersive. Un avantage notable les tournois reguliers pour la competition, propose des privileges sur mesure.
Parcourir le site|
J’ai un faible pour Wild Robin Casino, ca donne une vibe electrisante. Les options de jeu sont infinies, proposant des jeux de table classiques. 100% jusqu’a 500 € avec des free spins. Les agents sont toujours la pour aider. Les paiements sont securises et rapides, de temps en temps des offres plus consequentes seraient parfaites. Au final, Wild Robin Casino est un endroit qui electrise. De surcroit l’interface est lisse et agreable, ce qui rend chaque session plus excitante. Particulierement interessant le programme VIP avec des recompenses exclusives, assure des transactions fluides.
AccГ©der au site|
лаки пари ставки – ставить на футбол в Лаки Пари с киберспортом и выигрывать реальные деньги
http://melbet-kz.us/ – сайт с минимальной защитой
мелбет – начать играть в надежном казино с фрибетом уже сегодня
عرض ادب محمد آقا
به نظرم امتحان کنید
سایت کرش گیم
رو برای تگزاس پوکر.
این سرویس ویژگیهای جذابی ارائه میده و برای کاربران ایرانی مناسبه.
تنوع ورزش بالا و توصیه دارم ببینید سایت رو.
خداحافظ.
Je suis enthousiasme par Wild Robin Casino, ca transporte dans un monde d’excitation. On trouve une profusion de jeux palpitants, offrant des sessions live palpitantes. 100% jusqu’a 500 € plus des tours gratuits. Le suivi est toujours au top. Le processus est clair et efficace, parfois quelques free spins en plus seraient bienvenus. En bref, Wild Robin Casino vaut une exploration vibrante. Pour ajouter la navigation est fluide et facile, apporte une touche d’excitation. Un point cle le programme VIP avec des recompenses exclusives, garantit des paiements rapides.
Obtenir des infos|
Je suis captive par Instant Casino, il offre une experience dynamique. La variete des jeux est epoustouflante, incluant des paris sportifs en direct. Il rend le debut de l’aventure palpitant. Disponible a toute heure via chat ou email. Les retraits sont lisses comme jamais, toutefois des bonus plus varies seraient un plus. Dans l’ensemble, Instant Casino est une plateforme qui pulse. Ajoutons aussi le design est moderne et attrayant, permet une immersion complete. Un element fort les evenements communautaires pleins d’energie, cree une communaute vibrante.
Explorer davantage|
рейтинг казино
J’adore l’energie de Frumzi Casino, on y trouve une energie contagieuse. On trouve une profusion de jeux palpitants, avec des slots aux designs captivants. 100% jusqu’a 500 € plus des tours gratuits. Le service client est excellent. Les paiements sont surs et efficaces, par moments quelques tours gratuits en plus seraient geniaux. Pour finir, Frumzi Casino vaut une visite excitante. A signaler la navigation est fluide et facile, amplifie le plaisir de jouer. Egalement genial les paiements securises en crypto, propose des privileges personnalises.
Aller voir|
http://melbet-kz.biz/ – адрес с базовыми платежами
J’adore la vibe de Instant Casino, il propose une aventure palpitante. La gamme est variee et attrayante, proposant des jeux de cartes elegants. Avec des depots fluides. Le support est efficace et amical. Les retraits sont ultra-rapides, malgre tout des recompenses supplementaires seraient parfaites. Au final, Instant Casino est un must pour les passionnes. Pour couronner le tout la plateforme est visuellement dynamique, ce qui rend chaque session plus excitante. Egalement excellent le programme VIP avec des privileges speciaux, offre des recompenses continues.
Obtenir des infos|
melbet-kz.us/ – ресурс с быстрой загрузкой
Je suis epate par Cheri Casino, on ressent une ambiance de fete. Le catalogue de titres est vaste, avec des machines a sous aux themes varies. Le bonus initial est super. Disponible 24/7 pour toute question. Les retraits sont fluides et rapides, malgre tout des bonus diversifies seraient un atout. Pour finir, Cheri Casino offre une experience hors du commun. Notons aussi la plateforme est visuellement electrisante, booste le fun du jeu. Egalement excellent les options de paris sportifs diversifiees, qui motive les joueurs.
Commencer Г dГ©couvrir|
Je suis totalement conquis par Frumzi Casino, il propose une aventure palpitante. La variete des jeux est epoustouflante, comprenant des jeux compatibles avec les cryptos. 100% jusqu’a 500 € plus des tours gratuits. Le support client est irreprochable. Le processus est clair et efficace, parfois des recompenses supplementaires seraient parfaites. En fin de compte, Frumzi Casino assure un divertissement non-stop. De surcroit la navigation est fluide et facile, amplifie le plaisir de jouer. Particulierement fun le programme VIP avec des avantages uniques, renforce la communaute.
AccГ©der maintenant|
Je suis accro a Instant Casino, il propose une aventure palpitante. La selection de jeux est impressionnante, offrant des sessions live immersives. Le bonus de depart est top. Le service client est excellent. Les transactions sont fiables et efficaces, par ailleurs des offres plus genereuses seraient top. Dans l’ensemble, Instant Casino est un must pour les passionnes. Notons aussi la plateforme est visuellement dynamique, donne envie de prolonger l’aventure. A signaler les transactions crypto ultra-securisees, garantit des paiements securises.
Aller à l’intérieur|
регистрация melbet – оформить профиль на Melbet без паспорта и сделать первую ставку
If you are going for most excellent contents like myself,
only visit this site daily because it provides quality contents, thanks
growtogethercommunity – Great first impression, layout is clean and easy to navigate.
мелбет зеркало – новое зеркало Мелбет с прямым доступом — вход без ограничений
Je suis enthousiaste a propos de Instant Casino, ca offre un plaisir vibrant. Le choix est aussi large qu’un festival, incluant des options de paris sportifs dynamiques. Le bonus de depart est top. Le service client est excellent. Les paiements sont surs et fluides, par contre des bonus plus varies seraient un plus. En somme, Instant Casino offre une experience inoubliable. En extra la navigation est fluide et facile, apporte une touche d’excitation. Un point fort le programme VIP avec des recompenses exclusives, qui stimule l’engagement.
Avancer|