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.
мостбеи https://mostbet12036.ru/
купить диплом в владивостоке купить диплом в владивостоке .
запись подкастов запись подкастов .
казино мостбет https://www.mostbet12036.ru
Paris sportifs avec 1xbet rdc : pre-match & live, statistiques, cash-out, builder de paris. Bonus d’inscription, programme fidelite, appli mobile. Depots via M-Pesa/Airtel Money. Informez-vous sur la reglementation. 18+, jouez avec moderation.
студия для записи подкастов http://studiya-podkastov-spb4.ru .
мостбет вход регистрация мостбет вход регистрация
clickmagnet.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.
Paris sportifs avec 1xbet rdc apk : pre-match & live, statistiques, cash-out, builder de paris. Bonus d’inscription, programme fidelite, appli mobile. Depots via M-Pesa/Airtel Money. Informez-vous sur la reglementation. 18+, jouez avec moderation.
1xbet giri? adresi 1xbet giri? adresi .
Je ne me lasse pas de Wild Robin Casino, ca invite a plonger dans le fun. Le catalogue est un paradis pour les joueurs, proposant des jeux de table classiques. Il amplifie le plaisir des l’entree. Disponible 24/7 par chat ou email. Les retraits sont fluides et rapides, de temps a autre des offres plus genereuses seraient top. En conclusion, Wild Robin Casino vaut une visite excitante. Pour couronner le tout le site est fluide et attractif, amplifie l’adrenaline du jeu. A mettre en avant les competitions regulieres pour plus de fun, qui dynamise l’engagement.
Wild Robin|
1xbet ?ye ol http://www.1xbet-giris-9.com .
mostbet kg mostbet kg
1xbet g?ncel 1xbet g?ncel .
Je suis accro a Frumzi Casino, ca pulse comme une soiree animee. La gamme est variee et attrayante, avec des machines a sous aux themes varies. Avec des depots fluides. Disponible 24/7 pour toute question. Les retraits sont lisses comme jamais, mais encore des recompenses en plus seraient un bonus. Pour finir, Frumzi Casino garantit un amusement continu. Ajoutons aussi l’interface est lisse et agreable, booste l’excitation du jeu. Particulierement interessant les transactions en crypto fiables, offre des bonus exclusifs.
Visiter en ligne|
mostbet kg mostbet kg
1xbet spor bahislerinin adresi 1xbet spor bahislerinin adresi .
Awesome issues here. I am very glad to see your post.
Thanks so much and I’m taking a look ahead to contact you.
Will you please drop me a e-mail?
приложение мостбет http://www.mostbet12035.ru
1xbet lite 1xbet lite .
Оформите онлайн-займ https://zaimy-76.ru без визита в офис: достаточно паспорта, проверка за минуты. Выдача на карту, кошелёк или счёт. Прозрачный договор, напоминания о платеже, безопасность данных, акции для новых клиентов. Сравните предложения и выберите выгодно.
https://t.me/RabotaVKoreeSeoul RabotaVKoreeSeoul в Telegram – это ваш надежный источник информации о самых актуальных вакансиях в Корее. Подписывайтесь на канал, чтобы быть в курсе последних предложений и получать полезные советы по трудоустройству.
студия подкастов студия подкастов .
1xbet mobil giri? 1xbet mobil giri? .
монтаж подкаста цены монтаж подкаста цены .
1xbet giris 1xbet giris .
1xbet resmi http://www.1xbet-giris-9.com .
promostream.click – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
viralaxis.click – Loved the layout today; clean, simple, and genuinely user-friendly overall.
http://melbet-kz.us/ – ресурс с базовой линией
admatrix.click – Overall, professional vibe here; trustworthy, polished, and pleasantly minimal throughout.
официальный сайт mostbet официальный сайт mostbet
Оформите онлайн-займ https://zaimy-63.ru без визита в офис: достаточно паспорта, проверка за минуты. Выдача на карту, кошелёк или счёт. Прозрачный договор, напоминания о платеже, безопасность данных, акции для новых клиентов. Сравните предложения и выберите выгодно.
Оформите онлайн-займ https://zaimy-71.ru без визита в офис: достаточно паспорта, проверка за минуты. Выдача на карту, кошелёк или счёт. Прозрачный договор, напоминания о платеже, безопасность данных, акции для новых клиентов. Сравните предложения и выберите выгодно.
https://www.optovolokno-internet.ru – установить оптоволоконный доступ в сеть для офиса
leadvortex.click – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
Dogal guzellik ve cilt bak?m?nda uzmanlar?n s?rlar?na yak?ndan bak?yoruz.
Yeri gelmisken, eger Guzellik ve Bak?m: Trendler ve Ipuclar? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya goz at?n.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://ciltruhu.com
Sagl?kl? ve dogal bir cilt icin duzenli bak?m sart.
Оформите онлайн-займ https://zaimy-71.ru без визита в офис: достаточно паспорта, проверка за минуты. Выдача на карту, кошелёк или счёт. Прозрачный договор, напоминания о платеже, безопасность данных, акции для новых клиентов. Сравните предложения и выберите выгодно.
Dogal guzelliginizin s?rlar?n? ortaya c?karmaya var m?s?n?z?
Modern Moda: Zarafet ve Stil Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki bolum dikkatimi cekti.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://modaevreni.com
Sagl?kl? ve dogal bir cilt icin duzenli bak?m sart.
видеостудия для подкастов видеостудия для подкастов .
teens porno
1x bet 1x bet .
съемка подкастов спб studiya-podkastov-spb4.ru .
Оформите онлайн-займ https://zaimy-73.ru без визита в офис: достаточно паспорта, проверка за минуты. Выдача на карту, кошелёк или счёт. Прозрачный договор, напоминания о платеже, безопасность данных, акции для новых клиентов. Сравните предложения и выберите выгодно.
http://internet-v-astane.ru/ – комфортно воспользоваться передовой сетевой доступ по стандартному протоколу
domasniinternet1.ru – Веб-адрес портала телекоммуникационных услуг
Cilt bak?m?n?z? bir ust seviyeye c?karman?n zaman? geldi, siz ne dersiniz?
“Cilt Bak?m? ve Guzellik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?” konusuyla ilgili olarak oras? tam bir bilgi hazinesi.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://bakimruhu.com
Cilt bak?m?n?n buyusu ile tan?s?n ve hayat?n?za kazand?r?n.
запись подкастов студия http://studiya-podkastov-spb4.ru .
growthshift.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
сколько стоит аренда экскаватора погрузчика сколько стоит аренда экскаватора погрузчика .