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.
Dogal ve etkili cilt bak?m yontemlerine dair tuyolar? kesfedin.
Bu arada, eger Modern Mobilya Tasar?mlar? ve Dekorasyon Ipuclar? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya goz at?n.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://modernsturk.com
Cildinizin dogall?g?n? ve sagl?g?n? korumak sizin elinizde.
Discover practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely.
On the topic “Master financial management with TaleStrucker”, I found a lot of useful information.
See for yourself:
https://talestrucker.com/
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
On the topic “A practical guide to financial security and growth”, it’s a real treasure trove of information.
Here, I’m sharing a link:
https://codefortots.com/
Continue to learn and apply new financial strategies!
Dogal guzelliginizin s?rlar?n? ortaya c?karmaya var m?s?n?z?
Yeri gelmisken, eger Modern Mobilya Trendleri ve Dekorasyon Ipuclar? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya bir bak?n.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://evimtarzi.com
Dogal guzelliginizi koruyun ve her zaman en iyi versiyonunuz olun.
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
For those who are looking for information on the topic “Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools”, it’s a real treasure trove of information.
See for yourself:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
I was hooked by the section about Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools.
Here, you can read it:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
I was hooked by the section about Tips for beginner investors and saving money.
Here, you can read it:
https://noobastro.com/
We hope these tips will help you become financially successful.
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
For those who are looking for information on the topic “Master financial management with TaleStrucker”, it’s a real treasure trove of information.
The link is below:
[url=https://talestrucker.com/]https://talestrucker.com/[/url]
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
For those who are looking for information on the topic “Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools”, it’s a real treasure trove of information.
See for yourself:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Your financial well-being is in your hands!
пошив пижам опт miniatelie.ru .
пошив шопперов оптом http://miniatelie.ru/ .
швейное производство http://arbuztech.ru/ .
90’lar modas?n? hat?rlayanlar burada m?? Sizlere gecmisin moda ikonu olan donemden ilhamla ipuclar? sundugumuz bu yaz?ya davetlisiniz.
Особенно понравился материал про Ev Dekorasyonunda S?kl?k ve Fonksiyonellik.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
[url=https://evimsicak.com]https://evimsicak.com[/url]
Tarz?n?zda 90’lar?n esintilerini hissetmeye baslad?g?n?za eminim. Gecmisin izlerini tas?maktan korkmay?n!
Cilt bak?m?na dair dogal guzellik s?rlar?n? ogrenmeye haz?r m?s?n?z?
Is?lt?l? Guzellik: Sac ve Cilt Bak?m Onerileri hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkatimi cekti.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://tenvezarafet.com
Cilt bak?m?n? hayat?n?z?n bir parcas? haline getirin ve fark? gorun.
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
By the way, if you are interested in Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools, take a look here.
See for yourself:
https://esportsgrind.com/
We hope these tips will help you become financially successful.
пошив пижам оптом miniatelie.ru .
Discover practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely.
I especially liked the section about Master financial management with TaleStrucker.
The link is below:
https://talestrucker.com/
Continue to learn and apply new financial strategies!
швейное производство полного цикла спб arbuztech.ru .
https://tufarmaciatop.com/# ranking de farmacias online
производство одежды miniatelie.ru .
пошив футболок оптом http://www.miniatelie.ru .
швейная фабрика в спб https://www.arbuztech.ru .
Je suis enthousiaste a propos de Betzino Casino, il propose une aventure palpitante. Le catalogue est un paradis pour les joueurs, comprenant des jeux optimises pour Bitcoin. 100% jusqu’a 500 € + tours gratuits. Le support est pro et accueillant. Les paiements sont securises et rapides, toutefois des recompenses en plus seraient un bonus. En fin de compte, Betzino Casino offre une aventure inoubliable. A noter la navigation est fluide et facile, permet une immersion complete. Un avantage notable les evenements communautaires dynamiques, qui booste la participation.
Explorer le site web|
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
On the topic “A practical guide to financial security and growth”, there is an excellent article.
See for yourself:
https://codefortots.com/
We hope these tips will help you become financially successful.
производство рабочей одежды спб https://www.arbuztech.ru .
Tarz?n?z? 90’lar?n unutulmaz modas?ndan esinlenerek gunumuze tas?mak ister misiniz? Oyleyse bu yaz?m?z tam size gore!
По теме “Guzellik ve Kozmetik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?”, там просто кладезь информации.
Смотрите сами:
https://guzellikturk.com
Guzellik, gecmisle gunumuz aras?nda bir kopru kurmakt?r. 90’lar?n moda s?rlar?, bu koprunun onemli parcalar?ndan.
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
On the topic “A practical guide to financial security and growth”, I found a lot of useful information.
The link is below:
https://codefortots.com/
Continue to learn and apply new financial strategies!
Je suis captive par Betzino Casino, on y trouve une vibe envoutante. Le catalogue est un paradis pour les joueurs, incluant des paris sportifs en direct. Avec des depots instantanes. Disponible 24/7 pour toute question. Les paiements sont securises et rapides, parfois quelques free spins en plus seraient bienvenus. Pour faire court, Betzino Casino assure un fun constant. Pour ajouter le site est fluide et attractif, facilite une immersion totale. Particulierement interessant les transactions en crypto fiables, qui booste la participation.
Touchez ici|
швейное производство https://www.miniatelie.ru .
фабрика по пошиву одежды https://miniatelie.ru/ .
швейная фабрика санкт петербург arbuztech.ru .
Discover practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely.
Incidentally, if you are interested in Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools, take a look here.
See for yourself:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Your financial well-being is in your hands!
производство детской одежды спб http://arbuztech.ru .
http://www.moskva-internet.ru – Общедоступное соединение без ограничений
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
“En Iyi Mobilya ve Dekorasyon Trendleri 2023” konusunda bilgi arayanlar icin cok faydal? bilgiler buldum.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://anadoludekor.com
Dogal guzelliginizi koruyun ve her zaman en iyi versiyonunuz olun.
Je suis fascine par Viggoslots Casino, on ressent une ambiance de fete. Le catalogue est un tresor de divertissements, offrant des experiences de casino en direct. Le bonus de bienvenue est genereux. Le support client est irreprochable. Les paiements sont surs et efficaces, par ailleurs des recompenses supplementaires dynamiseraient le tout. En bref, Viggoslots Casino offre une aventure memorable. En bonus la navigation est fluide et facile, ce qui rend chaque session plus excitante. Particulierement fun les paiements en crypto rapides et surs, renforce le lien communautaire.
https://viggoslotscasino777fr.com/|
фабрика по пошиву одежды http://www.miniatelie.ru .
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
On the topic “Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools”, I found a lot of useful information.
Here, you can read it:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Use this knowledge to achieve your financial goals!
швейный цех спб http://www.arbuztech.ru .
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
I want to highlight the section about Practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely.
Here, I’m sharing a link:
https://cacticarely.com/
We hope these tips will help you become financially successful.
Кибербезопасность — ключевой фактор стабильности kraken сайт kraken маркетплейс зеркало кракен ссылка кракен даркнет
J’ai une passion debordante pour Viggoslots Casino, il offre une experience dynamique. Il y a une abondance de jeux excitants, avec des machines a sous visuellement superbes. Il propulse votre jeu des le debut. Disponible a toute heure via chat ou email. Les paiements sont surs et fluides, neanmoins des recompenses additionnelles seraient ideales. Pour finir, Viggoslots Casino offre une aventure memorable. Ajoutons que la plateforme est visuellement captivante, donne envie de continuer l’aventure. Un atout les evenements communautaires dynamiques, garantit des paiements rapides.
Aller à l’intérieur|
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
I want to highlight the section about Master financial management with TaleStrucker.
See for yourself:
https://talestrucker.com/
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
Modern Mobilya Tasar?mlar? ve Dekorasyon Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki bolum dikkate degerdi.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://modernsturk.com
Sagl?kl? ve dogal bir cilt icin duzenli bak?m sart.
Good day very cool website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Wonderful ..
I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds also? I’m glad to seek out so many useful info right
here in the submit, we want work out more techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing.
. . . . .
Tarz?n?z? 90’lar?n unutulmaz modas?ndan esinlenerek gunumuze tas?mak ister misiniz? Oyleyse bu yaz?m?z tam size gore!
Особенно понравился раздел про Guzellik ve Kozmetik: 90’lar Modas?ndan Ipuclar?.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://aynakirildi.com
Tarz?n?zda 90’lar?n esintilerini hissetmeye baslad?g?n?za eminim. Gecmisin izlerini tas?maktan korkmay?n!
Tarz?n?z? 90’lar?n unutulmaz modas?ndan esinlenerek gunumuze tas?mak ister misiniz? Oyleyse bu yaz?m?z tam size gore!
Кстати, если вас интересует Ev Dekorasyonunda Modern ve Estetik Cozumler, посмотрите сюда.
Ссылка ниже:
https://evimturk.com
90’lar?n guzellik s?rlar?yla tarz?n?za yeni bir soluk kazand?rabilirsiniz. Eski moda, yeni size ilham olsun!
производство рабочей одежды спб arbuztech.ru .
Je suis accro a Betzino Casino, ca invite a plonger dans le fun. Le choix de jeux est tout simplement enorme, comprenant des jeux compatibles avec les cryptos. Il booste votre aventure des le depart. Disponible 24/7 par chat ou email. Les paiements sont securises et rapides, mais encore des recompenses en plus seraient un bonus. En resume, Betzino Casino garantit un plaisir constant. En plus la plateforme est visuellement captivante, ce qui rend chaque partie plus fun. Un bonus le programme VIP avec des recompenses exclusives, qui booste la participation.
Touchez ici|
90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla gunumuzun trendlerine meydan okumaya ne dersiniz?
Для тех, кто ищет информацию по теме “Ev Dekorasyonunda Modern ve Estetik Cozumler”, есть отличная статья.
Смотрите сами:
https://evimturk.com
90’lar?n buyusunu modern dunyaya tas?mak hic bu kadar kolay olmam?st?. Unutulmayan bu donemin guzellik s?rlar?n? unutmay?n!