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.
Welcome to the world of financial management with TaleStrucker!
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.
Here, you can read it:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Continue to learn and apply new financial strategies!
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
“Zamans?z S?kl?k ve Klasik Giyim Onerileri” konusuyla ilgili olarak oras? tam bir bilgi hazinesi.
Burada okuyabilirsiniz:
https://klasikstil.com
Cilt bak?m?n? hayat?n?z?n bir parcas? haline getirin ve fark? gorun.
Cilt bak?m?n?z? bir ust seviyeye c?karman?n zaman? geldi, siz ne dersiniz?
En Iyi Mobilya ve Dekorasyon Trendleri 2023 hakk?ndaki bolum ozellikle hosuma gitti.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://anadoludekor.com
Guzelliginizin ve sagl?g?n?z?n anahtar? dogru cilt bak?m?nda sakl?.
Hi! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs!
Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Carry on the fantastic work!
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
Lezzetin Zirvesine C?karan SofraKeyfi Hikayeleri hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkate degerdi.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://sofrakeyfi.com
Cilt bak?m?n? hayat?n?z?n bir parcas? haline getirin ve fark? gorun.
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
By the way, if you are interested in Tips for beginner investors and saving money, take a look here.
The link is below:
https://noobastro.com/
Use this knowledge to achieve your financial goals!
viralboost.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
Эта информационная статья содержит полезные факты, советы и рекомендации, которые помогут вам быть в курсе последних тенденций и изменений в выбранной области. Материал составлен так, чтобы быть полезным и понятным каждому.
Не упусти важное! – https://www.domansky.cz/peugeot-expert
Discover practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely.
I was hooked by the section about A practical guide to financial security and growth.
See for yourself:
https://codefortots.com/
Continue to learn and apply new financial strategies!
Hey! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone!
Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Keep up the outstanding work!
clicknexus.click – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
On the topic “A practical guide to financial security and growth”, there is an excellent article.
The link is below:
https://codefortots.com/
Your financial well-being is in your hands!
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
On the topic “Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools”, it’s a real treasure trove of information.
Here, you can read it:
https://esportsgrind.com/
We hope these tips will help you become financially successful.
digitalsurge.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
clicknexus.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
Guzellik ve kozmetikte her zaman gecmisten al?nacak dersler bulunur. 90’lar?n modas?ndan guzellik s?rlar?n? kesfetmeye haz?r olun.
Кстати, если вас интересует Ev Dekorasyonunda Modern ve Estetik Cozumler, посмотрите сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://evimturk.com
Tarz?n?zda 90’lar?n esintilerini hissetmeye baslad?g?n?za eminim. Gecmisin izlerini tas?maktan korkmay?n!
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
For those who are looking for information on the topic “Master financial management with TaleStrucker”, it’s a real treasure trove of information.
See for yourself:
https://talestrucker.com/
Use this knowledge to achieve your financial goals!
clicknexus.click – Content reads clearly, helpful examples made concepts easy to grasp.
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
Incidentally, if you are interested in A practical guide to financial security and growth, take a look here.
The link is below:
https://codefortots.com/
Use this knowledge to achieve your financial goals!
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
I especially liked the material about Master financial management with TaleStrucker.
Here, I’m sharing a link:
https://talestrucker.com/
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
Инвестируйте в будущее с профессионалами! ПИФы – это готовые решения для роста вашего капиталa https://tutvot.com
Binary Options Demo: Learn Before You Trade.
Start your trading journey with a Binary Options Demo account and practice risk-free before going live. Sharpen your skills and explore smart strategies at https://terrasseo.jp/
90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla gunumuzun trendlerine meydan okumaya ne dersiniz?
Особенно понравился материал про Ev Dekorasyonunda Modern ve Estetik Cozumler.
Ссылка ниже:
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!
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
Yeri gelmisken, eger Estetik ve Fonksiyonellik: Ideal Mekan Tasar?m? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya bir bak?n.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://evsahnesi.com
Sagl?kl? ve dogal bir cilt icin duzenli bak?m sart.
90’lardan gunumuze uzanan guzellik anlay?s?na ?s?k tutan bu rehberle, zaman?n otesine gecen bir tarz elde edin.
Хочу выделить материал про Ev Dekorasyonunda Modern ve Estetik Cozumler.
Смотрите сами:
https://evimturk.com
90’lar?n guzellik s?rlar?yla tarz?n?za yeni bir soluk kazand?rabilirsiniz. Eski moda, yeni size ilham olsun!
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
By the way, if you are interested in Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools, take a look here.
Here, you can read it:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Use this knowledge to achieve your financial goals!
http://optovolokno-internet.ru/ – легко оформить быстрый онлайн-среду с универсальным протоколом
rankrocket.click – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
90’lardan gunumuze uzanan guzellik anlay?s?na ?s?k tutan bu rehberle, zaman?n otesine gecen bir tarz elde edin.
Кстати, если вас интересует Guzellik ve Kozmetik: 90’lar Modas?ndan Ipuclar?, загляните сюда.
Ссылка ниже:
https://aynakirildi.com
Guzellik, gecmisle gunumuz aras?nda bir kopru kurmakt?r. 90’lar?n moda s?rlar?, bu koprunun onemli parcalar?ndan.
clickmagnetix.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
Discover practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely.
I want to highlight the section about Practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely.
Here, I’m sharing a link:
https://cacticarely.com/
Your financial well-being is in your hands!
Welcome to the world of financial management with TaleStrucker!
For those who are looking for information on the topic “Practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely”, I found a lot of useful information.
Here, you can read it:
https://cacticarely.com/
Continue to learn and apply new financial strategies!
rankrocket.click – Content reads clearly, helpful examples made concepts easy to grasp.
ИТ развиваются быстрее, чем мы успеваем кракен darknet kraken онион kraken онион тор кракен онион
Binary Options Demo: Learn Before You Trade.
Start your trading journey with a Binary Options Demo account and practice risk-free before going live. Sharpen your skills and explore smart strategies at https://terrasseo.jp/
J’ai une affection particuliere pour Viggoslots Casino, ca invite a plonger dans le fun. Les options de jeu sont infinies, offrant des sessions live palpitantes. Il donne un elan excitant. Le support est fiable et reactif. Les gains arrivent sans delai, en revanche des recompenses additionnelles seraient ideales. Pour faire court, Viggoslots Casino est un endroit qui electrise. A mentionner la plateforme est visuellement electrisante, ajoute une touche de dynamisme. A mettre en avant les options de paris sportifs variees, cree une communaute soudee.
Passer à l’action|
Экологичные средства ухода за питомцем. Натуральные шампуни без сульфатов и парабенов, биоразлагаемые игрушки. Забота о здоровье животного и окружающей среде одновременно. https://petstyle.cyou/
J’ai un veritable coup de c?ur pour Betzino Casino, ca transporte dans un monde d’excitation. La bibliotheque de jeux est captivante, avec des slots aux graphismes modernes. Il propulse votre jeu des le debut. Disponible 24/7 par chat ou email. Les transactions sont fiables et efficaces, rarement des recompenses en plus seraient un bonus. Globalement, Betzino Casino est un immanquable pour les amateurs. A signaler l’interface est simple et engageante, ajoute une touche de dynamisme. Particulierement interessant les options de paris sportifs variees, offre des bonus constants.
Touchez ici|
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.
Here, I’m sharing a link:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Your financial well-being is in your hands!
Je suis bluffe par Betzino Casino, on ressent une ambiance de fete. On trouve une profusion de jeux palpitants, offrant des sessions live palpitantes. 100% jusqu’a 500 € avec des free spins. Le support client est irreprochable. Le processus est transparent et rapide, de temps en temps plus de promotions frequentes boosteraient l’experience. En fin de compte, Betzino Casino merite une visite dynamique. En plus l’interface est simple et engageante, booste le fun du jeu. A mettre en avant le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, offre des bonus exclusifs.
Explorer davantage|
https://domashniy-internet-moscow.ru – Безопасный осмотр требований к оборудованию
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
On the topic “A practical guide to financial security and growth”, there is an excellent article.
See for yourself:
https://codefortots.com/
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
marketnova.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
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!
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
On the topic “Master financial management with TaleStrucker”, there is an excellent article.
Here, I’m sharing a link:
https://talestrucker.com/
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
Welcome to the world of financial management with TaleStrucker!
I want to highlight the material about A practical guide to financial security and growth.
See for yourself:
https://codefortots.com/
Choose your strategy and start your journey to financial freedom.
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
Incidentally, if you are interested in Practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely, check out here.
See for yourself:
https://cacticarely.com/
Use this knowledge to achieve your financial goals!
Guzellik ve kozmetikte her zaman gecmisten al?nacak dersler bulunur. 90’lar?n modas?ndan guzellik s?rlar?n? kesfetmeye haz?r olun.
По теме “Guzellik ve Kozmetik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?”, нашел много полезного.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://guzellikturk.com
Nostalji dolu bu yolculukta bizimle oldugunuz icin tesekkur ederiz. 90’lar modas? ve guzelliginin ruhunu hissedin.
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
Incidentally, if you are interested in A practical guide to financial security and growth, check out here.
Here, you can read it:
https://codefortots.com/
Continue to learn and apply new financial strategies!
Dogal ve etkili cilt bak?m yontemlerine dair tuyolar? kesfedin.
Moda ve Stil Rehberi: En Yeni Trendler ve Kombinler hakk?ndaki yaz? ozellikle hosuma gitti.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://modaruhu.com
Cilt bak?m?n? hayat?n?z?n bir parcas? haline getirin ve fark? gorun.