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.
карниз с электроприводом карниз с электроприводом .
Pinco kazino sevilən oyun platformasıdır. Əyləncəni kəşf et — pinko oyun. Pinco betdə canlı oyunlara baxmaq mümkündür.
Pinco oyunçular üçün yardım mövcuddur.
Pinco ilə şansını sınamaq istəyirsənsə, indi qoşul. Oyunçular arasında ən çox seçilən platforma pinko az. Pinco ilə futbol mərclərinə başla.
Pinco oyun dünyasına xoş gəlmisən.
J’ai un faible pour Posido Casino, on ressent une ambiance festive. La variete des jeux est epoustouflante, comprenant des jeux optimises pour Bitcoin. Le bonus d’inscription est attrayant. Le suivi est impeccable. Le processus est simple et transparent, de temps en temps quelques free spins en plus seraient bienvenus. En resume, Posido Casino offre une aventure inoubliable. Par ailleurs le site est fluide et attractif, incite a prolonger le plaisir. Egalement genial les options de paris sportifs variees, offre des bonus constants.
http://www.casinoposidofr.com|
платный наркологический диспансер москва https://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-28.ru .
Pinco az domaini daim yenilənir. Canlı yayımlar üçün rəsmi ünvan pinco casino. Pinco oyun saytında çoxlu məsləhətlər var.
Pinco-da qeydiyyat dərhal təsdiqlənir.
электрокарнизы для штор купить в москве http://www.elektrokarniz499.ru .
Je suis enthousiaste a propos de Posido Casino, c’est une plateforme qui pulse avec energie. La bibliotheque de jeux est captivante, comprenant des jeux crypto-friendly. Il donne un elan excitant. Disponible 24/7 pour toute question. Les transactions sont fiables et efficaces, en revanche des offres plus genereuses seraient top. Globalement, Posido Casino garantit un amusement continu. A signaler l’interface est intuitive et fluide, donne envie de prolonger l’aventure. A souligner les paiements securises en crypto, propose des avantages uniques.
Naviguer sur le site|
Dogal guzellik ve cilt bak?m?nda uzmanlar?n s?rlar?na yak?ndan bak?yoruz.
“Guzellik ve Bak?mda Yenilikci Yaklas?mlar” konusuyla ilgili olarak oras? tam bir bilgi hazinesi.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://zariften.com
Cildinizin dogall?g?n? ve sagl?g?n? korumak sizin elinizde.
жалюзи с мотором жалюзи с мотором .
гидроизоляция подвала гаража гидроизоляция подвала гаража .
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
I especially liked the section about Tips for beginner investors and saving money.
See for yourself:
https://noobastro.com/
Use this knowledge to achieve your financial goals!
Pinco-da futbol, basketbol və daha çox oyun var. Pinco ilə qalib gəlmək indi daha asandır — pinco casino online. Pinco oyunları mobil cihazlarda əladır.
Pinco kazino yeni dizaynla fərqlənir.
карниз с электроприводом карниз с электроприводом .
электрокарниз москва http://elektrokarniz797.ru/ .
Discover practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely.
I especially liked the material about Tips for beginner investors and saving money.
Here, you can read it:
https://noobastro.com/
Your financial well-being is in your hands!
автоматические карнизы автоматические карнизы .
клиника наркологическая платная http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-28.ru .
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 Guzellik ve Kozmetik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?, посмотрите сюда.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://guzellikturk.com
90’lar?n guzellik s?rlar?yla tarz?n?za yeni bir soluk kazand?rabilirsiniz. Eski moda, yeni size ilham olsun!
гидроизоляция подвала цена за м2 гидроизоляция подвала цена за м2 .
farmacias legales en España: comprar medicamentos online sin receta – comprar medicamentos online sin receta
Start your journey to financial freedom with our guide.
Incidentally, if you are interested in Practical tips for financial well-being with CactiCarely, take a look here.
The link is below:
https://cacticarely.com/
We hope these tips will help you become financially successful.
promoverse.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
жалюзи для пластиковых окон с электроприводом https://avtomaticheskie-zhalyuzi.ru/ .
электрические карнизы для штор в москве https://www.elektrokarniz797.ru .
If you are new to investing, these tips will help you save money.
Incidentally, if you are interested in Financial strategies for gamers: tips and tools, take a look here.
The link is below:
https://esportsgrind.com/
Use this knowledge to achieve your financial goals!
телефон наркологии телефон наркологии .
marketsonic.click – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
“Guzellik ve Bak?mda Yenilikci Yaklas?mlar” konusunda bilgi arayanlar icin cok faydal? bilgiler buldum.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://zariften.com
Guzelliginizin ve sagl?g?n?z?n anahtar? dogru cilt bak?m?nda sakl?.
promoverse.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
жалюзи под ключ жалюзи под ключ .
электрические гардины для штор elektrokarniz797.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 “Evinizde Estetik ve Fonksiyonu Birlestirin: Ipuclar? ve Trendler”, там просто кладезь информации.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://anadolustil.com
Guzellik, gecmisle gunumuz aras?nda bir kopru kurmakt?r. 90’lar?n moda s?rlar?, bu koprunun onemli parcalar?ndan.
Dogal guzelliginizin s?rlar?n? ortaya c?karmaya var m?s?n?z?
Bu arada, eger Is?lt?l? Guzellik: Sac ve Cilt Bak?m Onerileri ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya bir bak?n.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://tenvezarafet.com
Cilt bak?m?n?n buyusu ile tan?s?n ve hayat?n?za kazand?r?n.
marketsonic.click – Loved the layout today; clean, simple, and genuinely user-friendly overall.
hướng dẫn cách đăng nhập QQ88
clickexpand.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.
J’adore l’ambiance electrisante de Viggoslots Casino, il cree un monde de sensations fortes. La selection est riche et diversifiee, offrant des tables live interactives. Il offre un demarrage en fanfare. Le service d’assistance est au point. Les retraits sont lisses comme jamais, neanmoins quelques spins gratuits en plus seraient top. En somme, Viggoslots Casino vaut une exploration vibrante. Par ailleurs le design est style et moderne, ce qui rend chaque partie plus fun. Egalement top les evenements communautaires dynamiques, offre des recompenses continues.
Aller Г la page|
marketsonic.click – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
Je ne me lasse pas de Betzino Casino, il cree un monde de sensations fortes. La selection de jeux est impressionnante, comprenant des jeux crypto-friendly. Avec des depots instantanes. Les agents sont rapides et pros. Les transactions sont toujours securisees, cependant quelques tours gratuits supplementaires seraient cool. Globalement, Betzino Casino est un endroit qui electrise. A noter l’interface est intuitive et fluide, incite a rester plus longtemps. Particulierement interessant les paiements securises en crypto, offre des bonus exclusifs.
AccГ©der Г la page|
Liberez le potentiel de revenus passifs Quantum AI https://livevalidation.com/quantum-ai-retour-a-la-realite-revenus-risques-et-avis-des-investisseurs/
Learn how gamers can improve their financial management skills.
On the topic “Master financial management with TaleStrucker”, there is an excellent article.
Here, you can read it:
https://talestrucker.com/
Your financial well-being is in your hands!
Je suis enthousiaste a propos de Vbet Casino, ca pulse comme une soiree animee. Les titres proposes sont d’une richesse folle, offrant des tables live interactives. Avec des transactions rapides. Le suivi est d’une fiabilite exemplaire. Les paiements sont securises et rapides, par ailleurs des recompenses supplementaires seraient parfaites. Pour finir, Vbet Casino offre une aventure inoubliable. Pour completer l’interface est fluide comme une soiree, incite a prolonger le plaisir. Particulierement cool les evenements communautaires vibrants, qui booste la participation.
Avancer|
гардина с электроприводом https://elektrokarniz499.ru .
Sizi gecmisten ilham alan guzellik ipuclar?yla dolu bu nostaljik yolculuga davet ediyoruz. 90’lar modas?n?n s?rlar?na goz atal?m m??
Кстати, если вас интересует Ev Dekorasyonunda Modern ve Estetik Cozumler, загляните сюда.
Смотрите сами:
https://evimturk.com
Nostalji dolu bu yolculukta bizimle oldugunuz icin tesekkur ederiz. 90’lar modas? ve guzelliginin ruhunu hissedin.
карнизы для штор с электроприводом карнизы для штор с электроприводом .
электрокарнизы для штор купить электрокарнизы для штор купить .
Je suis enthousiasme par Posido Casino, on ressent une ambiance de fete. Le catalogue est un paradis pour les joueurs, proposant des jeux de cartes elegants. Le bonus de depart est top. Les agents repondent avec rapidite. Le processus est fluide et intuitif, occasionnellement des offres plus importantes seraient super. Dans l’ensemble, Posido Casino vaut une exploration vibrante. En plus le site est rapide et immersif, ajoute une touche de dynamisme. A noter les nombreuses options de paris sportifs, assure des transactions fiables.
Visiter maintenant|
clickexpand.click – Content reads clearly, helpful examples made concepts easy to grasp.
J’ai une passion debordante pour Betzino Casino, ca pulse comme une soiree animee. Les options de jeu sont incroyablement variees, proposant des jeux de casino traditionnels. 100% jusqu’a 500 € + tours gratuits. Le suivi est impeccable. Les gains arrivent en un eclair, quelquefois des bonus plus frequents seraient un hit. Pour finir, Betzino Casino garantit un plaisir constant. Notons aussi la navigation est intuitive et lisse, apporte une energie supplementaire. Egalement super les evenements communautaires pleins d’energie, propose des privileges personnalises.
DГ©couvrir les offres|