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.
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
“En Iyi Mobilya ve Dekorasyon Trendleri 2023” konusunda bilgi arayanlar icin cok faydal? bilgiler buldum.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://anadoludekor.com
Dogal guzelliginizi koruyun ve her zaman en iyi versiyonunuz olun.
Tarz?n?z? 90’lar?n unutulmaz modas?ndan esinlenerek gunumuze tas?mak ister misiniz? Oyleyse bu yaz?m?z tam size gore!
Хочу выделить материал про Ev Dekorasyonunda Modern ve Estetik Cozumler.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://evimturk.com
90’lar?n guzellik s?rlar?yla tarz?n?za yeni bir soluk kazand?rabilirsiniz. Eski moda, yeni size ilham olsun!
гидроизоляция подвала изнутри цена гидроизоляция подвала изнутри цена .
https://theaterplaybill.com
гидроизоляция подвала изнутри цена м2 https://gidroizolyaciya-podvala-cena.ru .
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
Yeri gelmisken, eger Estetik ve Fonksiyonellik: Ideal Mekan Tasar?m? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya goz at?n.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://evsahnesi.com
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
http://www.yelkovanyachts.com – Go To Our Digital Catalog
швейное производство https://www.arbuztech.ru .
карниз электроприводом штор купить elektrokarniz797.ru .
ремонт подвального помещения ремонт подвального помещения .
швейный цех http://miniatelie.ru/ .
провести интернет в Москве – подобрать актуальный отчет популярных поставщиков услуг с акциями
сырость в подвале сырость в подвале .
Tarz?n?z? 90’lar?n unutulmaz modas?ndan esinlenerek gunumuze tas?mak ister misiniz? Oyleyse bu yaz?m?z tam size gore!
Между прочим, если вас интересует Evinizde Estetik ve Fonksiyonu Birlestirin: Ipuclar? ve Trendler, посмотрите сюда.
Ссылка ниже:
https://anadolustil.com
Nostalji dolu bu yolculukta bizimle oldugunuz icin tesekkur ederiz. 90’lar modas? ve guzelliginin ruhunu hissedin.
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
Bu arada, eger Kad?n Modas?nda Stil ve Fonksiyonel Oneriler ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya bir bak?n.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://giyimtarzi.com
Cilt bak?m?n? hayat?n?z?n bir parcas? haline getirin ve fark? gorun.
электрокарнизы купить в москве электрокарнизы купить в москве .
торкретирование бетона цена м2 http://www.torkretirovanie-1.ru .
dailydealzone – Awesome discounts displayed neatly, easy site to explore for deals.
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
“Estetik ve Fonksiyonellik: Ideal Mekan Tasar?m?” konusuyla ilgili olarak harika bir makale var.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://evsahnesi.com
Cilt bak?m?n?n buyusu ile tan?s?n ve hayat?n?za kazand?r?n.
кино смотрю бесплатно новинки 2025 Фильмы о Бунте и Протесте: Истории, Которые Изменили Мир. От панк-рока до политических манифестов – кино о тех, кто не боится идти против системы.
Да, действительно. Я согласен со всем выше сказанным. Можем пообщаться на эту тему. Здесь или в PM.
Если потенциальный клиент уверен в достаточном уровне профессионализма массажистки, эротический массаж в Сочи можно воспользоваться ее услугами.
гидроизоляция подвала снаружи цена https://www.gidroizolyaciya-podvala-cena.ru .
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
Guzellik ve Bak?mda Yenilikci Yaklas?mlar hakk?ndaki bolum dikkate degerdi.
Burada okuyabilirsiniz:
https://zariften.com
Cildinizin dogall?g?n? ve sagl?g?n? korumak sizin elinizde.
90’lar modas?n? hat?rlayanlar burada m?? Sizlere gecmisin moda ikonu olan donemden ilhamla ipuclar? sundugumuz bu yaz?ya davetlisiniz.
По теме “Guzellik ve Kozmetik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?”, есть отличная статья.
Ссылка ниже:
https://guzellikturk.com
90’lar?n buyusunu modern dunyaya tas?mak hic bu kadar kolay olmam?st?. Unutulmayan bu donemin guzellik s?rlar?n? unutmay?n!
1 x bet giri? 1 x bet giri? .
Клиника «Детокс» в Краснодаре работает круглосуточно, обеспечивая доступность помощи в любое время. Вы можете обратиться к нам в любое время дня и ночи, и мы окажем необходимую медицинскую помощь.
Получить дополнительные сведения – наркологический вывод из запоя в краснодаре
электрический карниз для штор купить https://www.elektrokarniz499.ru .
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
“Is?lt?l? Guzellik: Sac ve Cilt Bak?m Onerileri” konusunda bilgi arayanlar icin oras? tam bir bilgi hazinesi.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://tenvezarafet.com
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
Машинное обучение — мозг современных систем кракен онион зеркало kraken onion kraken onion ссылка kraken onion зеркала
цена ремонта подвала http://gidroizolyaciya-podvala-cena.ru .
карнизы для штор купить в москве карнизы для штор купить в москве .
1xbet turkiye 1xbet turkiye .
платный наркологический стационар http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-23.ru/ .
Мастерская Hewlett-Packard в столице. Чиним компьютеры любых моделей. Диагностика бесплатно. Гарантия качества. Ждем вас прямо сейчас
ремонт hp сервисный центр hp спартаковская
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 Ev Dekorasyonunda Modern ve Estetik Cozumler, загляните сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://evimturk.com
90’lar?n guzellik s?rlar?yla tarz?n?za yeni bir soluk kazand?rabilirsiniz. Eski moda, yeni size ilham olsun!
Je suis fascine par Vbet Casino, ca offre une experience immersive. Les options de jeu sont infinies, avec des machines a sous visuellement superbes. Avec des depots instantanes. Le support est pro et accueillant. Les retraits sont ultra-rapides, cependant des offres plus consequentes seraient parfaites. Au final, Vbet Casino offre une experience inoubliable. A noter le design est moderne et attrayant, apporte une touche d’excitation. Particulierement interessant le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, offre des bonus exclusifs.
Obtenir des infos|
все онлайн займы на карту Займы онлайн Казахстан – перечень онлайн займов, действующих в Казахстане.
торкретирование стен торкретирование стен .
1x giri? 1x giri? .
one x bet one x bet .
нарколог психолог narkologicheskaya-klinika-23.ru .
Guzellik ve kozmetikte her zaman gecmisten al?nacak dersler bulunur. 90’lar?n modas?ndan guzellik s?rlar?n? kesfetmeye haz?r olun.
Особенно понравился раздел про Guzellik ve Kozmetik: 90’lar Modas?ndan Ipuclar?.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://aynakirildi.com
90’lar?n buyusunu modern dunyaya tas?mak hic bu kadar kolay olmam?st?. Unutulmayan bu donemin guzellik s?rlar?n? unutmay?n!
1x giri? 1x giri? .
торкрет бетон цена торкрет бетон цена .
Cildinizi s?martmak icin haz?r olun!
Yeri gelmisken, eger Turk Mutfag?n?n Unutulmaz Lezzet Hikayeleri ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya bir bak?n.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://turksofrasi.com
Sagl?kl? ve dogal bir cilt icin duzenli bak?m sart.
торкретирование москва https://torkretirovanie-1.ru/ .
1x giri? 1x giri? .
торкретирование бетона цена м2 https://torkretirovanie-1.ru .
1xbet spor bahislerinin adresi 1xbet spor bahislerinin adresi .
торкретирование москва torkretirovanie-1.ru .