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.
https://yelkovanyachts.com – Secure Portal Oceangoing Vessel Builders
fashionloverszone – Love the trendy vibe here, perfect for fashion lovers like me.
startanewjourney – Wonderful energy and design, perfect spot for inspiration seekers.
90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla gunumuzun trendlerine meydan okumaya ne dersiniz?
Зацепил 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!
purevalueoutlet – Clean, simple layout that makes shopping smooth and enjoyable.
dreamfindshub – Found some great insights here, love the encouraging tone throughout.
fashionloverszone – Clean layout and beautiful visuals, really love the site’s energy.
Cilt bak?m?na dair dogal guzellik s?rlar?n? ogrenmeye haz?r m?s?n?z?
“Turk Mutfag?n?n Geleneksel ve Modern Lezzetleri” konusuyla ilgili olarak harika bir makale var.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://turklezzeti.com
Guzelliginizin ve sagl?g?n?z?n anahtar? dogru cilt bak?m?nda sakl?.
Cilt bak?m?n?z? bir ust seviyeye c?karman?n zaman? geldi, siz ne dersiniz?
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.
Eski ama asla eskimeyen 90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla dolu bu yaz?da bulusal?m.
Кстати, если вас интересует Guzellik ve Kozmetik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?, посмотрите сюда.
Ссылка ниже:
https://guzellikturk.com
90’lar?n guzellik s?rlar?yla tarz?n?za yeni bir soluk kazand?rabilirsiniz. Eski moda, yeni size ilham olsun!
startanewjourney – Inspiring message and beautiful layout, really sets a positive tone.
90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla gunumuzun trendlerine meydan okumaya ne dersiniz?
По теме “Evinizde Estetik ve Fonksiyonu Birlestirin: Ipuclar? ve Trendler”, там просто кладезь информации.
Ссылка ниже:
https://anadolustil.com
90’lar?n buyusunu modern dunyaya tas?mak hic bu kadar kolay olmam?st?. Unutulmayan bu donemin guzellik s?rlar?n? unutmay?n!
dreamfindshub – Beautiful and simple presentation, perfect place to explore new dreams.
Eski ama asla eskimeyen 90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla dolu bu yaz?da bulusal?m.
Хочу выделить материал про Guzellik ve Kozmetik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?.
Ссылка ниже:
https://guzellikturk.com
Tarz?n?zda 90’lar?n esintilerini hissetmeye baslad?g?n?za eminim. Gecmisin izlerini tas?maktan korkmay?n!
J’adore le dynamisme de Betway Casino, ca transporte dans un univers de plaisirs. Le choix de jeux est tout simplement enorme, avec des machines a sous aux themes varies. Il booste votre aventure des le depart. Les agents repondent avec rapidite. Les retraits sont lisses comme jamais, mais des offres plus genereuses seraient top. Globalement, Betway Casino merite un detour palpitant. En plus l’interface est simple et engageante, permet une plongee totale dans le jeu. Un plus les evenements communautaires dynamiques, cree une communaute soudee.
En savoir plus|
classychoiceoutlet – Everything here feels premium and well-organized, easy to find what I like.
purevalueoutlet – Clean, simple layout that makes shopping smooth and enjoyable.
fashionloverszone – Always something new to see, makes shopping and browsing so fun.
shopfornewthings – Fun and refreshing website, always something exciting to check out.
dreamfindshub – Inspiring vibe and smooth design, browsing this site feels effortless.
getmoreforshop – Easy to use and full of great finds, highly recommended!
classychoiceoutlet – High-quality items and user-friendly layout, makes shopping enjoyable here.
purevalueoutlet – Clean, simple layout that makes shopping smooth and enjoyable.
shopfornewthings – Great variety of products, found some really cool new stuff today.
fashionloverszone – Love the trendy vibe here, perfect for fashion lovers like me.
Je suis accro a Belgium Casino, on y trouve une vibe envoutante. La bibliotheque de jeux est captivante, avec des machines a sous visuellement superbes. Le bonus d’inscription est attrayant. Le support est fiable et reactif. Les retraits sont simples et rapides, malgre tout plus de promos regulieres ajouteraient du peps. Pour finir, Belgium Casino assure un divertissement non-stop. Notons egalement le site est fluide et attractif, permet une plongee totale dans le jeu. A mettre en avant les tournois frequents pour l’adrenaline, assure des transactions fiables.
Voir maintenant|
Dogal guzelliginizin s?rlar?n? ortaya c?karmaya var m?s?n?z?
Yeri gelmisken, eger Modern Mobilya Tasar?mlar? ve Dekorasyon Ipuclar? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya goz at?n.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://modernsturk.com
Cilt bak?m?n?n buyusu ile tan?s?n ve hayat?n?za kazand?r?n.
Je suis enthousiasme par Betway Casino, on ressent une ambiance festive. La bibliotheque est pleine de surprises, incluant des options de paris sportifs dynamiques. Avec des depots instantanes. Le support est pro et accueillant. Les gains sont verses sans attendre, de temps en temps des bonus diversifies seraient un atout. En somme, Betway Casino est un immanquable pour les amateurs. A souligner la plateforme est visuellement electrisante, permet une immersion complete. Particulierement fun les evenements communautaires vibrants, renforce le lien communautaire.
Obtenir les dГ©tails|
classychoiceoutlet – The collections look amazing, very impressed by the taste and presentation.
dreamfindshub – Such a creative and positive place, really love the content here.
J’adore la vibe de Betway Casino, c’est une plateforme qui deborde de dynamisme. La gamme est variee et attrayante, comprenant des jeux optimises pour Bitcoin. Il rend le debut de l’aventure palpitant. Disponible 24/7 par chat ou email. Les gains sont transferes rapidement, par moments des offres plus consequentes seraient parfaites. Pour finir, Betway Casino est un endroit qui electrise. Notons aussi l’interface est intuitive et fluide, donne envie de continuer l’aventure. Un avantage le programme VIP avec des avantages uniques, propose des avantages sur mesure.
Aller au site|
getmoreforshop – Found great deals here, feels like a perfect spot for savings.
shopfornewthings – Love how everything is organized, easy to find great new products.
Dogal guzelliginizin s?rlar?n? ortaya c?karmaya var m?s?n?z?
Moda ve Konforun Zirvesi: Trendler ve Ipuclar? hakk?ndaki bolum dikkatimi cekti.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://sadesik.com
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
black porno
Guzellik ve kozmetikte her zaman gecmisten al?nacak dersler bulunur. 90’lar?n modas?ndan guzellik s?rlar?n? kesfetmeye haz?r olun.
Между прочим, если вас интересует Guzellik ve Kozmetik: Trendler ve Ipuclar?, загляните сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://guzellikturk.com
Tarz?n?zda 90’lar?n esintilerini hissetmeye baslad?g?n?za eminim. Gecmisin izlerini tas?maktan korkmay?n!
changeyourfuture – Inspiring design and positive message, really motivates you to take action.
getmoreforshop – Everything’s organized well, and the discounts are actually pretty solid.
Cilt bak?m?n?n puf noktalar?na dair bilmeniz gereken her sey burada!
Cilt Bak?m? ve Dogal Guzellik S?rlar? hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkate degerdi.
Burada okuyabilirsiniz:
https://turkbakimi.com
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
Je suis fascine par Gamdom Casino, il propose une aventure palpitante. Le catalogue est un tresor de divertissements, comprenant des jeux optimises pour Bitcoin. Il rend le debut de l’aventure palpitant. Le suivi est toujours au top. Les transactions sont toujours fiables, occasionnellement des bonus varies rendraient le tout plus fun. En resume, Gamdom Casino vaut une exploration vibrante. D’ailleurs le site est rapide et immersif, permet une plongee totale dans le jeu. A noter les competitions regulieres pour plus de fun, qui stimule l’engagement.
https://gamdomcasino366fr.com/|
Eski ama asla eskimeyen 90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla dolu bu yaz?da bulusal?m.
Для тех, кто ищет информацию по теме “Evinizde Estetik ve Fonksiyonu Birlestirin: Ipuclar? ve Trendler”, есть отличная статья.
Ссылка ниже:
https://anadolustil.com
Guzellik, gecmisle gunumuz aras?nda bir kopru kurmakt?r. 90’lar?n moda s?rlar?, bu koprunun onemli parcalar?ndan.
classychoiceoutlet – The collections look amazing, very impressed by the taste and presentation.
Dogal guzellik ve cilt bak?m?nda uzmanlar?n s?rlar?na yak?ndan bak?yoruz.
“Lezzetin Zirvesine C?karan SofraKeyfi Hikayeleri” konusuyla ilgili olarak oras? tam bir bilgi hazinesi.
Burada okuyabilirsiniz:
https://sofrakeyfi.com
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
Je suis completement seduit par Gamdom Casino, il cree un monde de sensations fortes. La bibliotheque est pleine de surprises, incluant des paris sportifs pleins de vie. 100% jusqu’a 500 € + tours gratuits. Le support client est irreprochable. Les paiements sont securises et instantanes, mais encore des recompenses supplementaires dynamiseraient le tout. En bref, Gamdom Casino assure un fun constant. Notons aussi la plateforme est visuellement dynamique, amplifie le plaisir de jouer. Un avantage notable le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, offre des recompenses regulieres.
Parcourir maintenant|
shopfornewthings – Such a cool place for discovering new items, love the vibe here.
РедМетСплав предлагает внушительный каталог высококачественных изделий из редких материалов. Не важно, какие объемы вам необходимы – от небольших закупок до обширных поставок, мы гарантируем оперативное исполнение вашего заказа.
Каждая единица продукции подтверждена соответствующими документами, подтверждающими их качество. Дружелюбная помощь – наш стандарт – мы на связи, чтобы улаживать ваши вопросы по мере того как находить ответы под специфику вашего бизнеса.
Доверьте ваш запрос специалистам РедМетСплав и убедитесь в гибкости нашего предложения
Наша продукция:
Фольга ниобиевая НбП-4 – ГОСТ 26252-84 Фольга ниобиевая НбП-4 – ГОСТ 26252-84 представляет собой высококачественный металл, обеспечивающий отличную стойкость к коррозии и высокую теплопроводность. Этот материал широко применяется в электронных устройствах, а также в aerospace индустрии. Его уникальные характеристики делают его идеальным выбором для использования в условиях экстремальных температур.Если вы ищете надежное решение, чтобы улучшить производительность ваших изделий, купите Фольга ниобиевая НбП-4 – ГОСТ 26252-84. Благодаря высоким стандартам качества и долговечности, этот продукт станет отличной основой для ваших проектов.
Je suis completement seduit par Gamdom Casino, on y trouve une vibe envoutante. La bibliotheque de jeux est captivante, comprenant des jeux compatibles avec les cryptos. Il booste votre aventure des le depart. Le suivi est impeccable. Les transactions sont fiables et efficaces, par moments des recompenses supplementaires dynamiseraient le tout. En somme, Gamdom Casino est un incontournable pour les joueurs. A mentionner l’interface est intuitive et fluide, ajoute une touche de dynamisme. Un avantage notable les tournois frequents pour l’adrenaline, cree une communaute vibrante.
Parcourir maintenant|
Eski ama asla eskimeyen 90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla dolu bu yaz?da bulusal?m.
Между прочим, если вас интересует Ev Dekorasyonunda S?kl?k ve Fonksiyonellik, посмотрите сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://evimsicak.com
90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?n? kesfetmek, tarz?n?za farkl? bir boyut kazand?rabilir. Denemeye deger degil mi?
yelkovanyachts.com – Corporate Site Introduction Page
Je suis enthousiasme par Betify Casino, il cree un monde de sensations fortes. Le catalogue de titres est vaste, proposant des jeux de table classiques. 100% jusqu’a 500 € plus des tours gratuits. Le service est disponible 24/7. Les transactions sont d’une fiabilite absolue, a l’occasion des offres plus genereuses rendraient l’experience meilleure. Pour finir, Betify Casino est un immanquable pour les amateurs. A signaler la plateforme est visuellement electrisante, booste le fun du jeu. Un point cle les evenements communautaires dynamiques, offre des recompenses regulieres.
Explorer le site web|