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.
page https://hlp0.online/
Перед началом терапии важно оценить состояние пациента и выявить сопутствующие заболевания. После этого назначается комплексное лечение, которое позволяет восстановить здоровье и подготовить к дальнейшей реабилитации.
Углубиться в тему – вывод из запоя на дому в рязани
More Bonuses https://palladiumlabs.net/
that site https://rangerfinance.xyz
«Как отмечает врач-нарколог Павел Викторович Зайцев, «эффективность терапии во многом зависит от своевременного обращения, поэтому откладывать визит в клинику опасно»».
Получить дополнительные сведения – анонимная наркологическая клиника
modernlookstore – Loved the items, arrived quickly and in perfect condition.
москва больницы с гериатрическим отделением Геронтологический центр – это специализированное учреждение, оказывающее комплексную помощь пожилым людям. Здесь проводятся диагностика, лечение и реабилитация возрастных заболеваний, а также предоставляется уход и социальная поддержка. Геронтологический центр может функционировать как самостоятельное учреждение или как отделение в составе многопрофильной больницы.
sites https://avalonfinance.cv/
Full Article https://hyperliquid-wiki.cc
recenzii melbet Moldova http://melbet5013.ru
лучшие seo компании https://reiting-seo-kompanii.ru/ .
melbet plinko melbet plinko
seo продвижение сайтов агентство https://www.reiting-seo-kompanii.ru .
Brilliant article! https://casino-pornic-fr.com/casino-pornic/
chiclookhub – Trendy styles and smooth shipping, very happy with my order.
Street Fashion Daily – Explore curated urban wear and stay ahead of the latest trends.
go https://royco.cc/
Urban Outfit Picks – Discover stylish streetwear essentials for modern and trendy looks.
Hi this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know
if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually
code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I
wanted to get advice from someone with experience.
Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Вывод из запоя в Рязани является востребованной медицинской услугой, направленной на стабилизацию состояния пациента после длительного употребления алкоголя. Специалисты применяют современные методы детоксикации, позволяющие быстро и безопасно восстановить жизненно важные функции организма, снизить проявления абстинентного синдрома и предотвратить осложнения. Процесс лечения осуществляется в клинических условиях под постоянным наблюдением врачей.
Изучить вопрос глубже – срочный вывод из запоя
больница для пожилых людей в москве При выборе геронтологического или гериатрического центра важно учитывать его репутацию, квалификацию персонала, спектр предоставляемых услуг и условия проживания. Важно также обратить внимание на отзывы других пациентов и их родственников.
геронтологический центр москва В Москве и Московской области функционирует множество геронтологических и гериатрических центров, как государственных, так и частных. Они предлагают широкий спектр услуг, от амбулаторного консультирования до стационарного лечения и реабилитации. Важным направлением работы является социальная поддержка пожилых людей, включающая организацию досуга, психологическую помощь и юридическое консультирование.
browse around this site https://alchemix.center
go now https://hlp0.online/
you could try here https://hyperliquid-wiki.cv
try this site https://usdai.cloud
melbet helpline http://www.melbet5013.ru
next https://daodao.cfd
her comment is here https://kittenswap.cc
Устройство сломано. С такой поломкой вам необходимо обратиться в специализированный сервисный центр, прочитайте этот гайд если в списке проблем ничего не помогло, смело сдавайте в сервис на диагностику
https://slubowisko.pl/topic/82349/#19
view publisher site https://terminal.credit
this contact form https://hyperliquid-wiki.cc/
https://forum.issabel.org/u/roomchatru
геронтология в москве Помимо центров, существуют геронтологические пансионаты и дома престарелых, обеспечивающие постоянный уход и проживание для пожилых людей, нуждающихся в посторонней помощи. Эти учреждения создают комфортные и безопасные условия для жизни, организуют досуг и обеспечивают необходимую медицинскую помощь. Геронтологические отделения в больницах предназначены для оказания специализированной медицинской помощи пожилым пациентам, учитывая их возрастные особенности и сопутствующие заболевания.
investigate this site https://palladiumlabs.net
Для купирования абстинентного синдрома и снятия интоксикации используются различные подходы. Врачи подбирают их индивидуально, исходя из состояния пациента.
Узнать больше – вывод из запоя круглосуточно рязань
Этот комплекс мер позволяет оказывать помощь пациентам на всех стадиях зависимости.
Выяснить больше – https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-sankt-peterburg14.ru/narkologiya-sankt-peterburg
hop over to here https://avalonfinance.cv
click to investigate https://yieldfi.pro
verificare KYC melbet http://melbet5013.ru
Да хорошо бы было, сегодня уже получу трек. Но конечно напугали всякие кому типа ам плохой пришёл. https://stilyagisocks.ru Спасибо все понравилось
Great insights, thanks for sharing! https://z1u9.icu/spurs-considered-selling-experienced-duo/
melbet număr de contact melbet număr de contact
Great website you have here but I was curious if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get opinions from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!
my website https://palladiumlabs.net/
investigate this site https://dexrp.buzz
Get the facts https://kinetiq.buzz
центр геронтологии москва Гериатрический центр, в свою очередь, специализируется на проблемах старения и болезнях пожилого возраста. Ключевой акцент делается на профилактику, раннее выявление и эффективное лечение гериатрических синдромов, таких как деменция, саркопения, остеопороз и другие. Врачи-гериатры обладают глубокими знаниями в области возрастных изменений и умеют разрабатывать индивидуальные планы лечения для каждого пациента.
find here https://unich.icu