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.
узнать больше Здесь водка казино официальный сайт
продолжить https://kra48a.at
Soft Dawn Market – User-friendly design with clearly displayed products enhanced browsing.
MidRiverDesigns Online – Well-organized pages made exploring products quick and hassle-free.
карниз электро https://www.elektrokarnizmoskva.ru .
Iron Valley Finds Hub – Clean layout and organized visuals helped make shopping smooth and easy.
Электроника растаможена моментально, таможенное оформление электроники москва
https://gitlab.kanche.com/ybojessika2053
кракен зеркало
kraken даркнет
электрокарнизы для штор http://www.elektrokarniz1.ru .
такой kra47.at
электрический карниз для штор купить http://elektrokarnizmoskva.ru/ .
автоматический карниз для штор http://www.elektrokarnizmoskva.ru/ .
карнизы с электроприводом elektrokarniz1.ru .
Iron Valley Crafts – Neat interface and clear visuals helped me shop efficiently.
автоматические карнизы [url=http://elektrokarnizmoskva.ru]автоматические карнизы[/url] .
Источник kra47.cc
автоматические карнизы для штор http://www.elektrokarniz1.ru/ .
This post had me completely fired up — thank you!
карниз для штор с электроприводом http://www.elektrokarniz1.ru/ .
cresttrendhub – Clear layout with organized listings, browsing was simple and enjoyable.
rarefashionstorehub – Fast-loading and organized sections, shopping felt smooth.
карнизы с электроприводом купить https://www.prokarniz36.ru .
rarefashionboutique – Well-laid-out sections and fast-loading pages, shopping felt hassle-free.
Подвесной потолок Армстронг https://potolok-armstrong1.ru/ .
Dawn Lane Boutique – Clear categories and tidy layout improved the browsing experience.
электрокарнизы для штор купить в москве [url=www.elektrokarniz1.ru]www.elektrokarniz1.ru[/url] .
You’re becoming one of my favorite writers online.
Плиты Армстронг https://potolok-armstrong1.ru/ .
смотреть здесь водкабет
В этой статье мы рассматриваем разрушительное влияние зависимости на жизнь человека. Обсуждаются аспекты, такие как здоровье, отношения и профессиональные достижения. Читатели узнают о необходимости обращения за помощью и о путях к восстановлению.
Получить дополнительные сведения – помощь вывод из запоя Симферополь
как вывести бонусы с 1win https://1win12042.ru/
смотреть здесь зеркало водка бет
электрокарнизы москва http://www.prokarniz36.ru .
официальная ссылка кракен
кракен тор
aviator игра скачать 1win12042.ru
ссылка на сайт kra48.cc
такой vodka casino
электрические карнизы для штор в москве elektrokarnizmoskva.ru .
Iron Valley Studio Hub – Simple layout and crisp product images made selection fast and straightforward.
Наркологическая клиника в Самаре оказывает профессиональную помощь людям, страдающим зависимостью от алкоголя, наркотиков и других психоактивных веществ. В основе её деятельности лежит индивидуальный подход к каждому пациенту, сочетание медикаментозных и психотерапевтических методов, а также полная конфиденциальность. Лечение проводится опытными специалистами с применением современных медицинских технологий, направленных на восстановление здоровья и предотвращение рецидивов.
Узнать больше – вывод наркологическая клиника в самаре
карниз для штор с электроприводом prokarniz36.ru .
электрокарнизы для штор купить электрокарнизы для штор купить .
You’ve created something vibrant and exciting — amazing job!
Link exchange is nothing else however it is only placing the other person’s blog link on your page at appropriate place and other person will also do same in support of you.
Iron Valley Treasures – Organized pages and crisp visuals helped me browse quickly.
Наша задача — не ограничиться «одной капельницей», а провести пациента через связанный маршрут: купирование острых симптомов, стабилизация, профилактика срывов и поведенческая поддержка. На выезде врач оценивает давление, пульс, сатурацию, при необходимости снимает ЭКГ, подбирает инфузионные схемы и корректирует тревогу, тремор, нарушение сна. Если состояние нестабильно, организуем стационар: под наблюдением легче предупреждать осложнения и быстро корректировать назначенные дозы. Когда острые проявления уходят, настраиваем режим сна, питания и гидратации, формируем план «сложных часов» и алгоритм раннего реагирования на тягу. Психотерапевтические сессии усиливают контроль над поведением, а семейные консультации помогают близким действовать согласованно, не усиливая зависимое поведение случайными ошибками вроде «спасательства» и скрытия последствий употребления.
Детальнее – наркологическая клиника москва отзывы
автоматические карнизы для штор http://www.elektrokarniz1.ru/ .
Источник vodkabet водкабет казино
электрокарнизы http://elektrokarniz1.ru/ .
электрокарниз москва http://elektrokarniz1.ru/ .