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.
автоматические гардины для штор http://prokarniz36.ru .
Логистика из Китая https://asiafast.ru без головной боли: доставка грузов морем, авто и ЖД, консолидация на складе, переупаковка, маркировка, таможенное оформление. Предлагаем выгодные тарифы и гарантируем сохранность вашего товара.
Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
https://sydneyglassandmirrors.com.au/?p=110473
электрические карнизы купить prokarniz36.ru .
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Я думаю, что Вы допускаете ошибку. Давайте обсудим это. Пишите мне в PM, поговорим.
Leading software vendors, including Netent, Microgaming, https://dagatasul.mayuhama.net/2017/10/06/rakuen/, and Playtech, support online games that you see in legitimate entertainment venues.
купить филлеры оптом купить филлеры оптом .
гардина с электроприводом http://www.prokarniz36.ru/ .
Подвесной потолок Армстронг potolok-armstrong1.ru .
Goal Mastery Hub – Insights to stay motivated and take consistent steps toward your ambitions.
Leafy Studio Finds – Smooth browsing and clean design helped customers locate items quickly.
Corner Shop BrightMoor – Fast search and clear categories made shopping efficient.
купила диплом о высшем образовании купила диплом о высшем образовании .
клиника наркологическая клиника наркологическая .
Следующая страница водкабет
Leaf Grove – Clean layout and intuitive navigation made finding items simple.
частная наркологическая клиника http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-35.ru .
Плиты Армстронг http://www.potolok-armstrong1.ru .
карниз электро https://prokarniz36.ru .
электрокарнизы [url=https://elektrokarnizmoskva.ru/]электрокарнизы[/url] .
карнизы для штор с электроприводом https://www.prokarniz36.ru .
Потолок Армстронг [url=https://potolok-armstrong1.ru]https://potolok-armstrong1.ru[/url] .
автоматические карнизы [url=elektrokarniz1.ru]elektrokarniz1.ru[/url] .
наркологическая больница наркологическая больница .
карниз моторизованный http://prokarniz36.ru/ .
больница наркологическая https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-35.ru .
анонимная наркологическая клиника http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-35.ru .
адреса наркологических клиник http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-35.ru .
веб-сайте водка бет
содержание водка казино официальный сайт
лечение зависимостей в москве narkologicheskaya-klinika-35.ru .
Подробнее vodka bet
техническая экспертиза причин затопления техническая экспертиза причин затопления .
нажмите vodkabet водкабет казино
BM Corner Finds – Enjoyable browsing with fast access to products.
Your Dream Journey – Tools and advice to help you dream bigger and make steady progress.
Just wish to say your article is as astounding. The clearness in your post is simply nice and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the enjoyable work.
https://www.evergoldcs.com/melbet-com-zerkalo-obzor-2025/
Dream Big Hub – Discover inspiration and strategies to pursue your goals with confidence every day.
кракен маркет
кракен официальный сайт
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable know-how regarding unpredicted feelings.
https://fafafa388.com/melbet-kom-zerkalo-2025-obzor/
оценка ущерба залив по вине управляющей компании https://ekspertiza-zaliva-kvartiry-5.ru/ .
нажмите здесь https://kra48a.at/
экспертиза протечки квартиры экспертиза протечки квартиры .
наркология клиника narkologicheskaya-klinika-35.ru .
электрокранизы http://www.elektrokarnizmoskva.ru/ .
электрические карнизы для штор в москве elektrokarniz1.ru .
Логистика из Китая https://asiafast.ru без головной боли: доставка грузов морем, авто и ЖД, консолидация на складе, переупаковка, маркировка, таможенное оформление. Предлагаем выгодные тарифы и гарантируем сохранность вашего товара.
остров ко ланта в тайланде ко ланта пляжи — Ко Ланта славится пляжами с белым песком и кристально чистой водой, где каждый найдёт свой уголок для отдыха и активностей. Long Beach (Pra Ae Beach) простирается вдоль длинной линии песка и вдоль него тянутся кафе, шатры и уютные трассы для прогулок. Klong Dao — спокойный участок пляжа, который подходит для семей и тех, кто любит плавать в спокойной воде и вечерние прогулки под пальмами. Ba Kantiang Bay — более уединённый безмятежный уголок с кручеными скалами и отличной морской атмосферой; здесь часто можно увидеть красивые закаты. Relax Bay и другие небольшие бухты на юге острова дарят спокойствие и хорошую воду для плавания и снорклинга. Вариативность пляжей позволяет выбрать место под босоногий отдых, виллу с видом на море или простые гестхаусы у воды.
Потолок Армстронг http://www.potolok-armstrong1.ru/ .
Логистика из Китая https://asiafast.ru без головной боли: доставка грузов морем, авто и ЖД, консолидация на складе, переупаковка, маркировка, таможенное оформление. Предлагаем выгодные тарифы и гарантируем сохранность вашего товара.