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.
Клиника проктологии https://proctofor.ru в Москве с современным оборудованием и опытными врачами. Проводим деликатную диагностику и лечение геморроя, трещин, полипов, воспалительных заболеваний прямой кишки. Приём по записи, без очередей, в комфортных условиях. Бережный подход, щадящие методы, анонимность и тактичное отношение.
find more information https://etherealtrade.xyz
http://forum.master-namereniya.ru/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=7387
клиники наркологические narkologicheskaya-klinika-39.ru .
частная наркологическая клиника в москве анонимное narkologicheskaya-klinika-34.ru .
электрокарниз купить в москве электрокарниз купить в москве .
клиника наркология narkologicheskaya-klinika-39.ru .
скрытый алкоголизм http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-34.ru/ .
anchor https://avalonfinance.cv/
медицинский наркологический центр http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-37.ru/ .
анонимная наркологическая помощь анонимная наркологическая помощь .
анонимная наркологическая клиника https://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-34.ru .
https://www.animaljobsdirect.com/employers/3898553-xbetcode22
реабилитация зависимых narkologicheskaya-klinika-39.ru .
наркологический диспансер москва https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-34.ru .
карнизы для штор с электроприводом карнизы для штор с электроприводом .
https://www.covrik.com/covers/inc/melbet_promokod_pri_registracii_bonus_besplatno.html
наркологическая платная клиника http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-37.ru/ .
her explanation https://berapaw.org/
Специализированный уход за лежачими больными с круглосуточным наблюдением – Подробнее по ссылке <a href=
https://doodleordie.com/profile/rodnoyochag
click here now https://avalonfinance.cc/
my website https://cakepad.digital
электрические гардины для штор https://www.elektrokarniz-dlya-shtor499.ru .
bold harbor shop – Browsing was smooth and products were easy to find.
read more https://kinetiq.buzz/
bold corner – Items are well displayed and the interface feels user-friendly.
click for more info https://dexrp.wtf
tripscan Сайт трипскан — действует как информационный центр: здесь собрано руководство пользователя, документация API, примеры интеграций, а также раздел с часто задаваемыми вопросами. Он обучает новых пользователей работать с сервисом, описывает принципы расчета маршрутов, графики цен и прогнозов спроса. Посетители могут ознакомиться с политикой конфиденциальности, условиями использования и данными об обслуживании. С точки зрения разработки, сайт ориентирован на модульность, скоростной отклик и локализацию на несколько языков, чтобы поддержать глобальных клиентов.
Этот текст призван помочь читателю расширить кругозор и получить практические знания. Мы используем простой язык, наглядные примеры и структурированное изложение, чтобы сделать обучение максимально эффективным и увлекательным.
Смотрите также… – https://ytow.net/payment-methods
гардина с электроприводом http://elektrokarniz-dlya-shtor499.ru/ .
Sun Crest Online – Organized pages and intuitive navigation made shopping hassle-free.
наркологические услуги narkologicheskaya-klinika-39.ru .
наркология в москве http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-34.ru .
электрокарниз москва https://www.provorota.su .
электрокарнизы для штор купить электрокарнизы для штор купить .
Just desire to say your article is as surprising. The clearness to your post is just great and that i can suppose you’re an expert in this subject. Fine along with your permission allow me to seize your feed to stay up to date with imminent post. Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
StylePickStore – Smooth shopping experience with stylish products, made my day.
платная наркологическая клиника платная наркологическая клиника .
электрокарнизы купить в москве http://elektrokarniz2.ru .
психолог нарколог в москве https://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-34.ru .
электрокарниз электрокарниз .
экстренное вытрезвление в москве http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-39.ru .
TrendyLifeCorner – Very engaging content, easy to navigate and fun to read.
автоматические карнизы автоматические карнизы .
адреса наркологических клиник http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-34.ru .
visite site https://hypperswap.space
visit our website https://hlp0.online/
https://mebeltrading.ru Прокат мастерской мебели для практикумов. Рабочие поверхности напрокат.
клиника наркологии клиника наркологии .
this content https://safeglobal.club