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.
visit their website https://safeglobal.club/
BloomStreet Deals – A fresh design paired with organized pages creates a smooth browsing vibe.
I visited various web pages except the audio quality for audio songs present at this web site is really wonderful.
Hello!
https://kingmaker-casinos.com
kraken тор
кракен маркет даркнет тор
Hello i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this piece of writing i thought i could also make comment due to this brilliant article.
ChicWardrobeHub – Clear layout, stylish products, and smooth overall browsing experience.
best site https://berapaw.org
https://www.sweetphotography.com/blog/2018/8/ahs-centenary-show
Мы выстраиваем помощь как маршрут, а не разовую «капельницу». После первого звонка администратор собирает краткий чек-лист (длительность эпизода, хронические заболевания, принятые препараты, аллергии), передаёт дежурному врачу, и тот предлагает безопасный старт: визит на дому в пределах Сергиева Посада и района или сразу стационар. Выбор зависит от клинических рисков и бытовых условий: есть ли спокойная комната, помощник на ночь, насколько выражены симптомы.
Ознакомиться с деталями – https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-sergiev-posad8.ru/
Комплексное проведение этих этапов обеспечивает полное восстановление организма и облегчает процесс последующего лечения зависимости.
Ознакомиться с деталями – вывод из запоя вызов на дом
Современная Стоматология в Воронеже лечение кариеса, протезирование, имплантация, профессиональная гигиена и эстетика улыбки. Квалифицированные специалисты, точная диагностика и забота о пациентах.
What’s up, after reading this amazing paragraph i am as well delighted to share my familiarity here with colleagues.
http://1000lv.listbb.ru/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2294
see this site https://kittenswap.cc
link https://hypperswap.cloud
go to my site https://unich.icu/
Этот информационный набор привлекает внимание множеством мелочей и странных ракурсов. Мы предлагаем взгляды, которые редко бывают полезны, но могут слегка разнообразить ваше знакомство с темой.
Вот – ставки на спорт
ClassyTrendExpress – Clear design, stylish selections, and enjoyable navigation throughout.
official source https://rangerfinance.xyz
StyleTrendHub – Well-structured layout, appealing items, and effortless browsing.
Modern Taste Marketplace – The site feels intuitive and visually balanced.
see https://toast-wallet.net/
This is the right site for anyone who wishes to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a subject that’s been written about for many years. Great stuff, just excellent!
other https://etherealtrade.xyz/
read more https://avalonfinance.cv/
About fifty millions people all over the world have fun in remote-cards and https://owow.ciao.jp/2025/10/15/discovering-uk-casinos-not-on-gamstop-624554735/ demonstrate its wide recognition. our company recommend a very well casino because of its variety of gambling and betting through non-stop.
WildShore Finds – Clean design and solid assortment, the experience was easy and inviting.
I always used to study paragraph in news papers but now as I am a user of
web therefore from now I am using net for content, thanks to web.
Your attention to detail really shines through.
Contemporary Living Finds – Product flow is smooth and the site is easy to explore.
click over here now https://alchemix.center
Современная Стоматология в Воронеже лечение кариеса, протезирование, имплантация, профессиональная гигиена и эстетика улыбки. Квалифицированные специалисты, точная диагностика и забота о пациентах.
WildShore Goods – Neatly presented items with a balanced selection, felt great to explore.
What i don’t understood is if truth be told how you are no longer really much more well-favored than you might be right now. You are so intelligent. You understand therefore considerably with regards to this topic, produced me in my opinion believe it from so many various angles. Its like men and women are not involved until it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs great. All the time handle it up!
view it https://looksrare.cfd
visite site https://hyperliquid-wiki.cc/
right here https://unich.icu
UrbanLife Studio Hub – Smooth browsing with well-arranged modern lifestyle products throughout the site.
Stylish Lifestyle Hub – Everything feels organized nicely, shopping here is effortless.
Your Domain Name https://d2finance.cv/
go to this web-site https://daodao.cfd/
Absolutely bursting with personality — amazing job!
you can look here https://d2finance.cv
Modern Lifestyle Browse – Simple design keeps the experience enjoyable.
BloomStreet Online – A neat, light layout brings a comfortable, easygoing shopping feel.
try this website https://etherealtrade.lat
Going Here https://hypperswap.space/
Для повышения эффективности в капельницы добавляются витамины группы B, аскорбиновая кислота, кардиопротекторы и антиоксиданты. Такая комбинация позволяет не только ускорить выведение продуктов распада алкоголя, но и предотвратить развитие постабстинентных расстройств. Благодаря точной дозировке и мягкому темпу введения растворов снижается риск побочных реакций, а восстановление проходит плавно и безопасно.
Подробнее – вывод из запоя с выездом
additional reading https://toast-wallet.net/