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.
Calm decor hub – The gentle design makes shopping enjoyable, with curated items that feel thoughtfully chosen.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your weblog. You have some really good posts and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an email if interested. Many thanks!
Клиника ориентирована на клиническую достаточность: никаких процедур «для галочки», только то, что подтверждено показаниями. С первого контакта дежурный врач уточняет анамнез, лекарства, аллергии, оценивает риски сердечно-сосудистых осложнений, степень обезвоживания, уровень тревоги и качества сна. Если состояние позволяет, подготовка к кодированию проводится амбулаторно или на дому; при нестабильных показателях предлагается короткий стационар для безопасной стабилизации. Важна анонимность — в расписании используются шифры, доступ к данным разграничен, информирование родственников происходит только по согласию пациента. Организация процесса учитывает ритм мегаполиса: гибкие слоты в будни и выходные, выездные бригады, быстрый перевод из домашнего формата в стационар при необходимости. Финансовые условия проговариваются заранее, чтобы исключить скрытые позиции и дать человеку возможность планировать бюджет без догадок.
Изучить вопрос глубже – москва кодирование от алкоголизма адреса
Open88 là nhà cái trực tuyến được nhiều người chơi lựa chọn nhờ nền tảng ổn định và hệ thống bảo mật cao. Open88 cung cấp đa dạng trò chơi như cá cược thể thao, casino trực tuyến, slot game với giao diện thân thiện, tỷ lệ cược hấp dẫn và quy trình nạp rút nhanh chóng.
Explore Jammy K Speaks – Readers can find stimulating articles that invite reflection and commentary.
Лечение алкоголизма в Перми в условиях специализированной клиники обеспечивает высокий уровень безопасности и результативности. Пациенты получают квалифицированную помощь в комфортных условиях и под наблюдением опытных специалистов.
Детальнее – лечение женского алкоголизма пермь
Visit Jammy K Speaks – Thought-provoking posts encourage readers to engage and share their opinions.
купить диплом 11 классов цена купить диплом 11 классов цена .
globalbuyzone – GlobalBuyZone offers beautifully curated items that make browsing simple and enjoyable.
If you are searching for a comprehensive guide, look no further than the Alcott Hall PDF available here. This document covers everything from the foundation to the modern era of the hall. It is formatted perfectly for easy reading, making it the ideal choice for enthusiasts and scholars alike. https://alcotthallpdf.top/ Alcott Hall Story Pdf
Такой алгоритм позволяет контролировать каждый аспект лечения, обеспечивая постепенное и безопасное восстановление. Врач-куратор отслеживает динамику и при необходимости корректирует программу.
Узнать больше – https://narkologicheskaya-clinika-v-ryazani17.ru/narkologiya-v-ryazani
Для наглядности приведена таблица, отражающая распространённые методы лечения и их цели:
Получить дополнительные сведения – http://narkologicheskaya-clinika-v-samare16.ru/chastnaya-narkologicheskaya-klinika-samara/
Осмотр > мониторинг > инфузии по показаниям > план вечера и ночи > письменные рекомендации > окно связи на следующий день. Эта линия делает поведение предсказуемым, а значит — безопасным.
Подробнее – клиника вывод из запоя москва
use them. Responsible settings make party in establishments, not enter anyway, more https://bwwarehouse.co.uk/not-on-gamstop1/the-rise-of-non-gamstop-casinos-a-comprehensive-6/ that are not included in the list of gamstop.
Официальный сайт — переходи сейчас
бонус за регистрацию без депозита в казино с выводом
В Воронеже клиника «ВоронежМед Альянс» предлагает комплексное лечение алкогольной и наркотической зависимости. Команда врачей, психиатров, психологов и терапевтов выстраивает индивидуальный маршрут пациента, начиная с детоксикации и заканчивая реабилитацией. Главный принцип — минимальное вмешательство при максимальной эффективности. Это означает, что терапевтические меры подбираются строго по показаниям, а медикаменты применяются только после оценки состояния и лабораторных данных.
Углубиться в тему – наркологическая клиника наркологический центр
Наркологическая клиника в Самаре предлагает профессиональное лечение алкогольной, наркотической и других форм зависимости с использованием современных медицинских технологий и индивидуальных программ. Основная цель работы специалистов — помочь пациенту восстановить физическое и психическое здоровье, вернуть контроль над собственной жизнью и предотвратить рецидив. Все процедуры проводятся с соблюдением медицинской этики, конфиденциальности и стандартов безопасности.
Изучить вопрос глубже – https://narkologicheskaya-clinika-v-samare16.ru/narkologicheskij-dispanser-g-samara
Jammy K Speaks – The blog offers insightful content and sparks conversations on a variety of topics.
Thought hub – Readers are prompted to explore diverse topics and contribute to conversations.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be actually one thing which I believe I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m taking a look forward in your subsequent submit, I’ll attempt to get the dangle of it!
worldtraderhub – WorldTraderHub offers a vibrant collection of items that feel thoughtfully selected.
There is a special place in my heart for second-chance romance stories. Searching an archive of romance specifically for this trope yields amazing results. I download the most promising PDF titles and spend my evenings reading about couples finding their way back to each other. https://anarchiveofromancepdf.top/ An Archive Of Romance Pdf
culturalhubzone – CulturalHubZone offers a wide range of appealing items that are simple to browse.
Я оцениваю умение автора объединить разные точки зрения и синтезировать их в понятную картину.
Заказывал по телефону, все быстро оформили
матрешки
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for %meta_keyword%
Во время лечения фиксируются все жизненные показатели пациента. При необходимости проводится экспресс-анализ крови и ЭКГ. Ниже представлена таблица, показывающая, какие параметры контролируются и по каким признакам оценивается стабилизация состояния.
Получить дополнительную информацию – http://vyvod-iz-zapoya-v-voronezhe17.ru/
Soft living shop – A soothing layout enhances the experience, with products that are pleasant to browse.
Gentle picks store – A soft and calming layout helps make shopping smooth and pleasant.
I am sure this post has touched all the internet users, its really really nice article on building up new blog.
Детоксикация — это первый и важнейший этап лечения в наркологической клинике в Красноярске. Она проводится с целью выведения токсинов из организма и восстановления функций жизненно важных органов. Для этого применяются инфузионные растворы, гепатопротекторы, витамины и препараты, нормализующие обмен веществ. После снятия интоксикации пациент получает медикаментозную поддержку, направленную на снижение тяги к алкоголю или наркотикам и стабилизацию эмоционального состояния.
Получить дополнительные сведения – наркологическая клиника наркологический центр красноярск
Таможенное декларирование москва без единой правки
https://git.aparoksha.dev/bobbybrownlow
Корпоративный подарок — матрешка с логотипом
подарки
Curated breeze market – The gentle vibe makes exploration easy, with products that feel well selected.
Традиционная владимирская, с золотыми узорами
матрешки купить
Does your website have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.
Член до колен и девок гарем)) https://destinyzone.biz сайт скоро подымем , я на ветке отпишу как заработаетВ своё время работали по опту!
казино в котором есть бездепозитный бонус
бездепозитные бонусы в казино олимп
Soft decor boutique – Browsing flows naturally, and the items have a soft, appealing presentation.
курган купить диплом курган купить диплом .
В таблице приведены основные компоненты инфузионной терапии, применяемые при детоксикации:
Детальнее – https://narkologicheskaya-clinica-v-novokuzneczke17.ru/narkologiya-gorod-novokuzneczk
Relaxed decor hub – The gentle vibe creates an enjoyable shopping experience, with thoughtfully presented items.
Жостово на подносах, ярко
матрешки купить
Thanks for sharing your expertise! Every section was helpful, and I appreciate how you kept it concise but comprehensive. Bookmarking this for later!
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve consider your stuff prior to and you’re just too magnificent. I really like what you have obtained here, really like what you are saying and the way in which during which you assert it. You’re making it entertaining and you continue to take care of to stay it wise. I can not wait to learn far more from you. This is actually a great web site.
learnandapply.click – Hub guiding users to rapidly gain skills and implement actionable changes.
https://www.flyingv.cc/users/1424421
пин ап бесплатные игры казино пин ап бесплатные игры казино