
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.
Keep on writing, great job!
https://vivealumni.usfq.edu.ec/2022/07/emotivo-mensaje-de-diego-quiroga-rector.html?sc=1766379567264#c4645060822916587107
продолжить [url=https://vodkabet-mel.com/]водка бет[/url]
Клиника «Альтернатива» предлагает фиксированные цены на выезд нарколога с оплатой после оказания услуги. Тарифы действуют по всему городу и пригороду.
Получить больше информации – экстренная наркологическая помощь уфа
сальвия дивинорум семена купить
Травяные смеси для ароматерапии помогают расслабиться и сосредоточиться. Натуральные компоненты, такие как мята, шалфей и лаванда, создают приятный аромат, способствуют спокойствию и гармонии. Их удобно использовать дома или на природе, они безопасны и легальны. Регулярное использование помогает снять стресс, улучшить настроение и зарядиться энергией. Это отличная альтернатива вредным привычкам для заботы о себе и окружающих
пояснения водка бет
статьи про продвижение сайтов seo-blog2.ru .
BrainVisionReeracoen – Very clear, site offers insights that are logically presented and helpful.
узнать больше vbet casino
ReeracoenKnowledge – Informative and approachable, articles are easy to read and structured well.
перейти на сайт vodka премиум онлайн казино
step-by-step forward roadmap – Helps maintain momentum while achieving meaningful outcomes.
purposeful action roadmap – Helps sustain momentum with practical and goal-oriented steps.
другие войти на vbet poker
I really like reading an article that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
посмотреть в этом разделе зеркало водка бет
https://savgroup.ru/
ReeracoenInsights – Informative and structured, browsing provides clear understanding of topics.
Мы одинаково внимательно относимся и к амбулаторным, и к стационарным маршрутам. Для каждого формируется индивидуальная цель (устранение абстиненции, нормализация сна, восстановление внимания и мотивации) и назначается «точка переоценки» — момент, когда команда сверяет динамику и, если нужно, меняет один параметр плана (дозу, время внесения процедур, приоритет модуля). Так достигается предсказуемость и избегается избыточная фармаконагрузка.
Подробнее тут – http://
зума казино вход
BrainsightHub – Organized layout, content is easy to follow and highly informative.
http://pax.nichost.ru/forum/view_profile.php?UID=162870
мазагин, один из лучший, беру практически только здесь! Купить кокаин, бошки, гашиш 3)Бабки там всякиеДве дороги для Артёма,
1win tikish qanday qilinadi 1win tikish qanday qilinadi
1вин вывести деньги https://1win5513.ru/
подробнее здесь vodkabet водка бет казино
BrainInsightCenter – Informative and well-structured, content is easy to read and visually clean.
Первая ровная ночь — поворотная точка. Без неё любая дневная инфузия работает коротко и «сгорает» к вечеру. Мы заранее настраиваем простые, но критичные условия: затемнение, тишина, прохладная комната, фиксированное время отбоя, минимум экранов и разговоров. При показаниях назначается щадящая седативная поддержка в дозах, которые стабилизируют, а не «выключают». Утром — короткий контроль и подстройка доз, чтобы другая ночь прошла ещё спокойнее. Такой «простой» протокол даёт самый устойчивый результат: исчезают панические волны, выравниваются показатели, снижается вероятность повторных экстренных обращений, а значит, бюджет остаётся предсказуемым.
Изучить вопрос глубже – vyvod-iz-zapoya-klinika
BrainHubPro – Very professional, content is organized logically and easy to digest.
Хотя принципы лечения похожи, клиническая логика отличается. При алкогольной зависимости чаще нужен быстрый контроль вегетативных симптомов, восстановление сна и коррекция электролитов. При наркозависимости добавляются протоколы снижения импульсивности, работа с абстиненцией другой природы и расширенная психотерапевтическая часть. В обоих случаях результат не сводится к «капельнице»: мы учим распознавать ранние сигналы срыва, формировать безопасные ритуалы и поддерживать общение без давления и скрытых конфликтов.
Разобраться лучше – наркологическая клиника наркологический центр
веб-сайт водкабет
Перейти на сайт vodka bet
I am genuinely delighted to glance at this web site posts which includes plenty of helpful information, thanks for providing such data.
этот сайт водкабет
нажмите здесь трип скан
узнать больше Здесь трипскан сайт вход
узнать водка бет
перенаправляется сюда vodka bet
1win to‘lov usullari 1win to‘lov usullari
зайти на сайт сайт трипскан
кликните сюда кракен онион
подробнее здесь vodka премиум онлайн казино
Смотреть здесь tripscan
на этом сайте kraken ссылка на сайт
1win qanday ro‘yxatdan o‘tish kerak 1win qanday ro‘yxatdan o‘tish kerak
можно ли купить сейчас диплом можно ли купить сейчас диплом .
1win ijobiy sharhlar http://www.1win5513.ru
здесь vodkabet водкабет казино
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
проверить сайт vodka bet