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.
learn this here now https://lumi-wallet.io
мелбет зеркало новое мелбет зеркало новое
TrinkHalleSelection – Easy-to-use site, product details are straightforward and clear.
website for making money
Home Page https://jaxx-web.org
такой krab2.cc
Hurrah, that’s what I was searching for, what a data! present here at this weblog, thanks admin of this website.
бонусный счет games melbet http://melbet5001.ru
1вин мобильное приложение уз https://1win5514.ru
Этот обзор дает возможность взглянуть на историю и науку под новым углом. Мы представляем редкие факты, неожиданные связи и значимые события, которые помогут вам глубже понять развитие цивилизации и роль человека в ней.
Личный опыт — читайте сами – https://ready2travelusa.com/product/ecotourism-sabah-sightseeing-tours-2-hours
more information https://toast-wallet.net/
TrinkHalleMarket – User-friendly interface, browsing products is smooth and convenient.
мелбет бонус мелбет бонус
my sources https://lumi-wallet.io/
Source https://toast-wallet.net
продолжить krab2.cc
Смотреть здесь маркетплейс
My brother recommended I may like this blog. He was once entirely right.
This submit truly made my day. You cann’t believe simply how so much time I had spent for
this info! Thank you!
1win blackjack uz 1win5514.ru
на этом сайте krab1.cc
мелбет авиатор http://melbet5001.ru
TrinkHalleSelectStore – Simple design, product info is easy to access and understand.
TrinkHalleGoodsHub – Organized interface, shopping for items feels quick and intuitive.
try these out https://lumi-wallet.io
https://gravatar.com/parisgratuits1xbet3
have a peek at this site https://toast-wallet.net
Эта статья для ознакомления предлагает читателям общее представление об актуальной теме. Мы стремимся представить ключевые факты и идеи, которые помогут читателям получить представление о предмете и решить, стоит ли углубляться в изучение.
Уточнить детали – https://www.acaciaproducts.com.au/hello-world
website for making money
можно проверить ЗДЕСЬ krab2.cc
https://g-r-s.fr/pag/code_promo_131.html
взгляните на сайте здесь krab2.cc
Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
1win jonli yordam 1win5514.ru
website for making money
1win mobil versiyasi uz http://1win5514.ru
официальный сайт melbet https://melbet5001.ru/
Greetings I am so thrilled I found your webpage, I really found you by
mistake, while I was researching on Askjeeve for something
else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a remarkable post and a all round
interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have
time to look over it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds,
so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the great work.
условия бонуса в мелбет http://melbet5001.ru/
look at these guys https://jaxx-web.org
https://ip-nsk.ru/uslugi/seo-prodvizhenie/
мелбет орг http://www.melbet5001.ru
melbet 365 melbet 365
нажмите [url=https://captcha-krab2.cc/]капча[/url]
1win video translyatsiya https://1win5514.ru/
https://ip-nsk.ru/
Процедура капельницы — это целый комплекс мероприятий, направленных на очистку организма и восстановление его нормальной работы. Для этого в капельницу добавляют раствор для регидратации, витамины, антиоксиданты, препараты для поддержания печени и успокоительные средства. Все компоненты способствуют быстрому очищению от токсинов, восстановлению психоэмоционального фона и нормализации обменных процессов.
Узнать больше – капельницы от запоя на дому цена екатеринбург
Алгоритм прозрачен. Сначала — краткое интервью и осмотр, измерение давления, пульса, сатурации, при необходимости — ЭКГ и оценка неврологического статуса. Далее — инфузионная терапия по показаниям: восполнение жидкости, коррекция электролитов, поддержка функций печени, мягкое снижение тремора и тревоги, подготовка к сну без «оглушения». Каждая доза сверяется с реакцией организма, чтобы не получить вечернего отката и побочных эффектов. Врач детально объясняет, какие ощущения нормальны (сонливость, сухость во рту, умеренная слабость), а какие — основание для связи. После процедуры повторно фиксируются показатели и выдаются письменные рекомендации на 48–72 часа: режим воды и лёгкой еды, запрет на «подвиги» и конфликты, время короткого дневного отдыха, интерфейс связи и условия повторного визита. Такой порядок убирает хаос: пациент и семья понимают, что именно делать вечером и ночью, как снизить «дергание» и зачем придерживаться простых правил, пока организм перестраивается после запоя.
Разобраться лучше – https://narkolog-na-dom-moskva999.ru/narkolog-na-dom-moskva-nedorogo/
Read Full Article https://toast-wallet.net/
authentichome.click – Hub highlighting genuine items that enhance thoughtful and purposeful lifestyles.
Выезд врача позволяет начать помощь сразу, без ожидания свободной палаты. Специалист оценит состояние, проведёт осмотр, поставит капельницу, даст рекомендации по режиму и питанию, объяснит правила безопасности. Мы оставляем подробные инструкции родственникам, чтобы дома поддерживались питьевой режим, контроль давления и спокойная обстановка. Если домашних условий недостаточно (выраженная слабость, риски осложнений, сопутствующие заболевания), мы организуем транспортировку в стационар без задержек и бюрократии.
Ознакомиться с деталями – narkologicheskaya-klinika-na-dom