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.
I was skeptical, but after a week of staking, the fast transactions convinced me.
I personally find that fast onboarding, wide token selection, and a team that actually cares. Support solved my issue in minutes.
https://goodnews.kr.ua/virtualnye-nomera-ukrainy-udobstvo-konfidenczialnost-i-dostupnost/
Go to our updated platform
нажмите Pin Up kz
If you want to save money on prescriptions, I suggest checking this archive. It reveals prices for generics. Discounted options found here: п»їpolkcity.us.com.
VPS Server
https://www.semae.sc.gov.br/secretaria-do-meio-ambiente-e-economia-verde-realiza-primeira-reuniao-pet-friendly/
porno zrelie
https://www.c-inform.info/news/id/111628
pop over to these guys
batery apk
I personally find that i’ve been active for since launch, mostly for using the bridge, and it’s always clear transparency.
look at these guys
batary game
internet
baterybet app
Escort Sites
codigo promocional MelBet peru
https://blind-hole.com/vox-casino-ditt-nyeste-senter-for-ledende-nettspill/
Codigo promocional MelBet sin deposito
купить диплом и сертификат специалиста купить диплом и сертификат специалиста .
refurbished MacBook Europe
VPS Hosting
В этом материале представлены детали, которые хоть и занимательны, но не особенно значимы. Мы рассматриваем моменты, которые трудно назвать важными, но всё же решили включить их для полноты картины.
Вот – секс
https://www.ganjingworld.com/news/1i6umq56ccu1Yemrj0eEiFOuB17t1c
сюда casino pin-up
https://gov.trava.finance/user/xbetfreebet6
этот сайт https://krab3a.cc/
https://giphy.com/channel/CodeAfriqueVip
перенаправляется сюда https://krab3a.cc
continue reading this https://prm4u.com
click https://prm4u.com/buy-youtube-likes
веб-сайте https://krab3a.cc
I relish, lead to I discovered exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
1xbet gift promo code
I personally find that wow! This is a cool platform. They really do have the reliable uptime. I moved funds across chains without a problem.
ссылка на сайт casino pin up
страница https://krab3a.cc
солнечные панели http://dk-zio.ru/2025/12/solnechnye-batarei-chistaya-energiya-dlya-doma-i-biznesa// .
porno studentok
Давненько вас не было) Если кто не в курсе, магаз уже был в топе доверенных. В те времена не раз заказывал у данного селлера, проблем не было ни разу. Надеюсь, сейчас все так же) https://novonezhino-sp.ru Счастья жизни не ждут под окном,Курьерка не может принять такое количество заказов – отказала в
продвижение сайта продвижение сайта .
1xbet free promo code pakistan
Перейти на сайт pin up casino вход
продвижение в google продвижение в google .
MelBet codigo promocional y bono de deposito
Zanurz się w warszawskim klimacie w premiowym kasynie mobilnym – ruletka na żywo z krupierami mówiącymi po polsku, bogata biblioteka gier i start z dopłatą aż do 1500 €! Poczuj elegancję Alej Jerozolimskich – gdziekolwiek jesteś. Casino Warszaw Online oferuje Grzybowską Ruletkę i wypłaty w 30 minut. Marzysz o live kasynie z polskimi krupierami? Premiowe kasyno mobilne to pełna legalność + personalizowane promocje. Gry inspirowane Wisłą i neonami Grzybowskiej – 3000+ gier. Wejdź teraz i zacznij z dopłatą! Live kasyno w 4K – dostępne na iOS i Android. Bezpieczeństwo SSL i status VIP czekają na Ciebie!
wakelet.com
продвижение сайтов в москве продвижение сайтов в москве .
такой Пин Ап личный
1xbet free promo code today
https://enewsletters.k-state.edu/youaskedit/2020/07/14/mold-growth-in-home-canned-food/#comment-57503
Мы не подгоняем всех под единый сценарий. Если состояние устойчивое, нет упорной рвоты, высокой температуры, выраженной дезориентации и резких скачков давления и пульса — рационален домашний старт: приватно, быстрее и без лишних переездов. Врач приедет без маркировки, проведёт осмотр, запустит инфузионную терапию по показаниям, оставит письменные рекомендации и «красные флажки». Если же есть признаки угрозы осложнений — обезвоживание, аритмии, риск судорог, боли за грудиной или в животе, лихорадка, спутанность сознания, тяжёлая соматика — мы честно предлагаем короткую стационарную стабилизацию на 24–48 часов. Под круглосуточным наблюдением проще корректировать схемы, вовремя закрывать дефициты, защитить сон и быстрее вернуть управляемость поведению. В обоих форматах маршрут прозрачен: согласованные окна связи, фиксированные цели на ближайшие 72 часа и отсутствие «пакетов ради прайса». Благодаря этому решения принимаются спокойно, без угадываний и эмоциональных раскачек, которые обычно ломают прогресс и удорожают лечение.
Ознакомиться с деталями – [url=https://vyvod-iz-zapoya-balashiha9.ru/]vyvod-iz-zapoya-balashiha[/url]