
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.
mostbet com login https://mostbet2030.help/
https://www.slideshare.net/xbetfreebet7?tab=about
https://www.cake.me/me/andrew-nesmith
What’s up, I read your blog like every week. Your humoristic style is witty, keep up the good work!
Hello, I check your blogs regularly. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep it up!
QQ88 – nhà cái cá cược trực tuyến uy tín, cung cấp casino live, nổ hũ, bắn cá và thể thao với hệ thống bảo mật cao, thanh toán nhanh.
посетить веб-сайт [url=https://vodkabet-mel.com/]vodka bet casino[/url]
Hi, I read your blogs like every week. Your writing style is awesome, keep up the good work!
https://www.d-ushop.com/forum/topic/75645/1xbet-egypt-promo-code-2026:-1xbig2026-%E2%80%93-bonus-%E2%82%AC130
jilivip – https://jilivip-ph.com
Hi, I read your blogs daily. Your writing style is witty, keep up the good work!
Продолжение [url=https://vodka-bet.vodka]vodka bet[/url]
мостбет уз скачать мостбет уз скачать
Hi, I log on to your blogs daily. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work!
Hi, I log on to your blog regularly. Your writing style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
planet 7 – https://planet-7-us.com
Я думаю, что Вы ошибаетесь. Могу отстоять свою позицию. Пишите мне в PM, поговорим.
духи Spirit of Kings Arrakis, https://spiritofkingsarrakis.ru/ – это уникальный аромат, который погружает в атмосферу восточного очарования. Они формируют ощущение гладкости и измерения. Вдохновение к созданию ароматов пришло из традиций Востока. Духи Spirit of Kings Arrakis подходят для особых случаев. Попробуйте и почувствуете их магическую силу.
В этом информативном тексте представлены захватывающие события и факты, которые заставят вас задуматься. Мы обращаем внимание на важные моменты, которые часто остаются незамеченными, и предлагаем новые перспективы на привычные вещи. Подготовьтесь к тому, чтобы быть поглощенным увлекательными рассказами!
Подробности по ссылке – http://www.vagsbygd.com/?p=6504
Hello, I log on to your blogs daily. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
Discover the magic within. An Arcane Inheritance is a journey of self-discovery, available in PDF. This digital format is personal. Download the file now and see how the protagonist finds their true power through an arcane inheritance. https://anarcaneinheritancepdf.top/ An Arcane Inheritance Pdf Free Ebook Hunter
What’s up, I check your blogs daily. Your humoristic style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
Hi, I check your new stuff like every week. Your humoristic style is witty, keep up the good work!
okbet – https://okbet-vi.com
Hi there, I log on to your blogs daily. Your story-telling style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
кухни на заказ питер кухни на заказ питер .
https://www.tai-ji.net/board/board_topic/4160148/7657101.htm
Hi, I read your blog like every week. Your writing style is witty, keep it up!
I appreciate how you’ve made this accessible to everyone.
Hi there, I check your new stuff daily. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
Hello! I simply want to offer you a huge thumbs up for your excellent info you have got right here on this post. I will be coming back to your web site for more soon.
Hi, I check your new stuff regularly. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
Быстро и просто купить диплом об образовании. Производство диплома занимает минимум времени, а стоимость – доступна каждому. Таким образом вы сможете сохранить бюджет и найти работу мечты. Приобрести диплом на заказ можно используя сайт компании. – burgasdent.listbb.ru/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2293
https://pastelink.net/tqy7w2lq
https://andrewnesmithng.bravesites.com/entries/general/Le-code-promo-de-1xBet-2026-1X200KING—Bonus-inscription
https://www.edufex.com/forums/discussion/general/1xbet-bangladesh-promo-code-2026-1xbig2026-bonus-eur130
Hi there, I read your blogs regularly. Your story-telling style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
Hi there, I log on to your blog like every week. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep up the good work!
Don’t let a busy schedule stop you; you can read this PDF in short bursts. It is a story that will make you scream for more time to read. The digital format allows you to bookmark your place and return exactly where you left off. https://youcanscreampdf.top/ Rebecca Zanetti You Can Scream Epub Free
Get your digital hands on the In Your Dreams PDF. It is a file that holds a universe of emotion, ready to be unpacked and enjoyed at your leisure. https://inyourdreamspdf.top/ In Your Dreams Kindle Version Free
mostbet online https://mostbet2030.help
https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/06d9758cd67d87b95358514969b5dfc002fda17a.pdf
Hi, I log on to your new stuff regularly. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work!
What’s up, I check your new stuff like every week. Your story-telling style is witty, keep it up!
мостбест мостбест
Hello, I read your blogs daily. Your humoristic style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
букмекерская контора mostbet http://mostbet2030.help/
Hello, I read your blogs daily. Your writing style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
казино фараон – https://bets-betting-ru.com
https://worldrankedlist.com/profile.php?name=Your_Account&mod=space&userinfo=earl-linton-495626
What’s up, I log on to your new stuff on a regular basis. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!