
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.
Hi, I read your new stuff regularly. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work!
Hi, I log on to your new stuff like every week. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep it up!
try this website download jaxx wallet
Hello, I log on to your blogs daily. Your writing style is awesome, keep it up!
retirar dinero de 1win retirar dinero de 1win
Hi there, I read your new stuff on a regular basis. Your story-telling style is witty, keep up the good work!
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info specifically the last part :) I care for such info much. I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
бк мостбет скачать бк мостбет скачать
1win ios 1win ios
1win online 1win online
На даче незаменима зарядная станция, особенно когда электричество отключают. Она позволяет заряжать смартфоны, фонари и планшеты одновременно. Это делает отдых спокойным и комфортным.
Hi, I log on to your new stuff on a regular basis. Your humoristic style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
Hi, I read your blogs on a regular basis. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work!
1 win casino https://www.1win3001.mobi
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire neighborhood will probably be thankful to you.
Для дома отлично подходит зарядная станция, особенно если много гаджетов. Все устройства заряжаются одновременно. Это экономит время и нервы.
скачать официальный сайт мостбет скачать официальный сайт мостбет
crown casino login – https://crown-casino-us.com/crown-casino-login/
published here xrp wallet
какой фен дайсон купить какой фен дайсон купить .
Recommended Reading jaxx crypto
купить дайсон стайлер с насадками для волос официальный сайт цен… купить дайсон стайлер с насадками для волос официальный сайт цен… .
Great post. I was checking continuously this weblog and I’m inspired! Extremely helpful information particularly the remaining section :) I deal with such info a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
888bet – https://888bet-888.com
Формат
Разобраться лучше – chastnaya-narkologicheskaya-klinika
Try your luck and win big withsurewin app.
The platform uses advanced encryption to protect personal and financial information.
dyson официальный сайт фен fen-dn-kupit-12.ru .
пылесос дайсон v15 купить pylesos-dn.ru .
http://desant.listbb.ru/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12
home download jaxx wallet
какой фен дайсон купить какой фен дайсон купить .
стайлер дайсон цена для волос с насадками официальный сайт купит… стайлер дайсон цена для волос с насадками официальный сайт купит… .
мостбкт мостбкт
Hi, I log on to your blogs regularly. Your humoristic style is witty, keep it up!
best site toast wallet recovery
What’s up, I read your blog daily. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work!
como funciona 1win como funciona 1win
1win app descargar 1win app descargar
see page xrp wallet
купить дайсон стайлер с насадками официальный сайт для волос цен… stajler-dsn-1.ru .
futebol do interior placar ao vivo – https://futebol-do-interior-placar-ao-vivo.com
интернет [url=https://krab2.com/]кракен маркет[/url]
В Сочи клиника «Детокс» предлагает вывод из запоя в стационаре. Опытные врачи обеспечивают полную безопасность и комфорт пациента, а услуги доступны круглосуточно.
Подробнее можно узнать тут – помощь вывод из запоя в сочи
cuenta de bonificación del casino 1win https://1win3001.mobi
пылесос dyson absolute пылесос dyson absolute .
why not try here jaxx wallet
Hi, I log on to your blogs regularly. Your writing style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing!
Hi, I do believe this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it ;) I am going
to revisit yet again since i have book-marked it.
Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue
to guide others.
Hi, I read your new stuff like every week. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
Этот интересный отчет представляет собой сборник полезных фактов, касающихся актуальных тем. Мы проанализируем данные, чтобы вы могли сделать обоснованные выводы. Читайте, чтобы узнать больше о последних трендах и значимых событиях!
А что дальше? – https://www.rankinghosting.cl/ranking-diseno-web/etapas-clave-del-diseno-web