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.
Your style is really unique compared to other folks I have read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I’ll just bookmark this site.
подробнее vodka bet
пылесос дайсон v15 оригинал pylesos-dn-kupit.ru .
1win videos colombia http://1win3002.mobi
Эвакуатор по Химкам и МО — веб-страница, посвящённый перевозку транспортных средств в Химкинском округе.
На портале есть цены от 1000–2000 руб в том числе на услугу эвакуатор Молжаниновском, оперативная подача, дальние маршруты и контакты диспетчера.
Разделы помогают разобраться, как подобрать технику для грузовиков.
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I believe that you should write more about this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t speak about these subjects. To the next! Kind regards!!
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you need to publish more on this topic, it might not be a taboo matter but generally people don’t talk about these issues. To the next! All the best!!
Занимательно :)
onlinekasino, https://monbaba.fr/skatter-och-regler-for-vinster-fran-utlandska-casinon-i-sverige-2023/ – I dagens vГ¤rld av underhГҐllning erbjuder digitala spelplattformar spelare en unik upplevelse. Med flera spelalternativ och belГ¶ningar, kan det vara svГҐrt att vГ¤lja rГ¤tt. Att spela online ger Г¤ven mГ¶jligheter fГ¶r mГҐnga spelare.
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!
Узнайте всю правду – http://kccs.com.au/project/street-in-rennes
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to write more on this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t discuss such subjects. To the next! All the best!!
узнать больше Здесь сайт водка бет
купить оригинальный пылесос дайсон pylesos-dn-2.ru .
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should publish more about this topic, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t talk about these subjects. To the next! Cheers!!
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but typically people don’t talk about these issues. To the next! Cheers!!
فريق اليابان لكرة القدم – https://japan-football-team.com
смотреть здесь сайт vodka bet
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you ought to publish more about this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people do not discuss such subjects. To the next! Many thanks!!
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you ought to publish more on this issue, it may not be a taboo subject but typically folks don’t speak about such topics. To the next! Kind regards!!
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you need to write more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people don’t discuss these issues. To the next! Best wishes!!
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you should publish more on this issue, it may not be a taboo matter but usually folks don’t speak about such issues. To the next! Kind regards!!
Этот обзор предлагает свежий взгляд на предметы, которые и без того привычны. Мы упоминаем факты, не имеющие большого значения, и события с неясной важностью, но они присутствуют здесь.
Подробнее читать – сиалис онлайн
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you need to publish more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people don’t speak about these subjects. To the next! All the best!!
have a peek here jaxx liberty
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I believe that you should publish more on this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people don’t talk about these issues. To the next! Cheers!!
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more about this issue, it may not be a taboo subject but generally people do not discuss such issues. To the next! Kind regards!!
пылесос dyson detect купить dn-pylesos-kupit.ru .
gambling партнерки зарубежные – https://foreign-gambling-affiliate-programs-ru.com
узнать больше Здесь сайт водка бет
her comment is here jaxx liberty wallet
1win mujeres http://1win3002.mobi/
купить диплом о среднем мед образовании в спб купить диплом о среднем мед образовании в спб .
wazamba casino login – https://wazamba-casino-77.com/wazamba-casino-login/
Смотреть здесь казино водкабет
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I think that you ought to write more on this subject, it may not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t speak about these topics. To the next! Best wishes!!
try these out jaxx app
нажмите водка бет казино
link jaxx liberty wallet
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you ought to write more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo matter but typically people don’t speak about such topics. To the next! Cheers!!
1win que es https://www.1win3002.mobi
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I think that you should publish more about this subject matter, it might not be a taboo matter but usually folks don’t talk about such subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I do think that you need to write more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo matter but typically people don’t speak about these topics. To the next! All the best!!
https://promocode9394.my.canva.site/
Мы можем предложить дипломы любых профессий по приятным ценам. Скачать диплом онлайн: реальность или вымысел? — x91392sl.beget.tech/2025/10/12/kupit-diplom-tehnikuma-s-proverkoy.html
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your website? My blog is in the very same area of interest as yours and my users would really benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Thanks a lot!
1win cassino 1win cassino
http://catholicquestions.ca.wiringdoneright.com/index.php?qa=user&qa_1=codeafrique1xbet
1win x https://www.1win3002.mobi
пылесос дайсон купить интернет пылесос дайсон купить интернет .
over here jaxx liberty
купить пылесос дайсон проводной pylesos-dn-kupit-1.ru .