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.
Top Aalarm clocks
пояснения [url=https://turbion.me/]Оптимизация ндс[/url]
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you need to write more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo subject but generally people don’t talk about such subjects. To the next! All the best!!
backlinkhub.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I believe that you need to write more about this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but typically folks don’t talk about such topics. To the next! Cheers!!
You have made your point!
biggest casino in canada https://bhcmerced.org/canadian-casino-online/ canadian casinos
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be actually
one thing that I think I might never understand.
It kind of feels too complex and extremely large for me.
I’m looking ahead in your subsequent put up, I’ll try to get the dangle
of it!
phcash – https://phcash-ph.com
Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Appreciate it
пасибки
you may to file a complaint against the casino through website and through betmexico by looking at the regulatory authority. betmexico is functioning based on official licenses that protect players from fraud or non-payment of money from your account.
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you ought to write more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but generally people do not discuss such topics. To the next! Many thanks!!
winfest – https://winfest-de.com
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people don’t discuss such topics. To the next! Kind regards!!
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t speak about such issues. To the next! Cheers!!
utbet app – https://utbet-br.com/utbet-app/
digitalclimb.click – Overall, professional vibe here; trustworthy, polished, and pleasantly minimal throughout.
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do think that you need to write more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but typically people do not discuss such subjects. To the next! Cheers!!
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you should write more about this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people do not talk about these subjects. To the next! All the best!!
Hey there! I know this is kind of off-topic however I needed to ask. Does managing a well-established blog such as yours take a lot of work? I’m completely new to operating a blog however I do write in my diary every day. I’d like to start a blog so I can easily share my own experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any recommendations or tips for new aspiring bloggers. Thankyou!
marketlift.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
1win affiliates http://1win3002.mobi/
1win es confiable http://www.1win3002.mobi
webignite.click – Content reads clearly, helpful examples made concepts easy to grasp.
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I believe that you need to write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t discuss these issues. To the next! Kind regards!!
casino australia – https://casino-australia-au.com
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you should write more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but generally people don’t talk about these topics. To the next! Best wishes!!
купить пылесос дайсон официальный сайт в москве купить пылесос дайсон официальный сайт в москве .
Давай номер заказа, не обоснованные заявления, в личку пришло сообщения что ты разводила…. Купить наркотики | Где купить наркотики? Сегодня на мыло пришло письмо с новостью что заказ отправлен и номер трека который бьёться:good: пока всё норм идёт, со мной связь поддерживают через скайп, игнора не было, когда получу отпишу за качество вес и тдпока двоих отпустили, в крови ничего не нашли.. ждем результатов экспертизы.
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more about this issue, it may not be a taboo matter but generally people do not speak about such subjects. To the next! All the best!!
Если вы или ваш близкий нуждаетесь в профессиональной помощи при запое, клиника «Детокс» в Сочи предлагает вывод из запоя в стационаре. Под наблюдением опытных врачей пациент получит необходимую медицинскую помощь и поддержку. Услуга доступна круглосуточно, анонимно и начинается от 2000 ?.
Узнать больше – вывод из запоя в стационаре сочи
1win balloon http://1win3002.mobi/
betvisa – https://betvisa-ph.com
naturally like your website but you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the reality on the other hand I will certainly come again again.
В Сочи клиника «Детокс» предлагает вывод из запоя в стационаре. Опытные врачи обеспечивают полную безопасность и комфорт пациента, а услуги доступны круглосуточно.
Подробнее – наркологический вывод из запоя в сочи
1win videos gratis 1win videos gratis
bingo app – https://bingo-br.com/bingo-app/
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but typically people do not speak about such subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!
rankformula.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
often similar entries are posted in the manner photo cards or clip in adultfriendfinder. if it’s still does not work, you can use the form of automatic password/username search.
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I believe that you need to write more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but typically people don’t discuss these issues. To the next! All the best!!
1win pagina oficial 1win pagina oficial
24 часа удовольствия с калужской элитой путаны калуги
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you ought to publish more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but usually folks don’t speak about these issues. To the next! Kind regards!!
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more on this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people don’t speak about these subjects. To the next! Cheers!!
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I think that you ought to publish more on this subject, it may not be a taboo matter but generally people do not speak about such issues. To the next! Many thanks!!
A motivating discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you ought to publish more on this subject, it may not be a taboo matter but generally people don’t discuss such subjects. To the next! All the best!!
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you need to publish more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t speak about these subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!
Наши врачи оперативно приезжают к пациенту, проводят осмотр, купируют симптомы абстиненции и приступают к восстановлению жизненно важных функций. Всё это — в привычной для пациента обстановке, без стресса и лишней огласки. Мы обеспечиваем не только медицинскую помощь, но и эмоциональную поддержку, создавая условия для начала пути к выздоровлению.
Углубиться в тему – нарколог на дом анонимно
payid casino login – https://payid-casino-au.com/payid-casino-login/
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you need to publish more on this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but generally people don’t discuss these issues. To the next! Kind regards!!