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.
Круглосуточная помощь электрика реально доступна
https://ntlink.co/jonniebeardsle
To be honest, I needed Stromectol tablets and stumbled upon a great pharmacy. They sell generic Stromectol without a prescription. If you need to treat infections effectively, check this out: stromectol no prescription. Hope it helps
Код на стартовые ставки активны для новых игроков http://armyay.mosakcii.ru/viewtopic.php?t=28690 Промокоды для спортивного беттинга
В Сочи клиника «Детокс» предоставляет услугу вывода из запоя в стационаре. Профессиональные врачи обеспечат комфортное и безопасное лечение. Минимальная стоимость услуги — 2000 ?.
Исследовать вопрос подробнее – вывод из запоя капельница на дому
1win ruxsatnoma 1win ruxsatnoma
This info is worth everyone’s attention. How can I find out more?
1win aviator hack uz 1win aviator hack uz
Вызывал электрика на дом срочно, мастер приехал быстро и сразу устранил проблему с проводкой
https://sure-tru-realtor-industry.com/author/jacquelineregi/
Undeniably believe that that you said. Your favourite reason appeared to be on the net the easiest thing to understand of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed at the same time as folks think about worries that they just don’t realize about. You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
Thank you, I’ve just been looking for info about this subject for ages and yours is the best I have discovered so far. But, what about the conclusion? Are you certain about the source?
нажмите здесь kraken darknet ссылка
Мы готовы предложить документы учебных заведений, расположенных в любом регионе РФ.
Заказать диплом о высшем образовании: homeswitchome.com/author/geniacottle742
Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff prior to and you’re just too excellent. I actually like what you’ve obtained here, certainly like what you are saying and the best way through which you assert it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue to care for to stay it sensible. I can’t wait to learn far more from you. That is actually a terrific web site.
boss77 – https://boss77-ph.com
Вызов дежурного электрика помог избежать серьезной аварии
https://www.ancient.pk/author/maritzahamel26/
Excellent article. Keep posting such kind of information on your blog. Im really impressed by your site.
Hey there, You’ve done an excellent job. I will definitely digg it and in my opinion suggest to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be benefited from this web site.
Thank you, I have recently been looking for info about this subject for a long time and yours is the greatest I have discovered so far. However, what about the bottom line? Are you sure concerning the source?
выпрямитель dyson hs07 выпрямитель dyson hs07 .
codigo 1win codigo 1win
купить выпрямитель волос дайсон в москве vypryamitel-dn-1.ru .
комедії онлайн безкоштовно серіали 2026 дивитися онлайн безкоштовно
I need to share with you something the majority of septic companies won’t: there are two types of people in this world. Those who assume septic systems are just “buried containers for waste,” and those that have had raw sewage gurgling into their property at midnight. I discovered this reality the difficult way in 2005—standing in sludge, shivering in a Washington deluge, as my family and I helped a grizzled installer fix our family’s failed system. I was fourteen. My hands were raw. My clothes were wrecked. But that night, something crystallized: This ain’t just dirt work. It’s folks’ lives we’re safeguarding.
Here’s the harsh truth: most septic companies just service tanks. They act like temporary salesmen at a chainsaw convention. But Septic Solutions? They are different. It all originated back in the beginning of the 2000s when Art and his brothers—just kids hardly tall enough to carry a shovel—aided install their family’s septic system alongside a grizzled pro. Imagine this: three youngsters waist-deep in Pennsylvania clay, understanding how soil porosity affects drainage while their friends played Xbox. “We did not just dig holes,” Art explained to me last winter, hot coffee cup in hand. “We understood how earth whispers truths. A patch of cattails here? That’s Mother Nature shouting ‘high water table.'”
https://steemit.com/learn/@sarnalisa/drawing-study-for-septic-tank
Its like you learn my mind! You seem to grasp so much approximately this, such as you wrote the ebook in it or something. I feel that you just can do with a few % to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is wonderful blog. An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.
chanced casino login – https://chanced-us.com/chanced-casino-login/
1win aviator qanday o‘ynash 1win aviator qanday o‘ynash
Excellent post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject?
I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
Bless you!
Смотреть здесь кракен onion
1вин blackjack https://www.MAQOLALAR.UZ
Great info. Lucky me I recently found your blog by accident
(stumbleupon). I’ve book-marked it for later!
casino партнерка – https://casino-affiliate-program-ru.com
retirar dinero de 1win retirar dinero de 1win
узнать больше Здесь kraken сайт
Алкогольная интоксикация разрушает организм изнутри. В первую очередь страдает центральная нервная система: снижается уровень витаминов группы B, нарушаются когнитивные функции, появляются раздражительность, бессонница, панические атаки. Следом — страдает печень, главный орган метаболической детоксикации. Под действием этанола её функции подавляются, а токсины накапливаются в крови. Это вызывает системное отравление и разрушает внутренние органы.
Исследовать вопрос подробнее – вызвать капельницу от запоя
1win casino online 1win casino online
пояснения kraken onion зеркала
посетить сайт кракен онион зеркало
Клиника «Детокс» в Сочи предлагает услугу вывода из запоя в стационаре. Под наблюдением профессиональных врачей пациент получит необходимую медицинскую помощь и поддержку. Услуга доступна круглосуточно, анонимно и начинается от 2000 ?.
Получить больше информации – вывод из запоя вызов на дом
https://pinxters.com/blogs/95905/1Win-Promo-Code-Today-2026-1W500KING-Bonus-up-to-1000
перейти на сайт kraken актуальные ссылки
1win parol tiklash 1win parol tiklash
выпрямитель для волос dyson airstrait купить выпрямитель для волос dyson airstrait купить .
https://www.atlasobscura.com/users/1xbet-4511731
подробнее здесь kraken onion
УЛЕТ
ТОП Казино в Телеграмм, tg-slots.net – это популярный способ зарабатывать в виртуальных азартных играх. Здесь представлены лучшие каналы, где есть возможность участвовать и наслаждаться игрой. Убедитесь, что все знаете о предложениях.
дайсон выпрямитель с феном vypryamitel-dn.ru .
https://GlobalClassified.net/389/posts/1/1/1976680.html
якості дивитися онлайн екшн фільми 2025 в якості 4K
http://dpc.pravkamchatka.ru/news/podvedeny-itogi-kraevogo-konkursa-radost-slova/
Натяжной потолок выбирают, когда хочется ровную плоскость без шпаклевки и покраски, выбирайте полупрозрачное полотно, оно хорошо сочетается с современными световыми линиями, не ставьте слишком мощные лампы, чтобы не перегревать пленку, интерьер станет современнее и свет распределится лучше – https://natyazhnye-potolki-moskva.ru/
https://www.tilimon.mu/2018/12/10/hello-world/