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.
check https://gofundmeme.cc
informative post https://kyros.my/
check my blog https://cytonic.biz
Helpful info. Fortunate me I discovered your web site accidentally, and I’m surprised why this twist of fate did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
https://idealnaya-ya.ru/virtualnyj-nomer-kak-did-virtual-numbers-izmenyayut-predstavlenie-o-svyazi.html
QQ88 là nền tảng cá cược trực tuyến uy tín, tích hợp casino live, nổ hũ, bắn cá và thể thao với trải nghiệm ổn định.
check this https://prismagent.agency
internet https://unchainx.org/
that site https://blendfun.cc
top article https://perena.lat/
Ребята, а вы знаете, где сейчас реально выиграть в онлайн-казино? После десятков проверок остановился на лицензированных площадках. Важно: минимальный депозит. Актуальный рейтинг с джекпотами и кэшбэком — по ссылке: РёРіСЂРѕРІРѕР№ клуб лев казино. Обсуждаем!
visit site https://upshift.ink/
Друзья, не тратьте время на левые сайты! Играйте только в честные казино с поддержкой рубля. Мой личный топ с реальными выплатами — по ссылке: казино голд официальный сайт. Кто что может порекомендовать?
кракен официальный сайт
kraken даркнет
Для понимания ключевых компонентов лечения ниже представлена таблица, в которой систематизированы основные методы и их назначение.
Выяснить больше – наркологическая помощь
7kbet – https://7k-bet-br.com
Многие методы лечения наркозависимости не дают устойчивого результата именно потому, что применяются шаблонно, без учёта особенностей конкретного человека. В «РеабКузбасс» отказались от универсальных схем: каждый случай рассматривается как уникальный. При составлении программы учитываются возраст, стаж употребления, тип вещества, психическое состояние, наличие сопутствующих заболеваний, мотивация к лечению и даже уровень поддержки со стороны близких. Такой подход позволяет не просто временно снять симптомы, а добиться реального внутреннего изменения и стойкой ремиссии.
Получить дополнительные сведения – лечение наркомании наркология в новокузнецке
Привет! Если вы ищете платформу с джекпотами — не гонитесь за громкими названиями. Лучше смотрите статистику. Мой проверенный список — тут: JVSpin казино. Кто что добавит?
check that https://orbitcryptoai.org
check over here https://hyperdrive.pw/
Друзья, расскажу по-честному: я долго искал честную игровую площадку, и наконец нашёл рабочие варианты. Советую смотреть на наличие демо-режима и избегать тех, где поддельные отзывы. Актуальный список лучших платформ на 2025 — по ссылке: сукааа казино. Пишите в комментариях, какие казино вам зашли!
other https://badai.sbs
1win aviator necə qazanmaq http://1win5760.help/
Привет! После череды обманов наконец нашёл казино, где реально платят. Смотрите на наличие лицензии. Список надёжных вариантов — тут: retro casino. Кто уже играл?
right here https://asterdex.lat
straight from the source https://gofundmeme.us/
you can look here https://upshift.ltd/
navigate here https://nucleusearn.org/
我們提供台灣最完整的美國職棒即時比分相關服務，結合智能AI預測系統包含最新賽事資訊、數據分析，以及專業賽事預測。
Get More Information https://verio.lat/
Discovering the best casino bonuses can significantly enhance your gaming experience. Numerous online casinos offer tempting promotions to entice players. Such as welcome bonuses to free spins, these can enhance your chances to win. Always check the terms and conditions to ensure you are making the optimal choice. Best casino bonuses, https://thisplacematters.ca/?p=116390 await!
1xbet ipl promo code
have a peek at these guys https://elara.cfd
look at here https://gofundmeme.sbs/
https://on33.ru/news/1399.html
Your Domain Name https://neur.cloud
hop over to these guys https://alchemistai.buzz/
1xbet new promo code
learn this here now https://noon.gay
website here https://colend.tech/
kraken даркнет
kraken тор
Continue https://universalx.lat/
Вывод из запоя — это медицинская процедура, направленная на очищение организма от продуктов распада алкоголя и восстановление нормальной работы внутренних органов. В клинике «Трезвый Путь Волгоград» пациентам оказывается профессиональная помощь с использованием современных методов дезинтоксикации, медикаментозной поддержки и психологического сопровождения. Лечение проводится круглосуточно, включая выезд нарколога на дом. Такой формат помогает быстро стабилизировать состояние пациента, минимизировать риск осложнений и обеспечить безопасность при выходе из запоя любой продолжительности.
Разобраться лучше – https://vivod-iz-zapoya-v-volgograde17.ru/vyvod-iz-zapoya-narkolog-na-dom-volgograd
Процесс включает несколько шагов:
Получить дополнительную информацию – запой нарколог на дом уфа
csgoempire reviews
visit site https://nucleusearn.org
https://my.usaflag.org/forums/discussion/code-promo-1xbet-benin-2026-1xlux777-bonus-de-130-e/
Вы ошиблись, это очевидно.
мостбет казино зеркало, mostbet-txhu6.life предоставляет уникальную возможность играть в азартных играх в то время как доступ к основному сайту заблокирован. Каталог игр остаются доступными, что позволяет испытать удачу. Мостбет казино зеркало поэтому обеспечивает безопасность и комфорт пользователей, предлагая все функции и бонусы.
look at this now https://xmaquina.us/
Всем привет! Поделюсь лайфхаком: чтобы не слить депозит впустую, выбирайте онлайн платформу с честной рандомизацией. Я проверил десятки сайтов и оставил только те, где реально выводят. Список тут: Голд. Кто уже играл — подтвердите?