
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.
После завершения процедур пациенту предоставляется подробная консультация с рекомендациями по дальнейшему восстановлению и профилактике повторных случаев зависимости.
Ознакомиться с деталями – http://narcolog-na-dom-novosibirsk00.ru
1win promo kod az https://www.1win5760.help
https://votikey.net/blog/thank
net seo prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve115.ru .
This Site https://astake.cc/
klickivo.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
that site https://agentsland.org
оптимизация и seo продвижение сайтов москва оптимизация и seo продвижение сайтов москва .
продвижение в google prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve225.ru .
about his https://blnk.my/
Стационар «Трезвый Путь Коломна» ориентирован на безопасность в самых сложных случаях: длительные запои, тяжёлая абстиненция, смешанное употребление, выраженные соматические проблемы, риск делирия или судорог. Пациент попадает под наблюдение 24/7, что принципиально отличает клинику от домашних попыток «спасти своими средствами». Контроль жизненно важных показателей, своевременная коррекция схем лечения, возможность быстро отреагировать на осложнения — всё это снижает риск критических ситуаций, которые часто возникают именно после неумелых домашних вмешательств или «выездов без ответственности».
Разобраться лучше – http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-kolomna2-10.ru/narkologicheskaya-klinika-cena-v-kolomne/
сделать аудит сайта цена prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve223.ru .
click this site https://universalx.lat/
American express car rental benefits. Bobby zarin. Rental family. The tonight show starring jimmy fallon season 12 episode 147. What happened to xavier in wednesday.
Best inventory management software. Beats earbuds pairing mode. Best work pants for men. Grace charis. Beta twd. Of the seven wonders of the world. Game of thrones season 7. La laiga. https://telegra.ph/Infantilizm-Mify-Interesnye-fakty-Geshtalt-01-16
Forbes richest people. New checking account. Wgu. Best travel insurance companies. Back on 74. How did mark cuban get rich. Yellow square atop 7 across. Charge card phone charger. Forbes wealthiest. Kind. Usa top 10 richest man. Great colleges in the us.
Всем привет! Хороший магазин. Удачи и развития в дальнейшем! Купить Кокаин, Бошки, Мефедрон, Гашиш магаз ровный!!! все на высшем уровне!!! работаю с ними много лет!!!Вы всё ещё работаете с Яндекс Деньгами?
1win az aviator strategiya 1win az aviator strategiya
написание студенческих работ на заказ kupit-kursovuyu-41.ru .
Look At This https://aixbt.my
informative post https://astake.cc
усиление ссылок переходами prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve117.ru .
Homepage https://agents-land.org
продвижение сайта продвижение сайта .
интернет продвижение москва prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve113.ru .
https://agyha.ru/virtualnyj-nomer-chto-eto-takoe-i-pochemu-on-nuzhen-kazhdomu.html
important link https://upshift.cfd
Aktual Pin Up giriЕџ ГјnvanД±nД± axtarД±rsД±nД±zsa, bura baxa bilЙ™rsiniz. Bloklanmayan link vasitЙ™silЙ™ hesabД±nД±za girin vЙ™ oynamaДџa baЕџlayД±n. XoЕџ gЙ™ldin bonusu sizi gГ¶zlЙ™yir. KeГ§id: п»їPin Up rЙ™smi sayt qazancД±nД±z bol olsun.
1win az giriş http://1win5760.help/
интернет раскрутка интернет раскрутка .
Travel advice, away fan guides and transportation information
Persita Tangerang – https://Persita-Tangerang.com
продвижение сайтов в москве продвижение сайтов в москве .
Такая структура позволяет достичь максимального эффекта в кратчайшие сроки и минимизировать риск осложнений.
Получить больше информации – https://narkolog-na-dom-v-ufe17.ru/vyvod-iz-zapoya-ufa-narkolog-na-dom
оптимизация сайта франция цена prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve224.ru .
https://bizpages.org/posts/arenda-virtualnogo-nomera-telefona-gid-na-2025-god-941
seo partner program prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve213.ru .
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I’ve truly loved surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing in your rss feed and I hope you write once more soon!
1win az aviator strategiya 1win5760.help
Ключевым фактором при выборе центра становится квалификация специалистов. Лечение алкоголизма — это не только выведение из запоя и купирование абстинентного синдрома. Оно включает работу с мотивацией, тревожными состояниями, семейными конфликтами, нарушением сна и другими последствиями зависимости. Только команда, включающая наркологов, психотерапевтов и консультантов по аддиктивному поведению, способна охватить все аспекты проблемы.
Получить дополнительную информацию – http://lechenie-alkogolizma-murmansk0.ru
Good day! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!
casino royale login – https://casino-royale-australia.com/casino-royale-login/
continue reading this https://cytonic.biz/
rankvanta.click – Content reads clearly, helpful examples made concepts easy to grasp.
https://autonet.bg/best-leather-bags
you can try here https://astake.lat/
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and engaging, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this.
Правильный подбор лекарственных средств позволяет не только уменьшить проявления синдрома отмены, но и стабилизировать эмоциональное состояние пациента, снижая риск срывов. Реабилитационные программы включают физиотерапию, спортивные занятия и коррекцию образа жизни, что способствует полноценному восстановлению организма.
Подробнее тут – принудительное лечение наркомании в твери
https://maalking.com/index.php?route=journal3/blog/post&journal_blog_post_id=7
website link https://noon.lat/
みんなのFX
discover here https://verio.buzz/