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.
view https://kingprotocol.net/
Get the facts https://neur.cloud
this link https://elara.ink/
his explanation https://kyros.lat
Когда вопрос стоит остро — нужно быстро и безопасно вывести человека из запоя в Коломне, — у семьи нет лишнего времени на эксперименты с таблетками, сомнительными «коктейлями» и советами из интернета. «Трезвый Центр Коломна» выстраивает помощь так, чтобы от первого звонка до реального облегчения шёл понятный и управляемый маршрут: запись симптомов и рисков уже по телефону, предложение формата (выезд на дом или стационар), оперативный осмотр, персональная инфузионная терапия, круглосуточное наблюдение при необходимости и подробный план восстановления на 24–72 часа и дальше. Мы не продаём миф о «чудо-капельнице за час», а работаем клинически аккуратно: дозы и схемы подбираются под возраст, длительность запоя, сопутствующие заболевания, уже принятые лекарства и текущие показатели. Цель проста и честна — снять интоксикацию, защитить сердце, мозг и печень, вернуть сон и ясность без агрессивной седации и скрытых рисков, сохранить конфиденциальность и дать семье уверенность, что всё делается правильно.
Получить дополнительную информацию – vyvod-iz-zapoya-na-domu-nedorogo
click to investigate https://aixbt.my
look at here https://heyanon.my
directory https://noon.pics/
1win blackjack 1win blackjack
webpage https://aixbt.buzz/
1win şifrə unutmuşam http://1win5760.help/
click for source https://alchemistai.tech/
look at more info https://elara.ink
Процесс включает несколько шагов:
Выяснить больше – http://narkolog-na-dom-v-ufe17.ru/vyvod-iz-zapoya-ufa-narkolog-na-dom/https://narkolog-na-dom-v-ufe17.ru
Great info. Lucky me I ran across your blog by chance (stumbleupon). I have book marked it for later!
Our site https://kingprotocol.cc
интернет агентство продвижение сайтов сео prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve225.ru .
Эффективность лечения во многом зависит от квалификации врачей, участвующих в процессе. В наркологической клинике должны работать не только врачи-наркологи, но и психиатры, клинические психологи, специалисты по аддиктивному поведению, а также координаторы по социальной адаптации. Слаженное взаимодействие этих специалистов — залог того, что лечение будет не только медицински обоснованным, но и глубоко проработанным в психологическом плане.
Исследовать вопрос подробнее – частная наркологическая клиника
special info https://elara.cc/
seo агентство seo агентство .
rankvanta.click – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.
hop over to this site https://gofundmeme.us
раскрутка сайта франция цена раскрутка сайта франция цена .
rankvanta.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
В Волгограде медицинская клиника «Трезвая Линия Волгоград» предоставляет круглосуточную помощь людям, столкнувшимся с острым алкогольным отравлением или затяжным запоем. Врачи выезжают на дом, в гостиницу или принимают пациентов в стационаре. Каждое вмешательство начинается с оценки состояния — измерения давления, пульса, насыщения кислородом, уровня интоксикации и дехидратации. Далее подбирается оптимальный состав капельницы, направленный на восстановление водно-солевого баланса, поддержку печени и снижение тревожности.
Подробнее – вывод из запоя дешево в волгограде
internet https://universalx.lat
1win daxil ol http://www.1win5760.help
Find Out More https://flaunch.ink
Капельница — инструмент, помогающий организму выйти из токсической воронки, а не магическая смесь «на все случаи». Базовый каркас — регидратация и коррекция кислотно-щелочного состояния, электролиты для водно-солевого баланса, витамины группы B и магний для поддержки нервной системы и снижения тремора. По клиническим показаниям подключаются гепатопротекторы и антиоксиданты для разгрузки печени и уменьшения оксидативного стресса; при выраженной тошноте — противорвотные, при тревоге и бессоннице — мягкие анксиолитики в дозах, сохраняющих контакт. Мы сознательно избегаем «агрессивной» седации: она создаёт иллюзию успеха, но маскирует ухудшения и мешает контролю дыхания и нейростатуса. Эффективность оцениваем не «по ощущениям», а по метрикам: стабилизация АД/ЧСС, снижение тремора и тошноты, нормализация сатурации, возвращение аппетита и появление восстановительного ночного сна. Как только параметры выравниваются, фарм-нагрузку снижаем, а акцент переносим на режим — гигиену сна, регулярную гидратацию, дробное питание, щадящую дневную активность. Это делает результат не кратковременным затишьем на препаратах, а устойчивой траекторией восстановления.
Углубиться в тему – вывод из запоя с выездом
https://www.slmath.org/people/94906
Visit This Link https://hyperunit.buzz
성남출장마사지는 호텔, 자택, 오피스 등 어디서나 받을 수 있는 방문형 전문 마사지 서비스입니다.
아로마, 스웨디시, 스포츠, 림프, 풋마사지까지 — 성남 전역 출장
оптимизация и продвижение сайтов москва оптимизация и продвижение сайтов москва .
https://bitspower.com/support/user/1xbetactivepromo2026
интернет продвижение москва prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve214.ru .
Pin Up Casino ölkəmizdə ən populyar kazino saytıdır. Burada çoxlu slotlar və canlı dilerlər var. Qazancı kartınıza anında köçürürlər. Mobil tətbiqi də var, telefondan oynamaq çox rahatdır. Giriş linki Pin Up tövsiyə edirəm.
中職賽程粉絲必備的資訊平台，提供最即時的中職賽程新聞、球員數據分析，以及專業的比賽預測。
onpagelab.click – Content reads clearly, helpful examples made concepts easy to grasp.
check my site https://aixbt.buzz
page https://heyanon.pro
https://fly-inform.ru/news/mostbet_promokod_na_segodnya.html
melbourne casino login – https://melbourne-casino.com/melbourne-casino-login/
more https://hyperdrive.pw/
visit this site https://heyanon.cc/
Полностью согласен со всем выше сказанным.
казино мостбет, https://mostbet-tg539.sbs/ предлагает невероятный опыт азартных игр на платформе захватывающих мероприятий. Здесь каждый игрок найдет нечто для себя и сможет пощупать удачу, играя в слотах. Обширный выбор развлечений гарантирует радость и нервное возбуждение каждого мгновения.
basics https://kyros.my
профессиональное продвижение сайтов prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve223.ru .
see this here https://elara.ink/
https://avtohart.ru/netcat/news/kometa_casino_promokod.html
onpagelab.click – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.