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.
The majority of us appreciate making several dollars through Sekabet
Your style is really unique compared to other folks I have read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this site.
click over here https://cwap.us
пылесос дайсон спб [url=https://pylesos-dn-6.ru/]pylesos-dn-6.ru[/url] .
pin-up ödəniş kartları Azərbaycan pinup2009.help
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
his response https://upshift.ink
additional resources https://elara.cfd
leadnest.click – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.
go to this website https://kyros.my
You actually make it appear so easy with your presentation but I to find this topic to be actually one thing which I feel I might by no means understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very broad for me. I am taking a look forward to your subsequent post, I will try to get the grasp of it!
leadnest.click – Overall, professional vibe here; trustworthy, polished, and pleasantly minimal throughout.
playcity – https://www-playcity.com
leadnest.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
website here https://heyanon.cc/
заказать алкоголь ночью заказать алкоголь ночью .
original site https://lombard.pw/
дайсон пылесос спб dn-pylesos-kupit-5.ru .
website here https://alchemistai.cc
The majority of us appreciate making several dollars through Sekabet kumar
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who has been conducting a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me breakfast because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this issue here on your site.
winzada – https://winzada-br.com
read this https://hyperunit.cc
like it https://heyanon.my
this article https://aixbt.my/
reachriver.click – Loved the layout today; clean, simple, and genuinely user-friendly overall.
I’ve been checking out Paybis for a while now,
especially after having a rough financial period, and I’m still not completely certain whether it deserves all the attention it gets.
Still, it’s definitely a noticeable name in the crypto industry, particularly
for people in Germany who are trying to find new financial tools.
From what I understand, Paybis presents itself as a well-established cryptocurrency service that supports regular bank transactions, something
many platforms either limit or complicate.
What initially caught my eye is how Paybis seems to bridge traditional German banking methods with the crypto world.
Many exchanges focus only on crypto-to-crypto trades, while Paybis allows users to sell crypto using SEPA transfers.
I’m not saying the process is perfect, but it does seem aimed at beginners rather than just
advanced traders.
Another aspect worth noting is the selection of supported assets.
Paybis doesn’t restrict itself to just the top coins.
Instead, it offers a wider range of digital assets, which might attract users who are diversifying.
Still, things like liquidity are worth checking before making decisions.
Security and compliance also come up often around Paybis.
The platform highlights identity verification, which can feel professional
for users in Germany, though others might see it as time-consuming.
I’m still undecided, but it does suggest Paybis tries to operate as a
legitimate marketplace.
When it comes to fees, reviews seem divided. Some say Paybis is
transparent about costs, while others note that pricing can change with
transaction type. This isn’t unusual in the crypto industry,
but it means users should research properly before moving money.
Overall, I wouldn’t call Paybis perfect, but it does
seem like a platform worth a closer look, especially for someone in Germany
trying to find accessible financial tools. I’m still forming my
opinion, but it seems promising enough to justify further research.
leadnest.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
misterjackbet – https://misterjackbet-br.com
Hey there, You have done an incredible job. I’ll certainly digg it and for my part recommend to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from this site.
https://xbetpromocode.livepositively.com
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
see this here https://universalx.lat/
Я извиняюсь, но, по-моему, Вы не правы. Я уверен. Давайте обсудим. Пишите мне в PM, пообщаемся.
Pin-up casino, https://diobria.com/discover-the-thrills-at-pin-up-casino-and-experience-non-stop-fun-get-ready-for-exciting-bonuses-that-will-boost-your-wins-dive-into-the-world-of-gaming-and-unleash-your-inner-gamer/ предлагает уникальный опыт азартных игр для ценителей. Здесь удовольствие от игры сочетается с щедрыми бонусами и обширным выбором игр.
Наш ресурс основывается на опыте и знаниях наших экспертов. Мы собрали экспертов с подтверждёнными регалиями и компетенциями, каждый из которых имеет значительный опыт работы в автомобильной сфере. Мы раскрываем все преимущества работы с нашей компанией, с акцентом на их компетентность и надежность.
Структура сайта создана для вашего удобства, чтобы помочь вам быстро разобраться во всех возможностях. При этом вся информация на ресурсе обновляется и поддерживается в актуальном состоянии, потому вы можете быть уверены в её надёжности. https://infiniteabundance.mn.co/members/37859975
I think this is one of the most vital info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The site style is perfect, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers
browse around this website https://elara.cc/
I am sure this paragraph has touched all the internet users, its really really good article
on building up new website.
I read this piece of writing fully about the comparison of latest and previous technologies, it’s remarkable article.
navigate here https://astake.org
he said https://exponent.my/
look at these guys https://noon.pics/
Hi! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my apple iphone. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share. With thanks!
visit the website https://xmaquina.cc
great site https://astake.org/
click this link here now https://hyperdrive.ink
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author. I will always bookmark your blog and definitely will come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage one to continue your great work, have a nice weekend!
The majority of us appreciate making several dollars through https://carolineslistings.com/the-worlds-gaming-market-from-area-casinos-to-on-the-web-casinos/
misterjackbet – https://misterjackbet-br.com
UI-структура имеет большое значение на продолжительность участия.
Сбалансированная визуальная подача позволяют быстро ориентироваться.
В рамках онлайн-формата цветовые схемы 1xbet рабочее зеркало поддерживают стабильное восприятие, не усложняя основную механику.
В результате процесс чувствуется более стабильным для игроков.