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 Out Your URL https://navigator-exchange.org
多瑙高清完整官方版，海外华人可免费观看最新热播剧集。
index https://kinetiq.buzz
continue reading this https://dexrp.buzz/
I know this web site offers quality based articles or reviews and extra stuff, is there any other website which presents such information in quality?
go now https://kittenswap.cc/
site https://beraborrow.cc
web https://theo.exchange
find out here now https://safeglobal.club
Hello m?i ngu?i, ngu?i anh em nao c?n trang choi xanh chin d? cay cu?c Da Ga thi tham kh?o ch? nay. Khong lo l?a d?o: https://homemaker.org.in/#. Chuc cac bac r?c r?.
this https://unich.icu/
visit their website https://looksrare.cfd
from this source https://daodao.cfd
Порно чат – работаем с 2011 года
view it now https://dexrp.wtf/
I simply couldn’t leave your web site prior to suggesting that I actually loved the usual information a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back frequently to check out new posts
linked here https://ethereal.credit
fantastic submit, very informative. I ponder why the opposite specialists of this sector do not notice this. You should proceed your writing. I am sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
Remarkable! Its really remarkable paragraph, I have got much clear idea on the topic of from this piece of writing.
see here https://ethereal.credit
пылесосы dyson спб pylesos-dn-kupit-7.ru .
a fantastic read https://terminal.credit
Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Kudos!
look at this website https://navigator-exchange.org/
магазин дайсон в спб магазин дайсон в спб .
Стационар наркологической клиники в Раменском ориентирован на тех пациентов, для которых домашние попытки лечения объективно опасны. Это длительные запои, пожилой возраст, выраженные сердечно-сосудистые патологии, заболевания печени и почек, риск делирия, судорог, тяжёлая абстиненция, полинаркомания. В стационаре «Трезвый Шаг Раменское» организовано круглосуточное наблюдение: контролируются давление, пульс, сатурация, поведение, динамика симптомов, проводится своевременная коррекция терапии. Пациент находится в спокойной, защищённой обстановке, где ему не нужно скрывать своё состояние или оправдываться — задача команды не судить, а стабилизировать и лечить. Комфортные палаты, медицинский персонал рядом, продуманное питание, конфиденциальность — всё это снижает уровень страха у пациента и напряжение у родственников. Важный момент: стационар не подаётся как «камерный режим», а как безопасная зона восстановления, где можно пройти самый тяжёлый участок пути с максимальной защитой.
Узнать больше – [url=https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-ramenskoe10.ru/]www.domen.ru[/url]
Этот текст призван помочь читателю расширить кругозор и получить практические знания. Мы используем простой язык, наглядные примеры и структурированное изложение, чтобы сделать обучение максимально эффективным и увлекательным.
Не упусти шанс – https://peterchayward.com/notthatkindofmarathon/bechdel-test-bad-neighbours-313
browse around this site https://berapaw.org
сервис дайсон в спб dn-pylesos-2.ru .
bingo – https://bingo-br.com
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
пылесос дайсон купить pylesos-dn-kupit-6.ru .
I constantly spent my half an hour to read this webpage’s articles or reviews every day along with a mug of coffee.
Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just too
excellent. I actually like what you have acquired here,
certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you
say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it sensible.
I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is really a great site.
recommended you read https://navigator-exchange.org
index https://defi-money.cc/
why not try these out https://usdai.cloud/
brapub – https://www.brapub-br.com
imp source https://yieldfi.pro
site https://beratrax.org
Thanks for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further post thank you once again.
регистрация банда казино
Monday night football live scores, start the week with Premier League action
you can try these out https://beraborrow.cc
betway login – https://betway-login-mx.com
helpful resources https://gluex.io/
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about %meta_keyword%. Regards
her latest blog https://toast-wallet.net/
dyson пылесос купить dyson пылесос купить .
Big thanks for supporting Kyle’s Football Cards on eBay!
If you love authentic jerseys, exclusive items, and
sports memorabilia, this is a great place to
check out.
Enjoy an exclusive 25% OFF on your next purchase using promo code KYLETHANKS25.
Quick delivery and quality products — limited time offer!
Ремонт квартир, https://www.skytime.es/en/a-license/ – это важный этап в жизни каждого человека. Профессиональный ремонт помогает создать стильный интерьер. Установка нового дизайна требует усердия. Не забывайте о планировании ресурсов, чтобы избежать заминок в процессе.