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.
https://mastodon.social/@otello
Keep on working, great job!
Jiliko: Jiliko bonus – Jiliko login
Situs judi resmi berlisensi: Live casino Indonesia – Beta138
https://cashparfum.ru
https://schoolgraffiti.ru
These are truly enormous ideas in concerning blogging.
You have touched some good things here. Any way keep up
wrinting.
Feel free to visit my blog; Labeling Machine
https://integral-msk.ru
https://printbarglobal.ru
https://spm52.ru
https://itravel-vl.ru
https://respublika1.online
https://spm52.ru
Если кому интересно, вот более детальная информация:
Кстати, если вас интересует buytime.ru, загляните сюда.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://buytime.ru
Может, у кого-то есть другой опыт?
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your
blog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually
enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your
feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
Как вариант, можно рассмотреть следующее:
По теме “tars-rubber.ru”, там просто кладезь информации.
Ссылка ниже:
https://tars-rubber.ru
Какие еще есть варианты?
Вот здесь подробно расписано, как это сделать:
Особенно понравился материал про raregreen.ru.
Ссылка ниже:
https://raregreen.ru
Всем удачи и хорошего дня!
Чтобы было понятнее, о чем речь:
Кстати, если вас интересует anclaves.ru, посмотрите сюда.
Смотрите сами:
https://anclaves.ru
Буду следить за обсуждением.
At this time I am going away to do my breakfast, after having my breakfast coming again to read more news.
аттестаты 11 класса купить http://arus-diplom9.ru/ – аттестаты 11 класса купить .
https://glavkupol.ru
https://ltalfa.ru
https://vashdomufa.ru
Hello colleagues, pleasant article and pleasant
urging commented at this place, I am in fact enjoying by these.
https://belovahair.online
https://tavatuy-rzd.ru
аттестаты за 11 класс купить в москве аттестаты за 11 класс купить в москве .
Very shortly this website will be famous amid all blogging people, due to it’s pleasant articles
bk8 login
аттестат за 11 класс купить ярославль аттестат за 11 класс купить ярославль .
https://bs2besd.cc
купить аттестаты за 11 класс в твери купить аттестаты за 11 класс в твери .
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much.
I hope to give something back and help others like
you aided me.
https://hockeyempire.ru
лечение запоя
vivod-iz-zapoya-chelyabinsk004.ru
экстренный вывод из запоя челябинск
https://alar8.online
Just desire to say your article is as surprising.
The clearness in your post is just nice and i can assume you are an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep up to
date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep
up the gratifying work.
buying generic terramycin for sale
I know this web site presents quality depending articles or reviews and other stuff,
is there any other site which offers these kinds of data in quality?
https://oknapsk.online
казино вавада
https://crystal-tv.ru
какие бывают рулонные шторы http://www.rulonnye-shtory-s-elektroprivodom11.ru .
Hi there to all, how is the whole thing, I think every one
is getting more from this web site, and your views are pleasant
in support of new users.
Excellent weblog right here! Also your site rather
a lot up fast! What web host are you using?
Can I get your associate hyperlink to your host?
I want my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol http://tellmy.ru/user/hydro-engineer/
I used to be able to find good information from your blog articles.
My webpage: เว็บหวยruay
вывод из запоя
vivod-iz-zapoya-irkutsk006.ru
экстренный вывод из запоя иркутск
Vladivostok cameras on the central square
https://crocus-opt.ru
Вот здесь подробно расписано, как это сделать:
Между прочим, если вас интересует seatours.ru, посмотрите сюда.
Ссылка ниже:
https://seatours.ru
Спасибо, что дочитали до конца.