
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.
Go Here gta sa apk
find out here capcut apk
explanation geometry dash apk
pop over here gta san andreas apk
pop over to these guys geometry dash apk download
oxycontin online pharmacy online pharmacy uk metronidazole mexican online mail order pharmacy
see this capcut apk download
check this site out geometry dash apk
best site gta sa apk
Read More Here cap cut apk
their explanation gta san andreas apk download
pop over to this site geometry dash apk download
view capcut mod apk
resource [url=https://gta-san-andreas-apk.net]gta sa apk[/url]
you can find out more gta san andreas apk download
check my site geometry dash apk download
click to investigate gta san andreas apk download
this link gta san andreas apk
find this capcut apk download
visit this website [url=https://v2-capcut-apk.com/]cap cut apk[/url]
Длительный запой – это опасное состояние, при котором организм не успевает вывести токсины алкоголя, что приводит к серьезной интоксикации и нарушению работы жизненно важных органов. Без своевременного вмешательства риск развития осложнений существенно возрастает. Наркологическая клиника «Доктор Трезвость» в Сочи предлагает комплексную поддержку и профессиональное лечение запоя, используя передовые методы терапии и индивидуальный подход для скорейшего восстановления здоровья пациента.
Детальнее – вывод из запоя цена сочи
go to my blog geometry dash apk download
Метод
Получить больше информации – наркологическая клиника вывод из запоя в омске
You could certainly see your skills within the work
you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such
as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
look these up gta san andreas apk
important site geometry dash apk download
read what he said capcut mod apk
look these up capcut premium apk
piece engaging from beginning to end. Every point you make is
bonusy-casino
Check out my web-site hrat (Ava)
Save 30% on authentic NFL jerseys, NCAA football jerseys, and hockey jerseys at Kyle’s Football
Cards on eBay. Shop rare sports collectibles, Nike Vapor Limited jerseys, and stitched team gear with fast, secure shipping.
Use code KYLEFAN30 for limited-time savings on premium sports memorabilia and fan apparel.
Jogo do Tigrinho Pix: quem já fez depósito e saque no mesmo dia?
additional info capcut premium apk
check out this site gta san andreas apk
Fortune Tiger cartinha misteriosa: quem ativou e ganhou bom?
read the article geometry dash apk download
hop over to this web-site capcut apk download
next page capcut mod apk
PG Slot 2026: qual jogo tá dando mais big win agora?
Asking questions are truly fastidious thing if you are not understanding something totally, but this article offers fastidious understanding yet.
see this geometry dash apk
resource gta san andreas apk
Click Here capcut premium apk
click over here geometry dash apk
why not find out more capcut mod apk
why not try here [url=https://gta-san-andreas-apk.net/]gta san andreas apk[/url]
my explanation gta sa apk
navigate to this web-site gta san andreas apk
helpful resources geometry dash apk
Resources capcut premium apk