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.
best articles on the net: https://dnscompetition.in/articles/dns-load-balancing-how-it-works/
bs2best
6427
https://www.band.us/band/99495496/
анонимная наркологическая помощь https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-13.ru/ .
mawartoto login mawartoto mawartoto link
kraken зеркало kraken onion, kraken onion ссылка, kraken onion зеркала, kraken рабочая ссылка onion, сайт kraken onion, kraken darknet, kraken darknet market, kraken darknet ссылка, сайт kraken darknet, kraken актуальные ссылки, кракен ссылка kraken, kraken официальные ссылки, kraken ссылка тор, kraken ссылка зеркало, kraken ссылка на сайт, kraken онион, kraken онион тор, кракен онион, кракен онион тор, кракен онион зеркало, кракен даркнет маркет, кракен darknet, кракен onion, кракен ссылка onion, кракен onion сайт, kra ссылка, kraken сайт, kraken актуальные ссылки, kraken зеркало, kraken ссылка зеркало, kraken зеркало рабочее, актуальные зеркала kraken, kraken сайт зеркала, kraken маркетплейс зеркало, кракен ссылка, кракен даркнет
Want to have fun? melbet drugs Watch porn, buy heroin or ecstasy. Pick up whores or buy marijuana. Come in, we’re waiting
best articles on the net: https://dnscompetition.in/hi/articles/implementing-dns-based-data-exfiltration-prevention/
Новые актуальные промокоды iherb 2025 для выгодных покупок! Скидки на витамины, БАДы, косметику и товары для здоровья. Экономьте до 30% на заказах, используйте проверенные купоны и наслаждайтесь выгодным шопингом.
batarabet alternatif: batarabet login – bataraslot
https://say.la/read-blog/122334
https://gribisrael.borda.ru/?1-9-0-00001419-000-0-0-1753778490
https://mytaganrog.com/misc/articles/?kak_effektivno_prokachaty_staryy_radiator_i_povysity_ego_effektivnosty.html
best articles on the net: https://dnscompetition.in/pa/articles/using-dns-for-content-filtering-a-comprehensive-guide/
купить диплом специалиста дешево купить диплом специалиста дешево .
https://rant.li/egucuhcqz/kupit-narkotiki-v-tg
Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty
much the same layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
https://www.kapoorstudycircle.com/pag/?code-promo-1xbet-cote-divoire.html
вывод из запоя клиника москва http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-14.ru/ .
Hi all, here every one is sharing such experience,
so it’s fastidious to read this website, and
I used to visit this web site all the time.
https://egritud.com/
https://git.project-hobbit.eu/rbxeufvedub
вывод из запоя круглосуточно краснодар
vivod-iz-zapoya-krasnodar011.ru
вывод из запоя круглосуточно краснодар
https://www.actuabd.com/archives/pgs/code-promo-888starz.html
купить аттестат 11 класс 2013 купить аттестат 11 класс 2013 .
https://potofu.me/ppbzo3d8
Hello! I recently came across this fantastic article on virtual gambling and simply miss the
chance to share it. If you’re someone who’s looking to learn more about the realm of online casinos, this article is a
must-read.
I have always been fascinated in casino games,
and after reading this, I learned so much about how
to choose a trustworthy online casino.
This post does a great job of explaining everything from tips for betting.
If you’re new to the whole scene, or even if you’ve been playing
for years, this article is an essential read.
I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to get more familiar with online gambling options.
Additionally, the article covers some great advice about choosing a reliable online casino, which I think
is extremely important. So many people overlook this
aspect, but this post really shows you the best ways to ensure you’re
playing at a legit site.
What I liked most was the section on bonuses and promotions, which I think is
crucial when choosing a site to play on. The insights
here are priceless for anyone looking to make the most out of every bet.
Furthermore, the strategies about limiting your losses
were very helpful. The advice is clear and actionable, making it easy for gamblers
to take control of their gambling habits and avoid pitfalls.
The benefits and risks of online gambling were also thoroughly discussed.
If you’re thinking about trying your luck at an online casino,
this article is a great starting point to grasp both the excitement and the risks involved.
If you’re into slots, you’ll find tons of valuable tips
here. The article really covers all the popular games in detail,
giving you the tools you need to improve your chances.
Whether you’re into competitive games like poker or just
enjoy a casual round of slots, this article has plenty for everyone.
I personally appreciated the discussion about online casino security.
It’s crucial to know that you’re gambling on a
site that’s safe and secure. It’s really helps you make sure your personal information is in good hands when you play online.
If you’re wondering where to start, I would recommend reading this post.
It’s clear, informative, and packed with valuable insights.
Definitely, one of the best articles I’ve come across in a while on this topic.
So, I strongly suggest checking it out and
seeing for yourself. You won’t regret it!
Trust me, you’ll finish reading feeling like
a more informed player in the online casino world.
If you’re just starting, this post is an excellent resource.
It helps you navigate the world of online casinos and teaches you how to have a fun and safe gambling experience.
Definitely worth checking out!
I really liked how well-researched and thorough this article is.
I’ll definitely be coming back to it whenever I need advice on casino games.
Has anyone else read it yet? What do you think? Feel free to share!
https://odysee.com/@halehanh7
русское порно зрелых русское порно
провайдер по адресу
inernetvkvartiru-ekaterinburg005.ru
домашний интернет тарифы екатеринбург
https://shootinfo.com/author/lifegirllily27102001/?pt=ads
купить диплом техникума купить диплом техникума .
Ищете квалифицированную медицинскую помощь в вашем регионе? В клинике https://kristall-med.ru предлагаются услуги эндоскопии, функциональной диагностики и генетической диагностики — с современной аппаратурой и удобной атмосферой. Центр работает с современными технологиями, работает с лицензированными специалистами и предлагает расширенные диагностические процедуры. Всё это — комфортно, стабильно и по всем медицинским нормам. Смотрите детали — функциональная диагностика, анализ ДНК, эндоскопия высокого уровня.
Want to have fun? porno girl Watch porn, buy heroin or ecstasy. Pick up whores or buy marijuana. Come in, we’re waiting
https://oslotk.no/wp-content/pgs/arbolit_kak_universalynyy_stroitelynyy_material_harakteristiki_primenenie_i_tehnologiya_i.html
https://igli.me/wolffx19jkarl
https://500px.com/p/bienvenue1xbet
Новые актуальные iherb промокод для новых для выгодных покупок! Скидки на витамины, БАДы, косметику и товары для здоровья. Экономьте до 30% на заказах, используйте проверенные купоны и наслаждайтесь выгодным шопингом.
https://mental-health-ownership.mn.co/posts/90368601
kraken ссылка тор kraken onion, kraken onion ссылка, kraken onion зеркала, kraken рабочая ссылка onion, сайт kraken onion, kraken darknet, kraken darknet market, kraken darknet ссылка, сайт kraken darknet, kraken актуальные ссылки, кракен ссылка kraken, kraken официальные ссылки, kraken ссылка тор, kraken ссылка зеркало, kraken ссылка на сайт, kraken онион, kraken онион тор, кракен онион, кракен онион тор, кракен онион зеркало, кракен даркнет маркет, кракен darknet, кракен onion, кракен ссылка onion, кракен onion сайт, kra ссылка, kraken сайт, kraken актуальные ссылки, kraken зеркало, kraken ссылка зеркало, kraken зеркало рабочее, актуальные зеркала kraken, kraken сайт зеркала, kraken маркетплейс зеркало, кракен ссылка, кракен даркнет
https://www.band.us/page/99496602/
Этот информационный материал собраны данные, которые помогут лучше понять текущие тенденции и процессы в различных сферах жизни. Мы предоставляем четкий анализ, графики и примеры, чтобы информация была не только понятной, но и практичной для принятия решений.
Разобраться лучше – https://posgraduacao.fdv.br/plataforma-propria
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked
submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
Regardless, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
купить диплом о среднем образовании цена купить диплом о среднем образовании цена .
Хотите получить качественные медицинские услуги в вашем регионе? В медицинском центре https://kristall-med.ru оказываются услуги эндоскопических исследований, диагностики организма и ДНК-диагностики — с профессиональным оборудованием и комфортной обстановкой. Центр применяет инновационные методы, работает с лицензированными специалистами и организует полный спектр обследований. Всё это — без лишних хлопот, надёжно и в соответствии с клиническими стандартами. Смотрите детали — функциональные исследования, генетическое исследование, современные эндоскопические услуги.
купить диплом легальный о высшем образовании купить диплом легальный о высшем образовании .
https://napce.fr/wp-content/pages/1xbet_code_d_inscription_promo.html
https://montanocsilver10.bandcamp.com/album/badge
русские порно фильмы порно на русском языке
https://odysee.com/@killerbane66