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.
Worth observing that the post landed without needing a flashy headline to hook attention, and a stop at creativegiftmarket did the same, content that earns engagement through substance rather than packaging is the kind I trust more deeply and this site has clearly chosen substance as the primary lever for reader engagement throughout.
Um moleque de recife perdeu R$80 fazendo chasing no Santa’s Gift Rush, postou o comprovante, assumiu. Respeito.
The depth of coverage felt about right for the format, neither shallow nor overwhelming, and a look at modernfashioncenter kept that calibration going, getting the depth right for blog format is genuinely difficult because too shallow loses experts and too deep loses beginners but this site nailed it nicely which I really do appreciate.
Hello! You inspire me every time.
Write publish a guest post on houzz com da 94
вывод из алкогольного запоя нарколог 24 вывод из алкогольного запоя нарколог 24
mostbet kayıt – mostbet mobile app, mostbet online app
mostbet app free download – mostbet güncel giriş, mostbet app free download
Por que ninguém fala do Emperor’s Favour? É bom demais ou ruim demais?
В этом обзоре представлены различные методы избавления от зависимости, включая терапевтические и психологические подходы. Мы сравниваем их эффективность и предоставляем рекомендации для тех, кто хочет вернуться к трезвой жизни. Читатели смогут найти информацию о реабилитационных центрах и поддерживающих группах.
См. подробности – «Похмельная служба» в Краснодаре
A galera do interior de sp fechou a sessão de Hood vs Wolf no green, foi dormir. Disciplina simples assim.
Hey there! Love your style.
I will create your youtube channel
Приятно удивлены скоростью обработки запроса на сайте, менеджер связался очень быстро.
https://xn--80aeedb0bfzeok.xn--p1ai/catalog/mednye-krestoviny-pod-paiku/mednaia-krestovina-pod-paiku-14-7kh11kh0-7-mm-10-6kh12-6-mm-tverdaia-paika-m3-gost-r-52922-2008/
купить тратил
Hello! This is wonderful!
Drive growth engagement with custom wordpress seo solutions
O cara de ti com a planilha perdeu R$300 fazendo chasing no Prosperity Gods Book, postou o comprovante, assumiu. Respeito.
нарколог на дом круглосуточно воронеж цены https://narkolog-na-dom-voronezh-11.ru
blog here
crypto payment gateway api
the true fortune casino http://www.truefortunecasinos.uk/ .
Hi! Keep spreading positivity!
Pbn permanent backlinks top quality domain high da dr links
В этом обзоре мы обсудим современные методы борьбы с зависимостями, включая медикаментозную терапию и психотерапию. Мы представим последние исследования и их результаты, чтобы читатели могли быть в курсе наиболее эффективных подходов к лечению и поддержке.
Осуществить глубокий анализ – капельница от запоя
капельницы на дому воронеж капельницы на дому воронеж
Found the use of subheadings really helpful for scanning back through the post later, and a stop at tallcedarmarket kept that reader friendly approach going, navigation is something many blog writers ignore but small structural choices make a noticeable difference for someone returning to find a specific point again days or weeks later.
Hello! Always a pleasure scrolling through your page.
Data analyst power bi financial modelling underwriting experienced
gd scommesse esports (Evangeline)
Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of us have developed some nice methods and we are looking to trade techniques with other folks, be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.
Started reading and ended an hour later without realising the time had passed, and a look at moonhavenstudio produced the same time dilation effect, when content makes time feel different the writer has achieved something well beyond the average and this site is producing that experience for me reliably across multiple readings.
You really make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I to find this matter to be actually something which I believe I’d by no means understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely vast for me. I’m looking ahead to your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the hang of it!
true fortune casino promo codes true fortune casino promo codes .
Таможенное оформление для юридических лиц в Москве и Московской области. СБ Карго – официальный таможенный представитель: подготовка документов, расчёт платежей, сопровождение импорта и экспорта, помощь в прохождении таможенных процедур без лишних рисков и задержек. Консультации для участников ВЭД: таможенное оформление в Москве
скачать видео youtube по ссылке скачать видео youtube по ссылке
Hi! So happy to support you.
Premium sports guest post service for high authority backlinks premium
Stop-loss saudável pra slot de alta volatilidade tipo Wild Wild Riches? 30%? 40%?
Этот документ охватывает важные аспекты медицинской науки, сосредотачиваясь на ключевых вопросах, касающихся здоровья населения. Мы рассматриваем свежие исследования, клинические рекомендации и лучшие практики, которые помогут улучшить качество лечения и профилактики заболеваний. Читатели получат возможность углубиться в различные медицинские дисциплины.
Кликни и узнай всё! – Реабилитация наркозависимых
special info
cryptocurrency wordpress plugins
Quanto tempo vocês dão pro Touro antes de rotacionar?
щас заказал по 5г RCS-4 и URB754 по скайпу объяснили как оплатить, пока всё коректно жду посылки там отпишу.. Купить Мефедрон, Экстази, Кокаин, Бошки, Гашиш вобще-то этот магазин трек присылает а не адрес…Сижу жду пока высохнет АМ2233 =)
true fortune casino $50 free chip true fortune casino $50 free chip .
Hi! Thanks for the positivity.
I will create a professional ats resume and tailored cover letter
O mod que fixou o tópico do stop-loss só joga Heist Stakes no domingo. Diz que paga melhor. A gente riu, os dados concordam.
Публикация охватывает основные направления развития современной медицины. Мы обсудим значимость научных исследований, инноваций в лечении и роли общественного участия в формировании системы здравоохранения.
См. подробности – Похмельная служба в Краснодаре
Web Site
crypto payment integration
Hey! This is pure happiness.
1500 hours youtube views lifetime guaranteed
you have got a fantastic blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
ごけい キングダム, かんき, 魏火龍七師, キングダム 最新刊 ネタバレ, キングダム 呉慶 当サイト https://kingdom-kaitai.site/ をぜひご覧ください。情報は常に更新されていますので、最新のイベント情報を常に把握できます。当サイトはあらゆる情報が揃った総合情報源です！
Granted I am giving this site more credit than I usually give new finds, and a look at discovertrendhub continued earning that credit, the calibration of how much trust to extend after limited exposure is something I do carefully and this site has earned more trust on shorter exposure than most due to consistent quality across.
Hey! You’re incredibly talented.
WordPress speed optimization within 1 day
Vale a pena comprar bônus no Fortune Rabbit ou espera natural compensa mais?
O motoboy de pinheiros chamou o Fortune Mouse de “o único honesto” — meio brincando, meio não.
Closed three other tabs to focus on this one and never opened them again, and a stop at wildfieldmercantile similarly held attention exclusively, content that crowds out other reading from working memory is content with real density and this site has demonstrated that density across multiple pages I have visited so far this morning.
Probably the best thing I have read on this topic in the past month, and a stop at timelessgrovehub extended that ranking, the casual ranking of recent reading is informal but real and this site has been winning those rankings for me on this topic specifically over the last several weeks of regular reading sessions.