Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Smile for the Camera!

Sometimes, I can be so stupid!

Last night, I was riding the train home from work, and I saw a guy standing at the door who had clearly just come from the gym.

He was wearing a long white dressy coat, with a pair of shorts and tennis shoes.

It looked a little silly, but nothing too crazy.  However, something in my head said, "This might make a funny photo for my excellent friend David's blog, R.O.C.K. on the CTA

***R.O.C.K. on the CTA is a blog dedicated to the people who ride the public transportation system here in Chicago.  Some photos are ridiculous, some are just nice to look at, and some are just plain funny!  Check it out!***

Anyway...

I decide to pull out my phone and take a picture of this guy, so I can submit it to David. 

Now, I don't generally think of my phone as a camera, as I rarely ever use it as such.  I have a digital camera, so the only time I take pics with my phone is on those rare occasions where I want to capture a moment while out with friends (and I didn't bring along my camera!)

SO...I hold the phone up, trying to look inconspicuous, like I am just looking through my text messages or something.

I line up the photo just right.  Ooh, this is going to be a good pic!

I click the button and OH CRAP!

The damn flash goes off! 

SH!T, SH!T, SH!T!!!

Clearly, everyone is now looking at me!  I'm sure they are all wondering what kind of lunatic stalker I am.  I can feel their eyes burning judgement and condemnation through me!

And the guy in the white coat & gym shorts is glaring at me, like WTF!

That damn camera flash!  How could I be so dumb to forget that my camera flash would go off?!?!

Eek! So I am sitting there, trying to play it cool, like I was just taking a random photo of the train poles or something, but I sense the awkwardness all around.

The guy in the white coat is still looking at me, like he wants to say something.  In my head, I'm thinking of excuses of how I could explain myself.  I could say something like, "Oh, i just really liked that coat...and want to see if I can find it online..."  Ugh!

I decided to do what came naturally to me:  I hightailed it off the train at the next stop!

Sure, it MAY have been cold out.  And sure, the Chicago Transit Authority MAY have just cut services, so I would be waiting for the next train for about 15-20 minutes...but this option sure beat sitting there in that highly uncomfortable situation.

And the worst part of all...the pic turned out sloppy, as I didn't even capture the guy's face. 

Damn flash!

25 comments:

  1. HAHA! I wish I could've been there to see this! I can just imagine your face, and your body breaking out in a sweat! You really just made my morning with this story!

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  2. Too Funny! You got a laugh out of me today. I'm glad I don't have to rely on public transportation though! :)

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  3. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
    Poor Paulie!

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  4. LOL, I too wish I could've witnessed this.

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  5. LOL. I am always sneaking photos too. My new Droid has a flash. I need to be sure to keep it off!! I would have done the same thing you did!

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  6. That's hysterical, Paul. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Awesome! Haha. Wow, I could totally "feel" what you were saying there. Ugh!! I don't blame you for running. In my head though, I finished the story by being chased down to an alley, where he confronts you. But, instead of yelling, he decides to forcibly kiss you like an old time movie. NO? Why do I feel like I work at the Free Press or something. :)

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  8. Michael, I have a droid now too! That was my problem because my other phone didn't really flash.

    Matt, if only that happened! HAHA!

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  9. OMG... I hope this is not your regular train that you take... if it is I'm sure those people will be on the look out for you now.

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  10. I'm sure you are not the first person this has ever happened to. BTW, that CTA blog is really funny, but tell your friend that he needs to update it more often. :)

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  11. That is funny. Maybe the guy is a flasher.

    I'm always taking pictures on the CTA. Of course, my phone has no flash, so it's a bit easier.

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  12. OMG! that is way funny...I do that all the time, I have this thing for feet...now try getting a shot of some hot feet without tipping anyone off...lol

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  13. Fun story! I will never try to take a pic of someone that isn't planned! I don't want the same thing to happen to me!

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  14. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! that is too freaking hilarious.

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  15. Paul! I love you! Only you could pull this off and still look so adorable.

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  16. That is TOO funny! "And the flash went off!" HOLY CRAP! THE GIG IS UP!. What's funny is I have an iPhone and whenever you take a picture and the phone is not on vibrate, it makes a clicking sound, "chik-chik". But a flash...there's no hinding that...and I too would have booked it off that train at the next stop.

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  17. Paul Benjamin, that's what you get for trying to take camera-phone pictures for dubious reasons! Serves you right!

    Ah, good ol' "R.O.C.K on the CTA". What a fun blog......as long as I'm not one of the people posted on it! Now I'm going to be paranoid every time I ride the L!

    -Dean

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  18. Oh my God, Paul Benjamin! You almost made we wet my pants! I hope to God I am never in a situation like this. Very funny stuff!!!

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  19. If only you were a ditzy blonde, you would have been able to simply shrug and ask if anyone knew what just happened and why your phone made a bright flash when you were just trying to text your Mom. Works for me!

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  20. What is up with that outfit on the girl in the picture? That is just wrong!

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  21. oh no....I totally hear ya...I be its funny now but when it happened I would of turned so many shades of red!

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  22. hahahahaha that's great!

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  23. That is friggin' hilarious!!! Now, I'm kind of happy that I have a Sprint phone that was "new and exciting" when Roosevelt was in office. Teddy Roosevelt. Oy...

    Great blog!!!

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  24. LMAO!!! That is hilarios! You know, I can never do that! Like sneakly take pictures of people I get too nervous. lol

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