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!