Hello I'm Rich Brown and this is my personal website and blog. I'm just your simple, average, down to earth, professional, out gay man and aspiring circuit boy, living in Phoenix, Arizona with a few things to say while trying to find my place among all the scary, conservative, religious nuts in this sick and twisted world.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Past and Present Me
@HOME. Isn't it a bitch when you find old photos of yourself and realize how much more attractive you were just a few short years ago? When I was looking through my E-Mail archives yesterday for my first E-Mail from Justin, I came across this photo of me taken in Nov-2000 at Fort Mason Park in San Francisco. It was taken only a few weeks after I had moved to San Francisco which means it just a little over 5 years old. I was sitting just in front of the San Francisco Bay with Alcatraz in the background.
2000
God I was so cute and thin, no wonder why Justin liked me back then. I don't think I looked even close to 30 in the photo. Then there's this photo of me at Folsom Street Fair in Sep-2001 with my good friends Philip and Steven.
2001
Yes that's right, we were all shirtless ... it was hot ok! This next photo was taken (Nov-2002) with my good friend Missy during one of my visits back to Philadelphia.
2002
I still think I look good in black (doesn't everyone) as it does wonders for slimming the figure. This next photo was taken two years ago (Dec-2003) at our 2nd Annual Holiday Party.
2003
I know the alcohol is distracting folks, but please focus on the task at hand here, me. It appears that I've aged quite a bit from the previous year. Now last year (Aug-2004) I snapped this next photo of me before I headed off to the gym.
2004
I was a little thinner then because I was in back in a regular routine at the gym. Funny thing here though is that people always say I need to smile in my photos more. I don't usually smile because is makes my cheeks look chubby. I'm working on that. Now, here's a photo of me that was taken just last month (Nov-2005) when Justin and I were out in San Diego to visit Justin's sister Sarah.
2005
HOLY SHIT. What happened to me in 5 years? I look like I aged about 20 years. The first and most noticeable thing is that my hair is really turning Salt & Pepper these days. Ok it was Salt & Pepper backin 2000 too, but only Ms. Clairol knows about that secret. Every time I talk to my Mother on the phone she reminds me to "... dye your hair honey, you don't want to look older then you are ..." how sweet of her. I usually reply " ... thank for being such a loving Mother and accepting me for who I am ..." I know she's just trying to help me be beautiful. I actually go through phases with the hair, some days I like it Salt & Pepper, other days I want my old color back. Luckily for me my hair grows so quickly that I can dye it one week and it will be back to Salt & Pepper within two. Oh it's hell to get old.
The second and most noticeable thing is that my face is really filled out now. (I'm being polite to myself here ... I like to think I'm 'filling out' rather then admitting that yes indeed I'm a little piggy at the moment ...) Ok so yeah the truth is I've put a few pounds on since my glory days of going out shirtless in streets and clubs of San Francisco. I keep promising myself that I'm going to really get my ass back to the gym and start working out hard again. I just haven't found that motivation just yet.
So anyway, that's about it, a lovely photo montage of me, past and present. You can sort of see the evolution of how I look now compared to how I looked 5 years ago. I know that everyone ages, and I guess there isn't much I can do about that. One good thing to keep in mind here, and this being the most important part, is that ....
I don't look like this ...
2003
or this ...
2003
or even this ...
2003
Anymore. (At least not since the 70's party at Don & Kris's in 2003) LOL! Cheers!
Well, we all age. I look at photo's of me back in my early 20's and wonder, "what the hell happened to my cheekbones?" The important thing is you have someone in your life who loves you for you. Sure looks may have been the first initial attraction, but that is only skin deep. It's who you are, as a whole person, that completes the package. For what it's worth, I think you look just great. And I hear you on the smiling with chubby cheeks! Holy crap I look like a chipmunk when I smile!
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jeff @ Wednesday, December 14, 2005 8:23:00 AM
Loving those 70's looks Rich! LOL!
I hear you about getting older.... believe me I do. I look back at photos not that long ago of myself and cringe. However, you DO look great today too, and a little salt and pepper in the hair just makes you look more "distinguished", you know? You can look your age but it doesn't mean you have to "act" it. ;)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jude @ Wednesday, December 14, 2005 9:47:00 AM
LOVE the long, blond glamour wig! LOL
We all get older. Not a big issue. Like whats already been said..... Justin and you are a couple not just because of looks but because of whats inside. THAT is what really counts.
And personally I think you're still good looking. :)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Tracey @ Wednesday, December 14, 2005 12:16:00 PM
Hey, thought I would stop by, im Trace's Niece, i love you page, deffently liked the fro, hmmm from fro to blonde, deffently cultue shock, lol anyway, have a nice day, great blog, i loved it!
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jen @ Thursday, December 15, 2005 4:33:00 AM
You are too cute. OH MY GOD. you still look fantastic. HOWEVER...never never never go blonde again. it washes you out.
hugs baby
Jayne
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Chris @ Thursday, December 15, 2005 10:35:00 AM
Granted, I didn't know you then (not that I know you now) but I think you look great. No worries.
Besides, it's all about how young you FEEL, isn't that what they say?
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by sixshooter @ Thursday, December 15, 2005 1:33:00 PM
I wouldn't worry about it mate - I think we all feel like this when we look at historical photographs of ourselves.
I guess the best we can do is find the ones we want to feature in our autiobiography!
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Trunk Guy @ Saturday, December 17, 2005 7:28:00 AM
You look good, dude! Any issues you have with yourself seem to be the ones alot of guys have.
If - IF - you're concerned about getting to the gym, maybe go for no other reason than working out often makes you feel a bit better about yourself generally. That's what I find, anyway. It's like natural crack that's kinda good for you =)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Atari_Age @ Sunday, December 18, 2005 8:28:00 AM
