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Saturday, June 04, 2005
The Photo Post

Remember back when blogging (i.e., online journalling) first started? And, when people made the courageous choice to put pictures of themselves on their blogs, they had to spend three days picking which one to use, then three hours Photoshopping the crap out of it so it'd be blemish-free and unrecognizable?

The first person I ever saw use real self pics on her blog was Wendy. I remember being aghast, but also incredibly interested in her picture. She looked like a real person - more real than anyone else online, all of a sudden.

While I was picking out the photos to use for this post, I thought up several self-deprecating things to say about: all the things wrong with me in these pictures, all the ways I've changed throughout the years, my vanity for putting them online, warnings of what I'd do if people made negative comments.

But everybody knows now that blogs are written by real people. And real people see me every day. So, screw it. I'm posting the pictures. I hope you enjoy looking through them as much as I did.


This is me as a baby, they tell me. For some reason, my hair is blonde.




This is my mom at fifteen, with her brother. I have her coloring and her height, but her face is more like my brother Erik's than mine.




This is my dad and two of his brothers in the '70s. My dad's the one sporting the vest. I have his eyes, his nose, and his sarcasm. I love my dad.




This is one of my relatives on my dad's side. I just wanted to show y'all this picture because it's awesome. There's a romantic story behind it, of course, but my Aunt Sylvia has passed away, so no one can freaking remember it.




This is another nameless relative on my dad's side - the side I grew up with. As you can see, I am descended from the Latina Betty Crocker.




This is me at 2 and a half. This is the most awesome picture I've ever taken in my life. Unfortunately, it's become all reddish and has a big crack in it. Some day I'll take it to a professional photography lab and let them tell me that they have no way of fixing it.




This is me with my brothers, my cousins, and some children from our neighborhood. It's Easter, and we're at a campsite somewhere in Texas. I'll let you guess which kid I am. Every time I show this picture to my family, we laugh our asses off at Randy and Biba trying to look tough. Then we covet my brother Zonky's awesome colorblocked velour shirt, and marvel at Erik's massive lapels.




This is me, my brothers, and my late grandmother. I think I'm in fourth or fifth grade here. The things that strike me about this picture: my school mascot was a teddy bear, Zonky's rocking brown Toughskins, Erik obviously invented the Seattle grunge look, my grandmother's socks don't match, and that's probably because she had to take so much freaking medicine, as evidenced by her fold-up TV tray table.




Now we skip to ninth or tenth grade, when my friend Letty and I discovered the importance of photographing ourselves for posterity. And it was a good thing, too. I don't ever want to forget the '80s and how we all dressed like those guys from Scritti Politti, whether we were boys or girls. Also, you will note that Letty's household was Catholic, as evidenced by the huge crucifix on the wall.




There was this guy who used to hang out around our little church-sponsored non-profit arts-organization/teen-musical-theater-troupe digs. He was trying to get his BFA in photography. He took artsy photos of us for his portfolio and, in exchange, made us prints for our grant reports and such. He also gave me my own prints, because I was such a good artsy model for him. It's easy to be a good artsy model. All you have to do is get a weird haircut, wear a lot of black, and stand around in front of murals painted by at-risk youth.




This is me and Almadelia in Zaragoza, Mexico, feeding a goat.




This is me at 17 or so. I'm doing a show. I love this picture. You know why? Because I was never, ever (and am still not) as confident as I appear there on that stage in front of all those people who are sitting there spellbound, waiting for me to sing a song from Leader of the Pack. Performing arts is good for kids. It teaches them to fake it.




This was me getting ready for a show.




This was me doing a show.



That's right! It was CATS! Oh my gosh.


This is me sporting a dress Letty found at Salvation Army for 25 cents. I'm waiting for Rendell Contreras to pick me up and take me to his prom.



Rendell's friend's van broke down on the way. We ate at a Szechwan Chinese restaurant. I fell asleep during the ride home. That was his prom. Y'all remember what happened at my prom.


This is me in 1990. That explains my black tights. I'm getting ready to go to my job at the Texas State Capitol. That was where I saw my first Macintosh computer.




Magically, very shortly after that, I'm getting married. I love this wedding picture. It shows that I have my priorities straight.




Very soon after that, here I am with a baby. The stork brought him to me. He's very smart, beautiful, and awesome.




Another baby. I like how this one is smart, beautiful, and exceedingly pissed-off-looking.



This is the picture that usually inspires a comment about "babies having babies," because I look pretty young in it. But you know what? I really wasn't that young, relatively, in the grand scheme of things. I was 22.


Whoa. A third baby. This one is smart, beautiful, and sporting the sweet-ass Batman costume I sewed him myself.




So... here's a picture that makes me a little sad. I'm a housewife. I have three babies. I'm back in Houston for the weekend, visiting my friend Letty. We went to the Firesale on 19th Street and took pictures of ourselves trying on silly clothes. When I look at this picture, I remember that that drab olive shirt was the fanciest one I had. I remember thinking that mascara and Chapstick made me look a little slutty. I remember that I used to stutter when I spoke to other adults, because I got to do it so rarely. I remember trying on that red hat was shocking, wicked fun.



Next time I'm a housewife, I'm gonna do it in a lively city, surrounded by friends and family.


Meanwhile, here's my brother Zonky with Jane Seymour and a castle in the background.



(She was getting her OBE.) (Whatever that means.) (It just means they call her Lady Jane Seymour now, I think.)


Also meanwhile, here's my dad with Uncle Manuel, Uncle Richard, and Aunt Sylvia. Uncle Richard and Aunt Sylvia died of cancer. Hey, all you old people out there - go to the freaking doctor! Get your regular check-ups! Start your chemo before it's too late!



I miss them.


Even though this picture shows me weighing the most I've ever weighed, I still like it. I still love myself for my mind, you know?




A year and a half later, I lived at this apartment complex, here in Houston.




An Atkins diet later, I looked like this.



You can see in this one how broken my nose is. If I'm not smiling, it makes me look like I'm scowling or smirking. That's why people think I'm a bitch when they first meet me. Then, I smile and they change their minds. But they shouldn't. They should stick with their first impression, as they find out later, when it's way too late. Mwah ha ha ha!


Since I left the non-profit, they switched from Broadway and ballet to Aztecs and mariachis. I came back just in time to try on an Aztec sun dance hat.




This was when I got glasses, in order to look more professional and thereby leave the non-profit sphere.




This is how my kids see me, two years ago.




This is how my kids never see me, last Halloween.




These are my kids.




This is how I look when I'm standing next to my boyfriend Tad, wearing contacts.




This is how my boyfriend Tad sees me with my cat, who is his fierce rival.




Finally, here I am, last weekend, with my blonde highlights. And fatter again, but happier, too. Photos don't lie.



Really, this picture was what started it all... All I meant to do was show y'all my hair.

Labels:

 

11:42 PM #

Comments:

 you are your hair both look beautiful. thank you for that photo tour of your life, and what a life you've had already!

the haircut you have onstage reminds me of one i had myself :-)

(and the pavement shirt! woo!)


# posted by Blogger pinky pinkerson : 4:13 PM  

 I really do like this most recent pic of you... I love your hair like this... and I totally think the halloween party pic should be the pic you use on the back of your next book! I love it so much.... you look so peaceful.


# posted by Blogger Tiffany : 11:42 AM  

 Your hair looks GREAT. I'm very jealous because I'm still stuck in an '80's style.

I think my favorite picture, though, is of your boys on Halloween. That rocks.


# posted by Blogger Linda : 12:14 PM  

 I forgot to add -- you have photoshop, right? That picture's totally fixable!


# posted by Blogger Linda : 12:55 PM  

 You look GORGEOUS! Happiness does that to you. Thanks so much for all the groovy pictures!


# posted by Blogger jenbuster : 7:46 AM  

 Too damn cool. Thanks for sharing these. I think the TV tray full of medicine is a staple in certain households.


# posted by Blogger Marigoldie : 10:54 AM  

 The happy pictures - at any age or weight - are all so pretty. And I love the highlights. And the pictures of your sons.

I'm too chicken to put photos in my blog.


# posted by Blogger kate : 2:43 PM  

 I liked all the pics, but definitely the most recent one with the highlights...there are shades of Kelly Clarkson
about you in it.

And also? You look younger now, in that pic, then in some of the older pics.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.


# posted by Blogger Drew : 7:55 PM  

 De-lurking to say that photo is totally fixable. Here's five minutes of Photoshop, and I'm sure other people could do way better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/marnicolibri/other%20stuff/gwenworld.jpg

Two thumbs up on the blog and the book, btw.


# posted by Blogger thumbprint : 5:31 PM  

 I just wanted to say that you are one of my favourite writers! I'm so glad you're coming to Toronto, I hope I get a chance to see you read!


# posted by Blogger Rob Danger : 12:09 AM  

 Huh. I knew you were smart. I knew that you were resilient, a survivor like I like to think that I am.

I didn't know that you were so damned gorgeous, and looked like you were 23.

Bitch.


# posted by Blogger Marchelle : 12:40 AM  

 Cool pictures! You look all rosy and happy right now. ^_^


# posted by Blogger Lynn : 5:20 AM  

 Y'all! Thanks.

Pinky: That's one of my favorite shirts, you know. Thank you again for sending it to me. You rule hard.

Linda: Don't be sad. Just get new hair. Spend a ton of money on yourself. It's worth it if it makes you feel good.

Thumbprint: Oh my god, thank you! That was so sweet of you. Will you do the whole 8x10? Just kidding.

I like it when y'all delurk, because then I get to see your blogs.


# posted by Blogger Gwen : 8:30 AM  

 can i please marry your brother?
-brenda
ps. i love your new hair...and you in the 80s.


# posted by Blogger thisblender : 11:25 AM  

 You are not fat; you're very beautiful.


# posted by Blogger n.v. : 9:51 AM  

 Holy shit - in Austin in 2003, I suspected that I wanted to secretly make out with you, but I didn't really get to talk to you for very long so I didn't know. Now, I not only want to make out with you, but I might download that photo and send it around and just TELL people you are my girlfriend. My husband totally would not care.


# posted by Blogger Pineapple : 10:14 PM  

 Thisblender - I'll ask him.

Nonvocabulum - Thank you.

PG - Oh, man. You made me blush. At the same time, I'm arranging myself nude on my bed to await you. But I'm blushing while I do it, okay?


# posted by Blogger Gwen : 9:47 AM  

 Wow, that last photo is great!


# posted by Blogger TheOverdog : 12:13 PM  

 Wow, you look better than ever! Great hair.


# posted by Blogger TheOverdog : 12:13 PM  

 You might think I'm kidding. But I'm an H-town girl myself, so first, we'll make out, then we'll go shopping. I've already got shirts airbrushed for us proclaiming our wholly bizarre relationship (via silhouettes walking on a beach at sunset, surrounded by an electric blue halo fading to lavender, natch).


# posted by Blogger Pineapple : 12:16 AM  

 Love the photos Gwen.

Photoshop will indeed fix the picture, but what normally happens with things like that (as I use to freelance this sort of thing) A copy is made of the original, and the repairs are done on the copy (airbrush, oil tints,so on) I would do it for free in a NY minute if I was still in Houston. Hell, I can do it now, if you don't mind sending me a copy to Florida. Let me know, I would love to help you out.

tracy
aka artist7


# posted by Blogger artist7 : 3:29 PM  

 Oh my God, you have my family. It's eerie, especially seeing your brother with Jane Seymour -- it was a little glimpse at how my half-white little nephew will probably look at his age.

And you namechecked Scritti Politti. Holy shit. I met Green Gartside in 1999 (when Anomie and Bonhomie was released here) and I was so dazzled I could hardly breathe. You're right about the '80s.


# posted by Blogger queenofattolia : 3:03 AM  

 It is hilarious. I have alot of the same pictures in my album. I also went to rooselvelt. My niece just started this year and that is when I relized. Our mascot was a teddy bear. WTF... How did I walk around my neighood with a giant teddy bear on my chest and did not get my a** kicked. GOOD TIMES


# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 11:18 AM  

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