Little Miss Snowfall
February 25, 2007
“I’m taking a ride with my best friend.” – Depeche Mode
I’m taking a ride, alright.
Gwenn and I are on a road trip, having cleared Doylestown to speak at Delaware Valley College and then driving through snow and mountains (there were tunnels, which made driving through the mountains easier) to get to the Northeast Greek Leadership Association meeting in Pittsburgh, before heading out early to escape an incoming ice/snow storm.
Often I am asked, “What’s your prognosis? Are you afraid of dying?” I wish I could explain that, in terms of my near future, I’m much more likely to meet my end travelling to speak about AIDS than dying from AIDS itself.
At NGLA, fellow speaker and ass-kicker Erin Weed (check out her page, it’s incredible) said, “Hey, that’s so cool that you were in USA Today on Monday?” “Huh?” Apparently there was an ad for tomorrow night’s Books For A Better Life awards, where I am one of five nominees for Best First Book. I have a one minute speech prepared, just in case I pull off the upset.
Win, lose, or draw, the forecast for the drive home from Jersey is snow on Tuesday. I will do my best to not go ice-skating with the Reaper.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
UPDATE: Little Miss Sunshine did not win the Oscar for Best Picture, and Shawn Decker did not win the First Book Award. Al Gore, however, did win for an Inconvenient Truth. Go, Al!
President’s Day ’09: A Look Ahead
February 20, 2007
When Gwenn and I started dating, we didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. Mainly because she was coming out of a longterm relationship, and it would have been kind of awkward to make a big deal out of it.
Being the innovative young start-up couple that we were, we chose to celebrate President’s Day instead. I got her a card with a picture of Abraham Lincoln on it, and we kept up the gag for a couple of years. When Bush was elected, we were too bummed to continue the celebration.
In my book, I tell the story of being invited to the White House to meet with the AIDS Czar on World AIDS Day 1997. Al Gore popped in on his way to deliver meals to bed-ridden positoids, a red ribbon pin haphazardly tacked onto his shirt. He made the rounds, shaking the hands of the teenage (and me, I was 22 and the only positoid) HIV advocates, and when he asked if anyone had anything to say, I thanked him for his dedication to the cause.
Then he was gone. I remember thinking, no joke, “Wow, I got a picture taken with the next president of the United States!” Of course, he went on to win the popular vote in 2000, the equivalent of finishing second in a two-man ass kicking contest.
Which brings me to 2008. Hillary Clinton is running. Not cool. Barack Obama is running. Pretty cool. John Edwards is running. Again. Not sure if Al will lace up the boots and enter that ass-kicking contest, but I for one will pitch and buy him a new set of laces if he decides to. It’s not because I had a fleeting moment with him as an impressionable young buck sporting a terrible haircut. It’s because I think he’s the best man for the job.
Either way, I hope things pan out alright no matter who becomes the next president. Because I, for one, hope to rekindle the romance of President’s Day in 2009.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Watch Me Die… On YouTube!
February 16, 2007
I just blogged about Bella Morte’s cover of “Earth Angel”. Yesterday they released the video, shot by the talented Eric Thomas Craven, for Valentine’s Day. I have a cameo, but only because Van Der Beek was a no show.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Really Cool Interview
February 13, 2007
Through the Memoirists Collective, I met a young writer named Ilana Jacqueline on MySpace awhile ago, and recently she interviewed me for a publication called Today’s Teen.
When I started my first web site, named in honor of Kurt Cobain, I wasn’t quite a teen anymore, though I’d just turned 20. The last thing I’d written before those early HTML codes was an extensive report on the Iliad in the tenth grade. After that, anytime an assignment required more than a couple of pages of b.s., I’d slide it Mom’s way.
I knew back in ’96 that the whole HIV-infection-as-a-kid angle would spare me any overt abuse, but I also understood that my shoot-from-the-hip style might not go down too well with my fellow positoids’ antiretrovirals. Overall, the reaction was good, and as a result my love for writing– which I didn’t even know existed until I put up that web site– flourished.
The Nirvana lyric that I stole MPV from states: “I own my own pet virus, I get to pet and name her.” And through writing my experiences in my own voice, I did just that.
Not enough ruminations for you? Then go read my interview with Ilana by clicking the magazine. Oh, and if you could keep the info on my Mom writing some of my reports on the DL I’d appreciate it, as I don’t want my high school diploma to be rescinded.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Earth Angel, Bad Review and “How the Author?”
February 5, 2007
In my memoir, My Pet Virus, I wrote a bit about my buddies in Bella Morte and how they played Earth Angel at me and Gwenn’s wedding. Well, they’ve finally added the song to their MySpace profile, so go give it a listen!
Every once in awhile my Google Alert catches a real gem in regards to my book. While I’ve been pretty fortunate with favorable reviews (Kirkus, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly), apparently I couldn’t cut the mustard in the eyes of a young man from the Utah Daily Chronicle. Here’s what presumably young Christopher Wallace (no relation to the Notorious B.I.G.) wrote:
“My Pet Virus is an interesting story told by a mediocre storyteller.”
Everything else in the review is great! I just picked that sentence to share because I found it horrifyingly entertaining. I’ve started picking a scab on my hand as a result, which I’ve named after that kid in Utah.
Another funny posting I came upon was at a site called golivewire.com. Looks like Generation WWW’s post here about everything, and someone posted about my book. Here’s the exchange:
SUBJECT: My Pet Virus
Greeneyedone: Anyone read this book? Is it good?
longlegedbabe: no how the author???
xbeautifultragedy: Author?
hooray_for_rootbeer: I just looked it up and I’m skimming over the summary. It seems kind of cool, but I don’t think I’d ever read it.
Nessaaa: no anything with “pet” and “virus” in the title is no interest to me
X Reptar X: Sounds stupid. Mkii?
Heart 92: What kind of books?
That is an interesting website thread, told by mediocre website thread posters.
Positively,
Shawn
The Secret of Happiness at University of New Hampshire
February 1, 2007
So I’ve started working again. The night before leaving for Vegas, I was called to duty at the University of New Hampshire. To once again share the intimate details of my existence… after all the praise for My Pet Virus and holiday dinners, could I stand and deliver in 2007?
Well, I can’t really tell you. UNH made my and Gwenn’s job very easy. They rallied over 200 students for the event, and even provided dessert afterwards! That’s how you do it, baby.
Many organizations made it happen, and there was a One at UNH student group, which I thought was pretty damn cool. And quite a few Red shirts being worn, as seen below. I said, “I wish they made one that said ‘TI(RED).” To which someone said, “They do!” (A few days later in Las Vegas, I found it.)
On nights like this one last week, my positoid soul is filled. I am reminded that I can make a difference vocalizing my story with Gwenn. The good folks at UNH have prepared me for whatever lays ahead this semester– travel delays, confused gawking, the sick days when you just can’t cancel.
We got a question from one guy, who asked, “What’s your secret to happiness?” Gwenn said to find a way to do what you love, I said enjoying life a day at a time and overcoming my fears to plan for the future, which I did after my AIDS diagnosis in 1999 when I started feeling better.
We’ve never gotten that question before, and it’s nice to know that, despite “the obvious obstacles in our relationship” as read hundreds of times during our introduction over the last seven years, the basic element of why Gwenn and I are together comes through.
We couldn’t be happier.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Me and Gwenn with a few of the students at the University of New Hampshire on 1/24/07.
life in photos
I am frightened by ceilings. A terrible phobia to have.
Today's assortment of treats: tea for Gwenn, a mocha for me and a cookie to share.
My buddy Sharanya preparing my mocha with just an extra dash of love.
Hanging on wall in our guest bedroom. Couldn't agree more!
Speaking About Sexual Health
Since 2000, Shawn and Gwenn have been speaking about sexual health together, sharing their personal story and empowering others to be safe. If you are interested in having them speak at your event, fill out the Contact Us form.
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It will be the funniest book you've ever read about someone having AIDS... guaranteed!