New On-Meds Day
May 30, 2008
I woke up today, and went to meet my friend for lunch before going to see Indiana Jones.
At the stop sign at the end of my road I paused, figuring out the best way to get to Cici’s Pizza and their sweet, sweet, lunch buffet. I’ve been there many times, but couldn’t figure out which shopping center it was in…
Then I remembered: I started my week on meds last night, and what should have been an intuitive flip of the turn signal took a little more thought than I was prepared for. Since I meet with my doctor on Thursdays (every 3 or 4 months), we decided to switch my stop/start date for my week on/week off HIV drug regimen.
As for Indiana Jones, the Hemo2Homo Connection are working on a review right now, which will be up next week. Because nothing says “summer” like two guys with AIDS reviewing a movie.
OK, I’m off to review my own lyrics for tomorrow night’s Synthetic Division show in Charlottesville. Hope everyone has a great weekend, a belated Happy Memorial Day to all of our troops, and the families and friends that love them.
I can’t blame my meds for being late on that one.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Welcome to ShawnandGwenn.com!
May 29, 2008
Gwenn and I are very excited about the launch of our new website, ShawnandGwenn.com!
Give it a look, it’s the launching pad for the next phase in our speaking adventures, and a home for my blog… don’t worry, though, if you are reading me on Poz.com or MySpace, I’ll still be there (here, wherever!).
Gwenn and I began educating together as a couple in 2000, joining CAMPUSPEAK, an excellent speaking bureau that focuses on the college market. I still remember the application process- we sent in a spotty video, and I was still adjusting to my HIV meds at the time. It was so bad, I actually excused myself mid-talk to find a bathroom and throw up.
CAMPUSPEAK signed us up anyway. They were just getting started themselves, and saw potential in our program and how we approached the issue of sexual health. Within months of joining, they (and the great speakers and friends we made on the CAMPUSPEAK roster) helped us become the speakers we are today.
Now, with the launch of the new web site, we are giving it a go on our own, and have nothing but good tidings about what our relationship with CAMPUSPEAK has meant to us, both personally and professionally.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Video from L.A. Show
May 2, 2008
Remember all my blogs about the trip to Los Angeles? Well, I finally hooked the camera up to the computer, so check out these photos and vids.
If you read My Pet Virus, you read about my buddy, Josh. Big thanks to Josh for playing the show with me and adding guitar and bass to Synthetic Division for the first time.
Josh D’Elia playing bass on “Nobody Could See This Coming”
Here we are playing “Sign”, which seems to be people’s favorite Synthetic Division song. Big thanks to Kyle Wiggins, as always, for co-writing it with me. On this one, Josh plays guitar and I shake what my momma gave me.
The song isn’t just an ode to the neon sign… or is it?
Josh was kindly on loan from his band, The Sane: we wore each others’ band shirts onstage. Below you can hear The Sane rock it out. They are hard to see, because they don’t have a big neon sign.
Gwenn and I were out in the L.A. to meet with Mitch, the talented writer who is turning My Pet Virus into a screenplay. Christy, who is producing the venture, came out from New York City.
I’m sure, after seeing Josh and I shred it, that Mitch is writing the show into the screenplay. We discussed who would play Josh (remember, Bruce Willis is playing me), and everyone agreed that Don Johnson would be perfect.
What’s really weird, is that Christy said that once, when she was at work, Bruce Willis came in and sat on her desk… she was really busy, but she thinks he was flirting. I yelled at her, “What?! If you’d slept with him we’d have Willis!” Of course, this was before she even read My Pet Virus… but I stand by my violent outburst. Mitch was taking notes when this happened, so look for Bruce Willis to really go off as Shawn Decker in My Pet Virus: The Movie.
The magic seeds have been planted in Los Angeles. I love Mitch, and think he’ll do an outstanding job. Of course, any updates will be posted on here in the future. I told Mitch he could throw in a talking hamster if he thinks it will get more investors on board, or replace the HIV storyline with Athlete’s Foot. Then the last scene could be Willis, overcoming Athlete’s Foot to play in front of hundreds and thousands of people with Johnson at the Staple’s Center.
If I don’t blog soon, it’s because I was killed by caterpillars. Seriously, there are hundreds of them outside my home. That, too, would make for an awesome ending to the movie.
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Less than TWO WEEKS AWAY! Don’t forget to help my AIDS Walk NY Team defeat Kenneth Cole Productions!
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.
Check out Shawn's music and buy his book, My Pet Virus, which is now available on Kindle!
It will be the funniest book you've ever read about someone having AIDS... guaranteed!