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Depeche Mode's "Wrong"Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Yes, I'm still a big mark for Depeche Mode, and their new song, "Wrong", is oh-so-right. Here's the music video: Sample lyrics: "I was born with the wrong sign... I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time.. the wrong mix, in the wrong genes..." Love it. Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - March 2, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: Depeche Mode Wrong Source Type: blogs

Shawn's Tool Academy Welcomes...Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I love VH1's reality show, Tool Academy, which began with a great swerve. A group of guys thought they were competing on a TV show to discover "America's Top Alpha Male- AKA- Mr. Awesome", but they'd really been nominated by their girlfriends for the Tool Academy. Ouch. Gwenn and I can't stop watching. The guys get little tool badges when they pass tests and make the inevitable cut at the inevitable "ceremony" at the end of each show. Formulaic? Sure, but it's must-see TV... speaking of tools, did you hear about the senator from Colorado, Dave Schultheis? He voted against a bill that would require pregnant women to be ...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 27, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: AIDS dave schultheis HIV shawn tool academy utter tool Source Type: blogs

15 Years of AIDS at the OscarsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There's a great article on Poz.com, written by the talented Mr. Bob Ickes. It examines AIDS impact at the Oscars. Check it out! Also, in my post-Oscar wrap blog, I mentioned that Heath Ledger wasn't in this year's "Death Montage" segment. That's because he was there last year, since he passed in January of 2008. Ooopsily Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 26, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: AIDS bob ickes heath ledger oscars philadelphia tom hanks Source Type: blogs

Song from "Acoustic" ShowEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
YouTube finally accepted this video- it's a song I wrote about one of my favorite things: sleep. "Back to Sleep" is the title, this is me and my band mate Marshall performing it on Valentine's Day. Enjoy! Below is a vid I stumbled upon after I posted/edited the above. This one was taken a year ago when we played in Richmond. I do a cool little "dance" move at the 2:20 mark. It's pretty sweet. Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 26, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

British Report on Tainted Blood ScandalEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Associated Press ran a story yesterday about a report on the tainted blood scandal in Britain, which you can read here. In Britain, 5,000 hemophiliacs were infected with HIV and hepatitis C, a third of whom have died as a result. The House of Lords (not a trip-hop band, unfortunately) member who headed the report stated that these infections are the worst treatment disaster in the country's health care system. "Long after alarms had been founded about the risks of obtaining paid-for blood donations from communities with an increased incidence of relevant infections, such as prison inmates, this practice continued. It ...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 24, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: blood scandal hemophilia HIV Source Type: blogs

Oscar ResultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
FAIL. The Hemo2Homo Connection couldn't have been more wrong in their predictions. Steve called it for Best Actor with Sean Penn, and the winner even gave the Connection a shout out from stage, saying "Homo" in his acceptance speech. Don't believe me? Check it out at the :50 mark: OK, maybe he wasn't thinking about us in that moment. If I'd been correct, I would have taken the high road and complimented my movie review partner for his spirited-yet-failed prediction. But Steve? Well, here's the title of his blog post today: "Homo Wins! Hemo Walks Away in Disgrace." Steve also got the Best Supporting Actor award right wit...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 23, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: adrian brody ledger oscars sean penn snoop dogg steve schalchlin Source Type: blogs

Hemo2Homo... Oscar Special!Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Tonight is the Oscars. It's always a chance for me and Steve- The Hemo2Homo Connection- to match wits and predict winners. I'll post the results tomorrow and will try not to gloat too much when I win. Oh, and I forgot to wear my suit to this blog entry, so I'm going to turn this one over to my wiser movie-going counterpart...Steve, take it away! STEVE SAYS: The Oscars! The gayest event of the entertainment season featuring five movies no one in America actually saw all competing to win a prize so that their DVD sales will escalate (since none of the films ever played in any actual theaters where "the public" -- that gr...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 22, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

My Column in New Issue of PozEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I have a new column in the latest issue of Poz Magazine, you can read it here: "Week On, Week Off". It's about the ups and one big down of my last seven years on my Structured Treatment Interruption. Hope you enjoy reading it- I am especially proud of all of the Karate Kid references and am honored to be included in an issue that focuses on what we as positoids can do to improve our health. Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 19, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: cobra kai karate kid poz structured treatment interruption Source Type: blogs

Bugs in the BedroomEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Tomorrow Gwenn and I are heading out again, only this time we are going to be doing an HIV education program called "Bugs in the Bedroom". It differs from "A Boy, A Girl, A Virus" in that it also focuses on general STIs and involves a lot of props and role playing with students. The program is livelier, but it also has a chaos element that is both exhilarating and terrifying. Telling our personal story is easy- trying to fit a condom onto a 12-inch fake penis, called "The Czar", is not. You should see airport security's face when we go through screening: someone always nudges a co-worker, as if to say, "Get a look at thi...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 18, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: 12 inch penis college speaker hiv education shawn decker Source Type: blogs

More Show PhotosEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I gotta mention that I got something wrong in a previous blog. It was Troy, Michigan that banned the mall condom display, not Troy, New York. It has been corrected, my apologies to Troy, New York! Hope everyone is having a great President's Day. I still find myself smiling goofily in regard to Saturday night's show. If you want to see more, check out Chad Van Pelt's Flickr page. He always beats TMZ to the punch. OK, it's off to find an Abraham Lincoln costume to spice things up here on President's Day. Wish me luck. Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 16, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

V-Day 2009: Good Turnouts!Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It's not usually a manufactured holiday I choose to indulge in, but I have to say that this year's Valentine's Day was highly enjoyable. Perhaps that's because it wasn't spent alone, and there were two events that could have been, well, lonely. And they weren't. The first being the "Boy, Girl, Virus" program that Gwenn and I did at Hiram College in Ohio. That's Gwenn before the program, smiling kindly for the camera. This is at the end of the program... can you find me? I'm thinking of doing a "Where's Waldo?" picture at all future talks, though I'll hide better next time. What's cool is that there were about 60 stude...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 15, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: AIDS speaker bella morte gravity lounge Hiram HIV speaker synthetic division Source Type: blogs

Speaking TonightEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I made a big mistake. Turns out the Lauretta Braden email was a scam. Not only am I not rich, but I have many valuable relationships to rebuild. Fortunately, I've already won back one loved one: my mother-in-law, who has welcomed me back into the family with open arms. But it was easier to charm her, since I was able to do so in person. See, Gwenn and I are speaking at Hiram College tonight, which is conveniently located near Cleveland where Bev (Gwenn's mom) lives. We'll see how everyone back home responds to my brush with riches on Saturday, when I play a Valentines show with Bella Morte. I'm looking forward to speaking...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 12, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

I Have Been Touched... By Money!Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Times are a little tighter these days for most people, and a better person than I would not take this opportunity to rub good fortune in the faces of others... but I got the following email today, and I think it's a real game changer. ------------------------- Received at 4:43 pm 2/11/09 Subject: I Have Been Touched My name is Mrs Lauretta Braden, I have decided to donate what I have to you. I have been touched to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of charity organisation, I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,000,000:00USD to you. Contact my Physican Dr Steve Elliott with ...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 11, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: lauretta braden Source Type: blogs

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness DayEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Is today. Check out blackaidsday.org to learn more. Also check out Poz's interview with Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Should there be a "Black" AIDS Day in addition to the December 1st observation of World AIDS Day? Hell, yes. You can never have too many AIDS Days as far as I'm concerned, and with February being Black History Month, I'm all for setting aside one day to insure that this issue- and it's devastation in the black community- becomes, well, history itself. Sooner rather than l...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 7, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: black aids day Source Type: blogs

Two Great Videos for Valentine'sEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I couldn't resist. By the way, the video posted below is one of the best videos I've ever seen. It's a clip courtesy of "The Love Doctor", who kindly visited Fox to expound upon the purity of the new president's love for his first lady. It quickly takes a turn for the worse. This is like a Valentine's Day present from the Gods, enjoy! I couldn't resist. Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 6, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: bella morte gravity lounge synthetic division Source Type: blogs

Your Bloody Valentine?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Once again Synthetic Division is teaming up with Bella Morte. They said it would never happen. They said the egos were too big for Charlottesville to handle... they were right. But, for the fans, we have all agreed to share the stage again. In the spirit of love we are playing a special late-night, acoustic Valentine's show at Gravity Lounge here in Charlottesville. Last time I played there, Synthetic Division was fully loaded with dance goodness. But this time the set is going to be stripped down a little bit- not full-on acoustic like Bella Morte- for us, "acoustic" means a few less "bleeps" and "bloops". And replacing...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 5, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: bella morte micah consylman synthetic division Source Type: blogs

Hemo2Homo LabworksEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
So guess whose lab results come up on my "My Pet Virus" Google Alert? None other than Steve Schalchlin, the Ebert to my Roper. Here's what he posted on Monday, in no way colluding with me... "Also went to see the doc... My highest t-cell count to date: 525. And a great percentage: 21%. So, I don't know that I'd say my immune system is strengthening since these numbers go up and down all the time, but it's clear that my health is holding its own." Too cool, even in t-cells Steve shows me who the boss is, besting my latest lab results by two measly t-cells! Well, he may have two more, but mine are wittier as a whole. Since...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 4, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: Hemo2Homo Connection Steve Schalchlin Source Type: blogs

Heapin' Helpin' of Lab ResultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I know the numbers on everyones' minds are the points scored at the Super Bowl (I predicted it right!). But I got some good numbers of my own recently: my latest HIV lab results. The viral load is undetectable, and the CD4 (t-cell) count is 523... the third highest I've had recorded since the 1980's! Sweet! For those who know about my week on/week off treatment strategy, it's important to note that the labs were drawn after being two days into a week on the drugs. Huh? I take my HIV meds for seven days, then don't take them for seven days and repeat that cycle. In the March issue of Poz- out next month- there will be a c...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - February 2, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: c ' ville coffee calvino cafe iced mochas lewis grizzard shenandoah joe steelers Source Type: blogs

Geek Crafts and Urge MagazineEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Check out a very cool web site called Geek Crafts, which features links and comments on totally geektastic homemade items, like this little guy, Brad the Crochet Vampire. I was honored to be interviewed by Renee for Geek Crafts, answering questions about what it's like to speak about my personal/medical life at colleges, be a thinblood and why I decided a vampire book would be a good idea for a follow-up to My Pet Virus. Could it be... the blood? Also, a local magazine called Urge did a cover story on me and Gwenn. No, that's not us there, I was too lazy to scan it. But click over if you want to read the story and chec...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 30, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: Geek Crafts Urge Source Type: blogs

Cello Scrotum: 1974-2009Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Scratch another one of my dream campus speaking programs- "Cello Scrotum & You". It just came out that the condition is a hoax. Read more about Cello Scrotum and it's magical origin on the BBC's news site. For now, let's all share a moment of silence for "Cello Scrotum": 1974-2009. "Anyone who has ever watched a cello being played would realize the physical impossibility of our claim." - Baroness Murphy, Godmother of "Cello Scrotum" and, ultimately, it's Angel of Death Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 29, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: baroness murphy cello scrotum Source Type: blogs

Blocked by a BonerEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Medicaid Family Planning State Option was dropped from the stimulus package after a public outcry from House Minority Leader, John Boehner (pronounced "BAY-ner"). This would have either: a) provided health care coverage for 2.3 million women while generating savings for states and the federal government or b) funded the pro-abortion business. That's depending on whether you side with Planned Parenthood or John Boehner. My thinking is that contraceptives and condoms are secretly viewed as abortions by many lawmakers. As a sex educator, I support the Medicaid Family Planning State Option as part of the stimulus package...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 29, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: Chris Matthews John Boehner Planned Parenthood stimulus package Source Type: blogs

Photos from VegasEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Finally! Pictures from the glitz and glory of Miss America! Click on any of the pictures to go to the entire photo album on Facebook. Tara Wheeler, Miss Virginia 2008! Tara did a great job at Miss America representing the Commonwealth. Her evening gown was the best on her preliminary night, and with her background in hockey as well her training with the Army, she could have kicked everyone's butt at the pageant! But she didn't. Why? Because she's classy: she's Miss Virginia. Took this picture after the final night of competition. I mentioned to Tara that one of my other favorites of the week was Miss Kansas, Emily Dea...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 28, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: AIDS Emily Deaver HIV Leigh-Taylor Smith Miss America Miss Kansas Miss New York Miss Virginia Tara Wheeler Source Type: blogs

Back HomeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
That's where Gwenn and I spent the last 6 nights... it's where 52 title holders (the big 50 states, as well as Miss DC and Miss Virgin Islands) battled for the right to become the next Miss America... Am finally home now, and in the next couple of days I'll be posting pictures and stories from Las Vegas, including surprise cameos from a few of the stars of the cult classic memoir, My Pet Virus. (No, the cameo isn't by me, Gwenn or Ric Flair. Or Depeche Mode.) All in all, it was a great vacation for us. And, aside from going to see the pageant and hang out with friends, we were there to celebrate our ten-year anniversary....
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 26, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

The Denver Principles in VegasEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This blog is short but sweet, just like Miss NY herself. Just had to write about the preliminary competition for Miss America. During onstage interview, Miss NY mentioned the Denver Principles and the rights of people living with HIV. Wiki the Principles if you are not familiar, and you will see why this is such a cool thing. I'd post a link but I am doing this entry from an iPhone... Big fingers and small letters do not work well together. Miss Virgin Islands also gave a shout out to HIV Awareness tonight. And my homestate girl, Miss VA, is doing quite well in all areas of competition; she should be in the Top 15. Overal...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 23, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Mini blogEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In Las Vevas, will post proper blog soon, go to http://www.twitter.com/shawndecker for little updates.
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 20, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Bush's Last DayEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the historical value of this fine day: Bush's last on the job as the most powerful man in the universe. (Sorry, He-Man.) I just hope we all learned our lesson on this one. And that next time we elect a "Washington outsider", we make damn sure he isn't secretly the son of a former president. (Who knew?!) And also, if we elect someone because they'd be cool to have a beer with, let's make sure they didn't swear off alcohol due to a lack of self-control. Positively Yours, Shawn PS... I voted for Obama because I'd like to shoot pool with him... does he even shoot pool???
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 19, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Survey SaysEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Poz magazine and NAPWA (National Association of People With AIDS) have teamed up with the American Psychological Association to make sure that mental health issues for positoids are not overlooked. There's a brief, anonymous survey here, if you are HIV positive, or a "positoid", as I say, consider filling this out. I did- it was quick and easy. This is not an aspect of our health that we think about as much as we should, and in filling out the survey I recalled an instance shortly after I'd been on HIV meds, where I felt like I was depressed, mainly because of the confusion I was feeling as a result of certain side effect...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 19, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Miss America and the RecessionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
As millions of people descend on D.C., Gwenn are I are escaping to witness a coronation of a different kind: the crowning of a new Miss America in Las Vegas! Of course, I'll be watching all the Obama highlights on television, but we can't lose sight of how important Miss America is going to be once we hit the full depths of the "deprecession." We're going to need a symbolic figure who is somewhat aloof to distract us while the administration is doing all the heavy-lifting behind the scenes. Oh, and that's a photo of Miss America 1998, Kate Shindle. My favorite of all-time. She wasn't aloof- she supported clean needle exc...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 18, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: Kate Shindle Leigh Taylor Smith Miss America Miss New York roulette Source Type: blogs

Update on Book #2Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I sent the file for my 2nd book to my agent today, and couldn't be more relieved to be done. For now. Of course, I've declared victory before. You may remember that back in June I wrote a blog entitled New Book "Finished". Thankfully, I had the intelligence to put the word "finished" in quotation marks. I wasn't finished- I sent the book to my agent, then wrote him back later telling him not to read it. Then I had a deadline set for November, but when I spent most of the month sick, the deadline got bumped until after Christmas because I didn't want to screw up the book by writing when I was under the weather. But now...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 16, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Hemo2Homo Connection Looks BackEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
2008 was a great year for movies; mainly because it marked the dramatic return to form of the only Living-With-AIDS Movie Review duo, "The Hemo2Homo Connection", myself and Steve Schachlin. Recently I caught up with my wiser half to ask him a few questions about the year that was 2008. Shawn (AKA "Hemo"): What was your favorite movie of 2008? Steve (AKA "Homo"): Milk, followed by Slumdog Millionaire. You? Shawn: Tropic Thunder! Robert Downey Jr. got screwed at the Golden Globes, losing Best Supporting Actor to Heath Ledger. Steve: He died- plus he was brilliant in The Dark Knight... Shawn: Robert Downey Jr. was bri...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 15, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

My 2008 Person of the YearEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It's a little late, but unlike others, I take this Person of the Year stuff seriously. I don't rush the decision in the waning days of 2008 to get airtime or press like everyone else. No, while they are out cosmic bowling and partying, looking ahead to 2009, I'm crunching numbers, trying to figure out who had the biggest impact of 2008. Who came from little-to-no expectations and then shocked an unexpecting world? Of course, Michael Phelps dominated sports, setting an Olympic record for most medals won. But take him out of the pool and his credentials start to get a little soggy. Barack Obama battled Hilary Clinton, then ...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 13, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: Mike the Miz Source Type: blogs

Rickrolling Victim Speaks OutEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I felt bad about Rickrolling my friend and then exploiting his pain as Blog fodder. So I decided to interview Irvin, so he could lend his voice and face to pain of the the millions upon millions of RVs (Rickroll Victim) out there. When I Rickrolled you, what were you doing? I just sat down to eat lunch. How did you feel? A bit confused, I was still waiting for the stroller safety video. Then a smile spread across my face. Had you ever been Rickrolled before? Never, I didn't know about "Rickrolling" before. Would you ever consider Rickrolling someone? Rickstrolling? Yes, maybe you. I think I'll have to wait at least a...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 11, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Dont Get RickrolledEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I got my friend back. The one who sent me that blind link to Stewie from the Family Guy... how did I do so? I "Rickrolled" him. What is Rickrolling? It's telling somebody that a link leads to something they may find of interest, but instead they click and find themselves watching the video to Rick Astley's late-80's hit song, "Never Gonna Give You Up". This started on April Fool's Day in 2008, when every video link on YouTube went to this song. Need another example? Let's say the subject of this blog was "Cure for AIDS Found!" And the only link posted on the blog went to this... you would have been the victim of an excep...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 9, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Not the Follow-Up to My Pet VirusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
For a brief moment, I considered writing more funny AIDS stories for my second literary venture. With My Pet Virus' sales gasping at this point, I'm glad I opted to focus my creative energy elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, the book did well. The response has been incredible, I still get messages from high school students who have done a book report on MPV, people whose families dealt with the hemophilia/HIV one-two punch, and just people who like Depeche Mode, Ric Flair, and a twisted sense of humor. And I'm still waiting for recognition from the scientific community for my work in My Pet Virus, the chief accomplishment be...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 7, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Lessons From StewieEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There's the Miis of me and Gwenn. So far so good in 2009, I've worked out on the Wii Fit everyday this year, and my reward is that I've gained a pound. I like to think it's a pound of rock hard muscle that, for now, is invisible to the naked eye. Aside from the menage a trois love affair with the Wii Fit, I have also been working away at the second book. The deadestline is two weeks from today, just before Inauguration Day. We'll be heading out of town for a week- a vacation that doesn't involve speaking about having AIDS- so I have to finish before we depart. Oh, and here's what a friend sent me for inspiration, courtes...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 4, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: family guy stewie wii fit Source Type: blogs

2008 Into 2009Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
11:21 pm, December 31: Shawn cuddles up on couch with Gwenn. Both are lying down, watching Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin. 11:53 pm: Shawn doses off... 12:03 am: Shawn wakes up, sees a lot of confetti blowing around on TV. 12:06 am: Shawn craddles Gwenn, and says, "You know, we haven't made love all year..." Sex does not ensue, but the first joke of the year 2009 happens, and goes over well. On the first day of 2009, after I woke up and tackled the day, I walked around with my zipper down for about 3 hours: an auspicious debut that screams, "Look out New Year- I am positoid, hear me roar!" My resolution? Better joke...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - January 2, 2009 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

"Wii Fit as Long as Long as I Live" music videoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Got this on a Comment, and it couldn't have come at a more critical time. Enjoy, it's "Wii Fit as Long as I Live" by the Wicked Celtics. Wii karma caught up with me. Tonight I bumbled on a balance exercise (Walk in place, but walk normally- what?!), and almost walked sideways off the board since I don't normally walk in place. Well, the Wii Gods punished me good: my Wii Fit Age is 49! I doubted my Mii. But this song reminded me what it's all about. Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 31, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Wii is the WorldEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
After Christmas, I retired the holiday sweater until next season. It's always a bittersweet moment, but this year I feel like that thing spread so much joy, that I'd be going into 2009 weakened if I continued to wear it any longer. A couple of weeks before Christmas, me and Gwenn were watching TV, and we discovered that Santa had given us a present: "Oh my God! It's VH1 Classic!" We proceeded to watch two hours of good/bad music videos on my favorite MTV show of all-time, 120 Minutes. During regular hours, you'll see everything from David Lee Roth's "Goin' Crazy" (horribly awesome!) to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" (awesome,...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 30, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

When Babies Save ChristmasEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas today. I got to spend the Eve and day with my parents, brother and sis-in-law, and my two nieces, as well as some dear friends. This Christmas happened to be the first for my niece, Helayna, who is ten months old. Back when her big sis, Katie, was a couple of years old, I made a video for a PBS trailer called When Babies Have Babies. I figured it's never too early for Helayna to step up- or, more accurately, crawl up to the plate- for her first starring role. This one is a holiday-themed movie trailer. Here's the description... When Babies Save Christmas The movie (trailer) event...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 26, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Happy Holidays from the FamilyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 24, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: britney spears gwenn barringer shawn decker Source Type: blogs

The White Christmas RussianEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This week families from around the world will reunite to settle decades-long scores in honor of Christmas. I'm fortunate in that I don't have any real family drama to speak or write of. At least not yet. See, I've been happily aloof in Christmas present purchasing, opting for a low-key attitude towards the holidays (forgive me my one weakness- the holiday sweater). In terms of my immediate family, I'm just holding true to a promise made back in September. "We're cutting back this year..." This same speech happened last year, and me and Gwenn went along with it. Then on Christmas morning we felt like major douches when w...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 22, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Clifton InnEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Last night was great- Gwenn and I finally went to what has been described as the best place to eat in Charlottesville: The Clifton Inn. Here are some pics of our big night out. I'm far from a restaurant critic. I eat cereal twice a day and make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. But I have been to some good places, and know the difference between good and great food. And the reputation of the Clifton Inn is totally warranted. Aside from the incredible delectables that satisfied carnavour (Me) and herbavour (Gwenn) alike for four scrumptuous courses, what made the outing extra special was the opportunity to see two of my budd...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 19, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

Holiday Sweater 2008 UnveiledEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Every or every other Christmas, I search the Earth high and low for a holiday sweater that captures the essence of the spirited season. In the past, I've gone with the traditionally gaudy sweater vest, but this year, I took a risk and opted to go with sleeves. Hope you approve of this year's selection, and that you are having a safe and happy holiday season! Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 17, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: holiday sweater jingle cats shawn and gwenn Source Type: blogs

Hosted a PageantEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Well, I co-co-hosted a pageant. With Kristi Lauren Glakas (Miss Virginia 2005/badass) and Hannah Kiefer (Miss Virginia 2007/badass). You can see pictures here. Both of my esteemed colleagues did well at Miss America as state title holders, finishing at 3rd runner-up; so they know their pageants. My main job last Saturday night was to utilize my dorky charm to set the audience at ease. Should be easy for someone who sets people at ease over the topic of AIDS, right? Well... Usually I'm confronted with an audience that asks questions about my personal life. That's easy, because I know all the answers to those. And if I do...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 16, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: Hannah Kiefer Kristi Glakas Source Type: blogs

Heart Feldt: A Tribute to DavidEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Gwenn and I are finally home, having swept in and out of "The Little Apple", Manhattan, Kansas this week, our last talk of World AIDS Week 2008. We just made it to K-State, too. Wisely we'd taken the first flight out from Richmond, which meant we landed in Kansas City before a snowstorm hit. When we woke up from a very long nap, the ground was white. Drivable for us (the school was two hours away), but enough to cause flight delays. On the way back home the next day, we heard someone saying that a few of the later flights had been cancelled. But travel turmoil- averted or otherwise- is not what you want to read about. Yo...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 12, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

World AIDS Week PhotosEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
You can check out photos from last week's World AIDS Day travels by going here. Thanks again to Southeast Community College (Lincoln, NE), the AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland, Baldwin-Wallace College (Berea, OH) and the University of Toledo for having us! I'll be posting a proper blog soon! Positively Yours, Shawn
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 7, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

World AIDS Weekin'Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
World AIDS Week is about to end. And it's the most wonderful time of the year- there are red ribbons everywhere, discussion about HIV prevention is abound and condoms are always well within reach. This week, Gwenn and I have spoken at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, for the AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland, at Baldwin-Wallace College and the University of Toledo. Today, Gwenn and I are on our way home, and I'll share some road stories once I get the photos loaded in... Plus, the work isn't quite done yet- next week we speak in Kansas. As I mentioned, I got another sore throat right before we left, ...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 5, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

World AIDS DayEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Wear a red ribbon, tell someone you have AIDS even if you don't. Make people aware in any way you can. Be creative! To think back to the first World AIDS Day, one year after my diagnosis, is a bit trippy... I did everything I could to avoid the topic, plus I had better things to think about. (I was 13- video games and girls.) I've been fortunate the last several World AIDS Days. Every year, Gwenn and I go out for at least a week, doing a series of talks, just explaining how our relationship works and what we do to keep Gwenn safe from HIV. World AIDS Day is needed, and it...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - December 1, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs

The Four Days of ThanksgivingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Thanksgiving Day gets bigger every year. You got the eat-a-thon on Thursday, the shop-a-thon on Black Friday, then the aftermath on Grey Saturday... But wait, it's not even over then! Because then there's the last mad dash to the malls on Sunday Bloody Sunday, before returning to work on Manic Monday, which coincides with World AIDS Day this year. If that weren't enough, Black Friday marked the first observation of Native American Heritage Day, which will occur on the day after Thanksgiving from now on. Speaking of Black Friday, the news about the Wal-Mart employee being trampled to death was just horrible. There's got...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - November 29, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Tags: AIDS Black Friday HIV The Bangles Source Type: blogs

The Karate Kid and World AIDS DayEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I'm thrilled by my most recent endorsement for My Pet Virus. You may remember these guys from The Karate Kid. While not at their 1980's fighting heyday, the Cobra Kai Dojo is still turning out some knuckle-justice bullies who believe in the "strike first, ask questions later" philosophy. Next Monday is World AIDS Day, and I think we can all take a page from the Cobra Kai philosophy when it comes to HIV/AIDS, an epidemic that is in serious need of an ass-whoopin'. So, if you're looking for a way to commemorate World AIDS Day, switch your Facebook/MySpace profile icon over to the red ribbon below. Let friends know that Worl...
Source: Shawn's HIV Blog - November 25, 2008 Category: HIV AIDS Source Type: blogs