July 2007 Archives

On Friday night my resolve weakened, and I gave in to the spellbinding magic of Harry Potter by joining friends to go see the movie. And you know what? I liked it.

I can't begrudge Harry for his many successes, because I think wildly popular and imaginitive art will only do wonders for the future of the geek, a species that I proudly align myself with. Also, I don't take in nearly enough fiction, a genre I hope to contribute to in the near future.

The big news here is that my band's CD release party is this coming Saturday night. I've been making flyers, hounding friends, taking Guru-designed postcards to local music stores with Synthetic Division condoms attached to them. Gwenn took note of this, and stated, "Being in a band is just one huge arts and crafts project."

So true.

My latest masterpiece, to the left to the left, is courtesy of the Simpsons Movie. Speaking of to the left herself, Beyonce, here's a vid of her infamous fall. Either you feel bad for her, or you remember that time her bandmate bit it and she kept dancing. (Sorry if YouTube removes the vid before you can see it.)

This weekend has been great, caught up with a few friends after the Harry Potter movie, and then Saturday I woke up at the crack of noon to judge a pageant, Miss Central Virginia, and did my part in crowning a queen.

If that's not magic, I don't know what is.

Positively Yours,
Shawn

Click Support to learn more about AID FOR AIDS.

CAMPUSPEAK is now booking Shawn and Gwenn for fall college campus appearances, for more info click on "Me & Gwenn", or email info@aboyagirlavirus.com.

The following was posted on the frontpage of MyPetVirus.com. The author of My Pet Virus is currently resting and writing blog entries in the third person.

Harry Potter outsells My Pet Virus: Shawn Devastated

"He's not even real," Decker stated, half-heartedly eating a grilled-cheese sandwich. "I figured I could outsell Harry, that it would be merely another obstacle I've overcome in my life. I wasn't prepared for this."

In one hour, Harry Potter sold 300,000 copies. That is over 10 times what My Pet Virus has sold since it's publication last September.

"I'm not giving up. I didn't give up against AIDS. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Once the novelty of riding on a broom wears off on the public, I'll be there to surge ahead of Mr. Potter and his demonic friends."

-------------
In happier times, Shawn made the following YouTube video featuring him and Gwenn doing their campuspeaking/media onslaught thing.

Magically Delicious,
Shawn

CAMPUSPEAK is now booking Shawn and Gwenn for fall college campus appearances, for more info, email info@aboyagirlavirus.com.

On Thursday I saw The Police in concert in Philadelphia. I was amongst 25,000 of the whitest white people I've ever seen in my life. Most everyone had a beer in their hand, a smile on their face and a baseball cap on their head. And usually when I see a 45 year-old with their 15 year-old son, it's the kid who dragged the parent out, not the other way around.

I quickly fell in with the flock, avoiding the beer since Gwenn and I were going to be driving back after the concert. In reality, who needs beer when you're seeing the friggin' Police? The first half, I just stood there with a stupid look on my face, like a toddler on Santa's lap. I couldn't believe it: I was watching The Police.

Some say that it's all about the money, but Sting doesn't need the money. I think, more than anything, he needed a well-timed kick in the crotch. Something to disrupt the comfort zone he's so painstakingly constructed for himself. Whatever the reason, I'm glad it happened and I lived to see it.

Sting, Andy and Stewart kicked things off with Message In A Bottle, and ran through a sizeable portion of their catalogue. Andy Summers enjoyed a couple of blazing guitar solos, not really my thing. But whenever that happened, I trained my eyes and ears on Stewart Copeland, the drummer, smiling goofily as he pounded away. That guy has been dreaming of this tour for many years, and I don't think there was a happier person in the ballpark. (Not even the dude who came precariously close to invading my personal space with his sloppy rendition of Sting's infamous "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" music video dance.)

As a kid, I thought The Police were cool but it wasn't until high school, long after they broke up, that I really delved in. When Gwenn heard they were going on tour, she eBayed two tickets to the show, the best birthday present I could ever ask for. Since we were driving home, however, I nudged Gwenn during the last chorus of "Every Breath You Take", knowing there was only one more tune to go. "Want to get a headstart on all these people?" "Yes," she said. As we exited the park, The Police were singing, "All I want is to be next to you," and all I was thinking was, "All I want is to not be next to 5,000 cars!"

One of Sting's lines jumped out at me during the show. In "The Bed's Too Big Without You", Sting sings the following about the loss of a love and the fact that he's in bed alone: "Made love to my pillow, but it didn't feel right."

He made a funny face when he sang the line, almost as if 50-something Sting was admonishing Young Sting for penning the lyric, without giving consideration to the fact that Future, More Dignified Sting may have to deliver it to 25,000 white folks and their kids someday.

When I heard the lyric, one of my faves, I thought: So much is made of Sting's tantric sex. How come we never hear from that poor pillow? Where's Dateline? Where's 48 Hours? Sure, The Police are back together, and all is well in the music world as a result.

But the complete story of the band has not been told until we get an update on that pillow.

Positively Yours,
Shawn

The Police, "Bed's Too Big" video

Bella Morte, on tour this week. This is a video I made for them. I interview a cat.

CAMPUSPEAK is now booking Shawn and Gwenn for fall college campus appearances, for more info, email info@aboyagirlavirus.com.

I've been spending a little bit of time in DC recently, first at the American Librarians Association conference and then the Bound Summer Masquarade fetish ball. I'm certain I was the only person to attend both events, though I could be wrong since most of the people at the latter were wearing masks.

During my first visit to DC, I spoke to a roomful of librarians, along with four other authors. I read the Today show chapter from my book, about my hapless attempt to get married to Gwenn on the show. Then the headliner, Paula Poundstone, made fun of the authors for kissing up to the librarians. (I didn't, I just read!) She said, "I would, too, I just don't have to at this point in my life!" Then she made fun of a guy who works for the Army and Navy's libraries, pointing out that someone should study what happened in previous wars and apply it to today's situation in Iraq. (It was delivered funny, not crappy like my transcription of the story.)

The fetish ball in DC last weekend was pretty insane: three floors of people dancing, making out, getting suctioned in latex beds. A typical Friday night.

When presented with the idea of playing such an event, I thought the best way to promote my band would be Synthetic Division condoms. We had them for sale, but I went around and handed them out for free, too, figuring some of the participants may be using them sooner rather than later.

There seemed to be an excessive amount of sexual energy in the place, but the only job I got was a dye job, which took place the night before the show. Gwenn minted my hair with a fresh coat of red. It speaks volumes for her love for me to do this, it is a tedious process.

The problem with getting dyed so soon before a show is that the color tends to bleed for a few days, a problem easily controlled by wearing black shirts. The only catch? I wear a white suit on stage. So now I have a few little droplets of neon sweat, which I'm hoping the dry cleaner will be able to take care of.

After our set, I was looking for my bandmate as he disappeared into the abyss of the night. As I was making my way through the crowds I was met with what I assumed was approval of my onstage performance. A girl in a neon, push-up get-up grabbed me suddenly, and without warning she kissed me full on the lips, then shouted, "Good show!" before disappearing into the night.

This never happens after Gwenn and I speak about AIDS.

Upon returning home, I shared all the stories with Gwenn, a good sport if ever there was one, and yesterday we celebrated my 32nd birthday with a trip to the bowling alley. Our friend, Riki, made me a cake, inspired by the neon Synthetic Division sign. Riki makes the best cakes in town, it was vanilla with strawberries inside. As a thinblood, the only time I'm allowed to wield a knife is for b-day cake cutting.

So now I'm officially two years into my thirties, which are rocking both figuratively and literarily.

See, even though I'm spending most of my time on music, I still got it. I still got it.

Positively Yours,
Shawn


Support Button Update: Blood for CJ received 19 promises and 12 donations. Thanks to everyone who participated!

I've been an absentee blogger as of late, which means my actual life has been pretty damn busy.

On Monday I saw Morrissey for the first time in concert, and it was a divine experience. I never, ever, sing along at concerts. But how could I not chime in when Morrissey proclaimed, "Irish heart, English blood, this I'm made of"? I had a girlfriend in high school who made me rewind the tape in my car and play "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" over and over again. And once I made another girl dance with me to "I Know It's Going To Happen Someday" in my bedroom. (How f#$*'n Moz is that?)

The first bit of previous blog recap is that Miss Virginia was off the hook.  My friend finished 4th runner-up and won $2700 in scholarship money, not too shabby.  Since Miss Virginia I've been invited to judge a pageant here in town later this month, which I'm going to do since my pageant eye is still sharp from last month.

I attended a conference in DC just before the pageant, and met a ton of librarians, some of whom had read and enjoyed my book.  I'm probably getting just as many messages from people about the book now as when it came out last fall, which is very promising.  Next month, I tell myself, I will begin the process on the next book... and why haven't I done it already?

Music.

And more music.

Yesterday I sent off the masters and artwork for pressing, and it's been many late nights trying to get the album finished in time for the CD release party.  I'm very proud of the songs that Kyle and I have created as Synthetic Division, and all the help we've gotten from friends, particularly Micah, who recorded, mixed and mastered the CD in his studio.  (Final Symphony Studio.)  Andy, also of Bella Morte, let me hijack his computer for additional album work.  I've been such a mooch lately.

I can't really get across how proud I am of the music.  For so long I've done music, more so as a hobby.  Now I want, and in some ways need, it to be more of a regular part of my life.  It is a much different outlet than writing and speaking, the latter of which centers solely around my HIV status.

It's not that I'm shying away from HIV education, I fully understand that it is one of the reasons why I'm here and how I contribute to society.  Doing music reminds me of just that: my educational work is just one reason.  Other passions shouldn't be neglected, and I don't want to be 70 and regret not putting some time into something that I love so much.

So I'm going to have fun with, and just make sure that I don't neglect other passions because I'm getting the biggest kick out of this one.

The International Carnival of Pozitivities is a monthly blog consisting of various posts by positoid writers. Check out this month's edition, hosted by Scribe Spirit, which posted Shawn's commencement speech.