Presumed to be awesome.

In the last few days my news and Twitter feeds have been tragically full of news about gay teens taking their lives after suffering anti-gay bullying at school. This breaks my heart. But the fact is that this isn't news; not in the sense that it is a new or recent phenomenon. I guess I can take some comfort in the mere fact that these boys' tragic stories did actually make my news feed. Maybe as a society we are becoming more aware of the problem? *hopes*

I hate that feeling of sad hopelessness that I get whenever I read about the Seths and the Ashers and the Tylers of our world. I'm a doer. I want to DO something. But other than to do my best to be a better human being and to teach those other/younger human beings within my circle of influence to be better human beings, it often seems as if there's damn little I can do. But then I remember that sometimes the best thing I can do is to empower others to DO. So today I took some of that sad hopelessness and channeled it into something more positive by donating to the Trevor Project. You can even text TREVOR to 85944 to make a $5 donation. It's doing something. More, it's enabling those better equipped to do something.

I know things are difficult economically for a lot of people -- believe me, I know. But if you can find even $5 to spare -- heck, that's a latte! -- I encourage you to donate. In memory of Seth, Asher, and Tyler and all of the other young men and women who have felt so alone and misunderstood and unloved and unsupported that they couldn't see a way out, make sure that they have a safe-haven to go to, so that someone can remind them that it will get better. We can all help to make it better.

Also, if you haven't, check out Dan Savage's It Gets Better project on YouTube. Messages of hope. There can never be too many of those.

Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.

What a tragic day for the world of entertainment.

Thing 1: It's Friday!!! Superfluous, I know. But, still, Fridays always deserve several exclamation points. Most especially Fridays before a three-day weekend!!!

Thing 2: ( Last night's Supernatural episode. )

Thing 3: How AWESOME was Game 1 between the Phillies and the Dodgers??? Very, I say -- very awesome! Also awesome is wrapping up my day early so that I can watch Game 2, which, by the way, the Phillies just took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the 2nd. Go Phillies!!! \o/

Thing 4: I found a super-cute top today for my New Orleans trip -- for only $7.50!!! Bargain!

Thing 5: Speaking of Thing 4...ONLY 13 DAYS UNTIL NEW ORLEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG I can hardly wait!!!

Thing 6: Way to go Connecticut Supreme Court!!! It's always a GOOD DAY when equal rights for ALL comes out the victor!

Sadly, I have nothing appropriately scary or creepy to accompany today's date. Unless you include work which is still looming in scary proportions, but while my clients are criminals, only a few of them are truly creepy. So that kinda fails for a Friday the 13th tie in as well.

But it IS the reason I've been MIA this week. *grumblebitchcomplain* Of the good, though, is that in an effort to save on gas, I've been driving into the office less and instead working from home. Which has the added benefit of allowing me to watch my Diamondbacks' afternoon games!

Speaking of baseball, I'll be heading to the ball park this evening to watch the D-Backs take on the Royals for some inter-league play. I'm really looking forward to it because it's been just too long since I've had me some BASEBALL!

Also of note on this weekend's agenda: I've got tickets to see a local production of Reefer Madness tomorrow. I'm mostly going because Trainer!Boy has the lead and if I don't he'll probably make me do a bazillion squats next week. It's a self preservation thing. Although it has been getting good press and might actually be funny and entertaining. We shall see.

I've also been making my travel plans for the rest of June and July. By some brilliant feat of planning, or the exact opposite of that, I am traveling to either L.A. or San Diego or both EVERY OTHER WEEK between the end of June and the middle of July! *facepalm* In between all that traveling? I'm doing two trials and preparing for a three week trial staring in August. Yeah. July should be very interesting.

Also interesting? The news that Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski shares porn online. *laughs and laughs* When I clerked for the 9th Circuit, I thought Judge Kozinski was a complete ass. Brilliant, sure. But still an asshole. The news that he kept porn on his website though? Kinda makes me like the asshole.

Lastly, shamelessly stolen from drvsilla: ( Foto Friday!!! )

Hope y'all are having a non-scary, non-creepy and completely FANTASTIC Friday the 13th!

Heath Ledger, dead at 28. I find myself unspeakably sad over this tragically early end to such a talented young man's life. May his passing be peaceful and may his loved ones find comfort for their loss.

Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2006 is you. Or me. All of us, in fact, who spend what is probably way too much time in front of our respective computer screens. I suppose "congratulations" are in order.